EP0268508B1 - Flat bimetal circuit breaker - Google Patents

Flat bimetal circuit breaker Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0268508B1
EP0268508B1 EP87402290A EP87402290A EP0268508B1 EP 0268508 B1 EP0268508 B1 EP 0268508B1 EP 87402290 A EP87402290 A EP 87402290A EP 87402290 A EP87402290 A EP 87402290A EP 0268508 B1 EP0268508 B1 EP 0268508B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
circuit breaker
bimetal element
flat
accordance
bimetallic strip
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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 - Lifetime
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EP87402290A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0268508A1 (en
Inventor
Jacques Weber
Bertrand Torcheux
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Dav Dite Ste
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Dav Dite Ste
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Publication of EP0268508A1 publication Critical patent/EP0268508A1/en
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H77/00—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting
    • H01H77/02—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting in which the excess current itself provides the energy for opening the contacts, and having a separate reset mechanism
    • H01H77/04—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting in which the excess current itself provides the energy for opening the contacts, and having a separate reset mechanism with electrothermal opening

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a flat bimetallic circuit breaker and, more particularly a flat circuit breaker whose bimetallic strip is blistering and usable in the automotive industry.
  • the moving part generally constituted by a pusher is moved between a contact of the bimetallic strip and a contact carried by a connection tab ensuring electrical continuity with the bimetallic strip so as to interrupt an electrical supply when the bimetallic strip deforms by following an increase in temperature developed in said bimetallic strip, in effect, Joule.
  • Document DE-A-35 26 785 discloses a flat circuit breaker conforming to the preamble of claim 1.
  • the bimetallic actuator used is an oval bimetallic strip arranged transversely to the axis of the circuit breaker. This embodiment does not allow very high breaking speeds to be achieved.
  • the present invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks and to propose a flat circuit breaker, extremely reliable and always in a volume which is reduced to the maximum.
  • the invention proposes to provide a circuit breaker having the characteristics indicated in claim 1, and, in the alternative, in claims 2 to 5.
  • bi-spherical blistering bimetal disc in accordance with the invention makes it possible not only to achieve a considerable rupture speed, but also to make the most of the geometry of the circuit breaker.
  • the circuit breaker according to the invention represented in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a box 1 constituted by two parts 2 and 3, one, for example 2, serving to house the different elements of the circuit breaker, the other 3 being used as closing cover.
  • the connection of two parts 2 and 3 is provided by four pins 4 and 5 coming from molding with part 2 and introducing themselves into corresponding orifices provided in the closing cover 3, of which only one 6 is shown in FIG. 2.
  • Two flat and coplanar connecting tongues 7 and 8 each have an orifice 9 into which a force-fitting pin 5 is fitted which, for this purpose, has a beveled end allowing better introduction into the corresponding orifice 9 and an enlarged base 5a which prevents the connection tab from moving along the nipple.
  • Side projections 7a and 8a housed in grooves 10 and 11 formed in the bottom part 2 prevent said tongues from moving laterally or in the direction of a median plane of the circuit breaker materialized by the dashes 12; the connection tabs 7 and 8 are arranged symmetrically with respect to said median plane.
  • the tongue 7 is longer than the tongue 8 and has a configuration in two parallel planes located one above the other, so as to conform to the configuration of the housing 1 which is designed to occupy the most volume weak possible.
  • the tongue parts 13 and 14 located in different planes are connected by an inclined part 15.
  • the free ends 16 of the tongues 7 and 8 are bevelled so as to allow easy insertion into not shown receiving clips.
  • a bimetallic actuator 17 is constituted, FIGS. 3 and 4, by a curving blistering disc, so as to constitute what is commonly called a bimetal with snap action.
  • the bimetallic strip 17 is obtained from a disc of diameter equal to for example 17 mm which has been deformed into two spheres of different radii so as to obtain a central part 18 of radius R1 bordered by a crown 19 of radius R2 .
  • a cylindrical orifice 20 of which the diameter which varies from 0 to 10 mm makes it possible to calibrate the circuit breaker according to the operating intensities under which the circuit breaker must operate.
  • the bimetallic strip 17 is precalibrated in temperature and must withstand temperatures up to 140 ° C.
  • a material with zero expansion coefficient such as, for example, INVAR, which comprises 64% iron, 36% nickel. and from 0.25 to 0.30% chromium.
  • the external face 21 is an alloy with a high positive expansion coefficient, based on iron, nickel and manganese or iron, nickel and chromium.
  • a very weak layer of nickel or copper is interposed to adjust the resistivity of the bimetallic strip 17.
  • the bimetallic strip 17 which is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, comprises along the median plane 12, two small orifices 23 and 24, of small diameter, which can be indifferently formed on the central part 18, on the crown 19 or at the junction of these two parts and this, depending on the dimensions of said parts 18 and 19.
  • the orifice 23 is used to properly position the bimetallic strip 17 during its assembly in part 2 by means of an appropriate assembly tool not shown.
  • a movable contact 25 is provided on the internal face 22 of the bimetallic strip 17 and cooperates with a fixed contact 26 provided, opposite, on the tongue 7.
  • the tongue 8 is connected, for example a welding point 27.
  • the electrical continuity between the tongues 7 and 8 is provided by said contacts 25 and 26, the bimetallic strip 17 and the welding point 27.
  • the fixed contact 26 and the welding point 27 are aligned along a diameter of the bimetallic strip 17, inclined relative to the median plane 12, at an angle of 36 ° for example.
  • a reset button 28 is mounted in the bottom part 2 of the housing 1.
  • the enlarged head 29 is guided in a notch 30 formed in said part 2, while the push rod 31 which is flat, is guided by two lateral flanges 32 arranged above a groove 33 in which the push rod moves. In this way, the push rod 31 cannot come out of its guide groove other than by sliding. Any release perpendicular to the sliding direction is prevented by the flanges 32.
  • the end 34 of the push rod 31 is also bevelled. Two lugs 35 and 36 are each mounted symmetrically on one face of the push rod 31.
  • the lug 36 is capable of being received in the orifice 24 of the bimetallic strip to maintain the latter in a given position.
  • the lug 35 serves to support a branch 38 of a spring 37 in the form of a two-hairpin.
  • the spring 37 is arranged flat under the bimetallic strip 17, around a slight relief 40 and between two small flanges 41 and 42 provided above small openings 43 formed in the bottom part 2, the branch 39 of the spring passed under the rim 42 and resting on a small vertical wall 44.
  • the lug 35 is capable of moving in a rectangular opening 45 which is aligned with another rectangular opening 46 formed between the lateral flanges 32.
  • the different openings 43, 45 and 46 thus formed in the bottom wall 2 allow ventilation of the interior of the housing which avoids rashly raising the temperature inside the housing during the production of contact break sparks.
  • the housing comprises sectionable lateral fasteners 50 which connect the third boxes 1 to one another so as to allow mass production in the form of a chain which can be wound in a strip.
  • the bimetallic strip 17 When, by the passage of an electric current, the temperature of the bimetallic strip 17 reaches a predetermined value as a function of the calibration of the circuit breaker, the bimetallic strip 17 suddenly deforms in the direction opposite to the bulging of the central spherical cap, thereby cutting the electrical connection between the contacts 25 and 26.
  • the movement of the bimetallic strip 17 has the effect of releasing the lug 35 and the pusher 28 is biased towards a position released by the action of the spring 37 which relaxes, thus maintaining the contacts 25, 26 open when the bimetallic strip cools, the bimetallic strip, after cooling, remaining in abutment on the lug 36.
  • the manual resetting of the circuit breaker is effected by depressing the pusher 28 in order to bring the lug 35 into the orifice 24 of the bimetallic strip.
  • the pusher 28 does not move between the contacts 25 and 26 and therefore does not touch the latter. It follows that the pusher cannot be deformed or worn by the sparks of rupture of the contacts 25 and 26. In addition, the contacts 25 and 26 are themselves protected and cannot be polluted by material which would slip between them.
  • connection between the short tongue 8 and the bimetallic strip 17 can be achieved by any suitable means on an appendage 50 of the bimetallic strip 17 so as to improve, if necessary, the current density in said bimetallic strip 17.

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  • Thermally Actuated Switches (AREA)
  • Fuses (AREA)

Description

La présente invention concerne un disjoncteur plat à bilame et, plus particulièrement un disjoncteur plat dont le bilame est cloquant et utilisable dans l'industrie automobile.The present invention relates to a flat bimetallic circuit breaker and, more particularly a flat circuit breaker whose bimetallic strip is blistering and usable in the automotive industry.

De nombreux disjoncteurs plats sont utilisés depuis des décennies et pour diverses applications. Certains, comme ceux décrits dans les brevets GB-A-657 434 et 1 542 252 ou le brevet FR-A-2 531 264 comportent des bilames munis de découpes particulières délimitant au moins une lamelle centrale flexible. D'autres, comme ceux décrits dans les brevets FR-A-1 361 950, 2 385 216 et 2 466 846, comportent soit des bilames à découpes particulières soit un bilame rectangulaire et une pièce mobile susceptible d'être placée entre un contact fixe et un contact mobile porté par le bilame.Many flat circuit breakers have been used for decades and for various applications. Some, such as those described in GB-A-657,434 and 1,542,252 or FR-A-2,531,264 patent include bimetallic strips provided with special cutouts delimiting at least one flexible central strip. Others, such as those described in the patents FR-A-1 361 950, 2 385 216 and 2 466 846, comprise either bimetals with particular cutouts or a rectangular bimetal and a movable part capable of being placed between a fixed contact and a movable contact carried by the bimetallic strip.

Dans tous les disjoncteurs connus, la pièce mobile constituée généralement par un poussoir est déplacée entre un contact du bilame et un contact porté par une languette de connexion assurant une continuité électrique avec le bilame de manière à interrompre une alimentation électrique lorsque le bilame se déforme par suite d'une élévation de la température développée dans ledit bilame, par effet, Joule.In all known circuit breakers, the moving part generally constituted by a pusher is moved between a contact of the bimetallic strip and a contact carried by a connection tab ensuring electrical continuity with the bimetallic strip so as to interrupt an electrical supply when the bimetallic strip deforms by following an increase in temperature developed in said bimetallic strip, in effect, Joule.

On connaît par le document DE-A-35 26 785 un disjoncteur plat conforme au préambule de la revendication 1. Dans ce disjoncteur, l'actionneur bimétallique utilisé est un bilame ovale disposé transversalement à l'axe du disjoncteur. Cette réalisation ne permet pas d'atteindre des vitesses de rupture très élevées.Document DE-A-35 26 785 discloses a flat circuit breaker conforming to the preamble of claim 1. In this circuit breaker, the bimetallic actuator used is an oval bimetallic strip arranged transversely to the axis of the circuit breaker. This embodiment does not allow very high breaking speeds to be achieved.

La présente invention a pour but de remédier aux inconvénients précités et de proposer un disjoncteur plat, extrêmement fiable et toujours dans un volume qui est réduit au maximum.The present invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks and to propose a flat circuit breaker, extremely reliable and always in a volume which is reduced to the maximum.

L'invention propose de réaliser un disjoncteur présentant les caractéristiques indiquées dans la revendication 1, et, subsidiairement, dans les revendications 2 à 5.The invention proposes to provide a circuit breaker having the characteristics indicated in claim 1, and, in the alternative, in claims 2 to 5.

L'utilisation d'un disque bilame cloquant bisphérique conforme à l'invention permet non seulement d'atteindre une vitesse de rupture considérable, mais également de tirer le meilleur profit de la géométrie du disjoncteur.The use of a bi-spherical blistering bimetal disc in accordance with the invention makes it possible not only to achieve a considerable rupture speed, but also to make the most of the geometry of the circuit breaker.

D'autres avantages et caractéristiques ressortiront mieux à la lecture de la description de deux modes de réalisation préférés de l'invention, donnés à titre indicatif mais non limitatif, ainsi que des dessins annexés sur lesquels :

  • la figure 1 est une vue de dessus du disjoncteur selon la présente invention, la partie capot du boîtier ayant été enlevée.
  • La figure 2 est une vue en coupe suivant II-II de la figure 1.
  • La figure 3 est une vue en élévation de l'actionneur bimétallique représenté sur la figure 1.
  • La figure 4 est une vue schématique de dessus de l'actionneur bimétallique relié à une languette de connexion, suivant une variante de l'invention.
Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly on reading the description of two preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of non-limiting indication, as well as the attached drawings in which:
  • Figure 1 is a top view of the circuit breaker according to the present invention, the cover part of the housing having been removed.
  • Figure 2 is a sectional view along II-II of Figure 1.
  • FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the bimetallic actuator shown in FIG. 1.
  • Figure 4 is a schematic top view of the bimetallic actuator connected to a connection tab, according to a variant of the invention.

Le disjoncteur selon l'invention représenté sur les figures 1 et 2, comprend un boîtier 1 constitué par deux parties 2 et 3, l'une, par exemple 2, servant à loger les différents éléments du disjoncteur, l'autre 3 étant utilisée comme capot de fermeture. La liaison des deux parties 2 et 3 est assurée par quatre tétons 4 et 5 venus de moulage avec la partie 2 et s'introduisant dans des orifices correspondants ménagés dans le capot de fermeture 3, dont un seul 6 est représenté sur la figure 2.The circuit breaker according to the invention represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprises a box 1 constituted by two parts 2 and 3, one, for example 2, serving to house the different elements of the circuit breaker, the other 3 being used as closing cover. The connection of two parts 2 and 3 is provided by four pins 4 and 5 coming from molding with part 2 and introducing themselves into corresponding orifices provided in the closing cover 3, of which only one 6 is shown in FIG. 2.

Deux languettes de connextion plates et coplanaires 7 et 8 comportent chacune un orifice 9 dans lequel s'emmanche à force un téton 5 qui présente, à cet effet, une extrémité biseautée permettant une meilleure introduction dans l'orifice correspondant 9 et une base élargie 5a qui empêche la languette de connexion de se déplacer le long du téton. Des projections latérales 7a et 8a logées dans des gorges 10 et 11 ménagées dans la partie de fond 2 empêchent lesdites languettes de se déplacer latéralement ou suivant la direction d'un plan médian du disjoncteur matérialisé par les tirets 12; les languettes de connexion 7 et 8 sont disposées symétriquement par rapport audit plan médian.Two flat and coplanar connecting tongues 7 and 8 each have an orifice 9 into which a force-fitting pin 5 is fitted which, for this purpose, has a beveled end allowing better introduction into the corresponding orifice 9 and an enlarged base 5a which prevents the connection tab from moving along the nipple. Side projections 7a and 8a housed in grooves 10 and 11 formed in the bottom part 2 prevent said tongues from moving laterally or in the direction of a median plane of the circuit breaker materialized by the dashes 12; the connection tabs 7 and 8 are arranged symmetrically with respect to said median plane.

La languette 7 est plus longue que la languette 8 et présente une configuration suivant deux plans parallèles situés l'un au-dessus de l'autre, de manière à se conformer à la configuration du boîtier 1 qui est conçu pour occuper un volume le plus faible possible. Les parties de languette 13 et 14 situées dans des plans différents sont reliés par une partie inclinée 15. Les extrémités libres 16 des languettes 7 et 8 sont biseautées de manière à permettre une introduction aisée dans des clips de réception non représentés.The tongue 7 is longer than the tongue 8 and has a configuration in two parallel planes located one above the other, so as to conform to the configuration of the housing 1 which is designed to occupy the most volume weak possible. The tongue parts 13 and 14 located in different planes are connected by an inclined part 15. The free ends 16 of the tongues 7 and 8 are bevelled so as to allow easy insertion into not shown receiving clips.

Un actionneur bimétallique 17 est constitué, figures 3 et 4, par un disque bombé cloquant , de manière à constituer ce qu'il est convenu d'appeler une bilame à action brusque. La bilame 17 est obtenue à partir d'un disque de diamètre égal à par exemple 17 mm que l'on a déformé suivant deux sphères de rayons différents de manière à obtenir une partie centrale 18 de rayon R₁ bordée par une couronne 19 de rayon R₂. Dans la partie centrale 18 est ménagé un orifice cylindrique 20 dont le diamètre qui varie de 0 à 10 mm permet de calibrer le disjoncteur en fonction des intensités de fonctionnement sous lesquelles le disjoncteur doit fonctionner. Bien évidemment, on peut faire varier soit le diamètre de l'orifice central soit l'épaisseur de la bilame pour affiner davantage les conditions de fonctionnement du disjoncteur, soit faire varier ensemble les deux paramètres qui vienne nt d'être indiqués. La bilame 17 est précalibrée en température et doit supporter des températures allant jusqu'à 140°C. Parmi les matériaux susceptibles d'être utilisés pour la fabrication de la bilame 17, on préfère utiliser, pour la face interne 22 un matériau à coefficient de dilatation nul, comme par exemple l'INVAR qui comprernd 64 % de fer, 36 % de nickel et de 0,25 à 0,30 % de chrome. La face externe 21 est un alliage à coefficient de dilatation positive élevé, à base de fer, nickel et manganèse ou fer, nickel et chrome. Eventuellement, entre les deux faces, interne et externe, on interpose une très faible couche de nickel ou de cuivre pour ajuster la résistivité de la bilame 17.A bimetallic actuator 17 is constituted, FIGS. 3 and 4, by a curving blistering disc, so as to constitute what is commonly called a bimetal with snap action. The bimetallic strip 17 is obtained from a disc of diameter equal to for example 17 mm which has been deformed into two spheres of different radii so as to obtain a central part 18 of radius R₁ bordered by a crown 19 of radius R₂ . In the central part 18 is formed a cylindrical orifice 20 of which the diameter which varies from 0 to 10 mm makes it possible to calibrate the circuit breaker according to the operating intensities under which the circuit breaker must operate. Obviously, it is possible to vary either the diameter of the central orifice or the thickness of the bimetallic strip to further refine the operating conditions of the circuit breaker, or to vary the two parameters which have just been indicated. The bimetallic strip 17 is precalibrated in temperature and must withstand temperatures up to 140 ° C. Among the materials capable of being used for the manufacture of bimetallic strip 17, it is preferred to use, for the internal face 22, a material with zero expansion coefficient, such as, for example, INVAR, which comprises 64% iron, 36% nickel. and from 0.25 to 0.30% chromium. The external face 21 is an alloy with a high positive expansion coefficient, based on iron, nickel and manganese or iron, nickel and chromium. Optionally, between the two faces, internal and external, a very weak layer of nickel or copper is interposed to adjust the resistivity of the bimetallic strip 17.

La bilame 17 qui est représenté en pointillés sur la figure 1, comporte suivant le plan médian 12, deux petits orifices 23 et 24, de faible diamètre, qui peuvent être indifféremment ménagés sur la partie centtrale 18, sur la courone 19 ou à la jonction de ces deux parties et ce, en fonction des dimensions desdites parties 18 et 19. L'orifice 23 sert à positionner convenablement la bilame 17 lors de son montage dans la partie 2 au moyen d'un outillage approprié de montage non représenté. Un contact mobile 25 est prévu sur la face interne 22 de la bilame 17 et coopère avec un contact fixe 26 prévu, en regard, sur la languette 7. La languette 8 est reliée, par exemple un point de soudure 27. Lorsque les contacts mobile 25 et fixe 26 sont en appui l'un sur l'autre, la continuité électrique entre les languettes 7 et 8 est assurée par lesdits contacts 25 et 26, la bilame 17 et le point de soudure 27. Le contact fixe 26 et le point de soudure 27 sont alignés suivant un diamètre de la bilame 17, incliné par rapport au plan médian 12, suivant un angle de 36° par exemple.The bimetallic strip 17 which is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, comprises along the median plane 12, two small orifices 23 and 24, of small diameter, which can be indifferently formed on the central part 18, on the crown 19 or at the junction of these two parts and this, depending on the dimensions of said parts 18 and 19. The orifice 23 is used to properly position the bimetallic strip 17 during its assembly in part 2 by means of an appropriate assembly tool not shown. A movable contact 25 is provided on the internal face 22 of the bimetallic strip 17 and cooperates with a fixed contact 26 provided, opposite, on the tongue 7. The tongue 8 is connected, for example a welding point 27. When the movable contacts 25 and fixed 26 are supported one on the other, the electrical continuity between the tongues 7 and 8 is provided by said contacts 25 and 26, the bimetallic strip 17 and the welding point 27. The fixed contact 26 and the welding point 27 are aligned along a diameter of the bimetallic strip 17, inclined relative to the median plane 12, at an angle of 36 ° for example.

Un poussoir de réarmement 28 est monté dans la partie de fond 2 du boîtier 1. La tête élargie 29 est guidée dans une échancrure 30 ménagée dans ladite partie 2, tandis que la tige de poussoir 31 qui est plate, est guidée par deux rebords latéraux 32 ménagés au-dessus d'une gorge 33 dans laquelle se déplace la tige de poussoir. De cette manière, la tige de poussoir 31 ne peut sortir de sa gorge de guidage autrement que par coulissement. Tout dégagement perpendiculaire à la direction de coulissement est empêché par les rebords 32. De manière à améliorer l'introduction au montage de la tige de poussoir 31 dans la gorge 33, l'extrémité 34 de la tige de poussoir 31 est également biseautée. Deux ergots 35 et 36 sont montés chacun de façon symétrique sur une face de la tige de poussoir 31. L'ergot 36 est susceptible de venir se loger dans l'orifice 24 de la bilame pour maintenir cette dernière dans une position donnée. L'ergot 35 sert d'appui à une branche 38 d'un ressort 37 en forme d' épingle à deux cheveux. Le ressort 37 est disposé à plat sous la bilame 17, autour d'un léger relief 40 et entre deux petits rebords 41 et 42 prévus au-dessus de petites ouvertures 43 ménagées dans la partie de fond 2, la branche 39 du ressort passée sous le rebord 42 et en appui sur une petite paroi verticale 44. L'ergot 35 est susceptible de se déplacer dans une ouverture rectangulaire 45 qui est alignée avec une autre ouverture rectangulaire 46 ménagée entre les rebords latéraux 32. Les différentes ouvertures 43, 45 et 46 ainsi ménagées dans la paroi de fond 2 permettent une aération de l'intérieur du boîtier ce qui évite d'élever inconsidérément la température à l'intérieur du boîtier lors de la production des étincelles de rupture des contacts.A reset button 28 is mounted in the bottom part 2 of the housing 1. The enlarged head 29 is guided in a notch 30 formed in said part 2, while the push rod 31 which is flat, is guided by two lateral flanges 32 arranged above a groove 33 in which the push rod moves. In this way, the push rod 31 cannot come out of its guide groove other than by sliding. Any release perpendicular to the sliding direction is prevented by the flanges 32. In order to improve the introduction to the mounting of the push rod 31 in the groove 33, the end 34 of the push rod 31 is also bevelled. Two lugs 35 and 36 are each mounted symmetrically on one face of the push rod 31. The lug 36 is capable of being received in the orifice 24 of the bimetallic strip to maintain the latter in a given position. The lug 35 serves to support a branch 38 of a spring 37 in the form of a two-hairpin. The spring 37 is arranged flat under the bimetallic strip 17, around a slight relief 40 and between two small flanges 41 and 42 provided above small openings 43 formed in the bottom part 2, the branch 39 of the spring passed under the rim 42 and resting on a small vertical wall 44. The lug 35 is capable of moving in a rectangular opening 45 which is aligned with another rectangular opening 46 formed between the lateral flanges 32. The different openings 43, 45 and 46 thus formed in the bottom wall 2 allow ventilation of the interior of the housing which avoids rashly raising the temperature inside the housing during the production of contact break sparks.

Enfin, le boîtier comprend des attaches latérales sectionnables 50 qui relient entre eux les boî tiers 1 de manière à permettre une fabrication en série sous la forme d'un chapelet susceptible d'être enroulé en bande.Finally, the housing comprises sectionable lateral fasteners 50 which connect the third boxes 1 to one another so as to allow mass production in the form of a chain which can be wound in a strip.

Le fonctionnement du disjoncteur selon l'invention est le suivant.The operation of the circuit breaker according to the invention is as follows.

En position de repos, les contacts 25 et 26 en appui l'un sur l'autre, le poussoir 28 est dans la position enfoncée, l'ergot 36 étant alors engagé dans l'orifice 24 de la bilame 17.In the rest position, the contacts 25 and 26 resting on each other, the pusher 28 is in the depressed position, the lug 36 then being engaged in the orifice 24 of the bimetallic strip 17.

Lorsque par le passage d'un courant électrique, la température de la bilame 17 atteint une valeur prédeterminée en fonction du calibrage du disjoncteur, la bilame 17 se déforme brusquement dans le sens opposé au bombement de la calotte sphérique centrale, coupant einsi la liaison électrique entre les contacts 25 et 26. Le movement de la bilame 17 a pour effet de libérer l'ergot 35 et le poussoir 28 est sollicité vers une position dégagée par l'action du ressort 37 qui se détend,maintenant ainsi les contacts 25, 26 ouverts quand la bilame se refroidit, la bilame, après refroidissement, restant en butée sur l'ergot 36. Le réarmement manuel du disjoncteur est effectué par un enfoncement du poussoir 28 afin d'amener l'ergot 35 dans l'orifice 24 de la bilame. Comme on peut le constater, le poussoir 28 ne se déplacenullement entre les contacts 25 et 26 et ne touche donc pas ces derniers. Il s'ensuit que le poussoir ne peut être déformé ou usé par les étincelles de rupture des contacts 25 et 26. De plus, les contacts 25 et 26 sont eux-mêmes protégés et ne peuvent être pollués par de la matière qui se glisserait entre eux.When, by the passage of an electric current, the temperature of the bimetallic strip 17 reaches a predetermined value as a function of the calibration of the circuit breaker, the bimetallic strip 17 suddenly deforms in the direction opposite to the bulging of the central spherical cap, thereby cutting the electrical connection between the contacts 25 and 26. The movement of the bimetallic strip 17 has the effect of releasing the lug 35 and the pusher 28 is biased towards a position released by the action of the spring 37 which relaxes, thus maintaining the contacts 25, 26 open when the bimetallic strip cools, the bimetallic strip, after cooling, remaining in abutment on the lug 36. The manual resetting of the circuit breaker is effected by depressing the pusher 28 in order to bring the lug 35 into the orifice 24 of the bimetallic strip. As can be seen, the pusher 28 does not move between the contacts 25 and 26 and therefore does not touch the latter. It follows that the pusher cannot be deformed or worn by the sparks of rupture of the contacts 25 and 26. In addition, the contacts 25 and 26 are themselves protected and cannot be polluted by material which would slip between them.

La variante représentée schématiquement sur la figure 4 montre que la liaison entre la languette courte 8 et la bilame 17 peut être réalisée par tout moyen approprié sur un appendice 50 de la bilame 17 de manière à améliorer, si besoin était, la densité de courant dans ladite bilame 17.The variant shown schematically in Figure 4 shows that the connection between the short tongue 8 and the bimetallic strip 17 can be achieved by any suitable means on an appendage 50 of the bimetallic strip 17 so as to improve, if necessary, the current density in said bimetallic strip 17.

Claims (5)

  1. A flat circuit breaker, of the type comprising a housing (1) containing a quick-acting bimetal element (17), a mobile contact (25) mounted on said bimetal element, connecting tabs (7, 8) being fixed and coplanar, one of said tabs connected to said bimetallic element through a fixed connection (27), the other (7) of said tabs including a fixed contact (26) cooperating with said mobile contact (25), a flat reset pushbutton (28) for resetting the bimetal element (17), a spring means (37) for moving the pushbutton (28) towards a disengaged position,
       characterized in that the bimetal element is a snap rounded disk produced from a flat disk shaped according to two different-radii spheres, so as to obtain a bimetal element having a central portion (18) bounded by a crown (19), and in that said fixed connection (27) and said mobile contact (25) are located on said crown (19), said fixed connection (27) and said mobile contact (25) being diametrically opposed along a diameter of said bimetallic element, said diameter being inclined with respect to a median plane (12) passing through the center of said bimetal element and between said coplanar connecting tabs (7, 8).
  2. The flat circuit breaker in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that said bimetal element includes a third central orifice (20).
  3. The circuit breaker in accordance with either of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said bimetal element (17) is composed on its inner side of a zero coefficient of expansion material, made in particular of an iron-nickel-chronium base, and on its outer side of a positive, high coefficient of expansion alloy.
  4. The circuit breaker in accordance with claim 3, characterized in that a layer of nickel or copper is interposed between the materials constituting the inner and outer sides.
  5. The outer breaker in accordance with one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said bimetal element (17) is pre-calibrated for temperatures, preferably at 140°C.
EP87402290A 1986-10-27 1987-10-14 Flat bimetal circuit breaker Expired - Lifetime EP0268508B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8614889 1986-10-27
FR8614889A FR2605798A1 (en) 1986-10-27 1986-10-27 FLAT CIRCUIT BREAKER IN BILAME

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0268508A1 EP0268508A1 (en) 1988-05-25
EP0268508B1 true EP0268508B1 (en) 1992-05-06

Family

ID=9340220

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87402290A Expired - Lifetime EP0268508B1 (en) 1986-10-27 1987-10-14 Flat bimetal circuit breaker

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US4801913A (en)
EP (1) EP0268508B1 (en)
DE (1) DE3778835D1 (en)
ES (1) ES2031149T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2605798A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5742464A (en) * 1994-07-12 1998-04-21 Ceola; Giacomo Heat responsive power interrupting device
US6707368B2 (en) * 2001-07-18 2004-03-16 Cooper Technologies Company Manually trippable circuit breaker

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL236328A (en) * 1959-02-26
US3311725A (en) * 1965-10-23 1967-03-28 Mechanical Products Inc Circuit breaker with lost motion lockout member for interposing between contacts
GB1542253A (en) * 1976-05-07 1979-03-14 Taylor J Electric switches
DE2640181C2 (en) * 1976-09-07 1985-03-28 Peter 7530 Pforzheim Hofsäss Electric temperature switch
DE3342144A1 (en) * 1983-11-22 1985-05-30 Ellenberger & Poensgen Gmbh, 8503 Altdorf PUSH BUTTON-ACTIVATED OVERCURRENT CIRCUIT BREAKER
DE8521611U1 (en) * 1985-07-26 1988-10-20 Ellenberger & Poensgen Gmbh, 8503 Altdorf Push-button operated overcurrent protection switch
DE8522254U1 (en) * 1985-08-02 1985-09-26 Ellenberger & Poensgen Gmbh, 8503 Altdorf Overcurrent protection switch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0268508A1 (en) 1988-05-25
FR2605798A1 (en) 1988-04-29
DE3778835D1 (en) 1992-06-11
US4801913A (en) 1989-01-31
ES2031149T3 (en) 1992-12-01

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