Locking mechanism and switchgear

Abstract

Maintain the closed state of the door. [Solution] The locking mechanism (9) of the switchgear (1) includes an arm (5) connected to the shaft portion (41) of the handle (4), and a slider (2) attached to the housing (8) that locks the arm (5) when it moves to the locked position by the rotation of the handle (4), thereby keeping the door (3) locked. The slider (2) has a projection (22) at the lower end of the locking portion (21).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a lock mechanism for a switch gear and a switch gear.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a switch gear door locking device. The switch gear door locking device includes a slider fixed to a frame of a switch gear body, a handle fixed to a front end of a rotating shaft passing through a main body door, and an arm having a base fixed to a rear end of the rotating shaft.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The switch gear door locking device described in Patent Document 1 is configured to open the main body door by rotating the handle clockwise to disengage the arm from the slider. On the other hand, when the handle is rotated counterclockwise to disengage the arm from the slider to release the locked state and open the main body door, due to the weight of the arm or the like, the arm may drop when not intended, and the door may be opened.

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure aims to maintain the state where the door is closed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, a locking mechanism according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a switchgear locking mechanism that releases the locked state of a door by rotating a handle attached to the door counterclockwise, comprising an arm connected to the shaft of the handle, and a slider attached to the housing that maintains the door in a locked state by engaging the arm which has moved to the locked position by the rotation of the handle, wherein the slider has a projection at the lower end of a locking portion that engages the arm in the locked state.

[0007] Furthermore, a switchgear according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a housing, a door, the locking mechanism, and a cushion positioned between the housing-side end of the door and the housing when the door is closed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to one aspect of this disclosure, the door can be kept closed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] These figures show a front view and a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of a switchgear equipped with a locking mechanism according to the present disclosure. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the switchgear taken along the line BB. [Figure 3] This is a plan view of the slider according to the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] [Embodiment] An embodiment of this disclosure will be described in detail below. In each drawing, the X-axis and Y-axis are two mutually perpendicular axes in the horizontal plane (the contact surface of the switchgear). The positive X-axis direction may also be referred to as the right direction, and the negative X-axis direction as the left direction. The positive Y-axis direction may also be referred to as the back direction, and the negative Y-axis direction as the front direction. The Z-axis is an axis that extends vertically with respect to the horizontal plane, and the positive Z-axis direction may also be referred to as the up direction, and the negative Z-axis direction as the down direction.

[0011] Figure 1 shows a switchgear 1 equipped with a locking mechanism 9. The diagram indicated by reference numeral 101 in Figure 1 is a front view of the switchgear 1, and the diagram indicated by reference numeral 102 in Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in the diagram indicated by reference numeral 101. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in the diagram indicated by reference numeral 101 in Figure 1.

[0012] The switchgear 1, also commonly called a switching device, is a device connected to a busbar extending from a service drop to a distribution line. It is used to transform the high voltage upstream of the busbar to an appropriate voltage before distributing power to each load. The switchgear 1 is housed in a metal box consisting of a housing 8 and a door 3, and contains internal components, which are power receiving and transforming equipment.

[0013] The switchgear 1 further includes a locking mechanism 9 for switching the door 3 between a closed state and an open state. Specifically, the locking mechanism 9 may release the locked state of the door 3 by rotating a handle 4 attached to the door 3 counterclockwise.

[0014] In this specification, the state in which the locking mechanism 9 is in the locked position and the door 3 is closed may be referred to as the "locked state." The state in which the locking mechanism 9 is in the open position and the door 3 is in a state where it can be opened may be referred to as the "unlocked state." In this embodiment, the door 3 may be configured to be opened by pulling the handle 4 towards the user when in the unlocked state.

[0015] "The locking mechanism 9 is in the locked position" means that the arm 5 is locked by the slider 2, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. "The locking mechanism 9 is in the open position" means that the arm 5 has rotated counterclockwise (downward from the state in Figure 1) from the locked position, and the locking by the slider 2 has been released. For example, if the position of the handle 4 in the locked position is considered 0°, the locking mechanism 9 may be displaced from the locked position to the open position by rotating the handle 4 counterclockwise by approximately 30°.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the locking mechanism 9 comprises an arm 5 and a slider 2. As shown in Figure 2, the arm 5 is connected to the rear side of the shaft portion 41 of the handle 4 and is a member that rotates around the shaft portion 41 as the handle 4 rotates. Specifically, in Figure 1, when the handle 4 is rotated, the arm 5 also rotates in the same direction. The shaft portion 41 is located through the door 3, the lever of the handle 4 is fixed to the front side of the shaft portion 41, and the arm 5 is connected to the rear side of the shaft portion 41.

[0017] Slider 2 is mounted in the housing 8 at a height corresponding to arm 5, and is a component that maintains the door 3 in a locked state by engaging arm 5, which has been moved to the locked position by the rotation of the handle. Specifically, slider 2 is a plate-shaped component that protrudes from the front of the housing 8 toward the rear, and in the locked position, the innermost end face of slider 2 engages with the front of arm 5, thereby locking the door 3. Details of arm 5 and slider 2 will be described later.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the locking mechanism 9 may further include a second arm 6 and a slider 2 corresponding to each of the second arms, respectively, above and below the arm 5. The arm 5 and the two second arms 6 are connected by a connecting rod 7 extending in the vertical direction. The two second arms 6 are interlocked with the arm 5 that rotates by the rotational operation of the handle 4. Specifically, the two second arms 6 perform a rotational movement in the same direction and at the same angle as the rotation of the arm 5 by the rotational operation of the handle 4.

[0019] <arm> The arm 5 is a plate-shaped member having a crank shape. As shown in FIG. 2, the arm 5 has a first portion 51, a second portion 52, and a third portion 53. The first portion 51 is a portion connected to the shaft portion 41. The first portion 51 may be located between the outer surface of the housing 8 and the inner surface of the door 3 in the locked state of the door 3. The second portion 52 is a portion having a locking surface facing the slider 2. The second portion 52 is located inside the housing 8 in the locked state of the door 3. The third portion 53 is a portion connecting the first portion 51 and the second portion 52. The third portion 53 extends rearward in the locked state of the door 3.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, a notch is formed in the upper part of the second portion 52 of the arm 5. Thereby, the resistance when locking the arm 5 to the slider 2 by the clockwise rotation operation of the handle 4 can be reduced. The second arm 6 may have the same configuration as the arm 5, except that it is not connected to the shaft portion 41 of the handle 4. [[ID=​​​​​​​FIG. 3 is a plan view of the slider 2 according to the present embodiment. In the slider 2, the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) when attached to the housing 8 is defined as the length direction, and the depth direction (Y-axis direction) is defined as the width direction. The slider 2 has a locking portion 21 at the central portion in the length direction for locking the arm 5 in the locked state. The locking portion 21 has an end face facing the locking surface of the arm 5 in the locked state. This end face is a surface that can contact the arm 5 in the locked state. Further, the slider 2 has notch portions 24 at both ends in the length direction. The notch portion 24 is a portion where the widthwise length gradually decreases from the end of the locking portion 21 to the end of the slider 2 in the length direction. The notch portion 24 facilitates the entry of the arm 5 into the locking portion 21.

[0023] The locking portion 21 has a protrusion 22 at one end. The slider 2 is attached to the housing 8 such that the protrusion 22 is positioned at the lower end of the locking portion 21. In other words, the locking mechanism 9 includes the slider 2 having the protrusion 22 at the lower end of the locking portion 21.

[0024] Since the slider 2 has the protrusion 22, even if a force to lower the arm 5 downward (release the lock) acts due to the self-weights of the arm 5, the connecting rod 7, and the second arm 6, the arm 5 can be locked by the protrusion 22. Thereby, the possibility that the door 3 is unintentionally opened can be reduced, and the state where the door 3 is closed can be maintained.

[0025] The locking portion 21 may further have a second protrusion 23 at the other end. In other words, the locking mechanism 9 may include the slider 2 having the protrusion 22 at the lower end and the second protrusion 23 at the upper end. The protrusion 22 and the second protrusion 23 may have the same shape. Since the slider 2 has the protrusion 22 and the second protrusion 23, even when the slider 2 is attached to the housing 8 with a vertical inversion, the state where the door 3 is closed can be maintained because the protrusion is provided at the lower end of the locking portion 21.

[0026] The height H of the projection 22 in the locking portion 21 may be 0.2 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less. If the height H is greater than 0.5 mm, it becomes difficult to operate the handle when switching between the locked state and the unlocked state. If the height H is less than 0.2 mm, the above-mentioned effect is reduced. By having the height H within this range, the handle can be operated with appropriate force, and the possibility of the door 3 being opened unintentionally can be significantly reduced. Here, the height H of the projection 22 in the locking portion 21 means the distance between the portion of the locking portion 21 that does not include the projection 22 and the projection 22 and its apex.

[0027] The height H of the projection 22 may be 0.25 mm or more and 0.35 mm or less, or it may be 0.3 mm. This allows the handle to be operated with more appropriate force and reduces the possibility of the door 3 opening unintentionally.

[0028] <Cushion> As shown in Figure 2, the switchgear 1 may include a cushion 10 positioned between the housing-side end of the door 3 and the housing 8 when the door is closed. The cushion 10 has a clamping portion that grips the housing-side end of the door 3 and a spacer portion that maintains the distance between the housing-side end and the housing 8, and may be fixed to an appropriate position on the door 3 by the clamping portion. The cushion 10 may be attached to two locations, above and below the door 3, or to three locations, including the center. The cushion 10 fills the gap between the door 3 and the housing 8 when the door is closed, and significantly reduces the distance the door 3 moves toward the housing 8 when it is pushed toward the housing 8 by wind pressure or the like.

[0029] When the door 3 moves toward the housing 8 while locked, the arm 5, which is held in place by the slider 2, moves inward. As a result, the slider 2 and the arm 5 separate, increasing the likelihood that the arm 5 will rotate counterclockwise (downward) due to its own weight. The locking mechanism 9 is equipped with a cushion 10, which reduces the possibility of the door 3 unintentionally opening even if it is pushed toward the housing 8 by wind pressure or the like, and maintains the closed state of the door 3.

[0030] <Summary> A locking mechanism 9 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure is a locking mechanism 9 of a switchgear 1 that releases the locked state of a door 3 by rotating a handle 4 attached to the door 3 counterclockwise, and comprises an arm 5 connected to a shaft portion 41 of the handle 4, and a slider 2 attached to a housing 8 that maintains the door 3 in a locked state by engaging the arm 5 which has moved to the locked position by the rotational operation of the handle 4, wherein the slider 2 has a projection 22 at the lower end of a locking portion 21 that engages the arm 5 in the locked state.

[0031] In the above configuration, even if a downward force is applied due to the weight of the arm 5, the projection 22 can lock the arm 5 in place, thus maintaining the closed state of the door 3.

[0032] In the locking mechanism 9 according to aspect 2 of this disclosure, in aspect 1, the height of the projection 22 on the locking portion 21 is 0.2 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less.

[0033] With the above configuration, the handle can be operated with appropriate force, and the door 3 can be kept closed.

[0034] In the locking mechanism 9 according to aspect 3 of this disclosure, in aspect 1 or 2, the height of the projection 22 on the locking portion 21 is 0.25 mm or more and 0.35 mm or less.

[0035] With the above configuration, the handle can be operated with more appropriate force, and the door 3 can be kept closed.

[0036] In the locking mechanism 9 according to aspect 4 of the present disclosure, in any of aspects 1 to 3, the slider 2 has a second projection 23 at the upper end of the locking portion 21.

[0037] In the above configuration, since the locking portion 21 also has a second projection 23 at its upper end, even if the slider 2 is mounted upside down on the housing 8, the lower end of the locking portion 21 may still have a projection, thus maintaining the door 3 in a closed state.

[0038] The locking mechanism 9 according to aspect 5 of the present disclosure comprises, in any of aspects 1 to 4, a connecting rod 7 connected to the arm 5 and extending in the vertical direction, and a second arm 6 connected to the connecting rod 7 and interlocked with the arm 5 which rotates by the rotational operation of the handle 4.

[0039] The presence of arm 5 and second arm 6, as well as the corresponding slider 2, allows the door 3 to be locked in multiple places, thus enabling stable closing. On the other hand, the connection by the connecting rod 7 increases the weight of the locking mechanism 9, making it easier for a force to act that rotates arm 5 and second arm 6 downwards (unlocking). Even in this case, the presence of the projection 22 on the slider 2 allows the door 3 to remain closed.

[0040] The switchgear 1 according to embodiment 6 of this disclosure comprises a housing 8, a door 3, a locking mechanism 9 according to any of embodiments 1 to 5, and a cushion 10 located between the housing 8 side end of the door 3 and the housing 8 when the door 3 is closed.

[0041] In the above configuration, the locking mechanism 9 is equipped with a cushion 10, so that even if the door 3 is pushed towards the housing 8 by wind pressure or the like, the door 3 can remain closed.

[0042] [Additional Notes] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1 Switchgear 2 Sliders 21 Locking part 22 Protrusion 23 Second protrusion 24 Notch 3 doors 4 handles 5 Arms 6. Second Arm 7 Connecting rod 8 cabinets 9. Locking mechanism 10 cushions 41 Shaft

Claims

1. A switchgear locking mechanism that releases the door's lock state by rotating a handle attached to the door counterclockwise, An arm connected to the shaft portion of the handle, The device includes a slider that is attached to the housing and maintains the door in a locked state by engaging the arm, which has been moved to a locked position by the rotation of the handle, The slider has a locking mechanism, wherein the slider has a projection at the lower end of the locking portion that locks the arm in the locked state.

2. The locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the height of the projection in the locking portion is 0.2 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less.

3. The locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the height of the projection in the locking portion is 0.25 mm or more and 0.35 mm or less.

4. The locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the slider has a second projection at the upper end of the locking portion.

5. A connecting rod connected to the aforementioned arm and extending in the vertical direction, The locking mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising: a second arm connected to the connecting rod and linked to the arm which rotates by the rotational operation of the handle.

6. The casing and The door and A locking mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5, A switchgear comprising a cushion positioned between the housing-side end of the door and the housing when the door is closed.

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