Remote drive for an electric switch and electric switches with such a remote drive

Abstract

Remote drive (100) for an electrical switch (1010) with at least one recess (1100), wherein the remote drive (100) is provided for installation in this at least one recess (1100), wherein the remote drive (100) comprises an actuator (500) with a first shaping and a second shaping for moving at least one drive element (131; 132) of the remote drive (100) between at least a first position and a second position, wherein in its first shaping the actuator (500) moves the drive element (131; 132) into the first position, wherein in its second shaping the actuator (500) moves the drive element (131; 132) into the second position, and wherein the actuator (500) is a shape memory alloy actuator, characterized in that the remote drive (100) has a first disk (111) and a second disk (112) comprising the torsion spring between the two disks (111;112) is arranged and the ends of the torsion spring are each fixed to one of the two discs (111; 112).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a remote drive for an electrical switch and an electrical switch with such a remote drive.

[0002] The main task of today's circuit breakers is to switch current and voltage on and off in a section of the system, as well as to automatically trigger the circuit breaker in the event of an overload or short circuit.

[0003] Circuit breakers typically come with a toggle lever as delivered, which the customer can use to turn the circuit breaker on or off. This toggle lever can be implemented, for example, as a rotary roller. If the circuit breaker trips due to an overload or short circuit, the customer can reset it using the same toggle lever.

[0004] Some customers want to be able to remotely switch circuit breakers on or off from a control room. Motorized circuit breaker operators are typically used for this purpose.

[0005] For example, the Siemens product portfolio includes 5ST305 remote operating mechanisms for miniature circuit breakers. These remote operating mechanisms are 2 modular units (MW) wide and must be mounted as an additional assembly to the right of the miniature circuit breakers.

[0006] After assembly, these remote drives are connected to the rotating rollers of the actual circuit breakers using a connecting rod.

[0007] The previous design technology has the following disadvantages: An additional module is required with high additional costs, the additional module means that the customer loses 2 TE and thus two slots for circuit breakers, and it is a complex remote drive design.

[0008] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a remote drive for an electrical switch which overcomes the disadvantages described above and reduces their complexity many times over, and which is compact and functional with a simple mechanical and electrical structure.

[0009] This object is achieved according to the invention by the remote drive according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the remote drive according to the invention are specified in subclaims 2 to 5. The object is also achieved according to the invention by the electrical switch according to claim 6. Advantageous embodiments of the electrical switch are specified in claims 7 and 8.

[0010] The remote drive for an electrical switch with at least one recess, wherein the remote drive is provided for installation in this at least one recess, according to claim 1 comprises an actuator with a first shape and a second shape for moving at least one drive element of the remote drive between at least a first position and a second position, wherein the actuator in its first shape moves the drive element into the first position, wherein the actuator in its second shape moves the drive element into the second position, and wherein the actuator is a shape memory alloy actuator.

[0011] The advantage here is that the remote operator according to the invention is compact and based on a cost-effective design. The remote operator according to the invention can be retrofitted to the miniature circuit breaker by those customers who actually need it. Since the remote operator according to the invention can be mounted within the recess of a miniature circuit breaker with a housing width of 1 TE (disconnection unit), no additional slot is lost when using the remote operator according to the invention. This frees up space on the top-hat rail for additional modules.

[0012] In one embodiment of the remote drive according to the invention, the actuator is designed as a torsion spring.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the remote drive according to the invention, it comprises a first disc and a second disc, wherein the torsion spring is arranged between the two discs and ends of the torsion spring are each fixed to one of the two discs.

[0014] A further embodiment of the remote drive according to the invention comprises that one of the two discs has drive elements for actuating an element of the electrical switch.

[0015] In a further embodiment of the remote drive according to the invention, the actuator in its first form is energized by connecting cables and the actuator in its second form is not energized by the connecting cables or vice versa.

[0016] The object of the invention is also achieved by the electrical switch with a remote drive according to the invention according to claim 6, wherein the remote drive is mounted in a recess of the electrical switch.

[0017] In one embodiment of the electrical switch according to the invention, the second disc is mounted in the recess in a rotationally secure manner and the first disc is movable between the at least one first position and the second position.

[0018] In a further embodiment of the electrical switch, drive elements of the first disc comprise and actuate a rotating roller of the electrical switch, wherein the rotating roller is provided on the electrical switch for switching between at least one ON state and an OFF state of the electrical switch.

[0019] The above-described properties, features and advantages of this invention, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer and more clearly understood in connection with the following description of the embodiments, which are explained in more detail in connection with the figures.

[0020] Show Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B typical remote operator and remote operator mounted on a circuit breaker; Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B shows a remote drive according to the invention and a remote drive according to the invention mounted in a recess of an electrical switch; Fig. 3 Remote drive comprising a first disc, a second disc and a torsion spring; Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B remote drive according to the invention and remote drive according to the invention mounted in a recess of an electrical switch, wherein drive elements of the remote drive comprise a rotating roller of the electrical switch.

[0021] In the Fig. 1A and Fig. Figure 1B shows a conventional remote operator 100 for an electrical switch 1010, where the electrical switch 1010 may be, for example, a miniature circuit breaker. For example, the remote operator 1000 may be a 5ST305 remote operator, which is two TE (separation units = 36 mm) wide and must be mounted as an additional assembly to the right of the miniature circuit breaker 1010, as shown in Fig. 1B. The remote operator 1000 is connected to the circuit breaker 1010 by means of a connecting rod 1020. The rotating rollers of the electrical switch 1010 are actuated by power transmission via the rotating roller of the remote operator 1000 to the connecting rod 1020.

[0022] In the Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B shows the remote drive 100 according to the invention for an electrical switch 1010. The electrical switch 1010 has a recess 1100, and the remote drive 100 is intended for installation in this recess 1100. The recess 1100 can, for example, be a lateral recess in the housing of the electrical switch 1010. When the remote drive 100 according to the invention is mounted in this recess 1100, it flushes the housing of the electrical switch 1010; the remote drive 100 does not protrude beyond the housing of the electrical switch 1010 and thus does not widen it.

[0023] The remote drive 100 includes an actuator 500 with a first shape and a second shape for moving at least one drive element 131; 132 of the remote drive 100 between at least a first position and a second position. In its first shape, the actuator 500 moves the drive element 131; 132 to the first position, and in its second shape, the actuator 500 moves the drive element 131; 132 to the second position. The actuator 500 is a shape memory alloy actuator.

[0024] Shape memory alloys have the property of remembering their original shape at a specific, elevated temperature. This makes it possible to construct shape memory alloy actuators that can be forced into a different position or length at a lower temperature. If these actuators are heated to this specific, elevated temperature, which is adjusted by the alloy components, they instantly return to their learned shape. Shape memory alloys can be heated via the ambient environment using a heating element, which represents indirect heating, or by passing current through the shape memory alloy itself, which represents direct heating.

[0025] Shape memory alloy actuators can be designed as a wire that contracts at a higher temperature, as a metal strip that bends at the higher temperature, as a cuboid that changes its volume at the higher temperature, or as an arbitrarily shaped geometry that fits optimally into the available space and that changes its expansion or volume in a specific, desired direction at the higher temperature.

[0026] The actuator 500 is as shown in the Fig. 2A is designed as a torsion spring. Connecting cables 510; 520 are provided for supplying power to the actuator 500.

[0027] In its first configuration, actuator 500 is energized by connecting cables 510; 520, and in its second configuration, it is not energized by connecting cables 510; 520. This can also be implemented in reverse, so that in the first configuration, actuator 500 is not energized, and in its second configuration, actuator 500 is energized by connecting cables 510; 520.

[0028] In Fig. 3, the remote drive 100 is further illustrated with a first disc 111 and a second disc 112. The torsion spring of the actuator 500 is arranged between the two discs 111; 112, with the ends of the torsion spring each being fixed to one of the two discs 111; 112. For this purpose, for example, studs 121; 122 are provided on the first disc 111, and studs 123; 124 are provided on the disc 112.

[0029] One of the two discs 111; 112 comprises drive elements 131; 132 for actuating an element 1021 of the electrical switch 1010. In the illustration of the Fig. 3, the first disc 111 comprises two drive elements 131; 132, which can, for example, enclose the rotating roller 1021 of an electrical switch 1010 and can switch the rotating roller 1021 when the first disc moves.

[0030] In the presentation of the Fig. 3, the two discs 111; 112 are shown separately on the left, and the aligned discs 111; 112, which are rotatable about their center point, are shown on the right. The two discs 111; 112 are connected to each other so that they can rotate about their center point. Furthermore, connecting cables 510; 520 are provided for supplying power to the actuator 500.

[0031] By energizing the actuator 500 and switching from the first shaping position to the second shaping position and vice versa, the first disk 111 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise. This moves the drive elements of the first disk 111 between the first position and the second position.

[0032] Fig. 4A shows the remote drive 100 according to the invention and Fig. 4B the electrical switch 1010 with the rotary drive 100 according to the invention.

[0033] The remote drive 100 comprises the two disks 111; 112, drive elements 131; 132 on the first disk 111 and a torsion spring as actuator 500, which can be powered by connecting cables 510; 520.

[0034] According to the presentation in the Fig.4B, the remote drive 100 according to the invention can be mounted in a recess 1100 of the electrical switch 1010. This recess 1100 is, for example, located on the side of the electrical switch 1010. When the remote drive 100 according to the invention is mounted, it is flush with the side wall of the electrical switch 1010, and there is no widening of the electrical switch 1010.

[0035] When the remote drive 100 according to the invention is mounted in the recess 1100 of the electrical switch 1010, the second disc 112 is mounted in the recess 1100 in a rotationally secure manner and the first disc 111 is movable between the at least one first position and the second position.

[0036] The drive elements 131; 132 of the first disc 111 comprise and actuate a rotating roller 1021 of the electrical switch 1010, wherein this rotating roller 1021 is provided on the electrical switch 1010 for switching between at least one ON state and one OFF state of the electrical switch 1010.

[0037] The remote drive 100 according to the invention is based on an actuator 500 made of shape memory alloys, wherein the remote drive 100 according to the invention can be retrofitted by the customer in an electrical switch 1010 such as a circuit breaker with a width of one separation unit (TE).

[0038] The remote drive 100 is a rotary drive consisting of two parallel discs 111; 112, which are rotated relative to each other by a torsion spring made of a shape memory alloy. This remote drive 100 according to the invention can be retrofitted by the customer into a recess 1100 in the electrical switch 1010.

[0039] The remote operator 100 according to the invention represents a compact and cost-effective design. It can be retrofitted by the customer into circuit breakers or general electrical switches 1010 and only needs to be retrofitted by customers who actually require this function. Customers who do not require a remote operator 100 therefore do not have to pay for it.

[0040] Since the remote operator 100 according to the invention can be mounted within a recess 1100 of the miniature circuit breaker with a housing width of 1 TE (disconnection unit), no additional slot is lost for the use of the remote operator 100 according to the invention. This frees up space on the DIN rail for additional modules.

Claims

[1] Remote drive (100) for an electrical switch (1010) with at least one recess (1100), wherein the remote drive (100) is intended for installation in said at least one recess (1100), characterized by that the remote drive (100) comprises an actuator (500) with a first shape and a second shape for moving at least one drive element (131; 132) of the remote drive (100) between at least a first position and a second position, wherein the actuator (500) in its first configuration moves the drive element (131; 132) into the first position, wherein the actuator (500) in its second configuration moves the drive element (131; 132) into the second position, and wherein the actuator (500) is a shape memory alloy actuator. [2] Remote drive (100) according to claim 1, wherein the actuator (500) is designed as a torsion spring. [3] Remote drive (100) according to claim 2, wherein the remote drive (100) comprises a first disc (111) and a second disc (112), wherein the torsion spring is arranged between the two discs (111; 112) and ends of the torsion spring are each fixed to one of the two discs (111; 112). [4] Remote drive (100) according to claim 3, wherein one of the two discs (111; 112) comprises drive elements (131; 132) for actuating an element (1021) of the electrical switch (1010). [5] Remote drive (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator (500) in its first form is energized by connecting cables (510; 520), and in which the actuator (500) in its second form is not energized by the connecting cables (510; 520) or vice versa. [6] Electrical switch (1010) with a remote drive (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the remote drive (100) is mounted in a recess (1100) of the electrical switch (1010). [7] Electrical switch (1010) according to claim 6 dependent on one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the second disc (112) is mounted in the recess (1100) in a rotationally secure manner and the first disc (111) is movable between the at least one first position and the second position.

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