Electric remote drive, remote drive device and remote drive unit for actuating an electric switch device by means of a rotational force transmission

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric remote drive (2) for actuating an electric switching device (4) by transmission of a rotational force via a shift shaft (5), the electric remote drive (2) having two actuators (6) which are actuated independently of one another and which act as opposing electromagnets on a displaceably mounted slider (10). The slider (10) has a recess (12) for moving a first lever arm (21) of a rocker arm (20) mounted about a rocker axis (23), the second lever arm (22) of the rocker arm (20) having a recess (24) at one end into which a pin (31) of a crank (30) engages, the pin (31) being connected to the shift shaft (5) in a form-fit manner (32) and having an arcuate slot (33) through which the rocker axis (23) extends, a section of the rocker axis (23) being formed in a circumferential direction as an axially offset top profile (26), a leaf spring (25) bearing against the top profile (26) for fixing the shift position. Furthermore, the invention relates to an electric remote drive arrangement (80) having an electric remote drive (2) and an electric switching device (4) according to the invention, and to an electric remote drive unit (90) having electric remote drive arrangements (80) arranged mirror-symmetrically to one another on the left and right.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric remote drive for actuating an electric switching device by means of rotational force transmitted via a shift shaft, the electric remote drive having two actuators that are actuated independently of each other and act as opposing electromagnets on a movable slider. Background Technology

[0002] A safe and reliable power supply is a fundamental requirement for the stable economic operation of the private sector, the public sector, and especially the industrial sector. Electrical systems are becoming increasingly complex, necessitating appropriate protective measures to meet reliability and electrical safety requirements.

[0003] To ensure power supply in accordance with relevant standards, electrical systems are equipped with switching devices such as overcurrent protection devices, circuit breakers, or disconnectors. Regarding system availability and electrical safety, the electrical system must also be able to be controlled should a portion of the power supply become unreliable (e.g., a subnet failure).

[0004] Therefore, the electrical isolation structure between the switching device on one side and the driver for the switching device on the other side allows the switching device to be switched by means of a remote control driver (remote driver) combined with an independent and remotely available power supply.

[0005] Especially in applications requiring medical use, the VDE 0100-710 standard imposes further requirements on power supply systems, particularly regarding the rapid triggering of switching devices beyond insulation monitoring. For example, in the event of a power outage, the switching time must be less than 500 milliseconds.

[0006] Existing remote drives for switching control are known in the art, which are based on electric motors as actuators, but do not meet the specified switching time requirements. Furthermore, while existing remote drives do have electromagnetically controlled actuators, these actuators are controlled by only a single control voltage source, thus failing to guarantee the required reliability. Additionally, fast-switching remote drives that work with spring mechanisms or electromagnets are also known; however, these drives have very complex mechanisms and are unsuitable for integrated expansion of switching devices.

[0007] In known remote drives, there are embodiments in which force is applied to the switching device by moving the shift knob of the switching device on the drive rail of the remote drive.

[0008] For example, DE 2019 122 978 A1 discloses a remote actuator in which two independently controllable electromagnets act on a movable slider, but the force transmission on the switching device is performed via its shift knob.

[0009] Existing switching devices on the market, such as electrically operated disconnect switches with integrated drivers or disconnect switches designed for external drivers, have a shift shaft for transmitting rotational force, and therefore typically do not have a shift knob. Summary of the Invention

[0010] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to design an electric remote drive for actuating an electric switching device by transmitting rotational force. The drive is compact in design, capable of achieving fast switching times, and can be integrated with the switching device as a single unit.

[0011] This objective is achieved by combining the technical solution of the present invention, namely, the slider has a cavity for moving the first lever arm of the rocker arm mounted around the rocker arm rotation axis, the second lever arm of the rocker arm has a notch at one end, the pin of the crank engages in the notch, the pin is connected to the shift shaft in a form fit manner and has an arc-shaped elongated hole, the rocker arm rotation axis extends through the arc-shaped elongated hole, the section of the rocker arm rotation axis is formed on the circumference as an axially offset top profile, and the leaf spring abuts against the top profile to fix the shift position.

[0012] As a prerequisite, the electric switching device has a shift shaft through which torque is transmitted from the remote driver to the switching device to actuate switching, according to the purpose of the invention. In this embodiment, the invention includes only the remote driver itself and does not include the electric switching device.

[0013] Starting with two axially opposed electromagnets, each electromagnet has a rod-shaped anchor that moves a movable slider. Force is transmitted through a drive mechanism consisting of rocker arms. The first lever arm of the rocker arm engages with the slider, and the second lever arm moves a crank that applies torque to the shift shaft of the switching device. The crank's axis of rotation coincides with the shift shaft's axis and is connected to the drive shift shaft via a form-fitting hub. Leaf springs abutting against the top profile of the rocker arm's axis of rotation are used to fix the shift position.

[0014] The translational motion of the slider is converted into the rotational motion required to drive the shift shaft via a rocker arm and crank in a compact design. This allows the remote drive according to the invention to be mounted directly next to a standard switching device to provide remote operation as an additional function. Furthermore, it can be combined with a switching device to form an integrated electric remote drive unit.

[0015] Two independently controllable, electrically isolated actuators allow them to be powered by two separate power supply networks. Furthermore, the electromagnets operate at very high speeds, thus reducing switching times according to standards. The electromagnets are preferably designed as traction electromagnets.

[0016] In another improvement, the electric remote drive includes a shift knob that is axially attachable to the rocker arm's rotating shaft and used for manual switching.

[0017] The shift knob can be axially connected to the rocker arm rotation shaft of the remote drive to enable manual shifting in emergency operations. Power is transmitted to the rocker arm rotation shaft via a shape-fitting hub profile.

[0018] The slider has the advantage of a thin plate-like protrusion, which has a gap along its long edge.

[0019] A thin, plate-like protrusion is formed on one longitudinal edge of the slider (relative to the direction of displacement), allowing two opposing sliders to be arranged symmetrically when the slider is rotated 180° about its longitudinal axis, wherein the protrusions in the plane of symmetry are offset from each other in height. Note: Although the sliders are not symmetrical in a strict geometric sense, the terms "symmetric" and "mirror symmetry" are used below because the sliders can be placed opposite each other in the plane of symmetry, but they can be rotated 180° relative to each other about their longitudinal axis.

[0020] The protrusion has a gap, into which a locking element can engage to prevent displacement of the slider.

[0021] At the head end of the slider, a protrusion can also be used to trigger the absolute position sensor.

[0022] In addition, the electric remote actuator has a prism-shaped locking element with a substantially triangular base and movable about a locking rotation axis to prevent simultaneous movement of the two sliders by engaging in the gap between the protrusions when they simultaneously abut against the protrusions of the opposing sliders.

[0023] When two electric remote drives are installed in a mirror-symmetrical manner, the protrusions of the opposing sliders, facing each other at different heights, together with the locking element, form a locking mechanism. By engaging in the gap of one protrusion and abutting against the other, one slider is blocked from moving as the other slider moves. If the locking element is omitted, the locking function is also omitted.

[0024] The electric remote drive preferably has an absolute position sensor for determining shift conditions by identifying the corresponding end position of the slider.

[0025] Absolute position sensors can be used to detect the current switching state of electric switching devices and to process it in the higher-level control system of electrical equipment.

[0026] In addition, the absolute position sensor is configured such that the protrusion of the slider directly actuates the corresponding absolute position sensor when it reaches the end position of the slider.

[0027] The absolute position sensor can be directly attached to the drive mechanism at the height of the protrusion, or when two electric remote drives are mounted in a mirror-symmetrical manner, they can be directly attached to the drive mechanism at the height of the corresponding protrusion, so that they are actuated by the front end of the retracted protrusion.

[0028] Advantageously, the absolute position sensor is configured to be mechanically decoupled from it, and the absolute position sensor is actuated by a belt tensioning device having a belt tensioning guide, through which the belt fastened to the slider is guided to the absolute position sensor.

[0029] As an alternative to directly actuating the absolute position sensor via a slider protrusion and directly attaching it to the drive mechanism, the absolute position sensor can also be mechanically decoupled and positioned externally to the movable element of the actuator, and actuated by a belt tensioning device. This positioning of the absolute position sensor prevents the transmission of mechanical vibrations that may occur during switching.

[0030] For this purpose, the belt tensioning device has a belt tensioning guide, through which the belt attached to the slider is guided to the absolute position sensor, and the belt switches to the absolute position sensor.

[0031] In addition, the absolute position sensor is designed as an optical sensor or a limit switch.

[0032] Absolute position sensors can be designed as non-contact optical sensors, such as in the form of a fork grating, whose beam is interrupted by protrusions on a slider or a belt with a tensioning device. Alternatively, contact switches, such as limit switches, can be used as absolute position sensors.

[0033] The electric remote drive also includes an inner housing portion with a rocker arm or switch knob housing and an outer housing portion surrounding the electromagnet.

[0034] The inner housing portion (corresponding to the housing portion adjacent to the plane of symmetry when the two electric remote drives are mounted in a mirror-symmetrical manner) is designed to house the rocker arm and shift knob. The outer housing portion houses the electromagnet.

[0035] The present invention also relates to an electric remote drive device having an electric remote drive according to the present invention, and having an electric switching device and a substrate, the substrate being mounted in a vibration damping manner and having an electronic component assembly, wherein a decoupling spring establishes a conductive and mechanical decoupling connection between the electronic component assembly and the switching clamp of the switching device.

[0036] In this embodiment of the invention, the claimed electric remote drive device therefore includes not only the electric remote drive according to the invention, but also an electric switching device and a vibration-damped substrate, the substrate having decoupling springs and an electronic component assembly housing the measuring and control electronics of the electric switching device. Thus, the substrate forms a printed circuit board carrying the electronic components. The conductive decoupling springs establish an electrically and mechanically decoupled connection between the switching clamps attached to the switching device and the vibration-damped electronic component assembly mounted on the substrate. This significantly reduces installation work, particularly wiring, while also reducing the possibility of errors.

[0037] Preferably, the substrate is mounted in a vibration-damping manner using a rubber damper.

[0038] A printed circuit board designed as a substrate is mounted on a vibration damping element in the form of a rubber damper. The rubber damper has internal threads at its head end for screw fastening and is secured to the substrate and the lateral protrusions of the corner rail by screws.

[0039] The present invention also relates to an electric remote drive unit having electric remote drive devices according to the invention on the left and right sides (the left and right arrangement corresponds to the front view from the remote drive unit), the electric remote drive devices on the left and right sides being arranged to be mirror symmetrical to each other and mounted on an angle rail by threaded bolts passing through receiving holes in the electric remote drive and electric switching device.

[0040] In an embodiment of the invention, two mirror-symmetrically arranged electric remote drive devices, together with the angle rails, form a fully assembled remote drive unit, requiring only external wiring for the power supply system. In this case, the electric remote drive unit and the electric switching device are clamped between the angle rails by bolts with continuous threads, and the base plate is designed as an integral base plate shared by the left and right switching devices. The remote drive unit can be mounted on, for example, a support rail using the angle rails as structural units.

[0041] In addition, the electric remote drive unit has a barrel-shaped protective cover that is secured to the corner rail to provide touch safety against dangerous touch voltages on the substrate.

[0042] From a manufacturing and economic perspective, it is advantageous that multiple components are designed as identical parts due to the mirror-symmetric arrangement. This is particularly suitable for drive mechanisms with sliders, rocker arms, and cranks. Therefore, these components can be used on both the left and right sides. Attached Figure Description

[0043] Further advantageous design features are derived from the following description and figures, which use examples to explain preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0044] Figure 1An electric remote drive unit with two mirror-symmetrically arranged electric remote drive devices is shown.

[0045] Figure 2 The view shows the drive mechanism of the remote drive, including the electromagnet, slider, and rocker arm.

[0046] Figure 3 The drive mechanism is shown, including a detailed view of the rocker arm.

[0047] Figure 4 The drive mechanism is shown, including a view of the crank connecting to it.

[0048] Figure 5 A drive mechanism with a locking element is shown.

[0049] Figure 6 A drive mechanism with a tensioning device is shown.

[0050] Figure 7 A drive mechanism with a tensioning device and an electric remote drive for mirror symmetry is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0051] Figure 1 An electric remote drive unit 90 is shown, which has two electric remote drive devices 80 arranged in a mirror-symmetric manner with each other.

[0052] Therefore, the complete electric remote drive unit 90 consists of two electric remote drive devices 80 with angle rails 55, and can be installed as a complete assembly unit, for example, mounted on a support rail (not shown).

[0053] Each of the left and right mirror-shaped electric remote drive devices 80 includes an electric remote drive 2 and one or more electric switching devices 4, each of which is operable via a shift shaft 5.

[0054] Each electric remote drive 2 has an inner housing portion 56 and an outer housing portion 58, and is fastened together with the electric switching device 4 between the angle rails 55 by bolts 54 having continuous threads.

[0055] Each electric switchgear 4 is equipped with a switch clamp 7 for contacting the conductors of the power supply system.

[0056] As a protection against dangerous touch voltages on the substrate 50 (circuit board), a tub-shaped protective cover 53 is fastened to the rear corner rail 55.

[0057] The electric remote drive unit 90 can also be expanded in such a way that, for example, four electric switching devices 4 are provided on each side to switch the four-wire network.

[0058] exist Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 The image shows a view of the drive mechanism of the electric remote drive 2, including an actuator 6 formed as an electromagnet, a slider 10, a rocker arm 20, and a crank 30.

[0059] The rocker arm 20 has a first lever arm 21 ( Figure 3 The first lever arm 21 engages in the barrel cavity 12 of the slider 10 and moves about the rocker arm rotation axis 23 when the slider 10 is displaced. The second lever arm 22 of the rocker arm 20 has a notch 24 at its end, and the crank 30 ( Figure 4 Sales of 31 ( Figure 4 It engages in the notch 24, thereby driving the crank 30 to pivot.

[0060] The section of the rocker arm rotation axis 23 has an axially offset apex profile 26. Figure 3 The leaf spring 25 presses on the apex of the dome-shaped profile to fix the switch position (angular position) in two stable states.

[0061] Four decoupling springs 52 arranged in pairs opposite each other form a conductive and mechanically decoupled connection between the switch clamp 7 of the electric switch device 4 and the group of electronic components disposed on the substrate 50.

[0062] The base plate 50 is attached to the lateral protrusion of the corner rail 55 by a rubber buffer 51, the head end of which has an internal thread for screw fastening.

[0063] Figure 3 A detailed view of the drive mechanism is shown, including a rocker arm 20 with a first lever arm 21 and a second lever arm 22.

[0064] The leaf spring 25 abuts against one side of the top profile 26 of the rocker arm rotation shaft 23 to fix the switch position.

[0065] The shift knob 28 for manual shifting is axially attached to the rocker arm rotation shaft 23.

[0066] Figure 4 The drive mechanism is shown, including a view of the crank 30.

[0067] The crank 30 is axially attached to the rocker arm 20 and has an arcuate elongated hole 33 for this purpose, so that the crank 30 can be attached without colliding with the rocker arm rotation axis 23.

[0068] By engaging pin 31 in the notch 24 of the second lever arm 22 of rocker arm 20, crank 30 is pivoted. This is to transmit torque to the shift shaft 5 of the electric switching device 4. Figure 1 The crank 30 has a receiving bore 32 in the form of internal teeth.

[0069] Figure 5 A drive mechanism with a locking element 60 is shown.

[0070] The slider 10 has a web-like protrusion 14, which, when viewed in the displacement direction, has a gap 15 along one edge of its side. A locking element 60, movable about a locking rotation axis 62, engages in this gap. For this purpose, the locking element 60 is in the form of a prism with a substantially triangular base.

[0071] In the electric remote drive unit 90, due to the mirror symmetrical position of the electric remote drive device 80 at the end position of one of the sliders 10, one edge of the locking element 60 is parallel to the thin plate-shaped protrusion 14 of the slider 10, thereby enabling its displacement, while the other slider 10 is blocked by the locking element 60 engaged in the gap 15 of the protrusion 14.

[0072] The switching state of the electric switch device 4 is determined by identifying the corresponding end position of the slider 10. For this purpose, absolute position sensors 40 are mounted opposite each other on a printed circuit board 41, which is vertically introduced from the drive mechanism into the substrate 50, such that when the slider 10 reaches its end position, the front end of the protrusion 14 directly actuates the absolute position sensor 40. Preferably, the absolute position sensor 40 is designed as a fork-shaped grating.

[0073] Figure 6 A drive mechanism with a tensioning device for actuating the absolute position sensor 40 is shown.

[0074] The belt tensioning device consists of two pairs of belt tensioning guides 72 for each slider 10, which are arc-shaped and laid from the corresponding end position of the slider 10 to the base plate 50 at the height of the protrusion 14. The belt 74 fastened to the slider 10 is guided to the absolute position sensor 40 by the belt tensioning guides 72. Figure 7 The absolute position sensor 40 is preferably designed as an optical sensor in the form of a forked grating and is triggered by the stretching and compressing motion of the belt 74. Therefore, the belt tensioning device makes the absolute position sensor 40 ( Figure 7 It can be positioned outside the moving element of the actuator in a mechanically decoupled manner, as an alternative to being directly actuated by the protrusion 14.

[0075] Figure 7 A drive mechanism with a tensioning device is shown, having an electric remote drive 80 for mirror symmetry.

[0076] The tension guide 72 extends in an arc shape from the end position of the slider 10 toward the substrate 50 at the height of the protrusion 14, wherein the belt 74 guided in the tension guide 72 activates the corresponding fork grating.

[0077] As can be seen, receiving borehole 57 (in the electric remote drive 2 and electric switching device 4) Figure 1 ), threaded bolts 54 ( Figure 1 ) is guided through receiving borehole 57 to allow two mirror-symmetrically positioned electric remote drive units 80 ( Figure 1 Clamped in the angle rail 55 ( Figure 1 )between.

Claims

1. An electric remote drive (2) for actuating an electric switching device (4) by means of rotational force transmitted via a shift shaft (5). The electric remote drive (2) has two actuators (6) that are independently actuated and act as opposing electromagnets on a movable slider (10). Its features are, The slider (10) has a cavity (12) for moving the first lever arm (21) of the rocker arm (20) mounted around the rocker arm rotation axis (23). The second lever arm (22) of the rocker arm (20) has a notch (24) at one end. The pin (31) of the crank (30) engages in the notch (24). The pin (31) is connected to the shift shaft (5) in a form fit (32) and has an arc-shaped elongated hole (33). The rocker arm rotation axis (23) extends through the arc-shaped elongated hole (33). A section of the rocker arm rotation axis (23) is formed on the circumference as an axially offset top profile (26). The leaf spring (25) abuts against the top profile (26) to fix the shift position.

2. The electric remote drive (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a shift knob (28) that can be axially attached to the rocker arm rotation shaft (23) and used for manual switching.

3. The electric remote drive (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The slider (10) has a thin plate-shaped protrusion (14) with a gap (15) on its edge along its long side.

4. The electric remote drive (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that, It also includes a prism-shaped locking element (60) having a substantially triangular base and being movable about a locking rotation axis (62) so that when the locking element (60) simultaneously abuts against the protrusion (14) of the opposing slider (10), the locking element (60) prevents the simultaneous movement of the two sliders (10) by engaging in the gap (15) of the protrusion (14).

5. The electric remote drive (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes an absolute position sensor (40) for determining shift conditions by identifying the corresponding end position of the slider (10).

6. The electric remote drive (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The absolute position sensor (40) is configured such that the protrusion (14) of the slider (10) directly actuates the corresponding absolute position sensor (40) when it reaches the end position of the slider (10).

7. The electric remote drive (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The absolute position sensor (40) is configured to be mechanically decoupled from it and actuated by a belt tensioning device having a belt tensioning guide (72) through which the belt (74) fastened to the slider (10) is guided to the absolute position sensor (40).

8. The electric remote drive (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The absolute position sensor (40) is designed as an optical sensor or a limit switch.

9. The electric remote drive (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes an inner housing portion (56) and an outer housing portion (58), the inner housing portion (56) having a rocker arm or switch knob receiving cavity, and the outer housing portion (58) surrounding the electromagnet.

10. An electric remote drive device (80) having an electric remote driver (2) according to claim 9, the electric remote drive device (80) having an electric switch device (4) and a substrate (50) the substrate (50) being mounted in a vibration damping manner and having an electronic component assembly, a decoupling spring (52) establishing a conductive and mechanically decoupled connection between the electronic component assembly and the switch clamp (7) of the electric switch device (4).

11. The electric remote drive device (80) according to claim 10, characterized in that, The substrate (50) is mounted in a vibration-damping manner using a rubber damper (51).

12. An electric remote drive unit (90) having an electric remote drive device (80) on the left and right sides according to any one of claims 10 and 11, the electric remote drive devices (80) on the left and right sides being configured to be mirror symmetrical to each other and mounted on an angle rail (55) by threaded bolts (54) passing through receiving holes (57) in the electric remote drive (2) and receiving holes (57) in the electric switching device (4).

13. The electric remote drive unit (90) according to claim 12, characterized in that, It also includes a barrel-shaped protective cover (53), which is fastened to the rear side of the corner rail (55) to provide touch safety from dangerous touch voltages on the substrate (50).

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