Electric drive module for circuit breaker

Abstract

An electric drive module for a circuit breaker, comprising a drive motor and a drive sleeve ring sleeved on an operating handle, a transmission mechanism is arranged between the drive motor and the drive sleeve ring for converting rotation of the drive motor into forward and backward movement of the drive sleeve ring, the transmission mechanism comprises a transmission gear assembly and a driven rod, the transmission gear assembly comprises an output gear and a driving gear engaged with the output gear, two ends of the driven rod are respectively hinged on the output gear and the drive sleeve ring, a center line of the output gear coincides with a center line of the operating handle, a center line of the driving gear coincides with a center line of an output shaft of the drive motor and the drive motor is arranged on one side of the operating handle.The utility model has the advantages that: through the layout of the coinciding of the center line of the output gear and the center line of the operating handle and the coinciding of the center line of the driving gear and the output shaft of the motor, compact design of the transmission mechanism is realized, and the overall volume and occupied space of the module are significantly reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a circuit breaker accessory, and more particularly to an electric drive module for a circuit breaker. Background Technology

[0002] In existing technologies, electric drive modules for circuit breakers are mainly used in power distribution systems, industrial automation control, and smart grid infrastructure to achieve remote operation and automated management of circuit breakers. In these scenarios, the electric drive module is typically installed on or near the circuit breaker body. It receives control signals (such as commands from a PLC or SCADA system) to drive a built-in motor. The motor then transmits power through a gearbox or linkage mechanism, driving the circuit breaker contacts to perform opening or closing operations. This process not only improves operational efficiency but also reduces manual intervention, enhances system safety and response speed, and is suitable for applications requiring frequent or precise control, such as substations, data centers, and building power distribution.

[0003] While existing electric drive modules achieve automated control in function, they suffer from a significant drawback: excessive size. Because these modules integrate components such as motors, transmission mechanisms, control circuits, and sensors, their overall size is large, occupying excessive installation space. This not only increases manufacturing costs and weight but also makes them difficult to adapt to the demands of modern modular designs. Modularization requires compact, standardized, and easily interchangeable components, but the bulky structure of existing drive modules limits their application in space-constrained environments, hinders the overall miniaturization, flexible layout, and efficient integration of circuit breakers, and impacts the ease of system upgrades and maintenance. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides an electric drive module for circuit breakers that reduces size and increases integration.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: an electric drive module for a circuit breaker, comprising a drive motor and a drive collar sleeved on an operating handle, wherein a transmission mechanism is provided between the drive motor and the drive collar for converting the rotation of the drive motor into the forward and backward movement of the drive collar, the transmission mechanism comprising a transmission gear assembly and a driven rod, the transmission gear assembly comprising an output gear and a driving gear meshing with the output gear, the two ends of the driven rod being respectively hinged to the output gear and the drive collar, the centerline of the output gear coinciding with the centerline of the operating handle, the centerline of the driving gear coinciding with the centerline of the output shaft of the drive motor, and the drive motor being disposed on one side of the operating handle.

[0006] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: By aligning the centerline of the output gear with the centerline of the operating handle and the centerline of the drive gear with the output shaft of the motor, a compact design of the transmission mechanism is achieved, significantly reducing the overall volume and space occupied by the module, facilitating integration into space-constrained circuit breaker environments. This arrangement reduces manufacturing costs and weight, supporting the standardization and interchangeability requirements of modular design. The fit between the drive collar and the housing restricts circumferential movement, ensuring only axial forward and backward movement, improving operational stability and reliability. As a preferred embodiment, the drive collar can be designed with an axial groove structure, engaging with guide pins on the housing to achieve precise linear movement without rotation. As another preferred embodiment, the output gear and drive gear adopt a high-precision involute gear design, reducing backlash and vibration through optimized tooth profile, further improving transmission smoothness and efficiency.

[0007] Furthermore, the transmission gear assembly also includes a first transmission gear set and a second transmission gear set. One end of the first transmission gear set meshes with the output end of the drive motor, and the other end meshes with the second transmission gear set. One end of the second transmission gear set meshes with the drive gear.

[0008] By introducing a first and a second transmission gear set, multi-stage gear transmission is achieved, allowing for fine-tuning of the motor output speed and torque to adapt to different operating conditions and improve transmission efficiency and adaptability. This hierarchical structure reduces the load on individual gears, extends component life, and further compresses module size and enhances space utilization by optimizing the transmission path. The addition of gear sets makes power transmission smoother, reduces noise and impact, and improves overall performance. As a preferred embodiment, the first transmission gear set may include an input gear directly connected to the motor shaft and an output gear fixed by a key to mesh with the second transmission gear set, employing a helical gear design to adapt to changes in spatial angle. As another preferred embodiment, the second transmission gear set can be designed as a compound gear pair, where the gears are made of high-strength materials and supported by bearings to ensure rotational stability and achieve efficient power transmission.

[0009] Furthermore, the first transmission gear set includes a first transmission gear and a second transmission gear arranged vertically and coaxially, the second transmission gear set includes a third transmission gear and a fourth transmission gear arranged vertically and coaxially, the first transmission gear meshes with the output end of the drive motor, the second transmission gear is arranged below the first transmission gear and meshes with the third transmission gear, and the fourth transmission gear is arranged above the third transmission gear and meshes with the drive gear.

[0010] The vertically coaxial gear arrangement optimizes spatial layout, reducing the lateral dimensions of the module by arranging gears in multiple directions, making it more compact and easier to integrate. The coaxial design simplifies the shaft system structure, reduces assembly complexity and the number of parts, and improves rigidity and transmission accuracy. The vertical arrangement of the gears avoids interference, ensures smooth meshing, and enhances transmission reliability and efficiency. As a preferred option, the first and second transmission gears can be manufactured as an integrated double gear, fixed on the same shaft and secured with a lock nut to maintain coaxiality and reduce vibration. Alternatively, the third and fourth transmission gears employ a similar double structure and are supported by needle roller bearings to reduce friction and wear, ensuring long-term stable operation.

[0011] Furthermore, the diameter of the second transmission tooth is smaller than the diameter of the first transmission tooth, the axial height of the second transmission tooth is higher than the axial height of the third transmission tooth, and the diameter of the third transmission tooth is larger than the diameter of the fourth transmission tooth.

[0012] These gear dimensional relationships optimize meshing characteristics. The smaller diameter and higher axial height of the second drive tooth increase the meshing depth and contact area, reducing slippage and improving transmission efficiency. Simultaneously, the larger diameter of the third drive tooth matches the smaller diameter of the fourth drive tooth, providing an appropriate gear ratio for efficient power transmission within a compact space. This design reduces energy loss and heat generation, extends gear life, and supports module miniaturization. As a preferred approach, the gear tooth surfaces can be designed to optimize contact patterns, such as using modified or crowned teeth to evenly distribute the load and reduce stress concentration. Alternatively, surface hardening treatments such as carburizing can be applied to the gear material to enhance wear resistance and maintain long-term meshing performance.

[0013] Furthermore, a return spring is fitted on one end of the driven rod that is hinged to the output gear. The torque applied by the return spring to the driven rod causes the driven rod to tend to move in the direction of the drive motor.

[0014] The addition of a return spring ensures that the driven rod has an automatic return tendency, preventing it from jamming or stalling in extreme positions during operation, thus improving system reliability and safety. This design allows the drive module to automatically reset after completing its action, reducing external intervention and enhancing operational continuity. The constant torque provided by the spring helps counteract friction or inertial forces, ensuring smooth and consistent movement. As a preferred embodiment, the return spring can be a torsion spring mounted at the hinge point, with one end fixed to the output gear shaft and the other end hooked onto the driven rod, generating a torsional torque to induce the return motion. Alternatively, a compression spring can be fitted onto the hinge pin, applying pre-compression force to the driven rod, providing a compact and efficient return mechanism suitable for space constraints. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an embodiment of the present utility model; Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of the transmission mechanism according to an embodiment of the present utility model; Figure 3 This is a front view of an embodiment of the present utility model; Figure 4 This is a partial enlarged view of the driven rod and the return spring in an embodiment of this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0016] This utility model embodiment provides an electric drive module for a circuit breaker, such as... Figure 1-4 As shown: The system includes a drive motor 1 and a drive collar 2. The drive collar 2 is fitted onto the operating handle 4 and engages with a corresponding housing, thus restricting its circumferential movement to only forward and backward movement. A transmission mechanism 3 is provided between the drive motor 1 and the drive collar 2 to convert the rotation of the drive motor 1 into the forward and backward movement of the drive collar 2. The transmission mechanism 3 includes a transmission gear assembly 31 and a driven rod 32. The transmission gear assembly 31 further includes an output gear 311 and a driving gear 312, which mesh with each other. The two ends of the driven rod 32 are hinged to the output gear 311 and the drive collar 2, respectively. The centerline of the output gear 311 coincides with the centerline of the operating handle 4, and the centerline of the driving gear 312 coincides with the centerline of the output shaft of the drive motor 1. The drive motor 1 is positioned on one side of the operating handle 4 to reduce the overall size.

[0017] The transmission gear assembly 31 also includes a first transmission gear set 313 and a second transmission gear set 314. One end of the first transmission gear set 313 meshes with the output end of the drive motor 1, and the other end meshes with the second transmission gear set 314. One end of the second transmission gear set 314 meshes with the drive gear 312 to achieve multi-stage transmission. The first transmission gear set 313 includes a first transmission gear 3131 and a second transmission gear 3132 arranged vertically and coaxially. The second transmission gear set 314 includes a third transmission gear 3141 and a fourth transmission gear 3142 arranged vertically and coaxially. The first transmission gear 3131 meshes with the output end of the drive motor 1. The second transmission gear 3132 is located below the first transmission gear 3131 and meshes with the third transmission gear 3141. The fourth transmission gear 3142 is located above the third transmission gear 3141 and meshes with the drive gear 312. The diameter of the second transmission tooth 3132 is smaller than that of the first transmission tooth 3131, and the axial height of the second transmission tooth 3132 is higher than that of the third transmission tooth 3141. The diameter of the third transmission tooth 3141 is larger than that of the fourth transmission tooth 3142 to improve meshing efficiency and maintain a compact design. A return spring 321 is fitted on one end of the driven rod 32, which is hinged to the output gear 311. The torque applied by the return spring 321 to the driven rod 32 causes the driven rod 32 to tend to move in the direction of the drive motor 1 to prevent jamming.

[0018] The working principle of this embodiment is as follows: After the drive motor 1 starts, its output shaft drives the first transmission gear set 313 to rotate. The motion is transmitted to the second transmission gear set 314 through the transmission of the first transmission gear 3131 and the second transmission gear 3132. The third transmission gear 3141 and the fourth transmission gear 3142 further drive the drive gear 312 to rotate. The drive gear 312 meshes with the output gear 311, causing the output gear 311 to rotate. Since the driven rod 32 is hinged to the output gear 311, the rotation of the output gear 311 is converted into the oscillation of the driven rod 32, thereby pushing the drive collar 2 to move back and forth along the axis of the operating handle. The return spring 321 provides a restoring force during the movement of the driven rod 32 to ensure smooth operation and avoid jamming. The entire transmission process is compact and efficient, achieving a small-volume design and being suitable for circuit breaker operation.

[0019] The above embodiments are merely one preferred embodiment of the present utility model. Ordinary changes and substitutions made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present utility model's technical solution are all included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. An electric drive module for a circuit breaker, comprising a drive motor and a drive collar sleeved on an operating handle, wherein a transmission mechanism for converting the rotation of the drive motor into the forward and backward movement of the drive collar is provided between the drive motor and the drive collar, characterized in that: The transmission mechanism includes a transmission gear assembly and a driven rod. The transmission gear assembly includes an output gear and a driving gear that meshes with the output gear. The two ends of the driven rod are respectively hinged to the output gear and the drive collar. The center line of the output gear coincides with the center line of the operating handle. The center line of the driving gear coincides with the center line of the output shaft of the drive motor, and the drive motor is located on one side of the operating handle.

2. The electric drive module for a circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transmission gear assembly further includes a first transmission gear set and a second transmission gear set. One end of the first transmission gear set meshes with the output end of the drive motor, and the other end meshes with the second transmission gear set. One end of the second transmission gear set meshes with the drive gear.

3. The electric drive module for a circuit breaker according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first transmission gear set includes a first transmission gear and a second transmission gear arranged vertically and coaxially. The second transmission gear set includes a third transmission gear and a fourth transmission gear arranged vertically and coaxially. The first transmission gear meshes with the output end of the drive motor. The second transmission gear is located below the first transmission gear and meshes with the third transmission gear. The fourth transmission gear is located above the third transmission gear and meshes with the drive gear.

4. The electric drive module for a circuit breaker according to claim 3, characterized in that: The diameter of the second transmission tooth is smaller than the diameter of the first transmission tooth, the axial height of the second transmission tooth is higher than the axial height of the third transmission tooth, and the diameter of the third transmission tooth is larger than the diameter of the fourth transmission tooth.

5. The electric drive module for a circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that: A return spring is fitted on one end of the driven rod that is hinged to the output gear. The torque applied by the return spring to the driven rod causes the driven rod to tend to move in the direction of the drive motor.

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