CA1235446A - Electro-mechanical devices incorporating fuse cartridges - Google Patents

Electro-mechanical devices incorporating fuse cartridges

Info

Publication number
CA1235446A
CA1235446A CA000491103A CA491103A CA1235446A CA 1235446 A CA1235446 A CA 1235446A CA 000491103 A CA000491103 A CA 000491103A CA 491103 A CA491103 A CA 491103A CA 1235446 A CA1235446 A CA 1235446A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
plate
contacts
insulating plate
housing
disposed
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000491103A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Jean-Pierre Cinquin
Christian Gazzola
Michel Pisciotta
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ferraz SA
Original Assignee
Ferraz SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ferraz SA filed Critical Ferraz SA
Priority to CA000491103A priority Critical patent/CA1235446A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1235446A publication Critical patent/CA1235446A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Landscapes

  • Fuses (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

This invention relates to electro-mechanical devices incorporating fuse cartridges, wherein two conductor bars are normally connected by a series of mobile contacts repelled against their lower edge by springs, two in number for each. An insulating plate, suitably guided by its edges in the insulating envelope of the apparatus, receives the downward pulse that the coil applies by the Thomson effect to an aluminum disc and it lowers the contacts against springs, engagement in position of opening being ensured by a bolt and notch. The lower edge of the plate is provided with teeth to receive the successive contacts and retain them transversely, whilst each of these latter is notched to ensure lengthwise retention.

Description

The present invention relates to electron mechanical devices which comprise a fuse cartridge and which are used as switches or circuit breakers.
Such an apparatus comprises, in principle, fixed contacts, one or more corresponding mobile contacts, a coil adapted to control displacement of the latter and a fuse cartridge of relatively small caliber, mounted in parallel on the system of contacts. When the coil is energized, it repels by the Thomson effect lo conductor plate fast with the mobile contacts, which are then retained in the position of opening by engagement of a comb, paw or the like. The circuit constituted by the fixed and mobile contacts is thus cut at a low voltage and all the current passes through 15 the cartridge which melts with a delay which is very short but which is sufficient for the contacts to be separated at least for the major part. The break arc is thus established inside the cartridge where it is absorbed by the filling material thereof.
As is known, it has been proposed to mount the mobile contacts on an insulating plate shaped so as to be inserted between the fixed contacts in order to avoid any direct starting of electric arcs there between This insulating plate is fast with a disc-shaped plate which cooperates with an actuation coil so as to be suddenly driven out by the Thomson effect when said coil is energized. U.S. Patent No.
3 128 361 to KESSEKRING clearly illustrates such an arrangement.
However, experience has shown that it is difficult effectively to avoid bounce of the mobile insulating plate under the effect of the holding springs which are manually associated therewith, and it is a principal object of the present invention ~LZ35~
to overcome this drawback.
According to the invention, the insulating contact-holder plate is repelled by the disc-shaped plate without being connected thereto, whilst the stroke of said disc is stopped by a fixed stop which allows the plate to pursue its movement by the effect of kinetic energy until it is retained in the position of opening of the mobile contacts by a catch bolt system.
Specifically, the invention relates to an electron mechanical circuit breaker having improved structure, the breaker being of the type having opposed fixed contacts spaced apart across a gap and having an insulating plate guided in a housing for reciprocation within the gap, the plate being spring-urged from an open position to a closed position and the plate carrying mobile contacts which in the closed position connect the fixed contacts together and which in the open position are spaced therefrom, and the breaker having a conductive disc in the housing disposed normal to the plate and having a coil in the housing disposed adjacent to the conductive disc on the opposite side thereof from the insulating plate and operative when the coil is energized to repel the conductive disc against the plate and drive it from its closed position toward a fully open position, and the breaker having a fuse cartridge connected in shunt with the fixed contacts and operative to melt after a brief delay when the contacts are driven open, the improvements comprising:
(a) a latch bolt supported in the housing and spring-urged toward the insulating plate, and the plate having a latching notch therein disposed to lie opposite the latch bolt when the plate is in fully open position; and (b) the housing retaining the conductive disc between the coil and the insulating plate and normal to the plate and having a shoulder disposed to stop motion of the disc after it has driven the plate partway toward its fully open position, the kinetic energy of the insulating plate carrying it the rest of the way to latch with the bolt in fully open position.

oh/

~23S~

The invention will be more readily understood on reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a vertical section through an apparatus according to the invention, the mobile contacts being closed.
Fig. 2 is a plan view, with part section and parts torn away, along II-II (Fig. 1).
Fig. 3 is a part section along III-III (Fig. 1).
Fig. 4 partly reproduces Fig. 1, but showing the parts in the position of opening of the contacts.
Referring now to the drawings, the fuse comprises two fixed contacts constituted by the opposite ends of two bars 1 disposed coccal with a small separating gap lengthwise. Bolts 2 fix these bars to an upturned upper insulating dish 3. Against the bottom thereof is disposed a flat circular coil 4 which bears against the ribs pa of said bottom. Between the coil 4 and the bars 1 is maintained an intermediate piece 5, of generally cylindrical shape, provided with a horizontal partition pa, as will be seen hereinafter.
Of course, the coil 4 is suitably coated with insulating material so as to constitute a rigid piece.

- pa -kh/lcm I,' lZ35i~

Immediately below this coil 1 is disposed a circular mobile disc 6 made of a metal which is a very good conductor and relatively light, such as aluminum. The disc 6 is urged downwardly by a 5 spring 7 which abuts against the bottom of the dish 3, coccal to the coil 4, but it is retained against the action of this spring by the upper edge of a vertical insulating plate 8 which, passing through the partition pa, passes between the fixed contacts 10 1 and abuts against a series of mobile contacts 9 which springs 10 maintain applied against said fixed contacts 1. The lower edge of the plate 8 is provided with a series of notches in which the mobile contacts 9 are engaged and whereby this part of plate 8 somewhat 15 takes the form of a comb. Each contact 9 is itself provided with a notch pa in which is engaged a tooth bottom of this profile, with the result that the contact 9 in question is retained with respect to the plate 8 longitudinally and transversely. On the 20 other hand, there are provided for each contact 9 two springs 10 located on either side of the mean plane of the plate 8, these springs being engaged on centering lugs 11 fast with the bottom aye of a lower box Wyeth rectangular profile in plan, of 25 which the edges 12b, bent horizontally, are fixed to the contacts or bars 1 by bolts 13.
The reaction of the springs 10 is sufficient to maintain the disc 6 applied with a slight clearance beneath coil 4, despite the presence of the spring 30 7, the mobile contacts 9 bearing against the fixed contacts 1 with the desired pressure, notwithstanding the inevitable manufacturing and assembly tolerances.
When the coil 4 has a sufficiently intense current pulse passing there through, the disc 6 is Lo repelled downwardly by the Thomson effect against springs 10. It lowers until it abuts against an inner edge 5b of piece 5, whilst plate 8 continues its descending stroke under the effect of the kinetic energy, moving the mobile contacts 9 away from the fixed contacts 1, to engage in lowered position under the effect of a bolt 14, repelled by a spring 15, the end of this bolt engaging in a notch pa in the plate.
Plate 8 is guided in its descending movement on the one hand by partition pa that it passes through with reduced clearance, on the other hand by vertical ribs aye provided inside the box 12 (cf. Figs. 2 and 3). As for bolt 14, it rests on a lowered part 15 5c of the partition pa (cf. Fig. 3) and may move beneath two edges Ed thereof. It comprises on its lower face a notch aye of which the flat bottom bears on a rod 16.
Rod 17 extends parallel to the largest 20 horizontal dimension of the lower box 12 up to the vicinity of the wall of the upper dish 3 and is connect ted by welding to a control lever 17 mounted to rotate on a pin 18, the lower end of this lever projecting beneath the pin and terminating in a maneuvering 25 knob 19.
Pin 18 is driven in a lateral boss in the lower box 12 which is suitably notched to allow passage of the lever 17 as well as the slight angular clearance necessary for operation (Figs. 2 and 3).
Starting from the position of Fig. 1 and assuming that coil 4 receives the sudden driving current pulse, the plate 8 is driven downwardly, lowering the mobile contacts 9 and it is engaged on the bolt 14 by its notch pa (position shown in ~Z35~6 Fig. 4). When it is desired to close the circuit again, it suffices to maneuver the knob 19 in the desired direction to displace rod 16 towards the right in Fig. 1. This rod repels bolt 14 against 5 spring 15 and thus disengages plate 8 which rises under the effect of springs I
In each bar or fixed contact 1 is screwed a vertical rod 10 which extends downwardly through a distance tube 21, its lower end receiving a nut I 22 which makes it possible to tighten against the distance tube 21 one, 23, of the two flat blades of a fuse cartridge 24, which is thus in shunt on the system of mobile contacts 9. As shown, rods 20 and distance tubes 21 are long enough for the cartridge 15 to be easily housed beneath the lower box 12.
Finally, an insulating lower cover 25 is provided, adapted to close the cartridge. This cover, made of insulating material, is articulated on the edge of the box 12 via a pin 26. Its end opposite 20 this pin comprises an edge aye which is engaged in an appropriate retaining piece very schematically indicated in chain-dotted lines at 27.
The fuse which has just been described is totally enclosed and there is therefore no danger.
25 However, it remains perfectly accessible, particularly for changing the cartridge after cut-off. Thanks to the insulating plate 8 which is inserted between the fixed contacts 1 at the instant of opening, any risk of direct starting of arcs between the latter 30 is eliminated and furthermore these contacts 1 may be extremely close to one another, this reducing the dimensions and earth of the mobile contacts 9, thus accelerating operation.
It will further be noted that, by reason I
I

of the edge or stop shoulder 5b, the kinetic energy of the mobile disc 6 is absorbed by the shock against the shoulder in question, which may be very broadly dimensioned, this dispensing with having to provide S buffers, dampers or the like to limit the stroke of the mobile contacts 9, the springs 10 proving, in practice, to be largely sufficient to this end.
Tests have shown that this arrangement avoided any operational defect of the apparatus under the effect 10 of an untimely bounce of the mobile contact-holder plate.

Claims (8)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An electro-mechanical circuit breaker having improved structure, the breaker being of the type having opposed fixed contacts spaced apart across a gap and having an insulating plate guided in a housing for reciprocation within the gap, the plate being spring-urged from an open position to a closed position and the plate carrying mobile contacts which in the closed position connect said fixed contacts together and which in the open position are spaced therefrom, and the breaker having a conductive disc in the housing disposed normal to the plate and having a coil in the housing disposed adjacent to the conductive disc on the opposite side thereof from the insulating plate and operative when the coil is energized to repel the conductive disc against the plate and drive it from its closed position toward a fully open position, and the breaker having a fuse cartridge connected in shunt with the fixed contacts and operative to melt after a brief delay when the contacts are driven open, the improvements comprising:
(a) a latch bolt supported in the housing and spring-urged toward the insulating plate, and the plate having a latching notch therein disposed to lie opposite the latch bolt when the plate is in fully open position; and (b) the housing retaining the conductive disc between the coil and the insulating plate and normal to the plate and having a shoulder disposed to stop motion of the disc after it has driven the plate partway toward its fully open position, the kinetic energy of the insulating plate carrying it the rest of the way to latch with the bolt in fully open position.
2. The circuit breaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductive disc contacts and drives one edge of the insulating plate, and the insulating plate has a second opposed edge comprising multiple teeth having notches located there between; multiple mobile contacts disposed in said notches, each mobile contact having a notch in both sides shaped to receive the adjacent teeth of the plate, whereby the mobile contacts are maintained normal to the insulating plate and spaced across said second edge; and spring means disposed between the housing and each mobile contact and urging the contacts into the teeth and the insulating plate toward closed position.
3. The circuit breaker as claimed in claim 2, wherein said spring means comprises two springs for each mobile contact, the springs being disposed between the housing and the associated contact and being symmetrically located on opposite sides of the insulating plate; and means to positively position the springs.
4. The circuit breaker as claimed in claim 2, wherein the housing comprises upper and lower mating insulating dishes bolted to opposite sides of the fixed contacts and having an intermediate portion receiving the insulating plate which extends between the dishes and through the gap, said upper dish supporting the coil and the intermediate portion being cylindrical and receiving the conductive disc and including said shoulder disposed transversely of the insulating plate; and said lower mating dish housing the mobile contacts and spring means, which are driven further into the lower mating dish when in sully open position.
5. The circuit breaker as claimed in claim 4, wherein said housing has interior ribs disposed to receive and guide said insulating plate for reciprocation within the gap.
6. The circuit breaker as claimed in claim 4, wherein said intermediate portion of the housing supports a partition extending transversely of the insulating plate and supporting said latch bolt thereopposite.
7. The circuit breaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein each fixed contact supports a conductive spacer extending away from the coil, and wherein said cartridge fuse has mounting blades which are secured to said conductive spacers to support the fuse between the fixed contacts.
8. The circuit breaker as claimed in claim 7, wherein the housing further includes a cover hingedly connected thereto, and when closed covering said cartridge fuse and conductive spacers.
CA000491103A 1985-09-19 1985-09-19 Electro-mechanical devices incorporating fuse cartridges Expired CA1235446A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000491103A CA1235446A (en) 1985-09-19 1985-09-19 Electro-mechanical devices incorporating fuse cartridges

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000491103A CA1235446A (en) 1985-09-19 1985-09-19 Electro-mechanical devices incorporating fuse cartridges

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1235446A true CA1235446A (en) 1988-04-19

Family

ID=4131428

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000491103A Expired CA1235446A (en) 1985-09-19 1985-09-19 Electro-mechanical devices incorporating fuse cartridges

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1235446A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111710570A (en) * 2020-07-22 2020-09-25 南京贝思特信息科技有限公司 Automatic partition type arc-isolating cover for circuit breaker

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111710570A (en) * 2020-07-22 2020-09-25 南京贝思特信息科技有限公司 Automatic partition type arc-isolating cover for circuit breaker

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
AU620159B2 (en) A safety device for a switching appliance formed by assembling together several removable modular elements
US4263492A (en) Circuit breaker with anti-bounce mechanism
US5510761A (en) Contact system for a current limiting unit
EP0418755B1 (en) Current limiting circuit breaker
US4778959A (en) Fused disconnect switch
DE3625339C2 (en) Electrical switching device
US4631508A (en) Electro-mechanical devices incorporating fuse cartridges
JPH0785385B2 (en) Circuit breaker including arc gas external ventilation system
EP0042778A1 (en) Single-pole and neutral miniature circuit breaker
CA1235446A (en) Electro-mechanical devices incorporating fuse cartridges
CN112185719A (en) Load switch
EP0008989B1 (en) Low voltage electric circuit breaker with auxiliary actuating units
EP0621619B1 (en) Automatic cut-out
US3793494A (en) Draw out type vacuum circuit breaker assembly with hinged barrier
EP0120836A1 (en) Electric safety switch for apparatus.
US5589675A (en) Vacuum switch
DE3037355C2 (en) Compact design circuit breaker with a trip pin
EP0053973B1 (en) Miniature circuit breaker with high rupture capacity
US6541727B2 (en) Molded case circuit breaker including vacuum switch assembly
DE4015979A1 (en) Switch combination esp. for transformers on ring mains - incorporates vacuum switch which cannot be closed is load isolator with energy store is already engaged
CN216980439U (en) Operating mechanism
US4902864A (en) Versatile electric disconnect switch
EP0050719B1 (en) Contact and extinguishing means for electrical automatic miniature switches
WO1998006120A1 (en) Sf6 gas-insulated switch installation for electricity distribution supply networks
DE3031549A1 (en) Contact and arc extinction device for switching appts. - has end plate of extinction plate housing extended to form fixed contact and magnetic yoke

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
MKEX Expiry