Patent Application
20190341203
The present disclosure relates to a switching mechanism for a dual power supply transfer switch, and a dual power supply transfer switch including said switching mechanism.
Dual power supply transfer switches are widely used in emergency power supply systems, which can automatically or manually switch load circuits from one power supply to another according to the condition of power circuit, such as switching between main power and backup power to maintain the load circuit operating continuously and reliably. One type of dual power supply transfer switch has three working positions, namely, a first power position for turning on a first power supply, a second power position for turning on a second power supply, and a duel dividing position for simultaneously turning off the first and second power supplies. The duel dividing position can meet the user's needs for delay, safety maintenance and so on.
The switching mechanism is a crucial component in the dual power supply transfer switch for receiving a manual or automatic driving force to perform switching between the first power position, the second power position, and the duel dividing position. When performing manual switching, if the switching speed is slow, the burning time of the arc generated when the current is broken is long or even cannot be quenched at all, which may cause fire, burning operators, burning out switch devices and the like. Therefore, the switching mechanism is required to enable manual-irrelevant switching to avoid uncontrollable switching speeds which causes safety accidents. The structures of the prior art manual-irrelevant switching mechanisms are complicated, resulting in high manufacturing cost, inconvenient operation and maintenance, and affecting the reliability of the dual power supply transfer switch.
To this end, it is desired to provide a switching mechanism for a dual power supply transfer switch having a simple structure to solve the problems in the prior arts.
The present invention aims to solve the above mentioned problems. To this end, in the first aspect of the invention, a switching mechanism for a dual power supply transfer switch is provided.
The switching mechanism includes a first switching assembly, which includes a first driving plate, a first driving rod, a first actuator and a first auxiliary mechanism. The first driving plate includes an arc-shaped first driving groove and the first driving rod extends into the first driving groove. The first auxiliary mechanism includes a first spring. The first driving plate is able to rotate under an external force. The first driving groove bypasses the first driving rod when an end of the driving groove does not contact the first driving rod; and the first driving groove pushes the first driving rod to rotate over a first angle and urges the first spring to deform when the end of the driving groove contacts the first driving rod. The first spring recovers and drives the first driving rod to rotate over a second angle after the first spring having passed a dead point, thus causing the first actuator turning on or off a first power supply.
Based on this solution, during a manual switching process, a manual force is only required when the first driving rod rotates over the first angle while the first power supply remains not switched. However, the manual force is not required any more when the first driving rod rotates over the second angle, because the first spring having passed the dead point may drive the first driving rod to continue rotating, so that the first power supply can be switched manual-irrelevantly.
Further, the switching mechanism further comprises a second switching assembly, which include a second driving plate, a second driving rod, a second actuator and a second auxiliary mechanism. The second driving plate includes an arc-shaped second driving groove, and the second driving rod extends into the second driving groove. The second auxiliary mechanism includes a second spring. The second driving plate is able to rotate under an external force. The second driving groove bypasses the second driving rod when an end of the second driving groove does not contact the second driving rod, and the second driving groove pushes the second driving rod to rotate over a first angle and urges the second spring to deform when the end of the second driving groove contacts the second driving rod. The second spring recovers and drives the second driving rod to rotate over a second angle after the second spring having passed a dead point, thus causing the second actuator turning on or off a second power supply.
Based on this solution, the second power supply can also be switched manual-irrelevantly.
Further, the first driving plate and the second driving plate are disposed around one and the same rotation axis X. The first and second driving plates are interlocked with each other to rotate together.
Optionally, the first driving plate and the second driving plate are interlocked by a connection block having a non-circular section shape, wherein one portion of the connection block is inserted into a first receiving slot at a center of the first driving plate, and another portion of the connection block is inserted into a second receiving slot at a center of the second driving plate.
Optionally, the first driving plate and the second driving plate are interlocked by a connection rod, wherein one end of the connection rod is inserted into a first receiving hole away from the center of the first driving plate, and the other end of the connection rod is inserted into a second receiving hole away from the center of the second driving plate.
Further, the first driving groove and the second driving groove are offset from each other in the circumferential direction about the rotation axis by an angle such that when the first driving groove pushes the first driving rod to rotate over the first angle, the second driving groove bypasses the second driving rod; and when the second driving groove pushes the second driving rod to rotate over the first angle, the first driving groove bypasses the first driving rod.
Based on this solution, the first driving plate and the second driving plate rotate simultaneously, but the switching of the first power supply and the second power supply occur separately in different time periods.
Optionally, the first angle is equal to the second angle and half of the extending angle of the first driving groove and the second driving groove.
Optionally, the first driving plate is connected to a manual operating part for receiving a manually applied external force in order to drive the first driving plate and the second driving plate to rotate together.
Optionally, the first driving plate is provided with an automatic operation part for receiving an external force applied by an automatic driving mechanism in order to drive the first driving plate and the second driving plate to rotate together.
Further, when the first driving plate and the second driving plate are driven to rotate at a first time, the dual power supply transfer switch is switched from a first position to a duel dividing position. In the first position, the first power supply is turned on and the second power supply is turned off. In the duel dividing position, the first power supply and the second power supply are both turned off. When the first driving plate and the second driving plate are driven to rotate at a second time, the dual power supply transfer switch is switched from the duel dividing position to a second position. In the second position, the first power supply is turned off and the second power supply is turned on.
Based on this solution, the first driving plate and the second driving plate rotate simultaneously, but switching operations between the first power position, the second power position, and the duel dividing position can be realized as needed. In addition, the first power supply and the second power supply cannot be turned on at the same time.
Optionally, each of the first actuator and the second actuator includes an actuating plate having an actuating groove, wherein a corresponding driving rod extends into the actuating groove and can slide along the actuating groove. The driving rod drives the actuating plate to rotate when the driving rod contacts one end of the actuating groove. Two linkages are further included, wherein one end of each linkage is hinged to the actuating plate, and the other end is connected to a corresponding movable contact, such that the movable contact rotates with the rotation of the actuating plate, and becomes connected or disconnected with a stationary contact of a corresponding one of the first power supply or the second power supply.
Optionally, each of the first auxiliary mechanism and the second auxiliary mechanism includes a mounting plate. A corresponding driving rod is able to rotate around a center of the mounting plate. A telescopic rod has a variable length with a fixed end of the telescopic rod being rotatably coupled to the mounting plate at a position away from the center, and a movable end of the telescopic rod being coupled to the corresponding driving rod. A spring is disposed between the fixed end and the movable end of the telescopic rod. The spring is configured to deform and store a potential energy when the telescopic rod rotates closer to the line between the fixed end of the telescopic rod and the center of the mounting plate; and to recover and release the potential energy when the telescopic rod rotates further from the line between the fixed end of the telescopic rod and the center of the mounting plate.
Optionally, the first driving plate may be located between the first actuator and the first auxiliary mechanism; the second driving plate may be located between the second actuator and the second auxiliary mechanism; and the first actuator and the second actuator may be located between the first driving plate and the second driving plate.
A second aspect of the invention provides a dual power supply transfer switch comprising a switching mechanism as discussed above.
Some preferred modes and embodiments for carrying out the invention as defined by the appended claims are described in detail hereinafter by referring to the accompanying drawings. Then, the above features and advantages, as well as other features and advantages of the present invention, can be readily understood.
Some embodiments of a switching mechanism for a dual power supply transfer switch according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted by similar reference numerals (for example, the elements identified by “1XX” and “2XX” have same structures and/or similar functions). For the sake of clarity, the drawings only show the main elements in the switching mechanism, while the other elements well known to those skilled in the art are not shown. In the description hereinafter, the terms “left”, “right,” “upper”, “lower”, etc. are used to describe the relative orientations of the elements, and the terms “first”, “second”, “one”, “another”, etc. are used to differentiate similar elements. These and other similar terms are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
As shown in
The first driving plate 110 is a round plate-shaped member that is rotatable about a rotation axis X and disposed between the first actuator 130 and the first auxiliary mechanism 140. As shown in
The first driving rod 120 passes through the first driving plate 110 with its upper end mated to the first actuator 130. As shown in
As shown in
The first driving rod 120 passes through the first driving plate 110 with its lower end mated to the first auxiliary mechanism 140. As shown in
In the present invention, as to the first switching assembly 100, the first driving plate 110 and the first auxiliary mechanism 140 cooperatively drive the first driving rod 120 to complete a rotation stroke, and realize a manual-irrelevant actuation of the first actuator 130. Each complete rotation stroke includes the following preparation stage and actuation stage.
preparation stage: the first driving plate 110 is driven to rotate by an external force (manually or automatically). As the first driving plate 110 rotates, the first driving rod 120 is not pushed to rotate until an end of the driving groove 113 contacts the first driving rod 120. During this stage, the first driving rod 120 moves toward the intermediate position along the guiding groove 145 of the mounting plate 141, causing the length of the telescopic rod 142 shortening, and causing the spring 142 being compressed and restoring potential energy. Meanwhile, the first driving rod 120 slides along the actuating groove 133 of the actuating plate 131 but does not reach the end of the actuating groove 133. Thus, in the preparation stage, the external force acting on the first driving rod 120 causes the spring 142 to deform and store potential energy without triggering the actuation of the first actuator 130. Then, the first power supply does not be switched.
actuation stage: when the first driving rod 120 passes the intermediate position, it turns to the actuation stage. During this stage, as the “dead point” position has been passed, the spring 142 releases the potential energy and recovers the deformation, thus causing the length of the telescopic rod 142 to elongate, and pushing the first driving rod 120 to move away from the intermediate position along the guiding groove 145 of the mounting plate 141. At the same time, the first driving rod 120 continues to slide along the actuating groove 133 of the actuating plate 131 in the first actuator 130 and finally reaches the end of the actuating groove 133. Then, the actuating plate 131 is rotated by the driving rod 120. Thus, in the actuation stage, the spring 142 releases the potential energy to act on the first driving rod 120 and triggers the actuation of the first actuator 130 to switch the first power supply.
In the case of manual operation, in one complete stroke of the first driving rod 120, the preparation stage is manual-relevant because the operations of different operators may cause fast or slow preparation stages. However, the actuation stage is manual-irrelevant, because the switching of first power supply is done exclusively by the first spring 142 with a constant switching speed independent of the operators' operations. Therefore, when the current of the first power supply is cut off, the burning time of the arc caused is short and controllable, the possibility of fire is reduced, and the safety of the dual power supply transfer switch is remarkably improved.
The dual power supply transfer switch of the present invention can be successively switched between three positions of a first power position, a duel dividing position, and a second power position. In the first power position, the first movable contact 401 contacts the stationary contact 501 of the first power supply, but the second movable contact 402 does not contact the stationary contact 502 of the second power supply; in the duel dividing position, the first movable contact 401 does not contact the stationary contact 501 of the first power supply, and the second movable contact 402 does not contact the stationary contact 502 of the second power supply, either; in the second power position, the first movable contact 401 does not contact the stationary contact 501 of the first power supply, but the second movable contact 402 contacts the stationary contact 502 of the second power supply. In order to switch the first movable contact 401 and the second movable contact 402, the switching mechanism of the present invention includes a first switching assembly 100 for switching the first power supply and a second switching assembly 200 for switching the second power supply. Both are identical in structure for ease of manufacture, use, and maintenance. Moreover, the first and second switching assembly 100,200 cooperate with each other to prevent the first power supply and the second power supply from being turned on at the same time, as described below.
The present disclosure provides two embodiments for interlocking the first driving plate 110 and the second driving plate 210. In the first embodiment, as shown in
In order to achieve sequential switching from the first power position to the duel dividing position and then to the second power position (or the reverse direction), it is necessary to allow the first and second driving plates 110, 120 driving the first and second driving rods 120, 220, separately. To this end, the present invention provides an angular difference in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis X between the driving grooves 113 and 213 on the first and second driving plate 110 and 210, which may be 45 degrees, 60 degrees or 75 degrees and so on.
The state variation process from the column I to the column II corresponds to the preparation stage of the first driving rod 120. During this stage, the manual driving arm 302 or an automatic driving device is operated to drive the first driving plate 110 and the second driving plate 210 to rotate. The first driving plate 110 drives the first driving rod 120 to rotate over a first angle through the first driving groove 113. The first spring 142 is then caused to deform and store energy. During this stage, the second driving groove 213 of the second driving plate 210 bypasses the second driving rod 220, and the second driving rod 220 then remains stationary.
The state variation process from the column II to the column III corresponds to the actuation stage of the first driving rod 120. During this stage, the first driving plate 110, the second driving plate 210, and the second driving rod 220 are all kept stationary; and the first spring 142 recovers and releases energy, and drives the first driving rod 120 to rotate over a second angle along the first driving groove 113, simultaneously triggering the actuation of the first actuator 130 and cutting off the first power supply to achieve the dual dividing position.
The state variation process from the column III to the column IV corresponds to the preparation stage of the second driving rod 220. During this stage, the driving arm 302 or an automatic driving device is operated to drive the first driving plate 110 and the second driving plate 210 to go on rotating. The second driving plate 210 drives the second driving rod 220 to rotate over a first angle through the second driving groove 213. The second spring 242 is caused to deform and store energy. During this stage, the first driving groove 113 of the first driving plate 110 bypasses the first driving rod 120, and the first driving rod 120 remains stationary.
The state variation process from the column IV to the column V corresponds to the actuation stage of the second driving rod 220. During this stage, the first driving plate 110, the second driving plate 210, and the first driving rod 220 are all kept stationary; and the second spring 242 recovers and releases energy, and drives the second driving rod 220 to rotate over a second angle along the second driving groove 213, simultaneously triggering the actuation of the second actuator 230 and turning on the second power supply to achieve the second power position.
In the first power position shown in
In the duel dividing position shown in
In the second power position shown in
Some preferred embodiments and other embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, but it is understood that these embodiments are only illustrative, but not limit the scope, the application or the configuration of the invention in any way. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. Those skilled in the art can make many modifications to the foregoing embodiments under the teachings of the present disclosure, all of which fall within the scope of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201810421035.0 | May 2018 | CN | national |
