Switching device

#The present application claims priority under 35 USC §119 to Finnish Patent Application Number 20040067, filed Jan. 19, 2004, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

#The invention relates to switching devices according to the preamble of claim 1.

#Switching devices are instruments employed for opening and closing an electric circuit. The switching device comprises at least one pole and a control device adapted to open and close said pole. Switching devices include switches and switch-fuses, for example.

#In the following, the invention will be described in more detail in connection with preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

#FIG. 1 shows the control device module of a switching device according to an embodiment of the invention seen obliquely from above;

#FIG. 2 shows the control device module of FIG. 1 seen obliquely from below;

#A switching device according to an embodiment of the invention is composed of a control device module and pole cell modules (not shown) connected thereto according to FIG. 1. A working shaft 3 and a control shaft 4 are installed in a frame part 2 of the control device module, the control shaft being rotatable and adapted to turn the working shaft, and the working shaft 3 being adapted to change the position of the poles of the switching device. A shaft element 6 in the control device module constitutes part of the working shaft 3 of the switching device. FIG. 2 shows that the control shaft 4 extends substantially through the frame 2 of the control device module, and that the control shaft 4 can also be accessed from the bottom of the frame 2 of the control device module.

#FIG. 3a shows a shaft element 6 detached from the control device module of FIG. 1. The shaft element 6 comprises a first end 10, a second end 12 and two crossbars 14 interconnecting said first and second end. A gap remains between the crossbars 14 and it passes via the axis of revolution of the shaft element 6. The crossbars 14 are shaped and placed such that, seen from the axial direction, the distance between the crossbars 14 is about 180° on the first side, and about 90° on the other side.

#The second end 12 of the shaft element 6 is thicker than the first end 10. The crossbars 14 are connected substantially to the periphery of the first 10 and second 12 ends. On the larger part of the stretch between the ends 10 and 12 of the shaft element 6 the distance between the crossbars 14 substantially corresponds to the diameter of the second end 12 of the shaft element 6. The bends of the crossbars 14, intended to change the distance between the crossbars to correspond substantially to the diameter of the first end 10 of the shaft element 6, are provided adjacent to the first end 10.