EP0252786B1 - Circuit breaker with two switching circuits, one of which is protected - Google Patents

Circuit breaker with two switching circuits, one of which is protected Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0252786B1
EP0252786B1 EP87401321A EP87401321A EP0252786B1 EP 0252786 B1 EP0252786 B1 EP 0252786B1 EP 87401321 A EP87401321 A EP 87401321A EP 87401321 A EP87401321 A EP 87401321A EP 0252786 B1 EP0252786 B1 EP 0252786B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
face
switching
switching circuit
case
symmetry
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.)
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EP87401321A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0252786A1 (en
Inventor
Dominique Beurdeley
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Telemecanique SA
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La Telemecanique Electrique SA
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Priority to AT87401321T priority Critical patent/ATE67343T1/en
Publication of EP0252786A1 publication Critical patent/EP0252786A1/en
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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
    • H01H71/002—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00 with provision for switching the neutral conductor

Definitions

  • the trigger lever is connected to a separate contact piece by means of a spring constituting, on the one hand, an elastic transmission link between the lever and the contact piece and contributing, on the other hand hand, at the abrupt opening of the contact piece.
  • the advantage of this device lies in its great simplicity of design and assembly and in its very small footprint, in particular a module of width less than 17.5 mm.
  • the object of the invention is more particularly to include in a device of this kind fitted or not with the lock described above and without significantly increasing the dimensions of the housing, a second unprotected switching circuit but the movable contact of which is actuated by the automatic tripping device associated with the other switching circuit or by the manual control unit, it being understood that this result must be obtained with as good electrical insulation as possible between the two switching circuits.
  • the two connection members between the two respective switching devices and the corresponding terminals are constituted by flexible braids situated in planes parallel to the partition, and rising above the latter to reach the insulating arms contacts. This results in an insulation fault in the vicinity of the arcing zone, the most sensitive to the pollution generated by it in the event of a short circuit.
  • the coil of the magnetic trip device which is traversed by an intense current, is located in the upper free volume and therefore does not benefit from the insulation conferred by the wall.
  • a circuit breaker comprising a housing having, on the one hand, a first and a second front faces parallel to a median plane of symmetry and slightly spaced from each other and, on the other hand, perpendicular to said plane of symmetry, a fixing face, a front face opposite to the fixing face and equipped with a manual control member and a first and a second opposite side faces each equipped with a pair of terminals arranged on either side of said median plane of symmetry and respectively connected to the two switching circuits.
  • This housing is formed of first and second half-housings substantially symmetrical with respect to the median plane of symmetry and each comprising the two terminals of the same switching circuit.
  • the aforesaid partition comprises in a zone located opposite the front face of the housing, at least one notch freeing, between the two front faces of the housing, a free volume containing at least partially the above-mentioned triggering device and its mechanical connections. with the automatic trip device on fault and the manual trip and reset control device.
  • the two movable contact elements of the two switch devices are mounted to rotate on either side of the said first portion of the partition, around a same axis of rotation perpendicular to the median plane of symmetry and are actuated by two springs. respective serving as elastic transmission links between the release device and the two movable contact elements.
  • This box is obtained by assembling two half-boxes 10, 11 which are substantially symmetrical with respect to the median plane of symmetry YY ⁇ and which each therefore comprise a front face 1, 2 as well as portions of the fixing face 3 of the front face 5 and side faces 8, 9, complementary to those of the other half-housing.
  • Each half-housing 10, 11 comprises, opening onto the two lateral faces 8, 9, the two terminals B11, B12 - B21, B22 which serve for the connection of the circuit breaker with external circuits.
  • the terminals B11, B12 are assigned to the protected switching circuit while the terminals B21, B22 are assigned to the unprotected switching circuit.
  • This housing further comprises, in its lower part, an internal partition 13 of an electrically insulating material which extends from one lateral face 8, 9 to the other, contiguous to the fixing face 3.
  • This partition 13 is in particular visible in Figures 2 and 4 and its outline has been drawn in thick lines in Figure 3.
  • This partition has lateral edges 14, 15 and a lower edge 16 of suitable shape to come together respectively on the lateral faces 8, 9 and on the fixing face 3, at the junction between the two half-housings 1 , 2.
  • this structure makes it possible to obtain optimal use of the interior volume of the housing for the implantation of the two switching circuits and of the mechanism associated with them, as well as perfect electrical insulation between these two circuits. .
  • volume VO1 contains the switch device of the protected switching circuit which is illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • This switch device comprises a movable contact element P12 in the form of a lever, the two arms 23, 24 of which form an acute angle and which is pivotally mounted, at its angular region, around an axis of rotation.
  • XX ⁇ perpendicular to the plane of symmetry YY ⁇ .
  • This movable contact P12 is electrically connected to a conductive part P11 which ensures its connection to the terminal B11.
  • This movable contact element P12 cooperates, by the end of the arm 24 which carries the movable contact C11, with a fixed contact element C12 connected to the terminal B12 via a protection circuit comprising a magnetic trip device DM and a thermal trip device DT, both partially housed in volume VO3.
  • this volume VO3 makes it possible to contain, without having to increase the width of the case, the coil of the magnetic trigger DM which is relatively bulky and whose width can now be close to that - d - of the case.
  • the volume VO2 contains the switch device of the unprotected switching circuit which is visible in FIG. 3.
  • This switch device itself comprises a movable contact element P22 in the form of a lever, similar in shape to that of the element P12 and which is mounted to rotate about the same axis of rotation XX ⁇ as the latter.
  • this movable contact P contact is electrically connected to a conductive part P conduct which ensures its connection to the terminal B21. It cooperates, by the end of the arm 24 ⁇ which carries the movable contact C21, with a fixed contact element C22 connected to the terminal B22 via of a flat conductive part P23 passing through the intermediate volume comprised between the partition portion 18 and the front face 2.
  • the switch devices P12, C11, C12 and P22, C21, C22 are associated with the same actuation mechanism which makes it possible to separate the movable contacts C11, C21 from the fixed contacts C12, C22 in response to the detection of an electrical fault via DM or DT triggers or, respectively in response to a manual command.
  • This actuation mechanism is essentially housed in the upper volume of the VO4 box which is not divided by the partition 13, in particular thanks to a notch provided in the upper part thereof.
  • the output element of the triggering means is a hook 32 rotatably mounted about an axis 02 fixed relative to the housing and cooperating by a fork 33 with a stock 34.
  • the stock 34 is located at the end of a core plunger 35 of the magnetic trip device DM.
  • the hook 32 further cooperates by means of a finger 36 with a deformable bimetal lever 37 of the thermal trip device DT.
  • the actuation mechanism further comprises a trigger lever 38 in the form of a pendulum made of insulating material.
  • the lever 38 is directly mounted on a tenon 39 of the manual member M and has, for this purpose, a slide 40 slightly inclined with respect to the front face 5 of the housing and cooperating with said tenon 39.
  • the lever 38 comprises, at a first end, a spoiler 42 resting on a support 43 of the hook 32, this support being erasable as a result of the pivoting of the hook 32 to allow tilting lever 38 in response to an electrical fault detected by the DM or DT trigger.
  • the lever 38 comprises, towards its second open end or head 44, a guide groove 45 substantially perpendicular to the front face 5 and cooperating with a guide pin 46 formed in the housing.
  • a guide groove 45 substantially perpendicular to the front face 5 and cooperating with a guide pin 46 formed in the housing.
  • two support or anchor points 47, 47 ⁇ of two respective springs R1, R ⁇ 1 are provided in a V-shaped pin.
  • the branches 48, 48 ⁇ of the springs R1, R ⁇ 1 are applied to the anchoring points 47, 47 ⁇ to tend to tilt the lever 38 clockwise; the branches 49, 49 ⁇ of the springs R1, R ⁇ 1 are in turn fixed in rotation on two respective pins 50 a , 50 b formed on the conductive parts P11, P21.
  • branches 49, 49 ⁇ are applied at their ends to two closing supports 51, 51 ⁇ provided on the movable contact elements P12, P22 located on the side opposite the arms 23, 24 - 23 ⁇ , 24 ⁇ relative to the axis XX ⁇ and can come to apply near the tip of the V, on two respective opening supports 56, 56 ⁇ provided at the end of the arms 23, 23 ⁇ .
  • the direction of rotation of the contact elements C11, C21 depends on the application of the differential force of the branches 49, 49 ⁇ on one or the other respective supports 51, 51 ⁇ ; 56, 56 ⁇ , this being a function of the position of the anchor points 47, 47 ⁇ of the branches 48, 48 ⁇ .
  • pin 39 is located opposite the manual grip 7 of the control button M relative to axis 01 and at a distance from this axis allowing amplification of the effort.
  • a return spring 54 is associated with the button M to assist the latter during a manual opening command and to call it back to the "stop" position during a trip on fault.
  • the magnetic trip device DM comprises a spring 66 urging the core 35 so that the stick 34 of the latter recalls the finger of the hook 32 in the armed position.
  • the hook 32 constitutes a spreader interposed between the magnetic core 35 and the bimetallic strip 37 so that the beginning of deflection of the bimetallic strip 37 causes a very slight counterclockwise pivoting of the hook 32 and therefore a slight plunge of the core 35. In this way, the DM trigger trigger intensity threshold is lowered; an overload detected by the bimetallic strip 37 of the thermal trip device therefore results in greater sensitivity of the magnetic trip device.

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  • Breakers (AREA)
  • Burglar Alarm Systems (AREA)
  • Keying Circuit Devices (AREA)
  • Driving Mechanisms And Operating Circuits Of Arc-Extinguishing High-Tension Switches (AREA)

Abstract

This circuit breaker comprises, housed inside an insulating casing (1, 2), two switching circuits comprising two respective switches (P12, C12-P22, C22) actuated either by a device (DM, DT) for triggering on a malfunction in current, or by a manual control. The casing (1, 2) is divided inside by a partition (13) which extends from one side face (8) to the other (9) and comprises a first flat portion (17) which extends in the central plane of symmetry (YY'), and delimits two volumes (VO1 and VO2) housing the two switches respectively, and a second, offset, flat portion (18) which delimits, on one side, a space of small width through which passes a conductive part (P23) connected to the switch (P22, C22) and a third volume (VO3) housing the device (DM, DT) which triggers on a malfunction. This circuit breaker comes in a modular form with small dimensions. <IMAGE>

Description

DISJONCTEUR A DEUX CIRCUITS DE COMMUTATION DONT L'UN EST PROTEGE. CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH TWO SWITCHING CIRCUITS OF WHICH ONE IS PROTECTED .

La présente invention concerne un disjoncteur du type comprenant, logés à l'intérieur d'un même boîtier isolant modulaire, deux circuits de commutation comprenant chacun un dispositif interrupteur à contacts fixe et mobile, ces deux circuits formant deux chemins de courant respectifs interruptibles grâce à un dispositif de déclenchement commandé :

  • soit par au moins un organe de déclenchement automatique sur défaut, par exemple magnétique et/ou thermique,
  • soit par un organe de commande manuelle de déclenchement et de réarmement.
The present invention relates to a circuit breaker of the type comprising, housed inside a single modular insulating housing, two switching circuits each comprising a switching device with fixed and movable contacts, these two circuits forming two respective current paths interruptible by virtue of a controlled trip device:
  • either by at least one automatic tripping device on fault, for example magnetic and / or thermal,
  • either by a manual triggering and resetting control member.

Elle a plus particulièrement pour objet un disjoncteur du type susdit dans lequel un seul des deux circuits, affecté de préférence au courant de phase d'un réseau monophasé est protégé en ce sens qu'il provoque, à la suite d'un défaut de courant qui le traverse, l'actionnement de l'organe de déclenchement automatique et, en conséquence, l'ouverture des deux interrupteurs.It more particularly relates to a circuit breaker of the above type in which only one of the two circuits, preferably assigned to the phase current of a single-phase network is protected in the sense that it causes, following a current fault which passes through it, the actuation of the automatic tripping member and, consequently, the opening of the two switches.

D'une manière générale, on sait que dans la gamme des appareils modulaires de faibles dimensions, il existe déjà des interrupteurs de protection ne comprenant qu'un seul circuit de commutation, celui-ci étant protégé de la façon précédemment décrite.Generally, we know that in the range of small modular devices, there are already protection switches comprising only one switching circuit, the latter being protected in the manner previously described.

Ainsi, par exemple, dans l'appareil interrupteur faisant l'objet de la demande de brevet FR-A-85 13942 déposée le 20 Septembre 1985 pour : "Interrupteur de protection à biellette élastique", au nom de la Demanderesse, l'actionnement du contact mobile est assuré grâce à une serrure comprenant :

  • un crochet déplaçable par l'organe de déclenchement automatique,
  • un levier de déclenchement muni à une première extrémité d'un becquet coopérant avec le crochet et relié à l'organe de commande manuelle, de manière à pivoter, soit en prenant appui sur le crochet pour effectuer une ouverture volontaire des contacts, soit sur un axe déplaçable relié à l'organe de commande manuelle pour effectuer un déclenchement automatique.
Thus, for example, in the switch device which is the subject of patent application FR-A-85 13942 filed on September 20, 1985 for: "Protective switch with elastic link", in the name of the Applicant, the actuation mobile contact is ensured by a lock comprising:
  • a hook movable by the automatic triggering member,
  • a trigger lever provided at one end with a spoiler cooperating with the hook and connected to the manual control member, so as to pivot, either by bearing on the hook to effect voluntary opening of the contacts, or on a movable axis connected to the manual control member to carry out an automatic release.

Dans cet exemple de réalisation, le levier de déclenchement est relié à une pièce de contact séparée au moyen d'un ressort constituant, d'une part, une biellette élastique de transmission entre le levier et la pièce de contact et contribuant, d'autre part, à l'ouverture brusque de la pièce de contact.In this embodiment, the trigger lever is connected to a separate contact piece by means of a spring constituting, on the one hand, an elastic transmission link between the lever and the contact piece and contributing, on the other hand hand, at the abrupt opening of the contact piece.

L'avantage de ce dispositif réside dans sa grande simplicité de conception et d'assemblage et dans son très faible encombrement, notamment un module de largeur inférieure à 17,5 mm.The advantage of this device lies in its great simplicity of design and assembly and in its very small footprint, in particular a module of width less than 17.5 mm.

L'invention a plus particulièrement pour but d'inclure dans un appareil de ce genre équipé ou non de la serrure précédemment décrite et sans accroître notablement les dimensions du boîtier, un deuxième circuit de commutation non protégé mais dont le contact mobile est actionné par l'organe de déclenchement automatique sur défaut associé à l'autre circuit de commutation ou par l'organe de commande manuelle, étant entendu que ce résultat doit être obtenu avec une isolation électrique aussi bonne que possible entre les deux circuits de commutation.The object of the invention is more particularly to include in a device of this kind fitted or not with the lock described above and without significantly increasing the dimensions of the housing, a second unprotected switching circuit but the movable contact of which is actuated by the automatic tripping device associated with the other switching circuit or by the manual control unit, it being understood that this result must be obtained with as good electrical insulation as possible between the two switching circuits.

Un tel but est également recherché dans le brevet FR-A-2 485 254 (MERLIN GERIN) qui décrit un disjoncteur comprenant, logés à l'intérieur d'un même boîtier isolant modulaire, deux circuits de commutation, à savoir : un circuit de commutation protégé et un circuit de commutation non protégé, ces deux circuits comprenant chacun un dispositif interrupteur à contacts fixe et mobile, ces deux circuits formant deux chemins de courant respectifs interruptibles grâce à un dispositif de déclenchement commandé, soit par au moins un organe de déclenchement automatique sur défaut de courant traversant l'un des circuits lequel comprend un déclencheur magnétique, soit par un organe de commande manuelle de déclenchement et de réarmement, ledit boîtier comprenant, d'une part, une première et une deuxième faces frontales parallèles à un plan médian de symétrie et faiblement distantes l'une de l'autre et, d'autre part, perpendiculairement audit plan de symétrie, une face de fixation, une face avant opposée à la face de fixation et équipée d'un organe de commande manuelle et une première et une deuxième faces latérales opposées, équipées chacune d'une paire de bornes disposées de part et d'autre dudit plan médian de symétrie et respectivement connectées aux deux circuits de commutation, ledit boîtier étant formé d'une première et d'une deuxième demi-coquilles sensiblement symétriques par rapport au plan médian de symétrie et contenant chacune les deux bornes d'un même circuit de commutation, le volume interne du boîtier étant divisé par une cloison en un matériau électriquement isolant qui s'étend de la première à la deuxième face latérale, cette cloison délimitant deux chambres de coupure contenant respectivement les contacts du circuit de commutation protégé et du circuit de commutation non protégé, et, dans une zone située en regard de la face avant du boîtier, un volume libre non divisé par la cloison et qui renferme au moins partiellement le susdit dispositif de déclenchement et ses liaisons mécaniques avec l'organe de déclenchement automatique sur défaut et l'organe de commande de déclenchement et de réarmement.Such an aim is also sought in patent FR-A-2 485 254 (MERLIN GERIN) which describes a circuit breaker comprising, housed inside the same modular insulating housing, two switching circuits, namely: a circuit for protected switching and an unprotected switching circuit, these two circuits each comprising a switching device with fixed and movable contacts, these two circuits forming two respective current paths interruptible by means of a triggering device controlled, either by at least one triggering member automatic on current fault crossing one of the circuits which includes a magnetic trip device, either by a manual trip and reset control member, said box comprising, on the one hand, a first and a second front faces parallel to a plane median of symmetry and slightly distant from each other and, on the other hand, perpendicular to said plane of symmetry, one face fixing, a front face opposite to the fixing face and equipped with a manual control member and a first and a second opposite lateral faces, each equipped with a pair of terminals arranged on either side of said median plane of symmetry and respectively connected to the two switching circuits, said housing being formed of first and second half-shells substantially symmetrical with respect to the median plane of symmetry and each containing the two terminals of the same switching circuit, the internal volume of the housing being divided by a partition made of an electrically insulating material which extends from the first to the second lateral face, this partition delimiting two breaking chambers containing respectively the contacts of the protected switching circuit and of the unprotected switching circuit , and, in an area located opposite the front face of the housing, a free volume not divided by the partition and which contains at least partially the aforementioned triggering device and its mechanical connections with the automatic triggering device on fault and the triggering and resetting control member.

Dans ce disjoncteur, les deux organes de connexion entre les deux dispositifs interrupteurs respectifs et les bornes correspondantes sont constitués par des tresses souples situées dans des plans parallèles à la cloison, et remontant au-dessus de celle-ci pour atteindre les bras isolants porte-contacts. Il en résulte un défaut d'isolement au voisinage de la zone de formation d'arc, la plus sensible aux pollutions engendrées par celui-ci en cas de court-circuit. En outre, la bobine du déclencheur magnétique, laquelle est parcourue par un courant intense, est située dans le volume libre supérieur et ne bénéficie donc pas de l'isolement conféré par la paroi.In this circuit breaker, the two connection members between the two respective switching devices and the corresponding terminals are constituted by flexible braids situated in planes parallel to the partition, and rising above the latter to reach the insulating arms contacts. This results in an insulation fault in the vicinity of the arcing zone, the most sensitive to the pollution generated by it in the event of a short circuit. In addition, the coil of the magnetic trip device, which is traversed by an intense current, is located in the upper free volume and therefore does not benefit from the insulation conferred by the wall.

L'invention supprime ces inconvénients et assure un isolement parfait de tous les organes susceptibles d'être parcourus par un courant intense au moyen d'un disjoncteur tel que défini ci-dessus, caractérisé en ce que ladite cloison comprend :

  • une première portion plane, raccordée à la première face latérale du boîtier et qui s'étend dans le plan médian de symétrie, en délimitant avec la première demi-coquille un premier volume logeant le dispositif interrupteur du premier circuit de commutation et, avec la deuxième demicoquille, un deuxième volume symétrique du premier et logeant le dispositif interrupteur du deuxième circuit, lesdits dispositifs interrupteurs étant respectivement connectés aux deux bornes équipant la première face latérale du boîtier,
  • une deuxième portion plane, substantiellement déportée par rapport audit plan médian, du côté de la face frontale de la deuxième demi-coquille, et raccordée à la première portion par un premier décrochement, cette deuxième portion s'étendant parallèlement à la face frontale de la deuxième demi-coquille, en délimitant avec celle-ci un espace intercalaire par lequel passe une pièce conductrice plate assurant la connexion électrique entre le dispositif interrupteur et la borne correspondante du deuxième circuit de commutation qui équipe la deuxième face latérale du boîtier, la largeur dudit espace intercalaire correspondant à l'epaisseur de ladite pièce conductrice plate, ladite deuxième portion délimitant en outre, avec la face frontale de la première demi-coquille un troisième volume logeant la bobine du déclencheur magnétique, connectée d'une part au contact fixe du dispositif interrupteur et d'autre part à la borne équipant la deuxième face latérale du premier circuit de commutation.
The invention eliminates these drawbacks and ensures perfect isolation of all the members liable to be traversed by an intense current by means of a circuit breaker as defined above, characterized in that said partition comprises:
  • a first flat portion, connected to the first lateral face of the housing and which extends in the median plane of symmetry, delimiting with the first half-shell a first volume housing the switch device of the first switching circuit and, with the second half-shell, a second symmetrical volume of the first and housing the switch device of the second circuit, said switch devices being respectively connected to the two terminals fitted to the first side face of the housing,
  • a second flat portion, substantially offset from said median plane, on the side of the front face of the second half-shell, and connected to the first portion by a first recess, this second portion extending parallel to the front face of the second half-shell, delimiting with it a intermediate space through which passes a flat conductive part ensuring the electrical connection between the switch device and the corresponding terminal of the second switching circuit which equips the second side face of the housing, the width of said intermediate space corresponding to the thickness of said flat conductive part , said second portion further delimiting, with the front face of the first half-shell a third volume housing the coil of the magnetic trip device, connected on the one hand to the fixed contact of the switching device and on the other hand to the terminal equipping the second side face of the first switching circuit.

L'invention parvient à ce résultat et propose a cet effet un disjoncteur comprenant un boîtier présentant, d'une part, une première et une deuxième faces frontales parallèles à un plan médian de symétrie et faiblement distantes l'une de l'autre et, d'autre part, perpendiculairement audit plan de symétrie, une face de fixation, une face avant opposée à la face de fixation et équipée d'un organe de commande manuelle et une première et une deuxième faces latérales opposées équipées chacune, d'une paire de bornes disposées de part et d'autre dudit plan médian de symétrie et respectivement connectées aux deux circuits de commutation.The invention achieves this result and proposes for this purpose a circuit breaker comprising a housing having, on the one hand, a first and a second front faces parallel to a median plane of symmetry and slightly spaced from each other and, on the other hand, perpendicular to said plane of symmetry, a fixing face, a front face opposite to the fixing face and equipped with a manual control member and a first and a second opposite side faces each equipped with a pair of terminals arranged on either side of said median plane of symmetry and respectively connected to the two switching circuits.

Ce boîtier est formé d'un premier et d'un deuxième demiboîtiers sensiblement symétriques par rapport au plan médian de symétrie et comprenant chacun les deux bornes d'un même circuit de commutation.This housing is formed of first and second half-housings substantially symmetrical with respect to the median plane of symmetry and each comprising the two terminals of the same switching circuit.

Selon l'invention, ce disjoncteur est plus particulièrement caractérisé en ce que, dans au moins une région adjacente à la face de fixation, le volume interne du boîtier est divisé par une cloison en un matériau électriquement isolant qui s'étend de la première à la deuxième face latérale, cette cloison comprenant au moins :

  • une première portion plane raccordée à la première face latérale du boîtier et qui s'étend dans le plan médian de symétrie, en délimitant avec le premier demi-boîtier un premier volume logeant le dispositif interrupteur du premier circuit de commutation et, avec le deuxième demi-boîtier, un deuxième volume symétrique au premier et logeant le dispositif interrupteur du deuxième circuit de commutation, lesdits dispositifs interrupteurs étant respectivement connectés aux deux bornes équipant la première face latérale du boîtier,
  • une deuxième portion plane déportée, par rapport audit plan, du côté de la face frontale du deuxième demi-boîtier, et raccordée à la première portion par un premier décrochement, cette deuxième portion s'étendant à faible distance de la face frontale du deuxième demi-boîtier et parallèlement à celle-ci, en délimitant avec celle-ci un espace intercalaire par lequel passe une pièce conductrice assurant la connexion électrique entre le dispositif interrupteur et la borne correspondante du deuxième circuit de commutation qui équipe la deuxième face latérale du boîtier, la largeur dudit espace intercalaire correspondant à l'epaisseur de ladite pièce conductrice plate, ladite deuxième portion délimitant en outre, avec la face frontale du premier demi-boîtier, un troisième volume logeant la bobine du declencheur magnétique connectée d'une part au contact fixe du dispositif interrupteur et d'autre part à la borne équipant la deuxième face latérale du premier circuit de commutation.
According to the invention, this circuit breaker is more particularly characterized in that, in at least one region adjacent to the fixing face, the internal volume of the housing is divided by a partition made of an electrically insulating material which extends from the first to the second lateral face, this partition comprising at least:
  • a first flat portion connected to the first lateral face of the housing and which extends in the median plane of symmetry, defining with the first half-housing a first volume housing the switch device of the first switching circuit and, with the second half -box, a second volume symmetrical to the first and housing the switch device of the second switching circuit, said switch devices being respectively connected at the two terminals fitted to the first side face of the housing,
  • a second flat portion offset, relative to said plane, on the side of the front face of the second half-housing, and connected to the first portion by a first recess, this second portion extending a short distance from the front face of the second half -box and parallel to it, delimiting therewith an intermediate space through which passes a conductive part ensuring the electrical connection between the switch device and the corresponding terminal of the second switching circuit which equips the second side face of the box, the width of said intermediate space corresponding to the thickness of said flat conductive part, said second portion further delimiting, with the front face of the first half-housing, a third volume housing the coil of the magnetic trip device connected on the one hand to the fixed contact of the switch device and on the other hand to the terminal equipping the second lateral face of the premi er switching circuit.

Par ailleurs, la susdite cloison comprend dans une zone située en regard de la face avant du boîtier, au moins une échancrure dégageant, entre les deux faces frontales du boîtier, un volume libre renfermant au moins partiellement le susdit dispositif de déclenchement et ses liaisons mécaniques avec l'organe de déclenchement automatique sur défaut et l'organe de commande manuelle de déclenchement et de réarmement.Furthermore, the aforesaid partition comprises in a zone located opposite the front face of the housing, at least one notch freeing, between the two front faces of the housing, a free volume containing at least partially the above-mentioned triggering device and its mechanical connections. with the automatic trip device on fault and the manual trip and reset control device.

Avantageusement, les deux éléments de contact mobile des deux dispositifs interrupteurs sont montés rotatifs de part et d'autre de la susdite première portion de la cloison, autour d'un même axe de rotation perpendiculaire au plan médian de symétrie et sont actionnés par deux ressorts respectifs servant de biellettes élastiques de transmission entre le dispositif de déclenchement et les deux éléments de contact mobile.Advantageously, the two movable contact elements of the two switch devices are mounted to rotate on either side of the said first portion of the partition, around a same axis of rotation perpendicular to the median plane of symmetry and are actuated by two springs. respective serving as elastic transmission links between the release device and the two movable contact elements.

Un mode d'exécution de l'invention sera décrit ci-après, à titre d'exemple non limitatif, avec référence aux dessins annexés dans lesquels :

  • La figure 1 est une vue en élévation d'un disjoncteur conforme à l'invention avec coupe partielle selon la ligne A-Aʹ de la figure 2 ;
  • La figure 2 est une vue de dessus du disjoncteur représenté sur la figure 1 avec coupe partielle selon la ligne B-Bʹ de la figure 1 ;
  • La figure 3 est une vue en élévation de la cloison utilisée dans le disjoncteur représenté sur la figure 1 selon la flèche F de la figure 2, avec une représentation schématique du dispositif interrupteur du circuit de commutation non protégé et de son mécanisme d'actionnement ; et
  • La figure 4 est une vue en coupe de la partie inférieure du disjoncteur selon la ligne C-Cʹ de la figure 1 montrant les deux contacts mobiles et les deux ressorts respectifs servant de biellettes élastiques de transmission.
An embodiment of the invention will be described below, by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:
  • Figure 1 is an elevational view of a circuit breaker according to the invention with partial section along the line A-Aʹ of Figure 2;
  • Figure 2 is a top view of the circuit breaker shown in Figure 1 with partial section along the line B-Bʹ in Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 is an elevational view of the partition used in the circuit breaker shown in Figure 1 according to arrow F of Figure 2, with a schematic representation of the switch device of the unprotected switching circuit and its actuation mechanism; and
  • Figure 4 is a sectional view of the lower part of the circuit breaker according to line C-Cʹ of Figure 1 showing the two movable contacts and the two respective springs serving as elastic transmission links.

Le disjoncteur représenté sur ces dessins comprend un boîtier présentant, d'une part, deux faces frontales planes 1, 2, parallèles à un plan médian de symétrie YYʹ (figure 2) et faiblement distantes l'une de l'autre (distance - d -) et, d'autre part, perpendiculairement audit plan de symétrie :

  • une face de fixation 3 munie de moyens d'assemblage à un dispositif de support, ces moyens d'assemblage consistant ici en une rainure prismatique 4 sensiblement en forme de queue d'aronde destinée à coopérer avec un rail profilé de support,
  • une face avant 5 opposée à la face de fixation et munie d'une ouverture 6 de laquelle ressort la prise manuelle 7 d'un bouton de commande manuelle M, et
  • deux faces latérales 8, 9 qui s'étendent perpendiculairement à la face de fixation 3 et qui comprennent chacune deux bornes B₁₁, B₂₁; B₁₂, B₂₂, respectivement connectées aux deux circuits de commutation du disjoncteur, ces deux bornes B₁₁, B₂₁ ; B₁₂, B₂₂ étant disposées, à un même niveau, de part et d'autre du plan médian de symétrie YYʹ.
The circuit breaker shown in these drawings comprises a housing having, on the one hand, two plane front faces 1, 2, parallel to a median plane of symmetry YYʹ (Figure 2) and slightly distant from each other (distance - d -) and, on the other hand, perpendicular to said plane of symmetry:
  • a fixing face 3 provided with means of assembly to a support device, these assembly means here consisting of a prismatic groove 4 substantially in the form of a dovetail intended to cooperate with a profiled support rail,
  • a front face 5 opposite the fixing face and provided with an opening 6 from which emerges the manual grip 7 of a manual control button M, and
  • two lateral faces 8, 9 which extend perpendicular to the fixing face 3 and which each comprise two terminals B₁₁, B₂₁; B₁₂, B₂₂, respectively connected to the two circuit-breaker switching circuits, these two terminals B₁₁, B₂₁; B₁₂, B₂₂ being arranged, on the same level, on either side of the median plane of symmetry YYʹ.

Ce boîtier est obtenu par l'assemblage de deux demi-boîtiers 10, 11 sensiblement symétriques par rapport au plan médian de symétrie YYʹ et qui comprennent chacun par conséquent, une face frontale 1, 2 ainsi que des portions de la face de fixation 3 de la face avant 5 et des faces latérales 8, 9, complémentaires de celles de l'autre demi-boîtier.This box is obtained by assembling two half-boxes 10, 11 which are substantially symmetrical with respect to the median plane of symmetry YYʹ and which each therefore comprise a front face 1, 2 as well as portions of the fixing face 3 of the front face 5 and side faces 8, 9, complementary to those of the other half-housing.

Chaque demi-boîtier 10, 11 comprend, débouchant sur les deux faces latérales 8, 9, les deux bornes B₁₁, B₁₂ - B₂₁, B₂₂ qui servent à la connexion du disjoncteur avec des circuits extérieurs.Each half-housing 10, 11 comprises, opening onto the two lateral faces 8, 9, the two terminals B₁₁, B₁₂ - B₂₁, B₂₂ which serve for the connection of the circuit breaker with external circuits.

Ainsi, dans cet exemple, les bornes B₁₁, B₁₂ sont affectées au circuit de commutation protégé tandis que les bornes B₂₁, B₂₂ sont affectées au circuit de commutation non protégé.Thus, in this example, the terminals B₁₁, B₁₂ are assigned to the protected switching circuit while the terminals B₂₁, B₂₂ are assigned to the unprotected switching circuit.

L'accès aux vis de serrage V₁₁, V₁₂, V₂₁, V₂₂ de ces bornes s'effectue par l'intermédiaire de puits correspondants débouchant sur la face avant 5 du boîtier dans des portions chanfreinées adjacentes aux faces latérales 8, 9.Access to the clamping screws V₁₁, V₁₂, V₂₁, V₂₂ of these terminals is effected by means of corresponding wells opening out on the front face 5 of the housing in chamfered portions adjacent to the lateral faces 8, 9.

Ce boîtier comprend en outre, dans sa partie inférieure, une cloison interne 13 en un matériau électriquement isolant qui s'étend d'une face latérale 8, 9 à l'autre, jointivement à la face de fixation 3. Cette cloison 13 est notamment visible sur les figures 2 et 4 et son contour a été dessiné en traits épais sur la figure 3.This housing further comprises, in its lower part, an internal partition 13 of an electrically insulating material which extends from one lateral face 8, 9 to the other, contiguous to the fixing face 3. This partition 13 is in particular visible in Figures 2 and 4 and its outline has been drawn in thick lines in Figure 3.

Cette cloison comporte des bords latéraux 14, 15 et un bord inférieur 16 de forme appropriée pour venir respectivement s'assembler sur les faces latérales 8, 9 et sur la face de fixation 3, au niveau de la jonction entre les deux demi-boîtiers 1, 2.This partition has lateral edges 14, 15 and a lower edge 16 of suitable shape to come together respectively on the lateral faces 8, 9 and on the fixing face 3, at the junction between the two half-housings 1 , 2.

Elle comporte trois portions principales, à savoir :

  • une première portion plane 17, raccordée à la face latérale 9 et qui s'étend dans le plan médian de symétrie YYʹ, en délimitant avec les faces frontales 1, 2 du boîtier, deux volumes symétriques VO₁, VO₂ logeant respectivement les dispositifs interrupteurs des deux circuits de commutation,
  • une deuxième portion plane 18 déportée par rapport audit plan médian YYʹ du côté de la face frontale 2, cette portion 18 étant raccordée à la première portion 17 et à la bordure inférieure par deux décrochements respectifs 19, 20 ; cette deuxième portion 18 s'étend à faible distance de la face frontale 2, parallèlement à celle-ci, en délimitant avec celle-ci un espace intercalaire de faible largeur et, avec la face frontale du premier boîtier, un troisième volume VO₃ de largeur voisine de celle (distance - d -) du boîtier, et
  • une troisième portion 21 reliée à la deuxième portion 18 par un décrochement 22 et qui s'étend dans le plan médian de symétrie YYʹ pour venir s'assembler à la face latérale 8, au niveau de la jonction des deux demi-boîtiers, notamment entre les bornes B₁₂, B₂₂.
It has three main portions, namely:
  • a first flat portion 17, connected to the lateral face 9 and which extends in the median plane of symmetry YYʹ, delimiting with the front faces 1, 2 of the housing, two symmetrical volumes VO₁, VO₂ respectively housing the switching devices of the two switching circuits,
  • a second flat portion 18 offset relative to said median plane YYʹ on the side of the front face 2, this portion 18 being connected to the first portion 17 and to the lower edge by two respective recesses 19, 20; this second portion 18 extends a short distance from the front face 2, parallel to the latter, delimiting therewith an intermediate space of small width and, with the front face of the first housing, a third volume VO₃ of width close to that (distance - d -) of the housing, and
  • a third portion 21 connected to the second portion 18 by a recess 22 and which extends in the median plane of symmetry YYʹ to come to assemble at the side face 8, at the junction of the two half-housings, in particular between the terminals B₁₂, B₂₂.

Comme on le verra par la suite, cette structure permet d'obtenir une utilisation optimale du volume intérieur du boîtier pour l'implantation des deux circuits de commutation et du mécanisme qui leur est associé, ainsi qu'une parfaite isolation électrique entre ces deux circuits.As will be seen later, this structure makes it possible to obtain optimal use of the interior volume of the housing for the implantation of the two switching circuits and of the mechanism associated with them, as well as perfect electrical insulation between these two circuits. .

Ainsi, le volume VO₁ contient le dispositif interrupteur du circuit de commutation protégé qui se trouve illustré sur la figure 1.Thus, the volume VO₁ contains the switch device of the protected switching circuit which is illustrated in FIG. 1.

Ce dispositif interrupteur comprend un élément de contact mobile P₁₂ se présentant sous la forme d'un levier dont les deux bras 23, 24 forment un angle aigu et qui est monté pivotant, au niveau de sa région angulaire, autour d'un axe de rotation XXʹ perpendiculaire au plan de symétrie YYʹ.This switch device comprises a movable contact element P₁₂ in the form of a lever, the two arms 23, 24 of which form an acute angle and which is pivotally mounted, at its angular region, around an axis of rotation. XXʹ perpendicular to the plane of symmetry YYʹ.

Ce contact mobile P₁₂ est électriquement connecté à une pièce conductrice P₁₁ qui assure sa liaison à la borne B₁₁. Cet élément de contact mobile P₁₂ coopère, par l'extrémité du bras 24 qui porte le contact mobile C₁₁, avec un élément de contact fixe C₁₂ connecté à la borne B₁₂ par l'intermédiaire d'un circuit de protection comprenant un déclencheur magnétique DM et un déclencheur thermique DT, tous deux partiellement logés dans le volume VO₃. Il est à noter en particulier que, grâce à la conformation particulière de la cloison, ce volume VO₃ permet de contenir, sans avoir à augmenter la largeur du boîtier, la bobine du déclencheur magnétique DM qui est relativement volumineuse et dont la largeur peut être désormais voisine de celle - d - du boîtier.This movable contact P₁₂ is electrically connected to a conductive part P₁₁ which ensures its connection to the terminal B₁₁. This movable contact element P₁₂ cooperates, by the end of the arm 24 which carries the movable contact C₁₁, with a fixed contact element C₁₂ connected to the terminal B₁₂ via a protection circuit comprising a magnetic trip device DM and a thermal trip device DT, both partially housed in volume VO₃. It should be noted in particular that, thanks to the particular conformation of the partition, this volume VO₃ makes it possible to contain, without having to increase the width of the case, the coil of the magnetic trigger DM which is relatively bulky and whose width can now be close to that - d - of the case.

Le volume VO₂ contient le dispositif interrupteur du circuit de commutation non protégé qui est visible sur la figure 3.The volume VO₂ contains the switch device of the unprotected switching circuit which is visible in FIG. 3.

Ce dispositif interrupteur comprend lui-même un élément de contact mobile P₂₂ en forme de levier, de forme similaire à celui de l'élément P₁₂ et qui est monté rotatif autour d'un même axe de rotation XXʹ que ce dernier.This switch device itself comprises a movable contact element P₂₂ in the form of a lever, similar in shape to that of the element P₁₂ and which is mounted to rotate about the same axis of rotation XXʹ as the latter.

D'une façon analogue, ce contact mobile P₂₂ est électriquement connecté à une pièce conductrice P₂₁ qui assure sa liaison à la borne B₂₁. Il coopère, par l'extrémité du bras 24ʹ qui porte le contact mobile C₂₁, avec un élément de contact fixe C₂₂ connecté à la borne B₂₂ par l'intermédiaire d'une pièce conductrice plate P₂₃ passant dans le volume intercalaire compris entre la portion de cloison 18 et la face frontale 2.Similarly, this movable contact P contact is electrically connected to a conductive part P conduct which ensures its connection to the terminal B₂₁. It cooperates, by the end of the arm 24ʹ which carries the movable contact C₂₁, with a fixed contact element C₂₂ connected to the terminal B₂₂ via of a flat conductive part P₂₃ passing through the intermediate volume comprised between the partition portion 18 and the front face 2.

Les dispositifs interrupteurs P₁₂, C₁₁, C₁₂ et P₂₂, C₂₁, C₂₂ sont associés à un même mécanisme d'actionnement qui permet de séparer les contacts mobiles C₁₁, C₂₁ des contacts fixes C₁₂, C₂₂ en réponse à la détection d'un défaut électrique via les déclencheurs DM ou DT ou, respectivement en réponse à une commande manuelle.The switch devices P₁₂, C₁₁, C₁₂ and P₂₂, C₂₁, C₂₂ are associated with the same actuation mechanism which makes it possible to separate the movable contacts C₁₁, C₂₁ from the fixed contacts C₁₂, C₂₂ in response to the detection of an electrical fault via DM or DT triggers or, respectively in response to a manual command.

Ce mécanisme d'actionnement est essentiellement logé dans le volume supérieur du boîtier VO₄ qui n'est pas divisé par la cloison 13, notamment grâce à une échancrure prévue dans la partie supérieure de celle-ci.This actuation mechanism is essentially housed in the upper volume of the VO₄ box which is not divided by the partition 13, in particular thanks to a notch provided in the upper part thereof.

Il fait intervenir l'organe de commande manuelle constitué par le bouton rotatif M d'axe 01 et des moyens de déclenchement automatique commandés par le déclencheur magnétique DM et le déclencheur thermique DT.It involves the manual control member constituted by the rotary button M of axis 01 and automatic triggering means controlled by the magnetic trigger DM and the thermal trigger DT.

L'élément de sortie des moyens de déclenchement est un crochet 32 monté rotatif autour d'un axe 02 fixe par rapport au boîtier et coopérant par une fourche 33 avec une crosse 34. La crosse 34 est située à l'extrémité d'un noyau plongeur 35 du déclencheur magnétique DM. Le crochet 32 coopère en outre au moyen d'un doigt 36 avec un levier déformable à bilame 37 du déclencheur thermique DT.The output element of the triggering means is a hook 32 rotatably mounted about an axis 02 fixed relative to the housing and cooperating by a fork 33 with a stock 34. The stock 34 is located at the end of a core plunger 35 of the magnetic trip device DM. The hook 32 further cooperates by means of a finger 36 with a deformable bimetal lever 37 of the thermal trip device DT.

Le mécanisme d'actionnement comprend, par ailleurs, un levier de déclenchement 38 en forme de balancier réalisé en matériau isolant. Le levier 38 est directement monté sur un tenon 39 de l'organe manuel M et présente, à cet effet, une coulisse 40 peu inclinée vis-à-vis de la face avant 5 du boîtier et coopérant avec ledit tenon 39. Le levier 38 comporte, à une première extrémité, un becquet 42 reposant sur un appui 43 du crochet 32, cet appui étant effaçable par suite du pivotement du crochet 32 pour autoriser le basculement du levier 38 en réponse à un défaut électrique détecté par le déclencheur DM ou DT.The actuation mechanism further comprises a trigger lever 38 in the form of a pendulum made of insulating material. The lever 38 is directly mounted on a tenon 39 of the manual member M and has, for this purpose, a slide 40 slightly inclined with respect to the front face 5 of the housing and cooperating with said tenon 39. The lever 38 comprises, at a first end, a spoiler 42 resting on a support 43 of the hook 32, this support being erasable as a result of the pivoting of the hook 32 to allow tilting lever 38 in response to an electrical fault detected by the DM or DT trigger.

Le levier 38 comprend, vers sa deuxième extrémité épanouie ou tête 44, une rainure de guidage 45 sensiblement perpendiculaire à la face avant 5 et coopérant avec un pion de guidage 46 ménagé dans le boîtier. Près de l'extrémité supérieure 44 du levier 38, et de part et d'autre de celui-ci, sont prévus deux points d'appui ou d'ancrage 47, 47ʹ de deux ressorts respectifs R₁, Rʹ₁ en épingle en forme de V. Les branches 48, 48ʹ des ressorts R₁, Rʹ₁ s'appliquent sur les points d'ancrage 47, 47ʹ pour tendre à faire basculer en sens horaire le levier 38; les branches 49, 49ʹ des ressorts R₁, Rʹ₁ sont quant à elles fixées à rotation sur deux tourillons respectifs 50a, 50b ménagés sur les pièces conductrices P₁₁, P₂₁. Ces branches 49, 49ʹ sont appliquées à leurs extrémités sur deux appuis de fermeture 51, 51ʹ prévus sur les éléments de contact mobile P₁₂, P₂₂ situés du côté opposé aux bras 23, 24 - 23ʹ, 24ʹ par rapport à l'axe XXʹ et peuvent venir s'appliquer près de la pointe du V, sur deux appuis d'ouverture respectifs 56, 56ʹ prévus à l'extrémité des bras 23, 23ʹ.The lever 38 comprises, towards its second open end or head 44, a guide groove 45 substantially perpendicular to the front face 5 and cooperating with a guide pin 46 formed in the housing. Near the upper end 44 of the lever 38, and on either side thereof, two support or anchor points 47, 47ʹ of two respective springs R₁, Rʹ₁ are provided in a V-shaped pin. The branches 48, 48ʹ of the springs R₁, Rʹ₁ are applied to the anchoring points 47, 47ʹ to tend to tilt the lever 38 clockwise; the branches 49, 49ʹ of the springs R₁, Rʹ₁ are in turn fixed in rotation on two respective pins 50 a , 50 b formed on the conductive parts P₁₁, P₂₁. These branches 49, 49ʹ are applied at their ends to two closing supports 51, 51ʹ provided on the movable contact elements P₁₂, P₂₂ located on the side opposite the arms 23, 24 - 23ʹ, 24ʹ relative to the axis XXʹ and can come to apply near the tip of the V, on two respective opening supports 56, 56ʹ provided at the end of the arms 23, 23ʹ.

L'application des branches 49, 49ʹ sur les appuis de fermeture 51, 51ʹ permet d'assurer la fermeture des contacts C₁₁, C₂₁ et leur pression sur les contacts C₁₂, C₂₂.The application of the branches 49, 49ʹ on the closing supports 51, 51ʹ makes it possible to ensure the closing of the contacts C₁₁, C₂₁ and their pressure on the contacts C₁₂, C₂₂.

L'application des branches 49, 49ʹ sur les appuis d'ouverture 56, 56ʹ permet l'ouverture des contacts C₁₁, C₂₁.The application of the branches 49, 49ʹ on the opening supports 56, 56ʹ allows the opening of the contacts C₁₁, C₂₁.

Le sens de rotation des éléments de contact C₁₁, C₂₁ dépend de l'application de l'effort différentiel des branches 49, 49ʹ sur l'un ou l'autre appuis respectifs 51, 51ʹ ; 56, 56ʹ, ceci étant fonction de la position des points d'ancrage 47, 47ʹ des branches 48, 48ʹ.The direction of rotation of the contact elements C₁₁, C₂₁ depends on the application of the differential force of the branches 49, 49ʹ on one or the other respective supports 51, 51ʹ; 56, 56ʹ, this being a function of the position of the anchor points 47, 47ʹ of the branches 48, 48ʹ.

Il convient de noter que le tenon 39 est situé à l'opposé de la prise manuelle 7 du bouton de commande M par rapport à l'axe 01 et à une distance de cet axe permettant une amplification de l'effort. Un ressort de rappel 54 est associé au bouton M pour assister celui-ci lors d'une commande manuelle d'ouverture et pour le rappeler vers la position "arrêt" lors d'un déclenchement sur défaut.It should be noted that the pin 39 is located opposite the manual grip 7 of the control button M relative to axis 01 and at a distance from this axis allowing amplification of the effort. A return spring 54 is associated with the button M to assist the latter during a manual opening command and to call it back to the "stop" position during a trip on fault.

Par ailleurs, le déclencheur magnétique DM comprend un ressort 66 sollicitant le noyau 35 pour que la crosse 34 de celui-ci rappelle le doigt du crochet 32 dans la position armée.Furthermore, the magnetic trip device DM comprises a spring 66 urging the core 35 so that the stick 34 of the latter recalls the finger of the hook 32 in the armed position.

Le crochet 32 constitue un palonnier interposé entre le noyau magnétique 35 et le bilame 37 de manière qu'un début de déflexion du bilame 37 entraîne un très léger pivotement antihoraire du crochet 32 et donc une légère plongée du noyau 35. De la sorte, le seuil d'intensité de déclenchement du déclencheur DM est abaissé ; une surcharge détectée par le bilame 37 du déclencheur thermique entraîne donc une plus grande sensibilité du déclencheur magnétique.The hook 32 constitutes a spreader interposed between the magnetic core 35 and the bimetallic strip 37 so that the beginning of deflection of the bimetallic strip 37 causes a very slight counterclockwise pivoting of the hook 32 and therefore a slight plunge of the core 35. In this way, the DM trigger trigger intensity threshold is lowered; an overload detected by the bimetallic strip 37 of the thermal trip device therefore results in greater sensitivity of the magnetic trip device.

Le fonctionnement du dispositif d'actionnement précédemment décrit est conforme à celui qui est exposé dans la demande de brevet FR-A-85 13942 précitée, à la différence près qu'au lieu d'effectuer la manoeuvre d'un seul élément de contact mobile par l'intermédiaire d'un ressort R en épingle, le levier de déclenchement 38 effectue la manoeuvre de deux éléments de contact mobile P₁₂, Pʹ₁₂ à l'aide de deux ressorts R₁, Rʹ₁ respectifs.The operation of the previously described actuation device is in accordance with that set out in the aforementioned patent application FR-A-85 13942, with the difference that instead of operating a single movable contact element by means of a hairpin spring R, the trigger lever 38 performs the operation of two movable contact elements P₁₂, Pʹ₁₂ using two respective springs R₁, Rʹ₁.

Claims (2)

  1. A circuit breaker, comprising, inside the same modular insulating case, two switching circuits, namely : a protected switching circuit and a non-protected switching circuit, these two circuits each comprising a switching device with a fixed and a movable contact, these two circuits forming two respective current paths which can be interrupted by a controlled tripping device, either by at least an automatic tripping member operating on a current fault in one of the circuits, which comprises a magnetic tripping device (DM), or by a manually controlled tripping and resetting member, said case comprising, on the one hand, a first and a second front faces which are parallel to a median plane of symmetry and located at a short distance from each other and, on the other hand, orthogonal to said plane of symmetry, a securing face, a front fact opposite the securing face which is equipped with a manual control member and a first and a second opposite side faces, each equipped with a couple of terminals situated at either side of said median plane of symmetry and respectively connected to the two switching circuits, said case being formed by a first and a second half-shells which are substantially symmetrical with respect to the median plane of symmetry and each contain the two terminals of the same switching circuit, the internal volume of the case being divided by a wall (13), made from an electrically insulating material which extends from the first (9) to the second (8) side face, said dividing wall (13) delimiting two breaking chambers, respectively containing the contacts of the protected switching circuit and those of the nonprotected switching circuit and, in a region facing the front face (5) of the case, a free volume which is not divided by the wall and which encloses, at least partially, the said tripping device and its mechanical connections with the automatic fault tripping member and the tripping and resetting control member ((M), characterized in that said dividing wall (13) comprises :
    - a first flat portion (17), connected to the first side face (9) of the case and which extends in the median plane of symmetry (YY'), while delimiting with the first half-shell (10) a first volume (VO₁) housing the switching device (P₁₁, C₁₁, C₁₂) of the first switching circuit and, with the second half-shell (11), a second volume (VO₂) which is symmetrical to the first one and houses the switching device (P₂₂, C₂₁, C₂₂) of the second switching circuit, said switching devices being respectively connected to the two terminals (B₁₁ and B₂₁) equipping the first side face (9) of the case ;
    - a second flat portion (18) substantially offset with respect to said median plane (YY') towards the side of the front face (2) of the second half-shell (11) and connected to the first portion by a first stepped connection (19), said second portion (18) extending parallel to the front face (2) of the second half-shell (11), while delimiting therewith an interposed space through which passes a flat conducting piece (P₂₃) for the electric connection between the switching device and the corresponding terminal (B₁₂) of the second switching circuit provided on the second side face (8) of the case, the width of said interposed space corresponding to the thickness of said flat conducting piece (P₂₃), said second portion (18) further delimiting with the front face (1) of the first half-shell (10) a third volume (VO₃) which houses the coil of the magnetic tripping device (DM), connected, on the one hand to the fixed contact (C₁₂) of the switching device (P₁₂, C₁₁, C₁₂) and, on the other hand, to the terminal (B₁₂) which is provided on the second side face of the first switching circuit.
  2. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that, in order to obtain said free space, the said dividing wall (13) comprises a cut-out at the side of the front face of the case.
EP87401321A 1986-06-17 1987-06-12 Circuit breaker with two switching circuits, one of which is protected Expired - Lifetime EP0252786B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT87401321T ATE67343T1 (en) 1986-06-17 1987-06-12 SWITCH WITH TWO CIRCUITS, ONE OF WHICH IS PROTECTED.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8608703A FR2600210B1 (en) 1986-06-17 1986-06-17 CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH TWO SWITCHING CIRCUITS OF WHICH ONE IS PROTECTED
FR8608703 1986-06-17

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0252786A1 EP0252786A1 (en) 1988-01-13
EP0252786B1 true EP0252786B1 (en) 1991-09-11

Family

ID=9336390

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87401321A Expired - Lifetime EP0252786B1 (en) 1986-06-17 1987-06-12 Circuit breaker with two switching circuits, one of which is protected

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0252786B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE67343T1 (en)
DE (1) DE3772877D1 (en)
FR (1) FR2600210B1 (en)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2648614B1 (en) * 1989-06-16 1994-03-11 Hager Electro Sa PHASE AND NEUTRAL CIRCUIT BREAKER
FR2674369B1 (en) * 1991-03-20 1996-09-20 Merlin Gerin REDUCED OVERALL, NEUTRAL PHASE AND NEUTRAL CIRCUIT BREAKER.
DE69202051D1 (en) * 1992-05-13 1995-05-18 Hager Electro Phase and neutral circuit breakers.
AT402583B (en) * 1992-11-25 1997-06-25 Felten & Guilleaume Ag Oester CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH A THERMALLY AND MAGNETICALLY PROTECTED OUTER POLE AND AN UNprotected Neutral Pole
DE10060521A1 (en) * 2000-12-06 2002-06-20 Abb Patent Gmbh Miniature circuit breaker with a pole and neutral disconnect
NL1027343C2 (en) * 2004-10-26 2006-04-27 Eaton Electric Nv Switch is for breaking current circuit and comprises housing with mechanical switch assembly for operation of contacts, short circuit current protection device for breaking current circuit in event of sudden very high circulating current

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2485254A1 (en) * 1980-06-19 1981-12-24 Merlin Gerin MINIATURE UNIPOLAR AND NEUTRAL CIRCUIT BREAKER

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3772877D1 (en) 1991-10-17
FR2600210A1 (en) 1987-12-18
ATE67343T1 (en) 1991-09-15
EP0252786A1 (en) 1988-01-13
FR2600210B1 (en) 1993-04-16

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