The present application hereby claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 on Chinese patent application number CN 200910171623.4 filed Aug. 31, 2009, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
At least one embodiment of the present invention generally relates to a safety interlocking device for a switch and, particularly, to a safety interlocking device between a safety device (e.g. a fuse cover) and a driving shaft of a switch.
A switch safety device can provide a safe and economical protection measure for a switch, for example, a switch with a fuse provides a safe and economical short-circuit protection by means of a fuse: in case of a short circuit, the fuse is melted, and the user only needs to replace the fuse, and then the switch is back in operation again. However, danger may occur if a user operates on the fuse when the main contacts of the switch are connected. Currently, in existing switches, a fuse cover is provided as a safety device to protect an operator when replacing the fuse, and the fuse cover is mechanically connected to the driving shaft of the switch to protect the operator's fingers from getting hurt by the fuse. When the switch is turned on, the fuse cover can protect the fuse and the fuse cover is locked, in this way the fuse cannot be replaced, so the safety of the operator is ensured.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,489,362 proposes a switch with a fuse interlocking device, in which the fuse interlocking device comprises a resetting spring, a locking lever, a shaft pin and a bearing groove, and when the switch is connected, the fuse interlocking device ensures that the fuse cover cannot be opened and the operator cannot operate the fuse. However, a drawback of similar safety devices is that when the fuse cover of the switch is opened, locking of the switch drive is not ensured, and the operator will still face a risk if the switch is turned on accidently during the replacement of the fuse.
In at least one embodiment, the present invention aims at providing a safety interlocking device for a switch; the device can ensure not only that a safety device cannot be opened before the switch is turned off, but also that an operator cannot turn the switch on before the safety device has returned to a safe position, thus realizing complete protection.
In at least one embodiment, a safety interlocking device for a switch comprises:
a supporting member which can be arranged through a switch driving shaft;
an annular member, with the middle part of the annular member being provided with a shaft hole which can accommodate the driving shaft of the switch, and the outer periphery of the annular member being provided with a wing block;
a locking lever, the locking lever comprising:
a locking hook, with the locking hook being capable of hooking onto a safety device connected to the safety interlocking device;
a locking pivot shaft fixed on said supporting member, with the locking lever being rotatable around the locking pivot shaft;
a locking lever driving end;
a limiting rod, the limiting rod comprising:
a limiting end, with the safety device being capable of abutting against the limiting end, so as to push the limiting rod to rotate;
a limiting pivot shaft fixed on the supporting member, with the locking lever being rotatable around the limiting pivot shaft;
a limiting rod driving end, with the limiting rod driving end being connected to the locking lever driving end and being capable of making the locking lever driving end move; so that when the switch is at the turn-on position, the limiting rod driving end abuts against the outer periphery of the wing block; and when the switch is at the turn-off position, the limiting rod driving end abuts against the end face of the wing block; and
a resilient member, with one end of the resilient member being connected to a limiting member disposed on the supporting member, and the other end being connected to the limiting rod.
In another safety interlocking device for a switch according to at least one embodiment of the present invention, the locking lever and the limiting rod are two L-shaped rods disposed opposite to each other, the locking pivot shaft is disposed at the turning point of the L-shaped locking lever, and the limiting pivot shaft is disposed at the turning point of the L-shaped limiting rod.
In another safety interlocking device for a switch according to at least one embodiment of the present invention, the limiting rod driving end has a groove and a limiting boss; the locking lever driving end is located in the groove of the limiting rod driving end; when the switch is at the turn-on position, the limiting boss abuts against the outer periphery of the wing block; and when the switch is at the turn-off position, the limiting boss abuts against the end face of the wing block.
In yet another safety interlocking device for a switch according to at least one embodiment of the present invention, the resilient member can be one of a torsional spring, a compression spring, a tension spring or a leaf spring, one end of the resilient member is connected to the limiting member, and the other end is connected to the limiting pivot shaft of the limiting rod. Furthermore, the limiting member therein can be a limiting pin.
In another safety interlocking device for a switch according to at least one embodiment of the present invention, the resilient member can be a resilient strip, the resilient strip extends from the limiting rod, and its free end abuts against the limiting member.
In another safety interlocking device for a switch according to at least one embodiment of the present invention, on the annular member there are disposed two of said wing blocks radially symmetrically.
In another safety interlocking device for a switch according to at least one embodiment of the present invention, the safety device is a fuse cover.
The safety interlocking device of at least one embodiment of the present invention has realizes the interlocking of the safety device and the switch driving shaft by way of the cooperation between the locking lever, the limiting rod, the annular member, the spring, etc., and it is capable of fulfilling the following safety requirements:
before an operator can remove the safety device, he has to set the switch to the turn-off position, otherwise the safety device cannot be opened; and
before the safety device has been returned to a proper safe position, the operator cannot put the switch to the turn-on position.
The above two features effectively protect the safety of the operator and, furthermore, the safety interlocking device is simple in structure and easy to produce, and it can be mounted either at one side or at both sides of a switch, making the interlocking function more stable; it can meet various requirements for use.
The following figures are only for illustrative description and explanation of embodiments of the present invention and are not to limit the scope of the present invention, in which:
In order to understand the technical features, objects and effects of the present invention more clearly, the particular embodiments of the present invention are described here with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same numerals in the figures represent the same parts.
Various example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which only some example embodiments are shown. Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing example embodiments. The present invention, however, may be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to only the example embodiments set forth herein.
Accordingly, while example embodiments of the invention are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments of the present invention to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description of the figures.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments of the present invention. As used herein, the term “and/or,” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
it will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected,” or “coupled,” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected,” or “directly coupled,” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between,” versus “directly between,” “adjacent,” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.).
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the,” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, the terms “and/or” and “at least one of” include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper”, and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, term such as “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein are interpreted accordingly.
Although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, it should be understood that these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or section from another region, layer, or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer, or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer, or section without departing from the teachings of the present invention.
As shown in
The locking lever 20 comprises a locking hook 24, a locking lever driving end 22 and a locking pivot shaft 21 fixed on the supporting member 10, and the locking lever 20 is rotatable around the locking pivot shaft 21. When the safety device 40 is closed, the locking hook 24 of the locking lever 20 can hook onto the edge of the safety device 40, so as to lock the safety device 40, meaning the safety device 40 is in a safe position and an operator cannot open the safety device. Although in the particular embodiment as shown in the figures the locking lever 20 has an L-shape and the locking pivot shaft is at the turning point of this L-shape, it can be understood by those skilled in the art that the locking lever 20 can be of other suitable shapes.
The limiting rod 30 comprises a limiting end 34, a limiting rod driving end 32 and a limiting pivot shaft 31 fixed on the supporting member 10, and the locking lever 30 is rotatable around the limiting pivot shaft 31. During the closing of the safety device 40, the limiting end 34 at one end of the limiting rod 30 is pushed by the safety device 40, thus causing the limiting rod 30 to rotate, and the limiting rod driving end 32 at the other end of the limiting rod 30 makes the locking lever driving end 22 connected therewith rotate. Although in the particular embodiment shown in the figures the limiting rod 30 has a symmetrical L-shape and the limiting pivot shaft is at the turning point of the L shape, it can be understood by those skilled in the art that the limiting rod 30 can be of other suitable shapes.
One end of the resilient member 36 is connected to the limiting rod 30, and the other end is connected to the limiting member 35 disposed at the supporting member. In the particular embodiment shown in
In the particular embodiment shown in
Although the safety interlocking device is provided at only one side of the supporting member 10 in
The operation process of the safety interlocking device shown in
Then the operational procedure of the safety interlocking device goes back to the status shown in
As described above, the safety interlocking device in an embodiment of the present invention meets the following safety requirements: before an operator removes the safety device, the operator has to put the switch to the turn-off position, otherwise the safety device 40 cannot be opened; and after the safety device 40 has been opened, the operator cannot put the switch to the turn-on position until the safety device is mounted to the correct position. At the same time, the safety interlocking device in the present invention is simple in structure and easy to produce, and can be installed either at one side or at both sides of the switch to achieve better stability and to meet various requirements for use.
In the descriptions of the operational process of the safety interlocking device for a switch, although the safety device mentioned herein rotates around a pivot shaft, in practical applications, such safety devices can also adopt vertical movements, and as long as the safety devices can push the limiting rod clockwise when closed, the above safety requirements can be fulfilled.
The series of detailed descriptions set forth above are only specific descriptions directed at feasible embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the protective scope of the present invention; and all the equivalent embodiments or modifications made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention should be included in the protective scope of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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CN 200910171623.4 | Aug 2009 | CN | national |