EP0143682B1 - Automatic circuit breakers, particularly earth fault and overload circuit breakers - Google Patents

Automatic circuit breakers, particularly earth fault and overload circuit breakers Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0143682B1
EP0143682B1 EP19840401955 EP84401955A EP0143682B1 EP 0143682 B1 EP0143682 B1 EP 0143682B1 EP 19840401955 EP19840401955 EP 19840401955 EP 84401955 A EP84401955 A EP 84401955A EP 0143682 B1 EP0143682 B1 EP 0143682B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
spring
catch
rod
contact
axis
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
EP19840401955
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0143682A1 (en
Inventor
Jean-Marie Roiatti
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.)
Hager Electro SAS
Original Assignee
Hager Electro SAS
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
Priority claimed from FR8315784A external-priority patent/FR2552931B1/en
Priority claimed from FR8409416A external-priority patent/FR2566173B2/en
Application filed by Hager Electro SAS filed Critical Hager Electro SAS
Priority to AT84401955T priority Critical patent/ATE43201T1/en
Publication of EP0143682A1 publication Critical patent/EP0143682A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0143682B1 publication Critical patent/EP0143682B1/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
    • H01H71/50—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release
    • H01H71/52—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release actuated by lever
    • H01H71/528—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release actuated by lever comprising a toggle or collapsible link between handle and contact arm, e.g. sear pin mechanism

Definitions

  • the invention relates to electrical devices with automatic cut-off, in particular to differential switches, circuit breakers or differential circuit breakers, of the type comprising those between a rotary operating member and a tilting contact carrier on which is mounted at least one cooperating movable contact.
  • a toggle and ratchet mechanism capable, on the one hand, when this mechanism is tensioned, to transmit the movement of the operating member to the contact carrier both in the opening direction and in the opposite direction or closing direction and, on the other hand, when this mechanism is relaxed by means trigger acting independently of the actuator on the pawl, causing the return of the contact carrier from its closed position to its open position, this mechanism being arranged to man iere to allow the operating member to rearm the device, that is to say to tighten the mechanism by bringing it back from its open position after tripping to its normal open position, after cessation of the intervention of the triggering means and under the action of a second
  • the first spring (7) that is to say the one which biases the tilting contact carrier (5), is arranged to so as to act on the trigger lever (16), by means of the link (13), so that this trigger lever pushes the free end of the pawl (17), against a stop (22), and the means of trip occur in order to erase this stop.
  • the pawl In the closed position ( Figure 1), the pawl is not of itself in a stable position and it is indirectly that the triggering means put the pawl out of action, which causes delays in the opening of the contacts (2, 3) after intervention of the tripping means.
  • CH-A-387 760 describes a device similar to that of DE-A-1 490 307 but in which the stop erasable by the triggering means does not cooperate with a pawl but directly with the trigger lever.
  • the invention aims to make electrical devices of the kind defined above such that their operation is more secure.
  • the device of the kind defined above is essentially characterized in that the pawl is arranged in such a way and in particular its axis is located in such a way that this pawl occupies itself a stable position, it that is to say a position in which the action of the first spring is unable to rotate the pawl about its axis, in the closed position of the device, and in that the triggering means are arranged so as to act mechanically by pushing on this pawl, against the action of the third spring.
  • the triggering of the device is made faster and safer.
  • the fixed axis of the trigger lever is located in such a way that, in the closed position, this trigger lever is approximately parallel to the assembly of the connecting rod and the connecting rod, which has the advantage of minimizing not only the reaction exerted on the pawl in this closed position, but also the volume necessary for housing the mechanism.
  • the connecting rod consists of a rod, generally rectilinear, the two ends of which are folded at right angles so as to constitute respectively the axis of articulation of the connecting rod with the operating member and its axis of articulation with the rod.
  • This link is advantageously double so that the part of the contact carrier by which the articulation is made with the double link is placed between the two individual links, the latter being preferably secured to avoid problems of overhang .
  • the useful length of the connecting rod that is to say the length between its articulation axes, is clearly greater than that of the connecting rod, which contributes to making the movement of detent or "Break" of the knee brace.
  • the length of the groove of the trigger lever is such that the axis of articulation between connecting rod and connecting rod abuts against one of the longitudinal ends of this groove during the resetting movement, which allows the operating member bringing the trigger lever positively into engagement with the pawl, towards the end of this rearming movement.
  • the third spring, or return spring of the pawl is advantageously attached, by one end, to a lever arm secured to the pawl and, by the other end, to the link, preferably at the axis of articulation of the latter with the contact carrier, the assembly being such that the relative movement of the pawl and of the rod following the contact carrier, during the tripping movement, has the effect of increase the tension of this third spring and consequently ensure the subsequent reset movement of the relay.
  • the rotary actuating member can be actuated manually either directly by a button integral with this member which will then be designated hereinafter by “lever”, or indirectly by two push-buttons acting alternately on this member in the opening direction and in the direction of closing.
  • the triggering means which generally consist of a relay, act directly on the pawl and this is the third spring defined above, that is to say the spring of the pawl, which alone ensures the recall of the triggering means.
  • this third spring is hooked, at one end, to a lever arm secured to the pawl and, at the other end, to the link, generally at the level of the axis of articulation thereof with the contact holder.
  • the triggering means act on the pawl by means of an additional movable part which is subjected directly to the action of a fourth spring and, through the pawl, to that of the third spring.
  • this movable part is mounted on a pivot axis fixed relative to the housing and parallel to the above axes.
  • the fourth spring is attached, at one end, to a lever arm secured to the moving part and, at the other end, to the link.
  • the automatic cut-off switch according to the first embodiment of the invention (FIGS. 1 to 10) comprises a toggle and ratchet mechanism 1 20, between a rotary manual actuation member or lever 2 with actuation button 2a and a tilting contact carrier 3 on which is mounted at least one movable contact 4 cooperating with a fixed contact 5 and which is biased by a first spring 6 in the direction of opening or separation of the movable contact 4 relative to the fixed contact 5.
  • a first spring 6 in the direction of opening or separation of the movable contact 4 relative to the fixed contact 5.
  • the assembly of the contact carrier 3 and of the movable contact (s) 4 is preferably arranged in the manner described in patent application EP-A-0 142 402, that is to say so that the (s) same (s) spring (s) 6 ensures (s) both the separation of the contacts 4 and 5 during the opening movement and the pressure of these contacts 4, 5 one on the other in the closed position.
  • the mechanism 1 is capable, on the one hand, when it is stretched, of transmitting the movement of the lever 2 to the contact carrier 3 both in the opening direction and in the closing direction and, on the other hand, when the mechanism 1- is relaxed by triggering means such as a relay 7 acting independently of the lever 2 on the pawl 20 of the mechanism 1, causing the contact carrier 3 to return from its position closing in its open position.
  • the mechanism 1 is arranged so as to allow the lever 2 to reset the switch, that is to say to tighten the mechanism 1 by returning it from its open position after tripping ( Figures 4 and 8) to its normal open position ( Figures 2 and 5), after cessation of the intervention of the triggering means 7 and under the action of a second spring 8 acting on this lever 2.
  • the switch is housed in an insulating box 9 from which the button 2a of the lever 2 emerges.
  • the pawl 20, of axis 21, is biased by a third spring 22, this pawl 20 acting mechanically by pushing on the trigger lever 17.
  • the axis 21 is also parallel to the axes 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 18 and it is linked to the housing 9.
  • the pawl 20 is arranged in such a way and in particular its axis 21 is located so that this pawl 20 occupies itself a stable position, in the closed position of the device . In other words, the action of the springs 6 on the trigger lever 17 is unable to rotate the pawl 20 around its axis 21.
  • the fixed axis 18 of the trigger lever 17 is located so that, in the closed position (see in particular Figures 3 and 7), this trigger lever 17 is approximately parallel to the assembly of the connecting rod 10 and the connecting rod 13 , this axis 18 then being practically aligned with the axis 11 between lever 2 and rod 10.
  • the connecting rod 10 may consist of a rectilinear rod, the two ends of which are folded at a right angle so as respectively to constitute the articulation axis 11 of the connecting rod 10 with the lever 2 and its articulation axis 14 with the connecting rod 13 (see Figure 1).
  • the link 13 is advantageously made up of two individual parallel links 13a and 13b so that the part 3a of the contact carrier 3, by which the connection is made with the double link 13, is placed between the two individual links 13a, 13b.
  • a connecting bar 43 secures these two individual links 13a, 13b together.
  • the useful length L of the connecting rod 10, measured between its articulation axes 11 and 14, is clearly greater than the useful length "1 of the connecting rod 13, measured between its articulation axes 14 and 15.
  • the length of the groove 19 of the trigger lever 17 is such that the axis of articulation 14 between connecting rod 10 and connecting rod 13 abuts against one 23 of the longitudinal ends 23, 24 of this groove 19 during the resetting movement ( see figure 10).
  • the relay 7 is a permanent magnet relay, which acts by a push rod 25 on the pawl 20, which forces the pawl 20 to exert on this push rod 25 a force sufficient to overcome the action of the spring. antagonist of the permanent magnet during the resetting of relay 7 (see the succession of figures 8 and 9).
  • the return spring 22 of the pawl 20 is hooked, at one end, to a lever arm 26 secured to the pawl 20 and, at the other end, to the link 13, preferably at its axis. articulation 15 with the contact carrier 3, the assembly being such that, when the mechanism 1 is relaxed by the action of the relay 7, the tension of the spring 22 is greatly increased, by spacing of the two ends of this spring. As shown in FIG.
  • a stop 27 limits the angular travel of the pawl 20 under the effect of the thrust exerted by the push rod 25 of the relay 7.
  • the pawl 20 is provided with a notch 28 preceded by a ramp 29 and suitable for receiving a spout 30 carried by the trigger lever 17, this spout 30 itself being preceded by a ramp 31 (see FIG. 7), the two ramps 29 and 31 facilitating the penetration of the spout 30 into the notch 28 when resetting the mechanism (see Figure 10).
  • the housing 9 is provided with as many input terminals 32 as there are fixed contacts 5 which are electrically connected to these fixed contacts 5.
  • each fixed contact 5 carries a contact rivet 33 which cooperates with a contact rivet 34 carried by the or each corresponding movable contact 4.
  • the continuity of the electrical circuit is ensured by a braid 38 attached to the movable contact 4.
  • the rivet 33 is housed in a fixed position and the rivet 34 moves in a cut-off arc chamber or, more briefly, a break 35, which is closed on all sides except for an opening 36 necessary for the movement of the movable contact 4 or more exactly of the part of this movable contact 4 which is close to its contact rivet 34.
  • such an interrupting chamber 35 contains armatures 37 capable of creating a magnetic deionization field during the separation of the contact rivets 33 and 34.
  • This spring 6 keeps the or each movable contact 4 separate from the corresponding fixed contact 5.
  • the trigger lever 17 is held both by its fixed axis 18 and by the stop of the axis 14 against the end 23 of its groove 19, so that the spout 30 has inside the notch 28 a play clearly visible in Figure 5.
  • the lever 2, which tends to be moved counterclockwise by the spring 8 is held in a stable position by the assembly of the contact carrier 3 (in pressing on the stop 41), of the link 13 and of the connecting rod 10 (both pressing on the stop 40).
  • the tilting operating member instead of being constituted by a lever 2 with button 2a, is constituted by a double lever 42 which is mounted on the housing 9 so as to be able to rotate about a fixed axis 12 and which is biased by a spring 8 tending to rotate the lever 42 in an anti-clockwise direction .
  • This double lever 42 is pushed alternately in the closing direction by a push button 44 and in the opening direction by a push button 45.
  • This construction with two push buttons is of known type and therefore has no no need to be described in more detail.
  • the variant in FIGS. 12 and 13 differs from the first embodiment by the arrangement of its pawl which is designated here by 50.
  • the axis 21 of the pawl 20 and the axis 16 of the contact carrier 3 are located on either side of the transverse plane (that is to say perpendicular to the plane of Figures 5 to 10) passing through the axis of the push rod 25.
  • the axis 51 of the pawl 50 and the axis 16 of the contact carrier 3 are located on the same side of the above transverse plane, which allows a more favorable relationship between lever arms.
  • the return spring of the push rod 25 designated here by 52, it is hooked by one end to the pawl 50 and by the other end to the double lever 42 (FIG. 11) or to the lever 2 at a point 53 chosen from such that the tension of this spring 52 increases under the same conditions as those which cause the tension of the spring 22 to increase (FIGS. 5 to 10).
  • the pawl 50 of axis 51, is located in the same way as in FIGS. 11 to 13 and is biased by a third spring 62, this pawl 50 acting on the trigger lever 17.
  • the axis 51 is also parallel to the axes 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 18 and linked to the housing 9.
  • the relay 7 is a permanent magnet relay, which acts by a push rod 25 on the pawl 50, which requires exerting on this push rod 25 a force sufficient to overcome the action of the opposing spring of the permanent magnet when the relay 7 is reset.
  • the triggering means 7 act on the pawl 50 by means of an additional movable part 63, subjected directly to the action of a fourth spring 64 and, by means of an intermediate from the pawl 50, to that of the spring 62.
  • this additional movable part 63 is mounted on a pivot axis 65, fixed relative to the housing 9 and parallel to the various axes 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18 and 51.
  • the fourth spring 64 is hooked, at one end to a lever arm 66 forming part of the moving part 63 and, at the other end, to the link 13 at the level of the axis 15.
  • the push rod 25 of the relay 7 acts by pushing on a another lever arm 67 of the moving part 63.
  • the assembly is such that, when the mechanism 1 is relaxed by the action of the relay 7, the tension of the spring 64 is greatly increased, by spacing of the two ends of this spring.
  • a stop (not shown) limits the angular travel of the part 63 under the effect of the thrust exerted by the push rod 25 of the relay 7.
  • the pawl 50 is generally provided with a notch 28, suitable for receiving a spout 30 carried by the trigger lever 17.
  • This spring 6 keeps the or each movable contact 4 separate from the corresponding fixed contact 5.
  • the trigger lever 17 is held both by its fixed axis 18 and by the stop of the axis 14 against the end 23 of its groove 19, so that the spout 30 has inside the notch 28 a play visible in Figure 18.
  • the handle 2 which tends to be moved counterclockwise by the spring 8, is held in a stable position by all of the contact carrier 3 (in support on the stop 41), of the link 13 and of the link 10 (both bearing on the groove 19).
  • the push rod 25 acts directly on the part 63 by rotating it counterclockwise, against the action of its spring 64, and, by means of this part 63, on the pawl 50 against the action of its spring 62.
  • the trigger lever 17 is thus released by the pawl 50, which allows the trigger or "break" of the toggle formed by the connecting rod 10 0 and the connecting rod 13.
  • the axis 14 can then move to the left of the figures under the action of the spring 6 and the axis 15 of the link 13 is raised, allowing the contact carrier 3 to rotate anti-clockwise and the spring 6 to separate the movable contact 4 from the fixed contact 5.
  • the tilting operating member instead of being constituted by a handle 2 with button 2a, could be constituted by a double lever mounted on the housing 9 so as to be able to rotate around d 'A fixed axis and biased by a spring tending to rotate this double lever counterclockwise.
  • This double lever is pushed in the closing direction and in the opening direction respectively by two push buttons.
  • the second embodiment ( Figures 14 to 19) has the following technical advantages:
  • the spring 8 of the lever 2 must in this case overcome the force of the spring 62 of the pawl 50.
  • This spring 62 desensitizes, in the event of an impact, the attachment between pawl 50 and trigger lever 17, thanks to the elastic connection which it provides between these two parts 50, 17.
  • FIG. 20 differs from that of FIGS. 14 to 19 essentially by the fact that the push rod 25 acts on the free end of the pawl 50 with interposition of the free end of a blade of one piece 73 which pivots at its other end on the housing 9 or an element integral with the housing and which replaces the fourth spring 64 of the previous embodiment.
  • the part 73 has an elastic blade 74 which is oriented towards the path of the axis 15 of the contact carrier.
  • the rotation of the part 73 is accompanied by the downward tilting of the blade 74.
  • the axis 15 which rises upwards meets the leaf spring 74 and making this blade switch back in the opposite direction, causes the relay to reset.

Description

L'invention est relative aux appareils électriques à coupure automatique, notamment aux interrupteurs différentiels, disjoncteurs ou disjoncteurs différentiels, du genre de ceux comprenant, entre un organe rotatif de manoeuvre et un porte-contact basculant sur lequel est monté au moins un contact mobile coopérant avec un contact fixe et qui est sollicité par un premier ressort dans le sens de l'ouverture ou séparation du contact mobile par rapport au contact fixe, un mécanisme à genouillère et à cliquet capable, d'une part, lorsque ce mécanisme est tendu, de transmettre le mouvement de l'organe de manoeuvre au porte-contact aussi bien dans le sens de l'ouverture que dans le sens opposé ou sens de la fermeture et, d'autre part, au moment où ce mécanisme est détendu par des moyens de déclenchement agissant indépendamment de l'organe de manoeuvre sur- le cliquet, de provoquer le retour du porte-contact de sa position de fermeture à sa position d'ouverture, ce mécanisme étant agencé de manière à permettre à l'organe de manoeuvre de réarmer l'appareil, c'est-à-dire de retendre le mécanisme en le ramenant de sa position d'ouverture après déclenchement à sa position d'ouverture normale, après cessation de l'intervention des moyens de déclenchement et sous l'action d'un deuxième ressort agissant sur cet organe de manoeuvre, lequel mécanisme est essentiellement constitué d'une bielle articulée par l'une de ses extrémités sur l'organe de manoeuvre, selon un axe excentré par rapport à l'axe de rotation de l'organe de manoeuvre, d'une biellette articulée par l'une de ses extrémités à l'autre extrémité de la bielle et par l'autre de ses extrémités au porte-contact, selon un axe excentré par rapport à l'axe de basculement du porte-contact, et d'un levier déclencheur articulé par l'une de ses extrémités autour d'un axe fixe et muni d'une rainure longitudinale dans laquelle peut glisser pratiquement sans jeu transversal l'axe d'articulation entre bielle et biellette, tous ces axes étant parallèles les uns aux autres, le susdit cliquet, d'axe fixe, étant sollicité par un troisième ressort et agissant sur le levier déclencheur.The invention relates to electrical devices with automatic cut-off, in particular to differential switches, circuit breakers or differential circuit breakers, of the type comprising those between a rotary operating member and a tilting contact carrier on which is mounted at least one cooperating movable contact. with a fixed contact and which is biased by a first spring in the direction of opening or separation of the movable contact relative to the fixed contact, a toggle and ratchet mechanism capable, on the one hand, when this mechanism is tensioned, to transmit the movement of the operating member to the contact carrier both in the opening direction and in the opposite direction or closing direction and, on the other hand, when this mechanism is relaxed by means trigger acting independently of the actuator on the pawl, causing the return of the contact carrier from its closed position to its open position, this mechanism being arranged to man iere to allow the operating member to rearm the device, that is to say to tighten the mechanism by bringing it back from its open position after tripping to its normal open position, after cessation of the intervention of the triggering means and under the action of a second spring acting on this operating member, which mechanism essentially consists of a connecting rod articulated by one of its ends on the operating member, along an eccentric axis relative to the axis of rotation of the operating member, a link articulated by one of its ends to the other end of the rod and by the other of its ends to the contact carrier, according to a axis eccentric with respect to the pivot axis of the contact carrier, and of a trigger lever articulated by one of its ends around a fixed axis and provided with a longitudinal groove in which can slide practically without transverse play the axis of articulation between rod and rod, all these axes being parallel to each other, the aforesaid pawl, of fixed axis, being biased by a third spring and acting on the trigger lever.

De tels appareils sont décrits par exemple dans le DE-A-1 490 307. Selon ce document, le premier ressort (7), c'est-à-dire celui qui sollicite le porte-contact basculant (5), est agencé de manière à agir sur le levier déclencheur (16), par l'intermédiaire de la biellette (13), de façon que ce levier déclencheur pousse l'extrémité libre du cliquet (17), contre une butée (22), et les moyens de déclenchement interviennent de façon à effacer cette butée. En position de fermeture (figure 1), le cliquet n'est donc pas de lui-même en position stable et c'est d'une manière indirecte que les moyens de déclenchement mettent le cliquet hors d'action, ce qui entraîne des retards dans l'ouverture des contacts (2, 3) après intervention des moyens de déclenchement.Such devices are described for example in DE-A-1 490 307. According to this document, the first spring (7), that is to say the one which biases the tilting contact carrier (5), is arranged to so as to act on the trigger lever (16), by means of the link (13), so that this trigger lever pushes the free end of the pawl (17), against a stop (22), and the means of trip occur in order to erase this stop. In the closed position (Figure 1), the pawl is not of itself in a stable position and it is indirectly that the triggering means put the pawl out of action, which causes delays in the opening of the contacts (2, 3) after intervention of the tripping means.

Le CH-A-387 760 décrit un appareil analogue à celui du DE-A-1 490 307 mais dans lequel la butée effaçable par les moyens de déclenchement ne coopère pas avec un cliquet mais directement avec le levier déclencheur.CH-A-387 760 describes a device similar to that of DE-A-1 490 307 but in which the stop erasable by the triggering means does not cooperate with a pawl but directly with the trigger lever.

L'invention a pour but de rendre les appareils électriques du genre défini ci-dessus tels que leur fonctionnement soit plus sûr.The invention aims to make electrical devices of the kind defined above such that their operation is more secure.

Dans ce but, l'appareil du genre défini ci-dessus est essentiellement caractérisé en ce que le cliquet est agencé de façon telle et en particulier son axe est situé de façon telle que ce cliquet occupe de lui-même une position stable, c'est-à-dire une position dans laquelle l'action du premier ressort est incapable de faire tourner le cliquet autour de son axe, dans la position de fermeture de l'appareil, et en ce que les moyens de déclenchement sont agencés de façon à agir mécaniquement par poussée sur ce cliquet, contre l'action du troisième ressort.For this purpose, the device of the kind defined above is essentially characterized in that the pawl is arranged in such a way and in particular its axis is located in such a way that this pawl occupies itself a stable position, it that is to say a position in which the action of the first spring is unable to rotate the pawl about its axis, in the closed position of the device, and in that the triggering means are arranged so as to act mechanically by pushing on this pawl, against the action of the third spring.

Grâce à l'action directe des moyens de déclenchement sur le cliquet, le déclenchement de l'appareil est rendu plus rapide et plus sûr.Thanks to the direct action of the trigger means on the ratchet, the triggering of the device is made faster and safer.

De préférence, l'axe fixe du levier déclencheur est situé de façon telle que, en position de fermeture, ce levier déclencheur soit approximativement parallèle à l'ensemble de la bielle et de la biellette, ce qui a pour avantage de réduire au minimum non seulement la réaction exercée sur le cliquet dans cette position de fermeture, mais encore le volume nécessaire au logement du mécanisme.Preferably, the fixed axis of the trigger lever is located in such a way that, in the closed position, this trigger lever is approximately parallel to the assembly of the connecting rod and the connecting rod, which has the advantage of minimizing not only the reaction exerted on the pawl in this closed position, but also the volume necessary for housing the mechanism.

Selon une construction avantageuse, la bielle est constituée d'une tige, en général rectiligne, dont les deux extrémités sont repliées à angle droit de manière à constituer respectivement l'axe d'articulation de la bielle avec l'organe de manoeuvre et son axe d'articulation avec la biellette. Cette biellette est avantageusement double de façon que la partie du porte-contact par laquelle se fait l'articulation avec la biellette double se place entre les deux biellettes individuelles, celles-ci étant de préférence solidarisées pour éviter des problèmes de porte-à-faux.According to an advantageous construction, the connecting rod consists of a rod, generally rectilinear, the two ends of which are folded at right angles so as to constitute respectively the axis of articulation of the connecting rod with the operating member and its axis of articulation with the rod. This link is advantageously double so that the part of the contact carrier by which the articulation is made with the double link is placed between the two individual links, the latter being preferably secured to avoid problems of overhang .

De préférence, la longueur utile de la bielle, c'est-à-dire la longueur entre ses axes d'articulation, est nettement supérieure à celle de la biellette, ce qui contribue à rendre plus brusque et rapide le mouvement de détente ou de « cassure » de la genouillère.Preferably, the useful length of the connecting rod, that is to say the length between its articulation axes, is clearly greater than that of the connecting rod, which contributes to making the movement of detent or "Break" of the knee brace.

De préférence encore, la longueur de la rainure du levier déclencheur est telle que l'axe d'articulation entre bielle et biellette vienne buter contre l'une des extrémités longitudinales de cette rainure au cours du mouvement de réarmement, ce qui permet à l'organe de manoeuvre de ramener positivement le levier déclencheur en prise avec le cliquet, vers la fin de ce mouvement de réarmement.More preferably, the length of the groove of the trigger lever is such that the axis of articulation between connecting rod and connecting rod abuts against one of the longitudinal ends of this groove during the resetting movement, which allows the operating member bringing the trigger lever positively into engagement with the pawl, towards the end of this rearming movement.

Dans le cas général où les moyens de déclenchement sont constitués par un relais à aimant permanent tendant à faire saillir une tige-poussoir agissant sur le cliquet, le troisième ressort, ou ressort de rappel du cliquet, est avantageusement accroché, par une extrémité, à un bras de levier solidaire du cliquet et, par l'autre extrémité, à la biellette, de préférence au niveau de l'axe d'articulation de celle-ci avec le porte-contact, l'ensemble étant tel que le mouvement relatif du cliquet et de la biellette à la suite du porte-contact, lors du mouvement de déclenchement, ait pour effet d'augmenter la tension de ce troisième ressort et par conséquent d'assurer le mouvement de réarmement subséquent du relais.In the general case where the triggering means are constituted by a permanent magnet relay tending to project a push rod evening acting on the pawl, the third spring, or return spring of the pawl, is advantageously attached, by one end, to a lever arm secured to the pawl and, by the other end, to the link, preferably at the axis of articulation of the latter with the contact carrier, the assembly being such that the relative movement of the pawl and of the rod following the contact carrier, during the tripping movement, has the effect of increase the tension of this third spring and consequently ensure the subsequent reset movement of the relay.

L'organe de manoeuvre rotatif peut être actionné manuellement soit directement par un bouton solidaire de cet organe qui sera alors désigné ci-après par « manette », soit indirectement par deux boutons-poussoirs agissant alternativement sur cet organe dans le sens de l'ouverture et dans le sens de la fermeture.The rotary actuating member can be actuated manually either directly by a button integral with this member which will then be designated hereinafter by "lever", or indirectly by two push-buttons acting alternately on this member in the opening direction and in the direction of closing.

Selon un premier mode de réalisation, les moyens de déclenchement, qui sont en général constitués par un relais, agissent directement sur le cliquet et c'est le troisième ressort défini ci-dessus, c'est-à-dire le ressort du cliquet, qui assure à lui seul le rappel des moyens de déclenchement. De préférence, ce troisième ressort est accroché, par une extrémité, à un bras de levier solidaire du cliquet et, par l'autre extrémité, à la biellette, en général au niveau de l'axe d'articulation de celle-ci avec le porte-contact.According to a first embodiment, the triggering means, which generally consist of a relay, act directly on the pawl and this is the third spring defined above, that is to say the spring of the pawl, which alone ensures the recall of the triggering means. Preferably, this third spring is hooked, at one end, to a lever arm secured to the pawl and, at the other end, to the link, generally at the level of the axis of articulation thereof with the contact holder.

La double fonction de ce troisième ressort entraîne des difficultés tant en ce qui concerne le montage du mécanisme que le tarage des ressorts.The dual function of this third spring causes difficulties both with regard to the mounting of the mechanism and the calibration of the springs.

Selon un deuxième mode de réalisation, qui a pour but d'éliminer ces difficultés, les moyens de déclenchement agissent sur le cliquet par l'intermédiaire d'une pièce mobile supplémentaire qui est soumise directement à l'action d'un quatrième ressort et, par l'intermédiaire du cliquet, à celle du troisième ressort. De préférence, cette pièce mobile est montée sur un axe de pivotement fixe par rapport au boîtier et parallèle aux susdits axes. De préférence encore, le quatrième ressort est accroché, par une extrémité, à un bras de levier solidaire de la pièce mobile et, par l'autre extrémité, à la biellette.According to a second embodiment, which aims to eliminate these difficulties, the triggering means act on the pawl by means of an additional movable part which is subjected directly to the action of a fourth spring and, through the pawl, to that of the third spring. Preferably, this movable part is mounted on a pivot axis fixed relative to the housing and parallel to the above axes. More preferably, the fourth spring is attached, at one end, to a lever arm secured to the moving part and, at the other end, to the link.

L'invention va être maintenant décrite plus en détail à l'aide des dessins annexés qui en illustrent divers modes de réalisation préférés.The invention will now be described in more detail with the aid of the accompanying drawings which illustrate various preferred embodiments.

  • La figure 1 représente, en perspective, le schéma de principe de l'interrupteur conforme à un premier mode de réalisation, en position de fermeture.Figure 1 shows, in perspective, the block diagram of the switch according to a first embodiment, in the closed position.
  • Les figures 2, 3 et 4 représentent, en élévation schématique, les éléments de la figure 1, respectivement en position d'ouverture normale, en position de fermeture analogue à celle de la figure 1 et en position de déclenchement.Figures 2, 3 and 4 show, in schematic elevation, the elements of Figure 1, respectively in the normal open position, in the closed position similar to that of Figure 1 and in the release position.
  • Les figures 5 à 9 représentent, en élévation moins schématique avec parties coupées, le même interrupteur respectivement en -position d'ouverture normale, en une position de contact intermédiaire entre les positions d'ouverture et de fermeture, en position de fermeture, en position de déclenchement libre et en position en cours de réarmement.Figures 5 to 9 show, in less schematic elevation with cut parts, the same switch respectively in normal opening position, in an intermediate contact position between the opening and closing positions, in the closed position, in the position release and in position during reset.
  • La figure 10 représente, à plus petite échelle, certains des éléments des figures 5 à 9, en une position intermédiaire entre celles des figures 9 et 5.FIG. 10 represents, on a smaller scale, some of the elements of FIGS. 5 to 9, in an intermediate position between those of FIGS. 9 and 5.
  • La figure 11 représente une première variante, en position d'ouverture normale.FIG. 11 shows a first variant, in the normal open position.
  • Les figures 12 et 13 représentent une deuxième variante, respectivement en position d'ouverture normale et en position intermédiaire analogue à celle de la figure 10.FIGS. 12 and 13 represent a second variant, respectively in the normal open position and in the intermediate position similar to that of FIG. 10.
  • La figure 14 représente, en perspective, le schéma de principe d'un interrupteur conforme à un deuxième mode de réalisation, en position de fermeture.Figure 14 shows, in perspective, the block diagram of a switch according to a second embodiment, in the closed position.
  • Les figures 15, 16 et 17 représentent, en élévation schématique, les éléments de la figure 14, respectivement en position d'ouverture normale, en position de fermeture analoguè à celle de la figure 14 et en position de déclenchement.Figures 15, 16 and 17 show, in schematic elevation, the elements of Figure 14, respectively in the normal open position, in the closed position similar to that of Figure 14 and in the release position.
  • La figure 18 représente, en élévation moins schématique avec parties coupées, le même interrupteur en position d'ouverture normale.Figure 18 shows, in less schematic elevation with cut parts, the same switch in the normal open position.
  • La figure 19 représente, à plus petite échelle, certains des éléments de la figure 18, en une position intermédiaire.Figure 19 shows, on a smaller scale, some of the elements of Figure 18, in an intermediate position.
  • La figure 20, enfin, représente en position de fermeture un interrupteur conforme à un troisième mode de réalisation préféré, par une vue analogue à celle de la figure 7.FIG. 20, finally, shows in the closed position a switch according to a third preferred embodiment, in a view similar to that of FIG. 7.

L'interrupteur à coupure automatique conforme au premier mode de réalisation de l'invention (figures 1 à 10) comprend un mécanisme 1 à genouillère et à cliquet 20, entre un organe rotatif d'actionnement manuel ou manette 2 à bouton d'actionnement 2a et un porte-contact basculant 3 sur lequel est monté au moins un contact mobile 4 coopérant avec un contact fixe 5 et qui est sollicité par un premier ressort 6 dans le sens de l'ouverture ou séparation du contact mobile 4 par rapport au contact fixe 5. Selon le mode de réalisation de la figure 1, il existe deux contacts mobiles 4 coopérant respectivement avec deux contacts fixes 5 et sollicités chacun par un ressort 6.The automatic cut-off switch according to the first embodiment of the invention (FIGS. 1 to 10) comprises a toggle and ratchet mechanism 1 20, between a rotary manual actuation member or lever 2 with actuation button 2a and a tilting contact carrier 3 on which is mounted at least one movable contact 4 cooperating with a fixed contact 5 and which is biased by a first spring 6 in the direction of opening or separation of the movable contact 4 relative to the fixed contact 5. According to the embodiment of FIG. 1, there are two movable contacts 4 cooperating respectively with two fixed contacts 5 and each biased by a spring 6.

L'ensemble du porte-contact 3 et du ou des contacts mobiles 4 est de préférence agencé de la façon décrite dans la demande de brevet EP-A-0 142 402, c'est-à-dire de façon que le(s) même(s) ressort(s) 6 assure(nt) à la fois la séparation des contacts 4 et 5 lors du mouvement d'ouverture et la pression de ces contacts 4, 5 l'un sur l'autre en position de fermeture. Le mécanisme 1 est capable, d'une part, lorsqu'il est tendu, de transmettre le mouvement de la manette 2 au porte-contact 3 aussi bien dans le sens de l'ouverture que dans le sens de la fermeture et, d'autre part, au moment où le mécanisme 1- est détendu par des moyens de déclenchement tels qu'un relais 7 agissant indépendamment de la manette 2 sur le cliquet 20 du mécanisme 1, de provoquer le retour du porte-contact 3 de sa position de fermeture à sa position d'ouverture. Le mécanisme 1 est agencé de manière à permettre à la manette 2 de réarmer l'interrupteur, c'est-à-dire de retendre le mécanisme 1 en le ramenant de sa position d'ouverture après déclenchement (figures 4 et 8) à sa position d'ouverture normale (figures 2 et 5), après cessation de l'intervention des moyens de déclenchement 7 et sous l'action d'un deuxième ressort 8 agissant sur cette manette 2.The assembly of the contact carrier 3 and of the movable contact (s) 4 is preferably arranged in the manner described in patent application EP-A-0 142 402, that is to say so that the (s) same (s) spring (s) 6 ensures (s) both the separation of the contacts 4 and 5 during the opening movement and the pressure of these contacts 4, 5 one on the other in the closed position. The mechanism 1 is capable, on the one hand, when it is stretched, of transmitting the movement of the lever 2 to the contact carrier 3 both in the opening direction and in the closing direction and, on the other hand, when the mechanism 1- is relaxed by triggering means such as a relay 7 acting independently of the lever 2 on the pawl 20 of the mechanism 1, causing the contact carrier 3 to return from its position closing in its open position. The mechanism 1 is arranged so as to allow the lever 2 to reset the switch, that is to say to tighten the mechanism 1 by returning it from its open position after tripping (Figures 4 and 8) to its normal open position (Figures 2 and 5), after cessation of the intervention of the triggering means 7 and under the action of a second spring 8 acting on this lever 2.

De façon usuelle, l'interrupteur est logé dans un boîtier isolant 9 d'où émerge le bouton 2a de la manette 2.Usually, the switch is housed in an insulating box 9 from which the button 2a of the lever 2 emerges.

Le mécanisme 1 est essentiellement constitué :

  • d'une bielle 10 articulée par l'une de ses extrémités sur la manette 2, selon un axe 11 excentré par rapport à l'axe de rotation fixe 12 de la manette 2 ;
  • d'une biellette 13 articulée par l'une de ses extrémités à l'autre extrémité de la bielle 10, selon un axe 14, et par l'autre de ses extrémités au porte-contact 3, selon un axe 15 excentré par rapport à l'axe de basculement fixe 16 du porte-contact 3 ; et .
  • d'un levier déclencheur 17 articulé par l'une de ses extrémités autour d'un axe fixe 18 et muni d'une rainure longitudinale 19 dans laquelle l'axe d'articulation 14 entre bielle 10 et biellette 13 peut glisser pratiquement sans jeu transversal.
Mechanism 1 essentially consists of:
  • a connecting rod 10 articulated by one of its ends on the handle 2, along an axis 11 eccentric with respect to the fixed axis of rotation 12 of the handle 2;
  • a rod 13 articulated by one of its ends to the other end of the rod 10, along an axis 14, and by the other of its ends to the contact carrier 3, along an axis 15 eccentric with respect to the fixed tilting axis 16 of the contact carrier 3; and.
  • a trigger lever 17 articulated by one of its ends around a fixed axis 18 and provided with a longitudinal groove 19 in which the axis of articulation 14 between connecting rod 10 and connecting rod 13 can slide practically without transverse play .

Les susdits axes 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 et 18 sont parallèles les uns aux autres, les axes fixes 12, 16 et 18 étant liés au boîtier 9.The above axes 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 18 are parallel to each other, the fixed axes 12, 16 and 18 being linked to the housing 9.

Le cliquet 20, d'axe 21, est sollicité par un troisième ressort 22, ce cliquet 20 agissant mécaniquement par poussée sur le levier déclencheur 17. L'axe 21 est lui aussi parallèle aux axes 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 et 18 et il est lié au boîtier 9. Le cliquet 20 est agencé de façon telle et en particulier son axe 21 est situé de façon telle que ce cliquet 20 occupe de lui-même une position stable, dans la position de fermeture de l'appareil. En d'autres termes, l'action des ressorts 6 sur le levier déclencheur 17 est incapable de faire tourner le cliquet 20 autour de son axe 21.The pawl 20, of axis 21, is biased by a third spring 22, this pawl 20 acting mechanically by pushing on the trigger lever 17. The axis 21 is also parallel to the axes 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 18 and it is linked to the housing 9. The pawl 20 is arranged in such a way and in particular its axis 21 is located so that this pawl 20 occupies itself a stable position, in the closed position of the device . In other words, the action of the springs 6 on the trigger lever 17 is unable to rotate the pawl 20 around its axis 21.

L'axe fixe 18 du levier déclencheur 17 est situé de façon teiie que, en position de fermeture (voir notamment les figures 3 et 7), ce levier déclencheur 17 soit approximativement parallèle à l'ensemble de la bielle 10 et de la biellette 13, cet axe 18 étant alors pratiquement aligné avec l'axe 11 entre manette 2 et bielle 10.The fixed axis 18 of the trigger lever 17 is located so that, in the closed position (see in particular Figures 3 and 7), this trigger lever 17 is approximately parallel to the assembly of the connecting rod 10 and the connecting rod 13 , this axis 18 then being practically aligned with the axis 11 between lever 2 and rod 10.

La bielle 10 peut être constituée d'une tige rectiligne dont les deux extrémités sont repliées à angle droit de manière à constituer respectivement l'axe d'articulation 11 de la bielle 10 avec la manette 2 et son axe d'articulation 14 avec la biellette 13 (voir la figure 1). Comme montré aussi à la figure 1, la biellette 13 est avantageusement constituée de deux biellettes individuelles parallèles 13a et 13b de façon que la partie 3a du porte-contact 3, par laquelle se fait l'arficulation avec la biellette double 13, se place entre les deux biellettes individuelles 13a, 13b. De préférence, une barrette de liaison 43 solidarise ensemble ces deux biellettes individuelles 13a, 13b.The connecting rod 10 may consist of a rectilinear rod, the two ends of which are folded at a right angle so as respectively to constitute the articulation axis 11 of the connecting rod 10 with the lever 2 and its articulation axis 14 with the connecting rod 13 (see Figure 1). As also shown in FIG. 1, the link 13 is advantageously made up of two individual parallel links 13a and 13b so that the part 3a of the contact carrier 3, by which the connection is made with the double link 13, is placed between the two individual links 13a, 13b. Preferably, a connecting bar 43 secures these two individual links 13a, 13b together.

La longueur utile L de la bielle 10, mesurée entre ses axes d'articulation 11 et 14, est nettement supérieure à la longueur utile « 1 de la biellette 13, mesurée entre ses axes d'articulation 14 et 15.The useful length L of the connecting rod 10, measured between its articulation axes 11 and 14, is clearly greater than the useful length "1 of the connecting rod 13, measured between its articulation axes 14 and 15.

La longueur de la rainure 19 du levier déclencheur 17 est telle que l'axe d'articulation 14 entre bielle 10 et biellette 13 vienne buter contre l'une 23 des extrémités longitudinales 23, 24 de cette rainure 19 au cours du mouvement de réarmement (voir la figure 10).The length of the groove 19 of the trigger lever 17 is such that the axis of articulation 14 between connecting rod 10 and connecting rod 13 abuts against one 23 of the longitudinal ends 23, 24 of this groove 19 during the resetting movement ( see figure 10).

En général, le relais 7 est un relais à aimant permanent, qui agit par une tige-poussoir 25 sur le cliquet 20, ce qui oblige le cliquet 20 à exercer sur cette tige-poussoir 25 une force suffisante pour vaincre l'action du ressort antagoniste de l'aimant permanent lors du réarmement du relais 7 (voir la succession des figures 8 et 9). Pour assurer cette opération, le ressort de rappel 22 du cliquet 20 est accroché, par une extrémité, à un bras de levier 26 solidaire du cliquet 20 et, par l'autre extrémité, à la biellette 13, de préférence au niveau de son axe d'articulation 15 avec le porte-contact 3, l'ensemble étant tel que, lorsque le mécanisme 1 est détendu par action du relais 7, la tension du ressort 22 se trouve fortement accrue, par écartement des deux extrémités de ce ressort. Comme montré à la figure 8, une butée 27 limite la course angulaire du cliquet 20 sous l'effet de la poussée exercée par la tige-poussoir 25 du relais 7. Le cliquet 20 est muni d'une encoche 28 précédée d'une rampe 29 et propre à recevoir un bec 30 porté par le levier déclencheur 17, ce bec 30 étant lui-même précédé d'une rampe 31 (voir la figure 7), les deux rampes 29 et 31 facilitant la pénétration du bec 30 dans l'encoche 28 lors du réarmement du mécanisme (voir la figure 10).In general, the relay 7 is a permanent magnet relay, which acts by a push rod 25 on the pawl 20, which forces the pawl 20 to exert on this push rod 25 a force sufficient to overcome the action of the spring. antagonist of the permanent magnet during the resetting of relay 7 (see the succession of figures 8 and 9). To ensure this operation, the return spring 22 of the pawl 20 is hooked, at one end, to a lever arm 26 secured to the pawl 20 and, at the other end, to the link 13, preferably at its axis. articulation 15 with the contact carrier 3, the assembly being such that, when the mechanism 1 is relaxed by the action of the relay 7, the tension of the spring 22 is greatly increased, by spacing of the two ends of this spring. As shown in FIG. 8, a stop 27 limits the angular travel of the pawl 20 under the effect of the thrust exerted by the push rod 25 of the relay 7. The pawl 20 is provided with a notch 28 preceded by a ramp 29 and suitable for receiving a spout 30 carried by the trigger lever 17, this spout 30 itself being preceded by a ramp 31 (see FIG. 7), the two ramps 29 and 31 facilitating the penetration of the spout 30 into the notch 28 when resetting the mechanism (see Figure 10).

Le boîtier 9 est muni' d'autant de bomes d'entrée 32 que de contacts fixes 5 et qui sont reliées électriquement à ces contacts fixes 5. De façon usuelle, le ou chaque contact fixe 5 porte un rivet de contact 33 qui coopère avec un rivet de contact 34 porté par le ou chaque contact mobile 4 correspondant. La continuité du circuit électrique est assurée par une tresse 38 attachée au contact mobile 4. Le rivet 33 est logé en position fixe et le rivet 34 se déplace dans une chambre d'extinction d'arc de coupure ou, plus brièvement, une chambre de coupure 35, qui est fermée de tous côtés à l'exception d'une ouverture 36 nécessaire pour le débattement du contact mobile 4 ou plus exactement de la partie de ce contact mobile 4 qui est voisine de son rivet de contact 34. Comme on le sait, une telle chambre de coupure 35 contient des armatures 37 capables de créer un champ magnétique de désionisation lors de la séparation des rivets de contact 33 et 34.The housing 9 is provided with as many input terminals 32 as there are fixed contacts 5 which are electrically connected to these fixed contacts 5. Usually, or each fixed contact 5 carries a contact rivet 33 which cooperates with a contact rivet 34 carried by the or each corresponding movable contact 4. The continuity of the electrical circuit is ensured by a braid 38 attached to the movable contact 4. The rivet 33 is housed in a fixed position and the rivet 34 moves in a cut-off arc chamber or, more briefly, a break 35, which is closed on all sides except for an opening 36 necessary for the movement of the movable contact 4 or more exactly of the part of this movable contact 4 which is close to its contact rivet 34. As is knows, such an interrupting chamber 35 contains armatures 37 capable of creating a magnetic deionization field during the separation of the contact rivets 33 and 34.

On obtient ainsi un interrupteur dont le fonctionnement est le suivant. En position d'ouverture normale (figures 2 et 5), le ressort 8 tend à faire tourner la manette 2 dans le sens inverse des aiguilles d'une montre, c'est-à-dire à tirer l'axe 11 de la bielle 10 vers le haut. Cette action du ressort 8 tend à mettre l'axe 14 dans le même plan que les axes 11 et 15. Néanmoins, la bielle 10 et la biellette 13 sont maintenues selon l'angle obtus représenté aux figures 2 et 5 par la présence d'une butée 40, fixe par rapport au boîtier 9, qui agit sur l'axe 14, du côté droit de celui-ci. Le porte-contact 3 est maintenu contre une butée 41, contre l'action du ressort 22, par le ressort 6 qui est donc sans action sur le mécanisme 1, l'axe 15 étant ainsi maintenu dans une position fixe. Ce ressort 6 maintient le ou chaque contact mobile 4 séparé du contact fixe 5 correspondant. Le levier déclencheur 17 est maintenu à la fois par son axe fixe 18 et par la butée de l'axe 14 contre l'extrémité 23 de sa rainure 19, si bien que le bec 30 présente à l'intérieur de l'encoche 28 un jeu bien visible à la figure 5. Enfin, la manette 2, qui tend à être déplacée dans le sens inverse des aiguilles d'une montre par le ressort 8, est maintenue en position stable par l'ensemble du porte-contact 3 (en appui sur la butée 41), de la biellette 13 et de la bielle 10 (toutes deux en appui sur la butée 40).A switch is thus obtained, the operation of which is as follows. In the normal open position (Figures 2 and 5), the spring 8 tends to rotate the lever 2 counterclockwise, that is to say to pull the axis 11 of the connecting rod 10 up. This action of the spring 8 tends to put the axis 14 in the same plane as the axes 11 and 15. Nevertheless, the connecting rod 10 and the connecting rod 13 are maintained at the obtuse angle shown in Figures 2 and 5 by the presence of a stop 40, fixed relative to the housing 9, which acts on the axis 14, on the right side thereof. The contact carrier 3 is held against a stop 41, against the action of the spring 22, by the spring 6 which is therefore without action on the mechanism 1, the axis 15 thus being held in a fixed position. This spring 6 keeps the or each movable contact 4 separate from the corresponding fixed contact 5. The trigger lever 17 is held both by its fixed axis 18 and by the stop of the axis 14 against the end 23 of its groove 19, so that the spout 30 has inside the notch 28 a play clearly visible in Figure 5. Finally, the lever 2, which tends to be moved counterclockwise by the spring 8, is held in a stable position by the assembly of the contact carrier 3 (in pressing on the stop 41), of the link 13 and of the connecting rod 10 (both pressing on the stop 40).

En l'absence d'intervention du relais 7, il est possible, en faisant tourner la manette 2 dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre contre l'action du ressort 8, de déplacer vers le bas l'ensemble de la bielle 10 et de la bieiiette. 13, ce qui fait descendre l'axe 14 dans la rainure 19 du levier déclencheur 17 sans que cet axe franchisse le plan passant par les axes 11 et 15, et fait tourner le porte-contact 3 dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre, en passant successivement à la position de la figure 6 (arrivée en contact des rivets 33 et 34) et à celle de la figure 7 (mise en pression des rivets 33 et 34 sous l'action du ou des ressorts 6). Le mouvement s'accompagne de la mise en butée du bec 30 du levier déclencheur 17 contre le bord gauche de l'encoche 28 du cliquet 20. Dans la position de fermeture ainsi atteinte (figure 7), les axes 11 et 14 se trouvent tous deux à gauche du plan passant par les axes 12 et 15. Sous la pression exercée de bas en haut par le ressort 6, ces axes 11 et 14 tendent donc à s'écarter vers la gauche de la figure 7. En raison de l'accrochage du bec 30 dans l'encoche 28, la bielle 10 et la biellette 13 sont arc-boutées contre la manette 2, contre l'action du ressort 8. La manette 2 est ainsi maintenue en position de fin de course contre une butée 39 du boîtier 9, sous l'action du ressort 6.In the absence of intervention from the relay 7, it is possible, by rotating the lever 2 clockwise against the action of the spring 8, to move the assembly of the connecting rod 10 downwards and bieiiette. 13, which lowers the axis 14 in the groove 19 of the trigger lever 17 without this axis crossing the plane passing through the axes 11 and 15, and rotates the contact carrier 3 clockwise , passing successively to the position of Figure 6 (arrival in contact with the rivets 33 and 34) and to that of Figure 7 (pressurization of the rivets 33 and 34 under the action of the spring or springs 6). The movement is accompanied by the abutment of the spout 30 of the trigger lever 17 against the left edge of the notch 28 of the pawl 20. In the closed position thus reached (Figure 7), the axes 11 and 14 are all two to the left of the plane passing through the axes 12 and 15. Under the pressure exerted from bottom to top by the spring 6, these axes 11 and 14 therefore tend to deviate towards the left of FIG. 7. Due to the attachment of the spout 30 in the notch 28, the connecting rod 10 and the connecting rod 13 are braced against the lever 2, against the action of the spring 8. The lever 2 is thus held in the end-of-travel position against a stop 39 of the housing 9, under the action of the spring 6.

Toujours en l'absence d'intervention du relais 7, il est possible, en faisant tourner la manette 2 en sens inverse des aiguilles d'une montre, de ramener l'ensemble de la position de fermeture (figure 7) à la position d'ouverture normale (figures 2 et 5), les opérations décrites ci-dessus se répétant alors dans l'ordre inverse.Still in the absence of intervention from the relay 7, it is possible, by turning the lever 2 anticlockwise, to bring the assembly from the closed position (FIG. 7) to the position d 'normal opening (Figures 2 and 5), the operations described above then being repeated in reverse order.

A l'apparition d'une surintensité ou d'un courant différentiel en position de fermeture (figure 7), la tige-poussoir 25 vient agir sur le cliquet 20 en le faisant pivoter dans le sens inverse des aiguilles d'une montre, contre l'action de son ressort 22, comme montré à la figure 8. Le levier déclencheur 17 est ainsi libéré, ce qui permet la détente ou « cassure de la genouillère formée par la bielle 10 et la biellette 13. L'axe 14 peut alors se déplacer vers la gauche (de la position de la figure 7 à celle de la figure 8) sous l'action du ressort 6 et l'axe 15 de la biellette 13 se relève, en permettant au porte-contact 3 de tourner dans le sens inverse des aiguilles d'une montre et au ressort 6 de séparer le contact mobile 4 du contact fixe 5. En se relevant, l'axe 15 de la biellette 13 se déplace simultanément vers la gauche tandis que l'extrémité libre du bras de levier 26 du cliquet 20, par rotation en sens inverse des aiguilles d'une montre, se déplace vers la droite. Il en résulte une augmentation de la tension du ressort de rappel 22 du cliquet 20, qui repousse la tige-poussoir 25 en réarmant le relais 7. Cette phase se produit même si l'on maintient la manette 2 à sa position de fermeture. A la suite de ce déclenchement, la manette 2 est ramenée sous l'effet du ressort 8 dans le sens anti-horaire et commence à ramener le levier déclencheur 17 ainsi que la biellette 13 vers le plan passant par les axes 11 et 15.When an overcurrent or a differential current appears in the closed position (FIG. 7), the push rod 25 acts on the pawl 20 by making it pivot anticlockwise, against the action of its spring 22, as shown in Figure 8. The trigger lever 17 is thus released, which allows the relaxation or "breakage of the toggle formed by the rod 10 and the rod 13. The axis 14 can then move to the left (from the position in Figure 7 to that of Figure 8) under the action of the spring 6 and the axis 15 of the link 13 is raised, allowing the contact carrier 3 to rotate in the anticlockwise and the spring 6 to separate the movable contact 4 from the fixed contact 5. By rising, the axis 15 of the rod 13 moves simultaneously to the left while the free end of the arm of lever 26 of the pawl 20, by rotation anticlockwise, moves to the right. This results in an increase in the tension of the return spring 22 of the pawl 20, which pushes the push rod 25 by resetting the relay 7. This phase occurs even if the lever 2 is kept in its closed position. Following this triggering, the lever 2 is brought back under the effect of the spring 8 counterclockwise and begins to bring the trigger lever 17 as well as the link 13 toward the plane passing through the axes 11 and 15.

A la position de la figure 10, l'axe 14 de la bielle 10 est arrivé au contact de l'extrémité 23 de la rainure 19, si bien que la bielle 10, entraînée vers le haut comme indiqué par une flèche, continue à faire tourner positivement le levier déclencheur 17 dans le sens inverse des aiguilles d'une montre et engage le bec 30 de ce levier déclencheur 17 dans l'encoche 28 du cliquet 20, après glissement des rampes 29 et 31 l'une contre l'autre. On se retrouve enfin à la position d'ouverture de la figure 5 d'où il est possible à nouveau de passer à la position de fermeture de la figure 7.At the position of FIG. 10, the axis 14 of the connecting rod 10 has come into contact with the end 23 of the groove 19, so that the connecting rod 10, driven upwards as indicated by an arrow, continues to make positively turn the trigger lever 17 anti-clockwise and engage the spout 30 of this trigger lever 17 in the notch 28 of the pawl 20, after the ramps 29 and 31 slide against each other. We finally find ourselves in the open position of FIG. 5 from which it is again possible to switch to the closed position of FIG. 7.

Il est bien entendu que si, au cours de la manceuvre de fermeture des contacts 4, 5, par la manette 2, dès que les contacts 4, 5 viennent à se toucher (figure 6), il se produisait ou subsistait un défaut, le relais 7 interviendrait et le déroulement des phases de fonctionnement décrites ci-dessus se reproduirait immédiatement.It is understood that if, during the closing operation of the contacts 4, 5, by the lever 2, as soon as the contacts 4, 5 come to touch (FIG. 6), a fault occurs or remains, relay 7 would intervene and the course of the operating phases described above would reproduce immediately.

Selon la variante de la figure 11 dont les éléments identiques à ceux du mode de réalisation précédent ont été désignés par les mêmes signes de référence, l'organe de manoeuvre basculant, au lieu d'être constitué par une manette 2 à bouton 2a, est constitué par un levier double 42 qui est monté sur le boîtier 9 de façon à pouvoir tourner autour d'un axe fixe 12 et qui est sollicité par un ressort 8 tendant à faire tourner le levier 42 dans le sens inverse des aiguilles d'une montre. Ce levier double 42 est poussé alternativement dans le sens de la fermeture par un bouton-poussoir 44 et dans le sens de l'ouverture par un bouton-poussoir 45. Cette construction à deux boutons-poussoirs est de type connu et n'a donc pas besoin d'être décrite plus en détail.According to the variant of FIG. 11, the elements identical to those of the previous embodiment have been designated by the same reference signs, the tilting operating member, instead of being constituted by a lever 2 with button 2a, is constituted by a double lever 42 which is mounted on the housing 9 so as to be able to rotate about a fixed axis 12 and which is biased by a spring 8 tending to rotate the lever 42 in an anti-clockwise direction . This double lever 42 is pushed alternately in the closing direction by a push button 44 and in the opening direction by a push button 45. This construction with two push buttons is of known type and therefore has no no need to be described in more detail.

Comme la variante de la figure 11, la variante des figures 12 et 13 diffère du premier mode de réalisation par l'agencement de son cliquet qui est désigné ici par 50. Selon le premier mode de réalisation, l'axe 21 du cliquet 20 et l'axe 16 du porte-contact 3 sont situés de part et d'autre du plan transversal (c'est-à-dire perpendiculaire au plan des figures 5 à 10) passant par l'axe de la tige-poussoir 25. Selon les variantes des figures 11 à 13 au contraire, l'axe 51 du cliquet 50 et l'axe 16 du porte-contact 3 sont situés du même côté du susdit plan transversal, ce qui permet un rapport plus favorable entre bras de levier. Quant au ressort de rappel de la tige-poussoir 25 désigné ici par 52, il est accroché par une extrémité au cliquet 50 et par l'autre extrémité au levier double 42 (figure 11) ou à la manette 2 en un point 53 choisi de façon telle que la tension de ce ressort 52 s'accroisse dans les mêmes conditions que celles qui provoquent l'accroissement de tension du ressort 22 (figures 5 à 10).Like the variant in FIG. 11, the variant in FIGS. 12 and 13 differs from the first embodiment by the arrangement of its pawl which is designated here by 50. According to the first embodiment, the axis 21 of the pawl 20 and the axis 16 of the contact carrier 3 are located on either side of the transverse plane (that is to say perpendicular to the plane of Figures 5 to 10) passing through the axis of the push rod 25. According to variants of Figures 11 to 13 on the contrary, the axis 51 of the pawl 50 and the axis 16 of the contact carrier 3 are located on the same side of the above transverse plane, which allows a more favorable relationship between lever arms. As for the return spring of the push rod 25 designated here by 52, it is hooked by one end to the pawl 50 and by the other end to the double lever 42 (FIG. 11) or to the lever 2 at a point 53 chosen from such that the tension of this spring 52 increases under the same conditions as those which cause the tension of the spring 22 to increase (FIGS. 5 to 10).

Les interrupteurs établis selon ces deux variantes ont le même fonctionnement que celui du premier mode de réalisation.The switches established according to these two variants have the same operation as that of the first embodiment.

Dans le mode de réalisation des figures 14 à 19, on a désigné par les mêmes signes de référence les éléments identiques à ceux du mode de réalisation précédent. Ces éléments ne seront pas décrits à nouveau ici.In the embodiment of FIGS. 14 to 19, the elements identical to those of the previous embodiment have been designated by the same reference signs. These elements will not be described again here.

Le cliquet 50, d'axe 51, est situé de la même manière qu'aux figures 11 à 13 et est sollicité par un troisième ressort 62, ce cliquet 50 agissant sur le levier déclencheur 17. L'axe 51 est lui aussi parallèle aux axes 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 et 18 et lié au boîtier 9.The pawl 50, of axis 51, is located in the same way as in FIGS. 11 to 13 and is biased by a third spring 62, this pawl 50 acting on the trigger lever 17. The axis 51 is also parallel to the axes 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 18 and linked to the housing 9.

Comme indiqué à propos du premier mode de réalisation, le relais 7 est un relais à aimant permanent, qui agit par une tige-poussoir 25 sur le cliquet 50, ce qui oblige à exercer sur cette tige-poussoir 25 une force suffisante pour vaincre l'action du ressort antagoniste de l'aimant permanent lors du réarmement du relais 7.As indicated with regard to the first embodiment, the relay 7 is a permanent magnet relay, which acts by a push rod 25 on the pawl 50, which requires exerting on this push rod 25 a force sufficient to overcome the action of the opposing spring of the permanent magnet when the relay 7 is reset.

Pour assurer cette opération, selon le premier mode de réalisation, c'est le ressort de rappel 22 du cliquet 20 qui est accroché, par l'une de ses extrémités, à la biellette 13.To ensure this operation, according to the first embodiment, it is the return spring 22 of the pawl 20 which is hooked, by one of its ends, to the link 13.

Au contraire, selon le présent mode de réalisation, les moyens de déclenchement 7 agissent sur le cliquet 50 par l'intermédiaire d'une pièce mobile supplémentaire 63, soumise directement à l'action d'un quatrième ressort 64 et, par lqnter- médiaire du cliquet 50, à celle du ressort 62. Selon le mode. de réalisation représenté, cette pièce mobile supplémentaire 63 est montée sur un axe de pivotement 65, fixe par rapport au boîtier 9 et parallèle aux divers axes 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18 et 51. Le quatrième ressort 64 est accroché, par une extrémité, à un bras de levier 66 faisant partie de la pièce mobile 63 et, par l'autre extrémité, à la biellette 13 au niveau de l'axe 15. La tige-poussoir 25 du relais 7 agit par poussée sur un autre bras de levier 67 de la pièce mobile 63. L'ensemble est tel que, lorsque le mécanisme 1 est détendu par action du relais 7, la tension du ressort 64 se trouve fortement accrue, par écartement des deux extrémités de ce ressort. Une butée (non montrée) limite la course angulaire de la pièce 63 sous l'effet de la poussée exercée par la tige-poussoir 25 du relais 7. Comme dans le mode de réalisation précédent, le cliquet 50 est en général muni d'une encoche 28, propre à recevoir un bec 30 porté par le levier déclencheur 17.On the contrary, according to the present embodiment, the triggering means 7 act on the pawl 50 by means of an additional movable part 63, subjected directly to the action of a fourth spring 64 and, by means of an intermediate from the pawl 50, to that of the spring 62. Depending on the mode. embodiment shown, this additional movable part 63 is mounted on a pivot axis 65, fixed relative to the housing 9 and parallel to the various axes 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18 and 51. The fourth spring 64 is hooked, at one end to a lever arm 66 forming part of the moving part 63 and, at the other end, to the link 13 at the level of the axis 15. The push rod 25 of the relay 7 acts by pushing on a another lever arm 67 of the moving part 63. The assembly is such that, when the mechanism 1 is relaxed by the action of the relay 7, the tension of the spring 64 is greatly increased, by spacing of the two ends of this spring. A stop (not shown) limits the angular travel of the part 63 under the effect of the thrust exerted by the push rod 25 of the relay 7. As in the previous embodiment, the pawl 50 is generally provided with a notch 28, suitable for receiving a spout 30 carried by the trigger lever 17.

On obtient ainsi un interrupteur dont le fonctionnement est le suivant. En position d'ouverture normale (figures 15 et 18), le ressort 8 tend à faire tourner la manette 2 dans le sens inverse des aiguilles d'une montre, c'est-à-dire à tirer l'axe 11 de la bielle 10 vers le haut. Cette action du ressort 8 tend à mettre l'axe 14 dans le même plan que les axes 11 et 15. Néanmoins, la bielle 10 et la biellette 13 sont maintenues selon l'angle obtus représenté aux figures 15 et 18 par la présence d'une butée 40a, portée par le cliquet 50, qui agit sur le levier déclencheur 17. Le porte-contact 3 est maintenu contre la butée 41, contre l'action du ressort 64, par le ressort 6 qui est donc sans action sur le mécanisme 1, l'axe 15 étant ainsi maintenu dans une position fixe. Ce ressort 6 maintient le ou chaque contact mobile 4 séparé du contact fixe 5 correspondant. Le levier déclencheur 17 est maintenu à la fois par son axe fixe 18 et par la butée de l'axe 14 contre l'extrémité 23 de sa rainure 19, si bien que le bec 30 présente à l'intérieur de l'encoche 28 un jeu visible à la figure 18. Enfin, la manette 2, qui tend à être déplacée dans le sens inverse des aiguilles d'une montre par le ressort 8, est maintenue en position stable par l'ensemble du porte-contact 3 (en appui sur la butée 41), de la biellette 13 et de la bielle 10 (toutes deux en appui sur la rainure 19).A switch is thus obtained, the operation of which is as follows. In the normal open position (Figures 15 and 18), the spring 8 tends to rotate the lever 2 anticlockwise, that is to say to pull the axis 11 from the connecting rod 10 up. This action of the spring 8 tends to put the axis 14 in the same plane as the axes 11 and 15. However, the connecting rod 10 and the connecting rod 13 are maintained at the obtuse angle shown in Figures 15 and 18 by the presence of a stop 40a, carried by the pawl 50, which acts on the trigger lever 17. The contact carrier 3 is held against the stop 41, against the action of the spring 64, by the spring 6 which is therefore without action on the mechanism 1, the axis 15 being thus maintained in a fixed position. This spring 6 keeps the or each movable contact 4 separate from the corresponding fixed contact 5. The trigger lever 17 is held both by its fixed axis 18 and by the stop of the axis 14 against the end 23 of its groove 19, so that the spout 30 has inside the notch 28 a play visible in Figure 18. Finally, the handle 2, which tends to be moved counterclockwise by the spring 8, is held in a stable position by all of the contact carrier 3 (in support on the stop 41), of the link 13 and of the link 10 (both bearing on the groove 19).

En l'absence d'intervention du relais 7, il est possible, en faisant tourner la manette 2 dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre contre l'action du ressort 8, de déplacer vers le bas l'ensemble de la bielle 10 et de la biellette 13, ce qui fait descendre l'axe 14 dans la rainure 19 du levier déclencheur 17 sans que cet axe franchisse le plan passant par les axes 11 et 15, et fait tourner le porte-contact 3 dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre, jusqu'à la position de la figure 16 (mise en pression des rivets 33 et 34 sous l'action du ou des ressorts 6). Le mouvement s'accompagne de la mise en butée du bec 30 du levier déclencheur 17 contre le bord gauche de l'encoche 28 du cliquet 50. Dans la position de fermeture ainsi atteinte (figure 16), les axes 11 et 14 se trouvent tous deux à gauche du plan passant par les axes 12 et 15. Sous la pression exercée de bas en haut par le ressort 6, ces axes 11 et 14 tendent donc à s'écarter vers la gauche de la figure 16. En raison de l'accrochage du bec 30 dans l'encoche 28, la bielle 10 et la biellette 13 sont arc-boutées contre la manette 2, contre l'action du ressort 8. La manette 2 est ainsi maintenue en position de fin de course contre la butée 39 du boîtier 9, sous l'action du ressort 6.In the absence of intervention from the relay 7, it is possible, by rotating the lever 2 clockwise against the action of the spring 8, to move the assembly of the connecting rod 10 downwards and of the link 13, which lowers the axis 14 in the groove 19 of the trigger lever 17 without this axis crossing the plane passing through the axes 11 and 15, and rotates the contact carrier 3 in the direction of the needles of a watch, up to the position of FIG. 16 (pressurizing the rivets 33 and 34 under the action of the spring or springs 6). The movement is accompanied by the abutment of the spout 30 of the trigger lever 17 against the left edge of the notch 28 of the pawl 50. In the closed position thus reached (Figure 16), the axes 11 and 14 are all two to the left of the plane passing through the axes 12 and 15. Under the pressure exerted from bottom to top by the spring 6, these axes 11 and 14 therefore tend to deviate towards the left of FIG. 16. Due to the attachment of the spout 30 in the notch 28, the connecting rod 10 and the connecting rod 13 are braced against the lever 2, against the action of the spring 8. The lever 2 is thus held in the end-of-travel position against the stop 39 of the housing 9, under the action of the spring 6.

Toujours en l'absence d'intervention du relais 7, il est possible, en faisant tourner la manette 2 en sens inverse des aiguilles d'une montre, de ramener l'ensemble de la position de fermeture (figure 16) à la position d'ouverture normale (figures 15 et 18), les opérations décrites ci-dessus se répétant alors dans l'ordre inverse.Still in the absence of intervention from the relay 7, it is possible, by turning the lever 2 anticlockwise, to bring the assembly from the closed position (FIG. 16) to the position d 'normal opening (Figures 15 and 18), the operations described above then being repeated in reverse order.

A l'apparition d'une surintensité ou d'un courant différentiel en position de. fermeture (figure 16), la tige-poussoir 25 vient agir directement sur la pièce 63 en la faisant pivoter dans le sens inverse des aiguilles d'une montre, contre l'action de son ressort 64, et, par l'intermédiaire de cette pièce 63, sur le cliquet 50 contre l'action de son ressort 62. Le levier déclencheur 17 est ainsi libéré par le cliquet 50, ce qui permet la détente ou « cassure » de la genouillère formée par la bielle 10 0 et la biellette 13. L'axe 14 peut alors se déplacer vers la gauche des figures sous l'action du ressort 6 et l'axe 15 de la biellette 13 se relève, en permettant au porte-contact 3 de tourner dans le sens inverse des aiguilles d'une montre et au ressort 6 de séparer le contact mobile 4 du contact fixe 5. En se relevant, l'axe 15 de la biellette 13 se déplace simultanément vers la gauche tandis que l'extrémité libre du bras de levier 66 de la pièce 63, par rotation en sens inverse des aiguilles d'une montre, se déplace vers la droite. II en résulte une augmentation de la tension du ressort de rappel 64 de la pièce 63, qui repousse la tige-poussoir 25 en réarmant le relais 7. Cette phase se produit même si l'on maintient la manette 2 à sa position de fermeture. A la suite de ce déclenchement, la manette 2 est ramenée sous l'effet du ressort 8 dans le sens anti-horaire et commence à ramener le levier déclencheur 17 ainsi que la biellette 13 vers le plan passant par les axes 11 et 15.At the appearance of an overcurrent or a differential current in the position of. closure (FIG. 16), the push rod 25 acts directly on the part 63 by rotating it counterclockwise, against the action of its spring 64, and, by means of this part 63, on the pawl 50 against the action of its spring 62. The trigger lever 17 is thus released by the pawl 50, which allows the trigger or "break" of the toggle formed by the connecting rod 10 0 and the connecting rod 13. The axis 14 can then move to the left of the figures under the action of the spring 6 and the axis 15 of the link 13 is raised, allowing the contact carrier 3 to rotate anti-clockwise and the spring 6 to separate the movable contact 4 from the fixed contact 5. By rising, l 'axis 15 of the link 13 moves simultaneously to the left while the free end of the lever arm 66 of the part 63, by rotation in a counterclockwise direction, moves to the right. This results in an increase in the tension of the return spring 64 of the part 63, which pushes the push rod 25 by resetting the relay 7. This phase occurs even if the lever 2 is kept in its closed position. Following this triggering, the lever 2 is brought back under the effect of the spring 8 counterclockwise and begins to bring the trigger lever 17 as well as the link 13 towards the plane passing through the axes 11 and 15.

A la position de la figure 19, l'axe 14 de la bielle 10 est arrivé au contact de l'extrémité 23 de la rainure 19, si bien que la bielle 10, entraînée vers le haut comme indiqué par une flèche, continue à faire tourner positivement le levier déclencheur 17 dans le sens inverse des aiguilles d'une montre. On se retrouve enfin à la position d'ouverture de la figure 18 d'où il est possible à nouveau de passer à la position de fermeture de la figure 16.At the position of FIG. 19, the axis 14 of the connecting rod 10 has come into contact with the end 23 of the groove 19, so that the connecting rod 10, driven upwards as indicated by an arrow, continues to make positively turn the release lever 17 counterclockwise. We finally find ourselves in the open position of FIG. 18 from which it is again possible to switch to the closed position of FIG. 16.

Il est bien entendu que si, au cours de la manoeuvre de fermeture des contacts 4, 5 par la manette 2, dès que les contacts 4, 5 viennent à se toucher, il se produisait ou subsistait un défaut, 16 relais 7 interviendrait et le déroulement des phases de fonctionnement décrites ci-dessus se reproduirait immédiatement.It is understood that if, during the closing operation of the contacts 4, 5 by the lever 2, as soon as the contacts 4, 5 touch each other, a fault occurs or remains, 16 relays 7 would intervene and the sequence of the operating phases described above would happen immediately.

Selon une variante déjà illustrée à la figure 11, l'organe de manoeuvre basculant, au lieu d'être constitué par une manette 2 à bouton 2a, pourrait être constitué par un levier double monté sur le boîtier 9 de façon à pouvoir tourner autour d'un axe fixe et sollicité par un ressort tendant à faire tourner ce levier double dans le sens inverse des aiguilles d'une montre. Ce levier double est poussé dans le sens de la fermeture et dans le sens de l'ouverture respectivement par deux boutons-poussoirs.According to a variant already illustrated in FIG. 11, the tilting operating member, instead of being constituted by a handle 2 with button 2a, could be constituted by a double lever mounted on the housing 9 so as to be able to rotate around d 'A fixed axis and biased by a spring tending to rotate this double lever counterclockwise. This double lever is pushed in the closing direction and in the opening direction respectively by two push buttons.

Il est à noter qu'en plus ou à la place du relais 7, d'autres moyens peuvent être prévus pour agir sur le cliquet 50 et détendre la genouillère.It should be noted that in addition to or in place of the relay 7, other means can be provided for acting on the pawl 50 and relaxing the toggle.

Par rapport au premier mode de réalisation, le deuxième mode de réalisation (figures 14 à 19) présente les avantages techniques suivants :Compared to the first embodiment, the second embodiment (Figures 14 to 19) has the following technical advantages:

II facilite le réarmement du levier déclencheur 17 dans le cliquet 50, lors d'un déclenchement par le relais 7. Le ressort 8 de la manette 2 doit dans ce cas vaincre l'effort du ressort 62 du cliquet 50. Ce ressort 62 désensibilise, en cas de choc, l'accrochage entre cliquet 50 et levier déclencheur 17, grâce à la liaison élastique qu'il assure entre ces deux pièces 50, 17.It facilitates the resetting of the trigger lever 17 in the pawl 50, when triggered by the relay 7. The spring 8 of the lever 2 must in this case overcome the force of the spring 62 of the pawl 50. This spring 62 desensitizes, in the event of an impact, the attachment between pawl 50 and trigger lever 17, thanks to the elastic connection which it provides between these two parts 50, 17.

Il réduit sensiblement l'effort du ressort de réarmement du relais 7 par un renvoi direct sur la pièce de réarmement 63 du relais 7.It significantly reduces the force of the reset spring of relay 7 by a direct return to the reset piece 63 of relay 7.

Il désolidarise l'ensemble des forces intervenant dans le mécanisme alors que, selon le premier mode de réalisation, ces forces interféraient intimement entre elles.It dissociates all of the forces involved in the mechanism whereas, according to the first embodiment, these forces interfered intimately with one another.

Le mode de réalisation de la figure 20 diffère de celui des figures 14 à 19 essentiellement par le fait que la tige-poussoir 25 agit sur l'extrémité libre du cliquet 50 avec interposition de l'extrémité libre d'une lame d'une pièce 73 qui tourillonne par son autre extrémité sur le boîtier 9 ou un élément solidaire du boîtier et qui remplace le quatrième ressort 64 du mode de réalisation précédent. A cette fin la pièce 73 présente une lame élastique 74 qui est orientée vers le trajet de l'axe 15 du porte contact. Lors d'un déclenchement par le relais 7 la rotation de la pièce 73 s'accompagne du basculement vers le bas de la lame 74. Lors du basculement du porte-contact 3 l'axe 15 qui remonte vers le haut rencontre la lame ressort 74 et faisant rebasculer cette lame en sens inverse, entraîne le réarmement du relais.The embodiment of FIG. 20 differs from that of FIGS. 14 to 19 essentially by the fact that the push rod 25 acts on the free end of the pawl 50 with interposition of the free end of a blade of one piece 73 which pivots at its other end on the housing 9 or an element integral with the housing and which replaces the fourth spring 64 of the previous embodiment. To this end, the part 73 has an elastic blade 74 which is oriented towards the path of the axis 15 of the contact carrier. When triggered by the relay 7 the rotation of the part 73 is accompanied by the downward tilting of the blade 74. During the tilting of the contact carrier 3 the axis 15 which rises upwards meets the leaf spring 74 and making this blade switch back in the opposite direction, causes the relay to reset.

Il est à noter qu'en plus ou à la place du relais 7, d'autres moyens peuvent être prévus pour agir sur le cliquet 20 ou 50 et détendre la genouillère.It should be noted that in addition to or in place of the relay 7, other means may be provided to act on the pawl 20 or 50 and relax the toggle.

Claims (17)

1. An electrical device with automatic circuit- breaking, comprising, between a rotary control member (2, 42) and a rocking contact-carrier (3) on which there is mounted at least one movable contact (4) cooperating with a fixed contact (5) and which is urged by a first spring (6) in the direction of opening or separation of the movable contact (4) from the fixed contact (5), a toggle (1) and catch (20, 50) mechanism capable, on the one hand, when this mechanism is taut, of transmitting the movement of the control member (2) to the contact-carrier (3) both in the opening direction and in the opposite direction or closing direction and, on the other hand, at the moment when this mechanism (1) is relaxed by tripping means (7) acting independently of the control member (2) on the catch (20, 50), of causing the return of the contact-carrier (3) from its closing position to its opening position, this toggle mechanism (1) being adapted in such a manner as to permit the control member (2) to reset the device, that is to say to retighten the mechanism (1) by restoring it from its opening position after tripping to its normal opening position, after cessation of the intervention of the tripping means and under the action of a second spring (8) acting on this control member (2), which mechanism (1) consists essentially of a connecting-rod (10) articulated by one of its ends on the control member (2) about an axis (11) which is eccentric in relation to the axis of rotation (12) of the control member (2), of a link (13) articulated by one of its ends on the other end of the connecting-rod (10) and by the other of its ends on the contact-carrier (3), about an axis (15) which is eccentric in relation to the rocking axis (16) of the contact-carrier (3), and of a tripping lever (17) articulated by one of its ends about a fixed pin (18) and provided with a longitudinal slot (19) in which the joint pin (14) between connecting-rod (10) and link (13) can slide practically without transverse play, all these axes and pins (11, 12, 15, 16, 18) being parallel to one another, the catch (20, 50), having a fixed pin (21, 51), being urged by a third spring (22, 52) and acting on the tripping lever (17) characterised in that the catch (20, 50) is adapted in such a manner that and, in particular, its pin (21, 51) is situated in such a manner that this catch (20, 50) automatically occupies a stable position, that is to say a position in which the action of the first spring (6) is incapable of causing the catch (20, 50) to turn about its pin (21, 51), in the closed position of the device, and in that the tripping means (7) are adapted in such a manner as to act mechanically by thrust on this catch (20, 50), against the action of the third spring (22, 52, 62).
2. An electrical device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the fixed pin (18) of the tripping lever (17) is situated in such a manner that, in the closed position, this tripping lever (17) is approximately parallel to the assembly of the connecting-rod (10) and the link (13).
3. An electrical device according to either one of Claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the connecting-rod (10) consists of a rod, the two ends of which are bent at a right angle in such a manner as to constitute respectively the pin (11) linking the connecting-rod (10) to the control member (2) and the pin (14) linking it to the link (13) engaged in the slot (19) in the trip (17).
4. An electrical device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the link (13) is double in such a manner that the portion (3a) of the contact-carrier (3) whereby the joint with the double link is effected is situated between the two individual links (13a,13b).
5. An electrical device according to Claim 4, characterised in that the individual links (13a, 13b) are rigidly connected to one another.
6. An electrical device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the effective length (L) of the connecting-rod (10) is distinctly greater than that (1) of the link (13).
7. An electrical device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the length of the slot (19) in the tripping lever (17) is such that the joint pin (14) between connecting-rod (10) and link (13) comes to strike against one (23) of the longitudinal ends (23, 24) of this slot (19) in the course of the resetting movement
8. An electrical device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, and particularly one wherein the tripping means consist of a relay (7) tending to cause a push-rod (25) to project, which acts on the catch (20), characterised in that the axis of articulation (21) of the catch (20) and the axis of articulation (16) of the contact-carrier (3) are situated one at each side of the plane passing through the axis of the push-rod (25).
9. An electrical device according to any one of Claims 1 to 8 and particularly one wherein the tripping means consist of a relay (7) tending to cause a push-rod (25) to project, which acts on the catch (20), characterised in that the third spring (22) is hooked, by one end, onto a lever arm (26) rigidly connected to the catch (20) and, by the other end, onto the link (13).
10. An electrical device according to Claim 9, characterised in that the third spring (22) is hooked onto the link (13) at the level of the pin (15) linking this to the contact-carrier (3).
11. An electrical device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 and particularly one wherein the tripping means consist of a relay (7) tending to cause a push-rod (25) to project which acts on the catch (20), characterised in that the axis of articulation (51) of the catch (50) and the axis of articulation (16) of the contact-carrier (3) are situated at the same side of the plane passing through the axis of the push-rod (25).
12. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 and 11, and particularly one wherein the tripping means consist of a relay (7) tending to cause a push-rod (25) to project which acts on the catch (50), characterised in that the third spring (52) is hooked, by one end, onto the catch (50) and, by the other end, onto the rotary control member (2, 42).
13. An electrical device according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the tripping means (7) act on the catch (50) by means of an additional movable part (63) which is subject directly to the action of a fourth spring (64) and, by means of the catch (50) to that of the third spring (62).
14. An electrical device according to Claim 13 and particularly one wherein the tripping means consist of a relay (7) tending to cause a push-rod (25) to project which acts on the additional part (63), characterised in that the fourth spring (64) is hooked, by one end, onto a lever arm (66) rigidly connected to the additional part (63) and, by the other end, onto the link (13).
15. An electrical device according to Claim 14, characterised in that the fourth spring (64) is hooked onto a movable element of the mechanism (1) in such a manner that, when the latter is relaxed by the action of the tripping means (7), the tension of this spring (64) is greatly increased by spreading apart of the two ends of this spring.
16. An electrical device according to Claim 15, characterised in that the fourth spring (64) is hooked onto the link (13) at the level of the pin (15) linking this to the contact-carrier (3).
17. An electrical device according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the tripping means (7) act on the catch (50) with the interposition of a part (73) pivoted on the casing (9) or an element rigidly connected to the casing, and equipped with a resilient blade (74) which is swung towards the contact-carrier (3) on tripping and adapted to be swung in the opposite direction by the movement of the contact-carrier (3) to restore the tripping means (7) to their initial position.
EP19840401955 1983-10-04 1984-10-01 Automatic circuit breakers, particularly earth fault and overload circuit breakers Expired EP0143682B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT84401955T ATE43201T1 (en) 1983-10-04 1984-10-01 AUTO SWITCHES, ESPECIALLY FAULT AND OVERCURRENT SWITCHES.

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8315784 1983-10-04
FR8315784A FR2552931B1 (en) 1983-10-04 1983-10-04 IMPROVEMENTS ON AUTOMATIC SWITCHES, IN PARTICULAR FOR DIFFERENTIAL CIRCUIT BREAKERS
FR8409416 1984-06-15
FR8409416A FR2566173B2 (en) 1984-06-15 1984-06-15 IMPROVEMENTS ON AUTOMATIC SWITCHES, IN PARTICULAR FOR DIFFERENTIAL SWITCHES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0143682A1 EP0143682A1 (en) 1985-06-05
EP0143682B1 true EP0143682B1 (en) 1989-05-17

Family

ID=26223609

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19840401955 Expired EP0143682B1 (en) 1983-10-04 1984-10-01 Automatic circuit breakers, particularly earth fault and overload circuit breakers

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0143682B1 (en)
DE (1) DE3478260D1 (en)

Cited By (1)

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CN103681133A (en) * 2012-08-31 2014-03-26 西门子公司 Switch mechanism and motor protection switch device

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DE3733595A1 (en) * 1987-10-05 1989-04-20 Asea Brown Boveri ELECTRICAL SWITCHGEAR
FR2626104B1 (en) * 1988-01-20 1995-05-24 Hager Electro IMPROVEMENTS ON AUTOMATIC SWITCHES, ESPECIALLY DIFFERENTIAL SWITCHES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
JPH01241720A (en) * 1988-03-24 1989-09-26 Terasaki Denki Sangyo Kk Contactor device for switch
FR2630582A1 (en) * 1988-04-22 1989-10-27 Hager Electro Enhancement to circuit breakers or differential circuit breakers
EP0338930A1 (en) * 1988-04-22 1989-10-25 Hager Electro S.A. Circuit breakers or differential circuit breakers
FR2630581A1 (en) * 1988-04-22 1989-10-27 Hager Electro Enhancement to circuit breakers or differential circuit breakers
FR2646015B1 (en) * 1989-04-18 1991-06-07 Gec Unelec ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BREAKER
FR2675305B1 (en) * 1991-04-12 1994-05-06 Hager Electro Sa TRIGGERING LOCK MECHANISM FOR SWITCHING APPARATUSES AND SWITCHING APPARATUSES INCORPORATING SUCH LOCK.
CN113230934B (en) * 2021-05-24 2024-03-29 洛阳中超新材料股份有限公司 Liquid level control system for scale-prone reactor and automatic mixed liquid blending system
FR3133268A1 (en) * 2022-03-07 2023-09-08 Hager-Electro Sas Differential lock for electrical differential protection device
CN116871847B (en) * 2023-08-15 2023-12-22 首凯高科技(江苏)有限公司 Stamping positioning equipment for manufacturing ammonia gas sensor

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NL276361A (en) * 1961-03-23
DE1490307B1 (en) * 1962-07-17 1970-01-22 Siemens Ag Electrical switch with manual, self and free release
DE6607351U (en) * 1968-07-06 1971-02-18 Stotz Kontakt Gmbh CIRCUIT BREAKER

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103681133A (en) * 2012-08-31 2014-03-26 西门子公司 Switch mechanism and motor protection switch device
CN103681133B (en) * 2012-08-31 2017-07-04 西门子公司 The protection switch equipment of switching mechanism and electromechanics

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0143682A1 (en) 1985-06-05
DE3478260D1 (en) 1989-06-22

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