AU2007203012B2

AU2007203012B2 - Electrical Protection Apparatus Controlled by an Auxiliary Control Device

Info

Publication number: AU2007203012B2
Application number: AU2007203012A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Christophe Grumel; Jean-Claude Ramirez
Original assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
Current assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
Priority date: 2006-06-29
Filing date: 2007-06-28
Publication date: 2010-12-02
Anticipated expiration: 2027-06-28
Also published as: ES2319466T3; CN101097817B; DE602007000557D1; EP1873807A1; FR2903223B1; AU2007203012A1; NZ556166A; EP1873807B1; CN101097817A; ATE423390T1; FR2903223A1

Abstract

The apparatus has an auxiliary actuating/controlling device (A) e.g. remote controlling device, housed in a case, and including a movable core (26) slidingly mounted in a duct (23). The movable core cooperates with another movable core (6) that acts as a fixed core and an actuating rod (9) for driving the rod in a triggered position of the apparatus, when an opening instruction is given by the actuating device. A spring (33) is supported against the core (6) and an elastic ring is mounted around the rod.

Description

Pool Section 29 Regulation 3.2(2) AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: Electrical Protection Apparatus Controlled by an Auxiliary Control Device The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: ELECTRICAL PROTECTION APPARATUS CONTROLLED BY AN AUXILIARY CONTROL DEVICE Background of the invention 5 The present invention relates to an electrical protection apparatus controlled by an auxiliary control device, said apparatus being housed in a case and comprising main magnetic trip means, said means comprising a coil supported by a sheath, inside which sheath there are fitted on the one hand a fixed core, called first fixed core, and on the other hand a moving 10 core, called first moving core, mounted sliding inside said sheath, and an actuating rod mounted sliding inside the fixed core and comprising a first end operating in conjunction with the first moving core and a second end operating in conjunction with the trip mechanism of the circuit breaker in such a way that, when a short-circuit occurs, the moving core drives said rod to a position in which the latter actuates the trip mechanism. 15 State of the art The Patent EP 0 146 721 is known describing an apparatus of the above-mentioned kind. In this patent, the apparatus comprises an additional actuator which is external to the circuit 20 breaker and is situated in a zone in which no component part of the circuit breaker is located, a lateral partition separating the actuator from the circuit breaker. In this apparatus, the actuating rod of the additional actuator passes through the lateral partition of the circuit breaker, slides inside the core of the circuit breaker and acts on an intermediate push-rod. On account of the fact that the auxiliary actuator is located outside the circuit breaker 25 volume, this apparatus presents large overall dimensions. Summary of the invention The present invention solves these problems and proposes an electrical protection 30 apparatus controlled by an auxiliary control device, presenting reduced dimensions enabling space to be gained in the electrical cabinet in which said apparatus is integrated.

2 According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided an electrical protection apparatus controlled by an auxiliary control device, said apparatus being housed in a case and including a main magnetic trip means, said means including a coil supported by a sheath, inside which sheath there are fitted on the one hand a fixed core, called first fixed 5 core, and on the other hand a moving core, called first moving core, mounted sliding inside said sheath, and an actuating rod mounted sliding inside the fixed core and including a first end operating in conjunction with the first moving core and a second end operating in conjunction with the main magnetic trip means in such a way that, when a short-circuit occurs, the moving core drives said rod to a position in which the latter 10 actuates the main magnetic trip means, wherein said auxiliary control device is house in said case and includes a moving core, called second moving core, mounted sliding in a sheath called second sheath, and operating in conjunction with said first moving core then acting as fixed core and the rod, to drive said actuating rod to the tripped position of the apparatus when a tripping order is given by the auxiliary trip device, 15 According to a particular preferred feature, the main magnetic trip means and the auxiliary trip device comprise a shell, and the two shells form one and the same part. According to a particular preferred feature, the second sheath is situated in the axis of the 20 first sheath. According to a particular preferred embodiment, the second sheath is situated at the rear of the first sheath, on the opposite side of the apparatus to the above-mentioned trip mechanism. 25 According to a particular preferred embodiment of the invention, the second sheath is achieved by moulding together with the first sheath, the second sheath being an extension of the first sheath. 30 According to a particular preferred feature of the invention, the second moving core is pressing on the actuating rod, and a spring is fitted between the first moving core and the second moving core to bias said second moving core to the rest position.

3 According to another particular preferred feature of the invention, on the side where the auxiliary control device is located, the above-mentioned actuating rod comprises a reduced-diameter part inserted into a cylindrical hole belonging to the second moving core, said core pressing on the actuating rod at the level of the junction between this 5 reduced-diameter part and the rest of the rod. According to a particular preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a spring secured between the first moving core and a flexible ring fitted around the actuating rod. 10 According to a particular preferred embodiment, the auxiliary actuating device is a differential protection device. According to a particular preferred embodiment, the auxiliary actuating device is a remote control device. 15 According to a particular preferred embodiment, said apparatus is a circuit breaker. Brief description of the drawings 20 But other advantages and features of the invention will become more clearly apparent from the following detailed description which refers to the accompanying drawings given for example purposes only and in which: -Figure 1 represents, in perspective view, an electrical protection apparatus according to 25 the invention, in the rest position, -Figure 1 a is an identical view to figure 1 but without the coils and sheath, -Figure 2 is an axial sectional view of the previous figure along the line A-A of figure 3, -Figure 3 is a side view of figure 1, -Figure 4 is an axial sectional view of the apparatus of figure 1, along the line B-B of 30 figure 5, the apparatus being in a tripped position of the mechanism by the main magnetic trip device, -Figure 5 is a side view of the previous figure, 3a -Figure 6 is an axial section of the same apparatus in a tripped position of the trip mechanism by the auxiliary control device along the line C-C of figure 7, -Figure 7 is a side view of the previous figure, -Figure 8 is an axial section illustrating another embodiment of an apparatus according to 5 the invention along the line D-D of figure 9, and -Figure 9 is a side view of the previous figure.

4 Detailed description of a preferred embodiment In the figures a control device of a low-voltage electrical circuit breaker has been 5 represented, said circuit breaker being used to protect an electrical circuit against short circuits. This circuit breaker is controlled by a main magnetic trip device D and by an auxiliary control device A, such as a remote control device. This main magnetic trip device D comprises in a manner known as such an electromagnetic coil 1 fitted around a sheath 2 called first sheath, which sheath is forcibly fitted on a fixed core 3, said fixed core 3 being 10 secured via one 4 of the ends thereof by a shell 5. According to the invention, this auxiliary trip device A is housed in the circuit breaker case B (not represented) and also comprises a moving core 6, called first moving core, mounted sliding inside said sheath 2. The two cores 3,6 both comprise a cylindrical hole 7,8 receiving an actuating rod 9 with sliding, said rod 9 comprising a striker 12 at one 10 of the ends 10, 11 thereof. On the side where 15 the main trip device D is located, the actuating rod 9 comprises two parts 13,14 of different diameters, said rod pressing at the level of the junction 15 between these two parts 13,14 on an inside wall 16 of the moving core 6. These two cores 3,6 also respectively comprise two cylindrical holes 17,18 situated facing one another and receiving a spring 19 pressing respectively via its two opposite ends 20,21 on the fixed core 3 and on the moving core 6, 20 this spring 19 being designed to bias the moving core 6 to a rest position in which this moving core 6 is in the farthest position from the striker 12. The auxiliary control device A also comprises a sheath, called second sheath 23, situated in the extension of said first sheath 2, supporting a coil, called second coil 22 which, in this embodiment, is produced by moulding together with the first sheath 2. This extended part 25 of sheath 23, or second sheath, comprises a first cylindrical hole 24 receiving with sliding the above-mentioned first moving core 6, which core presses against an inside wall 25 of said second sheath 23 at the end of sliding travel in the direction of the auxiliary control device A. This auxiliary actuating device A also comprises a moving core, called second moving core 26, mounted in a second cylindrical hole 27 of the second sheath 23. This 30 second moving core 26 comprises a cylindrical hole 28 receiving a part 32 of the actuating rod 9 situated at the end 29 thereof situated on the opposite side from the striker 12, this part 32 of the rod 9 being forcibly fitted in the second moving core 26. Inside this part of 5 sheath 23, the actuating rod 9 comprises two parts of different diameters 3 1,32, the moving core called second moving core 26 pressing on the rod 9 at the level of the junction 30 between these two parts 3 1,32. A spring 33 is fitted between an outside wall 34 of the second moving core 26 and an inside wall 35 of the first moving core 6 to bias this second 5 moving core 26 to a rest position the farthest away with respect to the striker 12. In the embodiment illustrated in figure 8, this spring 33 is stopped by a flexible ring 36. In this embodiment also, the actuating rod 9 is pressing on the moving core 26 of the auxiliary device A, which is stopped in its movement by a stop 37. In figure 2, the apparatus A is in a rest position corresponding to normal operation of the 10 apparatus during which the current is flowing through the coil I and then through the movable contact of the device, in contact with the stationary contact (not represented). In the event of a sharp current increase following a short-circuit, a magnetic field is generated by the coil 1. When the current value exceeds a preset threshold, this field moves the first moving core 6 in the direction of the fixed core 3. The striker 12 then acts on a 15 return lever (not represented) of the circuit breaker, which will first, after a certain travel of the lever, act on the bar to command tripping of the mechanism and will then, after an additional travel of the lever, act on the movable contact to cause high-speed opening of the contacts. Operation of the auxiliary actuating device A is as follows: 20 When an auxiliary tripping order is given, a magnetic field is generated by the coil 22. When a magnetic threshold is reached, the second moving core 26 moves in the direction of the first moving core 6 which then acts like a fixed core. In its movement, this second core 6 drives the actuating rod 9, which acts on the trip bar by means of the striker 12 to command tripping of the trip mechanism. 25 A magnetic circuit has thereby been created for the auxiliary actuating device A, which is integrated behind the main magnetic trip device D in a minimum of space. For this purpose, the metal plate or sheath of the magnetic circuit of the main magnetic trip device is extended to constitute the magnetic circuit of the coil of the auxiliary trip device. 30 By creating a common face for the two magnetic circuits, the space occupied is reduced. By performing the two functions (the two sheathing functions) with the same part, the number of parts is also reduced.

6 Moreover, the existing functions of the circuit breaker are used for operation of the auxiliary trip device. Thus, the moving core of the main magnetic trip device is used as fixed core in the coil of the auxiliary trip device. The intermediate parts linking the two devices are thereby reduced to the minimum. 5 An electrical protection apparatus controlled by an auxiliary control device has thereby been achieved by means of the invention, in which the auxiliary control device is integrated in the volume of the modular circuit breaker, which enables space to be saved in the electrical cabinet, and in which the number of parts used is reduced to the minimum. 10 Naturally the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated which have been given for example purposes only. The invention therefore applies to any electrical protection apparatus such as a circuit breaker or switch, controlled by an auxiliary control device, such as a differential 1 5 protection device, a remote control device or others. On the contrary, the invention encompasses all the technical equivalents of the means described as well as combinations thereof if the latter are performed according to the spirit of the invention. 20

Claims

1. Electrical protection apparatus controlled by an auxiliary control device, said apparatus being housed in a case and including a main magnetic trip means, said means including a coil supported by a sheath, inside which sheath there are fitted on the one 5 hand a fixed core, called first fixed core, and on the other hand a moving core, called first moving core, mounted sliding inside said sheath, and an actuating rod mounted sliding inside the fixed core and including a first end operating in conjunction with the first moving core and a second end operating in conjunction with the main magnetic trip means in such a way that, when a short-circuit occurs, the moving core drives said rod to 10 a position in which the latter actuates the main magnetic trip means, wherein said auxiliary control device is house in said case and includes a moving core, called second moving core, mounted sliding in a sheath called second sheath, and operating in conjunction with said first moving core then acting as fixed core and the rod, to drive said actuating rod to the tripped position of the apparatus when a tripping order is given by the 15 auxiliary trip device.

2. Electrical protection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main magnetic trip means and the auxiliary trip device share a common shell.

3. Electrical protection apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second sheath is situated in the axis of the first sheath. 20

4. Electrical protection apparatus according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the second sheath is situated at the rear of the first sheath, on the opposite side of the apparatus to the above-mentioned trip mechanism.

5. Electrical protection apparatus according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the second sheath is achieved by moulding together with the first sheath, the 25 second sheath being an extension of the first sheath.

6. Electrical protection apparatus according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the second moving core is pressing on the actuating rod. 8

7. Electrical protection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a spring is fitted between the first moving core and the second moving core to bias said second moving core to the rest position.

8. Electrical protection apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein, on the side 5 where the auxiliary control device A is located, the above-mentioned actuating rod includes a reduced-diameter part inserted into a cylindrical hole belonging to the second moving core, said core pressing on the actuating rod at the level of the junction between this reduced-diameter part and the rest of the rod.

9. Electrical protection apparatus according to any one of the claims I to 6, wherein 10 it includes a spring secured between the first moving core and a flexible ring fitted around the actuating rod.

10. Electrical protection apparatus according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the auxiliary actuating device is a differential protection device.

11. Electrical protection apparatus according to any one of the foregoing claims, 15 wherein the auxiliary actuating device is a remote control device.

12. Electrical protection apparatus according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein said apparatus is a circuit breaker,

13. An electrical protection apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 20 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS WATERMARK PATENT & TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS P28810AUOO