Operating mechanism for switchgear and switchgear assembly
By combining a rotatable operating handle and a movable padlock in the operating mechanism of the switchgear, the problem of the inability to prevent electric operation in the prior art is solved, thereby improving the safety of bidirectional operation of the switchgear.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202520237875.7
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-02-14
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-28
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-02-14
AI Technical Summary
Existing switchgear padlock mechanisms can only prevent manual operation, not electric operation, posing a safety hazard.
An operating mechanism is designed, including a rotatable operating handle and a movable padlock. By translating the operating handle to the open position to move the padlock to the lock position, the design of the rotating shaft and the driven component prevents the electric operation of the switchgear.
This technology effectively prevents the electric operation of switching equipment in a bidirectional operating mechanism, thus improving safety.
Smart Images
Figure CN223612264U_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to an operating mechanism for a switchgear and a switchgear assembly. BACKGROUND
[0002] In the padlock mechanism of the prior art switchgear, generally only the padlock of the manually operated switchgear can be achieved. However, in some switchgears with bidirectional operating mechanisms, only the padlock of the manually operated switchgear cannot prevent the switchgear from being operated by itself, which still has safety hazards. CONTENT OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In order to overcome the above problems, the present disclosure provides an operating mechanism for a switchgear, which is installed to the switchgear, comprising:
[0004] a housing;
[0005] an operating handle rotatably installed to the housing, rotatable between a closed position and an open position, the operating handle being further configured to be downwardly translatable in a direction along its rotation axis from an initial position towards a translated position when in the open position;
[0006] a padlock member movably installed within the operating handle, configured to be movable from an original position to a padlocked position only when the operating handle in the open position is translated from the initial position to the translated position.
[0007] Advantageously, the operating handle has a first opening, and the padlock member has a second opening, the first opening and the second opening being aligned when the padlock member is moved to the padlocked position, and the first opening and the second opening being misaligned when the padlock member is in the original position.
[0008] Advantageously, the operating handle has:
[0009] a cover body having a circumferential wall portion and a cover portion covering an upper side of the circumferential wall portion, the circumferential wall portion at least partially surrounding the annular protruding wall of the housing;
[0010] an operating portion protruding upwardly from the cover portion.
[0011] Advantageously, the padlock member has:
[0012] a padlock portion accommodated within the operating handle;
[0013] a first stop portion located inside the padlock portion and a second stop portion connected between the padlock portion and the first stop portion, the padlock portion, the first stop portion and the second stop portion enclosing a circumferentially outwardly open groove,
[0014] in the initial position of the operating handle, the first stop portion abuts a portion of the annular protruding wall of the housing,
[0015] In the translated position of the operating handle, the first stop portion disengages from the abutment with the portion of the annular protruding wall and is aligned with the aperture on the annular protruding wall, thereby allowing the movement of the shackle to the shackle position, in which the portion of the annular protruding wall abuts the second stop portion.
[0016] Advantageously, a slit is formed between the circumferential ends of the circumferential wall portion,
[0017] The shackle has a closing portion, which is located outside and spaced apart from the first stop portion and the second stop portion,
[0018] In the translated position of the operating handle, the closing portion is inserted into the slit, such that the arcuate outer surface of the closing portion forms a complete circumferential outer contour with the arcuate outer surface of the circumferential wall portion.
[0019] Advantageously, in the original position, the shackle is concealed within the operating handle, and in the shackle position, at least a portion of the shackle is outside the operating handle.
[0020] Advantageously, the operating mechanism further comprises a rotating shaft fixedly mounted to the operating handle, the operating handle being further configured to be inwardly translatable in the direction along its rotating axis from the initial position to another translated position in the closed position, the another translated position being located between the initial position and the translated position, the rotating shaft having a first protrusion and a second protrusion, the first protrusion and the second protrusion being arranged in a longitudinal direction parallel to the rotating axis, the dimension of the first protrusion perpendicular to the longitudinal direction being smaller than the dimension of the second protrusion perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
[0021] Advantageously, the operating mechanism further comprises:
[0022] a driven member rotatably arranged on the housing, the rotating shaft being operatively coupled to the driven member, such that the driven member is actuated when the rotating shaft is actuated, the driven member being further configured to be operatively connected to the switchgear, the driven member having a first groove and a second groove in communication with each other, the first groove being located at the first end side and the second groove being located at the second end side, the first groove being dimensioned to accommodate the first protrusion and not the second protrusion, the second groove being dimensioned to accommodate the second protrusion,
[0023] In the closed position of the operating handle, when the operating handle is translated to the another translated position, the first protrusion is inserted into the second groove,
[0024] In the open position of the operating handle, when the operating handle is translated to the translated position, the second protrusion is inserted into the second groove.
[0025] The present disclosure also provides a switchgear assembly comprising a switchgear and an operating mechanism as described above, which is mounted to the switchgear. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0026] The above and other features and advantages of the exemplary embodiments of the present application will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:
[0027] Figure 1 A perspective view of an operating mechanism according to the present disclosure is shown, at this time, the operating handle of the operating mechanism is in the initial position.
[0028] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of Figure 1 is shown.
[0029] Figure 3 A perspective view of an operating mechanism according to the present disclosure is shown, at this time, the operating handle of the operating mechanism is in the translation position and the padlock member is in the original position.
[0030] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of Figure 3 is shown.
[0031] Figure 5 A perspective view of an operating mechanism according to the present disclosure is shown, at this time, the operating handle of the operating mechanism is in the translation position and the padlock member is in the padlocked position.
[0032] Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of Figure 5 is shown.
[0033] Figure 7 An exploded view of an operating mechanism according to the present disclosure is shown.
[0034] Figure 8 A plan view of the padlock member is shown.
[0035] Figure 9 A perspective view of the rotation axis is shown.
[0036] Figure 10 A perspective view of the follower is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0037] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this disclosure clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings represent the same components. It should be noted that the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the described embodiments of this disclosure without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this disclosure.
[0038] Compared to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, feasible embodiments within the scope of this disclosure may have fewer components, other components not shown in the drawings, different components, components arranged differently, or components with different connections, etc. Furthermore, two or more components in the drawings may be implemented in a single component, or a single component shown in the drawings may be implemented as multiple separate components.
[0039] Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used herein shall have the ordinary meaning as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. The terms “first,” “second,” and similar terms used in this patent disclosure and claims do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. When the number of components is not specified, the number of components may be one or more; similarly, terms such as “a,” “the,” and “described” do not necessarily indicate a quantity limitation. Terms such as “comprising” or “including” mean that the element or object preceding the word encompasses the element or object listed following the word and its equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Terms such as “upper,” “lower,” “left,” and “right” are used only to indicate the relative positional relationship when the equipment is in use or as shown in the accompanying drawings; this relative positional relationship may also change accordingly when the absolute position of the described object changes.
[0040] Figure 1 and Figure 2 Perspective and sectional views of a portion of the operating mechanism for a switchgear according to this disclosure are shown, respectively, in which the switchgear is in the open state, and the padlock of the switchgear is engaged when the switchgear is in the open state. This operating mechanism is preferably a bidirectional operating mechanism, which can be installed on the switchgear, including but not limited to circuit breakers, contactors, solid-state circuit breakers, and disconnectors. The bidirectional operating mechanism is configured to operate in both forward and reverse directions. In forward operation, i.e., manual operation of opening and closing, the manual operation of the operating handle causes the switchgear to open or close; in reverse operation, i.e., the switchgear is electrically operated, the operation of the switchgear causes the operating handle to rotate, thereby indicating opening or closing.
[0041] The operating mechanism comprises a housing 1. An operating handle 2 is rotatably mounted to the housing 1, rotatable between a closed position and an open position, Figures 1 to 6 Both show the operating handle 2 in the open position, so that the padlock operation can be performed. In the open position, the operating handle is configured to be able to be translated downwards (towards the housing) in the direction along its axis of rotation from an initial position towards a translated position.
[0042] The padlock piece 3 is movably mounted within the operating handle 2, configured to be able to move from an original position to a padlock position when the operating handle in the open position is translated from the initial position to the translated position, so that the padlock is performed. Preferably, in the original position, the padlock piece is hidden within the operating handle, in the padlock position, a part of the padlock piece is outside the operating handle. In Figure 1 and Figure 2 The operating handle is in the open position and the initial position, and the padlock piece is in the original position.
[0043] Figure 3 and Figure 4 The operating handle is translated downwards from the initial position to the translated position, but the padlock piece is still in the original position. Figure 5 and Figure 6 The operating handle is translated downwards from the initial position to the translated position, and the padlock piece is moved to the padlock position.
[0044] As shown in Figure 7 , the operating handle 2 has a first opening 21, and the padlock piece 3 has a second opening 31, when the padlock piece is moved to the padlock position, the first opening 21 and the second opening 31 are aligned, as shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6 , so that the padlock is facilitated. In the original position, the first opening 21 and the second opening 31 are not aligned.
[0045] The operating handle 2 also has a cover 22, which has a circumferential wall portion 221 and a cover portion 222 covering the upper side of the circumferential wall portion 221, the circumferential wall portion 221 at least partially surrounds the annular protruding wall 11 of the housing. The operating portion 23 protrudes upwardly from the cover portion 222.
[0046] As shown in Figure 8 , the padlock piece 3 has a padlock portion 32, which is accommodated within the operating handle 23. A first stop portion 33 is located inside the padlock portion 32, and a second stop portion 35 is connected between the first stop portion and the padlock portion, the padlock portion 32, the first stop portion 33, and the second stop portion 35 enclose a circumferentially outwardly open groove 34, it should be understood that this does not mean that there is no any obstruction outside the groove 34.
[0047] In the initial position of the operating handle, the first stop portion 33 abuts against a portion 111 of the annular protruding wall of the housing, thereby preventing the movement of the shackle element 3 from the original position to the shackle position.
[0048] In the translated position of the operating handle, as shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 the first stop portion 33 is disengaged from the abutment with the portion 111 of the annular protruding wall and is aligned with an aperture 112 on the annular protruding wall, thereby allowing the movement of the shackle element to the shackle position. In the shackle position, the portion 111 of the annular protruding wall abuts against the second stop portion 35.
[0049] As shown in Figure 7 a slit 223 is formed between the circumferential ends of the circumferential wall portion 221, the shackle element 3 having a closing portion 36 which is located outside and spaced apart from the first and second stop portions.
[0050] In the translated position of the operating handle, as shown in Figure 3 the closing portion 36 is inserted into the slit, such that the arcuate outer surface of the closing portion forms a complete circumferential outer contour with the arcuate outer surface of the circumferential wall portion.
[0051] The operating mechanism further comprises a rotation shaft 4 fixedly mounted to the operating handle, the operating handle being further configured to be inwardly translatable in a direction along its rotation axis from the initial position towards a further translated position in the closed position, the further translated position being located between the initial position and the translated position.
[0052] As shown in Figure 9 the rotation shaft 4 has a first protrusion 41 and a second protrusion 42 arranged in a longitudinal direction parallel to the rotation axis, the first protrusion 41 having a dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal direction which is smaller than the dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the second protrusion 42.
[0053] The operating mechanism further comprises a follower 5 rotatably arranged within the housing, the rotation shaft being operatively coupled to the follower, such that the follower is actuatable upon actuation of the rotation shaft, the follower being further configured to be operatively connected to the switching device.
[0054] As shown in Figure 10 the follower 5 has a first groove 51 and a second groove 52 which are in communication with each other, the first groove being located at the first end side and the second groove being located at the second end side, the first groove being dimensioned to be able to accommodate the first protrusion and not the second protrusion, the second groove being dimensioned to be able to accommodate the second protrusion,
[0055] In the closed position of the operating handle, when the operating handle is translated to another translation position, the first protrusion is inserted into the second groove. In the open position of the operating handle, when the operating handle is translated to a translation position, the second protrusion is inserted into the second groove.
[0056] The present disclosure also provides a switch device assembly comprising a switch device and an operating mechanism as described above, which is mounted to the switch device.
[0057] By the operating mechanism of the present disclosure, the operating handle is translated from the initial position to the translation position, and then the padlock is achieved, which realizes a novel padlock mode. In particular, in the case of the bidirectional operating mechanism, when the operating handle is translated from the initial position to the translation position, the second protrusion is inserted into the second groove of the follower, so that when the electric operation of the switch device drives the follower to rotate, the second protrusion is blocked, thereby preventing the electric operation of the switch device from operating.
[0058] Although the present disclosure has been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings on the basis of various embodiments, it is understood by those skilled in the art that the above embodiments are only preferred implementation manners, and some technical features in the embodiments may not be essential to solve the specific technical problems, so that these technical features can be omitted without affecting the solution of the technical problems or the formation of the technical scheme. Moreover, the features, elements and / or functions of one embodiment can be appropriately combined, combined or matched with those of one or more other embodiments, unless the combination, combination or matching is obviously not implementable.
Claims
1. An operating mechanism for a switching device, the operating mechanism being mounted to the switching device, characterized in that, The operating mechanism comprises: a housing (1); an operating handle (2) rotatably mounted to the housing (1) and rotatable between a closed position and an open position, the operating handle (2) being further configured to be translatable downwards in a direction along its rotation axis from an initial position towards a translated position in the open position; a padlock member (3) movably mounted within the operating handle (2) and configured to be movable from an original position to a padlocked position only when the operating handle in the open position is translated from the initial position to the translated position.
2. The operating mechanism of claim 1, wherein The operating handle (2) has a first opening (21) and the padlock member (3) has a second opening (31), the first and second openings being aligned when the padlock member is moved to the padlocked position and misaligned when the padlock member is in the original position.
3. The operating mechanism of claim 1, wherein The operating handle has: a cover (22) having a circumferential wall portion (221) at least partially surrounding the annular protruding wall (11) of the housing and a lid portion (222) covering an upper side of the circumferential wall portion; an operating portion (23) protruding upwards from the lid portion (222).
4. The operating mechanism of claim 3, wherein The padlock member has: a padlock portion (32) accommodated within the operating handle; a first stop portion (33) inside the padlock portion and a second stop portion (35) connected between the padlock portion and the first stop portion, the padlock portion, the first stop portion and the second stop portion enclosing a circumferentially outwardly open groove, in the initial position of the operating handle, the first stop portion (33) abuts against a portion (111) of the annular protruding wall (11) of the housing, in the translated position of the operating handle, the first stop portion (33) is disengaged from the abutment against the portion (111) of the annular protruding wall and is aligned with an aperture (112) on the annular protruding wall (11), thereby allowing the padlock member to be moved to the padlocked position in which the portion (111) of the annular protruding wall abuts against the second stop portion (35).
5. The operating mechanism according to claim 4, wherein: a slit (223) is formed between circumferential ends of the circumferential wall portion (221), the padlock member has a closing portion (36) outside and spaced apart from the first and second stop portions, in the translated position of the operating handle, the closing portion (36) is inserted into the slit (223) such that an arcuate outer surface of the closing portion forms a complete circumferential outer profile with an arcuate outer surface of the circumferential wall portion.
6. The operating mechanism of claim 1, wherein In the original position, the padlock member (3) is hidden within the operating handle, and in the padlocked position, at least a portion of the padlock member is outside the operating handle.
7. The operating mechanism of claim 1, wherein The operating mechanism further comprises a rotating shaft (4) fixedly mounted to the operating handle, the operating handle being further configured to be inwardly translatable in a direction along a rotation axis thereof from an initial position towards a further translation position between the initial position and the translation position in the closed position, the rotating shaft having a first protrusion (41) and a second protrusion (42) arranged in a longitudinal direction parallel to the rotation axis, a dimension of the first protrusion perpendicular to the longitudinal direction being smaller than a dimension of the second protrusion perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
8. The operating mechanism of claim 7, wherein The operating mechanism further comprises: a follower (5) rotatably arranged on the housing, the rotating shaft being operatively coupled to the follower so as to be able to actuate the follower upon actuation of the rotating shaft, the follower being further configured to be operatively connected to the switching device, the follower having a first groove (51) and a second groove (52) in communication with each other, the first groove being located at the first end side and the second groove being located at the second end side, the first groove being sized to be able to accommodate the first protrusion and not the second protrusion, the second groove being sized to be able to accommodate the second protrusion, in the closed position of the operating handle, the first protrusion being inserted into the second groove when the operating handle is translated to the further translation position, in the open position of the operating handle, the second protrusion being inserted into the second groove when the operating handle is translated to the translation position.
9. A switchgear assembly characterized by, The switching device assembly comprises the switching device and the operating mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, the operating mechanism being mounted to the switching device.