Drive for actuating an electrical switching device and apparatus for network switching

Abstract

The present invention relates to a drive (1) for actuating an electrical switching device (2), wherein the electrical switching device (2) has a rotatable control axis (3) and movable contacts, comprising - a drive housing (6), which has means for fastening to a top-hat rail (4), - a first solenoid (7a) with a first solenoid armature (12a), which can be moved in translation, - a second solenoid (7b) which is arranged parallel to the first solenoid (7a), with a second solenoid armature (12b), which can be moved in translation, wherein the first solenoid (7a) and the second solenoid (7b) are oriented perpendicular to the control axis (3) of the switching device (2), - a first lower guide (11a) and a first upper guide (10a) and also a second lower guide (11b) and a second upper guide (10b), which are arranged in the same direction for the first solenoid armature (12a) and for the second solenoid armature (12b), - a first movable driver (8a) and a second movable driver (8b) which each have an actuating element, wherein the first movable driver (8a) and the second movable driver (8b) are arranged parallel to the first solenoid armature (12a) and to the second solenoid armature (12b) and are mechanically operatively connected thereto, - a shaft (13) which is arranged on the control axis (3) of the switching device (2) and is provided with a control element (5, 21), wherein the actuating elements are mechanically operatively connected to the control element (5, 21) such that the movement in translation of the movable solenoid armatures (12a, 12b) can be converted into a rotational movement of the shaft (13) arranged on the control axis (3).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a drive for actuating an electrical switching device and a device for mains switching, more specifically to a device and arrangement of a drive for actuating commercially available electrical switching devices from various manufacturers and automatic mains switching devices with these for switching from a first main power supply to a second emergency power supply in the event of a voltage failure of the main power supply for arranging the same in electrical systems.

[0002] Various types of drives are available for operating electrical switching devices, including manual drives for local operation, motor drives with electric motors, and magnetic drives with electromagnets as actuators for remote control. Electromagnets can achieve short switching times.

[0003] Furthermore, methods and devices for zero-point switching of a relay switching an AC-powered load are known. These reduce wear on the relay contacts.

[0004] DE 574 857 C discloses a drive for oil changeover switches that switches on via a rack and pinion gear that engages a pinion, and switches off via spring force. The disadvantage is that there are different drive types for switching on and off.

[0005] From DE 10 2019 122 978 A1 an electric remote drive for actuating a switching device of an electrical system is known, which has two independently controllable actuators which are designed as electromagnets and act alternately on a displaceably mounted carriage which has a passage for receiving a first lever arm of a rocker arm, wherein a driver rail is attached to a second lever arm of the rocker arm parallel to the longitudinal extent of the top hat rail, wherein the rocker arm is pivotable about a rocker arm rotation axis which runs parallel to the longitudinal extent of the top hat rail and through a pivot point of the gear knob.

[0006] A disadvantage is the large amount of space required by the electromagnets and carriages arranged opposite one another, which means that the drive is larger than the switching device. As a result, the standard distance between the top-hat rails of 125 mm in the control cabinet cannot be maintained and a larger distance is required, resulting in additional costs. Another disadvantage is that the switching movement acts indirectly on the switch via the lever arm and toggle lever and is therefore susceptible to failure. Another disadvantage is that the cables in the control cabinet subject the remote drive and switching device to considerable load and bending forces. This leads to the top-hat rails bending and the remote drives and switching devices attached to them moving against each other, which can cause failures.Another disadvantage is that the proposed solution requires the drive to be structurally adapted to the switching device used, because the distances between the control axis of the switching device and the DIN rail axis vary depending on the manufacturer. Another disadvantage is that when using the proposed solution for network switching, switching times are short but always present.

[0007] From EP 1 991 997 B1 an automated control module for an electrical switching device with a rotatable control axis is known, wherein the control module has a housing with two oppositely aligned electromagnets which are connected to the same sliding piece and the sliding piece has a rack which engages a drive pinion which is connected to the control axis.In this control module, the drive for actuating the electrical switching device comprises a drive housing which has means for fastening to a top-hat rail, a first electromagnet with a first translationally movable magnet armature, a second electromagnet with a second translationally movable magnet armature, wherein the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet are aligned perpendicular to the control axis of the switching device, a movable driver which has an actuating element, a shaft arranged on the control axis of the switching device which is provided with an actuating element, wherein the actuating element is in mechanical operative connection with the actuating element, so that the translational movement of the movable magnet armature can be converted into a rotary movement of the shaft arranged on the control axis.

[0008] The disadvantage is that such a switching device is very costly due to the many parts, and the control unit is large and extends beyond the switching device, thus limiting the space in the control cabinet. Another disadvantage is that if a switching device fails, the entire switching device in the control cabinet must be replaced, which is very costly and time-consuming.

[0009] A further disadvantage of all known solutions is that only automatic network switching with an interruption of the power supply is possible. The switching delay time is in the range of approximately 5 ms, and defects in the switching devices and drives are only detected and reported as a fault when a switching request is pending. However, the network switching does not occur due to the fault, thus disrupting the power supply. The new switching operation cannot take place.

[0010] From DE 102018 118 329 B3 a method for zero-point switching of a relay is known, with which the service life of the relay is extended in terms of the number of switching cycles by switching the relay contacts in the area of ​​the zero voltage crossing of the voltage

[0011] The invention therefore aims to create a universal, simple, economical, and robust electric drive for commercially available switching devices from various manufacturers, particularly for switching devices for installation in electrical installation distribution boards, with variable and short switching times of less than 20 ms (milliseconds) and small dimensions, depending on the respective application. The dimensions of the drive are no larger than known switching devices for DIN rail mounting for installation in electrical installation distribution boards with standard DIN rail center-to-center distances of 125 mm, thus allowing optimal use of the space required in such control cabinets. Furthermore, the aim is to provide a method and a device for increasing the service life of the switching device.

[0012] A further task is that the electric drive can also be used to implement automatic mains switching with commercially available switching devices, which, in the event of a main power supply failure, either with a variable and needs-based switching delay or safely switch over to a second voltage emergency power supply without interruption or arcing in the event of a main power supply failure and have devices for increasing the service life of the switching device contacts as well as devices for controlling, signaling and monitoring all the functions of the drive and the switching device, including the mechanical parts, and detect faults immediately.

[0013] The above-mentioned objects are achieved in a first aspect of the present invention by an electrical switching device (2) and a drive (1) for actuating the electrical switching device (2) according to claim 1.

[0014] The drive of the invention is in particular electric and serves for the electrical actuation of a switching device for switching on and off or for automatic mains switching for switching between two power supplies of electrical systems with a rotatable control axis and movable contacts, wherein devices for transmitting the rotary movement and a switching lock and spring accumulator are present between the control axis and movable contacts and the drive is connected to the control axis.

[0015] The movable drivers (8a, 8b) preferably operate without a fixed mechanical coupling and move them mutually in a translational manner. The drive housing (6) and switching device (2) are preferably connected in a form-fitting manner.

[0016] To achieve the stated object, an electric drive switching device (1) for switching on and off a commercially available switching device (2) with a rotatable control axis, which acts on movable contacts via existing devices, is proposed, consisting of two electromagnets arranged perpendicularly and transversely to the control axis of the switching device in a drive housing (6), which are only activated for a short time and whose magnet armatures act loosely without fixed mechanical coupling via parallel and directional guides on movable drivers and move them individually and alternately in the same direction, and the drivers are each provided with a toothed rack and these are arranged opposite one another between a pinion and engage in this,and the pinion is connected to the control axis of the switching device via a shaft and thereby converts the translational movement into a rotary movement and acts on the movable contacts of the switching device.

[0017] To increase the service life of the switching device, each switching operation takes place at zero voltage crossing via regulated zero-voltage switches via the control unit in the drive housing and the monitoring of the switching operations via devices present in the drive and on the switching devices.

[0018] It is preferred if the longitudinal axes of the first electromagnet (7a) and the second electromagnet (7b) are arranged opposite one another and at the same distance from the plane of the control axis (3) of the switching device (2).

[0019] According to the invention, the drive (1) further comprises an adapter plate (24) provided on the drive housing (6) with means for fastening to the top-hat rail (4), wherein the adapter plate (24) has devices for aligning the drive axis of the drive (1) with respect to the control axis (3) of the switching device (2).

[0020] The drive (1) is provided with an adapter plate (24) with adjustable top-hat rail fastening, via which switching devices (2) with different distances between the control axis and the top-hat rail fastening axis (25) can be inserted and the drive (1) can be positively connected to the switching device.

[0021] A first alternative development provides that the actuating element is designed as a first rack (9a) on the first movable driver (8a) and as a second rack (9b) on the second movable driver (8b) and wherein the adjusting element (5, 21) is designed as a pinion (5), wherein the rack (9a) and the second rack (9b) are in engagement with the pinion (5).

[0022] A second alternative development provides that the actuating element is designed as a first recess (9c) in the first movable driver (8a) and as a second recess (9d) in the second movable driver (8b) and wherein the adjusting element (5, 21) is designed as a switching cam (21), wherein the first recess (9c) and the second recess (9d) are operatively connected to the switching cam (21).

[0023] The position of the switching lever (20) and the position of the upper and lower drivers can be detected by sensors and monitored by evaluating the temporal progression of the function of the electric drive and switching device. Failures can be detected immediately, e.g. a broken shaft, and the switching levers on the switching device can therefore be used for signaling rather than for switching. The time evaluation between the application of the actuating voltage to the electromagnet, via voltage measurement and movement of the drivers (8a, 8b), via sensor (19a, 19b) drive position down and via sensor (18a, 18b) drive position up and position of the switching lever (20), via sensor (17a, 17b), switch position and voltage change at the output terminal of the switching device are recorded, and in this way wear before failure and malfunctions are detected directly during the switching process.

[0024] An electrical switch position indicator in the actuator housing can be provided via a switch position sensor (17a, 17b), and the switching time can be recorded. The switching device can be switched on and off, as well as displayed and signaled, via a control in the actuator housing.

[0025] The electromagnets (7a, 7b) can be switched on and off via an electronic spring consisting of a power supply and a capacitor, so that in the event of a power failure the current and next switching operation is carried out safely.

[0026] The above objects are achieved in a second aspect of the present invention by a device (16) for network switching according to claim 5.

[0027] The drive of the invention can be designed in a modular or compact manner. The electromagnets (7a, 7b) can preferably be actuated via direct current and capacitor storage.

[0028] To achieve the stated objectives for a network changeover (14), the arrangement of two commercially available switching devices (2) with a network changeover drive (14) arranged between them, consisting of two drives (1) with or without a mechanical interlock (16), is proposed. The mechanical interlock (16) is omitted for a network changeover for uninterrupted switching and is necessary for a network changeover with a variable switching delay time of up to 0.5 seconds. For network changeovers (14) with the shortest switching delays, both switching devices are switched in direct succession via zero-point switches of the same polarity, whereby, for example, at the zero crossing from the positive to the negative half-wave of the voltage at the switching device of the main power supply, this is switched off and at the zero crossing from the positive to the negative half-wave of the voltage at the switching device of the emergency power supply, this is switched on.Depending on the phase shift between the main power supply and the emergency power supply with a respective frequency of 50 Hz, the maximum switching delay of the mains switchover is 20 ms.

[0029] In addition, electronic devices are used to record the temporal course of current and voltage at both switching devices and each switching operation takes place at the zero crossing of the voltage of the respective switching device (2) taking into account the respective switching time via a control device taking into account the switching time of the electromagnets for switching the drive on and off and the switching time of the switching device and a maximum switching voltage, so that the switching operation oscillates around the zero crossing of the voltage.

[0030] The above objects are achieved in a third aspect of the present invention by a method according to claim 6.

[0031] In a further development of the method according to the invention, the control and monitoring of the switching device (2) is carried out via a control unit in the drive housing (6) of the drive (1) and the devices for actuating the switching device (2) are used for signaling and monitoring via sensors.

[0032] Another embodiment of the method according to the invention provides that the contacts continuously oscillate between positive and negative arc ignition voltage via a control device at the zero crossing of the mains voltage with a switching time corresponding to twice the time between the zero crossing of the voltage and an arc ignition voltage of preferably 20 V.

[0033] The above objects are achieved in a fourth aspect of the present invention by a method according to claim 9.

[0034] Further objects, features, advantages, and possible applications will become apparent from the following description of non-limiting embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the figures. All described and / or illustrated features, individually or in any combination, constitute the subject matter of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their references. They show: Figure 1: a schematic representation of a drive 1 according to the invention for a switching device with a pinion, Figure 2: a representation of a drive 1 according to the invention for a switching device according to Fig. 1with switching cams for converting the translatory movement of the electromagnets into a rotary movement of the control axis and adaptation to switching devices from different manufacturers via adapter plate 24, Figure 3: an exploded view of a two-pole mains switch with drives 1 according to the invention and switching devices 2 with locking 15 and arrangement of the control unit 26 for controlling local operation of the mains switch 14 in a modular design without showing the sensors, adapter plate and top hat rail, Figure 4: a view of a two-pole mains switch according to Fig. 3in a compact design with lateral guides of the drivers, Figure 5: a schematic representation of the control drive of the mains changeover switch 14 without zero-voltage mains changeover Figure 6: a time curve diagram of the voltage output of the mains changeover switch 43 with an automatic mains changeover 14 from the voltage of the main power supply 42 to the voltage of the emergency power supply 42 with zero-voltage switching in the event of a voltage drop in the voltage of the main power supply 41.

[0035] In Figure 11 shows a drive 1 for a switching device 2 arranged on a top hat rail 4 with a rotatable control axis 3 which acts on the movable contacts (not shown) of the switching device 2. The drive 1 consists of a drive housing 6, in which a pinion 5 which can be rotated via a shaft 13 is arranged on the front side and is connected to the control axis of the switching device 29 via a shaft 13. On both sides of the pinion 5 and at right angles to the control axis 3, drivers 8a, 8b with toothed racks 9a, 9b are arranged, which engage with the pinion 5. The drivers are guided via lower guides 11a, 11b and upper guides 10a, 10b in the drive housing perpendicular to the control axis and parallel to one another and are moved alternately by the magnet armatures 12a, 12b of electromagnets via pressure without a fixed coupling to them, thus generating a rotary movement on the control axis and switching the contacts of the switching device accordingly.Depending on the switching position of the drive 1, the switching position of the switching device 2 is detected via the switching device operating lever 16 and the switching shaft position sensor 17a, 17b and transmitted to the operating unit (not shown), so that the function of the mechanical components of the drive 1 is monitored there. The operation, control, and monitoring of the switching device is carried out via an operating unit (not shown) in the upper part of the drive 1. The operating elements for local operation on the switching device are only used for feedback via the sensors in the drive and are not accessible from the outside due to corresponding covers in the drive.

[0036] Alternatively to Figure 1 is in Figure 2An electric drive switching device 1 with switching cam 21 instead of pinion and rack is shown. The electric drive 1 switching device consists of a drive housing 6, in which a switching cam 21 is arranged on the front side via shaft 13, which is connected to the control axis of the switching device 3 via shaft 13. On both sides of the switching cam 21 and at right angles to the control axis 3, there are drivers 8a, 8b with recesses into which the switching cam engages. The drivers are guided via lower guides 11a, 11b and upper guides 10a, 10b in the drive housing perpendicular to the control axis and parallel to each other and are moved alternately by the magnet armatures 12a, 12b of electromagnets via pressure without a fixed coupling with them, thus generating a rotary movement on the control axis and the contacts of the switching device analogously Figure 1switched accordingly. Since the switching devices of the manufacturers have variable distances between the control axis and the DIN rail axis 25 due to differences between the control axis (3) and the center of the DIN rail fastening axis 23 of the switching device, the drive of the switching device 1 is fastened to the DIN rail of the control cabinet via an adapter plate 24 with an adjustable DIN rail axis, thus compensating for the differences.

[0037] Figure 3contains an exploded view of a mains changeover device 14 with two drives 1 according to the invention, consisting of a main current drive 32 and an emergency current drive 33 for two switching devices 2, consisting of a two-pole main current switching device 30 and a two-pole emergency current switching device 31 as well as an interlock 15 and the arrangement of the control unit between the two drives. Switching device 1 for controlling, monitoring and signaling the mains changeover device 14 in a modular design without showing the sensors and top hat rail. The mechanical locking of the switching position of the switching devices as an additional safeguard for mutual electrical interlocking to avoid incorrect switching is carried out via a lever 27 with an axis 28 in the interlock 15, which is actuated by the lower guide 11a, 11b of the two drives for switching times greater than zero: For uninterrupted switching, the interlock 15 is omitted and the switching takes place in an overlapping manner.The manual local switching of the network changeover 14 is carried out via the control unit 26 and via the switching lever of the switching device 20. The switching position of the two switching devices is feedback via sensors (not shown) arranged above, so that the function of the drive of the switching device 1 up to the switching devices 2 is monitored and, for example, breakage of the shaft 13 or switching cam or pinion 5 can be detected.

[0038] In Figure 4 is a two-pole mains switching according to Figure 3 in a compact design of the drive mains switching 16 with lateral guides 29 of the drivers 8a, 8b and locking 15.

[0039] Figure 5is a schematic representation of the control of the mains switching drive 14 without zero-voltage mains switching. Two direct voltages are generated via the main power supply 34 and the emergency power supply 35 via a rectifier 36 and coupled via the control network coupling 37, so that even in the event of a failure, a fault is avoided. For each electromagnet 7a, 7b of the main power drives 32 and the emergency power drives 33, an RC element 38 is arranged as a voltage storage device, and the respective electromagnet 7a, 7b is switched on via control 39 and switched off via the drive position sensor 18a, 18b at the top, so that the electromagnet moves the magnet armature 12a, 12b back via a spring provided therein, and the driver 8a, 8b remains in the last position due to the loose coupling.

[0040] In Figure 6The figure shows a section of the time profile of the main power voltage 41, the emergency power voltage 42, and the mains transfer switch output voltage 43 for an exemplary, automatic zero-voltage mains transfer 40 from the main power supply to the emergency power supply. At time t0, due to the position of the switching devices 2 (not shown), for example, the mains transfer switch output voltage 43 corresponds to the main power supply voltage 40, and the emergency power supply voltage (42) is switched off by the phase shift time (Tv).

[0041] Up to time (t1'), the voltage of the main power supply 41 is represented as 100% of the mains voltage (100% UN). At time (t2'), the voltage of the main power supply 41 has decreased to, for example, 80% of the mains voltage (80% UN), so that the output voltage of the mains transfer switch 43 is also decreased at time (t2'). Thus, the functional reliability of the connected loads is no longer guaranteed, and the automatic mains transfer switching device 14 should, for example, switch to the emergency power supply at these values.

[0042] For this purpose, the voltage of the main power supply 41 is switched off at the next zero crossing at time (t3) by calculating the switch-off time (t Sa ) taking into account the polarity direction of the voltage of the main power supply 41 and taking into account all time losses of the drive switching device 1 and switching device 2 of the mains switching device 14.

[0043] Depending on the polarity of the emergency power supply voltage 42, the emergency power supply voltage 42 is switched on at zero crossing at time (t4) by calculating the switch-on time (t Se ) taking into account the polarity direction of the emergency power supply voltage 42 and all time losses of the drive 1 switching device and switching device 2 of the mains changeover 14, and the drive is switched on at time (Se). The switch-over time (Tsu) results from the time for one oscillation of the emergency power supply voltage 21, which is, for example, 10 ms at a frequency of 50 Hz plus the phase shift (T v ), for example 5 ms at 90 degrees. This results in a switch-over time (T u ) of 15 ms.

[0044] If the switching voltage main current (U Sch1 ) and / or switching voltage emergency current (U Sch2 ) exceeds, for example, an arc ignition voltage of 20 V, the switching times (t Sa , t Se ) are maintained and the switching time (T su ) is extended beyond the respective zero crossing up to the time (t max ) at which the switching voltage main current (U Sch1 ) and / or switching voltage emergency current (U Sch2 ) corresponds to the arc ignition voltage. List of reference symbols

[0045] 1Drive switching device 1aFirst drive switching device 1bSecond drive switching device 2Switching device 3Control axis 4Top hat rail 5Pinion 6Drive housing 7a, 7bElectromagnet 8a, 8bCarrier 9a, 9bTooth rack 9cFirst recess 9dSecond recess 10a, 10boUpper guide 11a, 11bLower guide 12a, 12bMagnetic armature 13Shaft 14Mains switching device 15Lock 16Drive mains switching device 17a, 17bSensor switch position 18a, 18bSensor drive position above 19a,19bSensor drive position down 20Switching lever switching device 21Switching cam 22Drive axis h 23DIN rail mounting axis 24Adapter plate 25Distance control axis - DIN rail mounting axis 26Control unit 27Lever 28Axis 29Side guide 30Two-pole switching device main current 31Two-pole switching device emergency current 32Drive switching device main current 33Drive switching device emergency current 34Power supply main current 35Power supply emergency current 36Rectifier 37Coupling control network 38Voltage storage 39Control 40Zero-voltage mains switching 41Voltage mains supply 42Voltage emergency power supply 43Voltage mains transfer switch output t0 to t3Zero crossing voltage mains supply t0' to t4'Zero crossing voltage emergency power supply TV Phase shift time t Sa Start of switch-off t Se Start of switch-on Ts U Switching time U Sch1 Switching voltage main current U Sch2 Switching voltage emergency current,

Claims

1. Drive (1) for actuating an electrical switching device (2) and electrical switching device (2), wherein the electrical switching device (2) has a rotatable control shaft (3) and movable contacts, the drive (1) comprising - a drive housing (6) which has means for fastening to a top-hat rail (4), - a first electromagnet (7a) with a first translatively movable magnetic anchor (12a), - a second electromagnet (7b) arranged parallel to the first electromagnet (7a) with a second translational movable magnetic anchor (12b), wherein the first electromagnet (7a) and the second electromagnet (7b) are aligned perpendicular to the control axis (3) of the switching device (2), - a first lower guide (11a) and a first upper guide (10a) as well as a second lower guide (11b) and a second upper guide (10b), which are arranged in the same direction for the first magnetic anchor (12a) and the second magnetic anchor (12b), - a first movable carrier (8a) and a second movable carrier (8b), each of which has an operating element (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) , wherein the first movable carrier (8a) and the second movable carrier (8b) are arranged parallel to the first magnetic anchor (12a) and the second magnetic anchor (12b) and are in mechanical operative connection with these, - a shaft (13) arranged on the control axis (3) of the switching device (2), which is provided with an actuating element (5, 21), wherein the operating elements (9s, 9b, 9c, 9d) are in mechanical operative connection with the actuating element (5, 21), so that the translational movement of the movable magnetic anchors (12a, 12b) can be converted into a rotational movement of the shaft (13) arranged on the control axis (3), further comprising an adapter plate (24) provided on the drive housing (6) with means for fastening to the top-hat rail (4), wherein the adapter plate (24) has devices for aligning the drive axis (22) of the drive (1) with respect to the control axis (3) of the switching device (2).

2. Drive (1) and electrical switching device (2) according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axes of the first electromagnet (7a) and the second electromagnet (7b) are arranged opposite each other and at the same distance from the control axis plane (3) of the switching device (2).

3. Drive (1) and electrical switching device (2) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the operating element is designed as a first toothed rack (9a) on the first movable carrier (8a) and as a second toothed rack (9b) on the second movable carrier (8b) and wherein the adjusting element (5, 21) is designed as a pinion (5), wherein the first toothed rack (9a) and the second toothed rack (9b) engage with the pinion (5).

4. Drive (1) and electrical switching device (2) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the operating element is designed as a first recess (9c) in the first movable carrier (8a) and as a second recess (9d) in the second movable carrier (8b) and wherein the actuating element (5, 21) is designed as a switching cam (21) , wherein the first recess (9c) and the second recess (9d) are operatively connected to the switching cam (21).

5. Device (16) for switching between networks, comprising - a first drive (1a) and a second drive (1b), - a locking device (15) arranged between the first drive (1a) and the second drive (1b), - two switching devices (2), which each have a rotatable control axis (3) and movable contacts, and are each arranged opposite the locking device (15) on the first drive (1a) and the second drive (1b), the first drive (1a) and the second drive (1b) comprising - a drive housing (6) which has means for fastening to a top-hat rail (4), - a first electromagnet (7a) with a first translatively movable magnetic anchor (12a), - a second electromagnet (7b) arranged parallel to the first electromagnet (7a) with a second translational movable magnetic anchor (12b), wherein the first electromagnet (7a) and the second electromagnet (7b) are aligned perpendicular to the control axis (3) of the switching device (2), - a first lower guide (11a) and a first upper guide (10a) as well as a second lower guide (11b) and a second upper guide (10b), which are arranged in the same direction for the first magnetic anchor (12a) and the second magnetic anchor (12b), - a first movable carrier (8a) and a second movable carrier (8b), each of which has an operating element (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) , wherein the first movable carrier (8a) and the second movable carrier (8b) are arranged parallel to the first magnetic anchor (12a) and the second magnetic anchor (12b) and are in mechanical operative connection with these, - a shaft (13) arranged on the control axis (3) of the switching device (2), which is provided with an actuating element (5, 21), wherein the operating elements (9s, 9b, 9c, 9d) are in mechanical operative connection with the actuating element (5, 21), so that the translational movement of the movable magnetic anchors (12a, 12b) can be converted into a rotational movement of the shaft (13) arranged on the control axis (3), - further comprising an adapter plate (24) provided on the drive housing (6) with means for fastening to the top-hat rail (4), wherein the adapter plate (24) has devices for aligning the drive axis (22) of the drive (1) with respect to the control axis (3) of the switching device (2). wherein the locking device (15) acts mechanically on the first and second carriers (8a, 8b) of the first drive (1a) and the second drive (1b) via a lever (27).

6. Method for operating a drive (1) and an electrical switching device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 4, comprising the steps of a) detecting the voltage at the output of the switching device (2) and the time course of the switching operation of the switching device (2) by means of a first upper sensor (18a) and a second upper sensor (18b) for the upper drive position and a first lower sensor (19a) and a second lower sensor (19b) for the lower drive position, as well as via a first sensor (17a) and a second sensor (17a) for the switch position b) monitoring the function of the switching device (2) and the drive (1) and reporting any deviations.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the switching device (2) is controlled and monitored via a control unit in the drive housing (6) of the drive (1) and the devices for operating on the switching device (2) are used for signalling and monitoring via sensors.

8. Method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the contacts oscillate continuously between positive and negative arc ignition voltage via a control device at the zero crossing of the mains voltage with a switching time corresponding to twice the time between the zero crossing of the voltage and an arc ignition voltage of preferably 20 V.

9. Method for operating a device (16) for switching between networks according to claim 5, wherein the switching between networks is selectively I) performed without interruption by switching the two switching devices (2) over the respective drive (1) with a time-limited overlap, or II) performed with interruption by i) the two switching devices (2) are actuated sequentially via the device (16) for switching between networks within at least two consecutive zero voltage passages of the voltage of a main power supply (41) and the voltage of an emergency power supply (42), by detecting the zero crossing and the polarity of the voltage of the main power supply (41) and the voltage of the emergency power supply (42) and controlling each mains switchover by means of a control device, taking into account the detected and stored switching times of the drive (1) and the switching device (2) and the voltage at the output of a mains switch (43), ii) a variable switching time (TSchu) of 0.015 s to 0.5 s is achieved via the two switching devices (2), by changing the number of zero crossings of the voltage of the main power supply (41) and the zero crossings of the voltage of the emergency power supply (42), and the switching voltage at the contacts of both switching devices (2) corresponds to a maximum parameterisable arc voltage of at least 20 V, iii) the time course of the voltage at the output of the mains switch (43) before the mains switchover continues in the same direction after the switchover time (TSchu) has elapsed.

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