ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVE PROVIDED WITH ELECTRIC ENERGY ACCUMULATION FOR SWITCH-DEVICES

The present invention relates to a maneuvering device (opening, closing and refunctioning of the electric circuit) with electric energy accumulation for switches or disconnect switches .

More specifically, the invention relates to a maneuvering device or actuator for switches or disconnect switches of the boxed or modular type, which can be used regardless of the number of phases interrupted.

The main characteristic of the maneuvering device according to the invention is to have a motor that is fed by an electric energy accumulation system.

Switches are electric devices capable of interrupting an electric circuit, which, in its simplest form, consists of two metallic contacts, which can be moved to enter into contact with each other or to be separated.

More complex devices can act contemporaneously on various circuits, for example to contemporaneously interrupt three lines of a three-phase system; furthermore, some switches have a complex contact configuration, in which, for example, when a contact is open, the corresponding line is connected to another circuit (in this case there is a deviator) .

There are also switches, called commutators, in which a line can be connected, alternatively, with more than one output, whereas in other models (push buttons) the return to the previous position, after the intervention of the operator, is effected by a spring.

A disconnect switch, on the other hand, is a particular switch designed for only maneuvering under regime circuit conditions, not in the presence of' an overcurrent due to damage or overloads; in this case, the disconnect switch is an electromechanical maneuvering organ inserted in an electric circuit, in order to disconnect, i.e. open, a circuit or line to guarantee the safety of the plant and operators, as its "open" or "closed" state is clearly visible.

In automatic switches (such as magnetothermal switches and differential switches) , the maneuver is effected automatically on the basis of the verification of certain predefined events; the automatic intervention normally operates in only one direction, for example along the opening contact, whereas the opposite operation (refunctioning) is effected manually by an operator.

Finally, disconnect switches, in particular high- voltage, must also be able to be maneuvered, for safety reasons, completely automatically and remotely.

In any case, it is known that the higher the torque

necessary for effecting the opening, closing or refunctioning maneuvers of the switch and/or disconnect switch, the greater will be the current absorbed by the motor itself which is effecting the maneuver.

Consequently, under the conditions in which the torques in question are particularly high, it is currently preferred to dimension the power supply so that it is capable of supplying the necessary inrush power.

Alternatively, a mechanical energy accumulation system is used, such as, for example, a small -sized motor used for loading a spring.

These methods, however, have numerous serious drawbacks, caused in particular by the considerable encumbrances of the electric and/or mechanical parts and by the poor reliability, due to the presence of a high number of moving organs and/or high currents being used.

Within the range of requirements specified above, an objective of the present invention is, in particular, to provide a maneuvering device with electric energy accumulation for switches or disconnect switches of the boxed or modular type and regardless of the number of phases interrupted, which allows the user to rapidly and simply effect opening, closing and refunctioning operations of electric lines, without any risks.

A further objective of the invention is to provide a

maneuvering device with electric energy accumulation for switches or disconnect switches, which is contemporaneously extremely compact from a structural point of view.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a maneuvering device with electric energy accumulation for switches or disconnect switches, which is extremely simple to install and use, in addition to being efficient, functional, economical and reliable.

These and other objectives, according to the present invention, are achieved by proving a maneuvering device with electric energy accumulation for switches or disconnect switches, according to claim 1 enclosed.

Other detailed characteristics are indicated in the subsequent claims.

The maneuvering device, object of the present invention, advantageously uses a power supply which serves only for charging a capacity, which acts as electric energy collector.

The electric energy accumulated is supplied to a motor in direct current (and therefore suitable for supplying high torques) during closing, opening and refunctioning maneuvers.

In this way, the high currents are supplied directly by the accumulation capacity and not from the power

supply device, which is small-sized.

The solution indicated has, among its strong points, overall reduced dimensions, circuital simplicity and easy regulation of the levels of electric energy accumulated.

Further characteristics and advantages of a maneuvering device with electric energy accumulation for switches or disconnect switches, according to the present invention, will appear more evident from the following description, referring to a preferred illustrative and non- limiting embodiment example of the invention, and to figure 1 enclosed, which shows a block scheme of the maneuvering device with electric energy accumulation for switches or disconnect switches, according to the present invention.

It should be immediately pointed out that the object of the invention can be applied and used for any type of switch or disconnect switch, such as low, medium or high voltage deviators, commutators, inverters, disconnect switches with earth, etc..

With particular reference to figure 1 mentioned above, AL indicates a power supply device, capable of functioning with input voltages V, in both direct and alternating current, ranging from 24 to 230 Volts, which is connected to an electric accumulation capacity C and to an electronic control circuit CC.

The control circuit CC receives input opening AP and closing CH commands and is connected, as also the electric accumulation capacity C, to a transistor bridge PT, which, in turn, drives the rotation direction of the motor M, of the direct current type.

Finally, the communication gate PC allows interfacing with supervision systems for the remote transmission of information concerning the state of the switch or disconnect switch S and opening AP and closing CH commands .

The functioning of the maneuvering device with electric energy accumulation for switches or disconnect switches, according to the present invention, is substantially as follows.

The control circuit CC has the function of regulating the charging voltage of the electric accumulation capacity C and driving the transistor bridge PT.

The transistor bridge PT, on the other hand, serves to control the rotation direction of the direct current motor M, in relation to the opening AP and closing CH commands, sent onto the corresponding input lines of the control circuit CC by means of simple push-buttons, and of the state (open, closed or released) of the switch or disconnect switch S; this state (open, closed or

released) of the switch or disconnect switch S is also represented by a feedback signal SR, which is sent, as already mentioned, to the electronic control circuit CC.

The characteristics of the maneuvering device with electric energy accumulation for switches or disconnect switches, object of the present invention, are evident from the above description, as also the advantages.

In particular, they are represented by:

- reduced dimensions, with respect to the known art;

- circuital simplicity;

- easy regulation of the accumulated energy levels;

- complete electric protection for the user;

- complete modularity and complementarity;

- structural compactness;

- limited cost and manufacturing simplicity. Finally, it is evident that numerous variants can be applied to the maneuvering device in question, all included in the novelty principles in the inventive concept. It is also evident that in the practical embodiment of the invention, the materials, forms and dimensions of the details illustrated can vary according to demands and can be substituted with other technically equivalent elements .