EP0027404B1 - Miniature electric circuit breaker in moulded case - Google Patents

Miniature electric circuit breaker in moulded case Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0027404B1
EP0027404B1 EP19800401404 EP80401404A EP0027404B1 EP 0027404 B1 EP0027404 B1 EP 0027404B1 EP 19800401404 EP19800401404 EP 19800401404 EP 80401404 A EP80401404 A EP 80401404A EP 0027404 B1 EP0027404 B1 EP 0027404B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
plunger
sleeve
circuit breaker
coil
electric circuit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP19800401404
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0027404A1 (en
Inventor
Jean Barral-Baron
Michel Lazareth
François Reynaud
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.)
Merlin Gerin SA
Original Assignee
Merlin Gerin 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 Merlin Gerin SA filed Critical Merlin Gerin SA
Publication of EP0027404A1 publication Critical patent/EP0027404A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0027404B1 publication Critical patent/EP0027404B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
    • H01F7/00—Magnets
    • H01F7/06—Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets
    • H01F7/08—Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets with armatures
    • H01F7/16—Rectilinearly-movable armatures
    • H01F7/1607—Armatures entering the winding
    • 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
    • H01H71/08—Terminals; Connections
    • 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
    • H01H71/2463—Electromagnetic mechanisms with plunger type armatures
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
    • H01F7/00—Magnets
    • H01F7/06—Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets
    • H01F7/08—Electromagnets; Actuators including electromagnets with armatures
    • H01F7/081—Magnetic constructions
    • H01F2007/083—External yoke surrounding the coil bobbin, e.g. made of bent magnetic sheet
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/58—Electric connections to or between contacts; Terminals
    • H01H1/5855—Electric connections to or between contacts; Terminals characterised by the use of a wire clamping screw or nut
    • H01H2001/5861—Box connector with a collar or lug for clamping internal rail and external conductor together by a tightening screw
    • 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
    • H01H71/2454—Electromagnetic mechanisms characterised by the magnetic circuit or active magnetic elements

Definitions

  • Circuit breakers of the kind mentioned are known (FR-A-2 344 949 and 2 344 950), which advantageously replace the protection fuses in low voltage circuits for distributing electrical energy and in which the plunger hub of the electromagnetic trip device exerts a traction on the pivoting movable contact to accelerate its movement and increase the speed of cutting the arc drawn between the contacts.
  • the plunger core is guided linearly while the movable contact pivots and in the connection between the extractor and the contact occurs a slip. It has been observed that the friction which results therefrom is not negligible and that the corresponding braking of the displacement of the hub influences the speed of response of the trigger. This movement is also braked by the piston effect of the sliding core in the sleeve.
  • the object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and it is characterized in that the said plunger core has a general shape in a barrel or in a warhead providing intervals for the passage of compressed air by the piston effect generated during the rapid displacement of the plunger core inside the sheath and allowing a limited pivoting movement of the core inside the sheath during the opening stroke of the pivoting movable contact.
  • the air passages formed on the plunger core prevent braking by the piston effect and the barrel shape allows limited pivoting inside the sleeve to compensate for variations in positioning during pivoting of the movable contact.
  • Document DE-A-2 330 839 discloses an electromagnet with a plunger core guided in a cylindrical sheath by an intermediate ring. To avoid the piston effect, the ring has air passage notches. The plunger core cannot pivot.
  • the fixed core of the electromagnetic trip device is secured to the coil carcass by a circlip extending by an elastic blade acting on the mechanism latch of the circuit breaker.
  • a single part performs the double function of locking the fixed core and of bringing the bolt back, thereby reducing the cost of manufacturing and mounting the circuit breaker.
  • the arrangement of the elements constituting the electromagnetic trip device inside a sheath lends itself to a simplification of the assembly by providing according to another development of the invention a snap-fastening of the sheath on the fixed core after insertion of the plunger core and the spring of reminder inside the sheath. This snap-fastening maintains the assembled elements which can subsequently be placed inside the release coil in a single block.
  • a pole of a miniature electric circuit breaker comprises a housing 10 made of a molded insulating material having on the front face 12 a handle 14 for operating the circuit breaker and on the two narrow lateral faces of the connection terminals 16, 28 of breaker input and output.
  • a movable contact 20 and a fixed contact 22 Inside the housing 10 are housed a movable contact 20 and a fixed contact 22, connected by a loop conductor 24 to the terminal 16.
  • the movable contact 20 is controlled by a control mechanism which will be described in detail below.
  • a thermal trip device formed by a bimetallic strip 26 and an electromagnetic trip device 28 capable of causing in the event of an overload or short circuit an automatic opening of the contacts 20, 22.
  • a breaking chamber 30 formed by a stack of sheets 32 which extend parallel to the rear face 34 of the housing 10.
  • Clamps 36, integral with the rear face 34, are capable of cooperating with a symmetrical DIN rail for support in a manner well known to the specialties.
  • the movable contact 20 extends substantially perpendicular to the plane of the sheets 32, the so as to draw an arc between the contacts 20, 22 during their separation, the initial direction of which is substantially parallel to the sheets 32.
  • the loop conductor 24 extends beyond the fixed contact 22 to form an electrode or arc horn 38, which ends in a plate delimiting the interrupting chamber 30.
  • the opposite side of the interrupting chamber 30 is delimited by an electrode 40, electrically connected in the manner described below to the output terminal 18.
  • the mechanism for controlling the movable contact 20 is described in detail in FR-A-2 344 949, and will only be summarized hereinafter.
  • the movable contact 20 is articulated on a contact arm 44 pivotally mounted on a rocker arm 46 attacked by a toggle switch 48, one of the links of which is formed by an extension 50 of the lever 14.
  • a pivoting of the lever 14 causes the extension or breaking of the toggle joint 48 and by pivoting of the rocker arm 46 the spacing or the bringing together of the movable contact 20 of the fixed contact 22.
  • a trigger lever 52 pivotally mounted on an axis 54, cooperates with the end 56 of the contact arm 44, so as to secure the latter to the rocker arm 46.
  • a lock 48 is mounted for rotation on a pivot 60 and has a nose 62 for hooking the end of the trigger lever 52.
  • the trip lever 52 In the locking position, shown in fig. 1, the trip lever 52 is retained by the latch 58 in the active position allowing transmission of the pivoting movement of the lever 14 to the movable contact 20 for manual control of opening and closing of the circuit breaker.
  • An automatic opening of the contacts 20, 22 is caused by a pivoting in the clockwise direction of the latch 58, which releases the trigger lever 52, the latter pivoting in the trigonometric direction to release the end 56 of the arm of contact 44.
  • the electromagnetic trip device 28 comprises a carcass 64 made of a ferromagnetic material which surrounds a coil 68 mounted on a tubular insulating sheath 70 closed at one of its ends by a bottom 72 Inside the sheath 70 in the form of an insulating sleeve is slidably mounted a plunger core 74 and a fixed magnetic core 76.
  • the general shape of the plunger core 74 is that of a barrel or an ogive whose cross section median is in the form of a square with rounded edges 78 (see fig. 4).
  • the edges 78 constitute guide lines in contact with the internal wall of the sheath 70, the intervals remaining between the sides of the square of the plunger core 74 and the periphery of the sheath 70 delimiting orifices of air passage. It is easy to understand that the plunger core 74 acting as a piston moving in the cylinder 70 is not braked in its movement by the compression of air which can escape freely through the intervals formed between the piston and the cylinder.
  • the pointed shape of the plunger core 74 allows limited pivoting inside the sheath 70.
  • To the plunger core 74 is secured an actuating rod 80, which passes through an orifice formed in the bottom 72 of the sheath 70 and cooperates with the arm contact 44.
  • the plunger core 74 cooperates by its opposite side with a pusher 82, which passes through an orifice 84 formed in the fixed core 76 and is biased in support of the plunger core 74 by a spring 86.
  • the end of the pusher 82 cooperates with the latch 58 to move the latter in the unlocked position during an excitation of the electromagnetic trip device 28.
  • the fixed core 76 has on its outer periphery cells 88 in which are engaged in the mounted position of the bosses 90 formed on the sheath 70.
  • the fixed core 76 furthermore has a collar 91 passing through an orifice 92 formed in the carcass 64 and receiving a fixing circlip 94, so as to rigidly solidly secure the fixed core 76 to the carcass 64.
  • the circlip 94 is constituted by the end of a leaf spring 96 in the form of a hairpin, the opposite end of which cooperates with the lock 58 to urge the latter in the locked position.
  • the coil 68 is electrically connected, on the one hand by a braid 98 to the movable contact 20, and on the other hand by a braid 100 to the bimetallic strip 26, the opposite end of which is fixed to the carcass 64, itself connected to the terminal 18.
  • the plate 40 delimiting the breaking chamber 30 is fixed to the carcass 64 on the side of the contact arm 44. It is easy to understand that in the closed position of the contacts 20, 22, the current flows from the terminal 16 by the contacts 22, 20, the braid 98, the coil 68, the braid 100, the bimetallic strip 26 towards the terminal 18. In the event of an overload or short-circuit, the latch 58 is actuated respectively by the bimetallic strip 26 or the electromagnetic trip 28, so as to cause the automatic opening of the contacts 20, 22.
  • the arc drawn between the separate contacts 20, 22 moves along the horn 38 and switches to the plate 40 by switching off the coil 68 and bimetallic strip 26 in a manner well known to specialists.
  • the more particularly square polygonal section of the plunger core 74 avoids any piston effect capable of slowing the movement of the plunger core 74.
  • the shape in a conical shape of the plunger core 74 allows pivoting and therefore an inclination of the actuating rod 80 which is positioned to exert on the movable contact 20 a tensile force in the direction of opening of the movable contact 20.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Breakers (AREA)

Description

L'invention est relative à un disjoncteur électrique miniature à boîtier moulé comprenant:

  • - une chambre de coupure encadrée par deux électrodes de guidage de l'arc, agencées pour capter un arc tiré entre des contacts lors de leur séparation,
  • - un déclencheur électromagnétique à bobine et à noyau plongeur commandant un verrou de déclenchement lors de l'apparition d'un défaut pour provoquer l'ouverture automatique desdits contacts,
  • une tige d'actionnement accouplée au noyau plongeur et agissant sur un contact mobile pivotant pour accélérer le déplacement du contact mobile vers la position d'ouverture lors de l'excitation de la bobine du déclencheur,
  • - et un fourreau de guidage en translation du noyau plongeur.
The invention relates to a miniature electric circuit breaker with molded housing comprising:
  • - a breaking chamber framed by two arc guiding electrodes, arranged to pick up an arc drawn between contacts during their separation,
  • - an electromagnetic trip unit with a coil and a plunger core controlling a trip lock when a fault occurs to cause said contacts to open automatically,
  • an actuating rod coupled to the plunger core and acting on a pivoting movable contact to accelerate the displacement of the movable contact towards the open position when the trigger coil is energized,
  • - And a guide sleeve in translation of the plunger core.

On connaît des disjoncteurs du genre mentionné (FR-A-2 344 949 et 2 344 950), qui remplacent avantageusement les fusibles de protection dans les circuits basse tension de distribution d'énergie électrique et dans lesquels le moyau plongeur du déclencheur électromagnétique exerce une traction sur le contact mobile pivotant pour accélérer son déplacement et accroître la rapidité de coupure de l'arc tiré entre les contacts. Le noyau plongeur est guidé linéairement tandis que le contact mobile pivote et dans la liaison entre l'extracteur et le contact intervient un glissement. Il a été constaté que le frottement qui en résulte n'est pas négligeable et que le freinage correspondant du déplacement du moyau influence la rapidité de réponse du déclencheur. Ce déplacement est également freiné par l'effet de piston du noyau coulissant dans le fourreau.Circuit breakers of the kind mentioned are known (FR-A-2 344 949 and 2 344 950), which advantageously replace the protection fuses in low voltage circuits for distributing electrical energy and in which the plunger hub of the electromagnetic trip device exerts a traction on the pivoting movable contact to accelerate its movement and increase the speed of cutting the arc drawn between the contacts. The plunger core is guided linearly while the movable contact pivots and in the connection between the extractor and the contact occurs a slip. It has been observed that the friction which results therefrom is not negligible and that the corresponding braking of the displacement of the hub influences the speed of response of the trigger. This movement is also braked by the piston effect of the sliding core in the sleeve.

La présente invention a pour but de remédier à ces inconvénients et elle est caractérisée par le fait que ledit noyau plongeur présente une forme générale en tonneau ou en ogive ménageant des intervalles de passage de l'air comprimé par l'effet de piston engendré lors du déplacement rapide du noyau plongeur à l'intérieur du fourreau et autorisant un mouvement limité de pivotement du noyau à l'intérieur du fourreau au cours de la course d'ouverture du contact mobile pivotant. Les passages d'air ménagés sur le noyau plongeur évitent un freinage par effet de piston et la forme en tonneau permet un pivotement limité à l'intérieur du fourreau pour compenser les variations de positionnement au cours du pivotement du contact mobile.The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and it is characterized in that the said plunger core has a general shape in a barrel or in a warhead providing intervals for the passage of compressed air by the piston effect generated during the rapid displacement of the plunger core inside the sheath and allowing a limited pivoting movement of the core inside the sheath during the opening stroke of the pivoting movable contact. The air passages formed on the plunger core prevent braking by the piston effect and the barrel shape allows limited pivoting inside the sleeve to compensate for variations in positioning during pivoting of the movable contact.

Le document DE-A-2 330 839 fait connaître un électro-aimant à noyau plongeur guidé dans un fourreau cylindrique par une bague intercalaire. Pour éviter l'effet de piston la bague présente des encoches de passage de l'air. Le noyau plongeur ne peut effectuer un mouvement de pivotement.Document DE-A-2 330 839 discloses an electromagnet with a plunger core guided in a cylindrical sheath by an intermediate ring. To avoid the piston effect, the ring has air passage notches. The plunger core cannot pivot.

Selon un développement de l'invention le noyau fixe du déclencheur électromagnétique est assujetti à la carcasse de la bobine par un circlips se prolongeant par une lame élastique agissant sur le verrou de mécanisme du disjoncteur. Une même pièce assure la double fonction de verrouillage du noyau fixe et de rappei du verrou ce qui permet une réduction du coût de fabrication et de montage du disjoncteur.According to a development of the invention, the fixed core of the electromagnetic trip device is secured to the coil carcass by a circlip extending by an elastic blade acting on the mechanism latch of the circuit breaker. A single part performs the double function of locking the fixed core and of bringing the bolt back, thereby reducing the cost of manufacturing and mounting the circuit breaker.

La disposition des éléments constitutifs du déclencheur électromagnétique à l'intérieur d'un fourreau se prête à une simplification du montage en prévoyant selon un autre développement de l'invention un encliquetage du fourreau sur le noyau fixe après insertion du noyau plongeur et du ressort de rappel à l'intérieur du fourreau. Cet encliquetage maintient les éléments assemblés qui par la suite peuvent être mise en place à l'intérieur de la bobine du déclencheur en un seul bloc.The arrangement of the elements constituting the electromagnetic trip device inside a sheath lends itself to a simplification of the assembly by providing according to another development of the invention a snap-fastening of the sheath on the fixed core after insertion of the plunger core and the spring of reminder inside the sheath. This snap-fastening maintains the assembled elements which can subsequently be placed inside the release coil in a single block.

D'autres avantages et caractéristiques ressortiront plus clairement de la description qui va suivre d'un mode de mise en oeuvre de l'invention, donné à titre d'exemple non limitatif et représenté aux dessins annexés, dans lesquels:

  • la figure 1 est une vue schématique en coupe axiale du disjoncteur selon l'invention;
  • la figure 2 est une vue partielle, à échelle agrandie, de la fig. 1, montrant le déclencheur électromagnétique;
  • la figure 3 est une vue explosée du déclencheur électromagnétique selon la fig. 2;
  • les figures 4, 5 et 6 sont respectivement des coupes suivant les lignes IV-IV, V-V et VI-VI de la fig. 3.
Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from the description which follows of an embodiment of the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example and represented in the appended drawings, in which:
  • Figure 1 is a schematic view in axial section of the circuit breaker according to the invention;
  • Figure 2 is a partial view, on an enlarged scale, of FIG. 1, showing the electromagnetic trigger;
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the electromagnetic trip device according to FIG. 2;
  • Figures 4, 5 and 6 are respectively sections along the lines IV-IV, VV and VI-VI of FIG. 3.

Sur les figures, un pôle d'un disjoncteur électrique miniature comporte un boîtier 10 en une matière isolante moulée ayant sur la face avant 12 une manette 14 de manoeuvre du disjoncteur et sur les deux faces latérales étroites des bornes de connexion 16, 28 d'entrée et de sortie du disjoncteur. A l'intérieur du boîtier 10 sont logés un contact mobile 20 et un contact fixe 22, relié par un conducteur en boucle 24 à la borne 16. Le contact mobile 20 est commandé par un mécanisme de commande qui sera décrit en détail par la suite. Dans le boîtier 10 sont également logés un déclencheur thermique formé par un bilame 26 et un déclencheur électromagnétique 28 susceptible de provoquer en cas de surcharge ou de court-circuit une ouverture automatique des contacts 20, 22. Dans la partie inférieure du boîtier 10 est disposée une chambre de coupure 30 constituée par un empillage de tôles 32 qui s'étendent parallèlement à la face arrière 34 du boîtier 10. Des griffes de fixation 36, solidaires de la face arrière 34, sont susceptibles de coopérer avec un rail DIN symétrique de support d'une manière bien connue des spécialites.In the figures, a pole of a miniature electric circuit breaker comprises a housing 10 made of a molded insulating material having on the front face 12 a handle 14 for operating the circuit breaker and on the two narrow lateral faces of the connection terminals 16, 28 of breaker input and output. Inside the housing 10 are housed a movable contact 20 and a fixed contact 22, connected by a loop conductor 24 to the terminal 16. The movable contact 20 is controlled by a control mechanism which will be described in detail below. . In the housing 10 are also housed a thermal trip device formed by a bimetallic strip 26 and an electromagnetic trip device 28 capable of causing in the event of an overload or short circuit an automatic opening of the contacts 20, 22. In the lower part of the case 10 is arranged a breaking chamber 30 formed by a stack of sheets 32 which extend parallel to the rear face 34 of the housing 10. Clamps 36, integral with the rear face 34, are capable of cooperating with a symmetrical DIN rail for support in a manner well known to the specialties.

Le contact mobile 20 s'étend sensiblement perpendiculairement au plan des tôles 32, le manière à tirer un arc entre les contacts 20, 22 lors de leur séparation, dont la direction initiale est sensiblement parallèle aux tôles 32. Le conducteur en boucle 24 se prolonge au-delà du contact fixe 22 pour constituer une électrode ou corne d'arc 38, qui se termine par une plaque délimitant la chambre de coupure 30. Le côté opposé de la chambre de coupure 30 est délimité par une électrode 40, électriquement reliée de la manière décrite ci-après à la borne de sortie 18.The movable contact 20 extends substantially perpendicular to the plane of the sheets 32, the so as to draw an arc between the contacts 20, 22 during their separation, the initial direction of which is substantially parallel to the sheets 32. The loop conductor 24 extends beyond the fixed contact 22 to form an electrode or arc horn 38, which ends in a plate delimiting the interrupting chamber 30. The opposite side of the interrupting chamber 30 is delimited by an electrode 40, electrically connected in the manner described below to the output terminal 18.

Le mécanisme de commande du contact mobile 20 est décrit en détail dans FR-A-2 344 949, et ne sera résumé par la suite que sommairement. Le contact mobile 20 est articulé sur un bras de contact 44 monté à pivotement sur un culbuteur 46 attaqué par une genouillère 48 dont l'une des biellettas est formée par une extension 50 de la manette 14. Un pivotement de la manette 14 provoque l'extension ou la brisure de la genouillère 48 et par pivotement du culbuteur 46 l'écartement ou le rapprochement du contact mobile 20 du contact fixe 22. Un levier de déclenchement 52, monté à pivotement sur un axe 54, coopère avec l'extrémité 56 du bras de contact 44, de manière à solidariser ce dernier au culbuteur 46. Un verrou 48 est monté à rotation sur un pivot 60 et présente un nez 62 d'accrochage de l'extrémité du levier de déclenchement 52. Dans la position de verrouillage, représentée à la fig. 1, le levier de déclenchement 52 est retenu par le verrou 58 dans la position active permettant une transmission du mouvement de pivotement de la manette 14 au contact mobile 20 pour une commande manuelle d'ouverture et de fermeture du disjoncteur. Une ouverture automatique des contacts 20, 22 est provoquée par un pivotement dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre du verrou 58, qui libère le levier de déclenchement 52, ce dernier pivotant dans le sens trigonométrique pour libérer l'extrémité 56 du bras de contact 44. Sous l'action d'un ressort (non représenté) le bras de contact pivote vers la position d'ouverture le verrou 58 est actionné par la déflexion du bilame 26 en cas de surcharge et par le déclencheur électromagnétique 28 lors de l'apparition d'un court-circuit.The mechanism for controlling the movable contact 20 is described in detail in FR-A-2 344 949, and will only be summarized hereinafter. The movable contact 20 is articulated on a contact arm 44 pivotally mounted on a rocker arm 46 attacked by a toggle switch 48, one of the links of which is formed by an extension 50 of the lever 14. A pivoting of the lever 14 causes the extension or breaking of the toggle joint 48 and by pivoting of the rocker arm 46 the spacing or the bringing together of the movable contact 20 of the fixed contact 22. A trigger lever 52, pivotally mounted on an axis 54, cooperates with the end 56 of the contact arm 44, so as to secure the latter to the rocker arm 46. A lock 48 is mounted for rotation on a pivot 60 and has a nose 62 for hooking the end of the trigger lever 52. In the locking position, shown in fig. 1, the trip lever 52 is retained by the latch 58 in the active position allowing transmission of the pivoting movement of the lever 14 to the movable contact 20 for manual control of opening and closing of the circuit breaker. An automatic opening of the contacts 20, 22 is caused by a pivoting in the clockwise direction of the latch 58, which releases the trigger lever 52, the latter pivoting in the trigonometric direction to release the end 56 of the arm of contact 44. Under the action of a spring (not shown) the contact arm pivots towards the open position the latch 58 is actuated by the deflection of the bimetallic strip 26 in the event of overload and by the electromagnetic trigger 28 during the appearance of a short circuit.

En se référant plus particulièrement aux figures 2 à 6, on voit que le déclencheur électromagnétique 28 comporte une carcasse 64 en un matériau ferromagnétique qui entoure une bobine 68 montée sur un fourreau 70 isolant tubulaire obturé à l'une de ses extrémités par un fond 72. A l'intérieur du fourreau 70 en forme de manchon isolant est monté à coulissement un noyau plongeur 74 et un noyau magnétique fixe 76. La forme générale du noyau plongeur 74 est celle d'un tonneau ou d'une ogive dont la section transversale médiane est en forme de carré à arêtes 78 arrondies (voir fig. 4). En position insérée du noyau plongeur dans le fourreau 70, les arêtes 78 constituent des lignes de guidage au contact de la paroi interne du forreau 70, les intervalles subsistant entre les côtés du carré du noyau plongeur 74 et le pourtour du fourreau 70 délimitant des orifices de passage de l'air. Il est facile de comprendre que le noyau plongeur 74 agissant comme un piston se déplaçant dans le cylindre 70 n'est pas freiné dans son déplacement par la compression de l'air qui peut s'échapper librement par les intervalles ménagés entre le piston et le cylindre. La forme en ogive du noyau plongeur 74 autorise un pivotement limité à l'intérieur du fourreau 70. Au noyau plongeur 74 est solidarisée une tige d'actionnement 80, qui traverse un orifice ménagé dans le fond 72 du fourreau 70 et coopère avec le bras de contact 44. Le noyau plongeur 74 coopère par son côté opposé avec un poussoir 82, qui traverse un orifice 84 ménagé dans le noyau fixe 76 et est sollicité en appui du noyau plongeur 74 par un ressort 86. L'extrémité du poussoir 82 coopère avec le verrou 58 pour déplacer ce dernier en position de déverrouillage lors d'une excitation du déclencheur électromagnétique 28. Le noyau fixe 76 présente sur son pourtour externe des alvéoles 88 dans lesquels viennent s'encliqueter en position montée des bossages 90 ménagés sur le fourreau 70. Le noyau fixe 76 présente de plus un collet 91 traversant un orifice 92 ménagé dans la carcasse 64 et recevant un circlips de fixation 94, de manière à solidariser rigidement le noyau fixe 76 à la carcasse 64. Le circlips 94 est constitué par l'extrémité d'un ressort à lame 96 en forme d'épingle à cheveux dont l'extrémité opposée coopère avec le verrou 58 pour solliciter ce dernier en position de verrouillage.Referring more particularly to FIGS. 2 to 6, it can be seen that the electromagnetic trip device 28 comprises a carcass 64 made of a ferromagnetic material which surrounds a coil 68 mounted on a tubular insulating sheath 70 closed at one of its ends by a bottom 72 Inside the sheath 70 in the form of an insulating sleeve is slidably mounted a plunger core 74 and a fixed magnetic core 76. The general shape of the plunger core 74 is that of a barrel or an ogive whose cross section median is in the form of a square with rounded edges 78 (see fig. 4). In the inserted position of the plunger core in the sheath 70, the edges 78 constitute guide lines in contact with the internal wall of the sheath 70, the intervals remaining between the sides of the square of the plunger core 74 and the periphery of the sheath 70 delimiting orifices of air passage. It is easy to understand that the plunger core 74 acting as a piston moving in the cylinder 70 is not braked in its movement by the compression of air which can escape freely through the intervals formed between the piston and the cylinder. The pointed shape of the plunger core 74 allows limited pivoting inside the sheath 70. To the plunger core 74 is secured an actuating rod 80, which passes through an orifice formed in the bottom 72 of the sheath 70 and cooperates with the arm contact 44. The plunger core 74 cooperates by its opposite side with a pusher 82, which passes through an orifice 84 formed in the fixed core 76 and is biased in support of the plunger core 74 by a spring 86. The end of the pusher 82 cooperates with the latch 58 to move the latter in the unlocked position during an excitation of the electromagnetic trip device 28. The fixed core 76 has on its outer periphery cells 88 in which are engaged in the mounted position of the bosses 90 formed on the sheath 70. The fixed core 76 furthermore has a collar 91 passing through an orifice 92 formed in the carcass 64 and receiving a fixing circlip 94, so as to rigidly solidly secure the fixed core 76 to the carcass 64. The circlip 94 is constituted by the end of a leaf spring 96 in the form of a hairpin, the opposite end of which cooperates with the lock 58 to urge the latter in the locked position.

. La bobine 68 est reliée électriquement, d'une part par une tresse 98 au contact mobile 20, et d'autre part par une tresse 100 au bilame 26 dont l'extrémité opposée est fixée à la carcasse 64, elle-même reliée à la borne 18. La plaque 40 de délimitation de la chambre de coupure 30 est fixée à la carcasse 64 du côté du bras de contact 44. Il est facile de comprendre qu'en position fermée des contacts 20, 22, le courant passe de la borne 16 par les contacts 22, 20, la tresse 98, la bobine 68, la tresse 100, le bilame 26 vers la borne 18. En cas de surcharge ou de court-circuit, le verrou 58 est actionné respectivement par le bilame 26 ou le déclencheur électromagnétique 28, de manière à provoquer l'ouverture automatique des contacts 20, 22. L'arc tiré entre les contacts séparés 20, 22 se déplace le long de la corne 38 et commute sur la plaque 40 en mettant hors circuit la bobine 68 et le bilame 26 d'une manière bien connue des spécialistes. On se reportera avantageusement au brevet français précité pour une description plus détaillée du fonctionnement du disjoncteur. Il suffit de rappeler que la section polygonale plus particulièrement carrée du noyau plongeur 74 évite tout effet de piston susceptible de freiner le déplacement du noyau plongeur 74. La forme en ogive du noyau plongeur 74 permet un pivotement et de ce fait une inclinaison de la tige d'actionnement 80 qui se positionne pour exercer sur le contact mobile 20 un effort de traction en direction d'ouverture du contact mobile 20.. The coil 68 is electrically connected, on the one hand by a braid 98 to the movable contact 20, and on the other hand by a braid 100 to the bimetallic strip 26, the opposite end of which is fixed to the carcass 64, itself connected to the terminal 18. The plate 40 delimiting the breaking chamber 30 is fixed to the carcass 64 on the side of the contact arm 44. It is easy to understand that in the closed position of the contacts 20, 22, the current flows from the terminal 16 by the contacts 22, 20, the braid 98, the coil 68, the braid 100, the bimetallic strip 26 towards the terminal 18. In the event of an overload or short-circuit, the latch 58 is actuated respectively by the bimetallic strip 26 or the electromagnetic trip 28, so as to cause the automatic opening of the contacts 20, 22. The arc drawn between the separate contacts 20, 22 moves along the horn 38 and switches to the plate 40 by switching off the coil 68 and bimetallic strip 26 in a manner well known to specialists. Advantageously refer to the aforementioned French patent for a more detailed description of the operation of the circuit breaker. It suffices to recall that the more particularly square polygonal section of the plunger core 74 avoids any piston effect capable of slowing the movement of the plunger core 74. The shape in a conical shape of the plunger core 74 allows pivoting and therefore an inclination of the actuating rod 80 which is positioned to exert on the movable contact 20 a tensile force in the direction of opening of the movable contact 20.

Le fourreau 70 à bossages 90 facilite le montage du déclencheur électromagnétique qui est effectué de la manière suivante:

  • Dans l'intérieur du fourreau 70 sont insérés successivement le noyau plongeur 74 avec sa tige d'actionnement 80, le poussoir 82, le ressort de rappel 86 et le noyau fixe 76. En fin de course d'enfoncement du noyau fixe 76 à l'encontre du ressort 86, les bossages 90 viennent s'encliqueter dans les alvéoles 88 pour solidariser le noyau fixe, formant obturateur, au fourreau 70 de gainage. Ce sous-ensemble peut être préassemblé et lors du montage du disjoncteur mis en place en un seul bloc par l'insertion du collet 91 dans l'orifice ménagé dans la carcasse 64. La mise en place du circlips 94 assujettit ce sous-ensemble à la carcasse 64. Lors de la mise en place du déclencheur électromagnétique 28 dans le boîtier 10 le fond 72 du fourreau 70 vient en appui de butées 102 solidaires du boîtier 10. La mise en place et le positionnement du ressort de rappel 86 s'effectuent automatiquement par la mise en place du circlips 94.
The sleeve 70 with bosses 90 facilitates the mounting of the electromagnetic trip device which is carried out as follows:
  • In the interior of the sheath 70 are successively inserted the plunger core 74 with its actuating rod 80, the pusher 82, the return spring 86 and the fixed core 76. At the end of the driving stroke of the fixed core 76 to the 'against the spring 86, the bosses 90 snap into the cells 88 to secure the fixed core, forming a shutter, to the sheath 70 of sheathing. This sub-assembly can be pre-assembled and during the mounting of the circuit breaker installed in a single block by the insertion of the collar 91 in the orifice provided in the carcass 64. The installation of the circlip 94 subjects this sub-assembly to the carcass 64. When the electromagnetic trip device 28 is put into place in the housing 10 the bottom 72 of the sheath 70 comes to bear stops 102 integral with the housing 10. The positioning and positioning of the return spring 86 takes place automatically by fitting the circlip 94.

Claims (4)

1. Miniature electric circuit breaker with moulded casing comprising:
- a cut off chamber (30) enclosed by two electrodes (38, 40) to guide the arc, disposed to pick up an arc drawn between contacts (20,
22) when they get separated, - an electromagnetic trip device (28) having a coil (68) and a plunger (74) controlling a release latch (58) when a fault occurs to induce the automatic opening of said contacts (20, 22),
- an actuation rod (80) coupled to the plunger (74) and acting on a rotating moving contact (20) to accelerate the shift of the moving contact (20) toward the opening position when the coil (68) of said trip device (28) is excited,
- and a sleeve (70) to guide in translation the plunger (74), characterized in that said plunger (74) presents a general form of a barrel or a rib accommodating gaps for the compressed air passage by the piston effect generated when the plunger (74) moves quickly inside the sleeve (70) and allowing a limited motion of the plunger rotation inside the sleeve (70) during the opening travel of the rotating moving contact (20).
2. Electric circuit breaker according to claim 2, with sleeve (70) having a cylindrical inner shape, characterized in that the barrel shaped bulge of the plunger (74) presents a square section to accommodate ways between the plunger (74) and the circular outline of the sleeve (70).
3. Electric circuit breaker according to claim 1 or 2, having a fixed core (76) cooperating with the moving plunger (74) and inserted in the sleeve (70) end, characterized in that said fixed core (76) is fastened to the frame (64) of said coil (68) by an elastic part (96) shaped as fastening circlips of the core and as pull-off spring of said latch (58).
4. Electric circuit breaker according to any of the former claims, having an electromagnetic trip device (28) comprising a coil (68) surrounding a cylindrical sleeve (70) inside which are disposed a sliding plunger (74), a fixed core (76) and a pull-off spring (86) of said plunger (74), characterized in that said cores (74, 76), said spring (86) and said sleeve (70) build a sub-group likely to be assembled outside and to be inserted in a single block in said coil (68), said fixed core (76) and said sleeve (70) comprising fastening means (90) by indexing mechanism.
EP19800401404 1979-10-16 1980-10-03 Miniature electric circuit breaker in moulded case Expired EP0027404B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR7925859A FR2468202B1 (en) 1979-10-16 1979-10-16 MINIATURE ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH MOLDED HOUSING
FR7925859 1979-10-16

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0027404A1 EP0027404A1 (en) 1981-04-22
EP0027404B1 true EP0027404B1 (en) 1984-07-18

Family

ID=9230787

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19800401404 Expired EP0027404B1 (en) 1979-10-16 1980-10-03 Miniature electric circuit breaker in moulded case

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EP (1) EP0027404B1 (en)
DE (1) DE3068610D1 (en)
ES (1) ES495920A0 (en)
FR (1) FR2468202B1 (en)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3421875A1 (en) * 1984-06-13 1985-12-19 Brown, Boveri & Cie Ag, 6800 Mannheim CONNECTING TERMINAL
EP0181103B1 (en) * 1984-11-02 1991-04-03 Circuit Breaker Industries Limited Circuit breaker
EP0259356A1 (en) * 1986-01-31 1988-03-16 ROTHENBERGER, Jakob, Dr.nat.oec. Multi-chamber magnetic distributing valve
FR2629633A1 (en) * 1988-03-30 1989-10-06 Hager Electro MAGNETIC TRIGGER FOR CIRCUIT BREAKER
DE4030514C2 (en) * 1990-09-27 1996-04-04 Hella Kg Hueck & Co Electrical lifting armature magnet, in particular for motor vehicles
FR2682533B1 (en) * 1991-10-10 1993-11-26 Merlin Gerin ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH INSERTION OF MAGNETIC TRIGGER SPIERS.
DE69409545T2 (en) * 1993-12-15 1998-09-17 United Technologies Automotive SOLENOID
DE102008030453A1 (en) * 2008-06-26 2010-01-14 Hydac Electronic Gmbh actuator

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2291599A (en) * 1939-12-16 1942-08-04 William A Ray Solenoid
NL60743C (en) * 1942-12-21
DE1173582B (en) * 1963-04-18 1964-07-09 Licentia Gmbh Magnetic release system for switchgear
US3295079A (en) * 1964-12-03 1966-12-27 Honeywell Inc Solenoid actuator assembly having a unitary spring clip for the plunger
DE1564088A1 (en) * 1966-09-22 1970-01-15 Erich Herion AC magnet with a magnetic core partially protruding into the cavity of the magnetic coil and a yoke surrounding the magnetic coil, in particular for magnetic valves for controlling devices operated by compressed air
US3727160A (en) * 1972-03-24 1973-04-10 Automatic Switch Co Retaining clip for a solenoid assembly
DE2330839A1 (en) * 1973-06-16 1975-01-09 Harting Elektro W Simply constructed armature bearings - by injecting a plastic into a groove in the armature as guide ring in the bearing region
DE2531215A1 (en) * 1975-07-12 1977-02-03 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie Solenoid magnetic trip for protective circuit breakers - has coil former in one piece with moving and stationery cores and positively held in iron yoke
FR2344949A1 (en) * 1976-03-15 1977-10-14 Merlin Gerin Low voltage miniature contact breaker for domestic use - has bimetal strips and solenoid for release and laminated stack for arc blowout

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3068610D1 (en) 1984-08-23
EP0027404A1 (en) 1981-04-22
ES8105890A1 (en) 1981-06-16
FR2468202B1 (en) 1986-03-07
FR2468202A1 (en) 1981-04-30
ES495920A0 (en) 1981-06-16

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