IP Library Granted Patent US 12,308,187
Granted Patent B2
US 12,308,187 · App. 18/022,218 · Granted May 20, 2025

System for controlling a vacuum interrupter for a power diverter switch, a power diverter switch and an on-load tap changer

Inventors: Georgi Manev (Sofia, BG); Todor Kokev (Sofia, BG); Borislav Vasilev (Sofia, BG)
Assignee: Hitachi Energy Ltd
H01H33/666H01H9/0027H01H9/0038H01H2033/6667
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,308,187
App. No.
18/022,218
Granted
May 20, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for controlling a vacuum interrupter for a power diverter switch comprises a main driving shaft which is configured to drive the control cam. The system further comprises the vacuum interrupter which is configured to separate electrical contacts in a vacuum by use of a contact rod, and a transmission unit which is configured to transmit the force generated by the main driving shaft to the contact rod. The transmission unit comprises a lever mechanism with a plurality of rollable guiding elements and a rotatable fork-shaped lever, the lever mechanism is coupled to both the control cam and the contact rod of the vacuum interrupter such that a rotation of the control cam generated by the main driving shaft causes a movement of the contact rod due to a guided rotation of the fork-shaped lever by means of rolling of the guiding elements.

Claims (45)

1. A system for controlling a vacuum interrupter for a power diverter switch, comprising:

a main driving shaft which is coupled to a control cam and which is configured to drive the control cam,

the vacuum interrupter which is configured to separate electrical contacts in a vacuum by use of a contact rod, and

a transmission unit which is configured to transmit a force generated by the main driving shaft to the contact rod, wherein the transmission unit comprises a lever mechanism with a plurality of rollable guiding elements and a rotatable fork-shaped lever, the guiding elements are in contact with the fork-shaped lever and each are configured to be rollable around a respective axis of rotation that is perpendicular to a longitudinal center axis of the vacuum interrupter, the lever mechanism is coupled to both the control cam and the contact rod of the vacuum interrupter such that a rotation of the control cam generated by the main driving shaft causes a movement of the contact rod due to a guided rotation of the fork-shaped lever in response to rolling of the guiding elements.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rollable guiding elements includes guiding elements formed as rolling bearings, rolls and/or bushings.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the fork-shaped lever is rotatable with respect to a rotation axis of an axle perpendicular to the center axis of the vacuum interrupter and wherein the lever mechanism comprises two guiding units each comprising at least one inner guiding element with respect to the center axis of the vacuum interrupter arranged to guide the rotation of the fork-shaped lever around the rotation axis of the at least one inner guiding element.

4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein each of the two guiding units each further comprises a respective outer guiding element, a guiding pin and a limiter, wherein each respective outer guiding element is arranged between the inner guiding element and the guiding pin with respect to the center axis of the vacuum interrupter further limited by the limiter to guide the rotation of the fork-shaped lever along the center axis of the vacuum interrupter.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the fork-shaped lever is formed as an L-shaped bilateral fork comprising four protrusions facing the center axis of the vacuum interrupter, wherein a respective guiding element is arranged between two protrusions of the bilateral fork with respect to the center axis of the vacuum interrupter.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the lever mechanism comprises:

a bushing configured to interact with the fork-shaped lever;

a bushing nut configured to limit a position of the bushing; and

a stud connected to the contact rod, wherein the bushing, the bushing nut and the stud are arranged along the center axis of the vacuum interrupter, wherein the bushing is arranged between the contact rod and the bushing nut with respect to the center axis of the vacuum interrupter, and wherein the stud is arranged inside the bushing such that a predetermined gap between the bushing and the stud is formed enabling rotation of the bushing around the center axis of the vacuum interrupter.

7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the lever mechanism further comprises a fastener configured to secure a predetermined position of the bushing.

8. A power diverter switch for an on-load tap changer, comprising:

an insulating plate;

a supporting plate; and

a system coupled to both the insulating plate and the supporting plate, the system comprising:

a main driving shaft which is coupled to a control cam and which is configured to drive the control cam;

a vacuum interrupter which is configured to separate electrical contacts in a vacuum by use of a contact rod; and

a transmission unit which is configured to transmit a force generated by the main driving shaft to the contact rod, wherein the transmission unit comprises a lever mechanism with a plurality of rollable guiding elements and a rotatable fork-shaped lever, the guiding elements are in contact with the fork-shaped lever and each are configured to be rollable around a respective axis of rotation that is perpendicular to a longitudinal center axis of the vacuum interrupter, the lever mechanism is coupled to both the control cam and the contact rod of the vacuum interrupter such that a rotation of the control cam generated by the main driving shaft causes a movement of the contact rod due to a guided rotation of the fork-shaped lever in response to rolling of the guiding elements.

9. The power diverter switch of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of rollable guiding elements includes guiding elements formed as rolling bearings, rolls and/or bushings.

10. The power diverter switch of claim 8 , wherein the fork-shaped lever is rotatable with respect to a rotation axis of an axle perpendicular to the center axis of the vacuum interrupter and wherein the lever mechanism comprises two guiding units each comprising at least one inner guiding element with respect to the center axis of the vacuum interrupter arranged to guide the rotation of the fork-shaped lever around the rotation axis of the at least one inner guiding element.

11. The power diverter switch of claim 10 , wherein each of the two guiding units each further comprises a respective outer guiding element, a guiding pin and a limiter, wherein each respective outer guiding element is arranged between the inner guiding element and the guiding pin with respect to the center axis of the vacuum interrupter further limited by the limiter to guide the rotation of the fork-shaped lever along the center axis of the vacuum interrupter.

12. The power diverter switch of claim 8 , wherein the fork-shaped lever is formed as an L-shaped bilateral fork comprising four protrusions facing the center axis of the vacuum interrupter, wherein a respective guiding element is arranged between two protrusions of the bilateral fork with respect to the center axis of the vacuum interrupter.

13. The power diverter switch of claim 8 , wherein the lever mechanism comprises:

a bushing configured to interact with the fork-shaped lever;

a bushing nut configured to limit a position of the bushing; and

a stud connected to the contact rod, wherein the bushing, the bushing nut and the stud are arranged along the center axis of the vacuum interrupter, wherein the bushing is arranged between the contact rod and the bushing nut with respect to the center axis of the vacuum interrupter, and wherein the stud is arranged inside the bushing such that a predetermined gap between the bushing and the stud is formed enabling rotation of the bushing around the center axis of the vacuum interrupter.

14. The power diverter switch of claim 13 , wherein the lever mechanism further comprises a fastener configured to secure a predetermined position of the bushing.

15. An on-load tap changer for setting a gear ratio, comprising:

a power diverter switch comprising:

an insulating plate;

a supporting plate; and

a system coupled to both the insulating plate and the supporting plate, the system comprising:

a main driving shaft which is coupled to a control cam and which is configured to drive the control cam;

a vacuum interrupter which is configured to separate electrical contacts in a vacuum by use of a contact rod; and

a transmission unit which is configured to transmit a force generated by the main driving shaft to the contact rod, wherein the transmission unit comprises a lever mechanism with a plurality of rollable guiding elements and a rotatable fork-shaped lever, the guiding elements are in contact with the fork-shaped lever and each are configured to be rollable around a respective axis of rotation that is perpendicular to a longitudinal center axis of the vacuum interrupter, the lever mechanism is coupled to both the control cam and the contact rod of the vacuum interrupter such that a rotation of the control cam generated by the main driving shaft causes a movement of the contact rod due to a guided rotation of the fork-shaped lever in response to rolling of the guiding elements.

16. The on-load tap changer of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of rollable guiding elements includes guiding elements formed as rolling bearings, rolls and/or bushings.

17. The on-load tap changer of claim 15 , wherein the fork-shaped lever is rotatable with respect to a rotation axis of an axle perpendicular to the center axis of the vacuum interrupter and wherein the lever mechanism comprises two guiding units each comprising at least one inner guiding element with respect to the center axis of the vacuum interrupter arranged to guide the rotation of the fork-shaped lever around the rotation axis of the at least one inner guiding element.

18. The on-load tap changer of claim 17 , wherein each of the two guiding units each further comprises a respective outer guiding element, a guiding pin and a limiter, wherein each respective outer guiding element is arranged between the inner guiding element and the guiding pin with respect to the center axis of the vacuum interrupter further limited by the limiter to guide a rotation of the fork-shaped lever along the center axis of the vacuum interrupter.

19. The on-load tap changer of claim 15 , wherein the fork-shaped lever is formed as an L-shaped bilateral fork comprising four protrusions facing the center axis of the vacuum interrupter, wherein a respective guiding element is arranged between two protrusions of the bilateral fork with respect to the center axis of the vacuum interrupter.

20. The on-load tap changer of claim 15 , wherein the lever mechanism comprises:

a bushing configured to interact with the fork-shaped lever;

a bushing nut configured to limit a position of the bushing; and

a stud connected to the contact rod, wherein the bushing, the bushing nut and the stud are arranged along the center axis of the vacuum interrupter, wherein the bushing is arranged between the contact rod and the bushing nut with respect to the center axis of the vacuum interrupter, and wherein the stud is arranged inside the bushing such that a predetermined gap between the bushing and the stud is formed enabling rotation of the bushing around the center axis of the vacuum interrupter.

Assignments (3)
MERGER Recorded Nov 13, 2023
From: HITACHI ENERGY SWITZERLAND AG
To: HITACHI ENERGY LTD
Reel/Frame 065548/0869 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2023
From: MANEV, GEORGI; VASILEV, BORISLAV; KOKEV, TODOR
To: ABB POWER GRIDS SWITZERLAND AG
Reel/Frame 062744/0088 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 20, 2023
From: ABB POWER GRIDS SWITZERLAND AG
To: HITACHI ENERGY SWITZERLAND AG
Reel/Frame 062814/0313 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 20203856 · Oct 26, 2020 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230317389A1 · Oct 5, 2023
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