Automatic transfer switch and drive subsystem

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10707028-B2
Application number	US-201515739603-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2015
Priority date	Jun 26, 2015
Publication date	Jul 7, 2020
Grant date	Jul 7, 2020

Abstract

A transmission subsystem has an automatic transfer switch ( 100 ) which includes at least a pair of movable contact members ( 28, 30 ). The pair of movable contact members includes a first movable contact member ( 28 ) at a first location and a second movable contact member ( 30 ) at a second location. The automatic transfer switch further includes a fixed member ( 29 ), a controller ( 68 ) configured to select one of the first and second movable contact members, and a permanent magnetic actuator ( 65 ). The permanent magnetic actuator includes an actuator body, a first driving rod ( 60 ), and a second driving rod ( 62 ). The permanent magnet actuator is configured to move the first driving rod in a first direction independently of movement of the second driving rod. The first driving rod is configured to move the first movable contact member, and the second driving rod is configured to move the second movable contact member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An automatic transfer switch, comprising:
a plurality of movable contact members including at least one first movable contact member at a first location and at least one second movable contact member at a second location;
at least one fixed contact member; and
a permanent magnet operating mechanism configured to:
control opening and closing of the plurality of movable contact members relative to the at least one fixed contact member via one or more linkages; and
generate a holding force so as to maintain a state of the at least one first movable contact member at the first location and a state of the at least one second movable contact member at the second location,
wherein the permanent magnet operating mechanism comprises an actuator having an actuator body, a first driving rod, and a second driving rod.

2. The automatic transfer switch of claim 1 , wherein:
each of the first driving rod and the second driving rod is configured to transmit a driving force from the actuator body;
the permanent magnet operating mechanism is configured to move the first driving rod in a first direction independently of movement of the second driving rod; and
the permanent magnet operating mechanism is configured to move the second driving rod in a second direction independently of movement of the first driving rod in the first direction.

3. The automatic transfer switch of claim 1 , wherein the first driving rod is configured to move the at least one first movable contact member at the first location, and wherein the second driving rod is configured to move the at least one second movable contact member at the second location.

4. The automatic transfer switch of claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more linkages comprises a first shaft and a second shaft rotatably supported and coupled to the first and second movable contact members, respectively, and
the first and second shafts are driven respectively via the first driving rod and the second driving rod by the permanent magnet operating mechanism.

5. The automatic transfer switch of claim 4 , wherein:
the first shaft and the second shaft are configured to rotate in accordance with the opening and closing of the plurality of movable contact members,
the first shaft is configured to be in an open position when the first movable contact member is in an open position, and the second shaft is configured to be in an open position when the second movable contact member is in an open position.

6. The automatic transfer switch of claim 1 , further comprising a cassette subsystem, wherein the cassette subsystem comprises the plurality of movable contact members and the at least one fixed contact member.

7. The automatic transfer switch of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of movable contact members are configured to be moved manually.

8. The automatic transfer switch of claim 1 , wherein the permanent magnet operating mechanism is configured to permit closing of at least one movable contact member onto at least one fixed contact member and opening of at least one movable contact member from at least one fixed contact member.

9. The automatic transfer switch of claim 1 , wherein the actuator has a first state in which the permanent magnet operating mechanism is configured to retain the actuator unless a coil is powered to retain the actuator in a second state.

10. The automatic transfer switch of claim 1 , wherein the actuator has a first state and a second state, and the actuator is configured to transition between the first and the second states when at least one coil of the actuator receives power.

11. The automatic transfer switch of claim 10 , wherein the actuator is a dual-end, dual-slug actuator.

12. The automatic transfer switch of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to move the automatic transfer switch between a first state, a second state, and a third state.

13. The automatic transfer switch of claim 12 , wherein the first state corresponds to a first source, the second state corresponds to a neutral, and the third state corresponds to a second source.

14. The automatic transfer switch of claim 12 , wherein the actuator is a single-slug piston actuator.

15. A transmission subsystem having an open transition automatic transfer switch, comprising:
a pair of movable contact members including a first movable contact member at a first location and a second movable contact member at a second location;
a fixed contact member;
a controller configured to select one of the first and second movable contact members; and
a permanent magnetic actuator comprising an actuator body, a first driving rod, and a second driving rod, the permanent magnet actuator being configured to move the first driving rod in a first direction independently of movement of the second driving rod;
wherein the first driving rod is configured to move the first movable contact member, and the second driving rod is configured to move the second movable contact member.

16. The transmission subsystem of claim 15 , wherein the permanent magnetic actuator comprises at least one bistable permanent actuator.

17. The transmission subsystem of claim 15 , wherein the permanent magnetic actuator comprises at least one monostable permanent actuator.

18. The transmission subsystem of claim 15 , wherein the controller comprises control circuitry.

19. The transmission subsystem of claim 15 , wherein a cassette comprises the pair of movable contact members and the fixed contact member.

20. The transmission subsystem of claim 15 , wherein the pair of movable contact members are configured to be moved manually.

21. A method of actuating an automatic transfer switch in a system, the automatic transfer switch including a plurality of movable contact members including a first set of movable contact members fixed on and rotatable with a first shaft, and a second set of movable contact members fixed on and rotatable with a second shaft; at least one fixed contact member; and first and second driving rods respectively fixed with the first and second shafts, the method comprising:
controlling opening and closing of the plurality of movable contact members relative to the at least one fixed contact member; and
generating a magnetic holding force with one or more permanent magnet actuators so as to maintain a state of the first set of movable contact members and a state of the second set of movable contact members,
wherein the first shaft is configured to be in an open position when the first movable contact member is in an open position, and the second shaft is configured to be in an open position when the second movable contact member is in an open position.

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
selecting one of the first and second sets of movable contact members to be opened and closed relative to the at least one fixed contact member.

Assignees

• Cummins Power Generation Ip

Inventors

• Ji Xuefeng
• Hu Tongxian
• Chu Dongyan

Classifications

• H01H3/28 Primary

  using electromagnet (for storing energy in a spring motor H01H3/30; for operating relays H01H45/00) · CPC title

• H01H3/22 Primary

  Power arrangements internal to the switch for operating the driving mechanism · CPC title

• H01H2300/018

  Application transfer; between utility and emergency power supply · CPC title