CN100585768C

CN100585768C - Actuator for auxiliary switch and circuit breaker incorporating the same

Info

Publication number: CN100585768C
Application number: CN200510124926A
Authority: CN
Inventors: D·E·利特尔; D·A·帕克斯; D·C·特纳; E·R·伯格登; D·P·马尔泰利; J·A·特拉克斯
Original assignee: Eaton Corp
Current assignee: Eaton Corp
Priority date: 2004-10-01
Filing date: 2005-09-30
Publication date: 2010-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 2025-09-30
Also published as: CA2521677A1; CA2521677C; EP1643527A2; ZA200507950B; CN1761012A; ATE429026T1; DE602005013874D1; EP1643527B1; EP1643527A3

Abstract

A U-shaped accessory actuator clip that snaps onto the crossbar of a multipole circuit breaker is integrally molded of a compliant material with a flexible finger that actuates/deactuates an accessory, such as an auxiliary switch, as the contacts of the breaker close and open.

Description

The circuit breaker that is used for the actuator of auxiliary switch and this actuator is installed

Cross reference to related application

It is No.60/615 that the application requires to enjoy in the sequence number of submitting on October 1st, 2004, the rights and interests of 446 U.S. Provisional Patent Application.

Technical field

The present invention relates to have the circuit breaker of the auxiliary switch that shows the breaker contact point state, more specifically, relate to the device that is used to activate auxiliary switch.

Background technology

Many circuit breakers are provided with the auxiliary switch of opening of demonstration breaker contact point or closure state usually.Usually, auxiliary switch provides as option.For example, if desired, then can add auxiliary switch by the compartment in first lid that inserts the circuit breaker that closes by second cap seal.The plunger of auxiliary switch extends through the opening in first lid, activates this plunger by the protuberance that is molded on the cross bar in this opening, and this cross bar links together the movable contact arm of multi-electrode circuit breaker.This cross bar must have rigidity to guarantee the contact point arm coordinated movement of various economic factors of all electrodes.Therefore, have rigidity and do not have compliance by the protuberance on the molded cross bar of same material.

Have such possibility when adopting this configuration: the tolerance stack in the operating mechanism of circuit breaker makes stroke too big or too little.The trip may be not enough to activate auxiliary switch, and perhaps, excessive stroke may damage auxiliary switch.Under the situation in front, need customization/change plungers length to adapt to this tolerance stack.

Therefore, the device that is used for activating the auxiliary switch of circuit breaker also leaves some room for improvement.

Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to the multi-electrode circuit breaker, wherein, activate annex by the actuator that is fixed on the cross bar and have a compliance pusher dog, this compliance pusher dog activates and the plunger of deactuate annex in the variation that adapts to the cross bar stroke that is for example caused by tolerance and overtravel.

As one aspect of the present invention, a kind of circuit breaker comprises: shell; A plurality of electrodes, each electrode comprises: the separable contacts that all comprises a fixed contact and a movable contact, and the contact point arm assembly that comprises contact point arm and frame, this contact point arm has this movable contact that is attached to end, this frame is equipped with pivotly and is used for this contact point arm of rotating between a make position and an open position, engage with fixed contact at this make position movable contact, separate with fixed contact at this open position movable contact; Cross bar, this cross bar links together the contact point arm assembly of these electrodes as mobile component; Operating mechanism, this operating mechanism be connected to mobile component with open and make position between move the contact point arm of these electrodes simultaneously; Annex, this annex have at the plunger of installing near the cross bar place in the enclosure; And annex actuator folder, this annex actuator folder is fixed on the cross bar and can moves and have a pusher dog with cross bar, when contact point arm is in position in the open and close position, this pusher dog and plug engages are to activate annex, and during another position in the open and close position, this pusher dog discharges plunger with the deactuate annex, and this pusher dog has compliance to adapt to the variation of cross bar stroke.

Annex actuator folder can be by the integrally molded parts of compliant material.

Annex actuator folder can comprise annex actuator folder is fixed to a plurality of hook spares on the cross bar.

Cross bar can be fixed on the frame of contact point arm assembly of one of them electrode by staple.This staple can comprise a pair of leg.Annex actuator folder can be molded folder, this hook spare that leg is engaged that this molded folder utilizes a pair of and staple and being installed on the staple.

Annex actuator folder can comprise a pair of terminal leg that has.Staple can comprise a pair of terminal leg that has.A pair of chock can inwardly be given prominence to from the terminal of leg of annex actuator folder.The leg of annex actuator folder can bridge on the leg of staple.Chock can be fastened on below the end of leg of staple, so that annex actuator folder is fixed on the mobile component.

Annex actuator folder can comprise the U-shaped spare with base portion and pair of parallel leg.Pusher dog can extend at a certain angle from the outer surface of one of them leg.

As another aspect of the present invention, a kind of annex actuator folder is used for circuit breaker, and this circuit breaker comprises: shell; A plurality of electrodes, each electrode comprises: the separable contacts that all comprises a fixed contact and a movable contact, and the contact point arm assembly that comprises contact point arm and frame, this contact point arm has this movable contact that is attached to end, this frame is equipped with pivotly and is used for this contact point arm of rotating between a make position and an open position, engage with fixed contact at this make position movable contact, separate with fixed contact at this open position movable contact; Cross bar, this cross bar links together the contact point arm assembly of these electrodes as mobile component; Operating mechanism, this operating mechanism be connected to mobile component with open and make position between move the contact point arm of these electrodes simultaneously; And annex, this annex has at the plunger of installing near the cross bar place in the enclosure.Annex actuator folder comprises: base portion; A pair of leg; And the pusher dog that extends at a certain angle from the outer surface of one of them leg, wherein, annex actuator folder is configured to be fixed on the cross bar and can moves with cross bar; This pusher dog is configured to, and when contact point arm was in position in the open and close position, engage pistons to be activating annex, and during another position in the open and close position, discharges plunger with the deactuate annex; And this pusher dog has compliance to adapt to the variation of cross bar stroke.

Description of drawings

When reading hereinafter description of a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, can obtain complete understanding of the present invention, wherein:

Fig. 1 is the stereogram in conjunction with circuit breaker of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is the longitudinal sectional view that passes the circuit breaker of Fig. 1, relevant parts shown in it;

Fig. 3 is the three-dimensional cutaway view of relevant parts that the circuit breaker of Fig. 1 is shown;

Fig. 4 is the stereogram according to annex actuator folder of the present invention;

Fig. 5 be illustrate the annex actuator folder of Fig. 4 and auxiliary switch and with the stereogram of the relation of its supporting member.

Embodiment

Fig. 1 illustrates in conjunction with circuit breaker 1 of the present invention.Circuit breaker 1 has shell 3, and this shell is by base 5, first lid 7 that cooperates with base 5 and be installed in first second lid that covers and 9 form.Circuit breaker 1 in this example has three

electrode

11A, 11B and 11C, but the present invention can be used for having the circuit breaker of two or more electrodes.In Fig. 1, can see load conductor 13A, the 13B and the 13C that are used for these electrodes.Handle 15 is used for manually closing and opening circuit breaker 1.

Fig. 2 and 3 only illustrates the relevant internal part of circuit breaker 1.Each electrode of circuit breaker 1, for example electrode 11A has separable contacts 17, and the form of fixed contact 19 and movable contact 21 is taked in this contact 17.Fixed contact 19 is installed on the lead 23, and movable contact 21 is attached on the end 25 of contact point arm 27.Frame 31 supporting contact point arms 27 are made pivoting action around axle 29, to form contact point arm assembly 33.As shown in arrow 35, contact point arm assembly 33 can rotate between as shown in Figure 2 a make position and an open position (not shown), and in make position, movable contact 21 engages with fixed contact 19, and at open position, separable contacts 17 is separated.

The contact point arm assembly 33 of three electrode 11A-11C links together by cross bar 39, to form movable contact assembly 37.Known ground is connected to operating mechanism 41 these mobile component 37 of operation on the target 11B, usually with the separable contacts 17 of each electrode among the while open and close electrode 11A-11C.Can come manual activation operating mechanism 41 by handle 15, perhaps by tripping mechanism 43 in response to the specific currents/time response of load current self actuating operating mechanism 41, this also is known.

Cross bar 39 links together by the frame 31 of staple 45 with each electrode 11.As shown in Figure 5, staple 45 has a pair of leg 47, and the terminal of each leg is a pair of pile 49, and as shown in Figure 3, extend in the hole that this pile passes in the frame 31.The end of pile 49 is spun/and crimping (spin) to be to be fixed on the contact point arm assembly 33 with staple 45 and then with cross bar 39.

As shown in Figure 2, first lid 7 of circuit breaker 1 has compartment 53, and annex for example auxiliary switch 55 is contained in wherein.Auxiliary switch 55 is fixed in the compartment 53 by second lid, 9 (Fig. 1).Auxiliary switch 55 has the plunger 57 that extends downwardly in the chamber 59, and this plunger activated by annex actuator folder 61 (Fig. 3) in this chamber.As the clearest illustrating among Fig. 4, annex actuator folder 61 is for having base portion 63 and a pair of leg 65 that extends from the end of

base portion

63 and 67 U-shaped spare in parallel substantially plane.Actuating pusher dog 69 extends at a certain angle from the outer surface of leg 65.At a pair of hook spare of being cut sth. askew in lateral edge 73 places, for example chock 71, inwardly give prominence to from the terminal of

leg

65 and 67.

Annex actuator folder 61 is preferably by compliant material integrally molded parts of mylar for example.This annex actuator folder 61 is by launching

leg

65 and 67 bridging on the leg 47 of staple 45 (Fig. 5), thereby is fixed on the cross bar 39.In the time of on being installed in staple 45 fully, chock 71 is fastened on below leg 47 terminal of staple 45 and between pile 49, so that annex actuator folder 61 is securely fixed in (Fig. 3) on the mobile component 37.As can be seen, when the contact point arm assembly 33 of electrode 11A was in the close position, the actuating pusher dog 69 (Fig. 4) of annex actuator folder 61 engaged and activates the plunger 57 of auxiliary switch 55 from Fig. 2,3 and 5.Activate pusher dog 69 and have enough rigidity, actuating plunger to overcome spring bias on the plunger 57; This actuating pusher dog 69 also has enough flexibilities simultaneously, and when in place, activating pusher dog 69 can be crooked to adapt to overtravel with convenient plunger.This overtravel may come from the accumulation of tolerance in the mobile component 37, and when separable contacts 17 closures, the accumulation of tolerance may cause position, the angle difference of cross bar 39.Other variation of the final position of cross bar 39 is attributable to wearing and tearing fixing and

movable contact

19 and 21 when separable contacts 17 closures.Make by compliant material owing to activate pusher dog 69, so the bending of this actuating pusher dog 69 can easily adapt to these variations and can not produce stress improperly.

As mentioned above, the annex in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is an auxiliary switch 55.These auxiliary switches are generally used for showing the open of separable contacts 17, so that for example carry out remote monitoring or operation.

As another example of annex, usually similar microswitch is combined in the shunt tripping mechanism (not shown), only when separable contacts 17 closures, this microswitch just allows the coil electricity of shunt tripping mechanism.This shunt tripping mechanism can be used for the trip remotely of circuit breaker in every way, and the electronic trip that is used for comprising the tripping operation of earth fault and/or arc fault.

Though disclose example attachment, the circuit breaker accessory in the wide range can use with this example attachment actuator folder 61.

Though described specific embodiments of the invention in detail, it should be recognized by those skilled in the art that and to come these details are carried out various changes and modification according to comprehensive instruction of the present disclosure.Therefore, disclosed concrete device only is exemplary but not limitation of the scope of the invention, and scope of the present invention is provided by the full text of appending claims and any and all equivalents thereof.

List of reference signs

1 breaker

3 shells

5 bases

7 first lids

9 second lids

11 electrode A, B, C

13 load conductors

15 handles

17 separable contacts

19 fixed contacts

21 movable contacts

23 leads

The end of 25 contact point arms

27 contact point arms

29 pivots

31 frames

33 contact point arm assemblies

35 arrows

37 mobile component

39 cross bars

41 operating mechanisms

43 tripping mechanisms

45 staples

The leg of 47 staples

49 piles

53 compartments

55 annex auxiliary switches

Plunger on the 57 annex auxiliary switches

Chamber in 59 shells

61 annex actuators folder

The base portion of 63 annex actuators folder

The leg of 65 annex actuators folder

The leg of 67 annex actuators folder

69 activate pusher dog

71 chocks

73 inclined-planes

Claims

1. a circuit breaker (1) comprising:

Shell (3);

A plurality of electrodes (11A, 11B, 11C), each electrode comprises:

The separable contacts (17) that all comprises a fixed contact (19) and a movable contact (21), and

The contact point arm assembly (33) that comprises contact point arm (27) and frame (31), this contact point arm has this movable contact that is attached to end (25), this frame is equipped with pivotly and is used for this contact point arm of rotating between a make position and an open position, engage with fixed contact at this make position movable contact, separate with fixed contact at this open position movable contact;

Cross bar (39), this cross bar links together the contact point arm assembly of these electrodes as mobile component (37);

Operating mechanism (41), this operating mechanism be connected to mobile component with open and make position between move the contact point arm of described electrode simultaneously;

Annex (55), this annex have at the plunger of installing near the cross bar place in the enclosure (57); And

Annex actuator folder (61), this annex actuator folder is fixed on the cross bar and can moves and have a pusher dog (69) with cross bar, when contact point arm is in position in the open and close position, this pusher dog and plug engages are to activate described annex, and during another position in being in the open and close position, this pusher dog discharges plunger with the described annex of deactuate, and this pusher dog has compliance to adapt to the variation of cross bar stroke

It is characterized in that described annex actuator folder comprises described annex actuator folder is fixed to a plurality of hook spares (71) on the described cross bar.

2. circuit breaker according to claim 1 (1) is characterized in that, described cross bar is fixed to by staple (45) on the frame of described contact point arm assembly of an electrode in the described electrode.

3. circuit breaker according to claim 2 (1) is characterized in that, described staple comprises a pair of leg (47); Described annex actuator folder is molded folder, and this molded folder utilizes a pair of hook spare (71) that engages with a pair of leg of described staple and is installed on the staple.

4. circuit breaker according to claim 2 (1) is characterized in that, described annex actuator folder comprises a pair of terminal leg (65,67) that has; Described staple comprises a pair of terminal leg (47) that has; A pair of chock (71) is inwardly given prominence to from the terminal of described leg of described annex actuator folder; The leg of described annex actuator folder bridges on the leg of described staple; And described chock is fastened on below the end of leg of described staple, so that described annex actuator folder is fixed on the described mobile component.

5. according to the described circuit breaker of one of claim 1-4 (1), it is characterized in that described annex actuator folder comprises the U-shaped spare of have base portion (63) and pair of parallel leg (65,67); And described pusher dog extends at a certain angle from the outer surface of one of them described leg.