Contactor for opening and closing a current path

Abstract

The invention relates to a contactor (1) for opening and closing a current path. The contactor (1) comprises a lever (5) that is rotatable about a fulcrum (3) between a first end position and a second end position, wherein the first end position of the lever (5) is defined by a stop (9) against which a lever arm (13) of the lever (5) bears in the first end position. Coupled to the lever (5) is a switch element (7) which is movable by rotation of the lever (7) and by way of which the current path is closed in the first end position of the lever (5) and opened in the second end position of the lever (5). A magnet unit (47) uses a magnetic force to prevent the lever arm (13) from bouncing off the stop (9) after the lever arm (13) has come into contact with the stop (9), and fixes the lever (5) in the first end position.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Switching device for opening and closing a current path

[0003] The invention relates to a switching device for opening and closing a current path. The switching device comprises a lever rotatable about a pivot point between a first end position and a second end position. A switching element is coupled to the lever, movable by rotation of the lever. The switching element closes the current path in the first end position of the lever and opens it in the second end position of the lever. The first end position of the lever thus defines a switch-on position of the switching element.

[0004] In particular, the invention relates to a fast-switching switching device such as a quick-action earthing device or a quick-disconnector, in which the lever is quickly rotated into the first end position by a drive. In such a switching device, the first end position of the lever is defined by a stop against which a lever arm of the lever rests in the first end position. The problem that arises here is that the lever arm can bounce off the stop after quickly striking the stop, for example as a result of a resilient effect of components of the stop and / or the lever. When the lever arm bounces off the stop in this way, the lever leaves the first end position again, at least briefly. Even briefly leaving the first end position can be technically problematic, since the switching element thereby leaves its defined switched-on position.It may also occur that the lever is no longer returned to the first end position after bouncing off the stop, for example, because the drive for rotating the lever does not generate sufficient force. In this case, after bouncing off the stop, the lever comes to rest in a position between the two end positions, in which the switching element does not assume its defined switching position, and the function of the switching device is compromised.

[0005] The invention is based on the object of specifying a switching device of the type described above in which a rebound of the lever from the stop is excluded and the lever is securely held in the first end position.

[0006] The object is achieved according to the invention by a switching device having the features of claim 1.

[0007] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0008] A switching device according to the invention for opening and closing a current path comprises

[0009] - a lever rotatable about a pivot point between a first end position and a second end position, the first end position of the lever being defined by a stop against which a lever arm of the lever rests in the first end position,

[0010] - a switching element coupled to the lever and movable by rotation of the lever, by which the current path is closed in the first end position of the lever and opened in the second end position of the lever, and

[0011] - a magnet unit which uses a magnetic force to prevent the lever arm from bouncing off the stop after it has hit the stop and which fixes the lever in the first end position.

[0012] The invention thus provides for preventing the lever from bouncing off the stop after striking the stop by a magnetic force of a magnet unit which also holds the lever in the first end position.

[0013] In one embodiment of the invention, the magnet unit comprises a magnet and a magnetic or magnetizable coupling element that is magnetically attracted by the magnet in the first end position of the lever. In this embodiment of the invention, the lever does not need to be completely magnetic or magnetizable; rather, the magnet or coupling element can be arranged, for example, on an otherwise non-magnetic or non-magnetizable lever arm of the lever.

[0014] For example, the magnet is a component of the lever, and the coupling element is arranged in a fixed position relative to the stop. In particular, the coupling element can be a component of the stop. In this embodiment of the invention, the lever therefore has the magnet. For example, the magnet is arranged on the lever arm of the lever, which rests against the stop in the first end position of the lever. Furthermore, the magnet can, for example, rest against the coupling element forming a component of the stop in the first end position of the lever.

[0015] Alternatively, the coupling element is a component of the lever, and the magnet is arranged in a fixed position relative to the stop. In particular, the magnet can be a component of the stop. In this embodiment of the invention, the lever thus has the coupling element. For example, the coupling element is arranged on the lever arm of the lever, which rests against the stop in the first end position of the lever. Furthermore, the coupling element can, for example, rest against the magnet forming a component of the stop in the first end position of the lever.

[0016] The magnet is, for example, a permanent magnet. Alternatively, the magnet is an electromagnet, and the switching device is configured, for example, to switch the electromagnet on before the lever arm hits the stop. Designing the magnet as an electromagnet has the particular advantage that the electromagnet can be switched off when the lever is rotated from the first end position to the second end position and can be switched off in the second end position. The stop has, for example, an elastically deformable buffer element that dampens an impact of the lever arm on the stop. This advantageously protects the stop and the lever from high loads when the lever arm hits the stop.

[0017] Furthermore, the switching device comprises, for example, a drive configured to quickly rotate the lever between its end positions. The drive is, for example, a spring-loaded drive, a pneumatic drive, or a magnetic drive.

[0018] The switching device is, for example, a quick-disconnector, i.e. a quickly disconnecting circuit breaker, or a quick-earther, i.e. a quickly earthing earthing 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 readily understood in connection with the following description of exemplary embodiments, which are explained in more detail in conjunction with the drawings.

[0020] FIG 1 shows an embodiment of a switching device for opening and closing a current path in a first end position of a lever of the switching device,

[0021] FIG 2 the switching device shown in Figure 1 in a second end position of the lever of the switching device.

[0022] Figure 1 (FIG 1) and Figure 2 (FIG 2) schematically show an embodiment of a switching device 1 for opening and closing a current path. The switching device 1 is, for example, a quick-disconnect device or a quick-connect earthing device.

[0023] The switching device 1 comprises a lever 5 which can be rotated about a pivot point 3 between a first end position and a second end position. A switching element 7 which can be moved by rotating the lever 5 is coupled to the lever 5 and by means of which the current path is closed in the first end position of the lever 5 and opened in the second end position of the lever 5.

[0024] Figure 1 shows the switching device 1 in the first end position of the lever 5. The first end position of the lever 5 is defined by a first stop 9, against which an end region 11 of a first lever arm 13 of the lever 5 rests in the first end position.

[0025] The first stop 9 comprises a first stop element 15, a first buffer element 17 and a magnet 19. The first stop element 15 is arranged stationary relative to the pivot point 3 of the lever 5. The first buffer element 17 is arranged on a side of the first stop element 15 facing the lever 5. The magnet 19 comprises a first magnet section 21, which is arranged on a side of the first stop element 15 facing away from the lever 5, a second magnet section 22, which is arranged on a side of the first buffer element 17 facing the lever 5, and a third magnet section 23, which connects the first magnet section 21 and the second magnet section 22 and is guided through an opening 25 in the combination of the first stop element 15 and the first buffer element 17.

[0026] The end region 11 of the first lever arm 13 has a magnetic or magnetizable coupling element 27 which, in the first end position of the lever 5, rests against the second magnet section 22 of the magnet 19 and is attracted by the magnet 19.

[0027] The switching element 7 is coupled to a second lever arm 29 of the lever 5. In the first end position of the lever 5, the switching element 7 connects two electrical contacts 31, 33 and thereby closes the current path. A first electrical contact 31 is a sliding contact which is electrically connected to the switching element 7 in every position of the lever 5. The electrical connection of the switching element 7 to the first electrical contact 31 is established, for example, by first contact elements 35 which are pressed against the switching element 7 under spring load. The second electrical contact 33 is a retraction contact into which the switching element 7 retracts when the lever 5 is rotated into the first end position. In the first end position, the switching element 7 is electrically connected to the second electrical contact 33, for example, by second contact elements 37 which are pressed against the switching element 7 under spring load in the first end position of the lever 5.

[0028] Figure 2 shows the switching device 1 in the second end position of the lever 5. The second end position of the lever 5 is defined by a second stop 39, against which the end region 11 of the first lever arm 13 of the lever 5 rests in the second end position.

[0029] The second stop 39 comprises a second stop element 41 and a second buffer element 43. The second stop element 41 is arranged fixedly relative to the pivot point 3 of the lever 5. The second buffer element 43 is arranged on a side of the second stop element 41 facing the lever 5.

[0030] The lever 5 is driven by a drive 45, which is designed to quickly rotate the lever 5 between its end positions. The drive 45 is, for example, a spring-loaded drive. Alternatively, the drive 45 is, for example, a pneumatic drive or a magnetic drive.

[0031] The magnet 19, for example, is a permanent magnet.

[0032] Alternatively, the magnet 19 is an electromagnet. If the magnet 19 is an electromagnet, the switching device 1 is configured, for example, to switch the electromagnet on before the first lever arm 13 hits the first stop 9 and to switch the electromagnet off when the lever 5 is rotated from the first end position to the second end position and in the second end position of the lever 5. For example, the switching on and off of the electromagnet can be coupled to the activation of the drive 45, so that the electromagnet is switched on when the drive 45 rotates the lever 5 to the first end position and switched off when the drive 45 rotates the lever 5 to the second end position.

[0033] The magnet 19 and the coupling element 27 form a magnetic unit 47, which is designed such that a magnetic force between the magnet 19 and the coupling element 27 prevents the first lever arm 13 from rebounding from the first stop 9 after the first lever arm 13 has struck the first stop 9. Furthermore, this magnetic force fixes the lever 5 in the first end position.

[0034] The buffer elements 17, 43 of the stops 9, 39 are elastically deformable and each dampen an impact of the first lever arm 13 on the respective stop 9, 39. For example, the buffer elements 17, 43 are each made of rubber.

[0035] In the exemplary embodiment of a switching device 1 described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, the magnet 19 is a component of the first stop 9 and the coupling element 27 is a component of the lever 5. In other exemplary embodiments, the magnet 19 can be a component of the lever 5 and the coupling element 27 can be a component of the first stop 9. For example, in such an exemplary embodiment, the end region 11 of the first lever arm 13 has the magnet 19 and the coupling element 27 is connected to the stop element 15 and the buffer element 17 of the first stop 9, similar to the magnet 19 in the exemplary embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0036] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by means of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples and other variations can be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Switching device (1) for opening and closing a current path, the switching device (1) comprising - a lever (5) rotatable about a pivot point (3) between a first end position and a second end position, wherein the first end position of the lever (5) is defined by a stop (9) against which a lever arm (13) of the lever (5) rests in the first end position, - a switching element (7) coupled to the lever (5) and movable by rotating the lever (5), by which the current path is closed in the first end position of the lever (5) and opened in the second end position of the lever (5), and - a magnetic unit (47) which prevents the lever arm (13) from bouncing off the stop (9) after the lever arm (13) has struck the stop (9) by means of a magnetic force and fixes the lever (5) in the first end position .

2. Switching device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic unit (47) comprises a magnet (19) and a magnetic or magnetizable coupling element (27) which is magnetically attracted to the magnet (19) in the first end position of the lever (5).

3. Switching device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the magnet (19) is part of the lever (5) and the coupling element (27) is arranged in a fixed position relative to the stop (9).

4. Switching device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the coupling element (27) is part of the stop (9).

5. Switching device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the coupling element (27) is part of the lever (5) and the magnet (19) is arranged in a fixed position relative to the stop (9).

6. Switching device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the magnet (19) is part of the stop (9).

7. Switching device (1) according to one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the magnet (19) is a permanent magnet.

8. Switching device (1) according to one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the magnet (19) is an electromagnet.

9. Switching device (1) according to claim 8, which is configured to switch on the electromagnet before the lever arm (13) strikes the stop (9).

10. Switching device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the stop (9) has an elastically deformable buffer element (17) that dampens an impact of the lever arm (13) on the stop (9).

11. Switching device (1) according to one of the preceding claims with a drive (45) which is configured to quickly rotate the lever (5) between its end positions.

12. Switching device (1) according to claim 11, wherein the drive (45) is a spring storage drive.

13. Switching device (1) according to claim 11, wherein the drive (45) is a pneumatic drive.

14. Switching device (1) according to claim 11, wherein the drive (45) is a magnetic drive.

15. Switching device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, which is a quick disconnector or a quick grounding device.

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