EP0004508A2 - Circuit breaker with a movable latching element urged by elastic return means - Google Patents

Circuit breaker with a movable latching element urged by elastic return means Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0004508A2
EP0004508A2 EP79400179A EP79400179A EP0004508A2 EP 0004508 A2 EP0004508 A2 EP 0004508A2 EP 79400179 A EP79400179 A EP 79400179A EP 79400179 A EP79400179 A EP 79400179A EP 0004508 A2 EP0004508 A2 EP 0004508A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
circuit breaker
engaged
latching
movable contact
breaker according
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP79400179A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0004508A3 (en
EP0004508B1 (en
Inventor
Norbert Signorelli
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.)
Legrand SA
Original Assignee
Legrand 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 Legrand SA filed Critical Legrand SA
Publication of EP0004508A2 publication Critical patent/EP0004508A2/en
Publication of EP0004508A3 publication Critical patent/EP0004508A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0004508B1 publication Critical patent/EP0004508B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
    • H01H71/1009—Interconnected mechanisms
    • H01H71/1027—Interconnected mechanisms comprising a bidirectional connecting member actuated by the opening movement of one pole to trip a neighbour pole
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
    • H01H71/12—Automatic release mechanisms with or without manual release
    • H01H71/24—Electromagnetic mechanisms
    • H01H71/2409—Electromagnetic mechanisms combined with an electromagnetic current limiting mechanism
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
    • H01H71/50—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
    • H01H71/50—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release
    • H01H71/505—Latching devices between operating and release mechanism
    • H01H2071/506—Latching devices between operating and release mechanism using balls or rollers in the latching device

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to circuit breakers which comprise, in a case, a first contact, which is fixed, a second contact, which is movable between an engaged or closed position and a tripped or open position, and which is biased towards its triggered position by elastic opening means, any trigger, magnetic and / or thermal, which is capable of causing the release of said movable contact, and therefore the passage of the latter from its position engaged in its triggered position, an engaging or closing and triggering or opening lever, which is movably mounted between an engaged position and a triggered position, and a latching mechanism, which is established between said triggering member and said interlock lever; it relates more particularly to the case where this latching mechanism comprises a movable latching member subjected to elastic return means which urge it permanently in the direction of a reset position for which, after opening, the circuit breaker can, by operating the engagement and release lever, be returned to the engaged position.
  • the present invention generally relates to an improvement in circuit breakers of this type, such as to reduce the number of constituent parts, and therefore to lower the cost.
  • the elastic return means of the fastening member that includes the fastening mechanism belonging to the elastic opening means associated with the movable contact, said elastic return means of the fastening member, and said means opening elastic, are jointly constituted by the same elastic branch forming a bending spring.
  • the elastic branch forming a flexion spring is carried by a body consisting of a helical tension spring in continuity with it.
  • one and the same spring economically performs a multiplicity of functions, namely opening the movable contact, resetting the latching member, closing the movable contact, its penetration stroke. in contact with the fixed contact, and the resulting final contact pressure.
  • Such a circuit breaker generally comprises a box 10.
  • Such a case can be formed of two shells suitably facing one another, and suitably linked to each other by screws or rivets 11, as shown; in practice, the corresponding holes of the shells are grouped in pairs, one serving to assemble them into a unipolar, the other serving to assemble them into a multipolar.
  • the housing 10 can moreover constitute on the one hand a deep functional base, containing most of the components of the circuit breaker, and on the other hand a semi-functional cover attached to this base and covering the others of said components.
  • the housing 10 forms, at its lower part, a fixing sole 12 adapted, in cooperation with an elastic claw 13, to allow fixing on a rail of the type said in cap 14, as shown diagrammatically in broken lines in FIG. 1.
  • the housing 10 laterally contains two connection terminals 15A, 15B; for convenience the terminal 15A will be referred to hereinafter as input terminal and the B terminal 15 output terminal, without implying a reserved current direction passage; on the contrary, the circuit breaker according to the invention can indifferently be mounted in one direction or the other.
  • each of these terminals consists of a bracket 16A, 16B, slidably engaged on a metal strip 17A, 17 B belonging to the copperwork of the circuit breaker, and a screw 18A, 18B engaged for screwing on said stirrup.
  • the housing 10 comprises on the one hand passages 20A, 20B for engagement of the strands of the cable to be protected, and on the other hand passages 21 A , 21 B , for access to the screws 18A, 18B.
  • transversely passages 22A, 22B and the stirrups 16A, 16B have corresponding passages 23A, 23B, to allow possible wiring in parallel, from '' a cable of suitable section, stripped or not, with the neighboring circuit-breaker (s).
  • a breaking chamber 25 which, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 , is fitted with fire extinguisher plates 26.
  • the bands 17A, 17B constitute two arc horns 27A, 27B, the first of which, horn 27A, also constitutes a fixed contact with which a movable contact 28 cooperates.
  • this movable contact 28 is cut from a plate, and it is articulated as a knife on a fixed edge 29 formed by the free edge of a tongue 30 issuing from strip 17 B by means of a puncture 31 formed for this purpose therein.
  • the movable contact 28 By rotation around the fixed edge 29, the movable contact 28 is capable of passing from an engaged position, FIG. 1, for which it is in abutment against the fixed contact 27A, to a tripped position, FIGS. 6 and 7, for which it is remote from this fixed contact 27A.
  • an engagement and trigger lever 33 is available to the user, on the front wall of the housing 10, through an opening 34 made for this purpose in this front wall, and a latching mechanism 35 is established between this latching and latching lever 33 and a latching member, detailed below, capable of causing the release of the movable contact 28.
  • such a hooking mechanism comprises a hooking member 36 directly subjected to the corresponding triggering member.
  • the latching mechanism 35 to which this latching member 36 belongs is a mechanism with a free rolling element 37.
  • the free rolling element 37 which it comprises forms an intermediate retaining element between the latching member 36 and an operating member 38 subjected to the latching and tripping lever 33.
  • the opening member 38 forms a slide, guided by rectilinear slides 39 formed for this purpose in the housing 10, and it is integral with the engagement and release lever 33, so that the latter thus also constitutes itself a slide with rectilinear travel.
  • the operating member 38 is subjected to a spring 40, which bears on a fixed boss 41 of the housing 10, and which urges it in the direction opposite to the attachment member 36.
  • the free rolling element 37 is constituted by a ball, and this is disposed in a housing of the operating member 38 formed between a longitudinal bearing 42 and an elastically deformable tongue 43 of this one.
  • This free rolling element 37 cooperates with two other rolling elements, one linked to the hooking member 36 , the other linked to the operating member 38.
  • roller 44 mounted rotatably or not.
  • the balls 45, the ball 37, and the roller 44 generally form an alignment in contact with the longitudinal surface 42 of the operating member 38, but, according to an arrangement described in detail in the French patent application No. 7803760 mentioned above. above, arrangements are made for this alignment to be "negative”: for example, and as shown, FIG. 2, the balls 45 have a larger diameter to that of the ball 37, and this ball 37 itself has a diameter greater than that of the roller 44; as a variant, the ball and roller may have the same diameter, the desired "negative” alignment then being obtained by a transverse offset relative to each other of the bearing surfaces in contact with which these balls and this roller are in the engaged position shown in Figure 1.
  • housings 49 are provided in the housing 10, into which these balls can partially penetrate, FIG. 3.
  • the fastening member 36 forms a movable part having a generally U-shaped configuration, the roller 44 being established transversely between the ends of the wings of this part, from one of these wings to the other.
  • the latching member 36 also has two abutment lugs 52, formed for example by local stamping of the wings of the U-piece which constitutes it, FIG. 5, and these abutment lugs are engaged with play in buttonholes 53 provided for this purpose in the housing 10, parallel to the buttonholes 51 above, at a distance therefrom.
  • the hooking member 36 is subjected to at least one triggering member.
  • two triggering members are provided.
  • the first is an electromagnetic trip member, which comprises on the one hand a U-shaped piece 54, forming a cylinder head, engaged on the metal strip 17B, between the movable contact 28 and the terminal 15B, and, on the other hand, a piece in the form of a pallet 55, forming an armature, which is integral with the latching member 36, at the end thereof opposite the roller 44, and which, for the latching position shown in FIG. 1, s extends opposite the free ends of the wings of the U-shaped part forming a cylinder head 54.
  • the fastening member 36 is balanced around its transverse axis 50.
  • the cylinder head part 54 Transversally vis-à-vis the metal strip 17 B on which it is engaged, the cylinder head part 54 is mounted movable between two stops; in practice, and as is better visible in FIG. 5, the wings of the U-shaped part which constitutes it carry laterally, at a distance from each other, two bosses or half-punctures 56, formed for example by stamping, and engaged in the fixed buttonholes 57 provided for this purpose in the housing 10, FIG. 1.
  • the part forming the cylinder head 54 can be subjected to a spring 58, which urges it toward the abutment member 36 within the limits of its stroke permitted by its bosses 56 , which, for the latching position shown in FIG. 1, defines the necessary air gap between this part forming a cylinder head 54 and the part forming an armature 57 which is associated with it.
  • the second planned triggering member is thermal: it is a bimetallic strip 59 capable of acting on the hooking member 36.
  • the bimetallic strip 59 is carried by the operating member 38; it is therefore integral with the engagement and trigger lever 33.
  • lever 60 which is integral with the operating member 38, and came in one piece with it.
  • This lever 60 has, at its free end, a lug 61 which, through a notch 62 of the operating member 38, FIG. 2, is capable of coming to act on the roller 44 carried by the fastening member 36, and, in its central zone, it has, in the direction opposite to this lug 61, another lug 63 on which the bimetallic strip 59 can act by its free end.
  • the heating of the bimetallic strip 59 is provided by convection, by a ca conductor.
  • elastic opening means are associated with the movable contact 28, for biasing of the latter in the direction of its tripped position; and, as is also usual, elastic return means are associated with the hooking member 36, for biasing of the latter towards a reset position for which the roller 44 which it carries is at contact of the longitudinal surface 42 of the operating member 38, or, at least, in alignment with the latter.
  • the elastic return means thus associated with the attachment member 36 belong to the elastic opening means.
  • these elastic means consist jointly of the same elastic branch 65 of a spring 66, and this elastic branch 65, which by itself forms a bending spring, is carried by a body 67 consisting of a spring helical traction, which is in continuity with it and which, at its other end, is coupled to a boss 68 of the boot 10, or, as a variant, to an axis integral with the latter.
  • the body 67 of the spring 66 is disposed in a housing 69 of the housing 10 formed on the other side of the metal strip 1 7B with respect to the movable contact 28, and the elastic branch 65 of this spring 66 passes through this metal strip 17B in favor of the puncture 31 formed therein, as mentioned above,
  • the movable contact 28 For action on it of the elastic branch 65 the movable contact 28 comprises a notch 81, in which is simply engaged a cross-member 82 of said elastic branch, cross-member 82 by which this elastic branch thus passes from one side to the other of the moving contact 28.
  • the elastic branch 65 bears on the transverse axis 50 which this latching member has.
  • the elastic branch 65 is on the one hand fixed to the boss 68 of the boot 10 by the body 67 of the spring 66 to which it belongs, and on the other hand bearing on the movable contact by the notch 81 thereof , and resting on the hooking member 36 by the axis 50 that the latter comprises.
  • the spring 66 therefore ensures by its elastic bending branch 65, the proper maintenance of this abutment of the movable contact 28 against the fixed contact 27A; in addition, by its traction body 67, it jointly ensures the proper maintenance of the support of the movable contact 28 against its fixed pivoting edge 29.
  • the latching member 36 is therefore locked in the latched position by the ball 37, and the movable contact 28 held in the closed position against the fixed contact 27A.
  • the latching member 36 Under the stress of the elastic branch 65, the latching member 36, pushed in the direction of the operating member 38, comes to slide on the elastically deformable tongue 43 thereof and to be housed in a recess 70 provided for this purpose in the case 10, its transverse axis 50 and its stop lugs 52 sliding respectively in the buttonholes 51 and 53, FIG. 6.
  • the torque applied to it is advantageously substantially constant: indeed, although the force applied by the spring 66 on the movable contact 28 decreases during such an opening , however the corresponding lever arm increases.
  • the movable contact 26 has at its upper part a stop 70 adapted to limit the opening stroke.
  • the balls 45 slightly repel the ball 37, and the latter is therefore subject to the elastically deformable tongue 43 of this operating member, which has the dual function of to avoid inadvertent ejection and to ensure, with a view to rearming the assembly, the negative alignment necessary for such rearming in contact with the longitudinal reach 42 provided for this purpose.
  • the stop lugs 52 of this hooking member 36 come at the end of the buttonholes 53 in which they are engaged, the length of the buttonholes 51 in which the transverse axis 50 of this member is engaged attachment 36 being made sufficient so that this transverse axis 50 does not come at the end of these buttonholes 51 before the stop lugs 52 are at the end of the buttonholes 53.
  • the latching member 36 is the object of a tilting torque around the transverse axis 50, counterclockwise, as indicated by the arrow F 2 in FIG. 7.
  • the latching member 36 returns by itself to the reset position, for which its roller 44 is in alignment with the longitudinal reach 42 of the operating member 38, as soon as the latter has passed into the retracted release position, FIG. 7.
  • the operating member 38 pushes the attachment member 36 while maintaining the latter in the locked position, and this movement is continued until the balls 45, returned to their housings 49, are, as before, forced to partially penetrate therein and therefore keep the operating member 38 again locked in the engaged position, against the elastic stress exerted by the elastic branch 65 on the attachment member 36 .
  • the electromagnetic tripping device intervenes: the U-shaped piece 54 acting as a cylinder head attracts the pallet 55 acting as a movable frame, and, the latter being secured to the member attachment 36, this attachment member escapes from the ball 37, by rolling it, as before.
  • the mobility of the U-shaped part 54 allows systematic erasure under the thrust of the pallet 55, necessary for the pivoting of the hooking member 36.
  • the spring 58 possibly associated with the U-shaped piece 54 subsequently returns the latter to the initial position, although the progressive increase in current in the metal strip 17B is in practice sufficient for a systematic displacement of this U-shaped piece 54 towards the pallet 55 before the current reaches the tripping value for which the latching member 36 must escape the ball 37.
  • the spring 58 is therefore not strictly necessary, and, at least for certain embodiments, can be eliminated.
  • the spout 72 of the movable contact 28 is of sufficient length to form a suitable extension for the latter. constitute by itself a bow horn.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates another variant embodiment which, on the contrary, is more particularly suitable for circuit breakers having to ensure a high breaking capacity.
  • the fixed contact 27A and the calibrated conductor 64 which must ensure by convection the heating of the bimetallic strip 59 is formed on a cut part 74 of the metal strip 17A, suitably held in the grooves of the shoemaker 10, so that, as soon as the moving contact 28 moves away from the fixed contact 27A, the arc which then arises between this fixed contact 27A and this mobile contact 28 immediately passes over the current portion 75 of the metal strip 17A therefore forming an arc horn, sparing the cut-out part 74 thereof, and therefore the calibrated conductor 64.
  • This arrangement advantageously avoids this calibrated conductor 64 from collecting a dangerous thermal stress for its behavior.
  • a breakout striker 76 is associated with the movable contact 28 , to best reduce the reaction time of the circuit breaker to a short circuit.
  • this striker striker comprises a T-piece, the middle part 77 of which extends transversely between the wings of the U-piece 54 forming a cylinder head, in the direction of the movable contact 28, and the branches of which 78 are arranged opposite said wings.
  • Such a striker 76 is capable of applying to the movable contact 28 an opening force as soon as a fault appears, and at the same time, and not after, that, according to the process described above, the hook 36 is released.
  • FIG. 10 This possibility is illustrated by FIG. 10, in which such a coil 83 is inserted in series between two successive sections of the metal strip 17A split for this purpose, and is passed over the middle part of the U- shaped part 54.
  • a coupling piece 84 in the example shown, this one, which is made of insulating material, has an I shape: by the wings of one of the ends it is engaged on the pallets forming armatures 55 of the tripping members 36 of the circuit breakers concerned, and by the wings of its other end it is engaged in bores 85 of the U- shaped pieces 54 of these circuit breakers: when one of them opens, the U- shaped piece 54 drives the piece at 1 84 which, by action on the pallet 55 of the other of these circuit breakers, in turn causes the opening of the latter.
  • the flexion spring used to form, according to the invention, the elastic opening means and the elastic return means in the arming position of the hooking member can vary in configuration, and for example have the conventional configuration of a bending spring in which the middle helical part has an axis perpendicular to the lateral branches which it controls, and not an axis substantially parallel to, or coincident with, such branches, as in the present case .
  • Such a bending spring can moreover be replaced by a spring of a different type, without necessarily being a bending spring.
  • the breaking capacity being, at least within certain limits, proportional to the number of extinguisher plates 26 used, these are, for each particular use, put in sufficient number, this number can for example vary between 0 and 13 or more.
  • the hooking mechanism is of the type comprising a free rolling element, as described in French patent application No. 78 03760, it goes without saying that it could be of a different type; moreover, when it is a question, as in the present case, of a hooking mechanism with a free rolling element, it may individually be the subject of the variant embodiments described in the French patent application in question, in particular as regards the measures taken to ensure negative alignment of the rolling elements in question.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Breakers (AREA)

Abstract

1. A circuit-breaker comprising, in a casing, a first fixed contact (27A), a second contact (28) which is movable between an engaged position and a triggered position and which is urged towards its triggered position by resilient opening means, a triggering member (54, 59) for causing liberation (or opening) of said movable contact (28) and therefore movement thereof from its engaged position to its triggered position, an engagement and triggering lever member (33) mounted movably between an engagement position and a triggering position, and a latching mechanism (35) which is disposed between the triggering member (54, 59) and the engagement and triggering lever member (33), said mechanism (35) comprising a movable latching member (36) subjected on the one hand to the triggering member and on the other hand to resilient return means which urge it towards a re-arming position, and the same spring forming resilient return means for a member of the latching mechanism and said resilient means for opening the movable contact (28), characterised in that the resilient means for return movement of the latching member (36) and the resilient means for opening the movable contact (28) are formed by the same spring (66) which comprises on the one hand a body (67) formed by a helical spring, which is coupled at one of its ends to a fixed point (68) of the casing and which is coupled at the other of its ends to the movable contact (28) and, on the other hand, integral with said body (67), at said other end thereof, a resilient limb (65) forming a bending spring which bears against the latching member (36) in such a way that, besides the functions of opening the movable contact (28) and returning the latching member (36) said spring (66) is also capable of performing the function of closing said movable contact (28).

Description

La présente invention concerne d'une manière générale les disjoncteurs qui comportent, dans un bottier, un premier contact, qui est fixe, un deuxième contact, qui est mobile entre une position enclenchée, ou fermée, et une position déclenchée ou ouverte, et qui est sollicité en direction de sa position déclenchée par des moyens élastiques d'ouverture, un quelconque organe de déclenchement, magnétique et/ou thermique, qui est apte à provoquer la libération dudit contact mobile, et donc le passage de celui-ci de sa position enclenchée à sa position déclenchée, une manette d'enclenchement ou fermeture et de déclenchement ou ouverture, qui est montée mobile entre une position d'enclenchement et une position de déclenchement, et un mécanisme d'accrochage, qui est établi entre ledit organe de déclenchement et ladite manette d'enclenchement ; elle-concerne plus particulièrement le cas où ce mécanisme d'accrochage comporte un organe d'accrochage mobile soumis à des moyens élastiques de rappel qui le sollicitent en permanence en direction d'une position de réarmement pour laquelle, après ouverture, le disjoncteur peut, par manoeuvre de la manette d'enclenchement et de déclenchement, être ramené en position enclenchée.The present invention relates generally to circuit breakers which comprise, in a case, a first contact, which is fixed, a second contact, which is movable between an engaged or closed position and a tripped or open position, and which is biased towards its triggered position by elastic opening means, any trigger, magnetic and / or thermal, which is capable of causing the release of said movable contact, and therefore the passage of the latter from its position engaged in its triggered position, an engaging or closing and triggering or opening lever, which is movably mounted between an engaged position and a triggered position, and a latching mechanism, which is established between said triggering member and said interlock lever; it relates more particularly to the case where this latching mechanism comprises a movable latching member subjected to elastic return means which urge it permanently in the direction of a reset position for which, after opening, the circuit breaker can, by operating the engagement and release lever, be returned to the engaged position.

La présente invention a d'une manière générale pour objet un perfectionnement aux disjoncteurs de ce type, de nature à en réduire le nombre de pièces constitutives, et, partant, à en abaisser le coût.The present invention generally relates to an improvement in circuit breakers of this type, such as to reduce the number of constituent parts, and therefore to lower the cost.

Suivant ce perfectionnement, les moyens élastiques de rappel de l'organe d'accrochage que comporte le mécanisme d'accrochage appartenant aux moyens élastiques d'ouverture associés au contact mobile, lesdits moyens élastiques de rappel del'organe d'accrochage, et lesdits moyens élastiques d'ouverture, sont constitués conjointement par une même branche élastique formant ressort de flexion.According to this improvement, the elastic return means of the fastening member that includes the fastening mechanism belonging to the elastic opening means associated with the movable contact, said elastic return means of the fastening member, and said means opening elastic, are jointly constituted by the same elastic branch forming a bending spring.

Ainsi, lors d'une ouverture du disjoncteur, de mêmes moyens élastiques suffisent à provoquer l'écartement du contact mobile vis-à-vis du contact fixe, et le retour en position de réarmement de l'organe d'accrochage ayant libéré le contact mobile, et ces moyens élastiques, qui à l'ouverture, agissent ainsi dans un sens sur le contact mobile pour l'écarter du contact fixe, agissent en sens contraire sur ce contact mobile à la fermeture pour en assurer la force de pénétration au contact du contact fixe, et la pression de contact finale correspondante.Thus, when the circuit breaker is opened, the same elastic means suffice to cause the movable contact to separate from the fixed contact, and the latching member having released the contact to return to the reset position. mobile, and these elastic means, which at opening, thus act in one direction on the movable contact to move it away from the fixed contact, act in opposite directions on this movable contact at closing to ensure its penetration force on contact of the fixed contact, and the corresponding final contact pressure.

En outre, dans le cas où, de manière connue en soi, le contact mobile est, pour son passage d'une de ses positions à l'autre, articulé en couteau sur une arête fixe, ces mêmes moyens élastiques sont aptes à maintenir une liaison d'appui et de contact satisfaisante entre ce contact mobile et cette arête fixe.In addition, in the case where, in a manner known per se, the movable contact is, for its passage from one of its positions to the other, articulated as a knife on a fixed edge, these same elastic means are capable of maintaining a satisfactory support and contact connection between this movable contact and this fixed edge.

A cet effet, la branche élastique formant ressort de-flexion est portée par un corps constitué d'un ressort hélicoïdal de traction en continuité avec elle.To this end, the elastic branch forming a flexion spring is carried by a body consisting of a helical tension spring in continuity with it.

Ainsi, suivant l'invention, un même ressort assure par lui-même économiquement une multiplicité de fonctions, à savoir l' ouverture du contact mobile, le réarmement de l'organe d'accrochage, la fermeture du contact mobile, sa course de pénétration au contact du contact fixe, et la pression finale de contact résultante.Thus, according to the invention, one and the same spring economically performs a multiplicity of functions, namely opening the movable contact, resetting the latching member, closing the movable contact, its penetration stroke. in contact with the fixed contact, and the resulting final contact pressure.

Ce perfectionnement, ainsi que d'autres, leurs caractéristiques et leurs avantages, ressortiront d'ailleurs de la description qui va suivre, à titre d'exemple, en référence aux dessins schématiques annexés sur lesquels :

  • la figure 1 est une vue en élévation, avec arrachements locaux d'un disjoncteur suivant l'invention dont une partie du boîtier a été supposée retirée ;
  • la figure 2 reprend à échelle supérieure le détail de ce disjoncteur repéré par un encart II sur la figure 1 ;
  • les figures 3, 4 sont des vues partielles en coupe du disjoncteur suivant l'invention, selon respectivement les lignes brisées III-III et IV-IV de la figure 2 ;
  • la figure 5 est une vue en perspective de certaines des pièces constitutives du disjoncteur suivant l'invention, représentées isolément ;
  • la figure 6 reprend pour partie la figure 1, pour une première phase de déclenchement du disjoncteur suivant l'invention;
  • la figure 7 est analogue à la figure 6, pour une deuxième phase de ce déclenchement conduisant au réarmement du disjoncteur suivant l'invention ;
  • les figures 8 et 9 reprennent également pour partie la figure 1 et concernent chacune respectivement une variante de réalisation ;
  • les figures 10 et 11 sont des vues se rapportant à d'autres variantes de réalisation.
This improvement, as well as others, their characteristics and their advantages, will also emerge from the description which follows, by way of example, with reference to the appended schematic drawings in which:
  • Figure 1 is an elevational view, with cutaway parts of a circuit breaker according to the invention from which a part of the housing has been assumed to be removed;
  • Figure 2 shows on a larger scale the detail of this circuit breaker identified by an insert II in Figure 1;
  • Figures 3, 4 are partial sectional views of the circuit breaker according to the invention, respectively along the broken lines III-III and I V -IV of Figure 2;
  • Figure 5 is a perspective view of some of the component parts of the circuit breaker according to the invention, shown in isolation;
  • FIG. 6 partly repeats FIG. 1, for a first tripping phase of the circuit breaker according to the invention;
  • FIG. 7 is analogous to FIG. 6, for a second phase of this tripping leading to resetting of the circuit breaker according to the invention;
  • Figures 8 and 9 also partially repeat Figure 1 and each relate respectively to an alternative embodiment;
  • Figures 10 and 11 are views relating to other alternative embodiments.

Ces figures illustrent l'application de l'invention à la réalisation d'un disjoncteur de type modulaire, se présentant sous la forme d'une plaquette ayant en élévation une configuration en omega.These figures illustrate the application of the invention to the production of a modular type circuit breaker, in the form of a plate having in elevation an omega configuration.

Un tel disjoncteur comporte d'une manière générale un boitier 10.Such a circuit breaker generally comprises a box 10.

Un tel boitier peut être formé de deux coquilles convenablement affrontées l'une à l'autre, et convenablement liées l' une à l'autre par des vis ou rivets 11, tel que représenté ; en pratique, les trous correspondants des coquilles sont groupés par paires, l'un servant à leur assemblage en unipolaire, l'autre servant à leur assemblage en multipolaire.Such a case can be formed of two shells suitably facing one another, and suitably linked to each other by screws or rivets 11, as shown; in practice, the corresponding holes of the shells are grouped in pairs, one serving to assemble them into a unipolar, the other serving to assemble them into a multipolar.

A la figure 1, seule est visible l'une de ces coquilles, l'autre de celles-ci étant supposée enlevée.In FIG. 1, only one of these shells is visible, the other of these being assumed to be removed.

Le boîtier 10 peut d'ailleurs constituer d'une part un socle profond fonctionnel, renfermant l'essentiel des constituants du disjoncteur, et d'autre part un capot semi-fonctionnel rapporté sur ce socle et recouvrant les autres desdits constituants.The housing 10 can moreover constitute on the one hand a deep functional base, containing most of the components of the circuit breaker, and on the other hand a semi-functional cover attached to this base and covering the others of said components.

Quoi qu'il en soit, dans l'exemple de réalisation représenté, le boitier 10 forme, à sa partie inférieure, une semelle de fixation 12 adaptée, en coopération avec une griffe élastique 13, à en permettre la fixation sur un rail du type dit en chapeau 14, tel que schématisé en traits interrompus sur la figure 1.Anyway, in the embodiment shown, the housing 10 forms, at its lower part, a fixing sole 12 adapted, in cooperation with an elastic claw 13, to allow fixing on a rail of the type said in cap 14, as shown diagrammatically in broken lines in FIG. 1.

Le boitier 10 contient latéralement deux bornes de connexion 15A,15B ; par commodité la borne 15A sera dite ci-après borne d'entrée et la borne 15B borne de sortie, sans que cela implique un sens réservé de passage de courant ; au contraire, le disjoncteur suivant l'invention peut indifféremment être monté dans un sens ou dans l'autre.The housing 10 laterally contains two connection terminals 15A, 15B; for convenience the terminal 15A will be referred to hereinafter as input terminal and the B terminal 15 output terminal, without implying a reserved current direction passage; on the contrary, the circuit breaker according to the invention can indifferently be mounted in one direction or the other.

Dans l'exemple de réalisation représenté, et de manière connue en soi, chacune de ces bornes est constituée d'un étrier 16A,16B, engagé à coulissement sur une bande métallique 17A, 17B appartenant à la cuivrerie du disjoncteur, et d'une vis l8A,l8B engagée à vissage sur ledit étrier.In the embodiment shown, and in a manner known per se, each of these terminals consists of a bracket 16A, 16B, slidably engaged on a metal strip 17A, 17 B belonging to the copperwork of the circuit breaker, and a screw 18A, 18B engaged for screwing on said stirrup.

Le boîtier 10 comporte d'une part des passages 20A,20B pour engagement des brins du cable à protéger, et d'autre part des passages 21A,21B, pour accès aux vis 18A,18B.The housing 10 comprises on the one hand passages 20A, 20B for engagement of the strands of the cable to be protected, and on the other hand passages 21 A , 21 B , for access to the screws 18A, 18B.

Dans l'exemple de réalisation représenté, et suivant l'invention, il comporte en outre transversalement des passages 22A,22B et les étriers 16A,16B comportent en correspondance des passages 23A,23B, pour permettre un éventuel cablage en parallèle, à partir d'un cable de section appropriée dénudé ou non, avec le ou les disjoncteurs voisins.In the embodiment shown, and according to the invention, it also comprises transversely passages 22A, 22B and the stirrups 16A, 16B have corresponding passages 23A, 23B, to allow possible wiring in parallel, from '' a cable of suitable section, stripped or not, with the neighboring circuit-breaker (s).

A l'intérieur du boîtier 10, dans la zone médiane de celui-ci, les bandes 17A,17B délimitent conjointement, par leur extrémité libre, une chambre de coupure 25 qui, dans l'exemple de réalisation représenté sur les figures 1 à 7, est garnie de plaques d'extinction 26.Inside the housing 10, in the central region thereof, the strips 17A, 17B jointly delimit, by their free end, a breaking chamber 25 which, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 , is fitted with fire extinguisher plates 26.

Dans leur zone médiane les bandes 17A,17B constituent deux cornes d'arc 27A,27B dont la première, la corne 27A, constitue également un contact fixe avec lequel coopère un contact mobile 28.In their median zone the bands 17A, 17B constitute two arc horns 27A, 27B, the first of which, horn 27A, also constitutes a fixed contact with which a movable contact 28 cooperates.

Dans l'exemple de réalisation représenté, et ainsi qu'il est mieux visible sur la figure 5, ce contact mobile 28 est découpé dans une plaquette, et il est articulé en couteau sur une arête fixe 29 formée par le bord libre d'une languette 30 issue de la bande 17B à la faveur d'un crevé 31 ménagé à cet effet dans celle-ci.In the exemplary embodiment shown, and as it is better visible in FIG. 5, this movable contact 28 is cut from a plate, and it is articulated as a knife on a fixed edge 29 formed by the free edge of a tongue 30 issuing from strip 17 B by means of a puncture 31 formed for this purpose therein.

Par rotation autour de l'arête fixe 29, le contact mobile 28 est susceptible de passer d'une position enclenchée, figure 1, pour laquelle il est en appui contre le contact fixe27A, à une position déclenchée, figures 6 et 7, pour laquelle il est à distance de ce contact fixe 27A.By rotation around the fixed edge 29, the movable contact 28 is capable of passing from an engaged position, FIG. 1, for which it is in abutment against the fixed contact 27A, to a tripped position, FIGS. 6 and 7, for which it is remote from this fixed contact 27A.

De manière usuelle, une manette d'enclenchement et de déclenchement 33 est à la disposition de l'usager, sur la paroi de façade du boîtier 10, par traversée d'une ouverture 34 ménagée à cet effet dans cette paroi de façade, et un mécanisme d'accrochage 35 est établi entre cette manette d'enclenchement et de déclenchement 33 et un organe de déclenchement, détaillé ci-après, apte à provoquer la libération du contact mobile 28.Usually, an engagement and trigger lever 33 is available to the user, on the front wall of the housing 10, through an opening 34 made for this purpose in this front wall, and a latching mechanism 35 is established between this latching and latching lever 33 and a latching member, detailed below, capable of causing the release of the movable contact 28.

D'une manière générale, un tel mécanisme d'accrochage comporte un organe d'accrochage 36 directement soumis à l'organe de déclenchement correspondant.Generally, such a hooking mechanism comprises a hooking member 36 directly subjected to the corresponding triggering member.

Dans l'exemple de réalisation représenté, le mécanisme d' accrochage 35 auquel appartient cet organe d'accrochage 36 est un mécanisme à élément de roulement libre 37.In the embodiment shown, the latching mechanism 35 to which this latching member 36 belongs is a mechanism with a free rolling element 37.

Un tel mécanisme d'accrochage fait en propre l'objet de la demande de brevet français déposée le 18 Février 1978 sous le No 78 03760 et, n'appartenant pas à la présente demande,il ne sera ici décrit que succinctement.Such a hooking mechanism is itself the subject of the French patent application filed on February 18, 1978 under No. 78 03760 and, not belonging to the present application, it will only be described here succinctly.

L'élément de roulement libre 37 qu'il comporte forme un élément intermédiaire de retenue entre l'organe d'accrochage 36 et un organe de manoeuvre 38 soumis à la manette d'enclenchement et de déclenchement 33.The free rolling element 37 which it comprises forms an intermediate retaining element between the latching member 36 and an operating member 38 subjected to the latching and tripping lever 33.

Dans l'exemple de réalisation représenté, l'organe de ma- neouvre 38 forme un coulisseau, guidé par des glissières rectilignes 39 formées à cet effet dans le boîtier 10, et il fait corps avec la manette d'enclenchement et de déclenchement 33, en sorte que celle-ci constitue ainsi elle-même aussi un coulisseau à course rectiligne.In the embodiment shown, the opening member 38 forms a slide, guided by rectilinear slides 39 formed for this purpose in the housing 10, and it is integral with the engagement and release lever 33, so that the latter thus also constitutes itself a slide with rectilinear travel.

L'organe de manoeuvre 38 est soumis à un ressort 40, qui prend appui sur un bossage fixe 41 du boîtier 10, et qui le sollicite en direction opposée à l'organe d'accrochage 36.The operating member 38 is subjected to a spring 40, which bears on a fixed boss 41 of the housing 10, and which urges it in the direction opposite to the attachment member 36.

Dans l'exemple de réalisation représenté, l'élément de roulement libre 37 est constitué par une bille, et celle-ci est disposée dans un logement de l'organe de manoeuvre 38 formé entre une portée longitudinale 42 et une languette élastiquement déformable 43 de celui-ci.In the embodiment shown, the free rolling element 37 is constituted by a ball, and this is disposed in a housing of the operating member 38 formed between a longitudinal bearing 42 and an elastically deformable tongue 43 of this one.

Cet élément de roulement libre 37 coopère avec deux autres éléments de roulement, l'un lié à l'organe d'accrochage 36,1' autre lié à l'organe de manoeuvre 38.This free rolling element 37 cooperates with two other rolling elements, one linked to the hooking member 36 , the other linked to the operating member 38.

Pour l'organe d'accrochage 36, il s'agit d'un rouleau 44, monté rotatif ou non.For the attachment member 36, it is a roller 44, mounted rotatably or not.

Pour l'organe de manoeuvre 38, il s'agit de deux billes 45, disposées entre la portée longitudinale 42 et la languette élastiquement déformable 43 de cet organe de manoeuvre 38, de part et d'autre de la bille 37 constituant l'élément de roulement libre, au contact d'une part d'une première portée transversale 46 qui, étant oblique, les polarise en direction de la portée longitudinale 42, figures 1 et 2, et d'autre part de deux portées transversales 47 formées sur des doigts 48 prévus à cet effet en saillie sur cette portée longitudinale 42, figures 2 et 3.For the operating member 38, these are two balls 45, disposed between the longitudinal surface 42 and the elastically deformable tongue 43 of this operating member 38, on either side of the ball 37 constituting the element free rolling, in contact on the one hand with a first transverse bearing surface 46 which, being oblique, polarizes them in the direction of the longitudinal bearing surface 42, FIGS. 1 and 2, and on the other hand by two transverse bearing surfaces 47 formed on fingers 48 provided for this purpose projecting from this longitudinal surface 42, FIGS. 2 and 3.

Les billes 45, la bille 37, et le rouleau 44, forment globalement un alignement au contact de la portée longitudinale 42 de l'organe de manoeuvre 38, mais, suivant une disposition décrite en détail dans la demande de brevet français No 7803760 mentionnée ci-dessus, des dispositions sont prises pour que cet alignement soit "négatif" : par exemple, et tel que représenté, figure 2, les billes 45 ont un diamètre supérieur à celui de la bille 37, et cette bille 37 a elle-même un diamètre supérieur à celui du rouleau 44 ; en variante, bille etrou- leau peuvent avoir même diamètre, l'alignement "négatif" recherché étant alors obtenu par un décalage transversal les unes par rapport aux autres des portées au contact desquelles ces billes et ce rouleau se trouvent dans la position d'enclenchement représentée à la figure 1.The balls 45, the ball 37, and the roller 44, generally form an alignment in contact with the longitudinal surface 42 of the operating member 38, but, according to an arrangement described in detail in the French patent application No. 7803760 mentioned above. above, arrangements are made for this alignment to be "negative": for example, and as shown, FIG. 2, the balls 45 have a larger diameter to that of the ball 37, and this ball 37 itself has a diameter greater than that of the roller 44; as a variant, the ball and roller may have the same diameter, the desired "negative" alignment then being obtained by a transverse offset relative to each other of the bearing surfaces in contact with which these balls and this roller are in the engaged position shown in Figure 1.

En outre, pour les billes 45, des logements 49 sont prévus dans le boîtier 10, dans lesquels ces billes peuvent partiellement pénétrer, figure 3.In addition, for the balls 45, housings 49 are provided in the housing 10, into which these balls can partially penetrate, FIG. 3.

L'organe d'accrochage 36 forme une pièce mobile ayant globalement une configuration en U, le rouleau 44 étant établi transversalement entre les extrémités des ailes de cette pièce, d'une de ces ailes à l'autre.The fastening member 36 forms a movable part having a generally U-shaped configuration, the roller 44 being established transversely between the ends of the wings of this part, from one of these wings to the other.

Il porte également transversalement un axe 50, dont les extrémités sont engagées à coulissement dans des boutonnières fixes 51 ménagées à cet effet dans le boîtier 10, parallèlement à la direction de coulissement de l'organe de manoeuvre 38.It also carries transversely an axis 50, the ends of which are slidably engaged in fixed buttonholes 51 provided for this purpose in the housing 10, parallel to the direction of sliding of the operating member 38.

Latéralement, l'organe d'accrochage 36 présente encore deux ergots de butée 52, formés par exemple par emboutissage local des ailes de la pièce en U qui le constitue, figure 5,et ces ergots de butée sont engagés avec jeu dans des boutonnières 53 ménagées à cet effet dans le boîtier 10, parallèlement aux boutonnières 51 précédentes, à distance de celles-ci.Laterally, the latching member 36 also has two abutment lugs 52, formed for example by local stamping of the wings of the U-piece which constitutes it, FIG. 5, and these abutment lugs are engaged with play in buttonholes 53 provided for this purpose in the housing 10, parallel to the buttonholes 51 above, at a distance therefrom.

Tel que mentionné, ci-dessus, l'organe d'accrochage 36 est soumis à au moins un organe de déclenchement.As mentioned above, the hooking member 36 is subjected to at least one triggering member.

En pratique, dans l'exemple de réalisation représenté,deux organes de déclenchement sont prévus.In practice, in the embodiment shown, two triggering members are provided.

Le premier est un organe de déclenchement électromagnétique, qui comporte d'une part une pièce en U 54, formant culasse, engagée sur la bande métallique 17B, entre le contact mobile 28 et la borne 15B, et, d'autre part, une pièce en forme de palette 55, formant armature, qui est solidaire de l'organe d'accrochage 36, à l'extrémité de celui-ci opposée au rouleau 44, et qui, pour la position d'enclenchement représentée à la figure 1, s'étend en regard des extrémités libres des ailes de la pièce en U formant culasse 54.The first is an electromagnetic trip member, which comprises on the one hand a U-shaped piece 54, forming a cylinder head, engaged on the metal strip 17B, between the movable contact 28 and the terminal 15B, and, on the other hand, a piece in the form of a pallet 55, forming an armature, which is integral with the latching member 36, at the end thereof opposite the roller 44, and which, for the latching position shown in FIG. 1, s extends opposite the free ends of the wings of the U-shaped part forming a cylinder head 54.

Compte tenu de cette palette 55, l'organe d'accrochage 36 est équilibré autour de son axe transversal 50.Given this pallet 55, the fastening member 36 is balanced around its transverse axis 50.

Transversalement vis-à-vis de la bande métallique 17B sur laquelle elle est engagée, la pièce formant culasse 54 est montée mobile entre deux butées ; en pratique, et ainsi qu'il est mieux visible à la figure 5, les ailes de la pièce en U qui la constitue portent latéralement, à distance l'un de l'autre,deux bossages ou demi-crevés 56, formés par exemple par emboutissage, et engagés dans les boutonnières fixes 57 ménagées à cet effet dans le boîtier 10, figure 1.Transversally vis-à-vis the metal strip 17 B on which it is engaged, the cylinder head part 54 is mounted movable between two stops; in practice, and as is better visible in FIG. 5, the wings of the U-shaped part which constitutes it carry laterally, at a distance from each other, two bosses or half-punctures 56, formed for example by stamping, and engaged in the fixed buttonholes 57 provided for this purpose in the housing 10, FIG. 1.

Tel que schématisé en traits interrompus sur cette figure 1, la pièce formant culasse 54 peut être soumise à un ressort 58, qui la sollicite en direction de l'organe d'accrochage 36, dans les limites de sa course autorisées par ses bossages 56, ce qui, pour la position d'enclenchement représentée à la figure 1, définit l'entrefer nécessaire entre cette pièce formant culasse 54 et la pièce formant armature 57 qui lui est associée. T el shown diagrammatically in broken lines in this Figure 1, the part forming the cylinder head 54 can be subjected to a spring 58, which urges it toward the abutment member 36 within the limits of its stroke permitted by its bosses 56 , which, for the latching position shown in FIG. 1, defines the necessary air gap between this part forming a cylinder head 54 and the part forming an armature 57 which is associated with it.

Le deuxième organe de déclenchement prévu est thermique : il s'agit d'un bilame 59 apte à agir sur l'organe d'accrochage 36.The second planned triggering member is thermal: it is a bimetallic strip 59 capable of acting on the hooking member 36.

Dans la forme de réalisation représentée, et suivant l'invention, le bilame 59 est porté par l'organe de manoeuvre 38 ; il est donc solidaire de la manette d'enclenchement et de déclenchement 33.In the embodiment shown, and according to the invention, the bimetallic strip 59 is carried by the operating member 38; it is therefore integral with the engagement and trigger lever 33.

En outre, son intervention éventuelle sur l'organe d'accrochage 36 se fait par l'intermédiaire d'un levier 60, qui fait corps avec l'organe de manoeuvre 38, et est venu d'une seule pièce avec celui-ci.In addition, its possible intervention on the attachment member 36 is done by means of a lever 60, which is integral with the operating member 38, and came in one piece with it.

Ce levier 60 présente, à son extrémité libre, un ergot 61 qui, à travers une échancrure 62 de l'organe de manoeuvre 38, figure 2, est susceptible de venir agir sur le rouleau 44 porté par l'organe d'accrochage 36, et, dans sa zone médiane, il présente, en direction opposée à cet ergot 61, un autre ergot 63 sur lequel le bilame 59 peut agir par son extrémité libre.This lever 60 has, at its free end, a lug 61 which, through a notch 62 of the operating member 38, FIG. 2, is capable of coming to act on the roller 44 carried by the fastening member 36, and, in its central zone, it has, in the direction opposite to this lug 61, another lug 63 on which the bimetallic strip 59 can act by its free end.

Suivant une disposition déjà décrite dans la demande de brevet français No 78 03760 mentionnée ci-dessus, le chauffage du bilame 59 est assuré par convection, par un conducteur calibré 64 appartenant à la cuivrerie du disjoncteur, et, dans la forme de réalisation représentée sur les figures 1 à 7, ce conducteur calibré 64 est formé par un tronçon de section réduite de la partie de la corne d'arc 27A tournée vers le bilame 59.According to an arrangement already described in the French patent application No. 78 03760 mentioned above, the heating of the bimetallic strip 59 is provided by convection, by a ca conductor. libré 64 belonging to the copperwork of the circuit breaker, and, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, this calibrated conductor 64 is formed by a section of reduced section of the part of the arc horn 27A facing the bimetallic strip 59.

Ainsi qu'il est usuel, des moyens élastiques d'ouverture sont associés au contact mobile 28, pour sollicitation de ce dernier en direction de sa position déclenchée ; et, ainsi qu' il est également usuel, des moyens élastiques de rappel sont associés à l'organe d'accrochage 36, pour sollicitation de ce dernier en direction d'une position de réarmement pour laquelle le rouleau 44 qu'il porte est au contact de la portée longitudinale 42 de l'organe de manoeuvre 38, ou, au moins, dans l' alignement de celle-ci.As is usual, elastic opening means are associated with the movable contact 28, for biasing of the latter in the direction of its tripped position; and, as is also usual, elastic return means are associated with the hooking member 36, for biasing of the latter towards a reset position for which the roller 44 which it carries is at contact of the longitudinal surface 42 of the operating member 38, or, at least, in alignment with the latter.

Suivant l'invention, les moyens élastiques de rappel ainsi associés à l'organe d'accrochage 36 appartiennent aux moyens élastiques d'ouverture.According to the invention, the elastic return means thus associated with the attachment member 36 belong to the elastic opening means.

En pratique, ces moyens élastiques sont constitués conjointement par une même branche élastique 65 d'un ressort 66, et cette branche, élastique 65, qui forme par elle-même un ressort de flexion, est portée par un corps 67 constitué d'un ressort hélicoïdal de traction, qui est en continuité avec elle et qui, à son autre extrémité, est attelé à un bossage 68 du bottier 10, ou, en variante, à un axe solidaire de celui-ci.In practice, these elastic means consist jointly of the same elastic branch 65 of a spring 66, and this elastic branch 65, which by itself forms a bending spring, is carried by a body 67 consisting of a spring helical traction, which is in continuity with it and which, at its other end, is coupled to a boss 68 of the boot 10, or, as a variant, to an axis integral with the latter.

Le corps 67 du ressort 66 est disposé dans un logement 69 du boîtier 10 formé de l'autre coté de la bande métallique 17B vis-à-vis du contact mobile 28, et la branche élastique 65 de ce ressort 66 traverse cette bande métallique 17B à la faveur du crevé 31 ménagé dans celle-ci, comme mentionné ci-dessus,The body 67 of the spring 66 is disposed in a housing 69 of the housing 10 formed on the other side of the metal strip 1 7B with respect to the movable contact 28, and the elastic branch 65 of this spring 66 passes through this metal strip 17B in favor of the puncture 31 formed therein, as mentioned above,

Pour action sur lui de la branche élastique 65 le contact mobile 28 comporte une encoche 81, dans laquelle est simplement engagée une traverse en équerre 82 de ladite branche élastique, traverse 82 par laquelle cette branche élastique passe ainsi d'un coté à l'autre du contact mobile 28.For action on it of the elastic branch 65 the movable contact 28 comprises a notch 81, in which is simply engaged a cross-member 82 of said elastic branch, cross-member 82 by which this elastic branch thus passes from one side to the other of the moving contact 28.

Conjointement, pour action sur l'organe d'accrochage 36, la branche élastique 65 porte sur l'axe transversal 50 que présente cet organe d'accrochage.Jointly, for action on the latching member 36, the elastic branch 65 bears on the transverse axis 50 which this latching member has.

Ainsi, la branche élastique 65 se trouve d'une part fixée au bossage 68 du bottier 10 par le corps 67 du ressort 66 auquel elle appartient, et d'autre part en appui sur le contact mobile par l'encoche 81 de celui-ci, et en appui sur l'organe d'accrochage 36 par l'axe 50 que comporte ce dernier.Thus, the elastic branch 65 is on the one hand fixed to the boss 68 of the boot 10 by the body 67 of the spring 66 to which it belongs, and on the other hand bearing on the movable contact by the notch 81 thereof , and resting on the hooking member 36 by the axis 50 that the latter comprises.

pour la position d'enclenchement représentée à la figure 1, pour laquelle le contact mobile 28 est en appui sur le contact fixe 27A, le ressort 66 assure donc par sa branche élastique de flexion 65, le maintien convenable de cet appui du contact mobile 28 contre le contact fixe 27A ; en outre, par son corps de traction 67, il assure conjointement le maintien convenable de l'appui du contact mobile 28 contre son arête fixe de pivotement 29.for the latching position represented in FIG. 1, for which the movable contact 28 is in abutment on the fixed contact 27A, the spring 66 therefore ensures by its elastic bending branch 65, the proper maintenance of this abutment of the movable contact 28 against the fixed contact 27A; in addition, by its traction body 67, it jointly ensures the proper maintenance of the support of the movable contact 28 against its fixed pivoting edge 29.

Conjointement, du fait de l'appui de la branche élastique 65 sur son axe transversal 50, l'organe d'accrochage 36 applique à la bille 37, par son rouleau 44, une force F1, figures 1, 2 et 3, qui s'étend sensiblement suivant la direction de coulissement de l'organe de manoeuvre 38.Jointly, due to the support of the elastic branch 65 on its transverse axis 50, the hooking member 36 applies to the ball 37, by its roller 44, a force F 1 , Figures 1, 2 and 3, which extends substantially in the direction of sliding of the operating member 38.

Du fait de cette force F1, qui, au contact entre la bille 37 d'une part et les billes 45 d'autre part, comporte deux composantes obliques F'l, figure 3, dirigées vers les logements 49 des billes 45, celles-ci se trouvent forcées dans lesdits logements, en sorte que, malgré le ressort 40, l'organe de manoeuvre 38 se trouve verrouillé en position d'enclenchement, figures 1 à 3.Due to this force F 1 , which, in contact between the ball 37 on the one hand and the balls 45 on the other hand, has two oblique components F ′ 1 , FIG. 3, directed towards the housings 49 of the balls 45, those these are forced into said housings, so that, despite the spring 40, the operating member 38 is locked in the engaged position, FIGS. 1 to 3.

En outre, du fait que par la portée transversale oblique46 de l'organe de manoeuvre 38 les billes 45 se trouvent maintenues au contact de la portée longitudinale 47 de celui-ci, et du fait des dispositions prises, comme décrit ci-dessus, pour assurer un alignement "négatif" des billes 45, de la bille 37, at du rouleau 44, la bille 37 se trouve maintenue contre la portée longitudinale 47 par les billes 45, et le rouleau 44 se trouve également maintenu contre cette portée longitudinale 47 par la bille 37.In addition, due to the fact that by the oblique transverse bearing surface 46 of the operating member 38 the balls 45 are held in contact with the longitudinal bearing surface 47 thereof, and due to the arrangements made, as described above, for ensure a "negative" alignment of the balls 45, of the ball 37, and of the roller 44, the ball 37 is held against the longitudinal bearing 47 by the balls 45, and the roller 44 is also held against this longitudinal bearing 47 by ball 37.

L'organe d'accrochage 36 se trouve donc verrouillé en position d'enclenchement par la bille 37, et le contact mobile 28 maintenu en position de fermeture contre le contact fixe 27A.The latching member 36 is therefore locked in the latched position by the ball 37, and the movable contact 28 held in the closed position against the fixed contact 27A.

Cette situation se perpétue jusqu'à ce que le courant traversant le disjoncteur de la borne 33A de celui-ci à sa borne 33B ou vice versa, soit par exemple l'objet d'une surcharge.This situation continues until the current passing through the circuit breaker from terminal 33A thereof to its terminal 33B or vice versa, is for example the object of an overload.

L'échauffement résultant alors de cette surcharge pour le conducteur calibré 64 conduit par convection à un échauffement concomitant du bilame 59 et l'extrémité libre de celui-ci vient agir sur le levier 60, lequel, à son tour, vient agir sur le rouleau 44 de l'organe d'accrochage 36 et force ce rouleau à franchir la bille 37, et donc à échapper à celle-ci, en la faisant rouler.The heating then resulting from this overload for the calibrated conductor 64 leads by convection to a concomitant heating of the bimetallic strip 59 and the free end of the latter acts on the lever 60, which, in turn, acts on the roller 44 of the latching member 36 and forces this roller to pass through the ball 37, and therefore to escape from it, by rolling it.

Sous la sollicitation de la branche élastique 65, l'organe d'accrochage 36, poussé en direction de l'organe de manoeuvre 38, vientglisser sur la languette élastiquement déformable 43 de celui-ci et se loger dans un évidement 70 prévu à cet effet dans le bottier 10, son axe transversal 50 et ses ergots de butée 52 coulissant respectivement dans les boutonnières 51 et 53, figure 6.Under the stress of the elastic branch 65, the latching member 36, pushed in the direction of the operating member 38, comes to slide on the elastically deformable tongue 43 thereof and to be housed in a recess 70 provided for this purpose in the case 10, its transverse axis 50 and its stop lugs 52 sliding respectively in the buttonholes 51 and 53, FIG. 6.

Conjointement, sous la sollicitation de la branche élastique 65 et du corps 67 au ressort 66, le contact mobile 28 s'écarte du contact fixe 27A et passe en position déclenchée d'ouverture.Jointly, under the stress of the elastic branch 65 and of the body 67 to the spring 66, the movable contact 28 departs from the fixed contact 27A and passes into the triggered open position.

Au cours du mouvement d'ouverture du contact mobile 28,le couple appliqué à celui-ci est avantageusement sensiblement constant : en effet, bien que l'effort appliqué par le ressort 66 sur le contact mobile 28 diminue au cours d'une telle ouverture, par contre le bras de levier correspondant augmente.During the opening movement of the movable contact 28, the torque applied to it is advantageously substantially constant: indeed, although the force applied by the spring 66 on the movable contact 28 decreases during such an opening , however the corresponding lever arm increases.

Tel que représenté, le contact mobile 26 présente à sa partie supérieure une butée 70 propre à en limiter la course d'ouverture.As shown, the movable contact 26 has at its upper part a stop 70 adapted to limit the opening stroke.

Par ailleurs, dès que par roulement de la bille 37 le rouleau 44 a, comme décrit ci-dessus, échappé à cette bille, celle-ci ne se trouve plus soumise aux effets de la force appliquée à l'organe de manoeuvre 36 par la branche élastique 65, et, conjointement, il en est de même pour les billes 45.Furthermore, as soon as by rolling of the ball 37 the roller 44 has, as described above, escaped from this ball, the latter is no longer subject to the effects of the force applied to the operating member 36 by the elastic branch 65, and, jointly, it is the same for the balls 45.

Sous la sollicitation du ressort 40, l'organe de manoeuvre 38 peut dès lors se déplacer dans le sens indiqué par la flèche F sur les figures 1 à 3, en entrainant avec lui les billes 45, ainsi que la bille 37, jusqu'à occuper la position déclenchée indiquée à la figure 7.Under the stress of the spring 40, the operating member 38 can therefore move in the direction indicated by the arrow. che F in FIGS. 1 to 3, driving with it the balls 45, as well as the ball 37, until occupying the triggered position indicated in FIG. 7.

Extraites de leurs logements 49 par l'organe de manoeuvre 38, les billes 45 repoussent légèrement la bille 37, et celle-ci se trouve dès lors soumise à la languette élastiquement déformable 43 de cet organe de manoeuvre, laquelle a la double fonction d'en éviter une éjection intempestive et d'en assurer, en vue du réarmement de l'ensemble, l'alignement négatif nécessaire à un tel réarmement au contact de la portée longitudinale 42 prévue à cet effet.Extracted from their housings 49 by the operating member 38, the balls 45 slightly repel the ball 37, and the latter is therefore subject to the elastically deformable tongue 43 of this operating member, which has the dual function of to avoid inadvertent ejection and to ensure, with a view to rearming the assembly, the negative alignment necessary for such rearming in contact with the longitudinal reach 42 provided for this purpose.

Du fait du retour en position déclenchée de l'organe de manoeuvre 38, l'organe d'accrochage 36 se trouve libéré par celui-ci.Due to the return in the disengaged position of the operating member 3 8, the fastening member 36 is released by the latter.

Sous la sollicitation de la branche élastique 65, les ergots de butée 52 de cet organe d'accrochage 36 viennent en bout des boutonnières 53 dans lesquelles ils sont engagés, la longueur des boutonnières 51 dans lesquelles est engagé l'axe transversal 50 de cet organe d'accrochage 36 étant faite suffisante pour que cet axe transversal 50 ne vienne pas en bout de ces boutonnières 51 avant que les ergots de butée 52 soient en bout des boutonnières 53.Under the stress of the elastic branch 65, the stop lugs 52 of this hooking member 36 come at the end of the buttonholes 53 in which they are engaged, the length of the buttonholes 51 in which the transverse axis 50 of this member is engaged attachment 36 being made sufficient so that this transverse axis 50 does not come at the end of these buttonholes 51 before the stop lugs 52 are at the end of the buttonholes 53.

Mais, comme la direction de l'effort appliqué à l'organe d'accrochage 36 par la branche élastique 65, est excentrée par rapport à l'axe géométrique de l'axe transversal 50, l'organe d'accrochage 36 est l'objet d'un couple de basculement autour de l'axe transversal 50, dans le sens anti-horaire, tel qu'indiqué par la flèche F2 sur la figure 7.But, as the direction of the force applied to the latching member 36 by the elastic branch 65, is eccentric relative to the geometric axis of the transverse axis 50, the latching member 36 is the object of a tilting torque around the transverse axis 50, counterclockwise, as indicated by the arrow F 2 in FIG. 7.

Ainsi, sous la sollicitation de la branche élastique 65, l'organe d'accrochage 36 revient de lui-même en position deré- armement, pour laquelle son rouleau 44 est dans l'alignement de la portée longitudinale 42 de l'organe de manoeuvre 38,dès que celui-ci est passé en position rétractée de déclenchement, figure 7.Thus, under the stress of the elastic branch 65, the latching member 36 returns by itself to the reset position, for which its roller 44 is in alignment with the longitudinal reach 42 of the operating member 38, as soon as the latter has passed into the retracted release position, FIG. 7.

Pour la fermeture du disjoncteur, c'est-à-dire pour le retour en position d'enclenchement de celui-ci, il suffit d'agir sur la manette d'enclenchement et de déclenchement 33,dans le sens, repéré par une flèche F3 sur la figure 7, pour lequel l'organe de manoeuvre 38 est déplacé en direction de l'organe d'accrochage 36.To close the circuit breaker, that is to say to return it to the latching position, it suffices to act on the latching and tripping lever 33, in the direction, identified by an arrow F3 in FIG. 7, for which the operating member 38 is moved in the direction of the latching member 36.

En raison de l'alignement négatif des billes 45, de la bille 37, et du rouleau 44, l'organe de manoeuvre 38 repousse l'organe d'accrochage 36 tout en maintenant celui-ci en position de verrouillage, et ce mouvement est poursuivi jusqu'à ce que les billes 45, revenues au niveau de leurs logements 49, soient, comme précédemment, forcées à pénétrer partiellement dans ceux-ci et maintiennent dès lors à nouveau verrouillé en position d'enclenchement l'organe de manoeuvre 38, à l'encontre de la sollicitation élastique exercée par la branche élastique 65 sur l'organe d'accrochage 36.Due to the negative alignment of the balls 45, of the ball 37, and of the roller 44, the operating member 38 pushes the attachment member 36 while maintaining the latter in the locked position, and this movement is continued until the balls 45, returned to their housings 49, are, as before, forced to partially penetrate therein and therefore keep the operating member 38 again locked in the engaged position, against the elastic stress exerted by the elastic branch 65 on the attachment member 36 .

Conjointement, au cours de cette course de retour, le contact mobile 28 est de nouveau venu porter contre le contact fixe 27A, la branche élastique 65 assurant la force de pénétration correspondante et la pression de contact finale.Jointly, during this return stroke, the movable contact 28 has again come to bear against the fixed contact 27A, the elastic branch 65 ensuring the corresponding penetration force and the final contact pressure.

En cas de court-circuit, c'est l'organe de déclenchement électromagnétique qui intervient : la pièce en U 54 faisant office de culasse attire la palette 55 faisant office d'armature mobile, et, celle-ci étant solidaire de l'organe d'accrochage 36, cet organe d'accrochage échappe à la bille 37, en la faisant rouler, comme précédemment.In the event of a short circuit, the electromagnetic tripping device intervenes: the U-shaped piece 54 acting as a cylinder head attracts the pallet 55 acting as a movable frame, and, the latter being secured to the member attachment 36, this attachment member escapes from the ball 37, by rolling it, as before.

La mobilité de la pièce en U 54 en permet un effacement systématique sous la poussée de la palette 55, nécessaire au pivotement de l'organe d'accrochage 36.The mobility of the U-shaped part 54 allows systematic erasure under the thrust of the pallet 55, necessary for the pivoting of the hooking member 36.

Le ressort 58 éventuellement associé à la pièce en U 54 ramène ultérieurement celle-ci en position initiale, encoreque l'augmentation progressive de courant dans la bande métallique 17B soit en pratique suffisante pour un déplacement systématique de cette pièce en U 54 en direction de la palette 55 avant que le courant atteigne la valeur de déclenchement pour laquelle l'organe d'accrochage 36 doit échapper à la bille 37.The spring 58 possibly associated with the U-shaped piece 54 subsequently returns the latter to the initial position, although the progressive increase in current in the metal strip 17B is in practice sufficient for a systematic displacement of this U-shaped piece 54 towards the pallet 55 before the current reaches the tripping value for which the latching member 36 must escape the ball 37.

Le ressort 58 n'est donc pas en toute rigueur indispensable, et, au moins pour certaines réalisations, peut être éliminé.The spring 58 is therefore not strictly necessary, and, at least for certain embodiments, can be eliminated.

Enfin, un déclenchement manuel du disjoncteur peut être assuré, en agissant à cet effet sur la manette d'enclenchement et de déclenchement 33.Finally, manual tripping of the circuit breaker can be assured, by acting for this purpose on the interlocking and tripping lever 33.

Suivant la variante de réalisation illustrée par la figure 8, qui convient tout particulièrement aux disjoncteurs pouvant se suffire d'un pouvoir de coupure relativement réduit, le bec 72 du contact mobile 28 est de longueur suffisante pour former pour celui-ci un prolongement propre à constituer par lui-même une corne d'arc.According to the alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, which is particularly suitable for circuit breakers which can be sufficient with a relatively reduced breaking capacity, the spout 72 of the movable contact 28 is of sufficient length to form a suitable extension for the latter. constitute by itself a bow horn.

Dès lors, la corne d'arc 27B peut être supprimée, ainsi que les plaques d'extinction 26.Consequently, the arc horn 27B can be eliminated, as well as the extinction plates 26.

La figure 9 illustre une autre variante de réalisationcon- venant au contraire plus particulièrement aux disjoncteurs devant assurer un pouvoir de coupure important.FIG. 9 illustrates another variant embodiment which, on the contrary, is more particularly suitable for circuit breakers having to ensure a high breaking capacity.

Suivant un premier aspect de cette variante, le contact fixe 27A et le conducteur calibré 64 devant assurer par convection le chauffage du bilame 59 est formé sur une partie découpée 74 de la bande métallique 17A, convenablement maintenue dans des rainures du bottier 10, en sorte que, dès l'éloignement, à la coupure, du contact mobile 28 vis-à-vis du contact fixe 27A, l'arc qui prend alors naissance entre ce contact fixe 27A et ce contact mobile 28 passe immédiatement sur la partie courante 75 de la bande métallique 17A formant dès lors corne d'arc, épargnant la partie découpée 74 de celle-ci, et donc le conducteur calibré 64.According to a first aspect of this variant, the fixed contact 27A and the calibrated conductor 64 which must ensure by convection the heating of the bimetallic strip 59 is formed on a cut part 74 of the metal strip 17A, suitably held in the grooves of the shoemaker 10, so that, as soon as the moving contact 28 moves away from the fixed contact 27A, the arc which then arises between this fixed contact 27A and this mobile contact 28 immediately passes over the current portion 75 of the metal strip 17A therefore forming an arc horn, sparing the cut-out part 74 thereof, and therefore the calibrated conductor 64.

Cette disposition évite avantageusement à ce conducteur calibré 64 d'encaisser une contrainte thermique dangereuse pour sa tenue.This arrangement advantageously avoids this calibrated conductor 64 from collecting a dangerous thermal stress for its behavior.

Suivant un deuxième aspect de cette variante, qui peut être mis en oeuvre conjointement avec le précédent, ou isolément, un percuteur d'arrachement 76 est associé au contact mobile 28, pour diminuer au mieux le temps de réaction du disjoncteur à un court-circuit.According to a second aspect of this variant, which can be implemented jointly with the previous one, or in isolation, a breakout striker 76 is associated with the movable contact 28 , to best reduce the reaction time of the circuit breaker to a short circuit.

Dans l'exemple de réalisation représenté, ce percuteur d' arrachement comporte une pièce en T, dont la partie médiane 77 s'étend transversalement entre les ailes de la pièce en U 54 formant culasse, en direction du contact mobile 28, et dontles branches 78 sont disposées en regard desdites ailes.In the embodiment shown, this striker striker comprises a T-piece, the middle part 77 of which extends transversely between the wings of the U-piece 54 forming a cylinder head, in the direction of the movable contact 28, and the branches of which 78 are arranged opposite said wings.

Un tel percuteur 76 est apte à appliquer au contact mobile 28 une force d'ouverture dès l'apparition d'un défaut, et en même temps, et non après, que, suivant le processus décrit ci-dessus, l'organe d'accrochage 36 est libéré.Such a striker 76 is capable of applying to the movable contact 28 an opening force as soon as a fault appears, and at the same time, and not after, that, according to the process described above, the hook 36 is released.

Si dans ce qui précède le déclenchement magnétique est assuré par un passage de courant unique, la pièce en U 54 formant culasse étant simplement engagée sur la bande métallique l7B formant conducteur, ce qui est suffisant pour des intensités normales, il est possible d'associer à cette pièce en U 54 une bobine usuelle à une ou plusieurs spires, notamment lorsque le déclenchement magnétique doit être assuré pour des intensités relativement faibles.If in the above the magnetic trip is ensured by a single current passage, the U-shaped piece 54 forming a cylinder head being simply engaged on the metal strip 17 B forming a conductor, which is sufficient for normal intensities, it is possible to associate with this U-shaped part 54 a usual coil with one or more turns, in particular when the magnetic triggering must be ensured for relatively low intensities.

Cette possibilité est illustrée par la figure 10, sur laquelle une telle bobine 83 est insérée en série entre deux tronçons successifs de la bande métallique 17A fractionnée à cet effet, et est passée sur la partie médiane de la pièce en U 54.This possibility is illustrated by FIG. 10, in which such a coil 83 is inserted in series between two successive sections of the metal strip 17A split for this purpose, and is passed over the middle part of the U- shaped part 54.

Dans le cas de réalisations multipolaires par assemblage côte à côte de plusieurs disjoncteurs en nombre correspondant, il suffit, pour obtenir un déclenchement de tous ces disjoncteurs sur un défaut n'assurant individuellement le déclenchement que de l'un d'eux, d'introduire entre deux disjoncteurs voisins, de l'un de chacun de ces disjoncteurs au suivant, une pièce d'accouplement 84 ; dans l'exemple représenté, celle-ci, qui est en matière isolante, a une forme de I : par les ailes d'une des extrémités elle est engagée sur les palettes formant armatures 55 des organes de déclenchement 36 des disjoncteurs concernés, et par les ailes de son autre extrémité elle est engagée dans des perçages 85 des pièces en U 54 de ces disjoncteurs : à l'ouverture d'un de ceux-ci, la pièce en U 54 entrai- ne la pièce en 1 84 qui, par action sur la palette 55 de l'autre de ces disjoncteurs, provoque à son tour l'ouverture de ce dernier.In the case of multi-pole embodiments by assembling side by side of several circuit breakers in corresponding number, it suffices, to obtain a tripping of all these circuit breakers on a fault individually ensuring the tripping of only one of them, to introduce between two neighboring circuit breakers, from one of each of these circuit breakers to the next, a coupling piece 84; in the example shown, this one, which is made of insulating material, has an I shape: by the wings of one of the ends it is engaged on the pallets forming armatures 55 of the tripping members 36 of the circuit breakers concerned, and by the wings of its other end it is engaged in bores 85 of the U- shaped pieces 54 of these circuit breakers: when one of them opens, the U- shaped piece 54 drives the piece at 1 84 which, by action on the pallet 55 of the other of these circuit breakers, in turn causes the opening of the latter.

Bien entendu la présente invention ne se limite d'ailleurs pas aux formes de réalisation décrites et représentées, mais englobe toute variante d'exécution et/ou de combinaison de leurs divers éléments.Of course, the present invention is not limited moreover to the embodiments described and shown, but encompasses any variant embodiment and / or combination of their various elements.

De plus, le ressort de flexion mis en oeuvre pour former suivant l'invention les moyens élastiques d'ouverture et les moyens élastiques de rappel en position d'armement de l'organe d'accrochage peut varier de configuration, et par exemple présenter la configuration classique d'un ressort de flexion dans lequel la partie hélicoïdale médiane a un axe perpendiculaire aux branches latérales qu'elle commande, et non pas un axe sensiblement parallèle à de telles branches, ou confondu avec celles-ci, comme en l'espèce.In addition, the flexion spring used to form, according to the invention, the elastic opening means and the elastic return means in the arming position of the hooking member can vary in configuration, and for example have the conventional configuration of a bending spring in which the middle helical part has an axis perpendicular to the lateral branches which it controls, and not an axis substantially parallel to, or coincident with, such branches, as in the present case .

.Un tel ressort de flexion peut d'ailleurs être remplacé par un ressort de type différent, sans qu'il s'agisse nécessairement d'un ressort de flexion.Such a bending spring can moreover be replaced by a spring of a different type, without necessarily being a bending spring.

Par ailleurs, le pouvoir de coupure étant, au moins dans certaines limites, proportionnel au nombre de plaques d'extinction 26 mises en oeuvre, celles-ci sont, pour chaque utilisation particulière, mises en nombre suffisant, ce nombre pouvant par exemple varier entre 0 et 13 ou plus.Furthermore, the breaking capacity being, at least within certain limits, proportional to the number of extinguisher plates 26 used, these are, for each particular use, put in sufficient number, this number can for example vary between 0 and 13 or more.

Enfin, si dans ce qui précède, le mécanisme d'accrochage est du type comportant un élément de roulement libre, comme décrit dans la demande de brevet français No 78 03760, il va de soi qu'il pourrait être d'un type différent ; en outre, lorsqu'il s'agit, comme en l'espèce, d'un mécanisme d'accrochage à élément de roulement libre, il peut individuellement faire l' objet des variantes de réalisation décrites dans la demande de brevet français en question, notamment en ce qui concerne les dispositions prises pour assurer un alignement négatif des éléments de roulement en cause.Finally, if in the above, the hooking mechanism is of the type comprising a free rolling element, as described in French patent application No. 78 03760, it goes without saying that it could be of a different type; moreover, when it is a question, as in the present case, of a hooking mechanism with a free rolling element, it may individually be the subject of the variant embodiments described in the French patent application in question, in particular as regards the measures taken to ensure negative alignment of the rolling elements in question.

Claims (15)

1. Disjoncteur, du genre comportant, dans un boîtier, un premier contact, qui est fixe, un deuxième contact, qui est mobile entre une position enclenchée et une position déclenchée, et qui est sollicité en direction de sa position déclenchée par des moyens élastiques d'ouverture, un quelconque organe de déclenchement, qui est apte à provoquer la libération dudit contact mobile, et donc le passage de celui-ci de sa position enclenchée à sa position déclenchée, une manette d'enclenchement et de déclenchement, qui est montée mobile entre une position d'enclenchement et une position de déclenchement, et un mécanisme d'accrochage, qui est établi entre ledit organe de déclenchement et ladite manette d'enclenchement et de déclenchement, ledit mécanisme d'accrochage comportant un organe d'accrochage mobile soumis à des moyens élastiques de rappel qui le sollicitent en direction d'une position de réarmement, lesdits moyens élastiques de rappel de l'organe d' accrochage et lesdits moyens élastiques d'ouverture apparte- nant à des mêmes moyens élastiques, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens élastiques de rappel de l'organe d'accrochage (36) et lesdits moyens élastiques d'ouverture sont constitués conjointement par une même branche élastique (65) formant ressort de flexion.1. Circuit breaker, of the type comprising, in a housing, a first contact, which is fixed, a second contact, which is movable between an engaged position and a tripped position, and which is biased towards its tripped position by elastic means opening, any trigger member, which is capable of causing the release of said movable contact, and therefore the passage of the latter from its engaged position to its triggered position, an engagement and trigger lever, which is mounted movable between a latching position and a triggering position, and a latching mechanism, which is established between said triggering member and said latching and triggering lever, said latching mechanism comprising a movable latching member subjected to elastic return means which urge it towards a reset position, said elastic return means of the latching member and said elastic means ues opening part- ing to p has the same elastic means, characterized in that said elastic return of the engaging member means (36) and said elastic opening means are together constituted by a single spring leg ( 65) forming a bending spring. 2. Disjoncteur suivant la revendication 1, et dans lequel le contact mobile (28) est articulé en couteau sur une arête fixe (29) d'un conducteur (17B), caractérisé en ce que cette branche élastique (65) est portée par un corps (67) constitué d'un ressort hélicoïdal de traction en continuité avec elle.2. Circuit breaker according to claim 1, and in which the movable contact (28) is articulated as a knife on a fixed edge (29) of a conductor (17 B ), characterized in that this elastic branch (65) is carried by a body (67) consisting of a helical tension spring in continuity with it. 3. Disjoncteur suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1,2, caractérisé en ce que ladite branche élastique (65) est engagée dans une encoche (81) du contact mobile (28).3. Circuit breaker according to any one of claims 1,2, characterized in that said elastic branch (65) is engaged in a notch (81) of the movable contact ( 28 ). 4. Disjoncteur suivant la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que la branche élastique (65) est engagée par une traverse (82) dans l'encoche du contact mobile (28), traverse (82) par laquab le elle passe d'un coté à l'autre dudit contact mobile (28).4. Circuit breaker according to claim 3, characterized in that the elastic branch (65) is engaged by a cross member ( 8 2) in the notch of the movable contact (28), cross member (82) by laquab the it passes from a side to side of said movable contact (28). 5. Disjoncteur suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel l'organe d'accrochage (36) comporte des ergots de butée (52) engagés dans des boutonnières fixes (53), caractérisé en ce que la branche élastique (65) constituant les moyens de rappel de l'organe d'accrochage (36) porte sur un axe transversal (50) que présente celui-ci, et, à ses extrémités, cet axe (50) est engagé dans des boutonnières fixes (51) parallèles à celles (53) dans lesquelles sont engagés les ergots de butée (52) dudit organe d'accrochage (36), à distance de ces boutonnières (53).5. Circuit breaker according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the hooking member (36) comprises abutment lugs (52) engaged in fixed buttonholes (53), characterized in that the elastic branch ( 65) constituting the return means of the fastening member (36) bears on a transverse axis (50) which it has, and, at its ends, this axis (50) is engaged in fixed buttonholes (51 ) parallel to those (53) in which the abutment lugs (52) of said hooking member (36) are engaged, at a distance from these buttonholes (53). 6. Disjoncteur suivant la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que la longueur des boutonnières (51) dans lesquelles est engagé l'axe transversal (50) de l'organe d'accrochage (36)est faite suffisante pour que ledit axe transversal (50) ne vienne pas en bout de ces boutonnières avant que les ergots de butée (52) de l'organe d'accrochage (36) ne soient en bout des boutonnières (53) dans lesquelles ils sont engagés, et la branche élastique (65) portant sur l'axe transversal (50) de l'organe d'accrochage (36) applique à celui-ci un couple de basculement autour dudit axe transversal (50).6. Circuit breaker according to claim 5, characterized in that the length of the buttonholes (51) in which is engaged the transverse axis (50) of the latching member (36) is made sufficient for said transverse axis (50 ) does not come to the end of these buttonholes before the stop lugs (52) of the hooking member (36) are at the end of the buttonholes (53) in which they are engaged, and the elastic branch (65) bearing on the transverse axis (50) of the fastening member (36) applies thereto a tilting torque around said transverse axis (50). 7. Disjoncteur suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, dans lequel est prévu un organe de déclenchement électromagnétique comportant une pièce (54) formant culasse formée d'une pièce métallique en U (54) engagée sur un conducteur (17B) appartenant à la cuivrerie du disjoncteur, et dans lequel un percuteur d'arrachement (76) est associé au contact mobile (28), caractérisé en ce que ledit percuteur d'arrachement (76) comporte une pièce en T (77) qui s'étend transversalement entre les ailes de ladite pièce en U (54).7. A circuit breaker according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which an electromagnetic tripping member is provided comprising a part (54) forming a cylinder head formed of a U-shaped metal part (54) engaged on a conductor (17B) belonging to the copperwork of the circuit breaker, and in which a tear striker (76) is associated with the movable contact (28), characterized in that said tear striker (76) comprises a T-piece (77) which extends transversely between the wings of said U-shaped part (54). 8. Disjoncteur suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, dans lequel est prévu un organe de déclenchement électromagnétique comportant une pièce (54) formant culasse et une pièce (55) formant armature, et dans lequel la pièce (54) formant culasse est formée d'une pièce métallique en U (54) engagée sur un conducteur (l7B) appartenant à la cuivrerie du disjoncteur, caractérisé en ce que, pour une réalisation multipolaire, il lui est associéeune pièce en 1 (84) à insérer entre deux disjoncteurs voisins, les ailes d'une des extrémités de cette pièce en I étant engagées sur les pièces (55) formant armature de ces disjoncteurs tandis que les ailes de l'autre extrémité de cette pièce en I sont engagées dans des perçages(85) ménagés à cet effet dans lesdites pièces métalliques en U (54) desdits disjoncteurs.8. A circuit breaker according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which an electromagnetic tripping member is provided comprising a part (54) forming a cylinder head and a part (55) forming an armature, and in which the part (54) forming a cylinder head is formed by a U-shaped metal part (54) engaged on a conductor (17B) belonging to the circuit-breaker's copperware, characterized in that, for a multipolar embodiment, it is associated with a part in 1 (84) to be inserted between two neighboring circuit breakers, the wings of one end of this I-piece being engaged on the parts (55) forming the frame of these circuit breakers while the wings of the other end of this I-piece are engaged in bores (85) provided for this purpose in said metal U-shaped parts (54) of said circuit breakers. 9. Disjoncteur suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, dans lequel la manette d'enclenchement et de déclenchement (33) forme un coulisseau à course rectiligne, et dans lequel le mécanisme d'accrochage (35) comporte un organe de manoeuvre (38) par lequel il est soumis à la manette d'enclenchement et de déclenchement (33), caractérisé en ce que ladite manette d'enclenchement et de déclenchement (33) fait corps avec ledit organe de manoeuvre (38).9. A circuit breaker according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the latching and tripping lever (33) forms a slide with rectilinear stroke, and in which the latching mechanism (35) comprises an operating member. (38) by which it is subjected to the interlocking and triggering lever (33), characterized in that said interlocking and tripping lever (33) is integral with said operating member (38). 10. Disjoncteur suivant la revendication 9, dans lequel est prévu, comme organe de déclenchement, un bilame (59) apte à agir sur l'organe d'accrochage (36) du mécanisme d'accrochage (35), caractérisé en ce que ledit bilame (59) est solidaire de la manette d'enclenchement et de déclenchement (33).10. A circuit breaker according to claim 9, in which is provided, as a tripping member, a bimetallic strip (59) capable of acting on the latching member (36) of the latching mechanism (35), characterized in that said bimetallic strip (59) is integral with the engagement and tripping lever (33). 11. Disjoncteur suivant la revendication 10, dans lequelc' est par l'intermédiaire d'un levier (60) que le bilame (59)est apte à agir sur l'organe d'accrochage (36), caractérisé en ce que ledit levier (60) fait corps avec la manette d'enclenchement et de déclenchement (33) et est venu d'une seule pièce avec celle-ci.11. A circuit breaker according to claim 10, in which it is by means of a lever (60) that the bimetallic strip (59) is capable of acting on the attachment member (36), characterized in that said lever (60) is integral with the engagement and trigger lever (33) and came in one piece with it. 12. Disjoncteur suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 10,11, dans lequel le chauffage du bilame (59) est assuré par convection par un conducteur calibré appartenant à la cuivrerie du disjoncteur, et dans lequel une chambre de coupure (25) est prévue entre deux cornes d'arc (27A,27B), caractérisé en ce que ledit conducteur calibré est formé sur l'une desdites cornes d'arc (27A).12. Circuit breaker according to any one of claims 10,11, in which the heating of the bimetallic strip (59) is provided by convection by a calibrated conductor belonging to the copperwork of the circuit breaker, and in which a breaking chamber (25) is provided between two arcing horns (27A, 27B), characterized in that said calibrated conductor is formed on one of said arcing horns (27A). 13. Disjoncteur suivant la revendication 12, caractérisé en ce que ledit conducteur calibré est formé sur une partie découpée de la bande métallique (17A) à laquelle appartient la corne d'arc (27A) concernée, pour mise hors circuit après ouverture.13. A circuit breaker according to claim 12, characterized in that said calibrated conductor is formed on a cut portion of the metal strip (17A) to which belongs the arc horn (27A) concerned, for switching off after opening. 14. Disjoncteur suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 12,13, caractérisé en ce que le contact mobile (28) comporte un prolongement (72) formant par lui-même l'autre des cornes d'arc.14. Circuit breaker according to any one of claims 12,13, characterized in that the movable contact (28) comprises an extension (72) forming by itself the other of the arc horns. 15. Disjoncteur suivant l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 14, dans lequel les contacts (27A,28) sont chacun individuellement reliés à des bornes de connexion (15A,15B), caractérisé en ce que, en regard desdites bornes de connexion (15A, 15B) le boîtier (10) présente transversalement des passages (22A,22B) propres à un cablage en parallèle de disjoncteursvoi- sins.15. A circuit breaker according to any one of claims 1 to 14, in which the contacts (27A, 28) are each individually connected to connection terminals (15A, 15 B ), characterized in that, opposite said connection terminals (15A, 15B) the housing (10) has transverse passages (22A, 22B) suitable for parallel wiring of neighboring circuit breakers.
EP19790400179 1978-03-22 1979-03-19 Circuit breaker with a movable latching element urged by elastic return means Expired EP0004508B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR7808263A FR2420839A1 (en) 1978-03-22 1978-03-22 CIRCUIT BREAKER, ITS TRIP MECHANISM
FR7808263 1978-03-22

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0004508A2 true EP0004508A2 (en) 1979-10-03
EP0004508A3 EP0004508A3 (en) 1979-10-31
EP0004508B1 EP0004508B1 (en) 1982-12-08

Family

ID=9206142

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19790400179 Expired EP0004508B1 (en) 1978-03-22 1979-03-19 Circuit breaker with a movable latching element urged by elastic return means

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0004508B1 (en)
DE (1) DE2964190D1 (en)
FR (1) FR2420839A1 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0292850A2 (en) * 1987-05-28 1988-11-30 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Multipole ciruit breaker
FR3031234A1 (en) * 2014-12-30 2016-07-01 Legrand France MODULAR APPARATUS WITH RETRACTABLE CONNECTION PIONEER AND SELF-PROTECTED ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY COMPRISING SUCH A MODULAR APPARATUS CONNECTED TO A CIRCUIT BREAKER
FR3031233A1 (en) * 2014-12-30 2016-07-01 Legrand France REINFORCED SAFETY MODULAR APPARATUS AND SELF-PROTECTED ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY COMPRISING SUCH A MODULAR APPARATUS ASSEMBLED TO A CIRCUIT BREAKER

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2468991A1 (en) * 1979-10-26 1981-05-08 Legrand Sa CIRCUIT BREAKER AND ITS HANGING MECHANISM

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2941058A (en) * 1957-02-05 1960-06-14 Fed Pacific Electric Co Automatic circuit breakers
DE1151056B (en) * 1961-05-02 1963-07-04 Licentia Gmbh Mechanism for automatic switch
US3671908A (en) * 1970-04-10 1972-06-20 Zinsco Electrical Products Circuit breaker
US3953812A (en) * 1974-10-09 1976-04-27 General Electric Company Electric circuit breaker

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2941058A (en) * 1957-02-05 1960-06-14 Fed Pacific Electric Co Automatic circuit breakers
DE1151056B (en) * 1961-05-02 1963-07-04 Licentia Gmbh Mechanism for automatic switch
US3671908A (en) * 1970-04-10 1972-06-20 Zinsco Electrical Products Circuit breaker
US3953812A (en) * 1974-10-09 1976-04-27 General Electric Company Electric circuit breaker

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0292850A2 (en) * 1987-05-28 1988-11-30 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Multipole ciruit breaker
EP0292850A3 (en) * 1987-05-28 1990-10-10 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Multipole ciruit breaker
FR3031234A1 (en) * 2014-12-30 2016-07-01 Legrand France MODULAR APPARATUS WITH RETRACTABLE CONNECTION PIONEER AND SELF-PROTECTED ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY COMPRISING SUCH A MODULAR APPARATUS CONNECTED TO A CIRCUIT BREAKER
FR3031233A1 (en) * 2014-12-30 2016-07-01 Legrand France REINFORCED SAFETY MODULAR APPARATUS AND SELF-PROTECTED ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY COMPRISING SUCH A MODULAR APPARATUS ASSEMBLED TO A CIRCUIT BREAKER
EP3041021A1 (en) * 2014-12-30 2016-07-06 Legrand France Modular apparatus with reinforced safety and self-protected electrical assembly comprising such a modular apparatus assembled with a circuit breaker
EP3041022A1 (en) * 2014-12-30 2016-07-06 Legrand France Modular apparatus with retractable connecting pin and self-protected electrical assembly comprising such a modular apparatus assembled with a circuit breaker

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0004508A3 (en) 1979-10-31
EP0004508B1 (en) 1982-12-08
FR2420839B1 (en) 1981-11-06
DE2964190D1 (en) 1983-01-13
FR2420839A1 (en) 1979-10-19

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0570647B1 (en) Switch latch for a circuit breaker and circuit breakers incorporating it
EP0501844B1 (en) Protection circuit breaker having a thermo-magnetic sub-assembly
EP0486389A1 (en) Protective switch
FR2914485A1 (en) DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRICAL PROTECTION APPARATUS AND ELECTRICAL PROTECTION APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME
FR2578355A1 (en) CURRENT LIMITING CIRCUIT BREAKER
FR2495825A1 (en) SYNCHRONIZED MULTIPOLAR CIRCUIT BREAKER, CONSISTING OF MULTIPLE ASSEMBLIES AND INCLUDING A MUTUAL LINK ROD
EP0004508B1 (en) Circuit breaker with a movable latching element urged by elastic return means
EP0188143B1 (en) Protective switching device
EP0013642A1 (en) Low voltage current limiting circuit breaker
FR2686453A1 (en) Differential switch
CH686853A5 (en) Apparatus matable protection switch to a control module and / or to a signaling module.
FR2626104A1 (en) IMPROVEMENTS ON AUTOMATIC SWITCHES, ESPECIALLY DIFFERENTIAL SWITCHES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
EP0209433B1 (en) Mobile contacts support, in particular for a protection circuit breaker
EP0028958B1 (en) Circuit-breaking switch, its release mechanism
EP0054499B1 (en) Circuit breaker with neutral-line disconnection
EP0027404A1 (en) Miniature electric circuit breaker in moulded case
EP0461027B1 (en) Differential release device
FR2958447A1 (en) Electromagnetic tripping device for double-break low voltage multi-polar type breaker, has airgap between heads and adjustable core maximum to rest position, and adjustment units adjusting airgap value along displacement axis of core
EP0008558A1 (en) Circuit breaker with a movable contact pivotally mounted on a movable latch member
EP0310469B1 (en) Protective switch with a screen for cutting the arc
FR2628261A1 (en) Circuit breaker with quick-make switching action - moving contact is positioned by spring linkage, compressed against mid-point checks which causes movement when latter are overcome
EP0032870B1 (en) Mechanism, mountable in a casing, for operating the displacement of a lever, and application of this mechanism as a circuit-breaker
EP1505619B1 (en) Ameliorated lock mechanism for circuit breakers and circuit breaker incorporating such lock
EP0045672B1 (en) Miniature circuit breaker with switching of the neutral line and the phase line
EP0218497B1 (en) Protective circuit breaker with a resilient link

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): BE DE GB IT NL

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): BE DE GB IT NL

17P Request for examination filed
ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed
GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): BE DE GB IT NL

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 2964190

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19830113

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 19840331

Year of fee payment: 6

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 19840511

Year of fee payment: 6

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 19870331

Year of fee payment: 9

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Effective date: 19890319

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Effective date: 19890331

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: LEGRAND S.A.

Effective date: 19890331

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Effective date: 19891001

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee
NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Effective date: 19891201

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT