CN112670943A - Protection device for AC electrical equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a protection device for alternating current electrical equipment, provided with a compact element comprising a magnetic breaking coil and a protective relay coil, and an electronic circuit connected to the protective relay coil, characterized in that the electronic circuit comprises an assembly for determining the root mean square value of the intensity of the current flowing in the magnetic breaking coil from a signal present at the end of the protective relay coil, this assembly being realized by an analog-to-digital converter (71), a calculation unit (72) and an interface (70), the calculation unit (72) being configured to generate a digital value representing the root mean square value of the intensity of the current, being connected to a communication element (96) and being configured to transmit the digital value representing the root mean square value of the intensity of the current to the communication element (96).

Description

Protection device for AC electrical equipment

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a protection device for an ac electrical apparatus.

Background

From the prior art, and in particular from french patent application 3046289, it is known to provide protection devices for alternating current electrical apparatuses, as shown in figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of such a known protective device, taken from the top, front and right side of the device;

figure 2 shows, in a very schematic way, the electric circuit of a first embodiment of the known device and the control mechanism of the movable contacts that it comprises; and is

Fig. 3 shows, in a very schematic way, the electric circuit of a second embodiment of the known device and the control mechanism of the movable contacts that it comprises.

The electrical device 10 shown in fig. 1 has a substantially parallelepiped shape.

It has two main surfaces, a left surface 11 and a right surface 12, respectively, and side surfaces extending from one of the main surfaces 11 and 12 to the other, i.e., a back surface 13, an upper surface 14, a front surface 15 and a lower surface 16.

The back face 13 has a notch 17 for mounting the device 10 on a standard support rail (not shown) having an omega profile.

The front surface 15 has a nose 18 with a lever 19 in a central position, about half its length.

The device 10 is of the modular type, that is to say, apart from its overall parallelepiped shape, its width (distance between the two main surfaces 11 and 12) is a multiple of a standardized value called "module", which is about 18 mm.

Here, the device 10 has a width of the modulus.

The device 10, according to the modular form, is configured to belong to a row of modular devices arranged side by being fixed from the rear to a horizontally arranged support rail.

The upper surface 14 has two lead-in holes 20 and 21, respectively leading to a connection terminal 22 and a connection terminal 23. The introduction hole 20 and the terminal 22 are located on the left side. The introduction hole 21 and the terminal 23 are located on the right side.

Likewise, the lower face 16 has two lead-in holes, a first hole and a second hole giving access to the connection terminal 26 and the connection terminal 27, respectively. The first introduction hole and the terminal 26 are located on the left side. The second introduction hole and the terminal 27 are located on the right side.

Each connection terminal 22, 23, 26 and 27 is designed to receive a bare end portion of a cable or a tooth of a horizontally distributed comb, the pitch of which (the central distance between two consecutive teeth) is the modulus.

Here, the terminals 22 and 23 located at the top are designed for connection to two poles of the power distribution network, while the two terminals 26 and 27 located at the bottom are designed for connection to the circuit of the electrical apparatus to be protected.

The device 10 is a differential circuit breaker having protected poles, that is, a circuit for detecting short circuit and overcurrent in a transmission circuit of the protected poles (circuit breaker function), and detects a difference in intensity of current flowing in the transmission circuit of the protected poles and a transmission circuit of an unprotected pole (differential function).

Here, the terminal 22 and the terminal 26 on the left are designed for the pole of the protected electrical device, which is a phase, while the terminal 23 and the terminal 27 on the right are designed for the pole of the unprotected electrical device, which is neutral.

The current carrying circuit between the left- hand terminals 22 and 26 comprises, in series, a magnetic breaking element 30, a fixed contact 31, a movable contact 32, a thermal breaking element 33 and a winding 34 forming part of a differential fault detection transformer 35.

The current carrying circuit between the terminals 23 and 27 on the right comprises, in series, a fixed contact 36, a movable contact 37 and a winding 38 forming part of a differential fault detection transformer 35.

The transformer 35 comprises, in addition to a winding 34 constituting a current carrying circuit between the terminals 22 and 26 on the left of the primary winding and a winding 38 constituting a current carrying circuit between the terminals 23 and 27 on the right, a secondary winding 39, and a toroidal armature (magnetic circuit) 40 around which the secondary winding 39 and the primary windings 34 and 38 are implemented.

The secondary winding 39 of the transformer 35 is connected to an electronic card 43 by two electrical conductors 41 and 42.

The magnetic disconnection element 30 is part of a compact element 44, the compact element 44 also comprising a protective relay 45. The electronic card 43 is connected on the one hand by two conductors 28 and 29 to the terminal 22 and the terminal 23 respectively and on the other hand by two conductors 46 and 47 to the protective relay 45.

To control the movable contacts 32 and 37, the device 10 includes a mechanism 50, commonly referred to as a latch.

A lever 19 located externally to the device 10 allows manual operation of the lock 50.

The assembly of magnetic breaking element 30, thermal breaking element 33 and protective relay 45 connected to electronic card 43 is configured to act on lock 50 when necessary.

The lock 50 has two stable positions, respectively a disconnected position in which the two movable contacts 32 and 37 are away from the corresponding fixed contacts 31 and 36, respectively, and an engaged position in which each of the two movable contacts 32 and 37 abuts on the corresponding fixed contact 31 and 36.

A lever 19 projecting from the front surface 15 allows manual operation of the lock 50 to switch from the disengaged position to the engaged position and vice versa.

The magnetic circuit breaker device 30, the thermal circuit breaker device 33 and the protective relay 45 are configured to automatically act on the lock 50 to switch from the engaged position to the disengaged position when a predetermined current delivery condition occurs.

The magnetic breaking device 30 acts on the lock 50 in the event of a short circuit, the thermal breaking device 33 acts in the event of an overcurrent and the protective relay 45 acts in the event of a differential fault.

In practice, the magnetic breaking element 30 is constituted by a coil arranged around the core controlling the striker acting on the lock 50 when a short circuit occurs. The thermal cut-out 33 is formed by a bimetal which deforms in the event of an overcurrent over a long period of time and acts on the lock 50 as a result of its deformation. The protective relay 45, which is part of the compact element 44 together with the magnetic breaking element 30, is constituted by another coil arranged around the same movable core. This further coil is supplied with power by an electronic card 43 which reacts to the voltage supplied by the secondary winding 39 of the transformer 35 in the event of a difference between the current flowing in the winding 34 and the current flowing in the winding 38, that is to say a differential fault. When the protective relay 45 is thus powered, it actuates a movable core that controls the action of a striker on the lock 50 to trigger the switching from the engaged position to the disengaged position.

The embodiment of the device 10 shown in fig. 3 is similar to the embodiment shown in fig. 2, except that it does not include the thermal disconnect element 33, and the protection against long term overcurrent involves a current measurement transformer 202.

The transformer 202 includes a ring armature 203 surrounding the conductive elements of the current carrying circuit between the terminals 22 and 26, and includes a winding 204 surrounding the ring armature 203.

The winding 204 is connected to the electronic card 43 by two electrical conductors 205 and 206. The card 43 reacts not only to the voltage supplied by the winding 39 of the transformer 35 but also to the voltage supplied by the winding 204 of the current measuring transformer 202.

Like the thermal break element 33, the transformer 202 is arranged between the movable contact 32 and the terminal 26, but in view of the thermal break element 33 being arranged between the movable contact 32 and the winding 34, the transformer 202 is arranged between the winding 34 and the terminal 26.

In this case, the electronic card 43 reacts not only to the voltage supplied by the secondary winding 39 of the transformer 35, but also to the voltage supplied by the winding 204 of the transformer 202.

In the event of a long overcurrent, the electronic card 43 supplies the protective relay 45, which protective relay 45 drives a movable core which controls a striker made on the lock 50 to trigger the switching from the engaged position to the disengaged position.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide information about the current flowing in an electrical protection device of an alternating current electrical apparatus or information derivable therefrom, such as the electrical energy consumption of the part of the electrical apparatus connected to the output terminals of the protection device, in a simple, convenient and economical manner.

The invention provides for this purpose a protection device for an alternating current electrical apparatus having a first input connection terminal for a first electrode, a second input connection terminal for a second electrode different from the first electrode and a first output connection terminal for the first electrode, each of said connection terminals being configured to receive an exposed end portion of a cable or a tooth of a horizontally distributed comb, the device comprising:

-a first current carrying circuit between the first input connection terminal and the first output connection terminal, comprising a fixed contact and a movable contact;

-a control mechanism of the movable contact having two stable positions, respectively a disconnected position in which the movable contact is away from the fixed contact and an engaged position in which the movable contact rests on the fixed contact;

-a lever for manually operating the control mechanism to switch from the disengaged position to the engaged position or vice versa;

-a compact element comprising a magnetic breaking element constituted by a magnetic breaking coil arranged around a movable core controlling a striker acting on a control mechanism in the event of a short circuit and constituting part of a first current carrying circuit, and a protective relay constituted by a protective relay coil surrounding said movable core, said magnetic breaking coil and protective relay coil being arranged around each other;

-an electronic circuit connected to the protective relay coil;

characterized in that said electronic circuit comprises an assembly for determining the root mean square value of the intensity of the current flowing in said magnetic breaking coil from the signal present at the end of said protective relay coil, implemented by an analog-to-digital converter, a calculation unit and an interface arranged between the end of the protective relay coil and the converter, said interface being configured to supply to the input port of said converter an analog signal available to said converter and corresponding to the voltage present between the two ends of said protective relay coil, said converter being configured for generating a digital value representative of the analog signal supplied by said interface; the computing unit is configured for generating, from the digital values representing the analog signals provided by the interface, digital values representing a root mean square value of the intensity of the current flowing in the magnetic shutdown coil; the calculation unit is further connected to a communication element and configured for transmitting the digital value representing a root mean square value of the intensity of the current to the communication element.

The communication element allows the protection device to provide the intensity value of the current flowing through it, simply by means of already existing components, i.e. compact elements, and suitable electronic circuits, which is particularly simple, convenient and economical.

The invention is based on the observation that the protective relay coil, in addition to being used for driving the striker, can also sense the current flowing in the magnetic trip coil and thus in the first current carrying circuit.

In fact, the signal provided by the protection relay coil represents the current flowing in the magnetic opening coil, since the magnetic opening coil and the protection relay coil are arranged around each other and thus interact like a winding of a transformer, including that the coupling between the two coils can be made only by the surrounding air in the absence of specific coupling elements such as electromagnetic armatures.

According to an advantageous feature:

the analog-to-digital converter and the calculation unit are implemented in a microcontroller;

-the device is configured so that the protective relay coil is used only for providing the signal present at its end to the assembly determining the root mean square value of the current flowing in the magnetic breaking coil;

said means are configured so that the protective relay coil is used to supply said signal present at its ends to said assembly determining the root mean square value of the intensity of the current flowing in said magnetic breaking coil and to drive said movable core, which controls the striker acting on the control mechanism to trigger the switching from the engaged position to the disengaged position, the electronic circuit includes a switching circuit and is configured to generate a detection signal when a predetermined current condition occurs, said electronic circuit being configured such that, in the absence of said detection signal, the switching circuit connects the protective relay coil to the interface while isolating the coil of the protective relay from each of said input connection terminals, and in the presence of said detection signal, the switching circuit isolates the protective relay coil from the interface and then connects the protective relay coil to each of said input connection terminals.

-the device has a second output connection terminal for a second electrode, the output connection terminal being configured for receiving a bare end portion of a cable or teeth of a horizontal distribution comb; the apparatus comprises a second current-carrying circuit between the second input connection terminal and the second output connection terminal, and in that it comprises a differential fault detection transformer configured to generate a differential fault signal in the event of a differential fault occurring between the first current-carrying circuit and the second current-carrying circuit, the transformer being connected to a switching interface of the electronic circuit configured to generate the detection signal in the presence of the differential fault signal;

the switching circuit includes:

-a first switching element comprising a control connection point and connected on the one hand to the first input connection terminal and on the other hand to the first end of the protection relay coil, allowing, when there is no predetermined signal at said control connection point, a blocking configuration in which the first switching element isolates the first end of the protection relay coil from the first input connection terminal and allowing, when there is said predetermined signal at said control connection point, a switching-on configuration in which the first switching element connects the first end of the protection relay coil to the first input connection terminal;

-a second switching element comprising a control connection point and connected on the one hand to the second input connection terminal and on the other hand to the second end of the protection relay coil, allowing, when there is no predetermined signal at the control connection point, a blocking configuration in which the second switching element isolates the second end of the protection relay coil from the second input connection terminal and allowing, when there is said predetermined signal at the control connection point, a closing configuration in which the second switching element connects the second end of the protection relay coil to the second input connection terminal;

-a third switching element comprising a control connection point and connected on the one hand to the first end of the protection relay coil and on the other hand to the interface, allowing a switch-on configuration in which the first end of the protection relay coil is connected to the interface when there is no predetermined signal at said control connection point and allowing a switch-off configuration in which the first end of the protection relay coil is isolated from the interface when there is said predetermined signal at said control connection point;

-a fourth switching element comprising a control connection point and being connected on the one hand to the second end of the protection relay coil and on the other hand to the interface, an on configuration being allowed when there is no predetermined signal at said control connection point, in which on configuration the second end of the protection relay coil is connected to said interface, and a blocking configuration being allowed when there is said predetermined signal at said control connection point, in which blocking configuration the second end of the protection relay coil is isolated from said interface;

-the switching interface is configured for generating an activation signal at the end of a predetermined period of time from the generation of said detection signal, said electronic circuit being configured for applying said detection signal to the control connection point of the third switching element and to the control connection point of the fourth switching element, and for applying said activation signal to the control connection point of the first switching element and to the control connection point of the second switching element;

the first switching element and the second switching element each comprise a transistor and a thyristor;

the third switching element and the fourth switching element each comprise a transistor;

-the communication element is a radio frequency communication element;

the device is in the form of a module, substantially parallelepiped in shape, with two main surfaces, respectively a left surface and a right surface, and a lateral surface extending from one main surface to the other main surface, with a width, i.e. the distance between the left and right surfaces, equal to an integer multiple of a predetermined distance, called the modulus; and/or

-the ratio of the number of turns of the protective relay coil to the number of turns of the magnetic trip coil is between 100 and 500.

Drawings

The introduction of the invention will now be continued by the following description of an embodiment given by way of illustration and not limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1, which has been described, is a perspective view of a known protective device, taken from the right, top and front of the device;

fig. 2, already described, very schematically shows the electric circuit of a first embodiment of the known device and the control mechanism of the movable contacts that it comprises;

fig. 3, already described, very schematically shows an electric circuit of a second embodiment of the known device and a control mechanism of the movable contacts comprised by the electric circuit;

fig. 4 shows, in a similar way to fig. 2 and 3, the circuit of the device according to the invention and the control mechanism of the movable contact comprised by the circuit.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of the electronic circuitry comprised by the circuit of fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows in detail the first switching element and the second switching element of the electronic circuit shown in fig. 5;

FIG. 7 shows in detail the third switching element and the fourth switching element of the electronic circuit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 shows in detail the interfaces comprised by the electronic circuit shown in FIG. 5;

fig. 9 is a flow chart showing the operation of a monitoring unit implemented in a microcontroller comprised in the electronic circuit shown in fig. 5;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the compact components and electromechanical connections that the device comprises;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the compact component and the connector;

FIG. 12 is an elevational cross-section of the compact component and the connector;

FIG. 13 is a left side sectional view of the device according to the present invention with the left side panel of the housing removed;

fig. 14 is a view similar to fig. 13, but taken from the right.

Fig. 15 shows, in a similar way to fig. 4, a variant of the circuit of the device according to the invention and the control mechanism of the movable contacts which the circuit comprises;

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of an electronic circuit included in the circuit of FIG. 15;

fig. 17 shows, in a similar way to fig. 4, a variant of the circuit of the device according to the invention, which comprises a thermal breaking element and a correspondingly modified electronic circuit;

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of an electronic circuit included in the circuit of FIG. 17; and

fig. 19 shows, in a similar way to fig. 18, a variant of the electronic circuit comprised by the circuit of fig. 4, the device forming part of the electronic circuit comprising a differential fault-measuring transformer and a thermal breaking element.

Detailed Description

In the usual manner, the protection device 100 of an alternating current electrical apparatus is similar to the device 10 described with reference to fig. 1 and 2, except that it does not comprise the thermal disconnection element 33 and does not comprise the differential fault detection transformer 35, and the electronic card 43 is replaced by an electronic circuit 43a and the electronic circuit 43a is connected by a conductor 48 to a first current-carrying circuit between the movable contact 32 and the connection terminal 26 and by a conductor 49 to a second current-carrying circuit between the movable contact 37 and the connection terminal 27.

For simplicity, we have retained the same numerical reference numbers for the device 100 for similar elements as the device 10.

The device 100 comprises a first input connection terminal 22 for a first electrode, a second input connection terminal 23 for a second electrode different from the first electrode, a first output connection terminal 26 for the first electrode and a second output connection terminal 27 for the second electrode.

Each of the connection terminals 22, 23, 26, 27 is configured to receive an exposed end portion of a cable or a tooth of a horizontal distribution comb.

As shown in fig. 4, the apparatus 100 includes a first current carrying circuit between the first input connection terminal 22 and the first output connection terminal 26.

The first current carrying circuit includes a fixed contact 31 and a movable contact 32.

The device 100 furthermore comprises a second current supply circuit between the second input connection terminal 23 and the second output connection terminal 27.

The second current carrying circuit includes a fixed contact 36 and a movable contact 37.

The control mechanism 50 of the movable contacts 32 and 37 has two stable positions, respectively an open position and an engaged position.

In the open position, the movable contact 32 is away from the fixed contact 31 and the movable contact 37 is away from the fixed contact 36.

In the engaged position, the movable contact 32 abuts against the fixed contact 31 and the movable contact 37 abuts against the fixed contact 36.

The device 100 comprises a lever 19 configured for manual manipulation of the operating mechanism 50 for switching from the disengaged position to the engaged position or vice versa.

The protection device 100 comprises a compact element 44.

The compact element 44 comprises a magnetic breaking element 30 and a protective relay 45.

The compact element 44 is configured to act on the lock 50 to switch from the engaged position to the disengaged position in the event of a short circuit or a long overcurrent.

As shown in fig. 10 to 14, the magnetic breaking element 30 is constituted by a magnetic breaking coil 51 arranged around a movable core 103 which controls a striker 102 to act on the control mechanism 50 when a short circuit occurs.

The magnetic breaker coil 51 constitutes a part of the first current carrying circuit. The magnetic breaking coil 51 is located between the input connection terminal 22 and the fixed contact 31.

The protective relay 45 is constituted by a protective relay coil 52 arranged around the movable core 103.

The protective relay coil 52 is provided with a first end portion 110 and a second end portion 110 a.

The magnetic breaking coil 51 and the protective relay coil 52 are arranged around each other.

Here, the magnetic breaking coil 51 is arranged around the protective relay coil 52.

The fact that the two windings constituting the coil 51 and the coil 52 are arranged around each other creates a transformer effect, that is to say that the current flowing in the coil 51 induces a current in the coil 52 due to the electromagnetic coupling of the two coils through the air.

The transformation ratio is the ratio between the number of turns of the two windings.

Here, the coil winding of the protective relay 52 has two thousand turns, and the magnetic opening coil 51 has five turns, so that the transformation ratio is 400.

Generally, it is advantageous that the ratio of the number of turns of the protective relay coil 52 to the number of turns of the magnetic breaking coil 51 is comprised between 100 and 500.

In fact, in this range, it is easy to have a suitable number of turns, for example, 1000 to 1500 turns, which allows the protective relay coil to function as both the sensor and the actuator, and a suitable number of turns, for example, 3 to 10 turns, which allows the magnetic breaking coil to function as both the protective relay coil and the actuator.

The electronic circuit 43a of the device 100 is connected to the protective relay coil 52 by conductors 46 and 47.

More specifically, as shown in fig. 6, conductor 46 is connected to terminal 110 and conductor 47 is connected to terminal 110 a.

The electronic circuit 43a is configured to power the protective relay coil 52 when a predetermined current delivery circuit condition indicative of a long time overcurrent occurs.

As can be seen in fig. 5, the electronic circuit 43a comprises a long-time overcurrent detector 60 and a switching circuit 61.

The long-time overcurrent detector 60 is configured to determine the presence of a current delivery condition indicative of a long-time overcurrent from the signals appearing at the ends 110 and 110a of the protective relay coil 52.

The long-time overcurrent detector 60 is furthermore configured to generate a detection signal when a predetermined current delivery condition exists, i.e. in the case of a long-time overcurrent, and subsequently to generate a start signal at the end of a predetermined period of time from the generation of the detection signal.

The long-time overcurrent detector 60 and the switching circuit 61 are configured such that the switching circuit 61 connects the protective relay coil 52 to the long-time overcurrent detector 60 while isolating the protective relay coil 52 from each of the input connection terminals 22, 23 when there is no detection signal.

The switching circuit 61 isolates the protective relay coil 52 from the long-time overcurrent detector 60 when the detection signal is present, and then subsequently connects the protective relay coil 52 to each of the input connection terminals 22 and 23 when the start signal is present.

The long term overcurrent detector 60 is implemented by a microcontroller 95 and an interface 70.

An interface 70 is provided between the switching circuit 61 and the analogue input port 67 of the microcontroller 95.

The switching circuit 61 connects the interface 70 to both end portions 110 and 110a of the protection relay coil 52 when there is no detection signal and isolates the interface 70 from both end portions 110 and 110a of the relay coil 52 when a detection signal occurs.

The interface 70 has two input connection points 74 and 75 which the switching circuit 61 connects or does not connect to the ends 110 and 110a of the coil 52, respectively, and the output connection point 76 is connected to the analogue input port 67 of the microcontroller 95.

As can be seen in fig. 5, the input connection point 75 is connected to the reference pole of the dc part of the electronic circuit 43 a. Thus, when the switching circuit 61 connects the input connection point 75 to the end 110a of the coil 52, this end is brought to this reference pole.

The interface 70 is configured to provide an analog signal to the analog input port 67 that is usable by the microcontroller 95 and that corresponds to the voltage present between the two ends 110 and 110a of the protective relay coil 52.

As shown in fig. 8, the interface 70 includes an amplifier 114 having an output connected to the output connection point 76. Between the input connection point 74 and the + input of the amplifier 114, two resistors 116 and 117 are arranged in series. Between the reference pole, to which the input connection point 75 is connected, and the-input of the amplifier 114, a resistor 118 is placed. The capacitor 115 is arranged between the input connection point 75 and one side of the resistors 116 and 117 connected to each other. A resistor 119 is arranged between the output of the amplifier 114 and its-input. The resistors 120 and 121 are connected to each other. The + input of amplifier 114 is connected to one side of resistors 120 and 121, which are connected to each other. The other sides of the resistors 120 and 121 are connected to the + and reference poles, respectively, of the power supply of the electronic circuit 43 a.

Resistor 116 and capacitor 115 allow the current flowing through coil 52 to be converted to a voltage and low pass filtering to be performed.

Resistors 117, 120, and 121 allow amplifier 114 to polarize.

Resistors 118 and 119 allow the gain of amplifier 114 to be fixed.

The long-time overcurrent detector 60 includes a converter 71, a calculation unit 72, and a monitoring unit 73 in a microcontroller 95.

The converter 71 is connected to the analog port 67 of the microcontroller 95 and is configured to generate a digital value representative of the analog signal provided by the interface 70.

The calculation unit 72 is configured to generate, from the digital values representing the analog signals provided by the interface 70, digital values representing the root mean square value of the intensity of the current flowing in the magnetic shutdown coil 51.

In practice, the calculation unit 72 is implemented by conventional techniques for calculating the root mean square value of the sinusoidal signal and by calibration.

As can be seen in fig. 9, the rms value monitoring unit 73 of the current flowing in the magnetic shutdown coil 51 is configured to compare the digital value I representing the rms value of the current intensity with a current intensity threshold value "threshold value I" and to generate a detection signal if this threshold value is exceeded during a predetermined time period "threshold value t".

The monitoring unit 73 here conforms to the french standard NF C15-100, largely in accordance with the european standard HD 384, describing the breaking time of the circuit breaker, but using the bimetallic strip technique.

The monitoring unit 73 must not generate a detection signal when the value of the root mean square value I representing the intensity of the current is less than or equal to 1.13 times the current intensity threshold value in a time less than one hour.

The monitoring unit 73 should generate a detection signal within one hour when the value of the root mean square value I representing the intensity of the current is greater than or equal to 1.45 times the current intensity threshold value.

As a variant, the monitoring unit 73 satisfies a single criterion, for example, when the value of the root mean square value I representative of the intensity of the current is equal to 1.2 times the current intensity threshold, the monitoring unit 73 generates a detection signal within a few milliseconds, allowing the disconnection of the device.

The detection signal generated by the monitoring unit 73 is available on port 68 of the microcontroller 95.

At the end of a predetermined period of time after the start of the generation of the detection signal, the monitoring unit 73 also generates an activation signal available on the port 69 of the microcontroller 95.

The predetermined time is between 1 and 10 milliseconds depending on the assembly used and its reaction time.

The microcontroller 95 also comprises a port 66 on which the values generated by the calculation unit 72 can be used.

The port 66 is connected to a communication element 96, here a radio frequency, to which the value generated by the calculation unit 72, i.e. a value representative of the root mean square value of the intensity of the current flowing in the magnetic shutdown coil 51, is therefore transmitted. That is to say the current is the current flowing in the electrical device or part of the electrical device located between the output terminals 26 and 27 of the apparatus 100.

The radio frequency communication element 96 allows this current or a value derived therefrom, in particular the power consumption of a device or a part of a device located between the output terminals 26 and 27 of the apparatus 100, to be tracked remotely, for example via a mobile application. For example, the device 100 communicates with a gateway so that current consumption information can be found on the cloud accessed by the mobile application.

As a variant, the radio frequency communication element 96 is replaced by a different communication element, for example wired or infrared, and the device 100 is equipped with a corresponding port.

The switching circuit 61 includes a first switching element 79, a second switching element 80, a third switching element 81, and a fourth switching element 82.

The first switching element 79 comprises a control connection point 87, a first connection point 83 connected to the output connection terminal 26 by means of the conductor 48 and the trace of the electronic circuit 43a, and a second connection point 84 connected to the first end 110 of the protective relay coil 52 by means of the conductor 46 and the trace of the electronic circuit 43a (fig. 6).

In the absence of the predetermined signal at the control connection point 87, the first switching element 79 assumes a blocking configuration in which the first end 110 of the protective relay coil 52 is isolated from the output connection terminal 26.

The control connection point 87 is connected via a trace of the electronic circuit 43a to the port 69 of the microcontroller 95, on which the start signal is present or not.

In the presence of a predetermined signal at the control connection point 87, in the case of a start signal, the first switching element 79 allows to switch on the configuration in which the first end 110 of the protective relay coil 52 is connected to the output connection terminal 26.

In the blocking configuration, the first connection point 83 is isolated from the second connection point 84 and in the pass-through configuration, the first connection point 83 is connected to the second connection point 84.

As seen in fig. 6, the first switching element 79 includes a transistor 97 and a thyristor 98.

The control connection point 87 is connected to the base of a transistor 97 whose collector is connected to the + supply pole of the electronic circuit 43a and whose emitter is connected to one side of a first resistor and a second resistor, the other side of the first resistor being connected to the reference pole of the supply and the other side of the second resistor being connected to the gate of a thyristor 98, the anode of which is connected to the first connection point 83 and the cathode of which is connected to the second connection point 84.

In the absence of a start signal at connection 87, transistor 97 is blocked, as is thyristor 98.

When there is a start signal at connection 87, transistor 97 conducts between its collector and its emitter, causing a signal to appear at the gate of thyristor 98, which conducts between its anode and its cathode.

The second switching element 80 comprises a control connection point 88, a first connection point 85 connected to the second output connection terminal 27 via the conductor 49 and the trace of the electronic circuit 43a, and a second connection point 86 connected to the second end 110a of the protective relay coil 52 via the conductor 47 and the trace of the electronic circuit 43a (fig. 6).

In the absence of the predetermined signal at the control connection point 88, the second switching element 80 allows a blocking configuration in which the second end 110a of the protective relay coil 52 is isolated from the output connection terminal 27.

The control connection point 88 is connected via a trace of the electronic circuit 43a to the port 69 of the microcontroller 95, on which the start signal is present or not.

In the presence of a predetermined signal at the control connection point 88, in the case of a start signal, the second switching element 80 allows a switch-on configuration in which the second end 110a of the protective relay coil 52 is connected to the output connection terminal 27.

In the blocking configuration, the first connection point 85 is isolated from the second connection point 86 and in the closing configuration, the first connection point 85 is connected to the second connection point 86.

As seen in fig. 6, the second power supply switching element 80 includes a transistor 97 and a thyristor 98.

The control connection point 88 is connected to the base of a transistor 97, the collector of the transistor 97 being connected to the supply + pole of the electronic circuit 43a and the emitter thereof being connected to one side of a first resistor and a second resistor, the other side of the first resistor being connected to the reference pole of the supply and the other side of the second resistor being connected to the gate of a thyristor 98, the anode of which being connected to the first connection point 85 and the cathode thereof being connected to the second connection point 86.

In the absence of a start signal at junction 88, transistor 97 is blocked, as is thyristor 98.

When the start signal is present at junction 88, transistor 97 conducts between its collector and its emitter, causing a signal to appear at the gate of thyristor 98, which thyristor 98 becomes conductive between its anode and cathode.

The fact that the thyristor 98 is switched on causes the end of the protection relay coil 52 to switch on the grid voltage, the striker 102 is actuated, and the latch 50 causes the movable contacts 32 and 37 to move away from the fixed contacts 31 and 36, which simultaneously isolates the protection relay coil 52 from the grid.

The third switching element 81 comprises a control connection point 93, a first connection point 89 connected to the first end 110 of the protective relay coil 52 by a conductor 46 and a trace of the electronic circuit 43a, and a second connection point 90 connected by a trace of the electronic circuit 43a to the input connection point 74 of the interface 70.

In the absence of the predetermined signal at the control connection point 93, the third switching element 81 allows a switch-on configuration, in which the first end 110 of the protective relay coil 52 is connected to the long-time overcurrent detector 60, here to the input connection point 74.

The control connection 93 is connected by traces of the electronic circuit 43a to the port 68 of the microcontroller 95, on which the detection signal is present or not.

In the presence of a predetermined signal at the control connection point 93, in the case of a detection signal, the third switching element 81 assumes a blocking configuration in which the first end 110 of the protective relay coil 52 is isolated from the long-term overcurrent detector 60.

In the on configuration, the first connection point 89 is connected to the second connection point 90, and in the off configuration, the first connection point 89 is isolated from the second connection point 90.

As seen in fig. 7, the third switching element 81 includes a transistor 99.

The control connection point 93 is connected to one side of a first resistor and one side of a second resistor, the other side of the first resistor being connected to the reference of the power supply and the other side of the second resistor being connected to the base of the transistor 99. Connection point 89 is connected to the collector of transistor 99 and connection point 90 is connected to the emitter of transistor 99.

In the absence of the detection signal at the connection point 93, the transistor 99 is turned on, and the absence of the detection signal is at a high voltage level at the connection point 93.

Transistor 99 is blocked when a detection signal is present at connection point 93, the presence detection signal being a low voltage level at connection point 93.

The fourth switching element 82 comprises a control connection point 94, a first connection point 91 connected to the second end 110a of the protective relay coil 52 via the conductor 47 and the trace of the electronic circuit 43a, and a second connection point 92 connected to the input connection point 75 of the interface 70 via the trace of the electronic circuit 43 a.

In the absence of the predetermined signal at the control connection point 94, the fourth switching element 82 allows a switch-on configuration, in which the second end 110a of the protective relay coil 52 is connected to the long-time overcurrent detector 60, here to the input connection point 75.

The control connection point 94 is connected to the port 68 of the microcontroller 95 via a trace of the electronic circuit 43a, on which the detection signal is present or not.

In the presence of a predetermined signal at the control connection point 94, in the case of a detection signal, the fourth switching element 82 allows a blocking configuration in which the second end 110a of the protective relay coil 52 is isolated from the long-term overcurrent detector 60.

In the closed configuration, the first connection point 91 is connected to the second connection point 92, while in the blocked configuration, the first connection point 91 is isolated from the second connection point 92.

As seen in fig. 7, the fourth switching element 82 includes a transistor 99.

The control connection 94 is connected to one side of a first resistor and one side of a second resistor, the other side of the first resistor being connected to the reference of the power supply and the other side of the second resistor being connected to the base of the transistor 99. The connection point 91 is connected to the collector of the transistor 99 and the connection point 92 is connected to the emitter of the transistor 99.

In the absence of a detection signal at the connection point 94, the transistor 99 is turned on.

When the detection signal is present at the connection point 94, the transistor 99 is blocked.

As seen in fig. 10 to 12, the compact element 44 comprises, in addition to the magnetic breaking coil 51, the protective relay coil 52, the striker 102 and the movable core 103, a bobbin 101, a guide 107, a spring 108, an insulating sheath 111 and connecting bars 125 and 125a, here as conductors 46 and 47.

The protective relay coil 52 is wound on a bobbin 101 of insulating plastic material, the bobbin 101 being generally tubular with a flange visible at the bottom end in the figure and a flange visible at its top that engages with the bays, each bay being for one of the ends of the coil 52 and one of the connecting rods 125 and 125 a.

An insulating sheath 111 is disposed between the magnetic breaking coil 51 and the protective relay coil 52.

The core 103, the striker 102, the spring 108 and the guide 107 are accommodated in the inner space of the bobbin 101.

The core 103 is generally cylindrical. The housing 104 is disposed in one of its ends. The core 103 is slidably mounted in the bobbin 101.

The guide 107 is fixedly mounted on one end of the bobbin 101. A through hole 113 is provided in the guide 107.

The striker 102 is formed of a rod-shaped main body 106 and a head 105 located at and protruding from one end of the rod.

The cabin 104 is arranged to receive the head 105 of the striker 102. The bore 113 of the guide 107 is arranged to receive the rod 106.

A spring 108 is disposed around the shaft 106 of the striker 102.

The connection rod 125 is arranged between the end 110 of the protective relay coil 52 and the electronic circuit 43a (see in particular fig. 13). Likewise, the connection rod 125a is arranged between the end 110a of the protective relay coil 52 and the electronic circuit 43 a.

Mechanical and electrical connections 112 made of a relatively rigid electrically conductive material are used to mount the compact element 44 on the housing of the device 100 and to realize the electrical connection between the magnetic interruption coil 51 and the fixed contacts 31.

If any fault (long overcurrent or short circuit) does not occur, the core 103 is held away from the guide 107 by the spring 108.

When a fault occurs, the magnetic flux generated by the coil 51 or 52 acts on the core 103, driving it to slide in the hole 113 against the spring 108 towards the guide 107, by extending its rod 106, which then acts on the control mechanism 50 to drive the striker 102.

When the magnetic flux ceases, the spring 108, core 103 and striker 102 return to the initial position shown in fig. 12.

As shown in fig. 13 and 14, the compact element 44 and the lock 50 straddle the insulating spacer 109. The spacer 109 is provided between the circuit of the protected pole (between terminals 22 and 26) and the circuit of the unprotected pole (between terminals 23 and 27).

In the variant shown in fig. 15, the device 100 furthermore comprises a differential fault detection transformer 35, the electronic circuit 43a being replaced by an electronic circuit 43d, and furthermore the assembly constituted by the protective relay 45 connected to the electronic circuit 43d is also configured to act on the lock 50 not only in the event of long overcurrents but also in the event of differential faults.

In this variant, the current-carrying circuit between the terminals 22 and 26 comprises, in series, a magnetic breaking element 30, a fixed contact 31, a movable contact 32 and a winding 34 constituting a transformer 35, and the current-carrying circuit between the terminals 23 and 27 comprises, in series, a fixed contact 36, a movable contact 37 and a winding 38 constituting a differential fault detection transformer 35.

The transformer 35, in addition to the winding 34 and the winding 38, includes a secondary winding 39 and a ring armature 40 around which the secondary winding 39 and the primary windings 34 and 38 are formed.

The secondary winding 39 is connected by two conductors 41, 42 to an electronic circuit 43d, which electronic circuit 43d processes, in addition to the signal representing the current intensity supplied by the coil 52, the differential fault signal supplied by the transformer 35.

In general, the electronic circuit 43d is similar to the electronic circuit 43a, except that the long-term overcurrent detector 60 is replaced by an assembly of an interface 70, a converter 71, a calculation unit 72, a monitoring unit 73 for determining the root mean square value of the intensity of the current flowing in the magnetic trip coil 51; and in addition to it comprises a switching interface 63 which generates a signal to which the switching circuit 61 is responsive.

The switching interface 63 comprises two connection points 170 and 171 connected to the secondary winding 39 of the transformer 35 by conductors 42 and 41, respectively, and two output connection points 168 and 169, respectively, connected to the switching circuit 61.

More precisely, the output connection point 168 is connected to the control connection points 93 and 94 of the third switching element 81 and the fourth switching element 82, respectively; and the output connection point 169 is connected to the control connection points 87 and 88 of the first switching element 79 and the second switching element 80, respectively.

When the transformer 35 provides a differential fault signal on the conductors 41 and 42, the interface 63 responsively generates a detection signal that is transmitted to the third switching element 81 and the fourth switching element 82, and then generates an activation signal that is transmitted to the first switching element 79 and the second switching element 80.

Fig. 17 shows another variation of the present device shown in fig. 4-14.

In this variant, the device 100 furthermore comprises a thermal breaking element 33, and the electronic circuit 43a is replaced by an electronic circuit 43 b.

The electronic circuit 43b is connected to the protective relay coil 52 through the conductor 46 and the conductor 47 in the same manner as the electronic circuit 43a of the embodiment shown in fig. 4.

The current-carrying circuit between the terminals 22 and 26 here comprises a magnetic breaking element 30, a fixed contact 31, a movable contact 32 and a thermal breaking element 33 connected in series. The current carrying circuit between terminals 23 and 27 remains unchanged.

The thermal disconnect element 33 is configured to automatically act on the latch 50 to switch from the engaged position to the disengaged position when a long-term overcurrent is generated.

In practice, the thermal breaking element 33 is formed by a bimetallic strip which deforms in the event of long-term overcurrent and acts on the lock 50 as a result of its deformation.

In general, the electronic circuit 43b is similar to the electronic circuit 43a, except that it comprises neither the switching circuit 61 nor the monitoring unit 73, the long-time overcurrent detector 60 being replaced by an assembly constituted by an interface 70, a converter 71 and a calculation unit 72 for determining the root mean square value of the intensity of the current flowing in the magnetic shutdown coil 51.

The calculation unit 72 provides a value representing the root mean square value of the intensity of the current only to the radio frequency communication element 96 via the port 66.

The interface 70 is directly connected to the conductors 46 and 47.

The device comprising the electronic circuit 43b shown in fig. 18 is arranged so that the protective relay coil 52 is used to supply only the signals present at its ends 110 and 110a to the assembly constituted by the interface 70, the converter 71 and the calculation unit 72, instead of driving the movable core 103 controlling the striker 102.

Fig. 19 shows a further variant of the device shown in fig. 4 to 14.

In this variant, the circuit of the device is similar to that shown in fig. 2, except that the electronic card 43 is replaced by an electronic circuit 43 c.

Thus, in the variant of fig. 19, the device comprises a thermal breaking element 33 and a differential fault transformer 35, the electronic circuit 43c being connected to the protective relay coil by means of conductors 46 and 47. The current carrying circuit between terminals 22 and 26 comprises, in series, a magnetic breaking element 30, a fixed contact 31, a movable contact 32, a thermal breaking element 33 and a winding forming part of a transformer 35, and the current carrying circuit between terminals 23 and 27 comprises, in series, a fixed contact 36, a movable contact 37 and a winding 38 forming part of a differential fault detection transformer 35.

In general, the electronic circuit 43c is similar to the electronic circuit 43a, except that it does not comprise the monitoring unit 73, the long-time overcurrent detector 60 being replaced by an assembly constituted by an interface 70, a converter 71 and a calculation unit 72 for determining the root mean square value of the intensity of the current flowing in the magnetic trip coil 51; and in addition to it comprises a switching interface 63 which generates a signal to which the switching circuit 61 is responsive.

The switching interface 63 comprises two connection points 170 and 171 connected to the secondary winding 39 of the transformer 35 by conductors 42 and 41, respectively, and two output connection points 168 and 169 each connected to the switching circuit 61.

More precisely, the output connection point 168 is connected to the control connection points 93 and 94 of the third switching element 81 and the fourth switching element 82, respectively; and the output connection point 169 is connected to the control connection points 87 and 88 of the first switching element 79 and the second switching element 80, respectively.

The interface 63 is configured to generate a detection signal and subsequently generate a start signal at the end of a predetermined period of time after the start of the generation of the detection signal.

The interface 63 transmits the detection signal to the switching circuit 61 via its output connection 168 and the start signal via its output connection 169.

When a differential fault signal is provided on conductors 41 and 42 by transformer 35, interface 63 responsively generates a detection signal that is transmitted to third switching element 81 and fourth switching element 82, and then generates a start signal that is transmitted to first switching element 79 and second switching element 80.

In a variant not shown:

the protective relay coil 52 is arranged around the magnetic breaking coil 51 and not vice versa;

the implementation of the switching circuit differs from the embodiments shown in fig. 6 and 7, for example by using optocouplers instead of transistors and thyristors;

the implementation of the long-term overcurrent detector differs from the embodiments shown in fig. 5, 8 and 9, for example in a completely analog manner;

the start signal generated at the end of a predetermined period of time after the generation of said detection signal is not provided by a long-time overcurrent detector, for example by a switching circuit similar to circuit 61, but is configured to receive only the detection signal;

the current carrying circuit of the protected pole is on the right instead of the left, and the current carrying circuit of the unprotected pole is on the left instead of the right;

the protection device does not comprise a second output connection terminal 27 for the second electrode and therefore does not comprise a second current carrying circuit between terminals 23 and 27; and/or

An electronic circuit, connected to the first current-carrying circuit by a conductor connected to the connection terminal 22 and to the second current-carrying circuit by a further conductor connected to the connection terminal 23, in addition to being connected to the first current-carrying circuit by a conductor 48 and to the second current-carrying circuit by a conductor 49, so that the electronic circuit remains powered when the lock is switched to the open position, or in any case a communication element such as 96 can allow monitoring whether there is no current or a value derived therefrom in the magnetic breaking coil, in particular the power consumption of the device or of a part of the device located between the output terminals 26 and 27 of the apparatus 100.

In a variant not shown, the protection device has a different width and/or a different number of poles, for example a quadrupole device with a width of four modules, comprising four terminals in the upper part and four terminals in the lower part.

More generally, the invention is not limited to the examples described and shown.

Claims (12)

1. A protection device for an alternating current electrical apparatus having a first input connection terminal (22) for a first electrode, a second input connection terminal (23) for a second electrode different from the first electrode and a first output connection terminal (26) for the first electrode, each connection terminal (22, 23, 26) being configured to receive a bare end portion of a cable or a tooth of a horizontally distributed comb; the device comprises:

a first current carrying circuit between the first input connection terminal (22) and the first output connection terminal (26), comprising a fixed contact (31) and a movable contact (32);

a control mechanism (50) of the movable contact (32) having two stable positions, respectively a disconnection position where the movable contact (32) is away from the fixed contact (31) and an engagement position where the movable contact (32) abuts on the fixed contact (31);

a lever (19) for manual action on the control mechanism (50) in order to switch from the disengaged position to the engaged position or vice versa;

a compact element (44) comprising a magnetic breaking element (30) and a protective relay (45), said magnetic breaking element (30) being constituted by a magnetic breaking coil arranged around a movable core controlling a striker which acts on a control mechanism (50) when a short circuit occurs and constitutes a part of a first current carrying circuit, said protective relay (45) being constituted by a protective relay coil arranged around said movable core, the magnetic breaking coil and the protective relay coil being arranged around each other;

an electronic circuit connected to the protective relay coil;

characterized in that said electronic circuit (43a, 43b, 43c, 43d) comprises a combination (70-72; 63, 70-72; 63, 70-73) for determining the root mean square value of the intensity of the current flowing in said magnetic interruption coil (51) as a function of the signals present at the ends (110, 110a) of said protective relay coil (52), which is realized by an analog-to-digital converter (71), a calculation unit (72) and an interface (70) arranged between the ends (110, 110a) of the protective relay coil (52) and the converter (71), the interface (70) is configured to provide an input port of the converter (71) with an analog signal that is available to the converter (71) and that corresponds to a voltage present between two ends (110, 110a) of the protective relay coil (52), the converter (71) is configured for generating a digital value representative of an analog signal provided by the interface (70); -said calculation unit (72) is configured for generating, from said digital values representative of the analog signals provided by said interface (70), digital values representative of the root mean square value of the intensity of the current flowing in said magnetic opening coil (51); the calculation unit (72) is further connected to a communication element (96) and configured for communicating the digital value representing a root mean square value of the intensity of the current to the communication element (96).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the analog-to-digital converter (71) and the calculation unit (72) are implemented in a microcontroller (95).

3. An arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is configured to protect the relay coil (52) only for supplying said signal present at its ends (110, 110a) to said assembly (70-72) determining the root mean square value of the intensity of the current flowing in said magnetic breaking coil (51).

4. An arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is configured such that a protective relay coil (52) is used for supplying the signal present at its end (110, 110a) to the assembly (63, 70-72; 63, 70-73) determining the root mean square value of the intensity of the current flowing in the magnetic breaking coil (51) and to the movable core (103) for driving the striker (102) controlling the action on the control mechanism (50) to trigger the switching from the engaged position to the disengaged position, the electronic circuit (43a, 43c, 43d) comprising a switching circuit (61) and being configured such as to generate a detection signal when a predetermined current delivery condition occurs, the electronic circuit (43 a; 43 c; 43d) being configured such as, in the absence of the detection signal, to switch the circuit (61) to connect the protective relay coil (52) to the interface (70) such that the protective relay coil (52) is caused to act on the protective relay coil (52) ) Is isolated from each of said input connection terminals (22, 23), and a switching circuit (61) isolates a protective relay coil (52) from an interface (70) and then connects the protective relay coil (52) to each of said input connection terminals (22, 23) when said detection signal is present.

5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that it has a second output connection terminal (27) for a second electrode, said output connection terminal (27) being configured for receiving a bare end portion of a cable or a tooth of a horizontal distribution comb; the device comprises a second current carrying circuit between the second input connection terminal (23) and the second output connection terminal (27), and in that the device comprises a differential fault detection transformer (35) configured for generating a differential fault signal when a differential fault occurs between the first current carrying circuit and the second current carrying circuit, the transformer being connected to a switching interface (63) of the electronic circuit (43 c; 43d), the switching interface (63) being configured for generating the detection signal when the differential fault signal occurs.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the switching circuit (61) comprises:

-a first switching element (79) comprising a control connection point (87) and connected on the one hand to the first input connection terminal (22) and on the other hand to the first end (110) of the protection relay coil (52), a blocking configuration being allowed when there is no predetermined signal at said control connection point (87), in which blocking configuration the first switching element (79) isolates the first end (110) of the protection relay coil (52) from the first input connection terminal (22) and an on configuration being allowed when there is said predetermined signal at said control connection point (87), in which on configuration the first switching element (79) connects the first end (110) of the protection relay coil (52) to the first input connection terminal (22);

-a second switching element (80) comprising a control connection point (88) and connected on the one hand to the second input connection terminal (23) and on the other hand to the second end (110a) of the protection relay coil (52), allowing a blocking configuration when there is no predetermined signal at the control connection point (88), in which blocking configuration the second switching element (80) isolates the second end (110a) of the protection relay coil (52) from the second input connection terminal (23), and allowing a switching-on configuration when there is the predetermined signal at the control connection point (88), in which switching-on configuration the second switching element (80) connects the second end (110a) of the protection relay coil (52) to the second input connection terminal (23);

-a third switching element (81) comprising a control connection point (93) and connected on the one hand to a first end (110) of a protection relay coil (52) and on the other hand to an interface (70), allowing a switch-on configuration in which the first end (110) of the protection relay coil (52) is connected to said interface (70) when there is no predetermined signal at said control connection point (93) and allowing a switch-off configuration in which the first end (110) of the protection relay coil (52) is isolated from said interface (70) when said predetermined signal is present at said control connection point (93);

-a fourth switching element (82) comprising a control connection point (94) and connected on the one hand to the second end (110a) of the protection relay coil (52) and on the other hand to the interface (70), allowing a switch-on configuration in which the second end (110a) of the protection relay coil (52) is connected to the interface (70) when there is no predetermined signal at the control connection point (94) and allowing a switch-off configuration in which the second end (110a) of the protection relay coil (52) is isolated from the interface (70) when there is the predetermined signal at the control connection point (94).

7. An arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that the switching interface (63) is configured for generating an activation signal at the end of a predetermined period of time from the generation of said detection signal, said electronic circuit (43c) being configured for applying said detection signal to the control connection point (93) of the third switching element (81) and to the control connection point (94) of the fourth switching element (82), and for applying said activation signal to the control connection point (87) of the first switching element (79) and to the control connection point (88) of the second switching element (80).

8. The device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the first switching element (79) and the second switching element (80) each comprise a transistor (97) and a thyristor (98).

9. The device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the third switching element (81) and the fourth switching element (82) each comprise a transistor (99).

10. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the communication element (96) is a radio frequency communication element.

11. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it is in the form of a module, substantially parallelepiped in shape, with two main surfaces (11, 12), respectively a left surface (11) and a right surface (12), and a lateral surface extending from one main surface to the other, the width of said lateral surface, that is to say the distance between the left surface (11) and the right surface (12), being equal to an integer multiple of a predetermined distance, called the modulus.

12. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the ratio between the number of turns of the protective relay coil (52) and the number of turns of the magnetic breaking coil (51) is comprised between 100 and 500.

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