Patent Publication Number: US-2023144848-A1

Title: Power device for continuously detecting entry and exit positions

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a power device for continuously detecting extended and retracted positions of a circuit breaker body, and more specifically to a power device for continuously detecting accurate extended and retracted positions of a circuit breaker body moving in a cradle. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     In general, a power device refers to any device that may receive and transmit power and convert the power. 
       FIG.  1    is a perspective view showing a conventional power device. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , the conventional power device includes a cradle terminal  110  connected to a power line connected to an external power source or a load. Further, the power device includes a cradle  100  fixed to a switchboard, a circuit breaker body  200  mechanically and electrically connected to or disconnected from the terminal  110  of the cradle  100 , and a girder  300  and a truck  400  to bring the circuit breaker body  200  to a contact or disconnection position in which the body is mechanically and electrically connected to or disconnected from the terminal  110  of the cradle  100 . 
     In this regard, the contact position means a position in which the circuit breaker body  200  approaches the cradle terminal  110  at the maximum level and electrically contacts the terminal  110 . 
     Further, the disconnection position means a position in which the circuit breaker body  200  is spaced from the cradle terminal  110  by the maximum spacing and thus is electrically disconnected from the cradle terminal  110 . 
     Further, a test position means a position corresponding to a process in which the body is being displaced from the contact position to the disconnection position or from the disconnection position to the contact position. 
     Further,  FIG.  2    and  FIG.  3    are perspective views showing the girder  300  and the truck  400  according to the disconnection position and the contact position in  FIG.  1   , respectively. 
     Further,  FIG.  4    shows cross-sectional views of the girder  300  and the truck  400  according to disconnection, test, and contact positions in the conventional power device, respectively. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  2  to  4   , in the conventional power device, the girder  300  includes a pair of handle bars  310  formed on a front face thereof, support ribs  320  respectively formed at both opposing sides thereof, and a spindle  330  having one end rotatably coupled to a center of the front face thereof, and a switch actuation bar  340  formed on one side of the spindle  330 . 
     Further, the truck  400  includes a plurality of wheels  410  formed at each of both opposing sides thereof and a plurality of micro switches  420  actuated by the switch actuation bar  340 . As the spindle  330  rotates, a spacing between the truck  400  and the girder  300  is adjusted as shown in  FIGS.  2  and  3   . 
     That is, as the spindle  330  rotates clockwise or counterclockwise, the spacing between the truck  400  and the cradle terminal  110  is adjusted. 
     Further, the switch actuation bar  340  includes an elongate groove  341  formed to correspond to a movement range of the truck  400 , a rear end inclined portion  342  formed at one end of the groove  341 , and a top planar portion  343  constituting a top face except for the groove  341  and the rear end inclined portion  342 . 
     Further, the micro switch  420  includes first to third micro switches  421 ,  422 , and  423 . 
     In more detail, the first micro switch  421  includes a first contact lever  421   a  formed on a bottom thereof so as to contact the switch actuation bar  340 , and is closest to the girder  300 . 
     Further, the second micro switch  422  includes a second contact lever  422   a  formed on a bottom thereof so as to contact the switch actuation bar  340 , and is adjacent to a rear end of the first micro switch  421 . 
     Further, the third micro switch  423  includes a third contact lever  423   a  formed on a bottom thereof so as to contact the switch actuation bar  340 , and is adjacent to a rear end of the truck  400 . 
     A method for detecting a relative position between the terminal  110  of the cradle  100  and the circuit breaker body  200  using the truck  300  in this conventional power device is as follows. 
     Referring to (a) of  FIG.  4   , the spacing between the truck  400  and the girder  300  becomes minimum at the disconnection position of the conventional power device. 
     Accordingly, the distance between the circuit breaker body  200  and the cradle terminal  110  becomes maximum. 
     Further, the first contact lever  421   a  is in contact with the top planar portion  343 , while each of the second contact lever  422   a  and the third contact lever  423   a  is in contact with the groove  341 . 
     Further, referring to (b) of  FIG.  4   , at the test position of the conventional power device, as the spacing between the girder  300  and the truck  400  increases, each of the first contact lever  421   a  and the second contact lever  422   a  comes into contact with the groove  341 . 
     Further, the third contact lever  423   a  passes by the rear end inclined portion  342  and then comes into contact with the top planar portion  343 . 
     Further, referring to (c) of  FIG.  4   , at the contact position of the conventional power device, the spacing between the truck  400  and the girder  300  becomes maximum. 
     Accordingly, the circuit breaker body  200  is in contact with and thus electrically connected to the cradle terminal  110 . 
     At this time, the first contact lever  421   a  comes into contact with the groove  341 , and the second contact lever  422   a  passes by the rear end inclined portion  342  and comes into contact with the top planar portion  343 . 
     As described above, in the prior art, the spacing the truck  400  and the girder  300  is adjusted in a state in which the switch actuation bar  340  is coupled to the girder  300 . Thus, the position of the circuit breaker body  200  is detected based on whether the plurality of micro switches  420  fixedly installed on the truck  400  are in contact with the switch actuation bar  340 . 
     Accordingly, in the prior art, the position of the circuit breaker body  200  may be detected at each of the disconnection, test, and contact positions of the power device. However, a varying distance between the circuit breaker body  200  and the cradle terminal  110  cannot be detected. 
     That is, according to the prior art, there is a problem that the position of the circuit breaker body  200  cannot be continuously detected. 
     Further, in the prior art, as physical contact between the micro switch  420  and the switch actuation bar  340  is continuously made in order to detect the position of the circuit breaker body  200 , deformation to or damage to a coupling portion between the micro switch  420  and the truck  400  may frequently occur. 
     Accordingly, in the related art, the position of the circuit breaker body  200  cannot be accurately detected due to frequent occurrence of the deformation of or the damage to the coupling portion between the micro switch  420  and the truck  400 . 
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Purposes 
     A purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a power device for continuously detecting extended and retracted positions of a circuit breaker body which is capable of linearly detecting a position of the circuit breaker body over an entirety of a movement range. 
     Further, a purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a power device for continuously detecting extended and retracted positions of a circuit breaker body in which physical contact between components in order to detect the position of the circuit breaker body is minimized. 
     Purposes according to the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned purpose. Other purposes and advantages according to the present disclosure that are not mentioned may be understood based on following descriptions, and may be more clearly understood based on embodiments according to the present disclosure. 
     Further, it will be easily understood that the purposes and advantages according to the present disclosure may be realized using means shown in the claims and combinations thereof. 
     Technical Solutions 
     In order to achieve the purpose, the present disclosure provides a power device for continuously detecting extended and retracted positions of a circuit breaker body, wherein the power device for continuously detecting each of extended and retracted positions of the circuit breaker body includes a cradle having a cradle terminal; a circuit breaker body mechanically and electrically connected to or disconnected from the cradle terminal; and a girder and a truck as transporting means for moving the circuit breaker body to a contact or disconnection position with or from the cradle terminal, wherein the power device is capable of linearly detecting a position of the circuit breaker body over an entirety of a movement range. 
     More specifically, the power device includes: a position detected area portion formed on at least one of both opposing side faces of the circuit breaker body; and a sensor module fixed to at least one of both opposing inner side faces of the cradle, wherein the sensor module includes at least one sensor facing the position detected area portion so to detect a displaced position of the position detected area portion and thus to detect a position of the circuit breaker body, based on the detected displaced position. 
     Further, the position detected area portion may include at least one of: a position sticker having a shade varying in a movement direction of the truck; a plurality of position protrusions, wherein at least one of a number, a shape, or a position thereof varies in the movement direction of the truck; or a position inclined portion having one face inclined downwardly or upwardly in the truck movement direction. 
     Further, the sensor may include at least one of a non-contact type sensor or a contact type sensor. 
     More preferably, the contact type sensor may be embodied as a roller-type sensor having a roller rotating while being in contact with a side face of the circuit breaker body. 
     Further, the sensor may include a contact type sensor configured to contact the position inclined portion and to detect a varying height of the position inclined portion and to detect the position of the circuit breaker body based on the detected varying height. 
     Further, the device may further include a cleaner disposed in front or rear of the sensor module so as to remove dust or foreign substance deposited on the position detected area portion. 
     Technical Effects 
     The power device for continuously detecting extended and retracted positions according to the present disclosure may linearly detect the position of the circuit breaker body over an entirety of a movement range, thereby achieving an advantage of being able to identify an accurate position of the circuit breaker body in real time. 
     Further, in the power device for continuously detecting extended and retracted positions according to the present disclosure, physical contact between components in order to detect a position of the circuit breaker body may be minimized to improve durability of the power device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view showing a conventional power device. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view showing a girder and a truck according to a disconnection position in the conventional power device. 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view showing the girder and the truck according to a contact position in the conventional power device. 
         FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view showing the girder and the truck according to each of the disconnection, test, and contact positions in the conventional power device. 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view showing a state before a circuit breaker body is mounted to a cradle in a power device for continuously detecting extended and retracted positions according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  6    is a side cross-sectional view at a disconnection position in a power device for continuously detecting extended and retracted positions according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  7    is a side cross-sectional view at an operation position in a power device for continuously detecting extended and retracted positions according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  8    is a side cross-sectional view at a contact position in a power device for continuously detecting extended and retracted positions according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  9    is a side view illustrating a position detected area portion in a power device for continuously detecting extended and retracted positions according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS 
     The above objects, features and advantages will be described in detail later with reference to the accompanying drawings. Accordingly, a person with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present disclosure belongs will be able to easily implement the technical idea of the present disclosure. In describing the present disclosure, when it is determined that a detailed description of a known component related to the present disclosure may unnecessarily obscure gist the present disclosure, the detailed description is omitted. Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar elements. 
     In addition, it will also be understood that when a first element or layer is referred to as being present “on” or “beneath” a second element or layer, the first element may be disposed directly on or beneath the second element or may be disposed indirectly on or beneath the second element with a third element or layer being disposed between the first and second elements or layers. 
     It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “connected to”, or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, connected to, or coupled to the other element or layer, or one or more intervening elements or layers may be present. 
     As used herein, the singular forms “a” and “an” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 
     It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, and “including” when used in this specification, specify the presence of the stated features, integers, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, operations, elements, components, and/or portions thereof. 
     As used herein, the term “A and/or B” includes any and all combinations of one or more of A and B unless otherwise specified. When referring to “C to D”, this means C inclusive to D inclusive unless otherwise specified. 
     Hereinafter, a power device for continuously detecting extended and retracted positions of a circuit breaker body according to some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. 
     The same reference numerals are allocated to the same components of the power device for continuously detecting the extended and retracted positions of the circuit breaker body according to the present disclosure as those of the conventional power device. 
       FIG.  5    is a perspective view showing a state before a circuit breaker body is mounted to a cradle in a power device for continuously detecting extended and retracted positions according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Further,  FIG.  6    to  FIG.  8    are side cross-sectional views respectively at disconnection, operation, and contact positions in a power device for continuously detecting extended and retracted positions according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG.  5    to  FIG.  8   , the power device for continuously detecting the extended and retracted positions of the circuit breaker body according to the present disclosure includes the cradle  100  having the cradle terminal  110  connected to a power line connected to an external power source or a load, and fixed to a switchboard, the circuit breaker body  200  that is mechanically and electrically connected to or disconnected from the terminal  110  of the cradle  100 , and the girder  300  and the truck  400  as a transport device that moves the circuit breaker body  200  to a disconnection or contact position. 
     More preferably, the circuit breaker body  200  is fixedly mounted to the truck  400 . Accordingly, as the truck  400  moves, a spacing between the circuit breaker body  200  and the cradle terminal  110  is adjusted. 
     In accordance with the present disclosure, the circuit breaker includes the circuit breaker body,  200  the girder  300  and the truck  400 . 
     Further, the disconnection position means a position in which the circuit breaker body  200  is spaced from the cradle terminal  110  by the maximum spacing and thus is electrically disconnected from the cradle terminal  110 . 
     That is, the disconnection position means a state in which the spacing between the girder  300  and the truck  400  is minimized as shown in  FIG.  6   . 
     Further, the contact position means a position in which the circuit breaker body  200  approaches the cradle terminal  110  at the maximum level and electrically contacts the terminal  110 . 
     That is, the contact position means a state in which the spacing between the girder  300  and the truck  400  is maximized as shown in  FIG.  8   . 
     Further, the operation position means a state in which the spacing between the girder  300  and the truck  400  is adjusted in a process in which the body is being displaced from the contact position to the disconnection position or from the disconnection position to the contact position, as shown in  FIG.  7   . 
     The girder  300  includes a pair of handle bars  310  formed on a front face thereof, support ribs  320  respectively formed at both opposing sides thereof, and a spindle  330  having one end rotatably coupled to a center of the front face thereof. 
     More specifically, the handle bar  310  may refer to a part gripped by an operator when the girder  300  and the truck  400  are mounted to or disconnected from the cradle  100  and be formed in various shapes. 
     Further, the girder  300  is fixed to the cradle  100  while each of the support ribs  320  is inserted into and fixed to each of both opposing sides of the cradle  100 . 
     Further, the spindle  330  is coupled to the truck  400  such that one end of the spindle is coupled to a central portion of the girder  300  and the other end thereof faces the cradle terminal  110 . 
     In one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the spindle  300  rotates clockwise or counterclockwise, the spacing between the girder  300  and the truck  400  is adjusted. 
     Further, the rotation of the spindle  330  may be achieved by an operator inserting a handle to a hole formed in a front face of the girder and manually rotating the handle, or may be automatically achieved by a driving motor. 
     In one example, the power device for continuously detecting extended and retracted positions according to the present disclosure includes a position detected area portion  500  formed on a side face of the circuit breaker body  200 , and a sensor module  600  fixed to an inner side face of the cradle  100 , wherein the sensor module includes a non-contact type sensor  610  facing the position detected area portion  500  to detect a displaced position of the position detected area portion  500  and thus detect a position of the circuit breaker body  200  based on the detected displaced position. 
     More preferably, the position detected area portion  500  is positioned such that an end thereof adjacent to the cradle terminal  110  faces the sensor module  600  at the disconnection position, and an end thereof adjacent to the girder  300  faces the sensor module  600  at the contact position. 
     That is, the position detected area portion  500  is formed on a side face of the circuit breaker body  200  and has a length proportional to a movement distance of the truck  400 . 
     Further, a pair of position detected area portions  500  may be respectively formed on left and right side faces of the circuit breaker body  200  so as to be symmetrical with each other. 
     Accordingly, a pair of sensor modules  600  may be respectively disposed on both opposing side faces of the cradle  100 . 
     Further,  FIG.  9    is a perspective view showing a position detected area portion in a power device for continuously detecting extended and retracted positions according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG.  9   , the position detected area portion  500  may extend along the movement range of the truck  400  as described above. More preferably, the position detected area portion  500  may be embodied as a position sticker  510  having a shade varying depending on a position, such as a gradation sticker. 
     Further, in order to prevent the position sticker  510  from protruding beyond a side face of the circuit breaker body  200 , the position detected area portion  500  may have a groove defined therein having a depth equal to or larger than a thickness of the position sticker  510 . 
     Accordingly, the position sticker  510  may be prevented from being redisplaced from the circuit breaker body  200 . 
     Further, the position sticker  510  may be embodied as a gradation tape formed so that a portion thereof adjacent to the girder  300  is darker and a portion thereof adjacent to the cradle terminal  110  is brighter as shown in (a) of  FIG.  9   . 
     Alternatively, the position sticker  510  may be embodied as a gradation tape formed so that a portion thereof adjacent to the girder  300  is brighter and a portion thereof adjacent to the cradle terminal  110  is darker. 
     Alternatively, the position sticker  510  may be embodied as a gradation tape formed so that a portion thereof adjacent to the girder  300  is brighter and a portion thereof adjacent to the cradle terminal  110  is brighter, while a middle portion thereof is darker. 
     Alternatively, the position sticker  510  may be divided into at least two portions. 
     Alternatively, the position sticker  510  may be embodied as a gradation tape having an area size varying in a movement direction of the truck  400  as shown in (b) of  FIG.  9   . 
     Alternatively, the position detected area portion  500  may embodied as a position inclined portion  520  as shown in (c) of  FIG.  9   . 
     More specifically, as the position inclined portion  520  is displaced under movement of the truck  400 , a distance between a top face of the position inclined portion  520  and the sensor module  600  may vary. 
     That is, the position inclined portion  520  may be formed such that a spacing between the cradle  100  and the position inclined portion  520  gradually decreases or increases as the position inclined portion  520  extends along a direction from one end to the other end thereof. 
     Further, the position inclined portion  520  may be formed so as to protrude beyond a side face of the circuit breaker body  200  or so as to be recessed downwardly of a side face of the circuit breaker body  200 . 
     Further, the position sticker  510  may be attached to a top face of the position inclined portion  520 . 
     In one example, the position detected area portion  500  may include a plurality of position protrusions  530  arranged and spaced from each other by a predefined spacing as shown in (d) of  FIG.  9   . 
     More preferably, the numbers or shapes of the position protrusions  530  may vary in the movement direction of the truck  400  so that the position of the circuit breaker body  200  may be detected by the sensor module  600 . 
     Further, the position detected area portion  500  may include a combination of the position protrusions  530  and the position tape  510 . 
     In one example, the non-contact type sensor  610  may be embodied as each of various sensors capable of detecting a shade or a distance of the position detected area portion  500  while being not in contact with the position detected area portion  500 . 
     More preferably, the non-contact type sensor  610  may be embodied as an optical sensor and may be configured to detect a shade, a distance, a shape, etc. of a predefined area in the position detected area portion  510 . 
     Accordingly, in the power device for continuously detecting extended and retracted positions according to the present disclosure, the non-contact type sensor  610  may sense the movement distance of the position detected area portion  500  even in the operation position corresponding to the process in which the circuit breaker body  200  moves from the contact position to the disconnection position, or moves from the disconnection position to the contact position. Thus, the position of the circuit breaker body  200  may be linearly detected. 
     Further, when the non-contact type sensor  610  is embodied as the optical sensor, it is preferable that the non-contact type sensor  610  is positioned into a recessed space defined in the sensor module  600  in order to minimize a detection error due to a shade caused by each of other components. 
     Accordingly, the power device for continuously detecting extended and retracted positions according to the present disclosure may linearly detect the position of the circuit breaker body  200  throughout the entire movement range thereof and thus may determine the exact position of the circuit breaker body  200  in real time. 
     Further, the sensor module  600  may include a contact type sensor  620 . 
     In this case, the contact type sensor  620  may contact the position detected area portion  500  via an FPCB (Flexible Printed Circuit Board) or an elastic member. 
     More preferably, as shown in  FIG.  5   , the contact type sensor  620  may be embodied as a roller type sensor in which a roller may rotate under the movement of the circuit breaker body  200  while being in contact with a side face of the circuit breaker body  200 . 
     That is, when the contact type sensor  620  is embodied as the roller type sensor, the sensor  620  may detect a rotation angle of the roller and detect the position of the circuit breaker body  200  based on the detected rotation angle. 
     Further, the contact type sensor  620  may contact the position inclined portion  520  and may detect a varying height of the position inclined portion  520  and thus detect the position of the circuit breaker body  200  based on the varying height. 
     Accordingly, in the power device for continuously detecting extended and retracted positions according to the present disclosure, both the non-contact type sensor  610  and the contact type sensor  620  may linearly detect the position of the circuit breaker body  200  throughout the entire movement range thereof simultaneously. Thus, the exact position of the circuit breaker body  200  may be determined in real time. 
     In one example, the cradle terminal  110  which the circuit breaker body  200  electrically and mechanically contacts may include terminals of three-phases (R, S, T). In this case, when contacts between the circuit breaker body  200  and these terminals  110  fail to occur concurrently, damage to the power device and power accident may occur. 
     Therefore, when the cradle terminal  110  which the circuit breaker body  200  electrically and mechanically contacts may include terminals of three-phases (R, S, T), the power device for continuously detecting extended and retracted positions according to the present disclosure may be configured such that the position detected area portion  500  is formed on each of both opposing side faces of the circuit breaker body  200  and accordingly, the sensor module  600  is formed on each of both opposing inner side faces of the cradle  100  so that contacts or disconnections between the circuit breaker body  200  and these terminals  110  occur concurrently. 
     Further, a monitoring unit (not shown) for generating an alarm when two positions of the circuit breaker body  200  respectively detected by the two sensor modules  600  do not coincide with each other may be further included in the power device. 
     Accordingly, in the power device for continuously detecting extended and retracted positions according to the present disclosure, the circuit breaker body  200  may contact or may be disconnected from the cradle terminal  110  to prevent device damage and power accidents. 
     Alternatively, in the power device for continuously detecting extended and retracted positions according to the present disclosure, the position detected area portion  500  may be formed on an inner side face of the cradle  100 , while the sensor module  600  may be disposed on a side face of the circuit breaker body  200 . 
     However, it is more preferable that the sensor module  600  is disposed on the inner side face of the cradle  100  as described above such that connection, control, and inspection of the sensor module  600  is facilitated. 
     In this regard, when the sensor provided in the sensor module  600  is embodied as an optical sensor including wireless communication means, the position detected area portion  500  may be formed on an inner side face of the cradle  100 , and the sensor module  600  may be disposed on the side face of the breaker body  200 , according to a design specification. 
     In one example, the power device for continuously detecting extended and retracted positions according to the present disclosure may further include a cleaner  700  configured to remove dust or foreign matter deposited on the position detected area portion  500 . The cleaner  700  may be disposed in front or rear of the sensor module  600  as shown in  FIG.  5   . 
     In this regard, the cleaner  700  may be formed in a shape such as a brush or a roller and may remove dust or foreign substances deposited on the position detected area portion  500  under the movement of the circuit breaker body  200  while being in contact with the position detected area portion  500 . This may minimize a detection error of the sensor module  600  due to the dust or foreign substances. 
     In one example, it is preferable that the cleaner  700  is installed in front of the sensor module  600 . 
     When the cleaner  700  is adjacent to the cradle terminal  110 , arc may occur such that the cleaner  700  may be damaged or an electrical problem may occur. Thus, the cleaner  700  may be spaced from the cradle terminal  110  by a maximum spacing. 
     Further, in the power device according to the present disclosure, the position detected area portion  500  may be formed on the cradle  100 , and the sensor module  600  may be formed on the circuit breaker body  200 . 
     The present disclosure has been described above with reference to the illustrated drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments and drawings disclosed in the present specification. It is obvious that various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical idea of the present disclosure. In addition, although effects according to the configurations of the present disclosure are not explicitly described while describing the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is natural that the predictable effects from the configurations should also be appreciated.