Drive for an electric circuit breaker of a high voltage switchgear

Abstract

The invention relates to a drive (10) for an electric circuit breaker (2) of a high voltage switchgear, wherein the drive (10) comprises a storage device (12) configured for resiliently storing mechanical energy and a hydraulic device (13) configured for transferring the mechanical energy, wherein the storage device (12) comprises a working cylinder (14) and a piston rod (16) guided in the working cylinder (14), by means of which piston rod (16) a moving contact member of the electric circuit breaker (2) can be actuated; wherein the drive (10) further comprises a counter device (20) configured to count actuation cycles of the piston rod (16) in the working cylinder (14), and / or a position indicator device (50) configured to indicate a position of the piston rod (16) in the working cylinder (14) by means of a rotational position of an indicator element (54) of the position indicator device (50); and wherein the drive (10) further comprises an actuation member (18) coupled to the piston rod (16) and to the counter device (20) and / or the position indicator device (50).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Drive for an electric circuit breaker of a high voltage switchgear

[0003] Technical Field

[0004] The invention relates to a drive for an electric circuit breaker of a high voltage switchgear, wherein the drive has a storage device and a hydraulic device, and wherein by means of a piston rod of the drive a moving contact member of the circuit breaker can be actuated.

[0005] Background Art

[0006] Electrical systems of various types, e.g., drives for circuit breakers, circuit breakers or switchgear therewith, remain an area of interest. Some existing systems have various shortcomings, drawbacks and disadvantages relative to certain applications. Typically the drive and / or the circuit breaker is subject to wear when it is actuated. The components thus should be constructed reliably and inspected on a regular basis in order to ensure function. For example, in some circuit breakers and drives, improvements in their construction and / or electrical properties for a better reliability may be made. In addition, costs need to be optimized. Accordingly, there remains a need for further contributions in this area of technology.

[0007] Summary of invention

[0008] It is an object of the invention to provide solutions where a drive for an electric circuit breaker of a high voltage switchgear is improved in reliability and cost to operate. Particularly it is an object to avoid or reduce disadvantages of known solutions.

[0009] The object of the invention is solved by the features the independent claim. Preferred implementations are detailed in the dependent claims. Thus, the object is particularly solved by a drive for an electric circuit breaker of a high voltage switchgear, the drive comprising a storage device configured for resili- ently storing mechanical energy and a hydraulic device configured for transferring (the) mechanical energy, wherein the storage device comprises a working cylinder and a piston rod guided in the working cylinder, by means of which piston rod a moving contact member of the electric circuit breaker can be actuated. According to the invention, the following may be provided as a part of the drive:

[0010] - a counter device configured to count actuation cycles of the piston rod in the working cylinder; and / or

[0011] - a position indicator device configured to indicate a position of the piston rod in the working cylinder by means of a rotational position of an indicator element of the position indicator device.

[0012] Additionally, the drive further comprises an actuation member coupled to the piston rod and to the counter device and / or the position indicator device.

[0013] In other words, a drive is suggested that can store energy which energy can be output again especially in the same form, e.g. in the mechanical form and / or as mechanical energy. The energy can be used by means of a hydraulic mechanism in order to actuate a circuit breaker, particularly for opening and closing an electrical connection. A piston rod that is hydraulically actuated is typically mechanically coupled with a moving contact member. The drive may have at least one of a counter device counting cycles of actuation of the piston rod (e.g. the circuit breaker has been used for interrupting the electrical connection for a specific number of times, and / or the piston rod has been moved back and forth for a specific number of times) and a position indicator device indicating the position of the piston rod (e.g. the electrical connection is either open or closed, and / or the piston rod is either retracted or extended). Further, the drive has an actuation structure, e.g. one or more of a linking rod or linking lever or linking mechanism, that is coupled to the piston rod and further more to one or more of the counter device and the position indicator device.

[0014] The invention provides that cost for maintenance and cost of operation can be reduced. Due to the invention, it can more easily be seen how the mechanical properties of piston rod are, for example how the piston rod is currently and / or has historically been positioned in the working cylinder. A use of sensitive electronical equipment to determine mechanical properties, such as the number of cycles or the position of the piston rod, is typically obsolete. Further implementations / embodi- ments are given herein to further improve the advantages of the invention.

[0015] The drive may be configured for storing and / or may be able to store mechanical energy (e.g. potential / elastic energy), for example by means of compressing and de-com pressing an elastic means of the drive, for example a spring means or spring.

[0016] In order to store the mechanical energy, the drive, particularly the storage device, may comprise storing means. For example, the storing means or elastic means may be in the form of the spring that can be compressed and de-compressed. In order to transfer the mechanical energy, the drive, particularly the hydraulic device, may comprise transferring means. For example, the transferring means may be in the form of conduits, compression or decompression chambers, levers or the like.

[0017] The drive, especially the storage device, may be configured for resi liently storing the mechanical energy, especially wherein the mechanical energy can be input or stored and the mechanical energy can be output or removed. Compressing the elastic means may serve to store the mechanical energy in the elastic means. The compressing and the de-com pressing of the elastic means may result in and / or may be conducted by a controlled movement of a hydraulic fluid, e.g. a hydraulic oil. The de-com pressing of the elastic means may be used to move a piston in a cylinder in order to provide pressure, wherein the hydraulic device may serve for the transformation or transmission of the stored mechanical energy towards moving the piston rod. Said de-compressing of the elastic means and / or said pressure may be used to move the piston rod in the working cylinder, preferably in both directions in a controlled manner, in order to (typically fully) close or open the circuit breaker.

[0018] The storage device can store mechanical energy, e.g. is configured therefor, particularly potential energy and / or elastic energy. The mechanical energy can be removed or added to the storage device via the hydraulic device. Thus, the hydraulic device can serve to input and / or to output mechanical energy into the storage device. The storage device and the hydraulic device may be configured as a a common unit and / or may overlap in components and functions. For example, the mechanical resilient energy storage device and the hydraulic device may have and / or form the storing means and transferring means, particularly may have and / or form a / the working cylinder, a cylinder body, a cylinder head and / or a channel.

[0019] For example, a translational movement as an energy input may serve to store mechanical energy by acting against a force of the storage device e.g. that compresses an elastic means or storing means. Vice versa, the storage may provide a translational movement including a certain force as an energy output. The storage device is particularly characterized by its ability of reversibly storing the mechanical energy.

[0020] The counter device and / or the position indicator device may be mechanically actuated, e.g. may be configured to be mechanically actuated. The term ‘mechanically actuated’ typically relates to a certain movement e.g. in order to make a mechanism work such as the counter device count an actuation cycle or the position indicator device indicating a position of the piston rod. Mechanical actuation typically makes an electrical actuation or electrical signal uncalled-for. Mechanical actuation typically includes application of a mechanical force and / or mechanical contact.

[0021] It is typically understood that the counter device is able to number or enumerate the actuation cycles of the piston rod in the working cylinder. Each cycle may make the counter device count one more cycle. Particularly, the counting relates to a numeric value that can only grow during use of the drive. One (typically full) back and forth movement should relate to one actuation cycle. The counter device is particularly non-electric and / or can store the numerical value in a cumulative register, which cumulative register may have rotating disks with numbers that show in a row the actuation cycles. In order to count actuation cycles, the counter device may comprise counting means, for example a totaliser or register.

[0022] It is typically understood that the position indicator device is able to show the assumed position of the piston rod, or position for short, as the position that the piston rod currently has. Typically, there are at least two positions of interest, e.g. the po- sition with a safely closed electrical connection / full electrical contact; and the position with a safely open electrical connection / interrupted electrical connection. Thus, the position indicator device may have a certain, particularly self-explanatory, form, shape, display, position, rotational position or the like to indicate the position of the piston rod. In order to indicate the position of the piston rod, the position indicator device may comprise indication means, for example a display or a marker. The rotational position may be understood in that different positional angles can be assumed by the position indicator device.

[0023] The piston rod is typically guided in the working cylinder and may seal against an inner surface of the working cylinder. The inner surface is particularly of a cylindrical shape. A hydraulic fluid pressure may serve to move the piston rod in the working cylinder. The hydraulic fluid pressure may be provided by means of the hydraulic device and / or the storage device. Particularly on one end, the piston rod may be coupled, e.g. directly or indirectly, with the moving contact member. The piston rod and / or the working cylinder may comprise or consist of metal to enhance stability and reliability.

[0024] Circuit breakers are known in the art of medium voltage and high voltage switching applications. They may be used to interrupt the nominal current and the current caused e.g. by an electrical fault. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term medium voltage refers to a voltage from 1 kV to 72.5 kV, and the term high voltage refers to a voltage greater than 72.5 kV. Circuit breakers may have to be capable of carrying high nominal currents of 3150 A to 6300 A and switching very high short- circuit currents of 31.5 kA to 80 kA at high voltages of 72.5 kV, particularly up to 1200 kV. Particularly, the circuit breaker as disclosed herein is a high voltage circuit breaker and / or is for a high voltage switchgear.

[0025] In the following, implementations of the invention are described. The implementations may be combined or considered individually. Specific aspects / features described in the context of any of the implementations may be considered individually or in combination. The implementations pursue further optimization of the invention and provide the advantages as described herein. The actuation member may be in the form of a linking mechanism or linking structure. The actuation member may provide a mechanical link between the piston rod and the counter device or position indicator device or both thereof. The actuation member may be configured to transfer a mechanical movement of the piston rod directly or indirectly to one or both of the counter device and the position indicator device. The actuation member may be configured to transfer a movement of the piston rod to another location within, out of or remote from the drive, particularly to one or both of the counter device and the position indicator device.

[0026] The actuation member may comprise at least one lever or two or more actuation levers, e.g. a first actuation lever and a second actuation lever. The actuation member, especially the actuation lever(s), may be directly or indirectly coupled to the piston rod. The actuation member, especially the actuation lever(s), may be directly or indirectly coupled to the counter device and / or the position indicator device, especially on a side opposite to and / or away from the piston rod. The actuation member may be subject to the movement of the piston rod and / or be fixedly coupled to the piston rod. The actuation member may be understood as an element for a transfer of the mechanical movement of the piston rod to the counter device and / or the position indicator device. The actuation member helps to protect the piston rod from direct engagement of or with other devices.

[0027] In another implementation the position indicator device has a cable mechanically coupled on one end of the cable to the piston rod and / or the actuation member, and on another end of the cable to a transmission mechanism of the position indicator device. The transmission mechanism may be configured to rotate the indicator element when the piston rod and / or the cable moves. The cable may be a bowden cable. The cable provides to have the position indicator device be located ergonomically and technically suitable. The cable provides protection for the position indicator device to not be directly coupled with the piston rod.

[0028] The transmission mechanism is to be understood as a gearbox-like device. The transmission mechanism may be provided to transfer a translational movement to a rotational movement and vice-versa. The transmission mechanism may comprise a particularly rotatable disc (roller) for sectionally enwinding with the cable attached thereto, wherein pulling the cable may result in a movement and / or rotation of the disc. The indicator element may be coupled directly or indirectly to the disc. The disc may be mounted on a holder. The holder may additionally hold a sheath of the cable. The disc may be mounted to stop upon a certain e.g. rotational movement. The transmission mechanism may comprise spring means to automatically / elastically return to an initial position, e.g. when the tension on the cable is released. The spring means may act between the disc and the holder.

[0029] In another implementation the indicator element is replaceable and / or is removably attached to the transmission mechanism and / or is configured to be adjusted in its rotational angle relative to the transmission mechanism. For example, the indicator element may be held in a fixed rotational position, which rotational position may be adjusted. This helps to adjust the position indicator device independently from the position of the piston rod. This reduces cost of maintenance.

[0030] In another implementation the indicator element protrudes from a housing of the electric circuit breaker or of the drive. The indicator element may be arranged to face away from the piston rod, e.g. may be arranged facing away from the piston rod. The indicator element may be located easily ergonomically or technically favorable. The indicator element may be arranged at a bottom and / or to penetrate the housing particularly to be easily readable from the outside.

[0031] In another implementation the piston rod being retracted and the piston rod being extended each corresponds to one position of the piston rod to be individually indicated by the position indicator device. In other words, the position indicator device can represent the piston rod being extended and the piston rod being retracted in an individual / unique way. For example, the piston red being retracted may be indicated in a visible present side in a first color of the indicator element (electrical connection given) and the piston rod being extended may be indicated in a visible side in a second color of the indicator element (electrical connection interrupted). Alternatively or additionally the position of the indicator element may change, e.g. the length of protrusion from the housing and / or from the circuit breaker or the position relative thereto. In another implementation a stroke between two positions of the piston rod corresponds to a rotation of the indicator element. For example, the indicator element may rotate by a certain angle between the positions of the piston rod. The indicator element may rotate in the range between at least 10 up to 720 degrees, particularly between 60 and 360 degrees, particularly between 75 and 180 degrees, particularly the rotation being 90 ± 10 degrees. It has been found that a certain angle is beneficial for example to re-use and to easily readjust the indicator element.

[0032] In another implementation the counter device is configured to count a back-and- forth movement of the piston rod corresponding to fully opening and closing the electric circuit breaker as one actuation cycle. In this way, the operator may clearly understand for how many times the circuit breaker has been actuated. This facilitates reduced cost of operation.

[0033] In another implementation the counter device is configured to display in an analog and / or non-electric representation of numbers the actuation cycles. The counter device may thus be configured to count without using electronics. The counter device may thus be resistant to electrical fields and reliably count.

[0034] In another implementation the counter device has a main lever configured to pivot between a neutral and a triggered position when the piston rod is moved between a / the retracted and an / the extended position. The main lever may be configured to be pivoted by means of the actuation member. The neutral and the triggered position may be arranged with an angular distance in a range between at least 1 and up to 360 degrees, preferably between 5 and up to 180 degrees, preferably between 10 and 90 degrees. The movement of the piston rod may result in the main lever pivot / rotate by means of pushing the main lever, particularly against a force serving to return the main lever back to the neutral position.

[0035] In another implementation the main lever is spring-loaded in a direction from the triggered position to the neutral position. This provides that the main lever can rotate back automatically without the need to be pushed or pulled by means of the piston rod. Typically, the main lever does not hold onto the piston rod or the actuation member to enhance the independence and reliability of the drive. In another implementation the counter device has a second lever configured to pivot between a first position and a second position, particularly when the main lever is pivoted between the neutral and the triggered position by being mechanically coupled to the main lever. The second lever may be mechanically coupled to a mechanical counter, particularly to a counter lever of the mechanical counter. The second lever may serve as a mechanical link to the mechanical counter to provide a reduction of ferees applied to the mechanical counter and to provide a certain mechanical decoupling. A mechanical counter may thus have an increased lifetime.

[0036] Preferably, the main lever is configured to block the second lever against pivoting when in the neutral position. Alternatively or additionally the main lever is configured to catch the second lever when returning to the neutral position. The main lever may have a groove engaging with a protrusion of the second lever. The main lever may as well have a protrusion engaging with a groove of the second lever. The main lever can thus automatically hold back and / or bring back the second lever to its first position, e.g. its initial position.

[0037] The second lever may be spring-loaded in a direction from the first position to the second position. Alternatively or additionally the second lever may be spring-loaded to automatically assume and / or pivot towards the second position when the main lever is pivoted to or towards the triggered position. Particularly, the main lever and the second lever may each be spring-loaded in opposite directions, e.g. to push against each other via mechanical interaction.

[0038] The main lever and the second lever may pivot about an axis, thereby, e.g. the main lever and the second lever may pivot about the same axis. The main lever and the second lever may be held to pivot coaxially. The counter lever particularly pivots oblique or perpendicular to at least one or both of the main lever and the second lever. The main lever and the second lever may be held axially adjacent to each other to pivot about the same center. The counter lever may engage with the main or the second lever, particularly with the second lever. The counter lever may protrude through the second lever. The second lever may have a recess and / or an opening for the counter lever. The spring load acting on the second lever may be less than the spring load acting on the main lever. In other words, the momentum acting on the second lever may be less than the momentum acting on the main lever, wherein the momentums particularly are acting against each other. This provides an automatic pivoting back to the neutral position and to the first position of both main and second lever.

[0039] In another implementation the main and the second lever are supported by a common base. The base may support a / the mechanical counter representing the actuation cycles. The base may be a metal part, e.g. comprising a bent and / or sheet metal part. The base may attached easily to the housing of the circuit breaker. The base may serve as a counter bearing for springs coupled with the main lever and with the second lever. The base may serve to stop at least one of the main and the second lever, particularly in at least one of the neutral position and the second position.

[0040] Brief description of drawings

[0041] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the implementations described hereinafter.

[0042] In the drawings:

[0043] Fig. 1 shows a circuit breaker of a high voltage switchgear with a drive, a counter device and a position indicator device in a sectional view;

[0044] Fig. 2 shows the position indicator device in a top view from the inside of the circuit breaker;

[0045] Fig. 3A-B shows the position indicator device attached to a housing of the circuit breaker in a side view (A) and in a bottom view (B);

[0046] Fig. 4 shows an indicator element of the position indicator device in a perspective explosional view; and Fig. 5A-C shows the counter device in a perspective view from different sides.

[0047] Description of implementations

[0048] The description contains procedural or methodical aspects upon describing structural features of the drive; the structural features can be understood well in that way. It is emphasized to the reader that such structural features can be lifted from the described context without hesitation or the question of an intermediate generalization to form aspects of the invention. It is also emphasized to the reader that any the structural features described in the following can be understood as individual aspects of the invention to distinguish from known solutions, despite being possibly lifted from the context.

[0049] In Fig. 1 a drive 10 of a circuit breaker 2 of a high voltage switchgear is shown in a partial cross-section. The drive 10 has a storage device 12 that can store mechanical energy, here by means of a spring means, the spring means preferably being at least one disc spring. The mechanical energy is thus particularly in the form of potential energy.

[0050] The drive 10 has a hydraulic device 13 for transferring the mechanical energy stored in the storage device 12. The drive 10 has a working cylinder 14 and a piston rod 16 guided in the working cylinder 14. The piston rod 16 is mechanically coupled to a moving contact member of the circuit breaker 2 (not shown in detail).

[0051] The moving contact member of the electric circuit breaker 2 can be actuated based on a movement of the piston rod 16. Particularly, the moving contact member is coupled directly or indirectly to the piston rod 16, e.g. so that a movement of the piston rod 16 can cause a movement of the moving contact member in order to couple or uncouple an electrical connection in the circuit breaker 2 preferably as a function of the direction of movement of the piston rod 16.

[0052] A position indicator device 50 which is configured to indicate a position (i.e. the ac- tual / current position) of the piston rod 16 in the working cylinder 14 by means of a rotational position of its indicator element 54 is attached to the housing 4. The position indicator device 50 can indicate the position of the piston rod 16 for the position to be visible from outside and / or bottom view of the circuit breaker. The position indicator device 50 is particularly shown in Fig. 2.

[0053] The drive 10 has an actuation member 18. The actuation member 18, particularly an actuation lever thereof, is coupled especially directly to the piston rod 16 and at least indirectly to the position indicator device 50 to actuate the position indicator device 50, e.g. when piston rod 16 is being moved. In this case, the actuation lever is coupled via a cable 52 to the the position indicator device 50.

[0054] With reference to Fig. 2, the position indicator device 50 has the cable 52 mechanically coupled on one end of the cable 52 indirectly to the piston rod 16 and particularly directly to the actuation member 18, and on another end of the cable 52 to a transmission mechanism 56 of the position indicator device 50.

[0055] The transmission mechanism 56 is configured to rotate the indicator element 54 when the piston rod 16, the actuation member 18 and / or the cable 52 moves. The indicator element 54 is replaceable, removably attached to the mechanism 56 and is configured to be adjusted. A stroke between two positions of the piston rod 16 corresponds to a 90 degree rotation of the indicator element 54. The indicator element 54 rotates about 90 degrees when the piston rod 16 fully extends or fully retracts. The indicator element 54 can show the position in open or in close (depending on status of the circuit breaker or the position of the piston rod 16).

[0056] Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 each show the closed position of the circuit breaker, i.e. , the piston rod 16 is retracted. The transmission mechanism 56 is connected to the piston rod 16 by a bowden cable 52 via a kinematic chain. On the back of a shaft 55 of the indicator element 54, the position of the piston rod 16 is indicated by a symbol which symbolizes the open or close position, e.g. ON and OFF as in Fig. 4.

[0057] When the piston rod 16 moves to the open position or extended position, the bowden cable 52 pulls the disc 58 or roller and tensions a spring means 60 in the form of a tension spring. A partial rotation of the disc 58 takes place and the new position is reliably indicated when the cable 52 comes to stop.

[0058] When the piston rod 16 moves back to the open position or retracted position (as in Fig. 1 ), the disc 58 is pulled back to its initial position by the spring means 60. This turns the indicator element 54 back via the shaft 55. The transmission mechanism 56 can transfer a translational movement of the cable 52 and / or the piston rod 16 to a rotational movement of the indicator element 54. The indicator element 54 is coupled to the disc 58.

[0059] A holder 62 supports the disc 58 and the cable 52, particularly a sheath of the cable 52. The disc 58 stops upon a certain rotation against the holder 62. The spring means 60 is coupled to the holder 62 and to the disc 58 to be tensioned upon a rotation of the disc 58 via pulling on the cable 52. The other end of the cable 52 (not shown) is fixed to an intermediate housing, through which the linear movement of the piston rod 16 is introduced into the cable 52 and converted into a rotatory movement at the disc 58.

[0060] The bolt 64 and the screw 66 serve to engage with the spring means 60. The screws 68 hold the holder 62 in position. The cable 52 is at least sectionally rolled up in / on the disc 58. The disc 58 is positively connected to the shaft 55. The shaft 55 is coupled to the rest of the indicator element 54 (cf. Figs. 3A-B and 4) which serves to visualize the position for the customer. The shaft 55 thus protrudes through the housing 4.

[0061] The stop means 69 such as a screw serves as a stop for the disc 58, so that the tension spring is not compressed or touched thereby. The protection 70, here in the form of a screw particularly with a washer, e.g. fixed with the disc 58, serves as a protection against falling out from the disc 58 for the cable 52. The indicator element 54 protrudes from the housing 4.

[0062] With reference to Fig. 4 it can be seen that the indicator element 54 has visualization means 72 provided with indicative prints and / or sections, e.g. “ON” and “OFF”, particularly in a 90-degree sequence. A particularly transparent rotational body 74 covers the visualization means 72. A cover 76 may support the rotational body 74 and / or the visualization means 72. A ring may support the rotational body 74 and / or cover 76. The shaft 55 may be rotationally fixed in the rotational body 74 and / or cover 76. The shaft 55 may hold a cap 80 on its free end for axial securing. Two or more of the parts described herein, referenced by 72, 74, 76, 78 and 80 may be integrated and / or formed with one another (not shown).

[0063] Attached to the housing 4 of the circuit breaker 2 is a counter device 20 which is configured to count actuation cycles of the piston rod 16 in the working cylinder 14 and which can be actuated mechanically by movement of an actuation member 18 coupled with the piston rod 16. The device 20 is particularly shown in Fig. 5A-C.

[0064] The counter device 20 may be actuated by the actuation member 18, e.g. the actuation lever or a second actuation lever or by another lever. The actuation member 18 is preferably coupled directly or indirectly to the counter device 20.

[0065] The actuation member 18, particularly a second actuation lever thereof, is coupled especially directly to the piston rod 16 and at least indirectly to the counter device 20 to actuate the counter device 20, e.g. when piston rod 16 is being moved. The second actuation lever may be coupled via the cable 52 or via another cable or linking mechanism to the the counter device 20.

[0066] The counter device 20 can display in an analog and non-electric representation of numbers the actuation cycles, i.e. of the piston rod 16 in the working cylinder 14.

[0067] The counter device 20 has a main lever 21 that can pivot between a neutral and a triggered position when the piston rod 16 is moved. The main lever 21 can be pivoted by means of the actuation member 18. The main lever 21 has a contact face 30 for contact with the actuation member 18.

[0068] The main lever 21 is spring-loaded via spring 28 to automatically go back to the neutral position, e.g. when the piston rod 16 is retracted. The counter device 20 has a second lever 22 pivotable between a first position and a second position in parallel to and about the same center as the main lever 21 .

[0069] In Fig. 5A-C, the main lever 21 is in the neutral position and the second lever 22 is in the first position. For reaching their respective triggered position or second position, the levers 21 , 22 may pivot towards the same rotational direction by, here by an angle below 90 degrees. The lever 21 , the lever 22 and / or the base 27 is / are particularly metal parts, metal sheet parts and / or bent parts. The levers 21 , 22 are mounted via an axis 31 in the form of a shaft to a base 27.

[0070] When the main lever 21 is pivoted between the neutral and the triggered position, the second lever 22 pivots therewith between its positions by being mechanically coupled to and / or depending on the position of the main lever 21 . The second lever 22 is further mechanically coupled to a mechanical counter 23 via a counter lever 24 protruding through the second lever 22.

[0071] The main lever 21 blocks the second lever 22 against pivoting when in the neutral position and catches the second lever 22 when returning to the neutral position and / or when leaving the neutral position. Here, the main lever 21 has a groove 25 engaging with a protrusion 26 of the second lever 22. The second lever 22 particularly blocks the main lever 21 against pivoting when reaching the second position particularly since the groove 25 engaging with the protrusion 26 stops the main lever 21 from further pivoting.

[0072] The base 27 serves to stop the levers 21 , 22 in the neutral position and the first position, respectively. The base 27 serves to stop at least the lever 22 in the second position. For example, the lever 22 stops via a flat face against the base 27 in the second position. The base 27 has a groove 32 for guiding at least one of the levers 21 , 22.

[0073] The second lever 22 is spring-loaded via spring 29 in a direction from the first to the second position and to automatically assume the second position when the main lever 21 is pivoted to the triggered position. The counter lever 24 pivots oblique to both levers 21 , 22. The spring load acting on the second lever 22 is less than the spring load acting on the main lever 21 . The common base 27 supports the levers 21 , 22 and the mechanical counter 23. The base 27 counter bears the springs 28, 29 coupled with the levers 21 , 22.

[0074] Reference signs list

[0075] 2 circuit breaker

[0076] 4 housing

[0077] 10 drive

[0078] 12 storage device

[0079] 13 hydraulic device

[0080] 14 working cylinder

[0081] 16 piston rod

[0082] 18 actuation member

[0083] 20 counter device

[0084] 21 main lever

[0085] 22 second lever

[0086] 23 mechanical counter

[0087] 24 counter lever

[0088] 25 groove

[0089] 26 protrusion

[0090] 27 base

[0091] 28 spring

[0092] 29 spring

[0093] 30 contact face

[0094] 31 axis

[0095] 32 groove

[0096] 50 position indicator device

[0097] 52 cable

[0098] 54 indicator element

[0099] 55 shaft

[0100] 56 transmission mechanism

[0101] 58 disc

[0102] 60 spring means

[0103] 62 holder

[0104] 64 bolt screw screw stop means fallout protection visualization means rotational body cover ring cap

Claims

Claims1. Drive (10) for an electric circuit breaker (2) of a high voltage switchgear, wherein the drive (10) comprises a storage device (12) configured for resiliently storing mechanical energy and a hydraulic device (13) configured for transferring the mechanical energy, wherein the storage device (12) comprises a working cylinder (14) and a piston rod (16) guided in the working cylinder (14), by means of which piston rod (16) a moving contact member of the electric circuit breaker (2) can be actuated; wherein the drive (10) further comprises a counter device (20) configured to count actuation cycles of the piston rod (16) in the working cylinder (14), and / or a position indicator device (50) configured to indicate a position of the piston rod (16) in the working cylinder (14) by means of a rotational position of an indicator element (54) of the position indicator device (50); and wherein the drive (10) further comprises an actuation member (18) coupled to the piston rod (16) and to the counter device (20) and / or the position indicator device (50).

2. Drive (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the actuation member (18) comprises at least one actuation lever directly or indirectly coupled to the piston rod (16) and directly or indirectly coupled to one of the counter device (20) and the position indicator device (50).

3. Drive (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the position indicator device (50) has a cable (52) mechanically coupled on one end of the cable (52) to the piston rod (16) and / or the actuation member (18), and on another end of the cable (52) to a transmission mechanism (56) of the position indicator device (50), wherein the transmission mechanism (56) is configured to rotate the indicator element (54) when the piston rod (16) and / or the cable (52) moves.

4. Drive (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the indicator element (54) is replaceable and / or is removably attached to the transmission mechanism (56) and / or is configured to be adjusted in its rotational angle relative to the transmission mechanism (56).

5. Drive (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the indicator element (54) protrudes from a housing (4) of the electric circuit breaker (2) or of the drive (10), and / or wherein the indicator element (54) is arranged to face away from the piston rod (16).

6. Drive (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the piston rod (16) being retracted and the piston rod (16) being extended each corresponds to one position of the piston rod (16) to be individually indicated by the position indicator device (50).

7. Drive (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a stroke between two positions of the piston rod (16) corresponds to a rotation of the indicator element (54), particularly the range between at least 10 up to 720 degrees.

8. Drive (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the counter device (20) is configured to count a back-and-forth movement of the piston rod (16) corresponding to fully opening and closing the electric circuit breaker (2) as one actuation cycle.

9. Drive (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the counter device (20) is configured to display in an analog and / or non-electric representation of numbers the actuation cycles.

10. Drive (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the counter device (20) has a main lever (21 ) configured to pivot between a neutral and a triggered position when the piston rod (16) is moved between a / the retracted and an / the extended position, wherein the main lever (21 ) is configured to be pivoted by means of the actuation member (18).11 . Drive (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the main lever (21 ) is spring-loaded in a direction from the triggered position to the neutral position.

12. Drive (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the counter device(20) has a second lever (22) configured to pivot between a first position and a second position when the main lever (21 ) is pivoted between the neutral and the triggered position by being mechanically coupled to the main lever (21 ), wherein the second lever (22) is mechanically coupled to a mechanical counter (23) or to a counter lever (24) of the mechanical counter (23).

13. Drive (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the main lever (21 ) is configured to block the second lever (22) against pivoting when in the neutral position, and / or catch the second lever (22) when returning to the neutral position.

14. Drive (10) according to one of the preceding two claims, wherein the main lever(21 ) has a groove (25) engaging with a protrusion (26) of the second lever (22).

15. Drive (10) according to one of the preceding claims and claim 12, wherein the second lever (22) is spring-loaded in a direction from the first position to the second position, and / or to automatically assume the second position when the main lever (21 ) is pivoted to the triggered position.

16. Drive (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the main lever (21 ) and the second lever (22) pivot about an axis, wherein the counter lever (24) pivots oblique to at least one of the main lever (21 ) and the second lever (22).

17. Drive (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring load acting on the second lever (22) is less than the spring load acting on the main lever (21 ).

18. Drive (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the main (21 ) and the second lever (22) are supported by a common base (27), wherein the base (27) supports a / the mechanical counter (23) representing the actuation cycles, and / orthe base (27) serves as a counter bearing for springs (28, 29) coupled with the main lever (21 ) and with the second lever (22), and / or the base (27) serves to stop at least one of the main (21 ) and the second lever (22).

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