The present invention relates to a switching device, in particular to an automatic switch, a disconnecting switch or a contactor, installable according to different operating configurations and preferably for use in low voltage electrical systems.
It is known that switching devices (such as automatic switches, disconnecting switches and contactors), hereinafter called switches for brevity, comprise one or more electrical poles, associated with each of which is at least a fixed contact and at least a moving contact that can be reciprocally connected to/disconnected from each other. Prior art switches also comprise control means that allow the moving contacts to be moved thereby causing connection to or disconnection from the relative fixed contacts.
Prior art switches normally comprise accessory devices such as protection devices (relays), trip devices (trip relays), thermal sensors, magnetic sensors, voltammetric sensors and/or amperometric sensors, for which relative user interface means are provided to allow, for example, setting of the calibration and/or operating conditions and/or reading of data and information concerning operation. These interface means can comprise means for viewing information relative to the functions performed, such as displays. These displays are normally installed on the front side of the switch, and in turn exist in many different forms and perform output and/or input functions.
It is also known that switches are normally installed in switchboards, which comprise electrodes or busbars that by preference extend in a vertical or horizontal direction. According to whether the busbars extend vertically or horizontally, it is desirable for switches to be installable according to a configuration that is either vertical or horizontal.
From a practical viewpoint it is known that almost all MCCB (molded case circuit breakers) are designed to be installed according to either of these configurations. However, a recent solution, described in the patent application WO2006120142, also introduces for devices of superior size, such as ACB (Air Circuit Breakers), the possibility of installation either in a vertical or horizontal configuration.
The various accessory devices are as a rule mounted on the switch so that the relative display is available to the operator for output and/or input functions on the front side of the switch. In the most common cases, there is only one way of mounting the relative display. Consequently, once the accessory device has been installed a privileged condition is established in relation to the user, which usually corresponds to the switch being installed in a vertical configuration. Clearly, by installing a switch in a horizontal configuration the various messages and instructions on the display, and in general all the output and/or input functions, continue to be available, but according to a vertical viewing direction, with a position from top to bottom or vice versa.
A similar problem occurs for switch/accessory device combinations in which the output and/or input functions from the display are such as to privilege installation of the switch in a horizontal configuration, as in fact in this case use in a vertical configuration would be disadvantageous.
This means that, at the current state of the art, a switch that, for example, privileges vertical configuration causes unavoidable drawbacks in the output and/or input functions when the switch is installed according to a different configuration, for example horizontal.
Some switches of recent conception (such as those described in the patent application EP1600993A1), have introduced the possibility of installing the accessory display devices according to different angles (horizontal or vertical), allowing the user to choose the correct viewing direction of the output and/or input functions by modifying the angle of installation of the display. However, the drawback of requiring to perform manual hardware operations remains, making solutions of this type costly and not without risks for correct operation of the system. The most evident risks relative to manual operations on the switch/accessory device system can be summed up as follows: possibility of interfering with the functions of the display cables; possibility of imperfect installation of the display and possible decline of the IP protection rating; high costs due to the large number of moving parts and coupling and sealing means; possible wear and deterioration of parts subject to movement; etc.
Therefore, there is the need to provide switching devices in which the use of user interface means and output and/or input functions is not privileged according to the horizontal or vertical installation configuration of the device and which do not require operations or actions on the hardware.
On the basis of these considerations, the main aim of the present invention is to provide a switching device that allows the aforesaid limits and drawbacks to be overcome.
Within the scope of this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a switching device installable according to different configurations (at least horizontal and vertical), which is provided with user interface means that allow relatively simple performance of the output and/or input functions relative to accessory devices of this switching device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a switching device installable according to different configurations, which is provided with functionally versatile interface means in relation to the different possible installation configurations without requiring operations on the hardware that are risky for the reliability and useful life of these interface means.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a switching device installable according to different configurations, which is provided with user interface means composed of a relatively small number of easily assemblable and functionally reliable elements.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a switching device installable according to different configurations, which is highly reliable and relatively easy to produce at competitive costs.
This aim, and these and other objects that will be more apparent below, are achieved through a single-pole or multi-pole switching device for low voltage electrical circuits comprising:
The switching device according to the invention is characterized by the fact that it comprises means to select the viewing direction operatively connected to said display; these selection means allow selection of the viewing direction of the display.
The use of selection means advantageously allows selection of the viewing direction most suitable for the user to position the interface means of the switching device and in particular of the display. In other words, these means allow selection of the most convenient viewing direction, at least for reading the display. It is observed that, unlike conventional switching devices, this is attained separately from the installation position of the display on the case of the device, or in other words, without modifying the physical orientation thereof.
The means for selecting the viewing direction can be managed without distinction in manual mode directly by the user (for example, through selection push buttons, micro dip switches, input signals coming from the display, if it is of the touch screen type, or through external devices, for example of the wireless type); or automatically, for example through gravitational sensors of the installation configuration (intended as angular position of the switching device).
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the switching device according to the invention shown by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
With reference to the aforesaid figures, the switching device 1 according to the present invention comprises a case containing at least a pair of contacts activatable between at least a first connection position in which the contacts are connected and the circuit is closed and a second separation position in which the contacts are separated and the circuit is open. The switching device 1 comprises one or more accessory devices 6 for controlling and/or setting operation which can, for example, be protection relays, thermal, magnetic, voltammetric and/or amperometric sensors. In general, the expression “accessory device” 6 indicates any device that can be integrated in the switching device 1 for the purpose of controlling, setting and correct operation of this device, or also of providing it with additional functions.
The switching device 1 also comprises user interface means 5 which perform output and/or input functions relative to the accessory devices 6. The expression “output functions” indicates in general those functions that allow exchange of information from the accessory devices 6 to the user, while input functions indicates those functions that allow an exchange of information in the opposite direction, i.e. from the user to the accessory devices 6. In particular, the input functions allow the user to set, for example, the operating parameters of the accessory devices 6, in other words to configure the various settings of these devices. The interface means 5 comprise at least a display 10 to view information relative to the output and/or input functions according to a viewing direction and position indicated in the figures by the arrow with the reference 100. The display 10 is preferably installed in a fixed position on said case.
The switching device 1 according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises means 20 to select the viewing direction and position 100 operatively connected to the display 10. In particular, these selection means 20 allow selection of the viewing direction and position 100 on the display 10 as a function of the installation configuration of the switching device 1. In other words, the selection means 20 allow the user to vary the viewing direction or position 100 so as to determine the one most suitable for the user in relation to the installation configuration of the switching device 1. This variation of the viewing direction has direct effect on the display 10, without varying the position thereof with respect to the case.
In this regard and as will be explained in greater detail below, the selection means 20 can be operated manually or can be operated automatically comprising, for example, sensor means. In the first case, selection of the viewing direction is determined directly by the user by means of manually operated selectors (e.g. hardware components such as push buttons or dip switches, or alternatively wireless components). In the second case, selection is determined automatically by sensor means (e.g. of gravitational or limit switch type), which recognize the installation configuration of the switching device 1 and supply the display 10, by means of the control unit 50 thereof, described below, with the correct viewing direction 100.
With reference in particular to the block diagrams of
With reference to the schematic view of
As mentioned above, the control unit 50 of the display 10 in practice has the function of processing each single page to be viewed on the display according to any known electronic page layout method. For this purpose, the control unit 50 comprises a first computerized unit 51 which has the function of “building” the page to be viewed as a function of the signals sent by the selection means 20, by the keypad means 40 and by the signals sent/exchanged with the accessory devices 6. In particular, this page is built through page descriptors which, by means of a second computerized unit 52 connected to the first unit 51, generate a relative image. A third computerized unit 53 is instead in charge of transferring the image built by the second unit 52 to the display 10. In other words, the third unit 53 forms the physical interface between the control unit 50 and the display 10 adapting information objects, such as alphanumeric characters and graphic symbols, to the physical characteristics of the display 10.
The interface permitted by this third computerized unit 53 is a function of the characteristics of the display 10, such as colors, B/W, number of pixels per side, presence or absence of an integrated controller. For example, if a black and white display with integrated controller 57 with an array of pixels is used, the task of the third display unit 53 is to supply the controller 57 with the pixels to be viewed, according to a relative protocol required thereby (e.g. serial or parallel). In this condition, assuming that the controller 57 is organized in lines and columns, the data processed by the first computerized unit 51 are adapted to the technical requirements of the third computerized unit 53 through the second unit 52. Instead, if a TFT display without controller is used, the task of the third computerized unit is to supply the controller with the pixels to be viewed through a protocol, for example, of RGB triples.
In
As mentioned above, the selection means 20 can be operated manually or alternatively can be replaced by sensor means which automatically generate a selection signal 91 as a function of which the control unit 50 determines the most suitable viewing direction.
In the embodiment shown in
In the further embodiment shown in
As mentioned above, the manually operated selection means could be replace by sensor means, for example gravitational sensors or limit switch sensors operatively connected to the control unit 50 to generate, automatically, a selection signal 91 characteristic of the orientation of the display 10 (or alternatively of the case). In other words, these sensor means identify the installation configuration of the switching device 1 recognizing the orientation in space of the display 10 or alternatively of the switching device 1, which is typically integral therewith.
The technical solutions adopted for the switching device allow the aims and objects set to be fully achieved. In particular, the use of selection means allows selection of the most suitable viewing direction for the installation configuration chosen for the switching device. This selection takes place without varying the orientation of the display in relation to the case, with obvious advantages both from the practical viewpoint and from that of operating reliability. The switching device thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the inventive concept; moreover all details can be composed of other technically equivalent details.
In practice, the materials used and the contingent dimensions and forms can be any, according to requirements and to the state of the art.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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BG 2007 A 000026 | May 2007 | IT | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP2008/055434 | 5/2/2008 | WO | 00 | 3/8/2010 |