Claims:We claim:

1. A rotary operating mechanism (100) of a switching device (200), the rotary operating mechanism (100) adapted to actuate a contact system (150) of the switching device (200), the rotary operating mechanism (100) comprising:
• at least two horizontal rotors (10) connected to a contact system rotor, the at least two horizontal rotors (10) capable of being rotated to rotate the contact system rotor thereby moving the switching device (200) to any one of ON, OFF and DEAD CENTRE positions;
• a vertical rotor (20) sandwiched between the at least two horizontal rotors (10), the vertical rotor (20) capable of being rotated in response to the rotation of the at least two horizontal rotors (10);
• at least two arms (30) pivoted to the vertical rotor (20), each of the at least two arms (30) having a spring rest (40) connected to either ends thereof;
• at least two mechanism springs (50) coiled on the at least two arms (30) such that each end thereof gets connected to the corresponding spring rest (40);
• at least two housings (60) enclosing the at least two horizontal rotors (10), the vertical rotor (20), the at least two arms (30) and the at least two mechanism springs (50) there between to form a mechanism assembly (80), each of the at least two housings (60) having a first hole (55) configured thereon; and
• a side operating kit (90) assembled on any one side of the mechanism assembly (80) thereby forming a compact side operated mechanism (100), the side operating kit (90) having,
a side plate (86) fixed on any one of the at least two housings (60) of the mechanism assembly (80), the side plate (86) having a second hole (85) configured thereon for alignment with the first hole (55), and
a side driver (88) inserted in the side plate (86) through the second hole (85) thereof for coupling to one of the at least two horizontal rotors (10), the side driver (88) capable of being rotated in clockwise direction to actuate/rotate one of the at least two horizontal rotors (10) connected thereto that in turn rotates the vertical motor (20) to cause rotation of the contact system rotor connected thereto thereby resulting in movement of the switching device (200) to any one of the ON, OFF and DEAD CENTRE positions with reduced transmission losses.

2. The rotary operating mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least two horizontal rotors (10) are connected through pins.

3. The rotary operating mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side operating kit (90) is assembled on either side of the mechanism assembly (80) with the help of two screws.

4. The rotary operating mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side driver (88) is rotated in clockwise direction with the help of a shaft and a handle.

5. The rotary operating mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switching device (200) is a multiple pole switching device.

6. The rotary operating mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switching device (200) is a four-pole switch disconnector.

, Description:ROTARY OPERATING MECHANISM OF SWITCHING DEVICE

Field of the invention

The present invention generally relates to a mechanism for switching devices and more particularly to conversion of a front operated mechanism to a side operated mechanism of the switching devices such as switch disconnectors.

Background of the invention

Electrical switching device such as a switch disconnector provides isolation and is capable of making, carrying and breaking currents under normal circuit conditions which may include specified operating overload conditions for specific time and also under specified abnormal circuit conditions such as short circuit conditions for a specified time. These are suitable for diverse applications, in motor control centers, in switchboards and as main switches in various equipments and machines. These switches are ideal for withstanding higher short circuit currents for short time duration.

In general, the electrical switch for example switch disconnector comprises a contact system and a front operated rotary mechanism as shown in Figure1. The contact system consists of a terminal and a rotor assembly having a rotor, a moving contact, a magnetic cladding and a leaf spring. The contact system is actuated by the rotary mechanism. The rotary mechanism consists of a vertical rotor, a horizontal rotor, a spring arm and a mechanism spring. The vertical rotor is directly coupled to the horizontal rotor though multicam arrangement. The horizontal rotor is connected to the contact system rotor which actuates the contact (ON/OFF). The rotary mechanism as disclosed in a published Indian patent application no. 331/MUM/2012 is operated from a front side.
There are some applications such as those in cement industry, ATEX applications which require mechanism operation from side. Also, some customers require mechanism operation from side due to other constraints sometimes.

Accordingly, there is a need of a side operated rotary mechanism for a switching device that overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks of existing modular fuse switches.

Objects of the invention

An object of the present invention is to convert a front operated mechanism to a side operated mechanism with minimum number of components and higher efficiency.

Another object of the present invention is to convert the front operated mechanism to the side operated mechanism without opening of switch.

Summary of the invention

Accordingly, the present invention provides a rotary operating mechanism of a switching device. The rotary operating mechanism is adapted to actuate a contact system of the switching device for example a multiple-pole switching device such as a four-pole switch disconnector. The rotary operating mechanism comprises at least two horizontal rotors, a vertical rotor, at least two arms, at least two mechanism springs, at least two housings and a side operating kit.

The at least two horizontal rotors are connected through pins. The at least two horizontal rotors are connected to a contact system rotor and are capable of being rotated to rotate the contact system rotor thereby moving the switching device to any one of ON, OFF and DEAD CENTRE positions.

The vertical rotor is sandwiched between the at least two horizontal rotors. The vertical rotor is capable of being rotated in response to the rotation of the at least two horizontal rotors. The at least two arms are pivoted to the vertical rotor. Each of the at least two arms includes a spring rest connected to either ends thereof. The at least two mechanism springs are coiled on the at least two arms such that each end thereof gets connected to the corresponding spring rest.

The at least two housings enclose the at least two horizontal rotors, the vertical rotor, the at least two arms and the at least two mechanism springs there between to form a mechanism assembly. Each of the at least two housings includes a first hole configured thereon.

The side operating kit is assembled on any one side of the mechanism assembly with the help of two screws thereby forming a compact side operated mechanism. The side operating kit includes a side plate and a side driver. The side plate is fixed on any one of the at least two housings of the mechanism assembly. The side plate includes a second hole configured thereon for alignment with the first hole. The side driver is inserted in the side plate through the second hole thereof for coupling to one of the at least two horizontal rotors.

The side driver is capable of being rotated in clockwise direction with the help of a shaft and a handle to actuate/rotate one of the at least two horizontal rotors connected thereto that rotates the vertical motor and cause rotation of the contact system rotor connected thereto thereby resulting in movement of the switching device to any one of the ON, OFF and DEAD CENTRE positions with reduced transmission losses.

Brief description of the drawings

Other features as well as the advantages of the invention will be clear from the following description.
In the appended drawings:
Figure 1 shows a four-pole switch disconnector with a modular contact system and a front operated mechanism, in accordance with a prior art;

Figure 2 shows a four-pole switch disconnector with a modular contact system and a side operated mechanism, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 shows the side operated mechanism with a side operating kit, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 4 shows a general view of the side operating kit, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 5 shows an exploded view of side operated mechanism with the side operating kit, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 6 shows a side view of the side operated mechanism in OFF position, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 7 shows the side view of the side operated mechanism in DEAD CENTRE position, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 8 shows the side view of the side operated mechanism in ON position, in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 9 shows the mounting of the side operating kit on the side operated mechanism from either side, in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiment.

The present invention provides a side operated rotary mechanism of a switching device. The side operated rotary mechanism is formed with minimum number of components and higher efficiency and without opening of switch.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

Referring to figures 2-9, a rotary operating mechanism (100) of a switching device (200) in accordance with the present invention is shown. Preferably, the switching device (200) is a multi-pole switching device. More preferably, the switching device (200) is a multi-pole switch disconnector for example a four-pole switch disconnector. The switching device (200) comprises a modular contact system (150). The rotary operating mechanism (100) is mounted on a side of the contact system (150) of the switching device (200) to drive/actuate a rotor (not shown) of the contact system (150).

The rotary operating mechanism (100) comprises at least two horizontal rotors (10), a vertical rotor (20), at least two arms (30), a spring rest (40), at least two mechanism springs (50), at least two housings (60), a mechanism assembly (80) and a side operating kit (90).

The at least two horizontal rotors (10) are connected through pins (5). The at least two horizontal rotors (10) and the pins (5) form a horizontal rotor assembly. The at least two horizontal rotors (10) are connected to the contact system rotor. The at least two horizontal rotors (10) are capable of being rotated to rotate the contact system rotor thereby moving the switching device (200) to any one of ON, OFF and DEAD CENTRE positions.

The vertical rotor (20) is sandwiched between the at least two horizontal rotors (10). Thus, each side of the vertical rotor (20) is connected to one of the at least two horizontal rotors (10). The vertical rotor (20) is capable of being rotated in response to the rotation of the at least two horizontal rotors (10).

The at least two arms (30) are connected to the vertical rotor (20). In an embodiment, the at least two arms (30) are pivoted to the vertical rotor (20). Each of the at least two arms (30) includes a spring rest (40) connected to either ends thereof.

Each of the at least two mechanism springs (50) is coiled on one of the at least two arms (30) such that each end of the at least two mechanism springs (50) gets connected to the corresponding spring rest (40).

The at least two housings (60) are adapted mount and enclose the at least two horizontal rotors (10), the vertical rotor (20), the at least two arms (30) and the at least two mechanism springs (50) there between to form the mechanism assembly (80). Each of the at least two housings (60) includes a first hole (55) configured thereon.

The side operating kit (90) is assembled on any one side of the mechanism assembly (80) (refer figures 2 and 9) thereby forming a compact side operated mechanism (100) with minimum components and with ease. In an embodiment, the side operating kit (90) is assembled on either side of the mechanism assembly (80) with the help of two screws (not shown). The side operating kit (90) includes a side plate (86) and a side driver (88) configured thereon. Specifically, the side plate (86) is configured to be fixed on any one of the at least two housings (60) of the mechanism assembly (80) as shown in figure 9. The side plate (86) includes a second hole (85) configured thereon for alignment with the first hole (55) on the at least two housings (60).

The side driver (88) serves a dual function of a coupler and an actuator. The side driver (88) is inserted in the side plate (86) through the second hole (85) thereof for coupling to one of the at least two horizontal rotors (10). The side driver (88) is designed in such a way when coupled with the one of the at least two horizontal rotors (10) and there is no play between the side driver (88) and the horizontal rotor coupled thereto. Thus, the side driver (88) is directly coupled to one of the at least two horizontal rotors (10) that is further coupled to the contact system rotor thereby reducing any transmission losses.

The side driver (88) is capable of being rotated in clockwise direction with the help of a shaft (not shown) and a handle (not shown) to operate the mechanism assembly (80) from side and more specifically, to actuate/rotate one of the at least two horizontal rotors (10) connected thereto that in turn rotates the vertical motor (20). The vertical motor (20) upon rotation rotates the other horizontal rotor to cause rotation of the contact system rotor connected thereto thereby resulting in movement of the switching device (200) to any one of the ON, OFF (refer figure 6) and DEAD CENTRE positions with reduced transmission losses. Figure 6 shows the OFF position. Specifically, the rotation of the side driver (88) by 45 degrees results in the DEAD CENTRE position means the position between the ON and OFF positions as shown in figure 7. The rotation of the side driver (88) by 90 degrees results in the ON position as shown in figure 8.

Advantages of the invention

1. On-site conversion of the front operated mechanism to side operated mechanism. Less number of components required for conversion of front to side operation as the side driver (88) serves the dual function of coupling and actuation.
2. Higher efficiency of the rotary operating mechanism (100) as the side driver (88) is directly coupled to one of the horizontal rotor that in turn is coupled to the contact system rotor thus reducing transmission losses.
3. Higher velocity of the contact system (150) is achieved in same compact mechanism because of direct coupling.
4. The side operating kit (90) is assembled from either way of the mechanism assembly (80) as shown in figure 9.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.