EP0274624B1 - Protective circuit-breaking switch with a hand mechanism - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a manually operated circuit breaker according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such circuit breakers are known as motor circuit breakers, the triggering behavior (up to 12 times the starting current) are matched to the electric motor to be protected, or as circuit breakers to protect electrical lines or systems against thermal overload or short circuit damage. The tripping behavior and thus the use of such circuit breakers are determined by the thermal and short-circuit tripping values.

In such a known motor protection switch with interchangeable overcurrent release block (CH-PS 319 019), a particularly space-saving design is to be achieved in that the direction of extraction of the release block forms an angle of at least 10 ° with the perpendicular to the switch mounting level. In addition to the easy interchangeability of the trigger block, this arrangement should also make it easy to check the contacts, the individual parts of which can be replaced in a simple manner.

The invention has for its object to provide a manually operated circuit breaker according to the preamble of claim 1 so that in addition to simple handling also a safe definition of the trigger block is guaranteed when the circuit breaker is switched on and the trigger block can only be removed when the circuit breaker is switched off.

This object is achieved according to the invention essentially by the characterizing part of claim 1, while particularly advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in claims 2 to 12.

The manually operated circuit breaker according to the invention has the advantage of a plug-in trigger block which can be exchanged without any special measures and with which a switch can be matched to the application "on site" or, if necessary, its values can be changed. At the same time, the release block can be pulled as a visible disconnection point when working on the electrical system or on the protected electric motor, so that the cable run is safely interrupted. It is important that the openings for the plug contacts are finger-safe and thus secured against unintentional contact.

For easy handling, the trigger block has a pivotable safety flap with a window-like cutout for the manual control knob of the circuit breaker, which can be used on the one hand as a handle. On the other hand, this safety flap is blocked in the switched-on state by the operating element of the circuit breaker, namely by the manual control knob. As a result, the trigger block cannot be pulled out of the switch combination when it is switched on.

• 1. Plombierbarkeit:
  Der Schalter hat eine Plombieröse, die durch eine Öffnung der Sicherheitsklappe ragt und diese nach Plombierung sperrt.
• 2. Abschließbarkeit des Bedienungsorgans:
  Der Sperrschieber des Bedienungsknebels läßt sich in der AUS-Stellung des Schutzschalters so verschieben, daß einerseits eine Einhängeöffnung für ein Bügelschloß frei wird, und andererseits läßt sich der Sperrschieber über einen Nocken bzw. über eine Sperrnase an der Frontseite des Schutzschalters schieben, so daß der Handbedienungsknebel in der durch das Bügelschloß gesicherten Sperrstellung nicht mehr drehbar ist.
• 3. Verstellschutz:
  In der Sicherheitsklappe sind fensterartige Öffnungen vorgesehen, durch die die verstellbaren Auslöseskalen für den Überlast- und den Kurzschlußauslöser sichtbar sind. In diese fensterartigen Öffnungen ragen seitliche Verstellschutznasen hinein, die den Schraubendreher-Schlitz der Auslöserskalen verdecken und damit eine unerwünschte Verstellung der Skalen verhindern.

The trigger block has further advantages in connection with the safety flap:

• 1. Sealability:
  The switch has a sealing eyelet that protrudes through an opening in the safety flap and locks it after sealing.
• 2. Lockability of the control unit:
  The locking slide of the control knob can be moved in the OFF position of the circuit breaker so that on the one hand a hanging opening for a padlock is free, and on the other hand the locking slide can be pushed over a cam or over a locking lug on the front of the circuit breaker, so that the Manual control knob can no longer be rotated in the locked position secured by the padlock.
• 3. Adjustment protection:
  Window-like openings are provided in the safety flap, through which the adjustable release scales for the overload and short-circuit release are visible. Lateral adjustment protrusions protrude into these window-like openings, which cover the screwdriver slot of the trigger scales and thus prevent undesired adjustment of the scales.

Furthermore, on the inside of the safety flap, engagement openings for coding pins are provided, which are directed from the front of the circuit breaker housing against the inside of the safety flap and only allow the safety flap to be closed and thus the manual control knob on the circuit breaker to be actuated only if the trigger block coded for the corresponding purpose has been mounted on the circuit breaker.

An outstanding feature of the combination according to the invention of a manually operated circuit breaker with an overcurrent release block is also the inevitable electrical shutdown of the actuator when the operating member or the manual control knob of the circuit breaker is closed in the OFF position. Here, by shifting the locking slide of the manual control knob, a switching flap on the adjacent actuator is moved in such a way that a switching device is held in the actuator in the open position. This prevents in a simple and particularly advantageous manner that, when the circuit breaker is secured by a padlock, it can be switched on in an impermissible manner by the remotely operated actuator.

Fig. 1

einen handbetätigten Schutzschalter mit steckbarem Überstrom-Auslöserblock und ferngeschaltetem Stellantrieb in Verbindung mit einem anklemmbaren Schütz in perspektivischer Ansicht, wobei die nach einem Baukastensystem zueinander passenden Bausatz-Komponenten in auseinandergezogener Darstellung gezeigt sind,

Fig. 2

den Schutzschalter mit Bausatz-Komponenten gemäß Fig. 1 in zusammengestecktem Zustand vor der Verriegelung des Überstrom-Auslöserblockes am Schutzschalter,

Fig. 3

eine Teildarstellung der Frontseite des Schutzschalters mit daran verriegeltem Auslöserblock in einer Einschaltstellung des Schutzschalters,

Fig. 4

eine teilweise Schnittdarstellung gemäß Schnittlinie IV - IV von Fig. 3 in der dort gezeigten Einschaltstellung,

Fig. 5

einen Schnitt gemäß Schnittlinie IV - IV von Fig. 3 in der Null- bzw. Ausschaltstellung des Schutzschalters mit ungesichertem Handbedienungsknebel,

Fig. 6

eine Schnittdarstellung gemäß Schnittlinie IV -IV von Fig. 3 in einer Verriegelungsstellung des Handbedienungsknebels unter gleichzeitiger Ausschaltung des benachbarten Stellantriebes,

Fig. 7

eine teilweise Vorderansicht des Schutzschalters in der Verriegelungsstellung von Fig. 6 in Richtung des Pfeiles VII von Fig. 6,

Fig. 8

eine Sicherung des Schutzschalters in der Verriegelungsstellung von Fig. 7 mittels eines Vorhängeschlosses,

Fig. 9

eine Seitenansicht der Schalterkombination von Fig. 2 nach Ziehen des Überstrom-Auslöserblockes in der Null- bzw. Ausschaltstellung des Handbedienungsknebels am Schutzschalter und

Fig. 10

die Schalterkombination nach dem Ziehen des Über-strom-Auslöserblockes in Vorderansicht gemäß Linie X - X von Fig. 9.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in the drawing. Show it

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a manually operated circuit breaker with plug-in overcurrent release block and remote-controlled actuator in connection with a clampable contactor, the modular components being shown in an exploded view,

Fig. 2

1 in the assembled state before the overcurrent trip block is locked on the circuit breaker,

Fig. 3

a partial view of the front of the circuit breaker with the release block locked to it in an on position of the circuit breaker,

Fig. 4

3 shows a partial sectional view according to section line IV-IV of FIG. 3 in the switch-on position shown there,

Fig. 5

3 shows a section according to section line IV-IV of FIG. 3 in the zero or off position of the circuit breaker with an unsecured manual control knob,

Fig. 6

3 shows a sectional view according to section line IV-IV of FIG. 3 in a locked position of the manual control knob with simultaneous switching off of the adjacent actuator,

Fig. 7

6 shows a partial front view of the circuit breaker in the locked position of FIG. 6 in the direction of arrow VII of FIG. 6,

Fig. 8

securing the circuit breaker in the locked position of FIG. 7 by means of a padlock,

Fig. 9

a side view of the switch combination of FIG. 2 after pulling the overcurrent release block in the zero or off position of the manual control knob on the circuit breaker and

Fig. 10

the switch combination after pulling the overcurrent release block in front view according to line X - X of FIG. 9.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the manually operated circuit breaker 1 is part of a pluggable switch combination, the components of which are designed according to the modular system and essentially from the manually operated one Circuit breaker 1, an overcurrent release block 2 and a remote mechanical actuator 3 for the circuit breaker 1 exist. A contactor 4 provided with appropriate connections can also be connected to this switch combination.

The manually operated circuit breaker 1 is used for motor protection and / or line protection. It has a manual control knob 6 which can be rotated about an axis 5 and which can be rotated on an overhanging housing part 7 of the circuit breaker 1 about an axis 5 which is preferably perpendicular to the mounting plane 8 of the switch 1.

Below the cantilevered housing part 7 of the circuit breaker 1 there is a visible isolating section 9 for the pluggable, interchangeable overcurrent release block 2, which can be inserted on the switch housing next to the cantilevered housing part 7 parallel to the axis 5 of the manual control knob 6 and one the front 10 of the switch housing 1 ring around the hand control gag 6 has a safety device 11 covering it like a frame with a window-like recess 12 for the hand control gag 6. The recess 12 has such a rectangular, elongated shape that it forms a passage opening for the manual control knob 6 of the circuit breaker 1 in its zero or off position of FIGS. 1 and 2 and engages behind the manual control knob 6 in its switched-on positions of FIGS. 3 and 4 that the trigger block 2 is secured by the manual control knob 6 against withdrawal from the switch housing 1.

As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 1 to 7 in detail, the manual control knob 6 is on the flat front side 10 of the switch housing 1 near the lower edge 13 of the rectangular upper housing part which projects horizontally forward from the fastening rear side 8 of the switch housing 7 rotatably mounted. It is designed as a substantially elongated flat toggle handle 6 receiving the axis of rotation 5, which extends in the zero position of the circuit breaker 1 with its handle longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the lower front edge 13 of the projecting housing part 7 and in its switched-on position 3 and 4, at least with its handle end 14, overlaps the safety frame 11 on the trigger block 2 next to the window-like recess 12 in a locking manner.

The safety device 11 on the trigger block 2 is designed as a safety flap 15 and is pivoted about a horizontal axis 15a on the lower front edge 2a of the trigger block 2 such that it is used on the one hand as a handle for pulling the trigger block 2 out of the switch combination and on the other hand as a safety element for securing the Trigger block 2 in the insertion position of FIGS. 2 to 8 on the switch combination, specifically on the flat front 10 of the circuit breaker 1, can serve.

As can also be seen in FIGS. 1 to 3, the safety flap 15 has two circular openings 16, 17 for the trigger scales 18, 19 of overload and / or short-circuit releases, below the window-like recess 12 for the manual control knob 6, from the edge of the two Circular openings each protrude an adjustment protector 20 radially inward, which cover the adjustment slots 18a, 19a for screwdrivers or the like on the release scales 18, 19 in the securing position of the safety flap 15, as shown in FIG. 3. Each adjustment protection nose 20 is provided with a predetermined breaking point 21.

In addition, the safety flap 15, in addition to the window-like cutout 12 for the manual control knob 6, has a plurality of bores 22 for indicator or coding pins 23, which can optionally be inserted into bores 23a on the front side 10 of the projecting switch housing and can be programmed in such a way that only the circuit breaker 1 an overcurrent release block 2 suitable for the respective application can be installed. For this purpose, suitable pins are inserted into the bores of the switch housing and the safety flap 15, so that, when correctly assigned, a pin and a hole meet each other and the safety flap 15 can be closed, which is otherwise not possible.

From the front 10 of the switch housing, there is also a pull-through eye 24 for a sealing wire for fixing the safety flap 15 and the trigger block 2 on the switch housing.

Furthermore, the hand control gag 6 has at its handle end 14 a locking slide 25, which can be extended transversely to the axis of rotation 5, with an opening 26 for a locking element 27, such as a hook-and-loop lock, and with a locking slot 28, which runs in the longitudinal direction of the locking slide 26 and extends in the Locked position of the hand control knob 6 over a protruding from the front 10 of the circuit breaker 1 locking lug 29, so that the hand control knob 6 is secured by the locking slide 25 in the closed position of FIGS. 6 to 8 against rotation.

The locking slide 25 on the hand control toggle 6 has such a length that in its extended locking position from FIGS. 6 to 8 it preferably extends to the side edge 30 of the circuit breaker housing in this way is enough that he moves a switching device that protrudes laterally from the actuator 3 mounted next to the circuit breaker 1 into another switching position. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 7, this is a switching flap 31 on the actuator 3, which can be moved laterally parallel to the front side 10 of the circuit breaker 1 and is used for an inevitable electrical shutdown of the actuator 3 by means of an auxiliary switch provided in the actuator 3.

To ensure that the circuit breaker 1 in the zero or. 7 and 8 cannot be switched on in an impermissible manner by the adjacent remote-controlled actuator 3, the laterally displaceable switching flap 31 on the actuator 3 has a nose 32 which protrudes against the manual control knob 6 and which, when the manual control knob 6 is unsecured and the actuator 3 is switched on 3 to 5, the front 10 of the switch housing protrudes laterally, but when the manual control knob 6 is locked with the extended slide 25 according to FIGS. 6 to 8 is pushed aside such that the switching flap 31 has a front housing part 33 with a switching symbol 34 for zero - or off position of the actuator 3 releases, which additionally ensures that even when the circuit breaker 1 is switched off, the circuit breaker 1 cannot be switched on by the adjacent remote-controlled actuator 3.

Claims (12)

1. A manually operated protective switch comprising a manually operated toggle, rotatable about a pivot pin, for the protection of motors and/or conductors and comprising a plug-in exchangeable overload circuit breaker block, characterised in that the manually operated toggle (6) on a protruding housing component (7) of the protective switch (1) is rotatable about a pivot pin (5) preferably extending perpendicularly to the attachment plane (8) of the switch (1), and that the overload circuit breaker block (2) can be inserted in the switch housing next to the protruding housing component (7) in parallel to the pivot pin (5) of the manually operated toggle (6) and comprises a safety device (11) which, in the manner of a frame, covers the switch housing around the manually operated toggle (6) and which contains a window-like opening (12) for the manually operated toggle (6) which forms a passage for the manually operated toggle (6) in its zero position and engages peripherally behind the manually operated toggle (6) in its switched on positions in such manner that the circuit breaker block (2) is prevented by the manually operated toggle (6) from being removed from the protective switch (1).
2. A manually operated protective switch as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the manually operated toggle (6) is rotatably mounted on the front side (10) of the switch housing close to the lower edge (13) of a parallelepiped shaped housing component (7) which protrudes horizontally forwards from the attaching rear side (8) of the switch housing.
3. A manually operated protective switch as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the manually operated toggle (6) is formed by a substantially oblong handle which, in the zero position of the protective switch (1), with its handle longitudinal axis extends substantially in parallel to the lower front edge (13) of the protruding housing component (7) and, in its switched on position, at least with its handle end (14) engages peripherally over the safety frame (11) of the circuit breaker block (2) next to the window-like opening (12) in locking fashion.
4. A manually operated protective switch as claimed in one or more of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the safety device (11) is formed by a safety flap (15) and is mounted on the circuit breaker block (2) so as to be pivotable about a horizontal pivot pin (15a) preferably on the lower front edge (2a) of the circuit breaker block (2).
5. A manually operated protective switch as claimed in one or more of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the safety flap (15) contains openings (16, 17) for the circuit breaker dials (18, 19) of overload- and/or short-circuit circuit breakers with adjustment protection noses (20) which cover the adjustment slots (18a, 19a) for screw-drivers or the like of the circuit breaker dials radially from the edge of the openings (16, 17).
6. A manually operated protective switch as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that each adjustment protection nose (20) is provided with a theoretical breakage point (21).
7. A manually operated protective switch as claimed in one or more of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that next to the window opening (12) for the manually operated toggle (6) the safety flap (15) contains engagement holes (22) for indicator pins (23) which project from the front side (10) of the protruding switch housing towards the inside of the safety flap (15).
8. A manually operated protective switch as claimed in one or more of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that a penetrating lug (24) for a lead-sealing wire for fixing the safety flap (15) and the circuit breaker block (2) to the switch housing projects from the front side (10) of the switch housing.
9. A manually operated protective switch as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that at its handle end (14) the manually operated toggle (6) comprises a blocking slide (25) which is extendable transversely to the pivot pin (5) and which contains an opening (26) for a locking element (27), such as a shackle lock, and a locking slot (28) which, in the locked position of the manually operated toggle (6), slides over a blocking nose (29) projecting from the front side (10) of the protective switch (1) so that the manually operated toggle (6) is prevented from rotating by the blocking slide (25) in the locked position.
10. A manually operated protective switch as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the length of the blocking slide (25) of the manually operated toggle (6) is such that in its extended blocking position it preferably extends to the lateral edge (30) of the protective switch housing in such manner that it moves a switching device, which projects laterally from an attachment mounted next to the protective switch (1), into a different switching position.
11. A manually operated protective switch as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that preferably a remote controlled actuating drive (3), provided with a switching flap (31), laterally displaceable in parallel to the front side (10) of the protective switch (1), for the automatic electrical disconnection of the actuating drive (3) can be mounted next to the protective switch (1).
12. A manually operated protective switch as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the laterally displaceable switching flap (31) of the actuating drive (3) comprises a nose (32) which extends towards the manually operated toggle (6) and which, when the manually operated toggle (6) is unlocked and the actuating drive (3) is switched on, projects laterally beyond the front side (10) of the switch housing and, when the manually operated toggle (6) is locked and the blocking slide (25) is extended, is moved towards the side in such manner that the switching flap (31) exposes a front housing component (33) with a switching symbol (34) for the zero or switched off position of the actuating drive (3).

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