Patent ID: 6838629

Claim:
A force-storing unit for a tap changer, the force-storing unit comprising: a support; an output shaft journaled in the support and rotatable about an axis; a pair of parallel guide rods fixed on the support, defining a longitudinal direction, and spaced parallel to the axis; a force-storing slide displaceable longitudinally along the rods between end positions; an output part slidable longitudinally along the rods between respective end positions and nested with the force-storing slide; a longitudinally extending row of teeth on the output part; a gear carried on the output shaft and meshing with the teeth, whereby longitudinal displacement of the output part rotates the output shaft; at least one tension spring engaged between the force-storing slide and the output part; a rotatable drive shaft; means including a mechanism between the drive shaft and the force-storing slide for displacing the force-storing slide longitudinally on the rods in a direction dependent on a rotation direction of the drive shaft and for loading the spring as the force-storing slide is moved longitudinally relative to the output part; and latch means connected between the force-storing slide and the output part for retaining the output part in each of its end positions until the force-storing slide moves into the respective end position, whereby the loaded force-storing spring displaces the output part out of its end position on movement of the force-storing slide into its end position.