# US 2017/0256369 A1 · Switching device for an electrical circuit and a method for controlling such switching device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0256369 A1 - Document ID: US20170256369A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/312,906 - Filed: 2014-05-20 - Published: 2017-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2014-05-20 - Assignees: ABB Schweiz AG - Applicants: ABB Schweiz AG - Inventors: Fabio MANNINO; Andrea BIANCO; Andrea RICCI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170256369A1 ## CPC - H01H 1/50: Means for increasing contact pressure, preventing vibration of contacts, holding contacts together after engagement, or biasing contacts to the open position - H01H 3/26: using dynamo-electric motor (for storing energy in a spring motor H01H3/30) - H01H 3/60: Mechanical arrangements for preventing or damping vibration or shock - H01H 33/36: using dynamo-electric motor - H01H 33/26: Means for detecting the presence of an arc or other discharge - H01H 33/42: Driving mechanisms - H01H 33/50: for interlocking two or more parts of the mechanism for operating contacts - 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 A switching device for an electric circuit, the switching device comprising: at least one phase having a movable contact which can be coupled to/separated from a corresponding fixed contact; a kinematic chain operatively associated to the movable contact; driving means adapted to move the kinematic chain between a first position and a second position for actuating the movable contact; and control means adapted to control the driving means. The kinematic chain is adapted to reach the second position from the first position before reaching a dead-point position, and the control means are adapted to: detect a loss condition of a power supply associable to and suitable for operating the switching device, while the kinematic chain is in the second position; and control the driving means to move the kinematic chain away from the second position when the loss condition is detected, in such a way that the kinematic chain passes through the dead-point position and reaches a third position between the dead-point position and corresponding blocking means of the switching device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A switching device for an electric circuit, said switching device comprising: at least one phase having a movable contact which can be coupled to/separated from a corresponding fixed contact; a kinematic chain operatively associated to said movable contact; driving means adapted to move said kinematic chain at least between a first position and a second position for actuating said movable contact; and control means adapted to control the driving means; wherein said kinematic chain is adapted to reach said second position from said first position before reaching a dead-point position and in that said control means are adapted to: detect a loss condition of a power supply associable to and suitable for operating the switching device, while the kinematic chain is in the second position; and control the driving means to move the kinematic chain away from the second position when said loss condition is detected, in such a way that the kinematic chain passes through said dead-point position and reaches a third position between the dead-point position and corresponding blocking means of the switching device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The switching device according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a casing housing said kinematic chain and wherein said corresponding blocking means comprise a wall of said casing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The switching device according to claim 1, wherein: said control means are adapted to control the driving means to move the kinematic chain away from the second position, when said loss condition is detected, in such a way that the kinematic chain in the third position is spaced away from said corresponding blocking means; and said kinematic chain is adapted to move away from said third position in such a way to contact said corresponding blocking means. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The switching device according to claim 1, wherein said control means are adapted to control the driving means to move the kinematic chain away from the second position, when said loss condition is detected, in such a way that the kinematic chain in the third position is in contact with said corresponding blocking means. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The switching device according to claim 1, wherein: said kinematic chain comprises rotating means which are adapted to be driven by said driving means so as to rotate about an axis at least between a first angular position, according to which the kinematic chain is in said first position, and a second angular position, according to which the kinematic chain is in said second position, the rotation from the first angular position to the second angular position and the rotation from the second angular position to the first angular position occurring according to a first rotational direction and an opposed second rotational direction, respectively; and said control means are adapted to control the driving means to rotate the rotating means about said axis according to said first rotational direction, from said second angular position to a third angular position according to which the kinematic chain is in said third position, when the control means detect said loss condition. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The switching device according to claim 5, wherein: said control means are adapted to control the driving means to rotate the rotating means from the second angular position to the third angular position, when said loss condition is detected, in such a way that the kinematic chain in the third position is spaced away from said corresponding blocking means; and said rotating means are adapted to rotate about said axis away from said third angular position and according to said first rotational direction, in such a way that at least one element of the kinematic chain contacts said corresponding blocking means. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The switching device according to claim 5, wherein said control means are adapted to control the driving means to rotate the rotating means from the second angular position to the third angular position, when said loss condition is detected, in such a way that at least one element of the kinematic chain in the third position is in contact with said corresponding blocking means. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The switching device according to claim 1, comprising at least one capacitor associable to said power supply and wherein said control means are adapted to detect when an energy stored into said at least one capacitor falls below a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The switching device according to claim 8, wherein said predetermined threshold is set so as in said at least one capacitor remains energy enough for driving the movement of the kinematic chain from the second position to the third position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The switching device according to claim 1, wherein said control means are adapted to: detect when said loss condition ceases; and control the driving means to drive the kinematic chain for returning to the second position, when the ceasing of the loss condition is detected. ### Claim 11 An electrical installation, comprising: at least one switching device for an electric circuit, said switching device comprising: at least one phase having a movable contact which can be coupled to/separated from a corresponding fixed contact; a kinematic chain operatively associated to said movable contact; driving means adapted to move said kinematic chain at least between a first position and second position for actuating said movable contact; and control means adapted to control the driving means; wherein said kinematic chain is adapted to reach said second position from said first position before reaching a dead-point position and in that said control means are adapted to: detect a loss condition of a power supply associable to and suitable for operating the switching device, while the kinematic chain is in the second position; and control driving means to move the kinematic chain away from the second position when said loss condition is detected, in such a way that the kinematic chain passes through said dead-point position and reaches a third position between the dead-point position and corresponding blocking means of the switching device. ### Claim 12 A method for controlling a switching device for an electric circuit comprising: operating the switching device comprising: at least one phase having a movable contact which can be coupled to/separated from a corresponding fixed contact; a kinematic chain operatively associated to said movable contact; and driving means adapted to move said kinematic chain at least between a first position and a second position for actuating said movable contact; said kinematic chain being adapted to reach said second position from said first position before reaching a dead-point position; detecting) a loss condition of a power supply associable to and suitable for operating the switching (1), while the kinematic chain is in the second position; and controlling the driving means to move the kinematic chain away from the second position when said loss condition is detected, in such a way that the kinematic chain passes through said dead-point position and reaches a third position between the dead-point position and corresponding blocking means of the switching device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein said switching device comprises a casing housing said kinematic chain and wherein said corresponding blocking means comprise a wall of said casing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein said controlling the driving means to move that kinematic chain away from the second position when the loss condition is detected is such that the kinematic chain in the third position is spaced away from said corresponding blocking means. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein said controlling the driving means to move the kinematic chain away from the second position when the loss condition is detected is such that the kinematic chain in the third position is in contact with said corresponding blocking means. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein said detecting a loss condition of the power supply comprises detecting when an energy stored into at least one capacitor associable to said power supply falls below a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, comprising setting said predetermined threshold so as in said at least one capacitor remains energy enough for driving the movement of said kinematic chain from the second position to the third position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, comprising: detecting when said loss condition ceases; and controlling the driving means to drive the kinematic chain for returning in the second position, when the ceasing of the loss condition is detected. ### Claim 19 (canceled) ### Claim 20 A switching system comprising: a switching device for an electric circuit, said switching device comprising at least one phase having a movable contact which can be coupled to or separated from a corresponding fixed contact, a kinematic chain operatively associated to said movable contact and adapted to reach said second position from said first position before reaching a dead-point position, a driving means adapted to move said kinematic chain at least between a first position and a second position for actuating said movable contact, and a non-transitory computer readable medium structured to store executable instructions configured to operate the driving means so as to: detect a loss condition of a power supply associable to and suitable for operating the switching device, while the kinematic chain is in the second position; and control the driving means to move the kinematic chain away from the second position when said loss condition is detected, in such a way that the kinematic chain passes through said dead-point position and reaches a third position between the dead-point position and corresponding blocking means of the switching device.