Hazemeijer B.v.

Holec Systemen En Componenten B.v.

Arend J Lammers

Gerhardus Leonardus Nitert

Peter V Has

Gerrit W Hendriks

A drive mechanism for a circuit breaker or power switch made up of at least one switching unit and comprising a biasing mechanism which can act upon the switching unit, with actuating mechanism for biasing the biasing mechanism, drive mechanism for driving the switching unit under the influence of the energy stored in the biasing mechanism, and mechanism for resetting the switching unit from the driven state. A coupling mechanism in the form of a movement-direction-dependent carrier mechanism is provided whereby the biasing mechanism is brought in its biased state into engagement with the drive mechanism for driving the switching unit and in the driven state of the switching unit the engagement of the biasing mechanism and the drive mechanism is released for resetting the switching unit without operation of the actuating mechanism, and the biasing mechanism and the drive mechanism act upon each other only in the direction of movement opposite to the biasing direction. To improve the 'hammer' effect during separation of the contacts of the switching unit, the drive mechanism is made mechanically more rigid near the action point with the switching unit through a selective mass increase.

Drive mechanism for an electric switch, in particular a circuit breaker

The present invention relates to an apparatus for moving an element, for instance a movable contact of a switch, from a first end position to a second end position and vice versa and selectively keeping the element in each of the noted end positions, the apparatus comprising an energy buffer (1), for instance a spring, mechanically coupled with the element, which can be in two stationary end conditions corresponding with the noted end positions, or in intermediate translation conditions in which potential energy is transduced into kinetic energy and vice versa, a mass (4) driven by the energy buffer (1) which can be moved to one of two end positions corresponding with the end conditions of the energy buffer, and a locking mechanism (8, 34, 31) for locking the mass (4) in its end positions. The locking mechanism consists of a wedge (8) with two wedge portions, each decreasing in cross section in opposite directions, which wedge (8) is positioned between a first surface which is moved with the mass (4) and a second surface, rolling balls (34) positioned between the wedge and the second surface, and a slide (31) for alternately displacing the rolling balls (34) to one of two partial spaces between one of the wedge portions and the second surface in order to press the wedge portion against the first surface by means of the balls (34), so that the mass (4) will be locked in position.

Spring charged operating device for switch

Device for moving an element between two end positions and for selectively holding this element alternately in one of these positions, comprising an energy buffer mechanically coupled with this element, which buffer may be in one of two corresponding stationary end states, in which the energy is present in the form of potential energy, and in intermediate translation states, in which potential energy is transformed in kinetic energy and vice versa, a mass driven by the energy buffer and moved to one of the two end positions, and locking means for each of the two end states of the energy buffer. According to the present invention the mass is movable elastically over a predetermined distance with respect to the energy buffer and with respect to the element, so that when the element reaches one of its end positions the mass can move further over a predetermined distance towards its end position, thus transforming all kinetic in potential energy. Preferably the energy buffer is a helical spring, housed in a cylindrical mass. Each spring end is received in a spring support, which rests upon an inward end flange of the mass. Each spring support may cooperate with a stationary stop, mounted on the housing wall, which stop can enter the mass through an opening in the said flanges, to arrest the spring supports. The movable element may be formed by one of these spring supports, and may operate the movable switch contact of an electrical switch.

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Hengelo, Netherlands

Arend J Lammers