EP0097557B1 - Shunt circuit for the trip device of a circuit breaker - Google Patents

Shunt circuit for the trip device of a circuit breaker Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0097557B1
EP0097557B1 EP19830401117 EP83401117A EP0097557B1 EP 0097557 B1 EP0097557 B1 EP 0097557B1 EP 19830401117 EP19830401117 EP 19830401117 EP 83401117 A EP83401117 A EP 83401117A EP 0097557 B1 EP0097557 B1 EP 0097557B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
circuit
coil
shunt
circuit breaker
trip device
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
EP19830401117
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0097557A1 (en
Inventor
Louis Boillot
Jacky Duchenaud
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
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Merlin Gerin SA filed Critical Merlin Gerin SA
Publication of EP0097557A1 publication Critical patent/EP0097557A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0097557B1 publication Critical patent/EP0097557B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • H01H71/121—Protection of release mechanisms
    • 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
    • H01H71/74—Means for adjusting the conditions under which the device will function to provide protection
    • H01H2071/749—Means for adjusting the conditions under which the device will function to provide protection with a shunt element connected in parallel to magnetic or thermal trip elements, e.g. for adjusting trip current

Definitions

  • the shunt is formed by a metallic piece of nickel-chromium alloy, specially incorporated in the circuit breaker to protect the bimetallic strip against excessive heating caused by the passage short-circuit current.
  • This additional part has a large thermal capacity and its installation inside the molded case can present difficulties in miniature circuit breakers with reduced overall dimensions.
  • Document FR-A-2 434 474 relates to a circuit breaker with caliber adjustment, in particular a subscriber circuit breaker, comprising shunt means constituted by at least one conductor in shunt, cooperating with the electrical connection connecting one of the contacts to the associated connection terminal.
  • An auxiliary switch is interposed on the bypass conductor, controlled in opening and closing by a caliber adjustment cam.
  • Such an arrangement complicates the manufacture of the circuit breaker at the level of said electrical connection, which leads to an increase in size which is incompatible with the housing of a miniature circuit breaker. Adjusting the caliber also requires a cam that can be actuated from the outside.
  • a pole of a miniature low-voltage electric circuit breaker comprises a housing 10 of molded insulating material having a base 12 adaptable to a support rail by means of a latch 14, and a opposite front face 15 provided with an opening for the passage of a control handle 16.
  • Two terminals 18, 20 for connecting the circuit breaker are arranged on the narrow lateral faces of the housing 10.
  • the circuit breaker is of the type described in document FR-A-2 468 202 by the applicant, and comprises a pair of separable contacts 22, 24, a breaking chamber 26 with arc deionization plates, and an operating mechanism 28 associated with the manual control lever 16 and with tripping means formed by a bimetal thermal trip device 30 and an electromagnetic trip device 32 capable of causing automatic opening of the contacts 22, 24 in the event of an overload or short-circuit.
  • the fixed contact 22 is connected by a loop conductor to the terminal 18 and the movable contact 24 actuated by the operating mechanism, is articulated on a contact arm 34 pivotally mounted on a rocker arm 36.
  • the latter is coupled to a toggle joint 38 integral with the lever 16; a trigger lever 40 pivotally mounted on an axis 42 cooperates with the end 44 of the contact arm 34 opposite the movable contact 20, so as to secure the arm 34 to the rocker arm 36.
  • a lock 46 ensures the attachment of the trip lever 40 in the locked position so as to allow transmission of the pivoting movement of the lever 16 to the movable contact 24 for manual control of opening and closing of the circuit breaker.
  • the automatic opening of the contacts 22, 24 is caused by a pivoting of the latch 46 towards an unlocked position which releases the trigger lever 40 driving under the action of a spring the contact arm 34 pivoting towards the open position.
  • the latch 46 is actuated towards the unlocked position by the deflection of the bimetallic strip 30, in the event of overload and by the electromagnetic trip device 32 when a short circuit occurs.
  • the electromagnetic trip device 32 arranged in the central part of the circuit breaker between the breaking chamber 26 and the rocker arm 36 of the mechanism 28, comprises a coil 48 surrounded by a carcass 50 made of ferromagnetic material, in particular steel.
  • the coil 48 is mounted on an insulating sheath inside which slides a plunger core 52 provided with an actuating rod 54 serving as an extractor for the contact arm 34.
  • the plunger core 52 cooperates by its opposite end with a pushbutton for controlling the lock 46 which is moved to the unlocking position when the excitation current of the coil 48 exceeds a predetermined threshold.
  • a return leaf spring 56 in the form of a pin biases the latch 46 in the latching position, in particular when the current intensity in the coil 48 is less than the triggering threshold.
  • the bimetallic thermal trip device 30 of the direct heating type is formed by an elongated blade extending in the space formed between the coil 48 and the terminal 20 in a direction perpendicular to the front face 15 and to the sheets of the chamber 26.
  • the base of the bimetallic strip 30 is fixed to the carcass 50 at a point 58 electrically connected to the connection terminal 20.
  • the opposite active end of the bimetallic strip 30 cooperating with the latch 46 is connected to one of the ends of the coil 48 by the 'through a flexible conductor, in particular a braid 60.
  • the coil 48 and the bimetallic strip 30 are connected in series in a main tripping circuit.
  • circuit breaker is well known and is particularly suitable for ratings up to 38 Amps. Beyond this nominal current arise in particular problems of heat dissipation, overheating and size of the circuit breaker.
  • the other end of the coil 48 opposite the braid 60 is welded directly at a second point 62 of the ferromagnetic carcass 50, and a flexible conductor 64 connects the point 62 to the contact arm 34. It follows that a portion of the ferromagnetic carcass 50 located between the two separate points 58, 62 forms a metallic shunt 66, connected in parallel to the main series trigger circuit comprising the bimetallic strip 30 and the coil 48. In the closed position contacts 22, 24, part of the nominal current then passes through the shunt 66 of the ferromagnetic carcass 50, and the other part 1 2 of the current flows in the main circuit of the coil 48 and the bimetallic strip 30.
  • the impedance of the metallic shunt 66 is such that the distribution of the current in rated current regime is substantially balanced between the main series circuit and the shunt circuit.
  • the ferromagnetic carcass of the shunt 66 has a large thermal capacity, the heat exchange surface of which with the surrounding air and with the molded material of the housing 10 makes it possible to dissipate in the same volume an energy greater than that of a conventional circuit breaker of 38 A for example.
  • the shunt 66 depends on the cut and folded structure of the ferromagnetic carcass 50 of the electromagnetic trip device 32.
  • the shunt 66 comprises a square part of the carcass 50, formed by a first upper tongue 70 located in the vicinity of the rocker arm 36 extending from point 62 parallel to the sheets of the chamber 26, and a second perpendicular tongue 72 arranged near the return spring 56 of the latch 46.
  • the tongue 72 is connected to the connection point 58 of bimetallic strip 30 by a conductor 74.
  • the shunt 66 is constituted by a square opposite to that of FIG. 1.
  • the bracket has a tongue 76 extending from point 62 perpendicular to the sheets of the chamber 26 and connected at right angles to a lower plate 78 arranged parallel and at a short distance from the horn 80 of the arc.
  • the plate 78 adjacent to the horn 80 is directly connected to the point 58 of connection of the bimetallic strip 30.
  • the shunt instead of being formed by a part of the casing of the electromagnetic trip device, as described in ref Reference to Figures 1 and 2, is constituted by a median plate 132 of metallic material, formed between two breaking chambers 134, 136 of a circuit breaker with high breaking capacity.
  • the metal plate 132 is inserted inside an insulating partition 130 which subdivides the lower part of the housing 110 into two adjacent parts for housing the interrupting chambers 134, 136.
  • On either side of the central partition 130 are respectively arranged in arcing chambers 140, 142, fixed contacts 146, 148 cooperating with movable contacts 150, 152 carried by a common support in the form of a fork 154 constituting a contact bridge.
  • Electrodes 156, 158 extend the fixed contacts 146, 148 to connect to the end plates of the interrupting chambers 134, 136.
  • the electrode 158 is connected directly to the fixed contact 148 and the other electrode 156 is electrically connected to the metal plate 132 by means of a folded tab 162.
  • the fixed contact 146 instead of being separated from the electrode 156 by an insulating gap, is connected by a conductor 180 to the tab 162 for connecting the electrode 156 and the metal plate 132.
  • the electrical circuit of FIG. 4 shows that the nominal current path starts from the terminal 126 connected to the fixed contact 148, then traverses the contact bridge of the fork 154, then the other fixed contact 146. At this point, a part of the nominal current flows in the main trip circuit formed by the coil 168 of the electromagnetic trip device in series by a braid 108 with the bimetallic strip 188. The other part of the rated current follows the parallel path of the metallic plate 132 forming the connected shunt 66 at the other terminal 128.
  • the legs 102 and 162 constitute the connection points of the two circuits in parallel.
  • the circuit breaker rating can reach 100 A.

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  • Breakers (AREA)

Description

L'invention est relative à un disjoncteur électrique à basse tension et à boîtier isolant moulé renfermant un mécanisme d'actionnement associé à un déclencheur automatique et à une manette de commande manuelle, chaque pôle du disjoncteur comprenant :

  • au moins une paire de contacts séparables,
  • une paire de bornes de raccordement,
  • une chambre de coupure de l'arc tiré entre les contacts séparés,
  • un circuit principal de déclenchement, comportant un déclencheur thermique à bilame et un déclencheur électromagnétique à bobine susceptibles de coopérer, en cas de surcharge ou de court-circuit avec un verrou du mécanisme pour l'ouverture automatique des contacts,
  • et un circuit shunt branché en parallèle sur le circuit principal de déclenchement, ledit shunt étant formé par un matériau conducteur métallique qui dérive une partie du courant nominal de chaque pôle, l'autre partie circulant dans le bilame et la bobine.
The invention relates to a low-voltage electric circuit breaker and to a molded insulating housing containing an actuation mechanism associated with an automatic trip device and a manual control lever, each pole of the circuit breaker comprising:
  • at least one pair of separable contacts,
  • a pair of connection terminals,
  • an arc breaking chamber between the separated contacts,
  • a main tripping circuit, comprising a bimetal thermal tripping device and an electromagnetic tripping device with coil capable of cooperating, in the event of overload or short circuit with a latch of the mechanism for the automatic opening of the contacts,
  • and a shunt circuit connected in parallel to the main trip circuit, said shunt being formed by a metallic conductive material which derives part of the nominal current of each pole, the other part circulating in the bimetallic strip and the coil.

Selon le dispositif connu, décrit dans le document FR-A-1 438 093, le shunt est formé par une pièce métallique en alliage de nickel-chrome, incorporée spécialement dans le disjoncteur pour protéger le bilame contre l'échauffement excessif provoqué par le passage d'un courant de court-circuit. Cette pièce additionnelle présente une capacité thermique importante et sa mise en place à l'intérieur du boîtier moulé peut présenter des difficultés dans des disjoncteurs miniatures à encombrement réduit.According to the known device, described in document FR-A-1 438 093, the shunt is formed by a metallic piece of nickel-chromium alloy, specially incorporated in the circuit breaker to protect the bimetallic strip against excessive heating caused by the passage short-circuit current. This additional part has a large thermal capacity and its installation inside the molded case can present difficulties in miniature circuit breakers with reduced overall dimensions.

Le document FR-A-2 434 474 se rapporte à un disjoncteur à réglage de calibre, notamment un disjoncteur d'abonné, comprenant des moyens de shunt constitués par au moins un conducteur en dérivation, coopérant avec la liaison électrique reliant l'un des contacts à la borne de raccordement associée. Sur le conducteur de dérivation est interposé un interrupteur auxiliaire commandé en ouverture et fermeture par une came de réglage du calibre. Un tel agencement complique la fabrication du disjoncteur au niveau de ladite liaison électrique, ce qui entraîne une augmentation de l'encombrement incompatible avec le boîtier d'un disjoncteur miniature. Le réglage du calibre nécessite d'autre part une came pouvant être actionnée de l'extérieur.Document FR-A-2 434 474 relates to a circuit breaker with caliber adjustment, in particular a subscriber circuit breaker, comprising shunt means constituted by at least one conductor in shunt, cooperating with the electrical connection connecting one of the contacts to the associated connection terminal. An auxiliary switch is interposed on the bypass conductor, controlled in opening and closing by a caliber adjustment cam. Such an arrangement complicates the manufacture of the circuit breaker at the level of said electrical connection, which leads to an increase in size which is incompatible with the housing of a miniature circuit breaker. Adjusting the caliber also requires a cam that can be actuated from the outside.

L'invention part de la constatation que tous les disjoncteurs à basse tension sont équipés de pièces métalliques existantes exerçant des fonctions diverses, notamment de support, de déclenchement et de commande. Un choix judicieux du couplage interne des organes électriques permettrait à ces pièces métalliques de remplir la fonction supplémentaire de shunt branché en parallèle sur le circuit principal de déclenchement.The invention starts from the observation that all low-voltage circuit breakers are fitted with existing metal parts performing various functions, in particular support, tripping and control. A judicious choice of the internal coupling of the electrical members would allow these metal parts to fulfill the additional function of shunt connected in parallel to the main tripping circuit.

Le disjoncteur selon l'invention est caractérisé en ce que le circuit shunt est formé par une portion de la carcasse ferro-magnétique encadrant la bobine du déclencheur électromagnétique. Il en résulte une diminution de l'échauffement du disjoncteur et la possibilité d'élargissement de la gamme des calibres, par exemple jusqu'à 63 Ampères à partir d'une bobine et d'un bilame d'un disjoncteur standard de calibre 32 A. L'encombrement interne reste invariable, seul change le mode de connexion interne des organes électriques.The circuit breaker according to the invention is characterized in that the shunt circuit is formed by a portion of the ferro-magnetic carcass surrounding the coil of the electromagnetic trip device. This results in a reduction in the temperature rise of the circuit breaker and the possibility of widening the range of ratings, for example up to 63 Amperes from a coil and a bimetallic strip of a standard circuit breaker of 32 A rating. The internal dimensions remain invariable, only the internal connection mode of the electrical components changes.

Selon une variante de réalisation, le circuit shunt peut être formé par une plaque intercalaire en matériau métalliqué, agencée entre deux chambres de coupure, ladite plaque portant une première patte de fixation du bilame, et une deuxième patte reliée à l'une des extrémités de la bobine du déclencheur électromagnétique.According to an alternative embodiment, the shunt circuit can be formed by an intermediate plate of metallic material, arranged between two cutting chambers, said plate carrying a first tab for fixing the bimetallic strip, and a second tab connected to one of the ends of the coil of the electromagnetic trip device.

D'autres avantages et caractéristiques ressortiront plus clairement de l'exposé qui va suivre de différents modes de mise en oeuvre de l'invention, donnés à titre d'exemples non limitatifs et représentés aux dessins annexés, dans lesquels :

  • la figure 1 est une vue en élévation d'un disjoncteur équipé d'un circuit shunt selon l'invention ;
  • la figure 2 est une vue partielle en élévation d'une variante de réalisation ;
  • la figure 3 montre une vue en coupe transversale d'une autre variante de réalisation ;
  • la figure 4 représente le schéma électrique du disjoncteur selon la figure 3.
Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from the description which follows of different embodiments of the invention, given by way of nonlimiting examples and represented in the appended drawings, in which:
  • Figure 1 is an elevational view of a circuit breaker equipped with a shunt circuit according to the invention;
  • Figure 2 is a partial elevational view of an alternative embodiment;
  • Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of another alternative embodiment;
  • FIG. 4 represents the electrical diagram of the circuit breaker according to FIG. 3.

Sur les figures 1 et 2, un pôle d'un disjoncteur électrique miniature à basse tension comporte un boîtier 10 en matériau isolant moulé ayant un socle 12 adaptable à un rail support par l'intermédiaire d'un verrou 14 d'encliquetage, et une face avant 15 opposée munie d'une ouverture pour le passage d'une manette de commande 16. Deux bornes 18, 20 de branchement du disjoncteur sont agencées sur les faces latérales étroites du boîtier 10.In FIGS. 1 and 2, a pole of a miniature low-voltage electric circuit breaker comprises a housing 10 of molded insulating material having a base 12 adaptable to a support rail by means of a latch 14, and a opposite front face 15 provided with an opening for the passage of a control handle 16. Two terminals 18, 20 for connecting the circuit breaker are arranged on the narrow lateral faces of the housing 10.

Le disjoncteur est du type décrit dans le document FR-A-2 468 202 de la demanderesse, et comprend une paire de contacts séparables 22, 24, une chambre de coupure 26 à tôles de désionisation de l'arc, et un mécanisme de manoeuvre 28 associé à la manette 16 de commande manuelle et à des moyens de déclenchement formés par un déclencheur thermique à bilame 30 et un déclencheur électromagnétique 32 susceptibles de provoquer en cas de surcharge ou de court-circuit une ouverture automatique des contacts 22, 24.The circuit breaker is of the type described in document FR-A-2 468 202 by the applicant, and comprises a pair of separable contacts 22, 24, a breaking chamber 26 with arc deionization plates, and an operating mechanism 28 associated with the manual control lever 16 and with tripping means formed by a bimetal thermal trip device 30 and an electromagnetic trip device 32 capable of causing automatic opening of the contacts 22, 24 in the event of an overload or short-circuit.

Le contact fixe 22 est relié par un conducteur en boucle à la borne 18 et le contact mobile 24 actionné par le mécanisme de manœuvre, est articulé sur un bras de contact 34 monté à pivotement sur un culbuteur 36. Ce dernier est accouplé à une genouillère 38 solidaire de la manette 16 ; un levier de déclenchement 40 monté à pivotement sur un axe 42 coopère avec l'extrémité 44 du bras de contact 34 à l'opposé du contact mobile 20, de manière à solidariser le bras 34 au culbuteur 36. Un verrou 46 assure l'accrochage du levier de déclenchement 40 en position de verrouillage de manière à autoriser une transmission du mouvement de pivotement de la manette 16 au contact mobile 24 pour une commande manuelle d'ouverture et de fermeture du disjoncteur. L'ouverture automatique des contacts 22, 24 est provoquée par un pivotement du verrou 46 vers une position déverrouillée qui libère le levier de déclenchement 40 entraînant sous l'action d'un ressort le bras de contact 34 pivotant vers la position d'ouverture. Le verrou 46 est actionné vers la position déverrouillée par la déflexion du bilame 30, en cas de surcharge et par le déclencheur électromagnétique 32 lors de l'apparition d'un court-circuit.The fixed contact 22 is connected by a loop conductor to the terminal 18 and the movable contact 24 actuated by the operating mechanism, is articulated on a contact arm 34 pivotally mounted on a rocker arm 36. The latter is coupled to a toggle joint 38 integral with the lever 16; a trigger lever 40 pivotally mounted on an axis 42 cooperates with the end 44 of the contact arm 34 opposite the movable contact 20, so as to secure the arm 34 to the rocker arm 36. A lock 46 ensures the attachment of the trip lever 40 in the locked position so as to allow transmission of the pivoting movement of the lever 16 to the movable contact 24 for manual control of opening and closing of the circuit breaker. The automatic opening of the contacts 22, 24 is caused by a pivoting of the latch 46 towards an unlocked position which releases the trigger lever 40 driving under the action of a spring the contact arm 34 pivoting towards the open position. The latch 46 is actuated towards the unlocked position by the deflection of the bimetallic strip 30, in the event of overload and by the electromagnetic trip device 32 when a short circuit occurs.

Le déclencheur électromagnétique 32, agencé dans la partie centrale du disjoncteur entre la chambre de coupure 26 et le culbuteur 36 du mécanisme 28, comporte une bobine 48 entourée par une carcasse 50 en matériau ferromagnétique, notamment de l'acier. La bobine 48 est montée sur un fourreau isolant à l'intérieur duquel se déplace à coulissement un noyau plongeur 52 doté d'une tige d'actionnement 54 servant d'extracteur au bras de contact 34. Le noyau plongeur 52 coopère par son extrémité opposée avec un poussoir de commande du verrou 46 lequel est déplacé en position de déverrouillage lorsque le courant d'excitation de la bobine 48 dépasse un seuil prédéterminé. Un ressort à lame de rappel 56 en forme d'épingle sollicite le verrou 46 en position de verrouillage, notamment lorsque l'intensité du courant dans la bobine 48 est inférieure au seuil de déclenchement.The electromagnetic trip device 32, arranged in the central part of the circuit breaker between the breaking chamber 26 and the rocker arm 36 of the mechanism 28, comprises a coil 48 surrounded by a carcass 50 made of ferromagnetic material, in particular steel. The coil 48 is mounted on an insulating sheath inside which slides a plunger core 52 provided with an actuating rod 54 serving as an extractor for the contact arm 34. The plunger core 52 cooperates by its opposite end with a pushbutton for controlling the lock 46 which is moved to the unlocking position when the excitation current of the coil 48 exceeds a predetermined threshold. A return leaf spring 56 in the form of a pin biases the latch 46 in the latching position, in particular when the current intensity in the coil 48 is less than the triggering threshold.

Le déclencheur thermique à bilame 30 du type à chauffage direct est formé par une lame allongée s'étendant dans l'intervalle ménagé entre la bobine 48 et la borne 20 selon une direction perpendiculaire à la face avant 15 et aux tôles de la chambre 26. La base du bilame 30 est fixée à la carcasse 50 en un point 58 relié électriquement à la borne de branchement 20. Le bout actif opposé du bilame 30 coopérant avec le verrou 46 est branché à l'une des extrémités de la bobine 48 par l'intermédiaire d'un conducteur flexible, notamment une tresse 60. La bobine 48 et le bilame 30 sont connectés en série dans un circuit principal de déclenchement.The bimetallic thermal trip device 30 of the direct heating type is formed by an elongated blade extending in the space formed between the coil 48 and the terminal 20 in a direction perpendicular to the front face 15 and to the sheets of the chamber 26. The base of the bimetallic strip 30 is fixed to the carcass 50 at a point 58 electrically connected to the connection terminal 20. The opposite active end of the bimetallic strip 30 cooperating with the latch 46 is connected to one of the ends of the coil 48 by the 'through a flexible conductor, in particular a braid 60. The coil 48 and the bimetallic strip 30 are connected in series in a main tripping circuit.

Un tel disjoncteur est bien connu et est particulièrement adapté pour des calibres allant jusqu'à 38 Ampères. Au-delà de cette intensité nominale se posent notamment des problèmes de dissipation thermique, d'échauffement et d'encombrement du disjoncteur.Such a circuit breaker is well known and is particularly suitable for ratings up to 38 Amps. Beyond this nominal current arise in particular problems of heat dissipation, overheating and size of the circuit breaker.

Selon l'invention, l'autre extrémité de la bobine 48 à l'opposé de la tresse 60 est soudée directement en un deuxième point 62 de la carcasse 50 ferromagnétique, et un conducteur flexible 64 relie le point 62 au bras de contact 34. Il en résulte qu'une portion de la carcasse 50 ferromagnétique située entre les deux points 58, 62 distincts forme un shunt 66 métallique, branché en parallèle sur le circuit série principal de déclenchement comprenant le bilame 30 et la bobine 48. En position de fermeture des contacts 22, 24, une partie du courant nominal passe alors par le shunt 66 de la carcasse 50 ferromagnétique, et l'autre partie 12 du courant circule dans le circuit principal de la bobine 48 et du bilame 30. L'impédance du shunt 66 métallique est telle que la répartition du courant en régime d'intensité nominale, soit sensiblement équilibrée entre le circuit série principal et le circuit shunt. La carcasse ferromagnétique du shunt 66 présente une grande capacité thermique dont la surface d'échange thermique avec l'air environnant et avec la matière moulée du boîtier 10 permet de dissiper dans le même volume une énergie supérieure à celle d'un disjoncteur classique de 38 A par exemple.According to the invention, the other end of the coil 48 opposite the braid 60 is welded directly at a second point 62 of the ferromagnetic carcass 50, and a flexible conductor 64 connects the point 62 to the contact arm 34. It follows that a portion of the ferromagnetic carcass 50 located between the two separate points 58, 62 forms a metallic shunt 66, connected in parallel to the main series trigger circuit comprising the bimetallic strip 30 and the coil 48. In the closed position contacts 22, 24, part of the nominal current then passes through the shunt 66 of the ferromagnetic carcass 50, and the other part 1 2 of the current flows in the main circuit of the coil 48 and the bimetallic strip 30. The impedance of the metallic shunt 66 is such that the distribution of the current in rated current regime is substantially balanced between the main series circuit and the shunt circuit. The ferromagnetic carcass of the shunt 66 has a large thermal capacity, the heat exchange surface of which with the surrounding air and with the molded material of the housing 10 makes it possible to dissipate in the same volume an energy greater than that of a conventional circuit breaker of 38 A for example.

La configuration du shunt 66 dépend de la structure découpée et pliée de la carcasse 50 ferromagnétique du déclencheur électromagnétique 32. Selon le dispositif de la figure 1, le shunt 66 comprend une pièce en équerre de la carcasse 50, formée par une première languette 70 supérieure située au voisinage du culbuteur 36 en s'étendant à partir du point 62 parallèlement aux tôles de la chambre 26, et une deuxième languette 72 perpendiculaire agencée à proximité du ressort de rappel 56 du verrou 46. La languette 72 est connectée au point de raccordement 58 du bilame 30 par un conducteur 74.The configuration of the shunt 66 depends on the cut and folded structure of the ferromagnetic carcass 50 of the electromagnetic trip device 32. According to the device of FIG. 1, the shunt 66 comprises a square part of the carcass 50, formed by a first upper tongue 70 located in the vicinity of the rocker arm 36 extending from point 62 parallel to the sheets of the chamber 26, and a second perpendicular tongue 72 arranged near the return spring 56 of the latch 46. The tongue 72 is connected to the connection point 58 of bimetallic strip 30 by a conductor 74.

Sur la figure 2, le shunt 66 est constitué par une équerre inverse de celle de la fig. 1. L'équerre comporte une languette 76 s'étendant à partir du point 62 perpendiculairement aux tôles de la chambre 26 et raccordée à angle droit à une plaquette 78 inférieure disposée parallèlement et à faible distance de la corne 80 d'arc. La plaquette 78 adjacente à la corne 80 est directement reliée au point 58 de raccordement du bilame 30.In FIG. 2, the shunt 66 is constituted by a square opposite to that of FIG. 1. The bracket has a tongue 76 extending from point 62 perpendicular to the sheets of the chamber 26 and connected at right angles to a lower plate 78 arranged parallel and at a short distance from the horn 80 of the arc. The plate 78 adjacent to the horn 80 is directly connected to the point 58 of connection of the bimetallic strip 30.

Le fonctionnement du disjoncteur selon la figure 1 ou 2 est le suivant :

  • En position de fermeture du disjoncteur, le trajet du courant nominal I part de la borne d'entrée 18, traverse les contacts fermés 22, 24, le bras de contact 34 et le conducteur flexible 64. Au point de raccordement 62 du conducteur 64 avec la carcasse 50 du déclencheur électromagnétique 32, le courant I se divise en un premier courant Il partiel circulant dans le shunt 66, et un deuxième courant 12 partiel parcourant la bobine 48 et le bilame 30 du circuit principal de déclenchement. Au point de raccordement 58, le courant I total sort du disjoncteur par la borne de sortie 20.
  • En présence d'un courant de défaut de surcharge ou de court-circuit, la répartition du courant dans les deux circuits en parallèle est telle que le bilame 30 ou la bobine 48 provoque à un seuil de déclenchement prédéterminé le déverrouillage du verrou 46 suivi de l'ouverture des contacts 22, 24 par le mécanisme 28. La phase d'extinction de l'arc est classique et est décrite dans le document FR-A-2 468 202 précité.
The operation of the circuit breaker according to FIG. 1 or 2 is as follows:
  • In the circuit-breaker closed position, the nominal current path I starts from the input terminal 18, passes through the closed contacts 22, 24, the contact arm 34 and the flexible conductor 64. At the connection point 62 of the conductor 64 with 50 of the electromagnetic trip carcass 32, current I is divided into a first partial current I flowing through the shunt 66, and a second stream 1 2 part through the coil 48 and the bimetal 30 of the main circuit tripping. At connection point 58, the total current I leaves the circuit breaker via the output terminal 20.
  • In the presence of an overload or short-circuit fault current, the distribution of the current in the two circuits in parallel is such that the bimetallic strip 30 or the coil 48 causes the unlocking of the latch 46 at a predetermined tripping threshold followed by the opening of the contacts 22, 24 by the mechanism 28. The phase of extinguishing the arc is conventional and is described in the document FR-A-2 468 202 mentioned above.

Selon les figures 3 et 4, le shunt au lieu d'être formé par une partie de la carcasse du déclencheur électromagnétique, tel que décrit en référence aux figures 1 et 2, est constitué par une plaque 132 médiane en matériau métallique, ménagée entre deux chambres de coupure 134, 136 d'un disjoncteur à haut pouvoir de coupure. La plaque 132 métallique est insérée à l'intérieur d'une cloison 130 isolante qui subdivise la partie inférieure du boîtier 110 en deux parties adjacentes pour le logement des chambres de coupure 134, 136. De part et d'autre de la cloison médiane 130 sont disposés respectivement dans des chambres de formation d'arc 140, 142, des contacts fixes 146, 148 coopérant avec des contacts mobiles 150, 152 portés par un support commun en forme de fourche 154 constituant un pont de contact. La fourche porte-contacts mobiles 154 chevauche la cloison 130 isolante et est actionnée par le mécanisme de commande (non représenté). Des électrodes 156, 158 prolongent les contacts fixes 146, 148 pour se raccorder aux tôles d'extrémités des chambres de coupure 134, 136. L'électrode 158 est raccordée directement au contact fixe 148 et l'autre électrode 156 est reliée électriquement à la plaque métallique 132 par l'intermédiaire d'une patte repliée 162.According to Figures 3 and 4, the shunt instead of being formed by a part of the casing of the electromagnetic trip device, as described in ref Reference to Figures 1 and 2, is constituted by a median plate 132 of metallic material, formed between two breaking chambers 134, 136 of a circuit breaker with high breaking capacity. The metal plate 132 is inserted inside an insulating partition 130 which subdivides the lower part of the housing 110 into two adjacent parts for housing the interrupting chambers 134, 136. On either side of the central partition 130 are respectively arranged in arcing chambers 140, 142, fixed contacts 146, 148 cooperating with movable contacts 150, 152 carried by a common support in the form of a fork 154 constituting a contact bridge. The movable contact carrying fork 154 straddles the insulating partition 130 and is actuated by the control mechanism (not shown). Electrodes 156, 158 extend the fixed contacts 146, 148 to connect to the end plates of the interrupting chambers 134, 136. The electrode 158 is connected directly to the fixed contact 148 and the other electrode 156 is electrically connected to the metal plate 132 by means of a folded tab 162.

On remarque que dans ce disjoncteur connu, la plaque métallique 132 possède plusieurs fonctions :

  • écran de blindage entre les deux chambres 134, 136 ;
  • support du bilame 188 au moyen de la patte 102 ;
  • conducteur de shuntage du déclencheur magnétique et du déclencheur thermique à bilame après commutation de l'arc sur l'électrode 156.
Note that in this known circuit breaker, the metal plate 132 has several functions:
  • shielding screen between the two chambers 134, 136;
  • support for bimetal 188 by means of tab 102;
  • shunt conductor of the magnetic trip device and the bimetal thermal trip device after switching of the arc on the electrode 156.

Selon l'invention, le contact fixe 146 au lieu d'être séparé de l'électrode 156 par un intervalle isolant, est connecté par un conducteur 180 à la patte 162 de raccordement de l'électrode 156 et de la plaque 132 métallique. Le circuit électrique de la figure 4 montre que le trajet du courant nominal part de la borne 126 branchée au contact fixe 148, parcourt ensuite le pont de contact de la fourche 154, puis l'autre contact fixe 146. A cet endroit, une partie du courant nominal circule dans le circuit principal de déclenchement formé par la bobine 168 du déclencheur électromagnétique en série par une tresse 108 avec le bilame 188. L'autre partie du courant nominal emprunte la voie parallèle de la plaque 132 métallique formant le shunt 66 connecté à l'autre borne 128. Les pattes 102 et 162 constituent les points de raccordement des deux circuits en parallèle. Le calibre du disjoncteur peut atteindre 100 A.According to the invention, the fixed contact 146 instead of being separated from the electrode 156 by an insulating gap, is connected by a conductor 180 to the tab 162 for connecting the electrode 156 and the metal plate 132. The electrical circuit of FIG. 4 shows that the nominal current path starts from the terminal 126 connected to the fixed contact 148, then traverses the contact bridge of the fork 154, then the other fixed contact 146. At this point, a part of the nominal current flows in the main trip circuit formed by the coil 168 of the electromagnetic trip device in series by a braid 108 with the bimetallic strip 188. The other part of the rated current follows the parallel path of the metallic plate 132 forming the connected shunt 66 at the other terminal 128. The legs 102 and 162 constitute the connection points of the two circuits in parallel. The circuit breaker rating can reach 100 A.

Claims (7)

1. Low-tension circuit breaker with a moulded insulating case (10) surrounding an operation mechanism associated with an automatic trip device and a manual control lever (16), each pole of the circuit breaker comprising :
at least a pair of separable contacts (22, 24),
a pair of connection terminals (18, 20),
an extinguishing chamber (26) of the arc drawn between the separated contacts,
a main trip circuit comprising a thermal trip device with a bimetal strip (30) and an electromagnetic trip device (32) with a coil (38) able to cooperate, in the event of an overload or a short- circuit, with a lock (46) of the mechanism for an automatic opening of the contacts,
and a shunt circuit (66) connected in parallel on the main trip circuit, said shunt being constituted of a metallic conductive material, which derives one part of the rated current of each pole, the other part flowing through the bimetal strip (30) and the coil (48),

characterized by the fact that the shunt circuit (66) of the rated current is constituted of a part of the ferromagnetic frame (50) enframing the coil (48) of the electromagnetic trip device (32).
2. Electric circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the shunt circuit (66) is delimited by two connection points (58, 62) of the frame (50), one point (58) constituting the support of the bimetal strip (30) and being in electrical connection with one of the terminals (20), the other point (62) being connected with one of the ends of the coil (48) and with a flexible conductor (64) secured to a movable contact arm (34).
3. Electric circuit breaker according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the shunt circuit (66) comprises a right-angle-shaped piece of the frame (50) constituted of a first upper tongue (70) located between the coil (48) and the mechanism (28) and extending from the connection point (62) parallelly to the plates of the arc extinguishing chamber (26), and of a second perpendicular tongue (72) located between the coil (48) and the return spring (56) of the lock (46).
4. Electric circuit breaker according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the shunt circuit (66) comprises a right angle-shaped piece of the frame (50) constituted of a tongue (76) extending from the connection point (62) perpendicularly to the plates of chamber (26) and secured at right angle to a lower strip (78) located between the coil (48) and the arcing horn (80) of chamber (26), said strip (78) being parallel to the horn (80) and secured to the connection point (58) of the frame (50).
5. Low-tension circuit breaker with a moulded insulating case (10) surrounding an operation mechanism associated with an automatic trip device and a manuaf control lever (16), each pole of the circuit breaker comprising :
two pairs of separable contacts (146, 150, 148, 152),
a pair of connection terminals (126, 128),
two extinguishing chambers (134, 136) arranged side by side,
a main trip circuit comprising a thermal trip device with a bimetal strip (188) and an electromagnetic trip device with a coil (168) able to cooperate, in the event of an overload or a short- circuit, with a lock of the mechanism for an automatic opening of the contacts,
and a shunt circuit (66) connected in parallel on the main trip circuit, said shunt being constituted of a metallic conductive material, which derives one part of the rated current of each pole, the other part flowing through the bimetal strip (188) and the coil (168),

characterized by the fact that the shunt circuit (66) is constituted of an insert screen (132) of metallic material, arranged between the two arc extinguishing chambers (134, 136), said screen bearing a first fastening leg (162) of the bimetal strip (188) and a second leg (162) secured to one of the ends of the coil (168) of the electromagnetic trip device.
6. Electric circuit breaker according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that the first leg (102) of the screen (132) is in electrical connection with one of the terminals (128), and that the second leg (162) is electrically connected to one (146) of the stationary contacts, the other stationary contact (148) being connected with the opposite terminal (126).
7. Electric circuit breaker, according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the bimetal strip (30, 188) and the coil (48, 168) of the main trip circuit are connected in series or in parallel.
EP19830401117 1982-06-07 1983-06-02 Shunt circuit for the trip device of a circuit breaker Expired EP0097557B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8209993 1982-06-07
FR8209993A FR2528230A1 (en) 1982-06-07 1982-06-07 CIRCUIT SHUNT OF THE TRIGGER OF AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BREAKER

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0097557A1 EP0097557A1 (en) 1984-01-04
EP0097557B1 true EP0097557B1 (en) 1986-04-16

Family

ID=9274778

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19830401117 Expired EP0097557B1 (en) 1982-06-07 1983-06-02 Shunt circuit for the trip device of a circuit breaker

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0097557B1 (en)
DE (1) DE3363038D1 (en)
ES (1) ES8403240A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2528230A1 (en)
PT (1) PT76789B (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1306913B1 (en) * 1998-12-15 2001-10-11 Gewiss Spa BUILT-IN MAGNETOTHERMAL ELECTRIC SWITCH

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1588513A1 (en) * 1967-12-19 1971-01-21 Licentia Gmbh Circuit arrangement for automatic switch in narrow design
LU61958A1 (en) * 1970-10-29 1972-06-28
BE772520A (en) * 1971-09-13 1972-01-17 Vynckier Belg Werkhuizen STROOMONDERBREKING ONLY.
FR2434474A1 (en) * 1978-08-24 1980-03-21 Legrand Sa Circuit breaker with rotatable cam - varies proportion of breaker current which flows through trip circuit by using shunt conductors on calibrated length
FR2436491A1 (en) * 1978-09-12 1980-04-11 Merlin Gerin LOW VOLTAGE MULTIPOLAR ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH AUXILIARY CONTROL BLOCKS

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES523000A0 (en) 1984-03-16
EP0097557A1 (en) 1984-01-04
FR2528230A1 (en) 1983-12-09
DE3363038D1 (en) 1986-05-22
FR2528230B1 (en) 1985-02-22
PT76789A (en) 1983-06-01
ES8403240A1 (en) 1984-03-16
PT76789B (en) 1987-01-09

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