A circuit breaker based outdoor safety system

Abstract

The application discloses an outdoor safety system based on a circuit breaker and belongs to the technical field of power equipment parts. The safety lock system comprises a lock body assembly, an electric drive assembly and a three-stage interlocking mechanism. The lock body assembly is provided with a blocking rod, and physical locking or unlocking is realized by extending into or withdrawing from the operating mechanism handle stroke path. The electric drive assembly comprises an eccentric output motor, a push rod, a motor angle encoder and a pressure sensor. The motor angle encoder and the pressure sensor form a double feedback verification mechanism. When the angle is in place but the pressure does not change, the motor power supply is cut off. The three-stage interlocking mechanism comprises a first interlocking circuit connected in series in the closing and opening circuit, a second interlocking circuit connected with the grounding switch and a third interlocking circuit electrically connected with the live display, and realizes three-stage anti-misoperation management of the operation state, the operation authority and the line live state. The application realizes mechanical and electrical double locking, real-time state monitoring and remote authorization management, effectively prevents misoperation and guarantees the safe operation of the power grid.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of power equipment components technology, and more specifically, to an outdoor safety system based on a circuit breaker. Background Technology

[0002] Outdoor circuit breakers are core devices in power distribution networks for fault isolation and power restoration, and their safety protection performance directly affects the operational reliability of the power distribution network. Currently, the safety protection design of existing outdoor circuit breakers has significant shortcomings in the following aspects: 1. Poor reliability of mechanical interlocking structures Existing equipment mostly uses purely mechanical interlocking structures such as handle latches and limit pins. These are prone to loosening, jamming, or fatigue failure under harsh outdoor conditions such as strong winds, continuous vibrations, and large temperature differences. Furthermore, they lack effective anti-vandalism designs. Once the mechanical interlocks fail, the equipment loses its protective capability, which may lead to unplanned power outages and affect the reliability of the power distribution network.

[0003] 2. Lack of electromechanical integrated protection mechanism The existing equipment lacks a dual protection system combining mechanical locking and electrical interlocking, and also lacks hierarchical authorization management of operating permissions. Remote operation and maintenance still requires on-site personnel, resulting in long fault response cycles and severely impacting the efficiency of power distribution network fault handling.

[0004] 3. Insufficient state awareness and environmental protection capabilities. The existing equipment lacks real-time monitoring capabilities for locked states and also lacks means to sense environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, and vibration. The protective design does not adequately consider outdoor environmental factors such as rain, dust, and salt spray; metal components are prone to corrosion and jamming; electronic components have poor anti-interference capabilities; and long-term operational reliability is difficult to guarantee.

[0005] With the deepening of smart grid construction, especially the rapid development of new application scenarios such as the large-scale integration of distributed power sources and microgrid regulation, distribution networks are placing higher demands on the safety, intelligence level, and remote operation and maintenance capabilities of equipment. These shortcomings have become a significant bottleneck restricting the intelligent upgrading of distribution networks, necessitating the development of new outdoor circuit breakers with dual locking, authorized management, real-time status monitoring, and strong environmental adaptability. Therefore, we propose an outdoor safety system based on circuit breakers. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide an outdoor safety system based on a circuit breaker to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: An outdoor safety system based on a circuit breaker includes: The lock body assembly is fixed to the outside of the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker. The lock body assembly includes a stop bar that extends into or out of the handle travel path of the operating mechanism to physically lock or unlock the operating mechanism. The electric drive assembly includes an eccentric output motor, a push rod, a motor angle encoder, and a pressure sensor; the eccentric output motor drives the stop bar of the lock body assembly to move via the push rod; the motor angle encoder detects the rotation angle of the eccentric output motor, and the pressure sensor detects the pressure at the abutting end of the push rod; The three-level interlocking mechanism includes a first interlocking circuit, a second interlocking circuit, and a third interlocking circuit. The first interlocking circuit is connected in series in the closing and opening circuits of the circuit breaker to control the on / off state of the closing or opening signal. The second interlocking circuit is linked to the grounding switch of the circuit breaker to control the on / off state of the closing or opening signal. The third interlocking circuit is electrically connected to the live indicator of the circuit breaker to control the power supply to the safety lock coil. The control system receives angle signals from the motor angle encoder and pressure signals from the pressure sensor, and controls the rotation angle of the eccentric output motor and the stroke of the push rod according to the angle and pressure signals. The control system pre-stores the correspondence between the rotation angle of the eccentric output motor, the stroke of the push rod, and the contact pressure. When the angle signal indicates that the eccentric output motor has rotated to the correct position but the pressure signal has not reached the corresponding pressure threshold, the control system determines that the angle signal and the pressure signal are mismatched, and cuts off the power supply circuit of the eccentric output motor through the protection relay.

[0008] Preferably, the control system controls the eccentric output motor to drive in the following angle segments: within the 0° to 90° range, the push rod moves to 25% of its stroke; within the 90° to 180° range, the push rod moves to 50% of its stroke; within the 180° to 360° range, the push rod returns to the origin from 50% of its stroke. When the pressure signal does not reach the corresponding pressure threshold in any angle range, the power supply circuit is cut off and a fault alarm signal is output.

[0009] Preferably, the lock body assembly further includes a housing, one end of the stop rod is installed inside the housing and slides in cooperation with the housing, and the end of the stop rod located inside the housing is sequentially fitted with a first limiting baffle, a limiting spring and a second limiting baffle, the stop rod slides in cooperation with the second limiting baffle and the stop rod is fixedly connected to the first limiting baffle; A lever is provided on one side of the outer shell. The middle part of the lever is rotatably connected to the inner wall of the outer shell through a pivot. One end of the lever can contact the first limit baffle, and the other end of the lever is provided with a push-locking mechanism. The push-locking mechanism can make the lever rotate around the pivot.

[0010] Preferably, the push-locking mechanism includes a pull rod that passes through the housing and slides with the housing. A first return spring is sleeved on the part of the pull rod inside the housing. A baffle is connected to the end of the first return spring. A second return spring is provided above the baffle. A return buckle is provided above the second return spring. A cylinder is provided on the top surface of the return buckle. The pull rod passes through the baffle and the return buckle in sequence and is connected to the cylinder. A disc is provided at the end of the cylinder. A hook is provided on the disc and is connected to the end of the lever arm. A chuck is provided on one side of the pull rod. The end of the chuck near the baffle is set with an arc surface, and the end of the chuck away from the pull rod is set with a spring. A limit groove is provided on the inner wall of the outer shell. The chuck slides in the limit groove, and the spring is set in the limit groove.

[0011] Preferably, the side of the reset buckle is a structure of two oppositely arranged inclined surfaces, and the top surface of the baffle is provided with a groove, so that half of the height of the reset buckle can be moved into the groove.

[0012] Preferably, the upper end of the push rod is connected to the output shaft of the eccentric output motor via a ball bearing, and an electric positioning slot is provided on the disc, with the lower end of the push rod corresponding to the position of the electric positioning slot in the horizontal direction.

[0013] Preferably, the first interlocking circuit includes a safety lock auxiliary contact, which is connected in series in the control circuits of the closing contactor and the opening contactor of the circuit breaker. The safety lock auxiliary contact is a normally open contact, and its moving contact is linked to the stop lever. The second interlocking circuit includes a grounding switch interlocking contact, which is connected in series in the control circuits of the closing contactor and the opening contactor. The grounding switch interlocking contact is a normally open contact, and its moving contact is linked to the grounding switch operating shaft of the circuit breaker. The third interlocking circuit includes a live display interlocking contact, which is connected in series in the power supply circuit of the safety lock locking coil. The live display interlocking contact is a normally closed contact, and its coil end is electrically connected to the output terminal of the live display of the circuit breaker.

[0014] Preferably, the control system includes an interlocking control module, a motor drive module, and a sensor feedback module; The input terminal of the interlocking control module is connected to the safety lock auxiliary contact, the grounding switch interlocking contact, and the live display interlocking contact; the output terminal of the interlocking control module is connected to the motor drive module. The drive end of the motor drive module is connected to the power supply end of the eccentric output motor; The input end of the sensing feedback module is connected to the output end of the motor angle encoder and the pressure sensor, and the output end of the sensing feedback module is connected to the feedback end of the interlocking control module. The input terminal of the protection relay is connected to the output terminal of the sensing feedback module, and its main contacts are connected in series in the power supply circuit of the eccentric output motor. The protection relay operates when the angle signal and the pressure signal do not match, cutting off the power supply to the eccentric output motor. It also includes a communication module, whose input end is connected to the output end of the control system, and is used to remotely transmit the open / closed status of the safety lock, the rotation angle of the eccentric output motor, the pressure value of the pressure sensor, and the energized status of the line to the operation and maintenance center.

[0015] Preferably, the housing is made of 6061 aluminum alloy, and the surface of the housing has an anodized film layer with a thickness of ≥15μm; each joint surface of the housing is provided with a sealing gasket, and the protection level of the housing is IP65.

[0016] Preferably, the circuit breaker includes a control and protection circuit that detects the line current. When the short-circuit current is ≥20kA or the overcurrent duration is ≥0.1s, the circuit breaker skips the interlocking verification of the three-level interlocking mechanism and directly triggers the trip contactor to operate.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: (1) This invention constructs a dual-redundant safety system of "mechanical + electrical" by combining the physical locking of the mechanical lock body with the logical protection of the three-level series electrical interlock. The mechanical lock body achieves physical blocking by directly engaging the operating mechanism handle's travel path with a stop bar. The three-level electrical interlock (closing and opening interlock, grounding interlock, and live interlock) cuts off the control circuit in terms of electrical logic. The two are independent of each other and complement each other, fully meeting the "five protections" requirements of the power system. At the same time, this invention adopts a dual feedback verification mechanism of motor angle encoder and pressure sensor. The angle encoder confirms whether the motor rotation is in place, and the pressure sensor verifies whether the lock has truly completed the locking or unlocking action from a physical perspective. The two are compared in real time. When the angle is in place but the pressure does not change, it is immediately determined to be mechanical jamming and the power supply to the motor is cut off. This effectively avoids misjudgment of the state caused by mechanical failures such as transmission tripping and foreign object jamming, and eliminates the risk of live operation errors. Under normal operating conditions, the control and protection circuit is strictly constrained by three-level interlocking. When a short-circuit fault (current ≥ 20kA) or overcurrent duration ≥ 0.1s occurs on the line, the fault tripping priority is higher than the interlocking logic. The tripping can be triggered directly without the need for a safety lock to unlock, which not only ensures the safety against misoperation but also ensures the absolute priority of protection actions under fault conditions.

[0018] (2) This invention integrates manual and electric operation into the same lock body. The vertical movement of the pull rod assembly is converted into the lateral extension and retraction of the stop rod through the lever arm. The structure is compact and the space utilization rate is high. The arc surface of the card knife and the unlocking stop plate cooperate to realize the reciprocating self-locking logic of "pull to lock, pull again to unlock", which is convenient to operate. The pull rod reset spring and the limit spring reset in both directions and automatically reset after unlocking. The electric positioning slot and the push rod position are designed to ensure consistent repeatability. The motor is driven in three segments (0°→90°→180°→360°) to simulate the gradual operation logic of manual operation, reduce impact load, and extend mechanical life.

[0019] (3) The communication module of the auxiliary circuit of this invention uploads operating parameters such as the opening and closing status of the safety lock, motor rotation angle, pressure value and line energization status to the remote operation and maintenance center in real time, realizing visual monitoring and abnormal early warning of status. The operation and maintenance personnel can grasp the safety status of the equipment without being on-site. The electric interlock has a higher priority than the manual interlock. In the electric interlock state, the manual operation circuit is forcibly cut off to prevent unauthorized personnel from opening it illegally. In the manual interlock state, the authorized remote system can issue an electric unlocking command after the conditions of energized interlock and grounding interlock are met, realizing remote control, effectively solving the efficiency bottleneck of the existing equipment remote operation and maintenance requiring manual on-site presence, greatly reducing operation and maintenance costs and improving fault handling efficiency. This invention realizes the organic integration of a four-dimensional safety protection system of "physical layer (mechanical lock body), logic layer (three-level electrical interlock), perception layer (angle + pressure dual feedback), and control layer (remote authorization + fault priority)". Each layer is independent and complementary, with a compact structure and convenient installation. It is suitable for different load levels of 6-12kV distribution network. The number of reclosing times can be preset and flexibly configured, which has wide applicability and promotion value. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the lock body assembly of the present invention without electronic control; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall assembly of the lock body component of the present invention; Figure 3 The lock body assembly of the present invention Figure 2 Schematic diagram of cross-section at point AA; Figure 4 This is a system block diagram design of the present invention; Figure 5 This is the electrical schematic diagram of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the outdoor circuit breaker installation according to the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the unlocked state of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the locked state of the present invention.

[0021] Explanation of the numbers in the diagram: 1. Housing; 2. Spring; 3. Knife; 4. Lever arm; 5. Stop bar; 6. First limit stop; 7. Limit spring; 8. Second limit stop; 9. Hook; 10. Electric positioning slot; 11. Disc; 12. Cylinder; 13. Reset buckle; 14. Second reset spring; 15. Baffle; 16. Pull rod; 17. First reset spring; 18. Pull ring; 19. Push rod; 20. Eccentric output motor; 21. Ball bearing; S1. Safety lock auxiliary contact; S2. Grounding switch interlock contact; S3. Live indicator interlock contact; BG. Motor angle encoder; SP. Pressure sensor; KM. Protection relay; KM-H. Closing contactor; KM-T. Opening contactor; DX. Live indicator; HQ. Closing coil; TQ. Opening coil; KAI. Intermediate relay; TA Opening button; HA, closing button; SA, changeover switch; FU, fuse; DC24V, DC power supply. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments.

[0023] Example: like Figure 6 As shown, an outdoor circuit breaker with a safety lock includes a main circuit, a control and protection circuit, an operating mechanism, a safety lock system, and an auxiliary circuit. The main circuit includes a vacuum interrupter, a conductive circuit, and insulated poles. The vacuum interrupter is used to reliably interrupt fault current, the conductive circuit is used to carry the normal load current of the line, and the insulated poles use outdoor-specific insulating materials to ensure the insulation performance between the main circuit and the grounding part. The main circuit is designed according to the GB / T 1984-2014 standard "High Voltage AC Circuit Breakers," and is suitable for AC 50Hz, 12kV distribution network lines, with a rated current of 630A or 1250A and a short-circuit breaking current of 20kA or 25kA.

[0024] The control and protection circuit consists of a reclosing controller, voltage transformers, current transformers, and relays. The voltage and current transformers are installed on the line side to collect line voltage and current signals in real time, which are then transmitted to the reclosing controller via signal lines. The reclosing controller analyzes and processes the received voltage and current signals to determine if there are faults such as overcurrent, short circuit, or undervoltage on the line. When a fault is detected, the reclosing controller issues a tripping command via a relay, controlling the operating mechanism to perform the tripping action. After tripping, the reclosing controller triggers the reclosing logic according to a preset delay (the delay time can be set within the range of 0.3s to 5s depending on line requirements), performing a maximum of 3 reclosing operations. If reclosing fails, the circuit is blocked.

[0025] The operating mechanism uses a permanent magnet mechanism or a spring mechanism as the drive unit, and is equipped with an energy storage unit to provide power for opening and closing operations. The energy storage unit is powered by the energy storage power supply of the auxiliary circuit. When a permanent magnet mechanism is used, its response speed is ≤50ms and its mechanical life is ≥15,000 cycles, making it suitable for scenarios with high operating frequency (≥5 times per day) and high reliability requirements. When a spring mechanism is used, its mechanical life is ≥10,000 cycles, making it suitable for cost-sensitive scenarios with medium operating frequency (≤3 times per day).

[0026] The safety lock system is fixedly installed on the outside of the circuit breaker's operating mechanism to provide dual redundancy protection through mechanical locking and electrical interlocking. The control system is connected to both the safety lock system and the control protection circuit signals.

[0027] Please see Figure 1-8 An outdoor safety system based on a circuit breaker, comprising: The locking body assembly is fixed to the outside of the circuit breaker's operating mechanism. The locking body assembly includes a housing 1 and a stop lever 5. The housing 1 is fixedly installed on the outside of the circuit breaker's operating mechanism. One end of the stop lever 5 is installed inside the housing 1 and slides within it. The other end of the stop lever 5 can extend into or out of the operating mechanism's handle travel path. Specifically, the housing 1 has a through hole on the side facing the operating mechanism handle for the stop lever 5 to pass through. After passing through this through hole, the stop lever 5 extends into the operating mechanism's handle travel path, limiting the handle's position and thus physically blocking the circuit breaker's energy storage or closing action.

[0028] In this application, a first limiting baffle 6, a limiting spring 7, and a second limiting baffle 8 are sequentially fitted onto one end of the stop rod 5 located inside the outer casing 1. The stop rod 5 and the second limiting baffle 8 are in sliding engagement, meaning the second limiting baffle 8 is fixed to the inner wall of the outer casing 1, and the stop rod 5 can slide freely relative to the second limiting baffle 8. The stop rod 5 is fixedly connected to the first limiting baffle 6, and the first limiting baffle 6 moves synchronously with the stop rod 5. The limiting spring 7 is disposed between the first limiting baffle 6 and the second limiting baffle 8, with one end abutting against the first limiting baffle 6 and the other end abutting against the second limiting baffle 8, and is used to provide buffering and restoring force for the extension and retraction of the stop rod 5.

[0029] A lever 4 is provided on one side of the outer casing 1. The middle part of the lever 4 is rotatably connected to the inner wall of the outer casing 1 through a pivot. The lever 4 can rotate around the pivot. One end of the lever 4 can contact the first limiting baffle 6. The other end of the lever 4 is provided with a push locking mechanism. The push locking mechanism can make the lever 4 rotate around the pivot. When the lever 4 rotates, one end of it presses against the first limiting baffle 6, thereby driving the stop rod 5 to move to the right (i.e., the extension direction of the stop rod 5), so that the stop rod 5 extends into the handle stroke path to achieve locking.

[0030] In this application, the push-locking mechanism includes a pull rod 16, which passes through the outer casing 1 and slides with it. One end of the pull rod 16 located outside the outer casing 1 is connected to a pull ring 18 for manual pulling by the operator. A first return spring 17 is fitted inside the outer casing 1, with one end of the first return spring 17 abutting against the inner wall of the outer casing 1. A baffle 15 is connected to the other end of the first return spring 17. A second return spring 14 is positioned above the baffle 15, and a reset buckle 13 is positioned above the second return spring 14. A cylinder 12 is positioned on the top surface of the reset buckle 13. The pull rod 16 passes through the baffle 15 and the reset buckle 13 in sequence and connects to the cylinder 12. The baffle 15 slides with the pull rod 16. A disc 11 is positioned at the end of the cylinder 12, and a hook 9 is positioned on the disc 11. The hook 9 is connected to the end of the lever arm 4.

[0031] A chuck 3 is provided on one side of the pull rod 16. The end of the chuck 3 near the baffle 15 is set as an arc surface, and the end of the chuck 3 away from the pull rod 16 is provided with a spring 2. A limit groove is provided on the inner wall of the outer shell 1. The chuck 3 slides in the limit groove. The spring 2 is set in the limit groove. One end of the spring 2 abuts against the bottom of the limit groove, and the other end abuts against the chuck 3, providing elastic thrust to the chuck 3 in the direction of the pull rod 16.

[0032] In this application, the side of the reset buckle 13 is a two-sloped structure with opposite sides, and the top surface of the baffle 15 is provided with a groove, and half of the height of the reset buckle 13 can be moved into the groove.

[0033] The electric drive assembly includes an eccentric output motor 20, a push rod 19, a motor angle encoder BG, and a pressure sensor SP; the eccentric output motor 20 drives the stop bar 5 of the lock body assembly to move via the push rod 19; the motor angle encoder BG detects the rotation angle of the eccentric output motor 20, and the pressure sensor SP detects the pressure at the abutting end of the push rod 19.

[0034] The eccentric output motor 20 is fixedly installed inside the housing 1. The upper end of the push rod 19 is connected to the output shaft of the eccentric output motor 20 via a ball bearing 21. The disc 11 is provided with an electric positioning slot 10, and the lower end of the push rod 19 corresponds to the position of the electric positioning slot 10 in the horizontal direction. When the eccentric output motor 20 rotates, it drives the push rod 19 to move up and down through the ball bearing 21. The lower end of the push rod 19 extends into the electric positioning slot 10, pushing the disc 11 to move downward, thereby driving the power arm 4 to rotate through the hook 9, realizing electric locking or unlocking.

[0035] The motor angle encoder BG is installed at the end of the output shaft of the eccentric output motor 20 to detect the rotation angle of the eccentric output motor 20 in real time and feed the angle signal back to the control system. The pressure sensor SP is integrated at the bottom of the push rod 19 to detect the pressure at the abutting end of the push rod 19 in real time, that is, the abutting pressure between the push rod 19 and the electric positioning slot 10, and feed the pressure signal back to the control system.

[0036] The three-level interlocking mechanism includes a first interlocking circuit, a second interlocking circuit, and a third interlocking circuit. The first interlocking circuit is connected in series in the closing and opening circuits of the circuit breaker to control the on / off of the closing or opening signal. The second interlocking circuit is linked to the grounding switch of the circuit breaker to control the on / off of the closing or opening signal. The third interlocking circuit is electrically connected to the live indicator of the circuit breaker to control the power supply to the safety lock coil.

[0037] The first interlocking circuit includes a safety lock auxiliary contact S1, which is connected in series in the control circuits of the closing contactor KM-H and the opening contactor KM-T of the circuit breaker. The safety lock auxiliary contact S1 is a normally open contact, and its moving contact is linked to the stop lever 5. When the stop lever 5 is in the unlocked position (i.e., the stop lever 5 is out of the operating mechanism handle travel path), S1 is closed, and the closing circuit and the opening circuit are connected. When the stop lever 5 is in the locked position (i.e., the stop lever 5 is in the handle travel path), S1 is opened, and the closing circuit and the opening circuit are disconnected.

[0038] The second interlocking circuit includes a grounding switch interlocking contact S2, which is connected in series in the control circuits of the closing contactor KM-H and the opening contactor KM-T. The grounding switch interlocking contact S2 is a normally open contact, and its moving contact is linked to the operating shaft of the grounding switch of the circuit breaker. When the grounding switch is in the open position, S2 is closed; when the grounding switch is in the closed position, S2 is open and triggers the safety lock.

[0039] The third interlocking circuit includes a live indicator interlocking contact S3, which is connected in series in the power supply circuit of the safety lock locking coil. The live indicator interlocking contact S3 is a normally closed contact, and its coil end is electrically connected to the output terminal of the live indicator DX of the circuit breaker. When the line is energized, the live indicator DX sends a signal to open S3, cutting off the power supply circuit of the safety lock locking coil and forcibly locking the safety lock.

[0040] The control system receives the angle signal from the motor angle encoder BG and the pressure signal from the pressure sensor SP, and controls the rotation angle of the eccentric output motor 20 and the stroke of the push rod 19 according to the angle and pressure signals. The control system cuts off the power supply circuit to the eccentric output motor 20 when the angle and pressure signals do not match. The control system pre-stores the correspondence between the motor rotation angle, push rod stroke, and contact pressure. When the angle signal indicates that the eccentric output motor has rotated to the correct position but the pressure signal has not reached the corresponding pressure threshold, it is determined that the angle and pressure signals do not match. Specifically, the control system drives the eccentric output motor 20 in the following angle segments: push rod 19 moves to 25% of its stroke in the 0° to 90° range; push rod 19 moves to 50% of its stroke in the 90° to 180° range; and push rod 19 returns to its origin from 50% of its stroke in the 180° to 360° range.

[0041] In this application, the control system includes an interlocking control module, a motor drive module, and a sensor feedback module.

[0042] The input terminal of the interlocking control module is connected to the safety lock auxiliary contact S1, the grounding switch interlocking contact S2, and the live display interlocking contact S3 to collect the on / off status of each contact. The output terminal of the interlocking control module is connected to the motor drive module. The interlocking control module performs logical judgment based on the status of S1, S2, and S3. When all interlocking conditions are met, it outputs a drive command to the motor drive module.

[0043] The drive end of the motor drive module is connected to the power supply end of the eccentric output motor 20, and is used to control the rotation of the eccentric output motor 20 according to the instructions of the interlock control module.

[0044] The input end of the sensing feedback module is connected to the output end of the motor angle encoder BG and the pressure sensor SP to receive angle and pressure signals. The output end of the sensing feedback module is connected to the feedback end of the interlocking control module to transmit the received angle and pressure signals to the interlocking control module.

[0045] The protection module contains a protection relay KM, which receives both angle and pressure signals. When the angle and pressure do not match (e.g., the angle is in place but the pressure does not change) or when the timeout or limit is exceeded, KM will activate and cut off the power supply to the motor.

[0046] In this application, the outer shell 1 is a 6061 aluminum alloy shell with an anodized film layer on the surface of the shell, and the thickness of the anodized film is ≥15μm; each joint surface of the outer shell 1 is provided with a sealing gasket, and the protection level of the outer shell 1 is IP65, which effectively prevents rain, dust and humid gas from entering the interior of the lock body, and avoids corrosion of metal parts and failure of electronic components due to moisture.

[0047] In this application, the circuit breaker includes a control and protection circuit. The control and protection circuit detects the line current and, when the short-circuit current is ≥20kA or the overcurrent duration is ≥0.1s, skips the interlocking verification of the three-level interlocking mechanism and directly triggers the trip contactor KM-T to operate.

[0048] It also includes a communication module, whose input end is connected to the output end of the control system, and is used to remotely transmit the open / closed status of the safety lock, the rotation angle of the eccentric output motor 20, the pressure value of the pressure sensor, and the energized status of the line to the operation and maintenance center.

[0049] This invention addresses three major technical problems of outdoor circuit breakers: poor reliability of mechanical interlocking, lack of electromechanical integration protection, and insufficient state perception. The solutions are as follows: (1) To address the poor reliability of mechanical interlocking, a physical locking mechanism is used to lock the travel path of the lever extending into / out of the operating mechanism handle, combined with a reciprocating self-locking structure of the lever arm and the push-positioning mechanism, achieving highly reliable mechanical interlocking; (2) To address the lack of electromechanical integration protection, a three-level series electrical interlocking system (closing and opening interlocking, grounding interlocking, and live-line interlocking) is constructed, forming a dual redundancy that is independent and complementary to the mechanical locking; (3) To address the insufficient state perception, a dual feedback verification mechanism of a motor angle encoder and a pressure sensor is introduced, combined with a communication module to achieve real-time uploading of operating parameters, realizing visualized state monitoring. These methods work together to achieve the organic integration of a four-dimensional safety protection system: physical layer, logic layer, perception layer, and control layer.

[0050] Working process of safety lock system (a) Manual locking process like Figure 1 As shown, the operator manually pulls the pull ring 18, which in turn moves the pull rod 16 downwards. The pull rod 16 then sequentially moves the baffle 15, reset buckle 13, cylinder 12, disc 11, and hook 9 downwards as a whole.

[0051] During this process, the arc surface of the chuck 3 contacts the baffle 15. When the baffle 15 moves downward to the position of the chuck 3, the chuck 3 is compressed, the spring 2 is compressed, and the chuck 3 slides away from the pull rod 16. When the baffle 15 continues to move downward to below the chuck 3, the chuck 3 resets under the elastic restoring force of the spring 2, and the lower plane end of the chuck 3 is locked to the upper plane end of the baffle 15, achieving self-locking retention in the locked state.

[0052] Simultaneously, as the lever 16 moves downward, the first return spring 17 is compressed and stores energy. The hook 9 moves downward with the disc 11, causing the power arm 4 to rotate around the axis. The trajectory of the power arm 4 is an arc, and the end connected to the hook 9 experiences a relative displacement from right to left. The other end of the power arm 4 presses against the first limiting baffle 6, causing the first limiting baffle 6 to move to the right, thereby compressing the limiting spring 7. The stop bar 5 moves to the right along with the first limiting baffle 6, protruding from the through hole of the outer casing 1 and engaging in the travel path of the operating mechanism handle, limiting the downward displacement of the handle and achieving safety lock engagement.

[0053] (ii) Manual unlocking process When the operator pulls the pull ring 18 again, the reset latch 13 continues to move downwards with the pull rod 16. Because the side of the reset latch 13 is a sloping structure, when the reset latch 13 moves to the position of the cutter 3, its sloping surface contacts the arc surface of the cutter 3. Since the maximum diameter (or width) of the sloping side wall of the reset latch 13 is greater than or equal to the diameter (or width) of the baffle 15, when half of the reset latch 13 is completely inserted into the groove of the baffle 15, the cutter 3 will be squeezed towards the side wall of the reset latch 13. Figure 1 The leftward movement, as shown, pushes the end of the chuck 3 to the same vertical plane as the side wall of the baffle 15.

[0054] At this time, when the operator releases the pull ring 18, under the elastic restoring force of the first reset spring 17 and the limit spring 7, the pull rod 16 moves upward to reset, and the end of the clamping knife 3 moves to the side wall of the baffle 15. The baffle 15 moves upward, so that the clamping knife 3 is located below the baffle 15. This allows the clamping knife 3 to slide out from the upper surface end of the baffle 15, releasing the clamping of the baffle 15. Under the elastic force of the limit spring 7, the lever arm 4 rotates in the opposite direction to reset, and the stop rod 5 moves to the left with the first limit baffle 6, exiting the travel path of the operating mechanism handle, and the safety lock returns to the unlocked state.

[0055] (III) Electric locking and unlocking process The control system defaults to setting the highest position (i.e., 0° position) of the eccentric output motor 20 to the unlocked state. When the control system receives the interlocking command, it outputs a drive signal to the motor drive module after confirming that S1, S2, and S3 all meet the interlocking conditions.

[0056] The motor drive module controls the eccentric output motor 20 to drive in segments according to the following angles: The eccentric output motor 20 starts rotating from 0°. When it rotates to 90°, the push rod 19 moves downwards to 25% of its stroke, completing the first pull and triggering the initial locking of the safety lock. When the eccentric output motor 20 continues to rotate to 180°, the push rod 19 moves downwards to 50% of its stroke, completing the second pull and triggering the full locking of the safety lock. During this process, the motor angle encoder BG provides real-time feedback of the rotation angle to the sensor feedback module, ensuring the accuracy of angle control. The pressure sensor SP detects the contact pressure at the bottom of the push rod 19 in real time. When the safety lock is fully locked, the pressure value reaches a preset threshold.

[0057] When the control system receives the unlock command, it controls the eccentric output motor 20 to continue rotating, completing a 360° closed-loop rotation. The push rod 19 returns to its origin, and the safety lock re-enters the unlock standby state. During this process, the pressure sensor SP detects that the pressure value has dropped below the threshold. After resetting, the pressure returns to its initial value, forming a closed-loop feedback.

[0058] (iv) Priority control of electric / manual interlocking Electric locking has higher priority than manual locking. In the electric locking state, the electric positioning slot 10 of the safety lock system is locked by the push rod 19, and the manual operation circuit is forcibly cut off, preventing the operator from manually unlocking by pulling the pull ring 18. In the manual locking state, the authorized remote system can issue an electric unlocking command. After confirming that the conditions for live interlock (S3 closed) and grounding interlock (S2 closed) are met, the control system drives the eccentric output motor 20 to rotate and unlock.

[0059] Before executing the electric unlocking command, the control system performs the following judgment sequence in sequence: First, it checks whether the live display interlock contact S3 is closed. If the line is energized, the unlocking process is terminated. Second, it checks whether the grounding switch interlock contact S2 is closed. If the grounding switch is not in the open position, the unlocking process is terminated. Third, it checks whether the safety lock auxiliary contact S1 is open (confirming that it is in the manual lockout state). After all three judgments are passed, the unlocking command is output to the motor drive module.

[0060] Three-level interlocking electrical control logic (a) Closing operation The closing operation must meet the following conditions in sequence: the safety lock is unlocked (the lever 5 is disengaged from the operating mechanism handle travel path, so that S1 is closed), the grounding switch is in the open position (so that S2 is closed), and there is no voltage on the line (the live indicator DX has no lockout signal output, and S3 remains closed).

[0061] Once all the above conditions are met, the interlocking control module confirms that S1, S2, and S3 are all in the conducting state. The main control unit outputs a closing command, energizing the coil of the closing contactor KM-H, closing its main contacts, energizing the closing coil HQ, and driving the circuit breaker to complete the closing action. After the closing is completed, the mechanical auxiliary contacts of the circuit breaker automatically open, the KM-H coil is de-energized, the main contacts reset, and the closing circuit is de-energized.

[0062] (II) Normal tripping operation Normal tripping operation requires the following conditions to be met sequentially: safety lock unlocked (S1 closed), grounding switch tripped (S2 closed), and no live interlock signal (S3 closed). After the above conditions are met, the main control unit outputs a tripping command, the tripping contactor KM-T coil is energized, its main contacts close, energizing the tripping coil TQ, driving the circuit breaker to complete the tripping action. When the tripping is complete, the circuit breaker's mechanical auxiliary contacts open, the KM-T coil is de-energized, the main contacts reset, and the tripping circuit is de-energized.

[0063] (III) Fault tripping operation When the control and protection circuit detects a line current ≥ 20kA (short-circuit current threshold) or an overcurrent duration ≥ 0.1s, it is determined to be a fault scenario. In this case, the control and protection circuit skips the interlocking verification of the three-level interlocking mechanism (i.e., no safety lock unlocking is required) and directly triggers the trip contactor KM-T to achieve rapid tripping. Fault tripping is a protection mechanism, and its priority is higher than the interlocking logic.

[0064] (iv) Safety interlock protection When any of the following conditions occur: the safety lock is not unlocked (S1 is open), the grounding switch is in the closed state (S2 is open), or the line is energized (the energized indicator DX outputs a blocking signal to open S3), the coil circuits of the closing contactor KM-H and the opening contactor KM-T cannot be connected, the contactors remain open, and the opening and closing power circuits are cut off from the control source.

[0065] When the line is energized, the energized indicator contact S3 opens, cutting off the power supply circuit to the safety lock coil and preventing the eccentric output motor 20 from being driven for unlocking. When the line is de-energized, S3 closes, and the unlocking circuit is ready.

[0066] When the safety lock is not unlocked, S2 is open, the grounding switch operating circuit is closed, and closing the grounding switch is prohibited. After the grounding switch is closed, S2 triggers the safety lock to lock, S1 is opened, and the closing circuit is cut off.

[0067] Status monitoring and feedback Throughout the entire operation of the safety lock, the motor angle encoder BG detects the rotation angle of the eccentric output motor 20 in real time (accuracy ±0.5°), and the pressure sensor SP detects the contact pressure at the bottom of the push rod 19 in real time (accuracy ±0.01MPa). Both of these sensors feed the detection signals back to the control system in real time.

[0068] The control system compares and verifies the received angle signal with the pressure signal. When the angle is in place but the pressure does not change, the system determines that there is mechanical jamming, immediately triggers the protection relay KM, cuts off the power supply to the eccentric output motor 20, and locks the safety lock operation circuit until the fault is manually checked.

[0069] Meanwhile, the communication module of the auxiliary circuit remotely transmits the safety lock status and equipment operating status to the operation and maintenance center to achieve remote monitoring.

[0070] Specific application examples In a specific application scenario, a 12kV distribution network line uses an outdoor circuit breaker with a safety lock according to this embodiment, with a rated current of 630A and an operating mechanism using a permanent magnet mechanism.

[0071] When the line is operating normally, the safety lock is in the unlocked state (e.g., Figure 7 As shown), the stop lever 5 exits the travel path of the operating mechanism handle, and the operating mechanism can normally execute the energy storage and closing commands, and the line is powered normally.

[0072] When line maintenance is required, maintenance personnel can manually lock the line by pulling ring 18 on-site (e.g., Figure 8 As shown, the stop lever 5 extends into the handle's travel path, physically blocking the opening and closing actions of the operating mechanism. Simultaneously, S1 is disconnected, cutting off both the closing and opening circuits, creating a dual mechanical and electrical lockout.

[0073] When a short-circuit fault occurs on the line (short-circuit current ≥ 20kA), the control and protection circuit detects the fault signal and directly triggers the trip contactor KM-T to quickly isolate the fault without the need for a safety lock to unlock. After the fault is isolated, the reclosing controller triggers reclosing after a preset delay (e.g., 1s). If the fault is transient, power supply is restored; if the fault is permanent, reclosing fails and the circuit is blocked.

[0074] When the operation and maintenance center needs to operate remotely, it sends an unlocking command through the communication module. After the control system confirms that the line is de-energized (S3 closed) and the grounding switch is open (S2 closed), it drives the eccentric output motor 20 to rotate and unlock, realizing remote control without the need for personnel to be present.

[0075] Environmental adaptability verification In this embodiment, the outer shell 1 is made of 6061 aluminum alloy, and the surface is anodized to form an anodized film layer with a thickness of ≥15μm. Each joint surface of the outer shell 1 is provided with a sealing gasket, and the overall protection level of the outer shell 1 reaches IP65.

[0076] After testing, the safety lock system showed no surface corrosion and flexible operation of the internal transmission mechanism after being subjected to ≥500 hours in a neutral salt spray environment. In high and low temperature environments of -40℃ to +70℃, all components worked normally, and the stop lever 5 extended and retracted smoothly without any jamming.

[0077] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0078] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely preferred examples and are not intended to limit the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as claimed. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An outdoor safety system based on a circuit breaker, characterized in that, include: A lock body assembly is fixed to the outside of the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker. The lock body assembly includes a stop bar (5). The stop bar (5) extends into or out of the handle travel path of the operating mechanism to physically lock or unlock the operating mechanism. The electric drive assembly includes an eccentric output motor (20), a push rod (19), a motor angle encoder, and a pressure sensor; the eccentric output motor (20) drives the stop rod (5) of the lock body assembly to move through the push rod (19); the motor angle encoder detects the rotation angle of the eccentric output motor (20), and the pressure sensor detects the pressure at the abutting end of the push rod (19); The three-level interlocking mechanism includes a first interlocking circuit, a second interlocking circuit, and a third interlocking circuit. The first interlocking circuit is connected in series in the closing and opening circuits of the circuit breaker to control the on / off state of the closing or opening signal. The second interlocking circuit is linked to the grounding switch of the circuit breaker to control the on / off state of the closing or opening signal. The third interlocking circuit is electrically connected to the live indicator of the circuit breaker to control the power supply to the safety lock coil. The control system receives the angle signal from the motor angle encoder and the pressure signal from the pressure sensor, and controls the rotation angle of the eccentric output motor (20) and the stroke of the push rod (19) according to the angle signal and the pressure signal. The control system pre-stores the correspondence between the rotation angle of the eccentric output motor (20) and the stroke and contact pressure of the push rod (19); when the angle signal indicates that the eccentric output motor (20) has rotated to the position but the pressure signal has not reached the corresponding pressure threshold, the control system determines that the angle signal and the pressure signal do not match, and cuts off the power supply circuit of the eccentric output motor (20) through the protection relay.

2. The outdoor safety system based on a circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lock body assembly also includes a housing (1), one end of the stop rod (5) is installed inside the housing (1) and slides in cooperation with the housing (1), and the end of the stop rod (5) located inside the housing (1) is sequentially fitted with a first limiting baffle (6), a limiting spring (7) and a second limiting baffle (8), the stop rod (5) slides in cooperation with the second limiting baffle (8), and the stop rod (5) is fixedly connected to the first limiting baffle (6); A lever (4) is provided on one side of the outer shell (1). The middle part of the lever (4) is rotatably connected to the inner wall of the outer shell (1) through a rotating shaft. One end of the lever (4) can contact the first limiting baffle (6). The other end of the lever (4) is provided with a push-locking mechanism. The push-locking mechanism can make the lever (4) rotate around the rotating shaft.

3. The outdoor safety system based on a circuit breaker according to claim 2, characterized in that, The push-positioning mechanism includes a pull rod (16), which passes through the outer shell (1) and slides with the outer shell (1). The part of the pull rod (16) inside the outer shell (1) is fitted with a first return spring (17). The end of the first return spring (17) is connected to a baffle (15). A second return spring (14) is provided above the baffle (15). A return buckle (13) is provided above the second return spring (14). A cylinder (12) is provided on the top surface of the return buckle (13). The pull rod (16) passes through the baffle (15) and the return buckle (13) in sequence and is connected to the cylinder (12). A disc (11) is provided at the end of the cylinder (12). A hook (9) is provided on the disc (11). The hook (9) is connected to the end of the lever arm (4). A chuck (3) is provided on one side of the pull rod (16). The end of the chuck (3) near the baffle (15) is set as an arc surface. A spring (2) is provided on the end of the chuck (3) away from the pull rod (16). A limit groove is provided on the inner wall of the outer shell (1). The chuck (3) slides with the limit groove. The spring (2) is set in the limit groove.

4. The outdoor safety system based on a circuit breaker according to claim 3, characterized in that, The upper end of the push rod (19) is connected to the output shaft of the eccentric output motor (20) through a ball bearing (21). The disc (11) is provided with an electric positioning slot (10). In the horizontal direction, the lower end of the push rod (19) corresponds to the position of the electric positioning slot (10).

5. An outdoor safety system based on a circuit breaker according to claim 3, characterized in that, The side of the reset buckle (13) is two inclined structures arranged opposite each other. The top surface of the baffle (15) is provided with a groove. Half of the height of the reset buckle (13) can be moved into the groove.

6. The outdoor safety system based on a circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first interlocking circuit includes a safety lock auxiliary contact, which is connected in series in the control circuit of the closing contactor and the opening contactor of the circuit breaker. The safety lock auxiliary contact is a normally open contact, and its moving contact is linked to the stop rod (5). The second interlocking circuit includes a grounding switch interlocking contact, which is connected in series in the control circuits of the closing contactor and the opening contactor. The grounding switch interlocking contact is a normally open contact, and its moving contact is linked to the grounding switch operating shaft of the circuit breaker. The third interlocking circuit includes a live display interlocking contact, which is connected in series in the power supply circuit of the safety lock locking coil. The live display interlocking contact is a normally closed contact, and its coil end is electrically connected to the output terminal of the live display of the circuit breaker.

7. An outdoor safety system based on a circuit breaker according to claim 6, characterized in that, The control system includes an interlocking control module, a motor drive module, and a sensor feedback module; The input terminal of the interlocking control module is connected to the safety lock auxiliary contact, the grounding switch interlocking contact, and the live display interlocking contact, and the output terminal of the interlocking control module is connected to the motor drive module; The drive end of the motor drive module is connected to the power supply end of the eccentric output motor (20); The input end of the sensing feedback module is connected to the output end of the motor angle encoder and the pressure sensor, and the output end of the sensing feedback module is connected to the feedback end of the interlocking control module. The input terminal of the protection relay is connected to the output terminal of the sensing feedback module, and its main contacts are connected in series in the power supply circuit of the eccentric output motor (20); the protection relay operates when the angle signal and the pressure signal do not match, and cuts off the power supply of the eccentric output motor (20). It also includes a communication module, the input of which is connected to the output of the control system, for remotely transmitting the opening and closing status of the safety lock, the rotation angle of the eccentric output motor (20), the pressure value of the pressure sensor, and the energized status of the line to the operation and maintenance center.

8. An outdoor safety system based on a circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control system controls the eccentric output motor (20) to drive in the following angle segments: the push rod (19) moves to 25% of its stroke in the 0° to 90° range, the push rod (19) moves to 50% of its stroke in the 90° to 180° range, and the push rod (19) returns to its origin from 50% of its stroke in the 180° to 360° range; when the pressure signal does not reach the pressure threshold corresponding to any angle range, the control system cuts off the power supply circuit of the eccentric output motor (20) and outputs a fault alarm signal.

9. An outdoor safety system based on a circuit breaker according to claim 2, characterized in that, The outer shell (1) is a 6061 aluminum alloy shell with an anodized film layer on the surface of the shell, the thickness of the anodized film being ≥15μm; each joint surface of the outer shell (1) is provided with a sealing gasket, and the protection level of the outer shell (1) is IP65.

10. An outdoor safety system based on a circuit breaker according to claim 6, characterized in that, The circuit breaker includes a control and protection circuit that detects the line current. When the short-circuit current is ≥20kA or the overcurrent duration is ≥0.1s, the interlocking verification of the three-level interlocking mechanism fails, and the trip contactor directly responds to the tripping command of the control and protection circuit and operates.

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