Buffer device for a dual power transfer switch
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IND SAS
- Filing Date
- 2025-07-16
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-14
AI Technical Summary
In dual-power transfer switches, the half-shaft breaks due to the energy release impact after the main spring passes the dead point. Existing buffer structure designs are complex and increase costs.
The elastic component, through a groove structure, cooperates with the side plate and the stop component to provide elastic support, thereby ensuring the stable holding of the stop component and preventing deformation of the elastic component.
It improves the stability of the buffer device, simplifies the structural design, reduces costs, and achieves bistable operation.
Smart Images
Figure CN224501723U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The embodiments of this disclosure generally relate to the field of electrical equipment technology, and more specifically, to a buffer device for a dual power transfer switch. Background Technology
[0002] In a dual-power transfer switch, after the energy storage structure pushes the main spring past its dead point, the main spring immediately releases energy to the position where it engages with the half-shaft. During this process, the half-shaft is impacted by the main spring, potentially causing it to break. In traditional solutions, the dual-power transfer switch incorporates a buffer structure to absorb the impact energy from the main spring passing its dead point, preventing damage to the half-shaft.
[0003] In order to protect the half-shaft and extend its service life, it is necessary to design a buffer device for a dual power transfer switch with better buffering effect. Utility Model Content
[0004] In one aspect of this disclosure, a buffer device for a dual-power transfer switch is provided. The buffer device includes: a side plate having an opening, the side plate being configured to allow a rotating shaft of the dual-power transfer switch to pass through; a stop member being kinetically connected to the rotating shaft and adapted to rotate between a first position and a second position; and an elastic member at least partially disposed within the opening, wherein the elastic member includes a pair of grooves formed at opposite ends of the elastic member and respectively engaging with the side plate and the stop member to allow the stop member to remain in the first position and the second position.
[0005] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the elastic member cooperates with the side plate and the stop member through a groove structure, and the elastic member has an elastic restoring force, which can provide elastic support for the stop member, improve the stability of the elastic member support, and enable the stop member to be stably held in the first position and the second position, thereby achieving bistable holding.
[0006] In some embodiments, the elastic member includes: an arcuate segment bent along the thickness direction of the elastic member; a pair of connecting segments formed at both ends of the arcuate segment and extending along the length direction of the elastic member; a pair of grooves formed on the respective connecting segments; and the openings of the pair of grooves are respectively away from the elastic member along the length direction.
[0007] In some embodiments, each of the pair of grooves is a U-shaped groove.
[0008] In some embodiments, the opening of the side plate has a first mating groove formed on the inner edge away from the stop member, the opening of the first mating groove facing the inside of the opening and connected to a corresponding groove in one of the pair of grooves.
[0009] In some embodiments, the stop member includes: a body portion disposed on the rotating shaft; a pair of abutting portions disposed on both sides of the body portion, the pair of abutting portions restricting the rotation range of the stop member between a first position and a second position; and a connecting arm extending from the side of the body portion near the elastic member toward the elastic member, the connecting arm being located between the pair of abutting portions.
[0010] In some embodiments, the end of the connecting arm is formed with a second mating groove, the opening of the second mating groove facing the connecting arm away from the body portion, and inserting into a corresponding groove in one of the pair of grooves.
[0011] In some embodiments, the second mating groove includes a V-shaped groove.
[0012] In some embodiments, each of the abutting portions includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion, the first protrusion and the second protrusion extending from the top and bottom of the abutting portion in a direction away from the pivot axis, respectively.
[0013] In some embodiments, the side plate is further configured to allow the first stop shaft and the second stop shaft to pass through, such that a pair of abutting portions of the stop member can abut against the first stop shaft and the second stop shaft respectively, and the pivot is located between the first stop shaft and the second stop shaft.
[0014] In some embodiments, the rotation angle of the stop member relative to the dead point position is -10° to +10°.
[0015] It should be understood that the description in this section is not intended to limit the key or essential features of the embodiments of this disclosure, nor is it intended to restrict the scope of this disclosure. Other features of this disclosure will become readily apparent from the following description. Attached Figure Description
[0016] The above and other features, advantages, and aspects of the embodiments of this disclosure will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description. In the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements, wherein:
[0017] Figures 1 to 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of a buffer device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 1 The intermediate elastic component holds the stop component in the first position. Figure 2 The stop component is in the dead position. Figure 3 The elastic component holds the stop component in the second position;
[0018] Figure 4An exploded view of a buffer device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;
[0019] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of an elastic component according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;
[0020] Figure 6 A partially enlarged view of an elastic member according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown, illustrating the dimensions of the groove; and
[0021] Figure 7 An enlarged view of an opening according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown, illustrating the dimensions of a first mating groove.
[0022] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:
[0023] 10 is a side plate, 11 is an opening, 12 is a pivot, 13 is a first mating groove, 20 is a stop component, 21 is a main body, 22 is an abutment part, 23 is a connecting arm, 30 is an elastic component, 31 is a groove, 32 is a connecting section, 33 is an arc-shaped section, 41 is a first stop shaft, 42 is a second stop shaft, 100 is a buffer device, 221 is a first protrusion, 222 is a second protrusion, 231 is a second mating groove, X is the length direction, and Y is the thickness direction. Detailed Implementation
[0024] Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure may be implemented in various forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.
[0025] The term “comprising” and its variations, as used herein, indicate an open-ended inclusion, meaning “including but not limited to”. Unless otherwise stated, the term “or” means “and / or”. The terms “first,” “second,” etc., may refer to different or the same objects.
[0026] As described above, in a dual-power transfer switch, the buffer structure absorbs the impact energy after the main spring passes dead center, preventing damage to the half-shaft. Conventional buffer structures use a spring and a stop to buffer the impact after the main spring passes dead center in either the first or second position. However, in conventional buffer structures, the two ends of the spring engage with the stop and slots on the side plate respectively via clips. Because the spring lacks proper support during use, it becomes unstable under stress, exhibiting phenomena such as bending, twisting, tilting, or other forms of deformation. To address this issue, conventional buffer structures add supporting structures such as connecting pins and cages to the spring. These additional parts not only increase design and manufacturing complexity but also increase costs.
[0027] To address, or at least partially address, the aforementioned problems or other potential issues of conventional buffer structures, embodiments of this disclosure provide a buffer device. According to the embodiments of this disclosure, the elastic member engages with the side plate and the stop member via a groove structure, and the arcuate segment of the elastic member possesses elastic restoring force, providing elastic support to the stop member, thus improving the stability of the elastic member's support and enabling the stop member to be stably maintained in both a first and a second position, achieving bistable retention. Furthermore, the elastic member does not require additional support structures, resulting in a simple structural design and cost savings.
[0028] The following text will refer to Figures 1 to 7 The buffer device according to embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described. First, refer to... Figures 1 to 3 As shown in the figure, the buffer device of the dual power transfer switch described herein generally includes a side plate 10, a stop member 20, and an elastic member 30. The side plate 10 is a support structure, and components such as the stop member 20 and the elastic member 30 can be stably arranged on the side plate 10. The side plate 10 includes an opening 11 for the elastic member 30 to be at least partially retained within the opening 11. The side plate 10 may include a through hole, thereby allowing the rotating shaft 12 of the dual power transfer switch to be movably connected to the side plate 10 via the through hole. In some embodiments, the opening 11 may be arranged above the rotating shaft 12, thereby arranging the elastic member 30 above the rotating shaft 12. In some embodiments, the opening 11 may be a square opening. In other embodiments, the opening 11 may also be an opening of other shapes.
[0029] The stop member 20 is pivotally connected to the rotating shaft 12 and is rotatable between a first position and a second position. The elastic member 30 is coupled to the stop member 20 and is capable of holding the stop member 20 in either the first or second position. It is understood that in some embodiments, the stop member 20 has a dead point position located between the first and second positions. Figures 1 to 3 The rotation process of the stop component 20 is shown. For example... Figure 1As shown, the elastic member 30 provides a counterclockwise torque to the stop member 20, thereby holding the stop member 20 in the first position. The rotating shaft 12 drives the stop member 20 from the first position through the dead center position. Figure 2 As shown, at this time, the stop component 20 is at the dead point position, and the elastic component 30 is compressed to its maximum extent. Figure 3 As shown, the stop member 20 rotates to the second position under the elastic restoring force of the elastic member 30. The elastic member 30 provides a clockwise torque to the stop member 20, thereby holding the stop member 20 in the second position. In this way, the stop member 20 is stably held in the first and second positions, achieving bistable holding in both positions.
[0030] Next, we will refer to Figures 4 to 5 Here is an example structure to describe the elastic member 30. The elastic member 30 generally extends along the length direction X. For ease of understanding, Figure 5 The length direction X of the elastic member 30 and the thickness direction Y perpendicular to the length direction X are shown. The elastic member 30 includes a pair of grooves 31. The pair of grooves 31 are formed at both ends of the elastic member 30 and are respectively inserted into the side plate 10 and the stop member 20.
[0031] In some embodiments, the elastic member 30 may further include an arcuate segment 33 and a pair of connecting segments 32. The arcuate segment 33 causes the spring member 30 to elastically deform when subjected to force, thereby providing sufficient holding force to keep the stop member 20 in the first position and the second position. At the same time, the deformed arcuate segment 33 provides a restoring force to the stop member 20, causing the stop member 20 to pass through the dead point position and remain in the second position. In some embodiments, the arcuate segment 33 may be sheet-like; in other embodiments, the arcuate segment 33 may also be rod-like, tubular, or have other shapes, or have a hollow structure.
[0032] A pair of connecting segments 32 may be formed at both ends of the arcuate segment 33 and extend along the length direction X of the elastic member 30. It is understood that, in some embodiments, a transition section may be included between the connecting segment 32 and the arcuate segment 33 to reduce stress concentration at the connection.
[0033] Each of the pair of connecting segments 32 has a corresponding groove 31 formed thereon. The opening of the groove 31 extends along the length direction X and faces away from the elastic member 30. In this way, the elastic member 30 is stably connected to the side plate 10 and the stop member 20 through the grooves 31 at both ends.
[0034] In some conventional elastic structures, the spring is connected to the side plates and stop components via snaps at both ends. Lacking proper support structures during use, the spring may deform or twist. In other conventional elastic structures, the spring incorporates additional support structures such as connecting pins and cages. These extra parts not only increase design and manufacturing complexity but also increase cost. In contrast, according to the embodiments of this disclosure, the elastic component is coupled to the side plates and stop components via grooves at both ends, and the arcuate segment of the elastic component possesses elastic restoring force, providing elastic support to the stop components and preventing instability caused by spring deformation. Furthermore, the elastic component does not require additional retaining structures, resulting in a simpler structural design and cost savings.
[0035] Continue to refer to Figure 5 , Figure 6 The shape, size, and material of the groove 31 can be selected according to the requirements of support strength and rotation angle. In some embodiments, the groove 31 can be a U-shaped groove, including U-shaped grooves with a horizontal bottom wall and U-shaped grooves with an arc-shaped bottom wall, preferably U-shaped grooves with a horizontal bottom wall. In order to allow the elastic member 30 to rotate relative to the side plate 10 and the stop member 30, the width of the groove 31 can be greater than the thickness of the side plate 10 and the stop member 30. In some embodiments, the width of each groove 31 of the elastic member 30 can be 3-4 mm, and the depth can be 4-4.5 mm. For example, the width of the groove 31 can be 3.2 mm, and the depth can be 4 mm. In some embodiments, the thickness of the elastic member 30 can be 0.6-0.8 mm. For example, the thickness of the elastic member 30 can be 0.7 mm. In some embodiments, the material of the spring sheet can be stainless steel, such as grade SUS 304-CSP-H or SUS 301-CSP-H. In other embodiments, the material of the spring sheet can also be other high-strength support materials.
[0036] It should be noted that the figures, values, etc., mentioned above and elsewhere in this disclosure are exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure in any way. Any other suitable figures or values are possible.
[0037] Continue to refer to Figure 4 , Figure 7Here is an example structure of the side plate 10. In some embodiments, the side plate 10 may include a first mating groove 13 that engages with a recess 31. The first mating groove 13 is formed on the inner edge of the opening 11 away from the stop member 20. The opening direction of the first mating groove 13 faces inward towards the opening 11, so that it can connect with a corresponding recess 31 in a pair of recesses 31. In this way, the recess 31 is inserted into the first mating groove 13 on the side plate 10, and the bottom wall of the recess 31 abuts against the bottom wall of the first mating groove 13, so that the elastic member 30 can rotate within the first mating groove 13 of the side plate 10, further improving the stability of the connection between the elastic member 30 and the side plate 10.
[0038] refer to Figure 4 Here is an example structure of the stop member 20. In some embodiments, the stop member 20 may include a body portion 21, a pair of abutment portions 22, and a connecting arm 23. The body portion 21 is disposed on the pivot 12. The pair of abutment portions 22 are formed on both sides of the body portion 21, extending from the body portion 21 in opposite directions. The pair of abutment portions 22 restricts the range of rotation of the stop member 20 between a first position and a second position. The pair of abutment portions 22 are used to cooperate with the first stop shaft 41 and the second stop shaft 42, which will be mentioned later. The connecting arm 23 is arranged between the pair of abutment portions 22 and extends from the side of the body portion 21 near the elastic member 30 toward the elastic member 30.
[0039] In some embodiments, the connecting arm 23 may include a second mating groove 231 that engages with a recess 31 on the elastic member 30. The second mating groove 231 is formed at the end of the connecting arm 23. The opening of the second mating groove 231 faces away from the body portion 21, thereby interlocking with a corresponding recess 31 on the elastic member 30. In this manner, the elastic member 30 can rotate within the second mating groove 231 of the connecting arm 23, further improving the stability of the connection between the elastic member 30 and the connecting arm 23.
[0040] In some embodiments, the first mating groove 13 and the second mating groove 231 may each include a V-shaped groove. The V-shaped groove has a narrow root and a wide opening, allowing the groove 31 of the elastic member 30 to rotate within a wide range. The root of the V-shaped groove can serve as a fulcrum for the rotation of the elastic member 30; therefore, the root width of the V-shaped groove can be greater than the thickness of the elastic member 30. The dimensions of the V-shaped groove can be adjusted according to the dimensions of the elastic member 30. In some embodiments, the root width of the V-shaped groove can be 1 mm, the opening width can be 4 mm, and the depth can be 3 mm. It is understood that in other embodiments, the groove 31 may also include other shapes, such as a U-shaped groove.
[0041] In some embodiments, each abutment portion 22 may include a first protrusion 221 and a second protrusion 222. The first protrusion 221 and the second protrusion 222 extend from the top and bottom of the abutment portion 22 in a direction away from the pivot 12, respectively. The first protrusions 221 on both sides of the abutment portion 22 have the same shape, and the second protrusions 222 on both sides of the abutment portion 22 have the same shape, so that the pair of abutment portions 22 form a U-shaped abutment structure that is symmetrical on both sides.
[0042] In some embodiments, the side plate 10 may further include a first mounting hole and a second mounting hole. A first stop shaft 41 and a second stop shaft 42 pass through the first mounting hole and the second mounting hole, respectively, and are rotatably connected to the side plate 10. A rotating shaft 12 may be arranged between the first stop shaft 41 and the second stop shaft 42, so that the stop member 20 arranged on the rotating shaft 12 can rotate between the first stop shaft 41 and the second stop shaft 42.
[0043] As mentioned earlier, a pair of abutment portions 22 are used to mate with the first stop shaft 41 and the second stop shaft 42. (See also: [link to previous text]) Figures 1 to 3 In the first position, the first protrusion 221 of the left abutment portion 22 abuts against the first stop shaft 41, and the second protrusion 222 of the right abutment portion 22 abuts against the second stop shaft 42. In the dead point position, the abutment portion 22 does not abut against either the first stop shaft 41 or the second stop shaft 42. In the second position, the second protrusion 222 of the left abutment portion 22 abuts against the first stop shaft 41, and the first protrusion 221 of the right abutment portion 22 abuts against the second stop portion 42.
[0044] In this way, by having a pair of abutting parts 22 cooperate with the first stop shaft 41 and the second stop shaft 42, the stop component 20 can be stably maintained in the first position and the second position, and can switch between the two stable positions to realize the bistable function of the switch.
[0045] In some embodiments, the stop member 20 can rotate from -10° to +10° relative to the dead position, that is, at the -10° position, the stop member 20 can be held in the first position, and at the +10° position, the stop member 20 can be held in the second position.
[0046] The various embodiments of this disclosure have been described above. These descriptions are exemplary and not exhaustive, and are not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein is chosen to best explain the principles, practical application, or technical improvements to the embodiments in the market, or to enable others skilled in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.
Claims
1. A buffer device (100) for a dual-power transfer switch, characterized in that, include: The side plate (10) has an opening (11) and the side plate (10) is configured to allow the shaft (12) of the dual power supply changeover switch to pass through; A stop member (20), said stop member (20) being drively connected to said rotating shaft (12) and adapted to rotate between a first position and a second position; and An elastic member (30) is at least partially disposed within the opening (11), wherein the elastic member (30) includes a pair of grooves (31) formed at both ends of the elastic member (30) and respectively engaging with the side plate (10) and the stop member (20) to allow the stop member (20) to remain in the first position and the second position.
2. The buffer device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic component (30) includes: The arc segment (33) bends along the thickness direction (Y) of the elastic member (30); A pair of connecting segments (32) are formed at both ends of the arc segment (33) and extend along the length direction (X) of the elastic member (30). A pair of grooves (31) are formed on the corresponding connecting segments (32), and the openings of the pair of grooves (31) are respectively oriented away from the elastic member (30) along the length direction (X).
3. The buffer device (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that, Each of the pair of grooves (31) is a U-shaped groove.
4. The buffer device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The opening (11) of the side plate (10) has a first mating groove (13) formed on the inner edge away from the stop member (20). The opening direction of the first mating groove (13) is towards the inside of the opening (11) and is connected to the corresponding groove (31) of the pair of grooves (31).
5. The buffer device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The stop component (20) includes: The main body (21) is disposed on the rotating shaft (12); A pair of abutting portions (22), respectively disposed on both sides of the main body portion (21), the pair of abutting portions (22) restricting the rotation range of the stop member (20) between a first position and a second position; and A connecting arm (23) extends from the side of the body portion (21) near the elastic member (30) toward the elastic member (30), and the connecting arm (23) is located between the pair of abutting portions (22).
6. The buffer device (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The end of the connecting arm (23) is formed with a second mating groove (231), the opening of the second mating groove (231) is facing the connecting arm (23) away from the body part (21), and is inserted into the corresponding groove (31) of the pair of grooves (31).
7. The buffer device (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The second mating groove (231) includes a V-shaped groove.
8. The buffer device (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that, Each of the abutting portions (22) includes a first protrusion (221) and a second protrusion (222), the first protrusion (221) and the second protrusion (222) extending from the top and bottom of the abutting portion (22) in a direction away from the pivot (12), respectively.
9. The buffer device (100) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The side plate (10) is also configured to allow the first stop shaft (41) and the second stop shaft (42) to pass through, such that a pair of abutting portions (22) of the stop member (20) can abut against the first stop shaft (41) and the second stop shaft (42) respectively, and the pivot (12) is located between the first stop shaft (41) and the second stop shaft (42).
10. The buffer device (100) according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The stop component (20) rotates at an angle of -10° to +10° relative to the dead point position.