Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a load break switchgear interface apparatus that provides ease of use by preventing the user from making faulty actions and unauthorized intervention to the load break switchgear in the load break switchgears in the mains power lines protecting the mechanism and simplifying the structure.

In particular, the present invention relates to a load break switchgear interface apparatus that prevents the user from performing an incorrect operation and unauthorized persons intervention to the load break switchgear, protecting the mechanism during the installation and/or switching on and switching off processes of the mechanism and providing ease of use by simplifying the structure in load break switchgears used as voltage power switches in the mains power lines.

State of the Art

Load break switchgears, one of the voltage switches that enable the circuit to be opened and closed, are used in the mains power lines. Load break switchgears ensure that the no-load circuit is turned on and off by isolating it after the current on the line is cut off. The process steps such as setting up the load break switchgears manually or with the help of a motor, closing the mechanism, performing the earthing maneuver and opening the mechanism are applied so as to perform different operations such as maintenance, current routing on the network. However, each of said process steps must be performed sequentially and if the user/operator tries to perform these operations in a different order or simultaneously, very dangerous situations such as electric shock or fire occur as a result of electrical contact, arc formation. The probability of occurrence of such dangerous situations increases when unauthorized persons intervene in the load break switchgears.

The interface elements used generally have different designs and internal structures depending on the company produced so as to protect, access and interfere these load break switchgears. This situation makes it very difficult for the interface element and the load break switchgear to be designed together and, thus, the repair or replacement of parts in case of a malfunction or ineffective operation in any part of the structure and it increases processing times. A load break switchgear developed for fully isolated medium voltage switchgear is described in the patent document numbered US3553397A in the state of the art. Said load break switchgear comprises elongated and electrically conductive central portion, contact elements located in the central part and connected in series, which move away from each other and create a gap that prevents contact, or that allow electrical transmission by converging, tubular body, which wraps around the central part in such a way as to leave a distance between them, an opening in the form of a flanged channel that extends into the center section allowing contact elements to be moved along a channel. The circuit can be turned off and on or the current is transferred to different electrical elements without interfering with a plurality of elements on the network line with the help of said load break switchgear. An interface apparatus used in the load break switchgear is not mentioned in the document, no solution is offered for performing operations during the use of the mechanism sequentially and independently of each other, thus preventing the occurrence of highly dangerous situations such as electric shock or fire as a result of electrical contact, arc formation and preventing unauthorized persons from interfering with the mechanism.

Another prior art patent document numbered TR2011/07529 describes a switching device for switching equipment comprising a horizontal center-cutting type load break switchgear. Said switching device comprises a load break switchgear for detachably coupling a first and a second moving power line conduit to control the electric current transfer there between, a transmission contact system for transferring electric current from a rotatable terminal body to the first moving power line conduit. Said transmission contact system includes at least one flexible, braided transmission cable rigidly fixed to said first powerline conduit at both ends, the transmission cable is in rigid connection with said terminal body at a point between said ends along its length. The system also includes a female contact interface associated with the first movable powerline conduit and comprising a pair of contact latches a male contact interface adapted to provide two contact points for the transfer of electric current to the female contact interface, associated with the second movable power conduit and comprising a contact block with a circular groove around its surface. An interface apparatus used in the load break switchgear is not mentioned in said document, no solution is offered for performing operations during the use of the mechanism sequentially and independently of each other, thus preventing electrical contact, arc formation and preventing unauthorized persons from interfering with the mechanism.

As a result, a load break switchgear interface apparatus that prevents the user from performing an incorrect operation and unauthorized intervention to the load break switchgear, protecting the mechanism during the installation and/or switching on and switching off processes of the mechanism and providing ease of use, repair and replacement of parts by simplifying the structure in load break switchgears used as voltage power switches in the mains power lines, is required to be developed.

Aim of the Invention

The present invention relates to a load break switchgear interface apparatus which fulfills the abovementioned requirements, eliminates all disadvantages and brings some additional advantages.

The main aim of the inventive load break switchgear interface apparatus is to is to obtain a load break switchgear interface apparatus that ensures that the operations applied in the load break switchgears used as voltage power switches in the mains power lines are carried out respectively, independently of each other and without error.

Another aim of the invention is to obtain a load break switchgear interface apparatus that prevents unauthorized persons intervention of the load break switchgear and protects the mechanism.

Another aim of the invention is to obtain a safe load break switchgear interface apparatus that prevents accidents and malfunctions caused by faulty or simultaneous operation.

Another aim of the invention is to obtain a practical and modular load break switchgear interface apparatus that provides ease of use, repair and part replacement with the simplification of the structure.

In order to achieve the above objectives in the most general form, the load break switchgear interface apparatus that is suitable for use with the load break switchgear in the mains power lines, prevents the user from performing faulty operations, unauthorized intervention to the load break switchgear, provides protection of the load break switchgear, simplification of the structure and ease of use, repair and/or part replacement, comprising at least one body comprising at least one body that contains at least one operating hole and at least one earthing hole, ensures the protection of the load break switchgear from external influences and allows user access to control the operation of the load break switchgear; at least one control unit comprising at least one off button and at least one on button for controlling the operation of the load break switchgear; at least one slider element for preventing simultaneous access to the operating hole and the earthing hole; at least one holding element that enables the user to comfortably hold and slide the slider element; at least one guide opening comprising at least one first slot, at least one second slot, allowing the user to move the holding element on at least one axis to slide the slider element. The structural and characteristic features of the present invention will be understood clearly by the following drawings and the detailed description made with reference to these drawings and therefore the evaluation shall be made by taking these figures and the detailed description into consideration.

Figures Clarifying the Invention

In order to understand the advantages of the present invention with its structure and additional elements, it shall be evaluated with the following defined figures.

Figure - 1 : is a perspective view of the inventive load break switchgear interface apparatus.

Figure - 2: is a front view of the inventive load break switchgear interface apparatus.

Figure - 3: is another front view of the inventive load break switchgear interface apparatus.

Figure - 4: is another front view of the inventive load break switchgear interface apparatus.

Figure - 5: is a perspective view of the control unit of the inventive load break switchgear interface apparatus.

Figure - 6: is another perspective view of the control unit of the inventive load break switchgear interface apparatus.

Part References

1 . Body

2. Control unit

2a. Off button

2b. On button

2c. Second lock slot

3. Slider element

3a. Access opening

4. Holding element

4a. Lock slot

5. Guide aperture

5a. First Slot

5b. Second Slot

5c. Third Slot

6. Switching element

7. Movable protection element A. Load break switchgear

Y. Load break switchgear interface apparatus

Detailed Description of the Invention

In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the inventive load break switchgear interface apparatus are described only for clarifying the subject matter in a manner such that no limiting effect is created.

The load break switchgear interface apparatus (Y) which is developed with the present invention, the example view of which is given in Figure 1 , which is suitable for use with the load break switchgear (A) in the mains power lines, prevents the user from performing faulty operations on the load break switchgear (A), unauthorized intervention to the load break switchgear (A), provides protection of the load break switchgear (A), simplification of the structure and ease of use, repair and / or part replacement, comprising at least one body (1 ) that comprises at least one operating hole (1 a) allowing access into the load break switchgear (A) for manual installation of the load break switchgear (A) by the user and at least one earthing hole (1 b) allowing access into the load break switchgear (A) to earth the load break switchgear (A), connected to the load break switchgear (A), providing protection of the load break switchgear (A) from external influences and allowing user access to control the operation of the load break switchgear (A), preferably in flat plate form; at least one control unit (2) that comprises at least one off button (2a) positioned on the body (1 ), enables the load break switchgear (A) to be brought to a closed state, and at least one on button (2b) that enables the load break switchgear (A) to be brought to an open state and enables to control the operation of said load break switchgear (A); at least one slider element (3) containing at least one access opening (3a) connected with the face of the body (1 ) facing the load break switchgear (A) in such a way that it is suitable for sliding on at least one axis, allowing access to only one of the operating hole (1 a) and the earthing hole (1 b) by sliding movement, prevents simultaneous access to the operating hole (1 a) and the earthing hole (1 b), preferably in the form of a flat plate; at least one holding element (4) extending towards the surface of the body (1 ) far from the load break switchgear (A) in connection with the slider element (3), and provides sliding movement of the slider element (3) and provides enabling the user to hold it comfortably, is preferably in the form of a handle; at least one guide opening (5) comprising at least one first slot (5a), which, by bringing the holding element (4) to a first position, enables the slider element (3) to be positioned such that it slides and only allows access to the operating hole (1 a), at least one second slot (5b) which, by moving the holding element (4) to a second position, allows the slide element (3) to be positioned such that it slides to allow access only to the earthing hole (1 b), is positioned on the body (1 ) and in a structure suitable for the holding element (4) to pass through, allowing the user to move the holding element (4) on at least one axis so as to slide the slider element (3).

The body (1 ) is mounted on the load break switchgear (A) and the holding element (4) is provided to extend away from the load break switchgear (A) by passing through the guide opening (5) in the load break switchgear interface apparatus (Y) developed with the present invention. The holding element (4) is brought to the first position by the user and the holding element (4) is fixed in the first position by means of the first slot (5a) so as to manually install the load break switchgear (A) by the user. The slider element (3) is shifted and positioned in such a way as to allow access only to the operating hole (1 a) by bringing the holding element (4) to its first position. Afterwards, the user is provided to access the load break switchgear (A) through the operating hole (1 a) so as to perform the operating process. After the load break switchgear (A) is installed, the load break switchgear (A) is brought to a closed state when the user presses the off button (2a) on the control unit (2). Meanwhile (A), the earth access is prevented and the user is prevented from taking an incorrect action with the constant positions of the holding element (4) and the slider element (3). Afterwards, the load break switchgear (A) is brought to the open state when the user presses the on button (2b) on the control unit (2). The holding element (4) is brought to the second position by the user and the holding element (4) is fixed in the second position by means of the second slot (5b). The slider element (3) is shifted and positioned in such a way as to allow access only to the earthing hole (1 b) by bringing the holding element (4) to the second position. Afterwards, the user is provided to access the load break switchgear (A) through the earthing hole (1 b) so as to perform the earth connection process. Meanwhile (A), the earth access is prevented and the user is prevented from performing any operating process and taking an incorrect action with the constant positions of the holding element (4) and the slider element (3).

In a preferred application of the invention, said load break switchgear interface apparatus (Y) comprises at least one guide opening (5) comprising at least one third slot (5c) ensures that said slider element (3) is positioned in a way that prevents access by sliding said operating hole (1 a) and said earthing hole (1 b) by bringing said holding element (4) to a third position. The user's access to both the said operating hole (1 a) and the said earthing hole (1 b) is prevented by bringing the holding element (4) to the said third position and it is ensured that the load break switchgear (A) is adapted to the installation process with a motor.

In a preferred application of the invention, said load break switchgear interface apparatus (Y) comprises at least one switching element (6) that enables the at least one setting motor to be started which is located on said load break switchgear interface apparatus (Y) and enables the establishment of said load break switchgear (Y) by bringing said holding element (4) to said third position. Said switching element (6) is allowed to start said setting motor by bringing the holding element (4) to said third position, the user's access to said operating hole (1 a) and said earthing hole (1 b) is prevented. Thus, the user is prevented from performing an erroneous operation during the installation process with the setting engine.

In a preferred application of the invention, said load break switchgear interface apparatus (Y) comprises at least one holding element (4) which is suitable for the user to move it away from said load break switchgear (A) prior to being moved to said first, second or third position and to be prepared for separation from said first slot (5a), said second slot (5b) or said third slot (5c). Thus, said holding element (4) is prevented from being unintentionally separated from said first slot (5a), second slot (5b) and third slot (5c).

In a preferred application of the invention, said load break switchgear interface apparatus (Y) comprises at least one holding element (4) having at least one lock slot (4a) that enables said holding element (4) to be prevented from moving, enabling a padlock-like locking element to be attached to it so as to prevent an unauthorized person from interfering with the load break switchgear (A).

In a preferred application of the invention, said load break switchgear interface apparatus (Y) comprises at least one movable protection element (7) which is connected with said control unit (2) and suitable for sliding on said control unit (2), covers one of said off button (2a) and said on button (2b) by being moved, allowing the user to access only one of said off button (2a) and said on button (2b).

In a preferred application of the invention, said load break switchgear interface apparatus (Y) comprises at least one control unit (2) that ensures the position of said movable protection element (7) to be fixed in such a way as to prevent access to said off button (2a) or said on button (2b) so as to prevent an unauthorized person from interfering with the load break switchgear (A), that has at least one second lock slot (2c) enabling at least one padlock-like locking element to be attached to it.

It is ensured that the operations applied in the load break switchgears (A) used as voltage power switches in the mains power lines are carried out respectively, independently of each other and without error with the help of the slider element (3) and the holding element (4) in the load break switchgear interface apparatus (Y) developed with the present invention. Furthermore, a safe, practical and modular load break switchgear interface apparatus (Y), which provides ease of use, repair and part replacement, is obtained by preventing unauthorized intervention by unauthorized persons to the load break switchgear (A) and protecting the load break switchgear (A), preventing accidents and malfunctions caused by incorrect or simultaneous operation, simplifying the overall structure by means of the slider.