# US 2013/0153382 A1 · Electrical switch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153382 A1 - Document ID: US20130153382A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/671,937 - Filed: 2012-11-08 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-14 - Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Ludvik GODESA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153382A1 ## CPC - H01H 71/505: {Latching devices between operating and release mechanism} - H01H 71/525: {comprising a toggle between cradle and contact arm and mechanism spring acting between handle and toggle knee} - H01H 71/521: {Details concerning the lever handle} - H01H 71/526: {the lever forming a toggle linkage with a second lever, the free end of which is directly and releasably engageable with a contact structure} - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) ## Abstract An electrical switch is disclosed and includes a tensioning lever which, in the switched-on state of the switch, assumes a tensioning lever position tensioned by spring tension, and a locking device which can lock the tensioning lever into the tensioned tensioning lever position. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the locking device includes a rocker lever, which is attached rotatably to the tensioning lever around a rotary bearing, and a pawl, pivotable around a pivot point, which rests in the locked state on the rocker lever and in this way prevents the pivoting of the tensioning lever and—after an unlocking of the locking device—pivots away from the rocker lever and, in doing so, turns or can at least turn the rocker lever. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrical switch, comprising: a tensioning lever, configured to assume, in a switched-on state of the electrical switch, a tensioning lever position tensioned by spring tension; and a locking device, configured to lock the tensioning lever in the tensioned tensioning lever position, the locking device including a rocker lever, attached rotatably to the tensioning lever around a rotary bearing, and a pawl, pivotable around a pivot point, configured to rest on the rocker lever and prevent the pivoting of the tensioning lever in the locked state and, configured to, after an unlocking of the locking device, pivot away from the rocker lever to turn, or at least be capable of turning, the rocker lever around the rotary bearing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrical switch of claim 1, wherein an imaginary straight line passing through the rotary bearing and the contact point, at which the pivotable pawl rests on the rocker lever, is at a distance from the pivot point of the pivotable pawl, so that the rocker lever generates a torque on the pivotable pawl that wants to pivot the pivotable pawl away from the rocker lever. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrical switch of claim 1, wherein the properties of the outer surface of the rocker lever are such that, when the rocker lever pivots away, a positive fit or adhesion friction prevents the pivotable pawl sliding on the outer surface and a rotational movement of the rocker lever around the rotary bearing is instigated. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electrical switch of claim 1, wherein the switch includes a tripping shaft which, in the locked state of the locking device, rests with a stop on the pawl and prevents the pawl from pivoting away from the rocker lever. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrical switch of claim 1, wherein a pin is attached to the rocker lever which is guided in a motion link of the tensioning lever, whereby the guide link limits the pivot angle of the rocker lever around the tensioning lever. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electrical switch of claim 5, wherein the guide link is formed by a hole or a slot. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electrical switch of claim 1, wherein the locking device includes a spring which rests with one spring end on the tripping shaft and with another spring end on the pawl and generates a torque which is in opposition to the torque that the rocker lever exerts on the pawl. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electrical switch as claimed in claim 7, wherein the spring force of the spring is dimensioned such that the torque exerted by the spring is less than the torque exerted by the rocker lever. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electrical switch of claim 1, further comprising: a switch lever, which makes it possible for an operator to switch the switch on and off, the switch lever being connected to the tensioning lever. ### Claim 10 A locking device for an electrical switch to lock a tensioning lever of the electrical switch into a tensioned tensioning lever position, comprising: a rocker lever, rotatably attachable to the tensioning lever around a rotary bearing; and a pawl, pivotable around a pivot point and configured to rest on the rocker lever to prevent pivoting of the tensioning lever in a locked state, and configured to, after the unlocking of the locking device, pivot away from the rocker lever and to turn, or at least being capable of turning, the rocker lever around the rotary bearing. ### Claim 11 A method for locking and unlocking a locking device of an electrical switch, comprising: locking the locking device, using a pawl which is pivotable around a pivot point into a position in which the pawl rests on a rocker lever, and being rotatable around a rotary bearing, attached to a tensioning lever, to prevent the pivoting of the tensioning lever; and unlocking the locking device, using the pivotable pawl to pivot away from the rocker lever wherein, during the pivoting away of the pivotable pawl, the pivotable pawl turns the rocker lever around the rotary bearing attached to the tensioning lever. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A locking device for an electrical switch as claimed in claim 1 to lock a tensioning lever of the electrical switch into a tensioned tensioning lever position, comprising: a rocker lever, rotatably attachable to the tensioning lever around a rotary bearing; and a pawl, pivotable around a pivot point and configured to rest on the rocker lever to prevent pivoting of the tensioning lever in a locked state, and configured to, after the unlocking of the locking device, pivot away from the rocker lever and to turn, or at least being capable of turning, the rocker lever around the rotary bearing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The electrical switch of claim 2, wherein the properties of the outer surface of the rocker lever are such that, when the rocker lever pivots away, a positive fit or adhesion friction prevents the pivotable pawl sliding on the outer surface and a rotational movement of the rocker lever around the rotary bearing is instigated. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The electrical switch of claim 2, wherein the switch includes a tripping shaft which, in the locked state of the locking device, rests with a stop on the pawl and prevents the pawl from pivoting away from the rocker lever. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The electrical switch of claim 2, wherein a pin is attached to the rocker lever which is guided in a motion link of the tensioning lever, whereby the guide link limits the pivot angle of the rocker lever around the tensioning lever.