The invention relates to an Actuator for low-, medium- or high-voltage switchgears with a drive to move at least one movable contact, with mechanical actuation energy transmission elements between the drive and the movable contact system, in which rotating and/or translating elements are mechanically corresponding to at least one position determing switch according to the preamble of claim 5, and a method of operating the same according to claim 10.

To control a motor driven actuator in switchgears and to stop it in defined position, it is state of the art, to actuate snap switches by cam washe, lever pins or other mechanical elements. This will be also used for electrical position indication too. As long as the switch is forced by the mechanical element the position is clear defined. A typical design is to place a cam on a shaft. This cam forces the snap switch in its defined position when the shaft rotates. Also a translating actuation is state of the art instead of rotating actuation.

Snap switches are used to switch at an exact position the motor OFF. Due to the direct actuation dependent parts (tolerances) a high effort for adjustment is necessary.

For this, the state of the art is shown in Figure 5.

The left side of Figure 5 shows the actuation state of the art with as rotating version, forced position for two positions. The right side of figure 5 shows the unforced case based on tolerances.

Due to elastic deformation, caused by high forces during the actuation, the contact to the snap switch can be lost. Additionally all bigger tolerances of the involved part have the result that the system clud loose the contact to the snap switch although the driven element is still in its defined position.

Due to that tolerances because of vibrations or by too high manula forces in

combination with the systems elasticity, the system can loose the contact to the snap switch resulting in wrong status indication/undefined status for motor control, like shown at the right side of figure 5.

So it is an object of the invention to overcome the above mentioned mechanical problems, and to enhance the performance for such actuators.

The invention is, that the rotating and/or the translating element is devided

mechanically into two relatively to each movable first part (4) and second part (5) in such, that via a tappet element between part (4) and part (5) a relative mechanical deviation of the movable part (4) to the movable part (5) is dimensioned in such, that it compensates the mechanical deviation caused by torsion and/or bending and/or tolerance of transmission elements.

According to the meaning of the terminus technicus "mechanical deviation", here the following definition.

A mechanical deviation occurs relatively between a fixed position of a first part and relatively to a that moved position of a second part, if force transmitting elements are used. That means, that the relatively deviation occurs, if the mechnical force transmitting element gets elastic bending or torsion under the driving force impact in one direction, against a mechanical friction force in the opposite direction.

So this results in the fact, that the driving path X of such a transmission element differs from the resulted path X - Delta, at the end of the transmission element. This is caused by mechanical bending, torsion or other elastic force components in the material of the mechanical force transmitting element.

This in such, that in the invention the rotating and/or the translating element is devided mechanically into two relatively to each movable first part (4) and second part (5) in such, that via a tappet element between part (4) and part (5) a relative mechanical deviation of the movable part (4) to the movable part (5) is dimensioned in such, that it compensates the mechanical deviation caused by torsion and/or bending and/or tolerance of transmission elements.

So the aforesaid deviation or shifts will be compensated in a very defined way, so that a very precise mechanical position is anyhow possible.

To consider this well known effect is the basical knowledge of this invention.

With that is given an exact actuation of the used snap switches.

Furthermore, loss of mechanical contact regarding tolerances is prevented. The system is easier to adjust.

A further resulting advantage is, that exact contacting of the snap switch after endurance based abrasion of primary parts is resulted.

Last but not least, the system causes a higher economic result by regarding bigger possible tolerances of dependant parts can be used.

A further advantageous embodiment proposes, that the first part is directly fixed or coupled to or with the transmission element, and the second part is coupled via the tappet element or elements with a defined mechanical hysteresis.

In a further advantageous embodiment is proposed, that the mechanical hysteresis is realized by with the tappets mechanically corresponding interacting openings in such, that a defined deviation for the aforesaid mechanical hysteresis is effected.

In order to produce a reproductive mechanical hysteresis, it is proposed,

that braking elements are implemented in such, that the relative movement between the first part and the second part is influenced by a braking force, in order to realize the aforesaid hysteresis.

For the mechanical engagement of the braking force, it is porposed

that the braking elements consist of a cartridge with a circumferential groove or surface, in which or on which a braking element in form of a slinging element or a slinging spring accesses into the groove or on the surface in order to effect a defined braking force.

For special application are proposed two alternatives.

First proposal is, that in case of an application only on one transmission element the slinging element is retained mechanically with the free side at a support or at a housing element.

Second proposal is, that in case of a parallel arrangement of two transmission elements the slinging element has two braking slinging ends, and each end is coupled to one of the two transmission elements.

In a further first alternative, the movable parts 4 and 5 are rotating elements.

A second, also advantageous alternative is, that the movable parts 4 and 5 are translating elements.

Same further principle like described above is used for that alternative.

The target of the invention is, to provide a common actuation of one or more snap switches which will force the snap switches in one direction. The tolerance based deviation which is founded in that parts which belongs to the cinematic chain will have no effect on the actuation of the snap (auxiliary) switches anymore and the snap (auxiliary) switches will not loose the signal regarding elastically deformation because of the high forces, deviation regarding tolerances, or shaking induced by earthquake.

By regarding the invention, the adjusting time can be decreased. Regarding that invention the tolerances of the parts which belong to the cinematic chain can be chosen in that way, that it can be produced, with higher economic result.

According to a method for operating such an actuator, the invention is, that the rotating and/or the translating element is devided mechanically into two relatively to each movable parts 4 and 5 in such, that via a tripping element between part 4 and part 5 a relative mechanical deviation D of the movable part 4 to the movable part 5 is dimensioned in such, that it compensates a defined or predefined mechanical deviation D caused by torsion and/or bending inside the drive and/or the drive-gear.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in figure 1 , left side, which displays the front view of the actuation elements. The right side of figure 1 shows a perspective view of the new actuation. A driving cam 4 is placed and connected mechanically with a rotating shaft 2. A driven cam 5 is beard on the driving cam 2, but not connected with the shaft directly. The driven cam 5 is connected with the driving cam 4 by a pin 8, in that way, that a tripping deviation is created. The driven cam 5 is decelerated by a braking spring 7.

Figure 2 on the left side and the right side shows, how the system works if a deviation regarding shaking, earthquake or occurring tolerances happens. The driving cam 4 tends to loose the contact to the switch. But due to the braking spring 7, the driven cam 5 keeps in mechanical contact with the switch. If the system will be actuated

deliberately the driving cam 4 will move the driven cam 5 also because of the defined moving deviation D by pin 8 between part 4 and 5.

So it shows the new actuation system with mechanical hysteresis active for two positions.

Figure 3 shows, that this actuation can also be used for more switches. It can be used for one and more positions. Mechanical hysteresis is active for four positions.

Figure 4 shows an embodiment, in which this principle is used for translating also linear actuation. The principle is the same, as decribed above to the rotating movement. Instead of a spring an attenuator, buffer or friction itself can be used.

Reference signs:

1 lever

2 rotating shaft

3 snap switch

4 driving cam

5 driven cam

7 braking spring

8 pin

D deviation