AU2018101075A4 - A single modulus multi-functional rcbo with non-directional wiring - Google Patents

Abstract

This present application relates to a single modulus multifunctional residual current circuit breaker with overcurrent protection (RCBO) with non-directional wiring, which comprises a housing, a handle, a bracket, a PCB board, a tripping mechanism, a liner plate, a telex spring and a conductive bridge. A raised tip portion is provided on one side of the bracket, whilst a limiting groove is provided in the liner plate and enables the raised tip portion of the bracket to move within the groove. The tip portion extends through the limiting groove and is able to make limited arc movement in the limiting groove. One end of the telex spring overlaps with a piece of magnetic steel and is in constant contact with the magnetic steel, and the other end of the telex spring extends over the raised tip portion of the bracket and has a recovering elastic force recovering towards one side of the raised tip portion. One end of the conductive bridge extends until being opposite to one end of the telex spring, and the other end of the conductive bridge is positioned opposite a moving button and is connected to the power supply terminal of the PCB board. When the bracket rotates, the raised tip portion of the bracket pushes one end of the telex spring to move towards and contact the conductive bridge to thereby form a closed circuit. The present RCBO is convenient for users whilst eradicating various kinds of accidents caused by wiring direction errors in the RCBO. Figure 1 aD Figure 2 2 4 33 31 3

Description

APPLICATION NO:

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COMPLETE SPECIFICATION LODGED:

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PUBLISHED:

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NAME OF APPLICANT:	Dalian Ino-Tech Co., Ltd.
ACTUAL INVENTOR(S):	Wenjie LI
ADDRESS FOR SERVICE:	LORD AND COMPANY, Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, of PO Box 530, West Perth, Western Australia, 6872, AUSTRALIA.
INVENTION TITLE:	“A SINGLE MODULUS MULTI-FUNCTIONAL RCBO WITH NON-DIREC TIONAL WIRING”

DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO'S:

We are entitled to claim convention priority on the basis of the following application:

(31) Chinese Invention Patent Application Number CN 201710661181.6 filed 4 August 2017; and

Chinese Utility Model Patent Application Number CN 201720965487.6 also filed 4 August 2017

The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:

2018101075 03 Aug 2018

TITLE “A SINGLE MODULUS MULTI-FUNCTIONAL RCBO WITH NONDIRECTIONAL WIRING”

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a circuit breaker, in particular a single modulus multi-functional residual current circuit breaker with overcurrent protection (RCBO) with non-directional wiring.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY [0002] An electronic RCBO is an active protection device mainly designed to cut off the main circuit when a leakage current in the main circuit line reaches an operation limit so as to prevent various kinds of accidents from happening. Its working principle is that when the detecting unit of the RCBO detects a leakage current in the main circuit, it prompts the PCB board to open a logic switch to supply power to the voltage trip unit and to form a loop, thereby activating the voltage trip and pushing the operating mechanism of the RCBO to cut off the main circuit and implement the protection functions. For existing products, the incoming line can only be connected to an uncharged end of the RCBO after breaking the circuit. This is because if the incoming line is connected to the end of the RCBO that is constantly charged, and the voltage trip unit is also connected to the same end and cannot be at the opposite end, with such an arrangement in any event only one end of the RCBO would be uncharged after breaking. When the RCBO is in a closed state, the logic switch of the PCB board is in a breaking state; when the RCBO is prompted to work, the logic switch of the PCB board closes and the voltage trip unit commences to work, the main circuit is then cut off. However, because the logic switch of the PCB board is closed, rendering the voltage trip unit to form a loop, the logic switch cannot be closed again unless the loop circuit formed by the voltage trip unit is cut off simultaneously. Since there is no such a function (to cut off the loop circuit

2018101075 03 Aug 2018 simultaneously), the voltage trip unit is constantly being supplied with power, which results in the voltage trip unit being in a constant working state until it is damaged.

[0003] The wiring direction of conventional single modulus RCBOs is often fixed. One RCBO can only have one end for the incoming line and another end for the outgoing line, and the incoming line end cannot be used again as the outgoing line end, vice versa, the outgoing line end cannot be used again as the incoming line end. Although there are letter markings at a key area of the product, it cannot be completely avoided that users may incidentally reverse the wires when using these products, and if at such a time the RCBO is closed and the test button is also pushed, the product will be burnt out, causing unpredictable consequences.

CONTENTS OF INVENTION [0004] The present invention aims to provide, over existing technologies, a single modulus multi-functional residual current circuit breaker with overcurrent protection (RCBO) with non-directional wiring that can be used normally regardless of the direction of wiring. The present RCBO is convenient for the users, and meanwhile, eradicating various kinds of accidents caused by wiring direction errors in the RCBO.

[0005] The present invention is realised by the following technical solutions.

[0006] A single modulus multi-functional residual current circuit breaker with overcurrent protection (RCBO) with non-directional wiring, which comprises a housing, a handle, a bracket, a PCB board and a tripping mechanism. The bracket is connected to the housing by a shaft and able to make a circumferential rotation around the shaft relative to the housing. A raised tip portion is provided on one side of the bracket. A liner plate is fixed in the housing and provided with a limiting groove for the raised tip portion to move within the groove, and the raised tip portion of the bracket extends through the limiting groove and is able to make limited arc movement in the limiting groove. A telex spring is installed on the liner plate, one end of the telex spring overlaps with a piece of

2018101075 03 Aug 2018 magnetic steel and is in constant contact with the magnetic steel, and the other end of the telex spring extends over the raised tip portion of the bracket and has a recovering elastic force recovering towards one side of the raised tip portion, which is not pushing the telex spring when the RCBO is in a breaking state. The present RCBO also includes a conductive bridge installed on the liner plate and is positioned by the liner plate. One end of the conductive bridge extends until being opposite one end of the telex spring, and the other end of the conductive bridge is positioned opposite a moving button and is connected to the power supply terminal of the PCB board through a lead. When the bracket rotates, the raised tip portion of the bracket pushes one end of the telex spring to move towards and contact the conductive bridge to thereby form a closed circuit.

[0007] The telex spring may be a torsional spring.

[0008] The telex spring and conductive bridge may be conductors, whilst the liner plate may be an insulator with a unitary single molding structure.

[0009] A space for embedding the body of the torsional spring may be provided in the liner plate, with the torsional spring stabilised in the space through the cooperation of the housing and liner plate.

[0010] A raised boss for connecting with at least one end of the torsional spring may be provided at a border of the liner plate.

[0011 ] The liner plate may be provided with a slot for fastening the conductive bridge to the lining plate, with the fastening slot being provided by a protrusion disposed at a predetermined interval away from the conductive bridge on the liner plate.

[0012] The advantageous effects of the present invention include: this invention can be wired in whichever direction because no matter the wiring is from which end, when the RCBO is closed; the PCB board and voltage trip unit are in a working and charged state, but when an electric leakage occurs, the RCBO is triggered and breaks the circuit, then

2018101075 03 Aug 2018 the PCB board and voltage trip are no longer in a charged state (with no electricity flowing through) so that the voltage trip cannot form a loop circuit; and if the voltage trip unit cannot form a loop circuit, it will not continue to operate until damaging the RCBO, which in turn protects the RCBO.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES [0013] Figure 1 is a front view of the internal structure of a device according to the present invention;

[0014] Figure 2 is a rear view of the internal structure of a device according to the present invention;

[0015] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the internal structure of a device according to the present invention;

[0016] Figure 4 is a structure schematic of a bracket according to the present invention;

[0017] Figure 5 is a structure schematic of a conductive bridge according to the present invention;

[0018] Figure 6 is a structure schematic of a telex spring according to the present invention.

SPECIFIC WAYS OF IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION [0019] The present invention will be further described with reference to the implementation examples and figures as follows.

[0020] Implementation examples:

2018101075 03 Aug 2018 [0021] A single modulus multi-functional residual current breaker with overcurrent protection (RCBO) with non-directional wiring as shown in Figures 1 -6, which comprises a housing (1), a handle (2), a liner plate (3), a conductive bridge (4), a telex spring (5), a bracket (6) and a tripping mechanism (which may be a common one on the market according to existing technology, and hence will not be described in detail herein). One end of the bracket is embossed a raised tip portion (61) which passes through the liner plate and can make a limited arc movement. A limiting groove (31) is provided in the liner plate and enables the raised tip portion (61) of the bracket to move within the groove. The raised tip portion (61) of the bracket extends through the limiting groove (31) in the liner plate (3) and makes a limited arc movement in the limiting groove (31). The raised tip portion (61) can move upwardly and push on the telex spring (5). One end of the telex spring is in constant contact with the magnetic steel (7) and the other end is located at a border of the liner plate (i.e. does not push on the telex spring) when the RCBO is in a breaking state. The conductive bridge (4) is installed on the liner plate (3) and is positioned by the liner plate (3). One end of the conductive bridge (4) and one end of the telex spring (5) are in a face-to -face arrangement, and the other end of the conductive bridge is located in a position opposite to a moving button. The bracket (6) and jump pin (8) are coaxial on a first support shaft. The electrical supply lines of the PCB board (9) connect to one end of the conductive bridge (4). When the RCBO is closed, the PCB board receives electricity from the mains power, when the RCBO breaks, the PCB board is in an uncharged state, and one end of the moving button (10) connects to the resistor and then to the RCBO N pole. The magnetic steel and telex spring are at the same potential. When the RCBO is closed, the telex spring is pushed to the conductive bridge by the raised tip portion of the bracket, then the telex spring and conductive bridge are at the same side of the liner plate but the handle is located at the other side of the liner plate. A static button is at the same end where the test resistor and voltage trip unit are disposed, and the other end of the voltage trip unit connects to the PCB board and conditionally supplies power to the conductive bridge.

[0022] A space for embedding the body of the torsional spring is provided in the liner plate, and a protrusion (33) is provided adjacent that space in order to prevent the

2018101075 03 Aug 2018 torsional spring from sliding out the space. The protrusion (33) is provided with an opening to enable one end of the torsional spring to move, and the torsional spring is stabilised in the space through the cooperation between the housing and the liner plate. A raised boss (32) for connecting to one end of the torsional spring is provided on the liner plate border. A slot for fastening the conductive bridge to the liner plate is provided on the liner plate, and the slot is realised by spacing the protrusion (33) a certain interval away from the conductive bridge on the liner plate.

[0023] When the RCBO is closed, the moving contact contacts with the fixed contact, and the magnetic steel and telex spring that at the same potential are both charged, meanwhile, the telex spring and conductive bridge are connected together and are also charged as a whole. As the PCB board is connected to one end of the conductive bridge by a lead, the PCB board is supplied with power, and the RCBO is in a protective state. The voltage trip unit can be connected to the PCB board by a lead. However, as the working principles of the PCB board are that, when the magnetic sensor senses an electric leakage in the main circuit reaching a specified value, the issued signal triggers the PCB board to open the chip switch to form an active circuit for supplying power to the voltage trip unit. The voltage trip unit then operates to push the RCBO to break the main circuit. At the same time, the bracket returns to an initial position, and the telex spring also returns at the same time (because it was sustained/pushed by the bracket) and now separates from the conductive bridge, then the power supply of the conductive bridge is cut off, and accordingly the PCB board and voltage trip unit are also being cut off from the loop circuit and will not be operating anymore.

[0024] The reason that the present RCBO can be wired from either end is no matter wiring is from which end, when the RCBO is closed, the PCB board and voltage trip unit are in a working state with electricity flowing through, but when an electric leakage occurs, the RCBO disconnects due to preset triggering conditions, then the PCB board and voltage trip are no longer with electricity so that the loop circuit cannot be formed. As the voltage trip unit cannot form a loop circuit, it will not continue to operate resulting in damages to the RCBO.

2018101075 03 Aug 2018 [0025] In contrast, the working principles of traditional directional wiring RCBOs are: a voltage trip unit also connects to a PCB board, but as the PCB board connects to the wire at one end of the RCBO and the connection is not provided with a breaking device that functions synchronously with the RCBO for the main circuit. This leads to that the voltage trip can only be connected to an uncharged phase line pole at a back end of the RCBO after it breaks, but it cannot be connected to a phase line that is charged before the RCBO breaks, thus the traditional RCBOs can only be wired from one end and cannot be reverse wired. However, reverse wiring can still happen due to an act of carelessness which results in uncontrollable consequences. Once reverse wired, if there is no electric leakage occurring, the RCBO will be in a working state, but with potential risks forming. As long as the RCBO functions, the main circuit will be cut off, but the loop circuit of the RCBO voltage trip unit formed with the loop circuit of the chip switch of the PCB board, will operate continuously until being burnt out. This situation occurs inevitably, especially when the button of the RCBO needs to be pressed monthly, and there are many such instances. The present invention solves the problems entirely through the design of the present RCBO which prevents risks.

[0026] The basic principles, main features and advantages of this utility model have been shown and described above. The technicians of this field should realise that the present invention is not restricted by the above implementation examples. They are only to explain the principles of the invention described in the above implementation examples and disclosures. Under the premise of being without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, simple changes and replacements by ordinary technicians of this field are both within the scope of protection of this invention.

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Claims (3)

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Figure 1

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Figure 2

1. A single modulus multi-functional residual current circuit breaker with overcurrent protection (RCBO) with non-directional wiring, which comprises a housing, a handle, a bracket, a PCB board and a tripping mechanism, the bracket being connected to the housing by a shaft and able to make a circumferential rotation around the shaft relative to the housing; wherein a raised tip portion is provided on one side of the bracket; a liner plate is fixed in the housing and provided with a limiting groove for the raised tip portion to move within the groove, the raised tip portion of the bracket extends through the limiting groove and is able to make limited arc movement in the limiting groove; a telex spring is installed on the liner plate, one end of the telex spring overlaps with a piece of magnetic steel and is in constant contact with the magnetic steel, and the other end of the telex spring extends over the raised tip portion of the bracket and has a recovering elastic force recovering towards one side of the raised tip portion, which, is not pushing the telex spring when the RCBO is in a breaking state; and a conductive bridge is installed on the liner plate, one end of the conductive bridge extends until being opposite to one end of the telex spring, and the other end of the conductive bridge connects to a power supply terminal of the PCB board; when the bracket rotates, the raised tip portion of the bracket pushes the telex spring to move towards and contact the conductive bridge to thereby form a closed circuit.

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Figure 3

2018101075 03 Aug 2018

Figure 4

2. The single modulus multi-functional RCBO with non-directional wiring according to claim 1, wherein the telex spring is a torsional spring, and the telex spring and conductive bridge are conductors whilst the liner plate is an insulator and has a unitary single molding structure.

3. The single modulus multi-functional RCBO with non-directional wiring according to claim 2, wherein a space for embedding the body of the torsional spring is provided in the liner plate, and the torsional spring is stabilised in the space through the cooperation of the housing and the liner plate.

2018101075 03 Aug 2018

4. The single modulus multi-functional RCBO with non-directional wiring according to claim 1, wherein a raised boss for connecting with at least one end of the torsional spring is provided at a border of the liner plate.

5. The single modulus multi-functional RCBO with non-directional wiring according to claim 1, wherein the liner plate has a slot for fastening the conductive bridge to the liner plate, the slot being provided by a protrusion spaced a pre-determined interval away from the conductive bridge on the liner plate.

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Figure 5

Figure 6