Control modular assembly and switch including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10770244-B2
Application number	US-201916368955-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2019
Priority date	Mar 30, 2018
Publication date	Sep 8, 2020
Grant date	Sep 8, 2020

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a control modular assembly ( 130 ) for a switch, wherein the control modular assembly comprises: a driving mechanism comprising an output shaft ( 122 ); a control unit coupled to the driving mechanism and configured to receive and process a signal for controlling the switch so as to control a movement of the output shaft ( 122 ) of the driving mechanism; and an operating member coupled to the output shaft ( 122 ); wherein the control modular assembly ( 130 ) is detachably coupled to an internal functional assembly ( 160 ) of the switch, so that the operating member can be driven by the output shaft ( 122 ) to move within a given movement range in response to the signal for controlling the switch, such that the operating state of the switch is controlled by controlling the internal functional assembly ( 160 ). Embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a switch ( 300 ) comprising the control modular assembly ( 130 ).

First claim

We claim:

1. A control modular assembly for a switch, wherein the control modular assembly comprises:
a driving mechanism comprising an output shaft;
a control unit coupled to the driving mechanism and configured to receive and process a signal for controlling the switch so as to control a movement of the output shaft of the driving mechanism; and
an operating member coupled to the output shaft;
wherein the control modular assembly is detachably coupled to an internal functional assembly of the switch, so that the operating member can be driven by the output shaft to move within a given movement range in response to the signal for controlling the switch, such that the operating state of the switch is controlled by controlling the internal functional assembly;
wherein the control modular assembly further comprises a transmission mechanism, the transmission mechanism comprises a driving element and a driven element engaged with each other, and wherein the driving element is coupled to and driven by the output shaft, the driven element is coupled to the operating member to drive the operating member to move within a given movement range;
wherein the driving element and the driven element are gears, and wherein the driven element is integrated with the operating member, and wherein a rotation axis of the driven element coincides with a rotation axis of the operating member; and
wherein the operating member comprises two contact arms, the two contact arms are provided with at least one protrusion on opposite inner surfaces.

2. A control modular assembly for a switch, wherein the control modular assembly comprises:
a driving mechanism comprising an output shaft;
a control unit coupled to the driving mechanism and configured to receive and process a signal for controlling the switch so as to control a movement of the output shaft of the driving mechanism; and
an operating member coupled to the output shaft;
wherein the control modular assembly is detachably coupled to an internal functional assembly of the switch, so that the operating member can be driven by the output shaft to move within a given movement range in response to the signal for controlling the switch, such that the operating state of the switch is controlled by controlling the internal functional assembly,
wherein the control modular assembly further comprises a transmission mechanism, the transmission mechanism comprises a driving element and a driven element engaged with each other, and wherein the driving element is coupled to and driven by the output shaft, the driven element is coupled to the operating member to drive the operating member to move within a given movement range, and
wherein the driving element is a gear and the driven element is a rack, and wherein the operating member is arranged on a side of the rack without teeth to enable a translational movement of the driven element to drive the operating member to rotate around a rotation axis within the given movement range.

3. The control modular assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the two contact arms incline to each other in a tapered manner so as to provide a clamping force.

4. The control modular assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the operating state of the switch comprises a circuit-on state, a circuit-off state and a current adjustment state.

5. The control modular assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the driving mechanism is a motor, and wherein the control modular assembly further comprises a power source for supplying power to the motor.

6. The control modular assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery, and wherein the control modular assembly further comprises a charging port for charging the battery.

7. The control modular assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the power source is a power-obtained device for obtaining power from the switch to supply power to the motor.

8. The control modular assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises a signal receiving sensor for receiving the signal for controlling the switch.

9. A switch, comprising:
a control modular assembly comprising
a driving mechanism comprising an output shaft;
a control unit coupled to the driving mechanism and configured to receive and process a signal for controlling the switch so as to control a movement of the output shaft of the driving mechanism; and
an operating member coupled to the output shaft;
wherein the control modular assembly is detachably coupled to an internal functional assembly of the switch, so that the operating member can be driven by the output shaft to move within a given movement range in response to the signal for controlling the switch, such that the operating state of the switch is controlled by controlling the internal functional assembly;
wherein the control modular assembly further comprises a transmission mechanism, the transmission mechanism comprises a driving element and a driven element engaged with each other, and wherein the driving element is coupled to and driven by the output shaft, the driven element is coupled to the operating member to drive the operating member to move within a given movement range;
wherein the driving element and the driven element are gears, and wherein the driven element is integrated with the operating member, and wherein a rotation axis of the driven element coincides with a rotation axis of the operating member; and
wherein the operating member comprises two contact arms, the two contact arms are provided with at least one protrusion on opposite inner surfaces; and
an internal functional assembly operable to control an operating state of the switch;
wherein the control modular assembly is detachably coupled to the internal functional assembly of the switch, so that the operating member of the control modular assembly can be driven by the output shaft of the driving mechanism to move within a given movement range in response to the signal for controlling the switch, such that the operating state of the switch is controlled by controlling the internal functional assembly.

10. The switch according to claim 9 , further comprises a panel coupled to a control unit of the control modular assembly and operable to input the signal for controlling the switch.

11. The switch according to claim 9 , further comprises a base plate coupled to the internal functional assembly and comprising a through aperture, and wherein the operating member passes through the through aperture to be coupled with the internal functional assembly.

12. The switch according to claim 11 , wherein the internal functional assembly comprises:
a swinging member arranged to abut against the operating member to be driven by the operating member;
a contact rod adapted to control the operating state of the switch by changing a position; and
a spring arranged between the swinging member and the contact rod and adapted to provide a pressure to the swinging member and the contact rod, thereby adjusting the position of the contact rod in response to a movement of the swinging member.

13. A switch, comprising:
a control modular assembly comprising
a driving mechanism comprising an output shaft;
a control unit coupled to the driving mechanism and configured to receive and process a signal for controlling the switch so as to control a movement of the output shaft of the driving mechanism; and
an operating member coupled to the output shaft;
wherein the control modular assembly is detachably coupled to an internal functional assembly of the switch, so that the operating member can be driven by the output shaft to move within a given movement range

Assignees

• Schneider Electric Australia Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Shan Fuhua
• Ma Zhen

Classifications

• H01H2300/03

  Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring · CPC title

• H01H21/00

  Switches operated by an operating part in the form of a pivotable member acted upon directly by a solid body, e.g. by a hand (tumbler or rocker switches H01H23/00; switches having an operating part movable angularly in more than one plane H01H25/04) · CPC title

• H01H13/58 Primary

  with contact-driving member rotated step-wise in one direction · CPC title

• H01H3/26

  using dynamo-electric motor (for storing energy in a spring motor H01H3/30) · CPC title

• H01H3/32 Primary

  Driving mechanisms, i.e. for transmitting driving force to the contacts (snap-action arrangements H01H5/00; introducing a predetermined time delay H01H7/00) · CPC title