Field of invention
[0001] The present invention relates to an energy accumulator for actuating a switching
device, which energy accumulator includes a chargeable mechanical spring means, tensioning
means for charging the spring means, actuating means for actuating the switching device
and release means for discharging the spring means.
[0002] The invention also relates to a tap changer and to a transformer.
Background of invention
[0003] A tap changer is commonly used in connection with a transformer in order to vary
the transformation rate thereof. In a transformer with a tap changer one of the windings
in the transformer has a fixed amount of turns connected to the circuit. The other
winding has one fixed connection point, whereas the other connection point can be
selected among a number of points to attain a required voltage. The selectable points
may be located after each other along a portion of the winding corresponding to 70%
to 100% of its full extension.
[0004] Upon a change in the load connected to the transformer or due to other influences
it might be required to change the connection point. The need of changing the tap
point is often triggered automatically in response to sensed parameters. Tap changing
includes a plurality of manoeuvres including the opening and closing of switches e.g.
via a spring loaded energy accumulator and moving a selector arm to a new connection
point. The present invention is related to the energy accumulator for the actuation
of the switches.
[0005] Closing and opening of the switches have to be performed very rapidly with a considerable
force. Typically the time duration is in the order of 10 ms. It is therefore common
that the actuation movement is driven by the release of a spring that has been charged
with mechanical energy, whereby the spring can provide the necessary force and act
rapidly. The supply of the energy, i.e. the charging of the spring can be made during
a much longer period and thus at a much lower power. The advantages gained by using
a spring loaded energy accumulator are thus evident, and this kind of actuation of
the switches in an on load tap changer therefore is commonly used. Illustrative examples
of the construction of such an energy accumulator are disclosed in
EP 1138052,
EP 1891652 US 3811022,
US 6838629,
WO 200175919,
WO 2006133767,
JP 11054342,
JP 2008258259 and
CN 2891237.
[0006] The energy accumulators according to prior art are generally complicated and includes
a large part of components that are to move and to cooperate for receiving the energy
at a low speed, store the energy and deliver the energy at high speed.
Summary of invention
[0007] The object of the present invention is to improve an energy accumulator of the kind
in question, in particular to attain an energy accumulator that is simple and reliable
and overcomes the drawbacks entailing known energy accumulators of this kind.
[0008] The invention is primarily intended for the actuation of switches in a diverter switch
of an on load tap changer, but is not exclusively related to such an application.
[0009] The object of the invention is achieved in that an energy accumulator of the kind
specified in the introduction of this application includes the specific features that
the tensioning means includes a first linearly movable body having drive means connectable
to a driving source for applying a tensioning stroke to the first movable body, and
having first spring support means, the actuating means includes a second linearly
movable body having cam profile means and having second spring support means, and
further includes cam follower means arranged to cooperate with the cam profile means
and which cam follower means has connection means to the switching device, the release
means includes a latching mechanism arranged to lock the second movable body and to
be brought to an unlocking position upon influence from the first movable body, and
which energy accumulator further includes guiding means arranged to guide the first
and second movable body in a respective linear movement, which linear movements are
in parallel to each other, and in that the spring means is arranged between said first
and second spring support means.
[0010] This general construction of the energy accumulator requires very few moving parts,
results in a short mechanical transmission path for transferring the actuation power
from its input to its output, and thereby can be made relatively compact. The low
number of active components, the linear movement both for charging and discharging
the spring means and the short transmission path makes the device very simple. This
reduces the manufacturing and assembly costs, and leads to reduced need for maintenance
and to a safe functionality at operation.
[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the cam profile means includes a plurality of
cam profiles arranged in parallel to each other and, the cam follower means includes
a corresponding plurality of cam followers cooperating with a respective cam profile
and being connectable to a respective switch of the switching device.
[0012] Applying a number of cam profiles and cam followers in a simple way adapts the energy
accumulator to the actuation of a plurality of switches in a diverter switch. One
actuating stroke of the energy accumulator thereby serves to actuate the plurality
of switches. The required sequence and timing of the breaking/closing of the switches
thereby can be easily obtained simply by designing the cam profiles and their relative
positions accordingly.
[0013] According to a further preferred embodiment, the second movable body has a first
side on which said cam profile means is located and an opposite side on which said
second spring support means is located, and in that the second movable body is made
of an insulating material.
[0014] This very important embodiment of the invention provides an effective electricity
barrier between separate parts of the energy accumulator.
[0015] According to a further preferred embodiment, the first side of the second movable
body is facing toward the switching device and the opposite side is facing toward
the spring means, the first movable body and said drive means.
[0016] The components connected to the drive source and related to the charging of the spring
means may be at ground potential. According to this embodiment these components by
the barrier formed by the second movable body will be electrically insulated from
the switches and those components that are directly engaged in the actuation of these.
The result is that the components on both sides of this barrier can be arranged at
a relatively short distance from each other, which further contributes to a compact
construction.
[0017] According to a further preferred embodiment, the spring means includes at least one
spring device having a plurality of springs arranged in series to each other, and
which springs have different spring characteristics.
[0018] Thereby the force/time relation of the spring means can be tailored to be optimized
in accordance with the required patter. Normally two springs arranged in series in
a spring device will be appropriate.
[0019] According to a further preferred embodiment, the spring means includes a plurality
of spring devices arranged in parallel to each other.
[0020] Thereby the movements at charging and discharging of the springs will be more stable
and precise. It is preferred that the number of spring devices is two.
[0021] According to a further preferred embodiment, the guiding means includes a plurality
of first guide bars for the first movable body and a plurality of second guide bars
for the second movable body, which rods all are arranged in parallel to each other.
[0022] Separating the guiding means for the first movable body from the second movable body
in this way simplifies to eliminate interference between the movements of these bodies.
The use of a plurality of guiding rods contributes to a well defined movement of the
respective body and eliminates the risk of tilting of any of them in a simple way.
Two guide bars for each body is sufficient for attaining this.
[0023] According to a further preferred embodiment, each spring device includes at least
one helical spring arranged coaxially around a respective bar of the first guide bars.
[0024] This type of springs is particularly adapted for the linear movement pattern of the
invented energy accumulator. By arranging the springs around the guide bars, the springs
will be directionally stabilized in alignment with the moving of the bodies.
[0025] According to a further preferred embodiment, the latching mechanism includes a pawl
arranged to contact the second movable body and thereby prevent linear movement thereof,
and whereby the first movable body during an end phase of its tensioning stroke is
arranged to contact the pawl for actuating the pawl to release its contact with the
second movable body.
[0026] The cooperation between the first and second movable bodies for discharging the spring
means is thereby achieved in a simple and reliable way.
[0027] According to a further preferred embodiment, the drive connection means includes
a groove on the first movable body, which groove is arranged to cooperate with a roller
of a crank arm from the drive source such that a 180° rotation of the crank arm provides
one tensioning stroke of the first movable body.
[0028] By this construction of the drive connection means an effective and simple conversion
of a half turn rotational input can be performed. This is an adaption to an advantageous
way of transferring the drive source movement via a gearbox to the energy accumulator,
where the output of the gearbox has this 180° stroke.
[0029] According to a further preferred embodiment, each cam follower includes a cam roller
arranged to be in contact with a respective cam profile and a rocking lever having
a first end on which the cam roller is mounted and a second end connectable to an
actuating rod of a switch, which level has a first portion and a second portion forming
an obtuse angle with the first portion, and which level is provided with a spring
pressing the cam roller into contact with the cam profile.
[0030] The rolling contact reduce losses and wear due to friction, and by the angled lever
the transmission of the movement to an actuating rod of the switch that is perpendicular
to the movement of the cam profile. Preferably the obtuse angle is within the range
of 145° to 165°.
[0031] The invented tap changer includes an energy accumulator according to the present
invention, in particular a according to any of the preferred embodiments thereof.
[0032] The invented transformer includes a tap changer according to the present invention.
[0033] The invented tap changer and the invented transformer gain from the advantages of
the invented energy ackumulator and the preferred embodiments thereof, and which advantages
have been described above.
[0034] The above described preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent
claims. It is to be understood that further preferred embodiments of course can be
constituted by any possible combination of the preferred embodiments above and by
any possible combination of these and features mentioned in the description of examples
below.
[0035] The invention will be further explained through the following detailed description
of examples thereof and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Short description of the drawings
[0036]
Fig. 1 is an illustration of a tap changer of a kind for which the energy accumulator
according to the present invention is suitable.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an energy accumulator according to the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a side view of parts of the energy accumulator of fig. 2.
Fig. 4 in a side view perpendicular to that of fig. 3 of parts of the energy accumulator
of fig. 2.
Fig. 5 in a graph illustrates the movements of some components in the energy accumulator
of fig. 2.
Description of example
[0037] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates an on load tap changer 100 of a kind for which the
energy accumulator according to the present invention is intended. The tap changer
100 is connected to a regulating winding 105 of a transformer and has a set of different
taps 110. The tap changer of Fig. 1 is of diverter switch type, and comprises a diverter
switch 115 and a tap selector 120.
[0038] The tap selector 120 of Fig. 1 comprises two current collectors 125, two selector
arms forming two moveable contacts 130 and further comprises a set of fixed contacts
135, where, each fixed contact 135 is arranged to be connected to one of the taps
110 of the regulating winding. The tap changer 100 of Fig. 1 has fifteen different
fixed contacts 135, and the regulating winding 105 has fifteen taps 110. The tap changer
100 of Fig. 1 is mechanically linear in the sense that the current collectors 125
are implemented as linear rods, and the fixed contacts 135 are arranged in a linear
fashion. The two current collectors 125 together form a current collector part.
[0039] The diverter switch 115 comprises two series connections of a main contact 140 and
a transition contact 145, with transition resistor 150 connected in parallel with
transition contact 145. It is common that the contacts are vacuum interrupters. Each
of the series connections are, at one end, connected to a respective one of the two
current collectors 125, and, at the other end, connected to an external contact 155
of the tap changer 100.
[0040] The movable contacts 130 are, at one end, in electrical contact with a respective
one of the current collectors 125. A selector arm 130 can move along the current collector
125 to which it is connected, in order to reach different positions, at which the
other end of the movable contact 130 is in electrical contact with one of the fixed
contacts 135. The moveable contacts 130 could for example be sliding contacts arranged
to slide along the current collectors 125, to allow for electrical connection between
the current collectors 125 and the different fixed contacts 135. The driving of the
moveable contacts 130 of Fig. 1 is arranged so that if one of the moveable contacts
130 is in contact with a fixed contact 135, connected to a first tap, the other moveable
contact 130 is in contact with a fixed contact 135, connected to a tap 110 which is
adjacent to the first tap 110.
[0041] By switching the main contacts 140 and transition contacts 145 in a conventional
manner, one or the other of the moveable contacts 130 will be in electrical contact
with the external contact 155, and thus provide an electrical path through the tap
changer 100. Similarly, the two current collectors 125 will take turns at being part
of the electrical path of the tap changer 100. The electrical path through the tap
changer 100 ends at the external contact 155 at one end, and at the fixed contact
135 that is currently connected at the other end. An example of a diverter switch
115 is described in
EP0116748. The diverter switch 115 of Fig. 1 is an example only, and any suitable type of diverter
switch 115 can be used.
[0042] As mentioned above, the regulating winding 105 has a set of taps 110, which are shown
to be connected to the fixed contacts 135 of the tap changer 100 via cables 160. The
other end of the regulating winding 105 is provided with an external contact 165.
Depending on which tap 110 is currently connected to a fixed contact 135, the electrical
path between the external contacts 155 and 165 will include a different number of
the regulating winding turns. The regulating winding 105 is often not seen as part
of the tap changer 100, and has therefore been surrounded by a solid line in Fig.
1.
[0043] When it is required to change from one tap to another, the vacuum interrupters of
the contacts 140 and 145 and those on the other current collector are to be closed
and opened, respectively in a and certain sequence. This allows the selector arms
with the movable contacts 130 to move to come into contact with the adjacent one of
the fixed contacts 135. Closing and opening of the vacuum interrupters in the diverter
switch 115 and movement of the movable contacts in the tap selector 170 has to be
made in a certain time relation to each other. The actuation of the vacuum interrupters
requires a rapid and strong actuation force, that normally is obtained by an energy
accumulator having a spring that can be charged and discharged.
[0044] The energy accumulator according to the present invention has the function to provide
actuation of the switches in the diverter switch.The aspects of a tap changer described
above are generally known and are mainly for the purpose of explaining the context
in which the invented energy accumulator operates.
[0045] The energy accumulator operating on vacuum interrupters in a diverter switch is illustrated
in a perspective view in fig. 2. A drive shaft 1 is connected to a drive source via
a gearbox (not shown) and provides the driving power to the energy accumulator. At
the bottom of the figure is the diverter switch 2 with four vacuum interrupters 21
that are actuated by the energy accumulator. The drive shaft 1 has a crank arm 11
with a pin 12 at its outer end. On the pin 12 a roller 13 is mounted and cooperates
with a groove 31 in a first linearly movable body 3, which acts as a tensioning slide
3 for the energy accumulator. The tensioning slide 3 is arranged to move along a first
pair of guide bars 71.
[0046] A second linearly moveable body 4 is arranged to move along a second pair of guide
bars 72, which second body is a cam slide 4 provided with four cam profiles 61 on
its side facing downwards in the figure. Spring means 5 is arranged between the tensioning
slide 3 and the cam slide 4. The spring means 5 in this example has two parallel spring
devices 5 (of which only one is visible in the figure). Each spring device 5 is composed
by two helical springs 51, 52 arranged coaxially around one of the guide bars 71 of
the tensioning slide 3, of which one is as strong spring 51, and the other a weak
spring 52. The springs 51, 52 of one spring device 5 thus have different spring characteristic.
[0047] Each spring device 5 at one end is supported by a first spring support means 32 connected
to the tensioning slide 3 and by second support means (not visible in the figure)
connected to the cam slide 4. A pawl 73 forming a latching mechanism 73 is arranged
to abut the second support means and to be released from contact thereto at a certain
stage. For each spring device 5 there is such a first support means at each end of
the tensioning slide 3 and such second support means with a pawl 73 at each end of
the cam slide 4 for the purpose of actuation in either direction.
[0048] On a plate 76 separating the vacuum interrupters 21 from the energy accumulator there
are mounted cam follower means 62 arranged to cooperate with the cam profiles 61 and
to actuate the vacuum interrupters via manoeuvring rods 23 and contact springs 22.
The cam follower means consists of four cam followers ,each having a rocking lever
62 with a roller 63 at is first end for cooperation with a respective cam profile
61. On the second end the cam follower is connected to a respective actuating rod
23. The cam follower has two lever legs 621, 622 forming an angle between each other
and is pivotable around a pivot pin 64 where the two lever legs meet each other.
[0049] In fig. 3 parts of the energy accumulator is illustrated in a side view. The guide
bars 71 (of which only one is visible in the figure) for the tensioning slide 3 are
rigidly connected to a frame 7 and the tensioning slide 3 at each end has a linear
bearing surrounding each guide bar 71. The two guide bars 72 for the cam slide 4 are
also rigidly connected to the frame 7, but are in the figure hidden behind the guide
bar 71.
[0050] The cam slide 4 also has a pair of linear bearing 42 (see fig. 2)at each end through
which it slides on its guiding bars 72. The cam slide 4 also has a pair of support
means 41 at each end for the respective spring device 5.The pawl 73 arranged at each
end for releasing the cam slide 4 is pivotable around a pin 74 attached on a console
(not shown) connected to the frame 7. The pawl has two legs 731, 732 forming an angle
of a little more than 90° to each other. One leg 731 holds the cam slide 4. The other
leg 732 is arranged to come into contact with an abutment portion (not shown) of the
tensioning slide 3 close to the end position thereof and is urged by a compression
spring 75 in the counter clockwise direction.
[0051] At each end of the cam slide 4 there is a hydraulic damper 42. A rubber stop 77 is
arranged on the frame 7 at each side of the cam slide 4.
[0052] On the bottom side of the cam slide 4 one of its four cam profiles 61 can be seen.
Each cam profile 61 cooperates with a respective cam follower 62 consisting of two
lever legs 621, 622, which form an angle of 158° between each other. The lever leg
621 on which the cam roller 63 is mounted is pressed against its cam profile by a
spring 65.
[0053] Fig. 4 in a simplified view depicts parts of the energy accumulator from a direction
perpendicular to the one of fig. 3. In this view the two guiding bars 71 for the tensioning
slide 3 and the two guiding bars 72 for the cam slide 4 are visible. The spring devices
arranged around each of the guiding bars 71 of the tensioning slide 3 are left out
for better clarity. Also the four cam profiles 61 are visible in this view.
[0054] In the following the function of the energy accumulator shown in figures 2 to 4 will
be explained. Upon actuation of the vacuum interrupters 21, the procedure occurs in
two steps, a tensioning step and an actuation step. The tensioning step lasts for
some seconds while the actuation step occurs almost instantly.
[0055] In fig. 2 the energy accumulator is shown in the start position before loading of
the spring has started. During the tensioning step the drive shaft 1 from the gearbox
rotates 180° for a full stroke and therewith the crank arm 11. As the roller 13 of
the crank arm 11 thereby describes a circular motion it moves along the groove 31
in the tensioning slide 3 and thereby also forces the tensioning slide 3 to move to
the right from the start position shown in fig. 2.
[0056] When the tensioning slide 3 moves to the right in fig. 2 each spring device 5 will
be compressed between the respective moving spring support 32 forming a part of the
tensioning slide 3 and the respective stationary support 41 of the cam slide 4.
[0057] In fig. 3 the energy accumulator is illustrated in a position when compression of
the springs 51, 52 has begun. Upon further movement of the tensioning slide towards
the right, its spring support 32 at the left end acts on the spring guide 53 to further
compress the spring device 5. The other end of the spring is maintained stationary
by the right spring support 41 of the cam slide 4, which support acts against the
spring guide 54 on the right side. Movement of the cam slide is prevented by the pawl
73 on the right side.
[0058] After further rotation of the drive shaft 1 and the accompanying further movement
of the tensioning slide 3, the abutment portion thereof will come into contact with
the lever leg 732 and press it in the clockwise direction against the action of the
compression spring 75. Thereby the pawl will rotate around the pivot pin 74 in the
clockwise direction such that the lever leg 731 comes out of contact with the cam
slide 4. This allows the spring devices 5 to be discharged by pushing the cam slide
4 rapidly in the right direction, with the consequence that the cam profiles 61 move
the cam followers to actuate the vacuum interrupters 21. Release of the pawl is arranged
to occur after 150° rotation of the drive shaft 1, which corresponds to a little more
than 90% of the linear stroke length of the tensioning slide 3.The next operation
will then follow in the opposite direction.
[0059] The cam slide 4 is made of an insulating material such as porcelain or an appropriate
plastic.
[0060] In a typical application the drive shaft will make a 180° stroke in 5 seconds and
the distance between the axis of the drive shaft 1 and the axis of the roller 13 on
its crank arm 11 is 60 mm giving a stroke length of 120 mm.
[0061] Fig. 5 in a diagram illustrates the movements of the tensioning slide 3 and the cam
slide 4 in an example with the above mentioned input data. The x-axis is the driving
shaft angular position in degrees and the y-axis is the linear position of the respective
slide in mm from the middle position. Graph 3 represents the movement of the tensioning
slide 3 and graph 4 the movement of the cam slide 4.
[0062] The tensioning slide will make a pure sinusoidal movement from its starting position
at - 60 mm to its end position at + 60 mm, which is a direct consequence of the geometrical
configuration of the drive input.
[0063] The stroke length of the cam slide 4 is somewhat shorter, from - 55 mm to + 55 mm.
As can be seen the cam slide is stationary during the major part of the operation
cycle. At the beginning I the cam slide stands still against the rubber stop 77. After
about 20° rotation of the drive shaft 1 the cam slide 4 is allowed to move uniformly
with the tensioning slide for a short period, during which period the hydraulic damper
43 releases. At a little less than 50° rotation of the drive shaft 1 the pawl 73 comes
into contact with the cam slide 4 and prevents further movement thereof for the active
tensioning period, during which the cam slide 4 is maintained in its -40 mm position.
[0064] At a rotation of 150° of the drive shaft the tensioning slide 3 has almost completed
its movement and in that position it comes into contact with the pawl 73 that locks
the cam slide 4. The pawl is released from its locking position and allows the cam
slide 4 to move by action of the spring devices 5. The steep extension of the cam
slide graph 3 thereafter illustrates how the cam slide 3 moves up to its end position
at + 55 mm during a 5° drive shaft rotation corresponding to a duration of about 0,1
sec. At the end of this movement there is retardation due to the hydraulic damper
43. During this rapid movement the operation of the vacuum interrupters via the cam
profiles 61 occur sequentially as indicated in the diagram. The actuation time for
a vacuum interrupter is about 10 ms.
1. An energy accumulator for actuating a switching device, which energy accumulator includes
a chargeable mechanical spring means (5), tensioning means (3) for charging the spring
means (5), actuating means (4, 61, 62) for actuating the at least one switch and release
means (73) for discharging the spring means (5)
characterized in that
- the tensioning means (3) includes a first linearly movable body (3) having drive
means (31) connectable to a driving source (1) for applying a tensioning stroke to
the first movable body (3), and having first spring support means (32),
- the actuating means includes a second linearly movable body (4) having cam profile
means (61) and having second spring support means (41), and further includes cam follower
means (62) arranged to cooperate with the cam profile means (61) and which cam follower
means (62) has connection means (23) to the switching device,
- the release means includes a latching mechanism (73) arranged to lock the second
movable body (4) and to be brought to an unlocking position upon influence from the
first movable body (3),
- the energy accumulator further includes guiding means (71, 72) arranged to guide
the first (3) and second (4) movable body in a respective linear movement, which linear
movements are in parallel to each other,
- and in that the spring means (5) is arranged between said first (32) and second (41) spring support
means.
2. An energy accumulator according to claim 1, characterized in that the cam profile means (61) includes a plurality of cam profiles (61) arranged in
parallel to each other and in that the cam follower means (62) includes a corresponding plurality of cam followers (62)
cooperating with a respective cam profile (61) and being connectable to a respective
switch of the switching device.
3. An energy accumulator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second movable body (4) has a first side on which said cam profile means (61)
is located and an opposite side on which said second spring support means (41) is
located, and in that the second movable body (4) is made of an insulating material.
4. An energy accumulator according to claim 3, characterized in that the first side of the second movable body (4) is facing toward the switching device
and the opposite side is facing toward the spring means (5), the first movable body
(3) and said drive means (1).
5. An energy accumulator according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that the spring means (5) includes at least one spring device (5) having a plurality of
springs (51, 52) arranged in series to each other, and which springs (51, 52) have
different spring characteristics.
6. An energy accumulator according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that the spring means (5) includes a plurality of spring devices (5) arranged in parallel
to each other.
7. An energy accumulator according to any of claims 1-6, characterized in that the guiding means (71, 72) includes a plurality of first guide bars (71) for the
first movable body (3) and a plurality of second guide bars (72) for the second movable
body (4), which rods (71, 72) all are arranged in parallel to each other.
8. An energy accumulator according to claim 7, when depending from claim 5 or 7, characterized in that each spring device (5) includes at least one helical spring (51, 52) arranged coaxially
around a respective bar (71) of said first guide bars (71).
9. An energy accumulator according to any of claims 1-8, characterized in that said latching mechanism (73) includes a pawl (73) arranged to contact the second
movable body (4) and thereby prevent linear movement thereof, and whereby the first
movable body (3) during an end phase of its tensioning stroke is arranged to contact
the pawl (73) for actuating the pawl (73) to release its contact with the second movable
body (4).
10. An energy accumulator according to any of claims 1-9, characterized in that the drive connection means includes (31) a groove (31) on the first movable body
(3), which groove (31) is arranged to cooperate with a roller (13) of a crank arm
(11) from the drive source such that a 180° rotation of the crank arm (11) provides
one tensioning stroke of the first movable body (4).
11. An energy accumulator according to any of claims 1-10, characterized in that each cam follower (62) includes a cam roller (63) arranged to be in contact with
a respective cam profile (61) and a rocking lever having a first end on which the
cam roller (63) is mounted and a second end connectable to an actuating rod (23) of
a switch, which lever has a first portion (621) and a second portion (622) forming
an obtuse angle with the first portion (621), and which level is provided with a spring
(65) pressing the cam roller (63) into contact with the cam profile (61).
12. A tap changer including a diverter switch with a plurality of switches, characterized in that the tap changer includes an energy accumulator according to any of claims 1-11.
13. A transformer, characterized in that the transformer includes a tap changer according to claim 12.