Linear motor driven transfer switch assembly
AssigneeTornatech Inc.
InventorsArmin Kunert, Bruno Goupil
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transfer switch assembly to alternatively connect an electrical load to a primary or to a secondary power source. The transfer switch uses two conventional switches, or circuit breakers, having pivot type or linear type actuating members. A conventional linear motor is used. The actuating members of the switches, or circuit breakers, are in contact with the movable portion of the linear motor through a coupling mecanism. The coupling mecanism ensures that the switches, or circuit breakers, are not in a closed position simultaneously.
Claims18
A transfer switch assembly for alternatively connecting an electrical load to a primary electrical power source and to a secondary electrical power source, said transfer switch comprising:
- first electrical switching means for connection between the electrical load and the primary electrical power source, said first electrical switching means including a first rotatable actuating member that is movable between an opened position and a closed position;
- second electrical switching means for connection between the electrical load and the secondary electrical power source, said second electrical switching means including a second rotatable actuating member that is movable between an opened position and a closed position;
- an electrical linear motor having a fixed portion and a linearly movable portion;
- coupling means mechanically joining said first and second rotatable actuating members to said linearly movable portion of said linear motor;
- said coupling means including first and second lever means having respective first and second ends, said first end of said first lever means being mounted to said first rotatable actuating member while said first end of said second lever means being mounted to said second rotatable actuating member;
- said coupling means also including a connecting means for connecting said second ends of said first and second lever means, said connecting means being also connected to said linearly movable portion of said linear motor;
- wherein, (a) linear motion of said coupling means in a first direction brings one of said first and second rotatable actuating members from a closed position to an opened position, and subsequently brings the other of said first and second rotatable actuating members from an opened position to a closed position, and (b) linear motion of said coupling means in a second direction brings the other of said first and second rotatable actuating members from the closed position to the opened position, and subsequently bring one of said first and second rotatable actuating members from the opened position to the closed position, to thereby cause a connection of the electrical load to change from one of the primary electrical power source and the secondary electrical power source to the other of the primary electrical power source and the secondary electrical power source.
In combination with (i) a primary electrical power source, (ii) a secondary power source, (iii) an electrical load, (iv) a first electrical switching means for connection between the electrical load and the primary electrical power source, said first electrical switching means including a first rotatable actuating member that is movable between an opened position and a closed positions, and (v) a second electrical switching means for connection between the electrical load and the secondary electrical power source, said second electrical switching means including a second rotatable actuating member that is movable between an opened position and a closed position, for alternatively connecting an electrical load to one of the primary electrical power source and the secondary electrical power source, a transfer switch actuator comprising:
- an electrical linear motor having a fixed portion and a linearly movable portion;
- coupling means mechanically joining the first and second rotatable actuating members to said linearly movable portion of said linear motor;
- said coupling means including first and second lever means having respective first and second ends, said first end of said first lever means being mounted to said first rotatable actuating member while said first end of said second lever means being mounted to said second rotatable actuating member;
- said coupling means also including a connecting means for connecting said second ends of said first and second lever means, said connecting means being also connected to said linearly movable portion of said linear motor;
- wherein (a) linear motion of said coupling means in a first direction brings one of said first and second rotatable actuating members from a closed to an opened position, and subsequently brings the other of said first and second rotatable actuating members from an opened to a closed position, and (b) linear motion of said coupling means in a second direction brings the other of said first and second rotatable actuating members from a closed to an opened position, and subsequently brings one of said first and second actuating members from an opened to a closed position, to thereby cause a connection of the electrical load to change from one of the primary electrical power source and the secondary electrical power source to the other of the primary electrical power source and the secondary electrical power source.
A transfer switch assembly for alternatively connecting an electrical load to a primary electrical power source and to a secondary electrical power source, said transfer switch comprising:
- first electrical switching means for connection between the electrical load and the primary electrical power source, said first electrical switching means including a first toggle actuating member reciprocately movable between opened and closed positions;
- second electrical switching means for connection between the electrical load and the secondary electrical power source, said second electrical switching means including a second toggle actuating member reciprocately movable between opened and closed positions;
- said second electrical switching means being disposed in an upside down relationship with respect to said first electrical switching means;
- an electrical linear motor having a fixed portion and a linearly movable portion,
- coupling means mechanically joining said first and second toggle actuating members;
- said coupling means including a substantially T-shaped bracket having an elongated first end and a second end, said T-shaped bracket also including a first and second arm substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis extending through said bracket and having respective distal ends;
- said distal end of said first arm being connected to said first toggle actuating member and said distal end of said second arm being connected to said second toggle actuating member;
- said coupling means also including a connecting means for connecting said T-shaped bracket to said linearly movable portion of said linear motor;
- wherein, (a) linear motion of said coupling means in a first direction brings one of said first and second toggle actuating members from a closed to an opened position, and subsequently brings the other of said first and second toggle actuating members from an opened to a closed position, and (b) linear motion of said coupling means in a second direction brings the other of said first and second toggle actuating members from a closed to an opened position, and subsequently brings said one of said first and second toggle actuating members from an opened to a closed position, to thereby cause a connection of the electrical load to change from one of the primary electrical power source and the secondary electrical power source to the other of the primary electrical power source and the secondary electrical power source.
In combination with (i) a primary electrical power source, (ii) a secondary power source, (iii) an electrical load, (iv) a first electrical switching means for connection between the electrical load and the primary electrical power source, said first electrical switching means including a first toggle actuating member reciprocately movable between opened and closed positions, and (v) a second electrical switching means for connection between the electrical load and the secondary electrical power source, said second electrical switching means including a second toggle actuating member reciprocately movable between opened and closed positions, said second electrical switching means being disposed in an upside down relationship with respect to said first electrical switching means;
- for alternatively connecting an electrical load to the primary electrical power source and to the secondary electrical power source, a transfer switch actuator comprising:
- an electrical linear motor having a fixed portion and a linearly movable portion;
- coupling means mechanically joining the first and second toggle actuating members to said linearly movable portion of said linear motor;
- said coupling means including a substantially T-shaped bracket having an elongated first end and a second end, said T-shaped bracket also including a first and second arm substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis extending through said bracket and having respective distal ends;
- said distal end of said first arm being connected to said first toggle actuating member and said distal end of said second arm being connected to said second toggle actuating member;
- said coupling means also including a connecting means for connecting said T-shaped bracket to said linearly movable portion of said linear motor;
- wherein (a) linear motion of said coupling means in a first direction brings one of said first and second toggle actuating members from a closed to an opened position, and subsequently brings the other of said first and second toggle actuating members from an opened to a closed position, and (b) linear motion of said coupling means in a second direction brings the other of said first and second toggle actuating members from a closed to an opened position, and subsequently brings one of said first and second actuating members from an opened to a closed position, to thereby cause a connection of the electrical load to change from one of the primary electrical power source and the secondary electrical power source to the other of the primary electrical power source and the secondary electrical power source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.