Abstract:
An installation switching device includes an insulating housing having a front face, and a switching handle disposed on the front face and configured to be operated by an operator and switched between a switched-on position and a switched-off position. The installation switching device also includes a slide fitted to the front face and moveable between a locked position and a released position. The slide is in the form of a frame and having at least one transverse web transverse to a movement direction of the slide and a holding projection configured to block any switching of the switching handle when the slide is in the locked position and to release the switching handle for switching when the slide is in the released position. The front face includes at least one structural element corresponding to the at least one transverse web. The installation switching device also includes a lead-sealing device configured to prevent movement of the slide from the locked position, wherein the at least one transverse web and the at least one structural element support the lead-sealing device.

Description:
This is a U.S. National Phase Application under 35 U.S.C. §171 of International Application PCT/EP2008/003180, filed on Apr. 21, 2008, which claims priority to German Application No. DE 10 2007 018 658.6, filed on Apr. 20, 2007. The International Application was published in German on Oct. 30, 2008 as WO 2008/128741 under PCT Article 21(2). 
     The invention relates to an installation switching device having a lead-sealable operating lever. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Installation switching devices of this generic type are, for example, circuit breakers, residual current devices, motor protective switches, and main line circuit breakers. Within an insulating material housing, they have a switching apparatus, by means of which the current path which runs between an input terminal and an output terminal in the interior of the installation switching device can be interrupted or switched off, and can be switched on again. 
     The switching apparatus in the interior of the insulating material housing can in this case be switched on and off by an operator from the outside by means of a switching handle, which can be pivoted or rotated at least between a switched-on position and a switched-off position. The side of the installation switching device on which the switching handle is accessible for operation is referred to in the following text as the front face. The switching handle interacts in a suitable manner, which is known in principle, with the switching apparatus which is accommodated in the interior of the insulating material housing, such that the current path is switched on when the switching handle is in the switched-on position, and is switched off when the switching handle is in the switched-off position. 
     An installation switching device which switches one and only one current path between an input terminal and an output terminal is referred to as a single-pole installation switching device. If a plurality of current paths between a plurality of input terminals and a plurality of output terminals can be switched within one insulating material housing, then this is referred to as a multipole installation switching device. For example, three individual current paths, which each run between three input terminals and three output terminals, could be switched on or off at the same time by operation of a single switching handle in a three-pole installation switching device. A three-pole or multipole installation switching device can also be produced by arranging a plurality of single-pole devices in a row with their broad faces adjacent to one another, in which case the switching handles of the individual single-pole devices would need to be connected in a suitable manner, which is known in principle, in order to allow all the poles to be switched jointly. 
     It is often desirable to adopt suitable measures to ensure that the installation switching device may be operated only by authorized personnel. For this purpose, the switching handle is lead-sealed in one switch position, for example in the switched-on position, and the lead-seal may be released only by personnel authorized to do so, as a result of which manual disconnection can be carried out only by an operator who is authorized to do so. In precisely the same way, it would, of course, also be possible to use a lead-seal to ensure that only a person who is authorized to do so can switch the device on by hand. 
     A known technical apparatus for lead-sealing of the switching handle comprises the fitting of a front-face cover to the switching handle, with this cover being lead-sealed by means of a lead-sealed lock, for example, or a lead-sealing wire. However, the additional cover part required for this purpose could also be dispensed with, for cost reasons. 
     Other known technical apparatuses dispense with an additional cover part and, instead of this, provide a slide which is mounted in the switching handle, can be pulled out of the switching handle and overhangs the switching handle in the pulled-out state, with the part which overhangs said switching handle engaging in a holding groove which is located on the front face surface and corresponds with the switching handle in the lead-sealed position, where it can be lead-sealed in the pulled-out state. One example of an apparatus such as this is disclosed in DE 10 2006 058987, using the example of a lead-sealable rotary handle. 
     For example, in the case of installation switching devices having switching handles which can be moved linearly or can be tilted, it is known for two thin holes to be provided on the front face, which are separated transversely with respect to the movement direction of the switching handle and through which a lead-sealing wire can be passed, in such a way that the switching handle can be prevented from pivoting, by means of the lead-sealing wire or a lead-sealed lock. The housing of the installation switching device in this case assumed to be a standard housing, with there being no significant difference in the external contour between a lead-sealable embodiment and a normal embodiment. The holes on the front face may therefore only be made thin since, otherwise, it would be necessary to form a thicker bead in order to accommodate thick holes. Lead-sealing by means of a lead-sealed lock is therefore not possible, since the hasp of a lead-sealed lock is considerably thicker than a normal lead-sealing wire. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An aspect of the present invention is to further develop an installation switching device of this generic type such that multiple locking is possible by cumulative or alternative use of different lead-sealing means, for example by means of a lead-sealing wire or a lead-sealed lock, in a simple manner and without any major change to the external contour of the installation switching device. 
     Therefore, according to the invention, a slide which can move between a locked position and a released position and is in the form of a frame is fitted with a holding projection on the front face, with the holding projection on the slide blocking switching of the switching handle when in the lead-sealed position, and with the holding projection on the slide releasing the switching handle for switching when in the released position, and in which case it is possible to prevent movement of the slide from the lead-sealed position by lead-sealing means which are supported on the one hand on webs on the slide, which run transversely with respect to the movement direction of the slide, and on the other hand on structural elements on the front face of the housing, with the structural elements being firmly connected to the housing wall or being integrally formed on the housing wall. 
     The advantage of an installation switching device according to the invention is that the slide, which is in the form of a frame, and the corresponding structural elements can be made very flat, as a result of which this scarcely changes the external contour of the installation switching device. Since a slide which is in the form of a frame has at least two webs on the narrow faces, this results in at least two lead-sealing options, by using two different lead-sealing means, for the installation switching device according to the invention, for example by a lead-sealing wire and a padlock at the same time. 
     One advantageous embodiment of the invention is for a device combination formed from a plurality of individual poles, for example three individual poles, arranged in a row, in that a correspondingly longer slide is provided, which slide has a basic shape of a rectangular frame whose length corresponds to the width of the devices which are arranged in a row, and which is subdivided by intermediate webs into as many window elements as there are switch poles and therefore switching levers, with each window element corresponding to one switching lever of a single pole. 
     According to one advantageous embodiment, the holding projection is in the form of a flat tongue which extends from a web on the slide frame into the interior of the frame opening. 
     According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the tongue interacts with the switching lever such that, in the locked position, the tongue engages with a corresponding locking contour in the switching handle when in the locked position, thus providing coupling, which blocks switching of the switching handle, between the slide and the switching handle. 
     The slide can be moved parallel to the forward front face between a locked position and a released position. 
     For this purpose, according to a further advantageous embodiment, the slide has strips on the longitudinal webs of the basic shape, which is in the form of a frame, which strips can be guided such that they can move in corresponding grooves on the forward front face of the switching devices. 
     According to a further advantageous embodiment, the strips on the slide can be snapped onto the grooves, for mounting. 
     The slide can be lead-sealed in three different ways, cumulatively so to speak, in its locked position. 
     According to one advantageous embodiment, for a first type of lead-sealing, a first lead-sealing channel is formed in one of the webs, and a second lead-sealing channel which corresponds to the housing wall is formed on the housing wall, with both lead-sealing channels being covered in the lead-sealed position, such that a lead-sealing wire can be passed through both lead-sealing channels. 
     According to a further advantageous embodiment, a first lead-sealing channel is formed in one of the webs, through which lead-sealing channel a lead-sealing wire can be passed which is supported on a housing projection in the lead-sealed position, such that the slide cannot be moved when in the lead-sealed position. In this case, the lead-sealing wire can be supported on a corresponding projection on the housing, such that it cannot move laterally when the web of the slide covers it in the locked position. 
     According to one advantageous embodiment, for a second type of lead-sealing, one of the webs has a first indentation and the front face of the housing has a second indentation, with the two indentations being located on one another when the slide is in the locked position, such that they form a lead-sealing opening through which a padlock can be passed. The second type of lead-sealing is therefore provided by a padlock. The hasp can also be supported on a corresponding projection on the housing wall. 
     In one advantageous further embodiment, lead-sealing by means of a cable tie is possible, as a third type of lead-sealing, for an installation switching device according to the invention. For this purpose, when in the locked position, a cable tie can be passed through an opening which is formed between one of the webs on one of the narrow faces of the slide and an indentation in the housing wall, which cable tie is supported on the housing, for example on the broad face of the switching device or on the connecting edge between the broad face and the front face, when the slide is in the lead-sealed position. For this purpose, the invention provides for the slide to overhang the broad face of the housing by a small amount, in its locked position. This type of lead-sealing is particularly simple since there is no need to make any changes to the front face of the housing, and in particular there is no need to incorporate any additional lead-sealing holes on the front face of the housing. 
     A further highly advantageous embodiment provides for the slide to have a viewing opening which corresponds to a viewing window, which may be provided on the forward front face of the switching device, for a visual switch position indication. For this purpose, the slide has a viewing opening at the appropriate point in its longitudinal web, in order that the switch position indication can still be seen even when the slide is in place. 
     A further advantageous effect of the invention is that inadvertent movement of the switching handle can be prevented in a simple manner by moving the slide to the locked position, even when no lead-sealing means are used. 
     Further advantageous refinements and improvements of the invention, as well as further advantages, can be found in the dependent claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention as well as further advantageous refinements and improvements of the invention will be explained and described in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which various embodiments of the invention are illustrated, and in which: 
         FIG. 1   a  shows an installation switching device according to the prior art, 
         FIG. 1   b  shows the installation switching device as shown in  FIG. 1   a , lead-sealed by a lead-sealing wire, 
         FIG. 2  shows a first embodiment of a single-pole installation switching device according to the invention, lead-sealed by a lead-sealing wire, 
         FIG. 3  shows the installation switching device as shown in  FIG. 2 , lead-sealed by a padlock, 
         FIG. 4  shows a second embodiment of a three-pole installation switching device according to the invention, with the slide, which is in the form of a frame, being used only for locking, and not for lead-sealing. 
         FIG. 5   a  shows the installation switching device as shown in  FIG. 4 , lead-sealed by a lead-sealing wire, 
         FIG. 5   b  shows a third embodiment of a single-pole installation switching device according to the invention, lead-sealed by a cable tie, 
         FIG. 6  shows a fourth embodiment of a three-pole installation switching device according to the invention, lead-sealed by a cable tie, 
         FIG. 7   a  shows a side view of an installation switching device according to the invention, with lead-sealing being provided cumulatively by a lead-sealing wire and a padlock, 
         FIG. 7   b  shows the view of the front face of the installation switching device as shown in  FIG. 7   a,    
         FIG. 7   c  shows a view obliquely from the front of the front face of the installation switching device shown in  FIG. 7   a,    
         FIG. 8  shows a view obliquely from the front of the installation switching device as shown in  FIG. 4 , in the locked position, 
         FIG. 9  shows the installation switching device as shown in  FIG. 8 , in the released position, 
         FIG. 10  shows a view obliquely from the front of an installation switching device as shown in  FIG. 2 , without lead-sealing and with the frame in the released position, 
         FIG. 11  shows a view obliquely from above of the installation switching device as shown in  FIG. 3 , 
         FIG. 12  shows a view obliquely from the front of the installation switching device as shown in  FIG. 2 , 
         FIG. 13  shows the installation switching device as shown in  FIG. 10 , with the frame in the locked position, 
         FIG. 14  shows a side view of an installation switching device according to the invention, with the frame snapped on, 
         FIG. 15  shows a side view and a plan view of a frame according to the invention, and 
         FIG. 16  shows a plan view of a further embodiment of an installation switching device according to the invention, in which viewing windows are incorporated in the frame. 
     
    
    
     Components or elements which are the same or have the same effect are annotated with the same reference numbers in the figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  will be considered first of all, and they reflect the prior art. The figures show an installation switching device  2 , for example a main line circuit breaker, which is installed in an installation distribution box  1 . The device  2  is illustrated in the form of a plan view of its front face  3 . This is an installation switching device with three switching poles, and three switching levers  4 ,  5 ,  6  are correspondingly provided, one for each switching pole. The switching levers are in the switched-on position, and are pivoted upward. A projection  7 ,  8  in the form of a bead is integrally formed on the front face  3  of the housing, in each case to the right and left of the switching lever  6 . A hole  9 ,  10  is provided in each of the projections  7 ,  8  which are in the form of beads, through which hole  9 ,  10  a lead-sealing wire  11  can be passed, see  FIG. 1   b . The lead-sealing wire  11  then runs transversely in front of the switching lever  6 , in such a way that this would tear the lead-sealing wire  11  if it were to be pivoted to the switched-off position, that is to say downward. This therefore prevents the device pole associated with the switching lever  6  from being switched off. However, as can be seen, only one lead-sealing option is provided, specifically that by means of a lead-sealing wire. Lead-sealing by means of the wire also does not offer effective protection against incorrect operation of the switching lever  6 , because the thin lead-sealing wire cannot offer sufficient resistance against manual operation of the switching lever  6 . 
       FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  10 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13  and  14  will now be considered. These show various views and variants of a single-pole installation switching device according to the invention, having a switching lever  601 . This comprises a slide  20 , which is in the form of a frame and is formed from two longitudinal webs  21 ,  22 , which run parallel, and two side webs  23 ,  24  which connect the longitudinal webs. A tongue  25  which points into the interior of the frame  20  is integrally formed on the right-hand side web  23 . On the longitudinal webs  21 ,  22 , the slide  20  has strips  26 ,  27  which, together with the longitudinal webs  21 ,  22 , form an undercut. The front face  3  of the installation switching device has two grooves  28 ,  29  above and below the switching lever  601 , which run transversely with respect to the pivoting direction of the switching lever  601 . The slide  20  is latched to the strips  26 ,  27  in the grooves  28 ,  29 , see  FIG. 14 , and can then be moved therein transversely with respect to the pivoting direction of the switching lever  601 . 
       FIG. 10  shows the slide  20  in its released position. It has thus been pushed to the right such that the tongue  25  does not engage in the pivoting path of the switching lever  601 , and the switching lever  601  can be pivoted. 
     In  FIG. 13 , the slide  20  has been moved to the left, to its locked position. The tongue  25  now lies in the pivoting path of the switching lever  601 . At its operating end, the switching lever  601  has a switching knob  602 . A lateral groove  603  is formed where the switching knob  602  is attached to the switching lever  601 . In the locked position, the free end of the tongue  25  engages in the lateral groove  603 . This results in the switching lever being blocked mechanically strongly in its respective switch position. It can now be pivoted only by applying major force, and inadvertent pivoting with the slider  20  in the locked position is no longer possible. 
     In the illustration in  FIG. 13 , the switching lever  601  is held firmly in its lower position, the switched-off position. In addition to the above transverse groove  603 , a lower transverse groove  604  has also been formed where the switching knob  602  is attached to the switching lever  601 . This is used to also allow the switching lever  601  to be held firmly in its upper position, the switched on-position, by the tongue  25  of the slide  20  in its locked position. 
     The slide  20  according to the invention therefore makes it possible to prevent inadvertent switching of the switching lever  601  of the installation switching device when the slide  20  is in its locked position. 
     The slide  20  may however, furthermore, be lead-sealed in its locked position by various options, which can also be used cumulatively. This will now be explained in the following text. 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 14 , the slide  20  has a covered surface which is curved outward, that is to say the side webs  23 ,  24  are curved outward. This results in a dome-like cavity  30  being created on the side of the side webs  23 ,  24  of the slide  20  facing the front face  3  of the installation device. A projection  31 ,  32  in the form of a bead is correspondingly integrally formed in each case on the front face  3  of the installation switching device, and its external contour forms a curvature that is directed outward. The curved surface of the projection  31 , which is in the form of a bead, in this case fits into the dome-like cavity in the web  24  of the slide  20 , as a result of which the web  24  rests over the surface of the projection  31 , which is in the form of a bead. 
     In the area of the connection to the longitudinal webs  21 ,  22 , the left-hand side web  24  of the slide  20  in each case has an opening  33 ,  34 . A channel is formed, so to speak, by the openings  33 ,  34  and the dome-like cavity  30  located underneath the web  24 , through which channel a lead-sealing wire can be passed, for which reason this is also referred to as a lead-sealing channel. In the locked position, the lead-sealing channel is located to the left, alongside the projection  31  which is in the form of a bead. When a lead-sealing wire  11  is now passed through the lead-sealing channel, then the lead-sealing wire  11  is supported on the side surface of the projection  31 , which is in the form of a bead, see  FIG. 12  and FIG.  2 . The slide  20  is now lead-sealed in its locked position. 
     Furthermore, the left-hand side web  24  also has a bulge  35  which is open toward the interior of the frame. The projection  31  which is in the form of a bead also has a bulge  36 , which opens outward. The bulge  36  forms, so to speak, a groove, which is open outward, within the projection  31  which is in the form of a bead. When the slide  20  is in the locked position, the bulge  35  on the web  24  is therefore located above the bulge  36  on the projection  31  which is in the form of a bead, thus creating an access opening  37  to the bulge  36  within the projection  31  which is in the form of a bead. In this position, the access opening  37  is sufficiently large that a hasp  39  of a padlock  38  can be passed through it. The hasp then prevents the slide  20  from being moved back to the released position. In addition, the slide  20  can therefore also be lead-sealed in its locked position by a padlock  38 , see  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 3 . 
     The lead-sealing by means of the hasp and a lead-sealing wire can also be carried out cumulatively, as a result of which the slide  20  would then have double protection against unauthorized movement from its locked position. 
       FIG. 5   b  shows a further lead-sealing option. In this case, instead of a padlock, a cable tie  40  is passed through the access opening and the groove, and prevents the slide  20  from being pushed back to its released position. 
       FIGS. 4 ,  5   a ,  6 ,  7   a ,  7   b ,  7   c ,  8 ,  9  and  15  will now be considered. These show various views and variants of a three-pole installation switching device  202  according to the invention, with three switching levers  612 ,  613 ,  614 . The slide  120  according to the invention is designed in the same way as the slide  20  as described above for the single-pole device, but it is now correspondingly longer, as a result of which it covers all three switching levers  612 ,  613 ,  614 . In addition to the two side webs  123 ,  124 , the slide  120  has two transverse webs  125 ,  126  arranged between them, which subdivide three windows  127 ,  128 ,  129  in the interior of the slide frame. Each of the three windows  127 ,  128 ,  129  is associated with one of the three switching levers  612 ,  613 ,  614 . 
     The locking function of the slide  120  is implemented in a similar manner to that described above for the slide  20  in the single-pole device. Tongues  130 ,  131 ,  132  are integrally formed on the right-hand side web  123  and on the transverse webs  125 ,  126 , project into the window area, which is in each case located to the left of the associated web, and lock the three switching handles  612 ,  613 ,  614  when the slide  120  has been pushed to the left, to the locked position, see  FIG. 8 . 
     The lead-sealing aids which are provided on the side web  24  of the single-pole slide  20 , specifically the openings  33 ,  34  and the bulge  35 , are not present in the case of the corresponding left-hand side web  124  of the slide  120 . Instead of this, openings  133 ,  134  are incorporated in the first transverse web  125 . In a corresponding manner to the projection  31 , which is in the form of a bead, in the case of the single-pole installation switching device, projections  131 ,  138 ,  139 , which are in the form of beads, are in this case integrally formed, on the front face of the housing in the area of the left-hand side web  124  and of the two transverse webs  125 ,  126 , and each themselves have a bulge  136 ,  140 ,  141  whose form and function correspond to the bulge  36  in the case of the single-pole switching device. 
     The lead-sealing by means of a lead-sealing wire  11  is therefore provided on the first transverse web  125 , see  FIG. 7   c ,  FIG. 7   b ,  FIG. 5 . 
     Instead of the openings which are matched to the diameter of a lead-sealing wire, the second transverse web  126  has two cutouts  142 ,  143 , which open outward in a U-shape and are matched to the diameter of the hasp of a padlock. Lead-sealing by means of a padlock can thus be carried out on the second transverse web  126 , see  FIG. 7   c ,  FIG. 7   b .  FIG. 7   a  shows the redundant lead-sealing by means of a padlock and a lead-sealing wire, in the form of a side view. 
     As a third option for lead-sealing, a cable tie  40  can be passed through the opening  144  which is released between the left-hand side web  124  and the bulge  136  in the projection  131  which is in the form of a bead, see  FIG. 6 . A triple-redundant lead-sealing option is therefore provided for the three-pole installation switching device with the slide according to the invention. 
       FIG. 16  will now be considered. The difference from the figures described above is that a viewing opening  145 ,  146 ,  147  is in each case provided in the transverse webs  125 ,  126  and the right-hand side web  124 , which viewing opening coincides with a viewing window, which is likewise provided on the front face of the switching device, for a switch position indication—this is known in principle—when the slide  120  is in the locked position. When the operator views the front face of the switching device, he can therefore determine the switching state the device is in, even when the slide is locked and lead-sealed. The position of the switching lever on its own might not be sufficient for this purpose. This is because, in the event of overcurrent or short-circuit current tripping of the selective main line circuit breaker, a latching mechanism in the interior of the switching device is unlatched, as a result of which the switching contact point is permanently opened. However, when the switching lever is held firmly in its switched-on position by the locking apparatus of the slide, it is then not possible to read the internal switching state of the switching device from it. A visual switch position indication, which is known in principle, may, however, signal the transition from the switched-on state to the switched-off state in the interior of the switching device. It is therefore advantageous for this switch position indication not to be completely covered by the slide. 
     List of Reference Symbols 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 1 
                 Installation distribution box 
               
               
                 2 
                 Installation switching device 
               
               
                 3 
                 Front face 
               
               
                 4 
                 Switching lever 
               
               
                 5 
                 Switching lever 
               
               
                 6 
                 Switching lever 
               
               
                 7 
                 Projection in the form of a bead 
               
               
                 8 
                 Projection in the form of a bead 
               
               
                 9 
                 Hole 
               
               
                 10 
                 Hole 
               
               
                 11 
                 Lead-sealing wire 
               
               
                 20 
                 Slide 
               
               
                 21 
                 Longitudinal web 
               
               
                 22 
                 Longitudinal web 
               
               
                 23 
                 Side web 
               
               
                 24 
                 Side web 
               
               
                 25 
                 Tongue 
               
               
                 26 
                 Strip 
               
               
                 27 
                 Strip 
               
               
                 28 
                 Groove 
               
               
                 29 
                 Groove 
               
               
                 30 
                 Dome-like cavity 
               
               
                 31 
                 Projection in the form of a bead 
               
               
                 32 
                 Projection in the form of a bead 
               
               
                 33 
                 Opening 
               
               
                 34 
                 Opening 
               
               
                 35 
                 Bulge 
               
               
                 36 
                 Bulge 
               
               
                 37 
                 Opening 
               
               
                 38 
                 Padlock 
               
               
                 39 
                 Hasp 
               
               
                 40 
                 Cable tie 
               
               
                 120 
                 Slide 
               
               
                 123 
                 Side web, right 
               
               
                 124 
                 Side web, left 
               
               
                 125 
                 First transverse web 
               
               
                 126 
                 Second transverse web 
               
               
                 127 
                 Window 
               
               
                 128 
                 Window 
               
               
                 129 
                 Window 
               
               
                 130 
                 Tongue 
               
               
                 131 
                 Tongue 
               
               
                 132 
                 Tongue 
               
               
                 133 
                 Opening 
               
               
                 134 
                 Opening 
               
               
                 135 
                 Projection in the form of a bead 
               
               
                 136 
                 Bulge 
               
               
                 138 
                 Projection in the form of a bead 
               
               
                 139 
                 Projection in the form of a bead 
               
               
                 140 
                 Bulge 
               
               
                 141 
                 Bulge 
               
               
                 142 
                 U-shaped cutout 
               
               
                 143 
                 U-shaped cutout 
               
               
                 144 
                 Opening 
               
               
                 145 
                 Viewing opening 
               
               
                 146 
                 Viewing opening 
               
               
                 147 
                 Viewing opening 
               
               
                 201 
                 Installation switching device, 1-pole 
               
               
                 202 
                 Installation switching device, 3-pole 
               
               
                 601 
                 Switching lever 
               
               
                 602 
                 Switching knob 
               
               
                 603 
                 Transverse groove 
               
               
                 604 
                 Transverse groove 
               
               
                 612 
                 Switching lever 
               
               
                 613 
                 Switching lever 
               
               
                 614 
                 Switching lever