Latching device and an operating mechanism with such a latching device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10937618-B2
Application number	US-201716338301-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2017
Priority date	Oct 25, 2016
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

A latching device for an operating mechanism for an electrical switching apparatus. The device has a locking member movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position the locking member is arranged to lock a drive member of the operating mechanism in a locked position, and a force of the drive member being applied to a contact portion of the locking member. In the second position the locking member is arranged to release the drive member from the locked position. At least in the first position the locking member is arranged to bear against the counter roller. A tripping member is movable between a first position locking the locking member and a second position releasing the locking member. The locking member has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is rotatable connected to a first link around a first pivot axis, which first pivot axis is movable perpendicular to its direction. The second portion is rotatable connected to a second link around a second pivot axis and movable perpendicular to its direction. The second link is rotatable connected to the tripping element around a third pivot axis. Movement of the tripping member from its first position to its second position initiates movement of the contact portion out of force-transmitting relation with the drive member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A latching device for an operating mechanism for an electrical switching apparatus, the operating mechanism being operatively connectable to the switching apparatus, the latching device comprising:
a locking member movable between at least one first position and at least one second position, in the first position the locking member being arranged to lock a drive member of the operating mechanism in a locked position and a force (F) of the drive member being applied to a contact portion of the locking member, and in the second position the locking member is arranged to release the drive member from the locked position,
a counter roller defining a first axis (O), at least in the first position the locking member being arranged to bear against the counter roller,
a tripping member movable between at least one first trip position and at least one second trip position, in the first trip position the tripping member being arranged to lock the locking member in the first position, and in the second trip position the tripping member is arranged to release the locking member from the locked position, wherein the locking member has a first portion and a second portion, which first portion is rotatable connected to a first link around a first pivot axis (P 1 ), which first pivot axis (P 1 ) is movable perpendicular to its direction, and which second portion is rotatable connected to a second link around a second pivot axis (P 2 ), parallel to the first pivot axis (P 1 ) and movable perpendicular to its direction, which second link is rotatable connected to the tripping member around a third pivot axis (P 3 ) parallel to the first pivot axis (P 1 ), whereby movement of the tripping member from its first trip position to its second trip position initiates movement of the contact portion out of force-transmitting relation with the drive member.

2. The latching device according to claim 1 , wherein said links during said movement are arranged to move the contact portion in a direction having a first component in the longitudinal direction of the locking member and a second component perpendicular thereto.

3. The latching device according to claim 2 , wherein the length of the locking member is in the range of 1.3-5 times the length of each of the first and second links, preferably in the range of 1.8-2.5.

4. The latching device according to claim 2 , wherein the length of the first link is within the range of 0.7-1.5 times the length of the second link, preferably within the range of 0.9-1.1 times.

5. The latching device according to claim 2 , wherein the first link is rotatable around a fourth pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis (P 1 ).

6. The latching device according to claim 2 , wherein the third pivot axis (P 3 ) is movable perpendicular to its axis.

7. The latching device according to claim 1 , wherein the first link is rotatable around a fourth pivot axis (P 4 ) parallel to the first pivot axis (P 1 ).

8. The latching device according to claim 7 , wherein the position of the fourth pivot axis (P 4 ) is fixed.

9. The latching device according to claim 1 , wherein the third pivot axis (P 3 ) is movable perpendicular to its axis.

10. The latching device according to claim 1 , wherein the tripping member is rotatable around a fifth pivot axis (P 5 ) parallel to the first pivot axis (P 1 ).

11. The latching device according to claim 10 , wherein the position of the fifth pivot axis (P 5 ) is fixed.

12. The latching device according to claim 1 , and further including a trigging member actuated by an electro-magnet, which trigging member is arranged to act on the tripping member to move the tripping member from its first trip position to its second trip position by applying a tripping force on the tripping member.

13. The latching device according to claim 12 , wherein the tripping member includes a first lever arm to which the second link is connected and a second lever arm, on which the trigging member is arranged to act.

14. The latching device according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the locking member is in the range of 1.3-5 times the length of each of the first and second links, preferably in the range of 1.8-2.5.

15. The latching device according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the first link is within the range of 0.7-1.5 times the length of the second link, preferably within the range of 0.9-1.1 times.

16. The latching device according to claim 15 , wherein the spring means acts on the connection between the second link and the tripping member or adjacent thereto.

17. The latching device according to claim 1 , and further including spring means counter-acting the triggering force and being arranged to return the locking member from its second position to its first position once the actuation has been completed.

18. The latching device according to claim 17 , wherein the spring means acts on the connection between the second link and the tripping member or adjacent thereto.

19. The latching device according to claim 1 , wherein the locking member is arranged to bear against the counter roller during at least a major part of the movement from its first position to its second position.

20. An operating mechanism for an electrical switching apparatus, the operating mechanism being operatively connectable to the switching apparatus, and the operating mechanism comprises a latching device and a drive member movable in relation to the latching device between at least one locked position and at least one released position, wherein the latching device includes the features mentioned in claim 1 .

Assignees

• Abb Power Grids Switzerland Ag

Inventors

• Staffas Daniel
• Tredoux Johannes

Classifications

• H01H2071/506

  using balls or rollers in the latching device · CPC title

• H01H3/3031

  Means for locking the spring in a charged state · CPC title

• H01H71/505 Primary

  Latching devices between operating and release mechanism · CPC title