Patent EA-001841-B1 (EA)
Title: Swithgear apparatus comprising a mechanical visualization means with three positions
Inventor: COUDERT PATRICK
IPC: H01H33/40
Filed: 1999-10-29
Abstract: 1. A switchgear apparatus (12) comprising : one or more poles each comprising at least one pair of contact means (72, 74), at least one (72) of the contact means of each pair being movable in such a way that the pair of contact means (72, 74) is able to take an open position and a closed position, an opening spring (88), an energy storage means (14), a loading mechanism (10) kinematically linked to the energy storage means (14) so as to load the energy storage means whatever the position of the pair or pairs of contact means (72, 74), a latch called the closing latch (70) able to lock the energy storage means (14) in its loaded state, a kinematic system (62) linking the energy storage means (14), the opening spring (88) and the movable contact means (72) in such a way that discharging of the energy storage means (14) moves the pair or pairs of contact means (72, 74) to their closed position and loads the opening spring, (88) and that the loaded opening spring (88) biases the pair or pairs of contact means (72, 74) to their open position, latch called the opening latch (64) able to cooperate with the kinematic system (62) and to take a latched position in which it prevents the pair or pairs of contact means (72, 74) from moving from their closed position to their open position, and an unlatched position in which it enables this movement, an indicating device comprising an indicator (30) kinematically linked to the loading mechanism (10) and able to take a "not loaded" position and at least a second position, and to take its "not loaded" position if and only if the energy storage means (14) is not in its loaded state, a mechanical indicator of a "ready to close" state of the apparatus (12), kinematically connected to the pair or pairs of contact means (72, 74) and to the opening latch (64), taking a position called "ready to close" if and only if the pair or pairs of contact means (72, 74) are in the open position, the energy storage means (14) is loaded and the opening latch (64) is in its latched position, characterized in that the indicator (30) constitutes the mechanical indicator of the "ready to close" state of the apparatus, the "ready to close" position constituting a third position of the indicator, distinct from the "not loaded" position and from the second position of the indicator, the second position of the indicator being taken when the energy storage means (14) is loaded and the apparatus (12) is not in its "ready to close" state. 2. The switchgear apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the indicator (30) is kinematically linked to a transmission means (46) disposed between a closing control means (68) and the energy storage means (14), in such a way that the transmission means (46) is able to transmit the mechanical order from the closing control means (68) to the closing latch (70) if and only if the indicator (30) is in the "ready to close" position. 3. The switchgear apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that when the indicator (30) is not in its "ready to close" position, the transmission means (46) does not interfere with the closing control means (68), so that the latter are disengaged. 4. The switchgear apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the indicator (30) comprises a cooperation surface (45) able to cooperate directly or indirectly with the transmission means (46). 5. The switchgear apparatus according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the indicator (30) is mounted pivoting around a spindle (32). 6. The switchgear apparatus according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the indicator (30) comprises a cooperation surface (95) able to cooperate directly or indirectly with the opening latch (64). 7. The switchgear apparatus according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the indicator (30) comprises a cooperation surface (55) able to cooperate directly or indirectly with the pair or pairs of contact means (72, 74). 8. The switchgear apparatus according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the indicator (30) comprises a cooperation surface (29) able to cooperate directly or indirectly with the loading mechanism (10). 9. The switchgear apparatus according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the indicator (30) comprises a cooperation surface able to cooperate directly or indirectly with an electrical switch so as to close the latter if and only if the indicator is in its "ready to close" state.