EP0188143B1 - Protective switching device - Google Patents

Protective switching device Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0188143B1
EP0188143B1 EP85402351A EP85402351A EP0188143B1 EP 0188143 B1 EP0188143 B1 EP 0188143B1 EP 85402351 A EP85402351 A EP 85402351A EP 85402351 A EP85402351 A EP 85402351A EP 0188143 B1 EP0188143 B1 EP 0188143B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
lever
tripping
pin
contact
arm
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
EP85402351A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0188143A1 (en
Inventor
Jacques Landron
Christian Pichard
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.)
Telemecanique SA
Original Assignee
La Telemecanique Electrique SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by La Telemecanique Electrique SA filed Critical La Telemecanique Electrique SA
Publication of EP0188143A1 publication Critical patent/EP0188143A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0188143B1 publication Critical patent/EP0188143B1/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
    • H01H71/527—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release actuated by lever making use of a walking beam with one extremity latchable, the other extremity actuating or supporting the movable contact and an intermediate part co-operating with the actuator
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
    • H01H71/1009—Interconnected mechanisms
    • H01H71/1027—Interconnected mechanisms comprising a bidirectional connecting member actuated by the opening movement of one pole to trip a neighbour pole

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a circuit breaker-type protective switching device, comprising in an insulating housing an interruptible current path on which are arranged cooperating contacts, one of which is fixed and the other of which is movable in response, either to actuation of a trip member on electromagnetic and / or thermal fault via a lock, or on the actuation of a voluntary trip and reset member such as a lever via a toggle mechanism.
  • Circuit breakers of this type are known, in particular from US-A-2,352,517.
  • the movable contact is arranged at a first end of a contact-carrying arm, the second end of which is associated with an erasable support. constituting the output member of the lock, the contact-carrying arm being subjected to the action of an elastic means of abrupt opening and closing; the contact-carrying arm is mounted without a fixed fulcrum, so as to pivot either by leaning on a span of the toggle mechanism when tripping on a fault, or on a span of the erasable support of the lock during manual or automatic voluntary activation.
  • the elastic means of abrupt opening and closing is then constituted by a member which can be applied, on the one hand, against the contact-carrying arm at a point thereof situated between its second end and its point of support on the mechanism toggle, on the other hand, against the housing. It is in particular desirable to give the elastic opening and closing member a simple and space-saving configuration.
  • the object of the present invention is in particular to simplify the production of a circuit breaker of the aforementioned type, while making it possible to give this circuit breaker a small footprint, particularly in depth.
  • Another purpose is, in a circuit breaker using a floating contact carrier arm, to urge this arm and the toggle mechanism by simple means preventing the floating of said mechanism.
  • the resilient member of abrupt opening and closing is also applicable against the toggle mechanism, said member being constituted by a single torsion spring, pin or blade, comprising a first branch in abutment against the toggle mechanism and a second branch in abutment on the contact-carrying arm in the direction of opening in the event of tripping on fault, the spring being disengageable at the end of opening of the mobile contact.
  • the elastic stressing of the contact carrier arm is thus carried out in a particularly simple and compact manner; in particular, the branches of the pin or leaf spring may extend substantially parallel to the front face of the housing.
  • the protective switching device illustrated in the figures is a modular circuit breaker with insulating housing 10.
  • the circuit breaker has a pair of separable contacts, namely a fixed contact CF and a movable contact CM arranged on a current path provided in the housing between a first terminal 11 and a second terminal 12.
  • the housing 10 comprises an electromagnetic trip member 13 with a movable active element 14 and a bimetal thermal trip member 16 capable of actuating a lock 15, to separate the movable contact CM from the fixed contact CF following a fault such as a overcurrent, short circuit or overload, appearing at terminals 11 and 12.
  • the movable contact CM is carried by a rocker arm 20 without fixed support relative to the housing:
  • the current path established between the terminals 11 and 12 when the circuit breaker is tripped comprises a conductor 17a, the winding of the electromagnetic trip device 13, a conductor 17b, the fixed contact CF, the movable contact CM, the rocker arm 20, a flexible conductor 17c, the bimetallic strip 16 and a conductor 17d.
  • a voluntary tripping member 30 such as a pivoting lever, a push button or a rotary button is associated with the front face 18 of the case 10 of the circuit breaker, by being connected to the rocker arm 20 by a toggle link 31.
  • the size in depth of the circuit breaker that is to say the space between the front face 18 and a rear face 19 provided with fixing means on a support, is reduced due to the arrangement of the elements housed in the housing, in particular because the rocking arm is disposed substantially parallel to the plane of the face 18 in the vicinity thereof, while being connected directly to the lever 30 by a toggle link 31 of low height, while the lock 15 is rejected laterally.
  • the contact carrier arm 20 is mounted so as to pivot in a floating manner in order to pivot on axes or trunnions whose position relative to the housing is liable to vary; it is further subject to a single pin spring 40 arranged and mounted on a fixed axis 41, so as to constitute both a sudden opening means and a means of closing the movable contact CM.
  • the contact-carrying arm 20 pivots when tripping on a fault by resting on a bearing 31a of the toggle mechanism 31 (FIG. 3) and during a manual or automatic voluntary release by relying on a surface 22 of the lock 15 ( Figure 4).
  • the pivoting takes place in the event of a defect around the range 31a by lowering the range 22 of the lock (arrow f1 in FIG. 1) under the effect of the spring 40; the pivoting takes place in the event of voluntary triggering around the bearing surface 22 remaining in the high position (arrow f2 in FIG. 1) by lifting the arm by means of the bearing surface 31a itself raised by the actuation of the lever under the effect of the spring 40 and of an assistance spring specific to the lever 30.
  • the contact-carrying arm 20 has, at a first end 20a, the movable contact CM and comprises, near its median part, a guide slot 21 in which the bearing 31 a can slide sliding situated at the end of the toggle joint 31.
  • the arm 20 is articulated near its second end 20b to a lever L1 of a broken connecting rod L1, L2 by means of a pin pin A1 determining the above-mentioned bearing 22; the arm 20 carries, at its second end 20b, a lug 23 which intervenes during coupling to a neighboring device as will be explained below.
  • the contact-carrying arm 20 has, near the contact CM, an oblique surface 24 contributing to the opening of the movable contact CM during a tripping process in which a rotary insulating screen E taking part on this surface 24 participates to intervene between contacts.
  • the arm 20 finally has towards the surface 18 and near its first end 20a, a shoulder 25 capable of cooperating with a stop 26 provided in the housing.
  • the hairpin spring 40 mounted on the axis 41 has a first branch 42, the free end 43 of which is folded transversely and rests on the contact-carrying arm 20 in order to exert on the middle zone from it, a downward force f4; the spring 40 has a second branch 44 on which the bearing 31 a of the toggle 31 is capable of being applied by receiving an upward force f5.
  • the free end 45 of the second branch 44 can abut against the transverse free end 43 of the first branch to disengage the spring, as will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
  • the lever 30 for voluntary triggering is pivotally mounted about a fixed axis A2 between a position of voluntary engagement - on the left in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 - and a position of voluntary triggering or manual reset after tripping on fault - on the right in figure 4-.
  • the lever is biased in a conventional manner by a spring which tends to rotate it from left to right according to arrow f6 (FIG. 4).
  • the lock 15 has, as already said, a broken connecting rod with two levers L1, L2.
  • the axis A1 of articulation of the contact-carrying arm 20 on the lever L1 is capable of moving from a high armed position (FIGS. 2 and 4) to a low trigger position (FIG. 3) while being guided in means coming from molding with a side wall of the housing 10 and described more fully with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.
  • the lever L1 comprises a tail 50 on which can be applied, according to an arrow f7 (FIG. 2), the bimetallic strip 16 in the event of overload, in order to cause the rupture of the broken connecting rod. It further comprises a support or a socket 51, for example a step, for receiving a cooperating element, for example a pin 52, of the lever L2 in the armed position; and a flared housing 53 formed between the step 51 and the tail 50 for guiding and receiving the pin 52 in the triggered position (FIG. 3).
  • the lever L1 further comprises a lug 54 for positioning and guiding against conformations which have come from molding with the side wall of the housing, a profile 55 provided to facilitate the initial release of the lever L1 during a trip on fault and a shoulder 56 intended to cooperate with a coupling part (see Figures 7 and 8).
  • the lever L2 is articulated on an axis A3 fixed relative to the housing 10 and has two arms 57, 58 substantially orthogonal; the arm 57 is associated with the mobile active element 14 of the electromagnetic trip device 13 which is, for example a core, a striker or, in the present example, a part of the insulating screen E of arc breaking.
  • the arm 58 carries the pin 52 at its end.
  • the axes A1 and A3 are aligned with the axis A52 of the pin 52 in the armed position; the alignment A1, A52, A3 along a straight line XX (FIG. 5) is then obtained in a perfect manner given that the axes A1 and A3 come from molding with the housing 10 and that the lug 54 of the lever L1 is applied in armed position against a stop also produced by molding the housing.
  • lever L1 is metallic and for the lever L2 to be molded in plastic material with the insertion of a metallic needle to form the pin 52 intended to cooperate with the metallic step 51 of the lever L1.
  • a spring not indicated is interposed between the contact-carrying arm 20 and the lever L1 in order to tend to rotate the latter counterclockwise around the axis A1 (arrow f8, FIG. 3).
  • a return spring, also not shown, is associated with the lever L2 in order to tend to rotate it counterclockwise around A3 (arrow f9, FIG. 3).
  • FIG. 3 shows the protective device in the tripped fault position, the broken connecting rod being broken and the spring 40 being disengaged;
  • FIG. 4 shows the device in the voluntary release position, the contact-carrying arm 20 being in the position applied against the stop 26 of the housing after lifting by the toggle joint 31, the broken connecting rod L1, L2 remaining intact and the spring 40 being still disengaged.
  • FIG. 4a shows the guidance of the bearing 31 a of the toggle joint 31 which cooperates with the arm 20 against a ramp 27 with two ribs molded in the wall of the housing 10, making it possible to dictate the stroke of the bearing 31a between a position of voluntary activation 31a1 and a voluntary triggering or resetting position 31a2.
  • Figures 5 and 6 show a ramp 60 formed by a rib molded with a side face of the housing 10.
  • the ramp 60 forms a flared V-shaped trough by means of a vertical branch 60a and an oblique branch 60b, so as to accommodate and guide the axis A1; the ramp 60 also includes an inclined branch 60c connected to the vertical branch 60a.
  • the pin 52, the thickness of the branch 60a and the position of the lug 54 of the lever L1 applied in abutment against this branch under the effect of the torque f8 are determined to perfectly align, along XX in the armed position, the axis A52 of pin 52, axis A1 housed at the bottom of the V of the chute and axis A3.
  • the lever L2 When a fault occurs, the lever L2 is pushed clockwise (arrow f10, Figure 6) and releases the pin 52- from the step 51 of the lever L1, so that the latter, driven down by the lever 20, pivots clockwise around the axis A1 (arrow f11, Figure 6) by the effect of the guide of the lug 54 along the branch 60c to the position indicated in Figure 6; the pin 52 is then engaged in the flared housing 53 of the lever L1.
  • the lever L1 is associated by means of a coupling piece 70 capable of pivoting around a fixed axis A4 with a neighboring device not indicated for triggering or signaling.
  • the coupling piece 70 for this purpose comprises a facet 71 capable of cooperating with the shoulder 56 of the lever L1, a drive finger 72 designed to cooperate with the lug 23 which is provided at the second end 20b of the support arm contact 20, as well as a lug 73 projecting transversely into a window 28 provided in a side face of the housing as an input or output means.
  • the neighboring device When the neighboring device trips on fault, it can lift the lug 73 clockwise from the position in FIG. 7, so that the coupling piece 70 rotates according to the arrow f12 and in doing so drives by the facet 71 applied against the shoulder 56, the pivoting of the lever L1 and the breaking of the broken connecting rod.
  • the circuit breaker shown in the figures works as follows:
  • the contact carrier arm 20 is disposed substantially parallel to the front face 18 of the circuit breaker and the handle 30 occupies the engaged position on the left in the figures.
  • the movable contact CM is applied to the fixed contact CF under the effect of the force produced by the spring 40 according to the arrow f4, while the end 20b of the contact carrier arm is in contact with the bearing surface 22 of the lock 15 whose levers L1, L2 are in the deployed position.
  • the broken connecting rod evolves as follows.
  • the lever L1 slides by its surface 55 on the axis A4.
  • the already described descent from the axis A1 leads to the release of the surface 55 from the axis A4.
  • the lug 54 hitherto in abutment against the branch 60a of the rib 60 of the housing, descends on the oblique ramp portion 60c of this rib and constrains the lever L1 to pivot clockwise. Due to the simultaneous time pivoting of the lever L2 around the axis A3 and the presence of the flared housing 53 in the lever L1, the pin 52 comes to the bottom of this housing ( Figure 3).
  • the movement of the arm 20 is the same as that which has just been described, but it is the lever L1 which causes the retraction of the lock.
  • the bimetallic strip 16 in fact actuates the tail 50 of the lever L1 according to the arrow f7 and constrains the lever to pivot clockwise to release the step 51 from the pin 52.
  • the lever 30 passes from the position of FIGS. 1 and 2 to that of FIG. 4.
  • the toggle exceeds its neutral point and the bearing 31a comes to bear against the 'upper end of the guide slot 21; the branch 44 of the spring 40 then exerts on the bearing 31a an effort confirming the rotation of the lever according to the arrow f6, while the branch 42 of the same spring continues to exert its force along f4 on the arm 20.
  • the reclosing of the circuit breaker, from the position of FIG. 4, takes place by rotation of the handle 30 counterclockwise.
  • the bearing 31a has applied against the branch 44 of the spring 40; this branch emerges from the other branch 42 which, therefore, can exert on the arm 20 the desired closing force.
  • the contact-carrying arm pivots counterclockwise around the bearing 22 of axis A4 and the movable contact is applied and remains applied to the fixed contact by the spring 40.

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  • Breakers (AREA)

Description

La présente invention concerne un appareil interrupteur de protection du genre disjoncteur, comportant dans un boîtier isolant un chemin de courant interruptible sur lequel sont disposés des contacts coopérants dont l'un est fixe et dont l'autre est mobile en réponse, soit à l'actionnement d'un organe de déclenchement sur défaut d'origine électromagnétique et/ou thermique via une serrure, soit à l'actionnement d'un organe de déclenchement et de réenclenchement volontaires tel qu'une manette via un mécanisme à genouillère.The present invention relates to a circuit breaker-type protective switching device, comprising in an insulating housing an interruptible current path on which are arranged cooperating contacts, one of which is fixed and the other of which is movable in response, either to actuation of a trip member on electromagnetic and / or thermal fault via a lock, or on the actuation of a voluntary trip and reset member such as a lever via a toggle mechanism.

Des disjoncteurs de ce type sont connus, notamment d'après le brevet US-A-2 352 517. Dans ces disjoncteurs, le contact mobile est disposé à une première extrémité d'un bras portecontact dont la deuxième extrémité est associée à un appui effaçable constituant l'organe de sortie de la serrure, le bras porte-contact étant assujetti à l'action d'un moyen élastique d'ouverture brusque et de fermeture; le bras porte-contact est monté sans point d'appui fixe, de manière à pivoter soit en prenant appui sur une portée du mécanisme à genouillère lors d'un déclenchement sur défaut, soit sur une portée de l'appui effaçable de la serrure lors d'un déclenchement volontaire manuel ou automatique. Le moyen élastique d'ouverture brusque et de fermeture est alors constitué par un organe applicable, d'une part, contre le bras porte-contact en un point de celui-ci situé entre sa deuxième extrémité et son point d'appui sur le mécanisme à genouillère, d'autre part, contre le boîtier. Il est en particulier souhaitable de donner à l'organe élastique d'ouverture et de fermeture une configuration simple et peu encombrante.Circuit breakers of this type are known, in particular from US-A-2,352,517. In these circuit breakers, the movable contact is arranged at a first end of a contact-carrying arm, the second end of which is associated with an erasable support. constituting the output member of the lock, the contact-carrying arm being subjected to the action of an elastic means of abrupt opening and closing; the contact-carrying arm is mounted without a fixed fulcrum, so as to pivot either by leaning on a span of the toggle mechanism when tripping on a fault, or on a span of the erasable support of the lock during manual or automatic voluntary activation. The elastic means of abrupt opening and closing is then constituted by a member which can be applied, on the one hand, against the contact-carrying arm at a point thereof situated between its second end and its point of support on the mechanism toggle, on the other hand, against the housing. It is in particular desirable to give the elastic opening and closing member a simple and space-saving configuration.

La présente invention a en particulier pour but de simplifier la réalisation d'un disjoncteur du type précité, tout en permettant de donner à ce disjoncteur un faible encombrement, notamment en profondeur.The object of the present invention is in particular to simplify the production of a circuit breaker of the aforementioned type, while making it possible to give this circuit breaker a small footprint, particularly in depth.

Elle a également pour but de simplifier la conception et la réalisation de la serrure, notamment par un agencement spécifique de l'organe élastique d'ouverture et de fermeture.It also aims to simplify the design and production of the lock, in particular by a specific arrangement of the elastic opening and closing member.

Elle a pour autre but, dans un disjoncteur utilisant un bras porte-contact flottant, de solliciter ce bras et le mécanisme à genouillère par des moyens simples parant au flottement dudit mécanisme.Another purpose is, in a circuit breaker using a floating contact carrier arm, to urge this arm and the toggle mechanism by simple means preventing the floating of said mechanism.

Selon l'invention, dans un appareil du type décrit, l'organe élastique d'ouverture brusque et de fermeture est d'autre part applicable contre le mécanisme à genouillère, ledit organe étant constitué par un ressort unique de torsion, en épingle ou à lame, comportant une première branche en appui contre le mécanisme à genouillère et une deuxième branche en appui sur le bras porte- contact dans le sens d'une ouverture en cas de déclenchement sur défaut, le ressort étant dé- brayable en fin d'ouverture du contact mobile.According to the invention, in an apparatus of the type described, the resilient member of abrupt opening and closing is also applicable against the toggle mechanism, said member being constituted by a single torsion spring, pin or blade, comprising a first branch in abutment against the toggle mechanism and a second branch in abutment on the contact-carrying arm in the direction of opening in the event of tripping on fault, the spring being disengageable at the end of opening of the mobile contact.

La sollicitation élastique du bras porte-contact est ainsi réalisée de manière particulièrement simple et compacte; en particulier, les branches du ressort en épingle ou à lame peuvent s'étendre sensiblement parallèlement à la face avant du boîtier.The elastic stressing of the contact carrier arm is thus carried out in a particularly simple and compact manner; in particular, the branches of the pin or leaf spring may extend substantially parallel to the front face of the housing.

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention apparaîtront plus clairement à la lecture de la description ci-après.Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the description below.

Au dessin annexé:

  • La figure 1 montre très schématiquement en élévation les principaux constituants d'un disjoncteur modulaire conforme à l'invention;
  • La figure 2 représente une partie du mécanisme de commande du disjoncteur de la figure 1 en position enclenchée;
  • Les figures 2a, 2b montrent deux détails du mécanisme de la figure 2;
  • Les figures 3 et 4 montrent le même mécanisme respectivement dans les positions de déclenchement sur défaut et de déclenchement volontaire;
  • La figure 4a montre un détail du boîtier du disjoncteur;
  • Les figures 5 et 6 représentent la bielle brisée associée au bras porte-contact, en position déployée et respectivement rétractée;
  • Les figures 7 et 8 représentent une pièce de couplage disposée près de la deuxième extrémité du bras portecontact pour coopérer avec un appareil voisin de déclenchement ou de signalisation.
In the attached drawing:
  • Figure 1 shows very schematically in elevation the main components of a modular circuit breaker according to the invention;
  • FIG. 2 represents a part of the control mechanism of the circuit breaker of FIG. 1 in the engaged position;
  • Figures 2a, 2b show two details of the mechanism of Figure 2;
  • Figures 3 and 4 show the same mechanism respectively in the fault tripping and voluntary tripping positions;
  • Figure 4a shows a detail of the circuit breaker housing;
  • Figures 5 and 6 show the broken rod associated with the contact carrier arm, in the deployed position and respectively retracted;
  • Figures 7 and 8 show a coupling piece disposed near the second end of the contact carrier arm to cooperate with a neighboring device triggering or signaling.

L'appareil interrupteur de protection illustré sur les figures est un disjoncteur modulaire à boîtier isolant 10. Le disjoncteur présente une paire de contacts séparables, à savoir un contact fixe CF et un contact mobile CM disposés sur un chemin de courant prévu dans le boîtier entre une première borne 11 et une deuxième borne 12.The protective switching device illustrated in the figures is a modular circuit breaker with insulating housing 10. The circuit breaker has a pair of separable contacts, namely a fixed contact CF and a movable contact CM arranged on a current path provided in the housing between a first terminal 11 and a second terminal 12.

Le boîtier 10 comprend un organe de déclenchement électromagnétique 13 à élément actif mobile 14 et un organe de déclenchement thermique à bilame 16 susceptibles d'actionner une serrure 15, pour séparer le contact mobile CM du contact fixe CF consécutivement à un défaut tel qu'une surintensité, un court-circuit ou une surcharge, apparaissant aux bornes 11 et 12.The housing 10 comprises an electromagnetic trip member 13 with a movable active element 14 and a bimetal thermal trip member 16 capable of actuating a lock 15, to separate the movable contact CM from the fixed contact CF following a fault such as a overcurrent, short circuit or overload, appearing at terminals 11 and 12.

Le contact mobile CM est porté par un bras basculeur 20 sans appui fixe par rapport au boîtier: Le chemin de courant établi entre les bornes 11 et 12 quand le disjoncteur est enclenché comprend un conducteur 17a, l'enroulement du déclencheur électromagnétique 13, un conducteur 17b, le contact fixe CF, le contact mobile CM, le bras basculeur 20, un conducteur souple 17c, le bilame 16 et un conducteur 17d.The movable contact CM is carried by a rocker arm 20 without fixed support relative to the housing: The current path established between the terminals 11 and 12 when the circuit breaker is tripped comprises a conductor 17a, the winding of the electromagnetic trip device 13, a conductor 17b, the fixed contact CF, the movable contact CM, the rocker arm 20, a flexible conductor 17c, the bimetallic strip 16 and a conductor 17d.

Un organe de déclenchement volontaire 30 tel qu'une manette pivotante, un bouton-poussoir ou un bouton rotatif est associé à la face avant 18 du boîtier 10 du disjoncteur, en étant relié au bras basculeur 20 par une liaison à genouillère 31. On observera que l'encombrement en profondeur du disjoncteur, c'est-à-dire l'encombrement entre la face avant 18 et une face arrière 19 munie de moyens de fixation sur un support, est réduit du fait de l'agencement des éléments logés dans le boîtier, notamment du fait que le bras basculeur est disposé sensiblement parallèlement au plan de la face 18 au voisinage de celle-ci, en étant relié directement à la manette 30 par une liaison à genouillère 31 de faible hauteur, tandis que la serrure 15 est rejetée latéralement.A voluntary tripping member 30 such as a pivoting lever, a push button or a rotary button is associated with the front face 18 of the case 10 of the circuit breaker, by being connected to the rocker arm 20 by a toggle link 31. It will be observed that the size in depth of the circuit breaker, that is to say the space between the front face 18 and a rear face 19 provided with fixing means on a support, is reduced due to the arrangement of the elements housed in the housing, in particular because the rocking arm is disposed substantially parallel to the plane of the face 18 in the vicinity thereof, while being connected directly to the lever 30 by a toggle link 31 of low height, while the lock 15 is rejected laterally.

Le bras porte-contact 20 est monté basculant de manière flottante pour pivoter sur des axes ou tourillons dont la position par rapport au boîtier est susceptible de varier; il est de plus assujetti à un ressort unique 40 en épingle agencé et monté sur un axe fixe 41, de façon à constituer à la fois un moyen d'ouverture brusque et un moyen de fermeture du contact mobile CM.The contact carrier arm 20 is mounted so as to pivot in a floating manner in order to pivot on axes or trunnions whose position relative to the housing is liable to vary; it is further subject to a single pin spring 40 arranged and mounted on a fixed axis 41, so as to constitute both a sudden opening means and a means of closing the movable contact CM.

Selon l'invention, pour séparer les contacts (flèche F de la figure 1), le bras porte-contact 20 pivote lors d'un déclenchement sur défaut en prenant appui sur une portée 31a du mécanisme à genouillère 31 (figure 3) et lors d'un déclenchement volontaire manuel ou automatique en prenant appui sur une portée 22 de la serrure 15 (figure 4).According to the invention, in order to separate the contacts (arrow F in FIG. 1), the contact-carrying arm 20 pivots when tripping on a fault by resting on a bearing 31a of the toggle mechanism 31 (FIG. 3) and during a manual or automatic voluntary release by relying on a surface 22 of the lock 15 (Figure 4).

Le pivotement s'effectue en cas de défaut autour de la portée 31a par l'abaissement de la portée 22 de la serrure (flèche f1 de la figure 1) sous l'effet du ressort 40; le pivotement s'effectue en cas de déclenchement volontaire autour de la portée 22 restant en position haute (flèche f2 de la figure 1) par la levée du bras au moyen de la portée 31a elle-même soulevée par l'actionnement de la manette sous l'effet du ressort 40 et d'un ressort d'assistance propre à la manette 30.The pivoting takes place in the event of a defect around the range 31a by lowering the range 22 of the lock (arrow f1 in FIG. 1) under the effect of the spring 40; the pivoting takes place in the event of voluntary triggering around the bearing surface 22 remaining in the high position (arrow f2 in FIG. 1) by lifting the arm by means of the bearing surface 31a itself raised by the actuation of the lever under the effect of the spring 40 and of an assistance spring specific to the lever 30.

Plus en détail, le bras porte-contact 20 présente, à une première extrémité 20a, le contact mobile CM et comprend, près de sa partie médiane, une fente de guidage 21 dans laquelle peut coulisser la portée 31 a située à extrémité de la genouillère 31. Le bras 20 est articulé près de sa deuxième extrémité 20b à un levier L1 d'une bielle brisée L1, L2 au moyen d'un tourillon d'axe A1 déterminant la portée 22 précitée; le bras 20 porte, à sa deuxième extrémité 20b, un ergot 23 qui intervient lors du couplage à un appareil voisin comme il sera expliqué plus loin.In more detail, the contact-carrying arm 20 has, at a first end 20a, the movable contact CM and comprises, near its median part, a guide slot 21 in which the bearing 31 a can slide sliding situated at the end of the toggle joint 31. The arm 20 is articulated near its second end 20b to a lever L1 of a broken connecting rod L1, L2 by means of a pin pin A1 determining the above-mentioned bearing 22; the arm 20 carries, at its second end 20b, a lug 23 which intervenes during coupling to a neighboring device as will be explained below.

Le bras porte-contact 20 présente, près du contact CM, une surface oblique 24 contribuant à l'ouverture du contact mobile CM lors d'un processus de déclenchement auquel participe un écran isolant rotatif E parvenant sur cette surface 24 pour s'interposer entre les contacts. Le bras 20 présente enfin vers la surface 18 et près de sa première extrémité 20a, un épaulement 25 susceptible de coopérer avec une butée 26 prévue dans le boîtier.The contact-carrying arm 20 has, near the contact CM, an oblique surface 24 contributing to the opening of the movable contact CM during a tripping process in which a rotary insulating screen E taking part on this surface 24 participates to intervene between contacts. The arm 20 finally has towards the surface 18 and near its first end 20a, a shoulder 25 capable of cooperating with a stop 26 provided in the housing.

Comme on le voit figures 2 et 2a, le ressort en épingle 40 monté sur l'axe 41 possède une première branche 42, dont l'extrémité libre 43 pliée transversalement repose sur le bras porte-contact 20 afin d'exercer sur la zone médiane de celui-ci, une force descendante f4; le ressort 40 possède une deuxième branche 44 sur laquelle la portée 31 a de la genouillère 31 est susceptible de s'appliquer en recevant un effort ascendant f5. L'extrémité libre 45 de la deuxième branche 44 peut venir en butée contre l'extrémité libre transversale 43 de la première branche pour débrayer le ressort, comme il sera expliqué plus loin en regard des figures 3 et 4.As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 2a, the hairpin spring 40 mounted on the axis 41 has a first branch 42, the free end 43 of which is folded transversely and rests on the contact-carrying arm 20 in order to exert on the middle zone from it, a downward force f4; the spring 40 has a second branch 44 on which the bearing 31 a of the toggle 31 is capable of being applied by receiving an upward force f5. The free end 45 of the second branch 44 can abut against the transverse free end 43 of the first branch to disengage the spring, as will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

La manette 30 de déclenchement volontaire est montée pivotante autour d'un axe fixe A2 entre une position d'enclenchement volontaire - à gauche sur les figures 1, 2 et 3-et une position de déclenchement volontaire ou de réarmement manuel après déclenchement sur défaut - à droite sur la figure 4-. La manette est sollicitée de façon classique par un ressort qui tend à la faire pivoter de gauche à droite selon la flèche f6 (figure 4).The lever 30 for voluntary triggering is pivotally mounted about a fixed axis A2 between a position of voluntary engagement - on the left in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 - and a position of voluntary triggering or manual reset after tripping on fault - on the right in figure 4-. The lever is biased in a conventional manner by a spring which tends to rotate it from left to right according to arrow f6 (FIG. 4).

La serrure 15 présente, comme déjà dit, une bielle brisée à deux leviers L1, L2. L'axe A1 d'articulation du bras portecontact 20 sur le levier L1 est susceptible de se déplacer d'une position haute armée (figures 2 et 4) à une position basse de déclenchement (figure 3) en étant guidé dans des moyens venus de moulage avec une paroi latérale du boîtier 10 et décrits plus amplement en regard des figures 5 et 6.The lock 15 has, as already said, a broken connecting rod with two levers L1, L2. The axis A1 of articulation of the contact-carrying arm 20 on the lever L1 is capable of moving from a high armed position (FIGS. 2 and 4) to a low trigger position (FIG. 3) while being guided in means coming from molding with a side wall of the housing 10 and described more fully with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

Le levier L1 comprend une queue 50 sur laquelle peut venir s'appliquer, selon une flèche f7 (figure 2), le bilame 16 en cas de surcharge, afin de provoquer la rupture de la bielle brisée. Il comprend de plus un appui ou une prise 51, par exemple un redan, pour recevoir un élément coopérant, par exemple un pion 52, du levier L2 en position armée; et un logement 53 évasé ménagé entre le redan 51 et la queue 50 pour guider et recevoir le pion 52 dans la position déclenchée (figure 3).The lever L1 comprises a tail 50 on which can be applied, according to an arrow f7 (FIG. 2), the bimetallic strip 16 in the event of overload, in order to cause the rupture of the broken connecting rod. It further comprises a support or a socket 51, for example a step, for receiving a cooperating element, for example a pin 52, of the lever L2 in the armed position; and a flared housing 53 formed between the step 51 and the tail 50 for guiding and receiving the pin 52 in the triggered position (FIG. 3).

Le levier L1 comprend de plus un ergot 54 de positionnement et de guidage contre des conformations venues de moulage avec la paroi latérale du boîtier, un profil 55 prévu pour faciliter le dégagement initial du levier L1 lors d'un déclenchement sur défaut et un épaulement 56 destiné à coopérer avec une pièce de couplage (voir figures 7 et 8).The lever L1 further comprises a lug 54 for positioning and guiding against conformations which have come from molding with the side wall of the housing, a profile 55 provided to facilitate the initial release of the lever L1 during a trip on fault and a shoulder 56 intended to cooperate with a coupling part (see Figures 7 and 8).

Le levier L2 est articulé sur un axe A3 fixe par rapport au boîtier 10 et présente deux bras 57, 58 sensiblement orthogonaux; le bras 57 est associé à l'élément actif mobile 14 du déclencheur électromagnétique 13 qui est, par exemple un noyau, un percuteur ou, dans le présent exemple, une partie de l'écran isolant E de coupure d'arc. Le bras 58 porte à son extrémité le pion 52.The lever L2 is articulated on an axis A3 fixed relative to the housing 10 and has two arms 57, 58 substantially orthogonal; the arm 57 is associated with the mobile active element 14 of the electromagnetic trip device 13 which is, for example a core, a striker or, in the present example, a part of the insulating screen E of arc breaking. The arm 58 carries the pin 52 at its end.

De préférence, les axes A1 et A3 sont alignés avec l'axe A52 du pion 52 en position armée; l'alignement A1, A52, A3 selon une droite X-X (figure 5) est alors obtenu de manière parfaite étant donné que les axes A1 et A3 viennent de moulage avec le boîtier 10 et que l'ergot 54 du levier L1 s'applique en position armée contre une butée également produite au moulage du boîtier.Preferably, the axes A1 and A3 are aligned with the axis A52 of the pin 52 in the armed position; the alignment A1, A52, A3 along a straight line XX (FIG. 5) is then obtained in a perfect manner given that the axes A1 and A3 come from molding with the housing 10 and that the lug 54 of the lever L1 is applied in armed position against a stop also produced by molding the housing.

Il est avantageux que le levier L1 soit métallique et que le levier L2 soit moulé en matière plastique avec insertion d'une aiguille métallique pour former le pion 52 destiné à coopérer avec le redan métallique 51 du levier L1.It is advantageous for the lever L1 to be metallic and for the lever L2 to be molded in plastic material with the insertion of a metallic needle to form the pin 52 intended to cooperate with the metallic step 51 of the lever L1.

Un ressort non indiqué est interposé entre le bras portecontact 20 et le levier L1 pour tendre à faire tourner celui-ci en sens antihoraire autour de l'axe A1 (flèche f8, figure 3). Un ressort de rappel également non figuré est associé au levier L2 pour tendre à le faire pivoter en sens antihoraire autour de A3 (flèche f9, figure 3).A spring not indicated is interposed between the contact-carrying arm 20 and the lever L1 in order to tend to rotate the latter counterclockwise around the axis A1 (arrow f8, FIG. 3). A return spring, also not shown, is associated with the lever L2 in order to tend to rotate it counterclockwise around A3 (arrow f9, FIG. 3).

La figure 3 montre l'appareil de protection en position de déclenchement sur défaut, la bielle brisée étant rompue et le ressort 40 étant débrayé; la figure 4 montre l'appareil en position de déclenchement volontaire, le bras portecontact 20 étant en position appliquée contre la butée 26 du boîtier après soulèvement par la genouillère 31, la bielle brisée L1, L2 restant intacte et le ressort 40 étant encore débrayé.FIG. 3 shows the protective device in the tripped fault position, the broken connecting rod being broken and the spring 40 being disengaged; FIG. 4 shows the device in the voluntary release position, the contact-carrying arm 20 being in the position applied against the stop 26 of the housing after lifting by the toggle joint 31, the broken connecting rod L1, L2 remaining intact and the spring 40 being still disengaged.

La figure 4a montre le guidage de la portée 31 a de la genouillère 31 qui coopère avec le bras 20 contre une rampe 27 à deux nervures moulées dans la paroi du boîtier 10, permettant de dicter la course de la portée 31a entre une position d'enclenchement volontaire 31a1 et une position de déclenchement volontaire ou de réarmement 31a2.FIG. 4a shows the guidance of the bearing 31 a of the toggle joint 31 which cooperates with the arm 20 against a ramp 27 with two ribs molded in the wall of the housing 10, making it possible to dictate the stroke of the bearing 31a between a position of voluntary activation 31a1 and a voluntary triggering or resetting position 31a2.

Les figures 5 et 6 représentent une rampe 60 constituée par une nervure venue de moulage avec une face latérale du boîtier 10. La rampe 60 forme une goulotte évasée en V au moyen d'une branche verticale 60a et d'une branche oblique 60b, de manière à loger et à guider l'axe A1; la rampe 60 comprend également une branche inclinée 60c raccordée à la branche verticale 60a.Figures 5 and 6 show a ramp 60 formed by a rib molded with a side face of the housing 10. The ramp 60 forms a flared V-shaped trough by means of a vertical branch 60a and an oblique branch 60b, so as to accommodate and guide the axis A1; the ramp 60 also includes an inclined branch 60c connected to the vertical branch 60a.

Le pion 52, l'épaisseur de la branche 60a et la position de l'ergot 54 du levier L1 appliqué en butée contre cette branche sous l'effet du couple f8 sont déterminés pour aligner parfaitement, selon X-X en position armée, l'axe A52 du pion 52, l'axe A1 logé au fond du V de la goulotte et l'axe A3.The pin 52, the thickness of the branch 60a and the position of the lug 54 of the lever L1 applied in abutment against this branch under the effect of the torque f8 are determined to perfectly align, along XX in the armed position, the axis A52 of pin 52, axis A1 housed at the bottom of the V of the chute and axis A3.

Lorsque survient un défaut, le levier L2 est poussé en sens horaire (flèche f10, figure 6) et dégage le pion 52- du redan 51 du levier L1, de sorte que celui-ci, entraîné vers le bas par le levier 20, pivote en sens horaire autour de l'axe A1 (flèche f11, figure 6) par l'effet du guidage de l'ergot 54 le long de la branche 60c jusqu'à la position indiquée figure 6; le pion 52 est alors engagé dans le logement évasé 53 du levier L1.When a fault occurs, the lever L2 is pushed clockwise (arrow f10, Figure 6) and releases the pin 52- from the step 51 of the lever L1, so that the latter, driven down by the lever 20, pivots clockwise around the axis A1 (arrow f11, Figure 6) by the effect of the guide of the lug 54 along the branch 60c to the position indicated in Figure 6; the pin 52 is then engaged in the flared housing 53 of the lever L1.

On voit sur les figures 7 et 8 que le levier L1 est associé au moyen d'une pièce de couplage 70 susceptible de pivoter autour d'un axe fixe A4 à un appareil voisin non indiqué de déclenchement ou de signalisation. La pièce de couplage 70 comprend à cet effet une facette 71 susceptible de coopérer avec l'épaulement 56 du levier L1, un doigt d'entraînement 72 conçu pour coopérer avec l'ergot 23 qui est prévu à la deuxième extrémité 20b du bras porte-contact 20, ainsi qu'un ergot 73 en saillie transversale dans une fenêtre 28 prévue dans une face latérale du boîtier à titre de moyen d'entrée ou de sortie.It can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8 that the lever L1 is associated by means of a coupling piece 70 capable of pivoting around a fixed axis A4 with a neighboring device not indicated for triggering or signaling. The coupling piece 70 for this purpose comprises a facet 71 capable of cooperating with the shoulder 56 of the lever L1, a drive finger 72 designed to cooperate with the lug 23 which is provided at the second end 20b of the support arm contact 20, as well as a lug 73 projecting transversely into a window 28 provided in a side face of the housing as an input or output means.

Lors d'un déclenchement sur défaut affectant la serrure 15, l'ensemble levier L1-extrémité du bras 20 descend (flèche f1, figure 8) sous l'effet principalement du ressort 40; et l'ergot 23 entraîne via le doigt 72 la pièce de couplage 70 qui, dès lors, pivote en sens horaire (flèche f12, figure 8); l'ergot de couplage 73 se déplace vers l'extrémité supérieure de la fenêtre 28 et actionne un organe de couplage correspondant de l'appareil voisin.When a fault occurs affecting the lock 15, the lever L1-end of the arm 20 assembly descends (arrow f1, FIG. 8) mainly under the effect of the spring 40; and the lug 23 drives via the finger 72 the coupling part 70 which, therefore, pivots clockwise (arrow f12, FIG. 8); the coupling lug 73 moves towards the upper end of the window 28 and actuates a corresponding coupling member of the neighboring device.

Lorsque l'appareil voisin déclenche sur défaut, il peut soulever l'ergot 73 en sens horaire à partir de la position de la figure 7, de sorte que la pièce de couplage 70 tourne selon la flèche f12 et ce faisant entraîne par la facette 71 appliquée contre l'épaulement 56, le pivotement du levier L1 et la rupture de la bielle brisée.When the neighboring device trips on fault, it can lift the lug 73 clockwise from the position in FIG. 7, so that the coupling piece 70 rotates according to the arrow f12 and in doing so drives by the facet 71 applied against the shoulder 56, the pivoting of the lever L1 and the breaking of the broken connecting rod.

Le disjoncteur représenté sur les figures fonctionne de la manière suivante:The circuit breaker shown in the figures works as follows:

Dans la position enclenchée des figures 1 et 2, le bras porte-contact 20 est disposé sensiblement parallèlement à la face avant 18 du disjoncteur et la manette 30 occupe la position d'enclenchement à gauche sur les figures. Le contact mobile CM est appliqué sur le contact fixe CF sous l'effet de l'effort produit par le ressort 40 selon la flèche f4, tandis que l'extrémité 20b du bras porte-contact est en appui sur la portée 22 de la serrure 15 dont les leviers L1, L2 sont en position déployée.In the engaged position of Figures 1 and 2, the contact carrier arm 20 is disposed substantially parallel to the front face 18 of the circuit breaker and the handle 30 occupies the engaged position on the left in the figures. The movable contact CM is applied to the fixed contact CF under the effect of the force produced by the spring 40 according to the arrow f4, while the end 20b of the contact carrier arm is in contact with the bearing surface 22 of the lock 15 whose levers L1, L2 are in the deployed position.

Lorsqu'il se produit une surintensité ou un court-circuit, l'élément 14 de sortie du déclencheur magnétique 13 pousse le bras 57 du levier L2 et provoque une rotation horaire de ce levier. Le pion 52 du bras 58 de même levier est donc chassé vers la droite, de sorte que le levier L1 est libéré et permet à l'extrémité 20b du bras porte- contact de descendre. Il convient de noter que dans un premier temps très bref le bras pivote autour du contact mobile pour que l'extrémité supérieure de la fente de guidage 21 vienne en butée contre la portée 31a de la genouillère 31. Dès lors, le bras 20 peut pivoter en sens horaire autour de la portée 31 a, les extrémités 20a, 20b du bras venant dans la position indiquée figure 3. Le ressort 40 est alors débrayé puisque ses branches 42 et 44 sont désormais en appui réciproque.When an overcurrent or a short circuit occurs, the output element 14 of the magnetic trip device 13 pushes the arm 57 of the lever L2 and causes a clockwise rotation of this lever. The pin 52 of the arm 58 of the same lever is therefore driven to the right, so that the lever L1 is released and allows the end 20b of the contact carrier arm to descend. It should be noted that at first very briefly the arm pivots around the movable contact so that the upper end of the guide slot 21 abuts against the bearing 31a of the toggle joint 31. Therefore, the arm 20 can pivot clockwise around the bearing 31 a, the ends 20a, 20b of the arm coming in the position indicated in FIG. 3. The spring 40 is then disengaged since its branches 42 and 44 are now in mutual support.

Pour passer de la position déployée des figures 1 et 2 à la position rétractée de la figure 3, la bielle brisée évolue de la manière suivante. Dès que le pion 52 s'est dégagé du redan 51, le levier L1 glisse par sa surface 55 sur l'axe A4. La descente déjà décrite de l'axe A1 entraîne le dégagement de la surface 55 à partir de l'axe A4. L'ergot 54, jusque là en butée contre la branche 60a de la nervure 60 du boîtier, descend sur la partie de rampe oblique 60c de cette nervure et contraint le levier L1 à pivoter en sens horaire. Du fait du pivotement horaire simultané du levier L2 autour de l'axe A3 et de la présence du logement évasé 53 dans le levier L1, le pion 52 vient au fond de ce logement (figure 3).To pass from the deployed position of FIGS. 1 and 2 to the retracted position of FIG. 3, the broken connecting rod evolves as follows. As soon as the pin 52 is released from the step 51, the lever L1 slides by its surface 55 on the axis A4. The already described descent from the axis A1 leads to the release of the surface 55 from the axis A4. The lug 54, hitherto in abutment against the branch 60a of the rib 60 of the housing, descends on the oblique ramp portion 60c of this rib and constrains the lever L1 to pivot clockwise. Due to the simultaneous time pivoting of the lever L2 around the axis A3 and the presence of the flared housing 53 in the lever L1, the pin 52 comes to the bottom of this housing (Figure 3).

En cas de surcharge, le mouvement du bras 20 est le même que celui qui vient d'être décrit, mais c'est le levier L1 qui provoque la rétraction de la serrure. Le bilame 16 actionne en effet la queue 50 du levier L1 selon la flèche f7 et contraint le levier à pivoter en sens horaire pour dégager le redan 51 à partir du pion 52.In the event of an overload, the movement of the arm 20 is the same as that which has just been described, but it is the lever L1 which causes the retraction of the lock. The bimetallic strip 16 in fact actuates the tail 50 of the lever L1 according to the arrow f7 and constrains the lever to pivot clockwise to release the step 51 from the pin 52.

Lors d'un déclenchement volontaire, manuel ou automatique, la manette 30 passe de la position des figures 1 et 2 à celle de la figure 4. Dans un premier temps, la genouillère dépasse son point mort et la portée 31a vient prendre appui contre l'extrémité supérieure de la fente de guidage 21; la branche 44 du ressort 40 exerce alors sur la portée 31a un effort confirmant la rotation de la manette selon la flèche f6, tandis que la branche 42 du même ressort continue d'exercer son effort selon f4 sur le bras 20.During a voluntary, manual or automatic triggering, the lever 30 passes from the position of FIGS. 1 and 2 to that of FIG. 4. At first, the toggle exceeds its neutral point and the bearing 31a comes to bear against the 'upper end of the guide slot 21; the branch 44 of the spring 40 then exerts on the bearing 31a an effort confirming the rotation of the lever according to the arrow f6, while the branch 42 of the same spring continues to exert its force along f4 on the arm 20.

L'extrémité 20b du bras 20 prenant appui sur la portée 22 d'axe A1 maintenue fixe, la poursuite de la rotation de la manette produit donc l'ouverture du contact-mobile. Le ressort 40 débraye par butée de sa branche 44 contre sa branche 42 et le mouvement de la manette 30 et du bras 20 sous l'effet du ressort propre à la manette s'effectue jusqu'à l'application de l'épaulement 25 prévu à extrémité 20a du bras contre la butée 25.The end 20b of the arm 20 resting on the bearing 22 of axis A1 kept fixed, the continued rotation of the lever therefore produces the opening of the contact-mobile. The spring 40 disengages by stop of its branch 44 against its branch 42 and the movement of the lever 30 and of the arm 20 under the effect of the spring specific to the lever takes place until the application of the shoulder 25 provided at end 20a of the arm against the stop 25.

Le réenclenchement du disjoncteur, à partir de la position de la figure 4, a lieu par rotation de la manette 30 en sens antihoraire. La portée 31a a vient s'appliquer contre la branche 44 du ressort 40; cette branche se dégage de l'autre branche 42 qui, dès lors, peut exercer sur le bras 20 l'effort souhaité de fermeture. Le bras porte-contact pivote en sens antihoraire autour de la portée 22 d'axe A4 et le contact mobile s'applique et reste appliqué sur le contact fixe par le ressort 40.The reclosing of the circuit breaker, from the position of FIG. 4, takes place by rotation of the handle 30 counterclockwise. The bearing 31a has applied against the branch 44 of the spring 40; this branch emerges from the other branch 42 which, therefore, can exert on the arm 20 the desired closing force. The contact-carrying arm pivots counterclockwise around the bearing 22 of axis A4 and the movable contact is applied and remains applied to the fixed contact by the spring 40.

Après déclenchement sur défaut, le réarmement est automatique; les éléments de l'appareil occupant la position indiquée figure 3, la manette est amenée vers la droite, de sorte qu'après dépassement du point mort de la genouillère 31, la portée 31a a soulève le bras porte-contact jusqu'à l'arrêt de l'épaulement 25 du bras contre la butée 26 du boîtier. La poursuite de la rotation de la manette vers la droite détermine un pivotement antihoraire du bras autour du point d'appui épaulement 25/butée 26. La bielle brisée se déploie sous l'effet du ressort faisant pivoter L2 selon la flèche f9 et du ressort faisant pivoter L1 selon la flèche f8. L'ergot 54 du levier L1 remonte en glissant le long de la partie de rampe 60c et vient contre la butée verticale 60a, de sorte que le pion 52 se positionne dans le redan 51 sur l'axe X-X. La bielle est alors armée.After tripping on fault, resetting is automatic; the elements of the apparatus occupying the position indicated in FIG. 3, the lever is brought to the right, so that after passing the neutral point of the toggle joint 31, the reach 31a has raised the contact carrier arm up to the stop of the shoulder 25 of the arm against the stop 26 of the housing. The continued rotation of the lever to the right determines a counterclockwise pivoting of the arm around the shoulder support point 25 / stop 26. The broken connecting rod deploys under the effect of the spring making L2 pivot according to arrow f9 and of the spring rotating L1 according to arrow f8. The lug 54 of the lever L1 rises by sliding along the ramp part 60c and comes against the vertical stop 60a, so that the pin 52 is positioned in the step 51 on the axis X-X. The connecting rod is then armed.

Claims (9)

1. In a protective switching apparatus of the circuit breaker kind, comprising in an insulating case (10) an interruptible current path in which are disposed cooperating contacts, one of which is fixed (CF) and the other of which is mobile (CM) in response, either to the actuation of a member tripping on a fault of electromagnetic (13) and/or thermal (16) origin via a lock (15), or to the actuation of a voluntary tripping and resetting member (30) such as a lever via a toggle joint mechanism (31), said mobile contact (CM) being disposed at a first end (20a) of a contact holder arm (20) whose second end (20b) is associated with a retractable fulcrum forming the output member of the lock (15), said contact holder arm (20) being subjected to the action of a resilient quick opening and closure means and being mounted without fixed fulcrum point so as to pivot either by bearing on a bearing surface (31a) of the toggle joint mechanism (31), during tripping on a fault, or on a bearing surface (22) of the retractable fulcrum of the lock (15) during voluntary manual or automatic tripping, said resilient quick opening and closure means being applicable on the one hand, against said contact holder arm (20) at a point thereof situated between its second end (20b) and its bearing point on said toggle joint mechanism (31), characterized in that said resilient quick opening and closure means is applicable on the other hand against the toggle joint mechanism (31), said member being formed by a single torsion hairpin or blade spring (40) which comprises a first leg (44) bearing against the toggle joint mechanism (31) and a second leg (42) bearing against said contact holder arm (20) in the direction of an opening in the case of tripping on a fault, said spring (40) being disengageable at the end of the opening of said mobile contact (CM).
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the disengagement of said spring (40) occurs at the end of opening of the mobile contact (CM) by abutment of its first leg (44) against its second leg (42).
3. The apparatus as claimed in one of the claims 1 and 2, in which said case (10) has a guide ramp (27) dictating the travel of the end (31a) of said toggle joint mechanism during manual or automatic tripping or resetting, characterized in that said contact holder arm (20) has a guide means (21) allowing deflection of the end (31a) of said toggle joint mechanism (31).
4. The apparatus as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said lock (15) comprises a broken link with two levers (L1, L2) in mutual astable engagement and said contact holder arm (2) is pivotably mounted at its second end (20b) by means of a pin (A1) to the first lever (L1) of the link whereas the second lever (L2) of the link is mounted for pivoting with respect to a fixed pin (A3) of the case, said broken link being subjected to the fault tripping member, the first lever (L1) of said broken link comprising a tail (50), urgeable by a thermal tripping element (16), the second lever (L2) of said broken link comprising an arm (57) urgeable by an electromagnetic tripping element (14).
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that said first lever (L1) is provided with a positioning stud (54) cooperating with a stop on the case (10) as well as a fulcrum (51) for a pin (52) associated with the second lever (12), so that in the set position of the broken link (L1, L2), the axis (A52) of said pin is aligned with the axis (X-X) joining together the pin (A1) of the first lever and the fixed pin (A3) for pivoting of the second lever (L2) with respect to the case (10).
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said positioning stud (54) cooperates during tripping on a fault with a ramp part (60c) allowing said first lever (L1) to free itself from the thermal tripping element (16).
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said first lever (L1) is provided with a profile (55) disposed opposite the fulcrum (51) with respect to the pin (A1) of the first lever and bearing as soon as tripping begins on a bearing surface (A4) fixed with respect to the case.
8. The apparatus as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said second lever (L2) of the broken link cooperates with an insulating rotary screen placed between the fixed contact (CF) and the mobile contact (CM) during tripping, said contact holder arm (20) having an inclined surface (24) which may be struck by the screen.
9. The apparatus as claimed in one of the claims 5 to 8, characterized in that one of the first levers of the broken link (L1, L2) is made from a plastic material and has an inserted metal needle forming said pin (52), the other lever of the link being made from metal.
EP85402351A 1984-12-13 1985-11-29 Protective switching device Expired EP0188143B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8419043 1984-12-13
FR8419043A FR2574987B1 (en) 1984-12-13 1984-12-13 PROTECTIVE SWITCHING APPARATUS

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0188143A1 EP0188143A1 (en) 1986-07-23
EP0188143B1 true EP0188143B1 (en) 1988-09-14

Family

ID=9310546

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP85402351A Expired EP0188143B1 (en) 1984-12-13 1985-11-29 Protective switching device

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US4677406A (en)
EP (1) EP0188143B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS61143919A (en)
BR (1) BR8506262A (en)
DE (1) DE3565023D1 (en)
ES (1) ES8702080A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2574987B1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES8702080A1 (en) 1986-12-01
DE3565023D1 (en) 1988-10-20
EP0188143A1 (en) 1986-07-23
US4677406A (en) 1987-06-30
BR8506262A (en) 1986-08-26
FR2574987B1 (en) 1987-04-24
JPS61143919A (en) 1986-07-01
FR2574987A1 (en) 1986-06-20
ES549930A0 (en) 1986-12-01

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