EP0403328A1 - Improvements to electrical switch apparatus - Google Patents

Improvements to electrical switch apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0403328A1
EP0403328A1 EP90401430A EP90401430A EP0403328A1 EP 0403328 A1 EP0403328 A1 EP 0403328A1 EP 90401430 A EP90401430 A EP 90401430A EP 90401430 A EP90401430 A EP 90401430A EP 0403328 A1 EP0403328 A1 EP 0403328A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
contact
fixed
movable contact
arc
horn
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP90401430A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Denis Deckert
Michel Huck
Jean-Marie Roiatti
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Hager Electro SAS
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Hager Electro SAS
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Publication date
Application filed by Hager Electro SAS filed Critical Hager Electro SAS
Publication of EP0403328A1 publication Critical patent/EP0403328A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/30—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
    • H01H9/46—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts using arcing horns

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an improvement to electrical breaking devices, such as in particular circuit breakers, switches, differential switches, that is to say electrical devices comprising at least one fixed contact and at least one movable contact capable of interrupt the flow of current when it is away from the moving contact.
  • electrical breaking devices such as in particular circuit breakers, switches, differential switches, that is to say electrical devices comprising at least one fixed contact and at least one movable contact capable of interrupt the flow of current when it is away from the moving contact.
  • devices of this kind In switching devices of this kind, which are intended to operate at relatively high intensities, the opening of the contacts, that is to say the separation of the movable contact from its fixed contact, separation which is generally seeks to make it as quick as possible, leads to the formation of an electric arc which tends to rapidly deteriorate the contacts and questions the reliability and longevity of the device.
  • devices of this kind generally include a breaking chamber located in the vicinity of the fixed and movable contacts and the purpose of which is to rapidly attract the arc which tends to form between the contacts at the time of their separation, then cause the arc to go out.
  • Such an interrupting chamber extends behind the fixed contacts and movable, that is to say on the side opposite to the direction of opening of the movable contact, between a switching electrode electrically connected to the fixed contact and an arc quenching sheet electrically connected to the movable contact, the chamber containing, between these two parts, an arc extinguishing cage.
  • These breaking chambers thus arranged, allow the electrodynamic forces generated by the short-circuit currents at the time of separation, to attract the arc far from the place of its birth, that is to say from surfaces of contact adjacent to the movable and fixed contacts, towards the chamber itself where the arc switching takes place between the switching electrode and the sheet metal connected to the movable contact.
  • the existing interrupting chambers thus allow a significant reduction in the erosion of the contacts due to the electric arc.
  • this erosion still gradually leads to deterioration of the device.
  • the present invention therefore proposes to remedy these drawbacks and improvements to the electric cut-off devices of the aforementioned type, so as to further increase their longevity and reduce the erosion due to the formation of the arc.
  • the subject of the invention is an electrical breaking device, in particular of the circuit breaker, switch or differential switch type, comprising at least one fixed contact and at least one movable contact, generally carried by a contact carrier, and capable, in the position of closing, to be applied against the fixed contact to ensure electrical continuity between the two contact points of the fixed and mobile contacts, and an open position remote from the fixed contact, and a breaking chamber located on the side opposite to the direction contact opening and extending between a switching electrode connected to the fixed contact circuit and an arc guide plate located opposite and at a certain distance from the switching electrode and electrically connected to the movable contact, the chamber preferably comprising an arc extinguishing cage of a conventional type, said apparatus being characterized in that the movable contact has an elongated arc guide horn extending obliquely towards the arc guide plate, the end of which is not far apart, this arc horn cooperating with a fixed arc horn disposed between the movable contact and the switching electrode, the arrangement of the two horns being such
  • the fixed contact has a contact surface proper formed by an elbow, one of the branches of which points towards the fixed arc horn upstream, the movable contact being articulated on an axis situated so that the movable contact moves away more quickly from the other branch of the fixed contact elbow than from the fixed horn.
  • the arc horn of the movable contact has a considerable length which can reach, for example, the distance separating the point of contact and the end of the upper arc guide plate.
  • the switching of the arc between the moving contact opening and the arc extinguishing plate takes place at a place where the speed of movement of the arc, which has traveled the movable contact horn is important, but before the arc is in its state of maximum elongation, due to the relative spatial arrangements of the fixed and movable horns, so that the switching is greatly facilitated.
  • the invention thus makes it possible to obtain a reduction in the stagnation time of the arc between the contacts, and therefore a reduction in the erosion of the contacts, in particular at the level of the contact surfaces, a reduction in the travel time of the arc and a reduced risk of re-ignition.
  • the invention can therefore be applied with particularly high efficiency, in cases where the separation speeds of the contacts obtained are high.
  • the device shown in Figure 1 is a circuit breaker, the details of which will not be described.
  • This circuit breaker has two circuits, namely a phase circuit and a neutral circuit and the breaking chamber which will be described is the phase breaking chamber, the neutral breaking chamber being also identical.
  • the phase circuit comprises a terminal 1, of the cage terminal type, formed by the extension of a yoke 2 inside which is mounted a tripping coil 3, connected by one of its ends 4, to the breech and allowing, during the sudden appearance of an overcurrent, the sudden displacement of a core 5, connected to a rod 6 whose end comes to move a trigger lever 7 articulated in its middle 8 relative to the housing an apparatus, the other end 9 of the trigger lever being intended on the one hand to release a pawl from a lock mechanism which will not be described in detail and on the other hand to propel the mobile contact.
  • the second end 10 is electrically connected to a fixed contact piece 11, fixed, with the interposition of an insulator, on the cylinder head 2.
  • this fixed contact piece is clearly seen in Figures 2 and 3. It comprises from the bottom, after a return 12, a part extending obliquely forward, 13, up to an elbow 14 forming the fixed point of contact proper, elbow from which the part extends obliquely back on a part 15 to a new bend 16 forming the arcing horn of the fixed contact. From this arc horn, the part returns downwards in the direction of the breech, then extends parallel to the latter on a part 17 forming the arc guide electrode.
  • an arc guide plate 18 parallel to the electrode 17 and forming part of a part 19 of the phase circuit and having a small horn 20 opposite the fixed horn 16, after which the part 19 is extended with adequate returns, up to the second phase terminal 21.
  • the movable contact 22 is carried by a contact carrier 23, forming part of the mechanism which will not be described in detail. In a manner known per se, it can tilt slightly with respect to the contact holder itself in order to ensure the contact pressure thanks to a powerful contact spring 24.
  • the movable contact 22 has a head 25 at which it is, geometrically, articulated around the axis 26 for its pivoting between the contact closed position shown in Figure 2 and the contact open position shown in Figure 3.
  • the contact also has a body 27 provided with a window 28 through which a finger can pass from the upper end 9 of the trigger lever 7 and it is understood, with reference to FIG.
  • a body 29 is attached to the body 27, the contact point 30 of which comes into contact with the contact point 14 of the fixed contact.
  • the lower end of the tail 29 carries an extremely flexible conductive braid 31 which is also welded to the part 19 to ensure electrical continuity between the movable contact 22 and the terminal 21.
  • a movable contact horn 32 directed obliquely up to the vicinity of the small horn 20 of the part 19.
  • the length of this horn 32 is, in the case shown by way of example , of the order of half the distance between parts 17 and 18.
  • the breaking chamber according to the invention is thus formed by the space 33 located at the rear of the movable contact, between the horns 16, 20 and the parts 17, 18.
  • the contact surfaces 14 and 30 are in contact under the pressure exerted by the powerful spring 24.
  • the current first passes through the coil 3 then the fixed contact, the movable contact, the braid 31 and the terminal 21.
  • the end of the horn 32 is placed in the immediate vicinity of the small horn 20.

Abstract

The moving contact (22), articulated at its upper part (26), is arranged so as to move away more rapidly from the electrically-downstream part (13) of the stationary contact than from the electrically-upstream part (15) pointing towards the stationary arc tip (16), relative to the point of contact proper (14), the moving contact offering a moving arc tip (32) pointing towards a sheet metal arc-guide (18) situated opposite the commutating electrode (17) in the cut-off chamber (33). <IMAGE>

Description

La présente invention a trait à un perfectionnement aux appareils électriques de coupure, tels que notamment dis­joncteurs, interrupteurs, interrupteurs différentiels, c'est-à-dire à des appareils électriques comprenant au moins un contact fixe et au moins un contact mobile susceptible d'interrompre le passage du courant lorsqu'il est éloigné du contact mobile.The present invention relates to an improvement to electrical breaking devices, such as in particular circuit breakers, switches, differential switches, that is to say electrical devices comprising at least one fixed contact and at least one movable contact capable of interrupt the flow of current when it is away from the moving contact.

Dans des appareils de coupure de ce genre, qui sont destinés à fonctionner à des intensités relativement élevées, l'ouverture des contacts, c'est-à-dire la séparation du contact mobile d'avec son contact fixe, séparation que l'on cherche en général à rendre la plus rapide possible, conduit à la formation d'un arc électrique qui tend à détériorer rapidement les contacts et met en question la fiabilité et la longévité de l'appareil. C'est pourquoi les appareils de ce genre comprennent, en général, une chambre de coupure située au voisinage des contacts fixe et mobile et dont le but est d'attirer rapidement l'arc qui tend à se former entre les contacts au moment de leur séparation, puis de provoquer l'extinction de l'arc. Une telle chambre de coupure s'étend, derrière les contacts fixe et mobile, c'est-à-dire du côté opposé à la direction d'ouverture du contact mobile, entre une électrode de commu­tation électriquement reliée au contact fixe et une tôle d'extinction d'arc électriquement reliée au contact mobile, la chambre contenant, entre ces deux pièces, une cage d'extinction d'arc. Ces chambres de coupure, ainsi agencées, permettent aux forces électrodynamiques générées par les courants de court-circuit au moment de la séparation, d'attirer l'arc loin de l'endroit de sa nais­sance, c'est-à-dire des surfaces de contact voisines des contacts mobile et fixe, vers la chambre elle-même où s'effectue la commutation de l'arc entre l'électrode de com­mutation et la tôle relié au contact mobile.In switching devices of this kind, which are intended to operate at relatively high intensities, the opening of the contacts, that is to say the separation of the movable contact from its fixed contact, separation which is generally seeks to make it as quick as possible, leads to the formation of an electric arc which tends to rapidly deteriorate the contacts and questions the reliability and longevity of the device. This is why devices of this kind generally include a breaking chamber located in the vicinity of the fixed and movable contacts and the purpose of which is to rapidly attract the arc which tends to form between the contacts at the time of their separation, then cause the arc to go out. Such an interrupting chamber extends behind the fixed contacts and movable, that is to say on the side opposite to the direction of opening of the movable contact, between a switching electrode electrically connected to the fixed contact and an arc quenching sheet electrically connected to the movable contact, the chamber containing, between these two parts, an arc extinguishing cage. These breaking chambers, thus arranged, allow the electrodynamic forces generated by the short-circuit currents at the time of separation, to attract the arc far from the place of its birth, that is to say from surfaces of contact adjacent to the movable and fixed contacts, towards the chamber itself where the arc switching takes place between the switching electrode and the sheet metal connected to the movable contact.

Les chambres de coupure existantes permettent ainsi une diminution sensible de l'érosion des contacts dus à l'arc électrique. Toutefois, dans les appareils connus, cette érosion amène tout de même progressivement la détérioration de l'appareil.The existing interrupting chambers thus allow a significant reduction in the erosion of the contacts due to the electric arc. However, in known devices, this erosion still gradually leads to deterioration of the device.

La présente invention se propose donc de remédier à ces inconvénients et de perfectionnements les appareils élec­triques de coupure du type précité, de façon à augmenter encore leur longévité et diminuer l'érosion due à la forma­tion de l'arc.The present invention therefore proposes to remedy these drawbacks and improvements to the electric cut-off devices of the aforementioned type, so as to further increase their longevity and reduce the erosion due to the formation of the arc.

L'invention a pour objet un appareil électrique de coupure, notamment du type disjoncteur, interrupteur ou interrupteur différentiel, comprenant au moins un contact fixe et au moins un contact mobile, en général porté par un porte-contact, et susceptible, en position de fermeture, de s'appliquer contre le contact fixe pour assurer une con­tinuité électrique entre les deux points de contact des con­tacts fixe et mobile, et une position d'ouverture éloignée du contact fixe, et une chambre de coupure située du côté opposé à la direction d'ouverture de contact et s'étendant entre une électrode de commutation reliée au circuit de con­tact fixe et une tôle de guidage d'arc située en face et à une certaine distance de l'électrode de commutation et électriquement reliée au contact mobile, la chambre comprenant, de préférence, une cage d'extinction d'arc d'un type usuel, ledit appareil étant caractérisé en ce que le contact mobile présente une corne de guidage d'arc allongée s'étendant obliquement vers la tôle de guidage d'arc, dont son extrémité est peu éloignée, cette corne d'arc coopérant avec une corne d'arc fixe disposée entre le contact mobile et l'électrode de commutation, l'agencement des deux cornes étant tel que le trajet d'arc entre, les deux cornes, à l'ouverture du contact mobile, se trouve situé du côté de la chambre de coupure.The subject of the invention is an electrical breaking device, in particular of the circuit breaker, switch or differential switch type, comprising at least one fixed contact and at least one movable contact, generally carried by a contact carrier, and capable, in the position of closing, to be applied against the fixed contact to ensure electrical continuity between the two contact points of the fixed and mobile contacts, and an open position remote from the fixed contact, and a breaking chamber located on the side opposite to the direction contact opening and extending between a switching electrode connected to the fixed contact circuit and an arc guide plate located opposite and at a certain distance from the switching electrode and electrically connected to the movable contact, the chamber preferably comprising an arc extinguishing cage of a conventional type, said apparatus being characterized in that the movable contact has an elongated arc guide horn extending obliquely towards the arc guide plate, the end of which is not far apart, this arc horn cooperating with a fixed arc horn disposed between the movable contact and the switching electrode, the arrangement of the two horns being such that the arc path between the two horns, at the opening of the movable contact, is located on the side of the switching chamber.

De façon avantageuse, le contact fixe présente une sur­face de contact proprement dit formée par un coude dont l'une des branches se dirige vers la corne d'arc fixe en amont, le contact mobile étant articulé sur un axe situé de façon telle que le contact mobile s'éloigne plus rapidement de l'autre branche du coude de contact fixe que de la corne fixe.Advantageously, the fixed contact has a contact surface proper formed by an elbow, one of the branches of which points towards the fixed arc horn upstream, the movable contact being articulated on an axis situated so that the movable contact moves away more quickly from the other branch of the fixed contact elbow than from the fixed horn.

Grâce à cette disposition le sens de déplacement de l'arc en sa phase initiale, au-delà du point de contact proprement dit du contact fixe, c'est-à-dire vers la corne d'arc fixe, est le même que celui provoqué par le champ magnétique induit par la géométrie en amont du point de con­tact. Le risque de réamorçage en amont du point de contact fixe est éliminé.Thanks to this arrangement, the direction of movement of the arc in its initial phase, beyond the point of contact proper of the fixed contact, that is to say towards the fixed arc horn, is the same as that caused by the magnetic field induced by the geometry upstream of the contact point. The risk of restriking upstream of the fixed contact point is eliminated.

Dans une forme de réalisation préférée, la corne d'arc du contact mobile possède une longueur importante pouvant atteindre par exemple la distance séparant le point de con­tact et l'extrémité de la tôle de guidage d'arc supérieure.In a preferred embodiment, the arc horn of the movable contact has a considerable length which can reach, for example, the distance separating the point of contact and the end of the upper arc guide plate.

Il en résulte que la commutation de l'arc entre le con­tact mobile en train de s'ouvrir et la tôle d'extinction de l'arc, s'effectue à un endroit où la vitesse de déplacement de l'arc, qui a parcouru la corne de contact mobile, est importante mais avant que l'arc se trouve dans son état d'allongement maximum, en raison des disposition spaciales relatives des cornes fixe et mobile, de sorte que la commutation se trouve grandement facilité.As a result, the switching of the arc between the moving contact opening and the arc extinguishing plate takes place at a place where the speed of movement of the arc, which has traveled the movable contact horn is important, but before the arc is in its state of maximum elongation, due to the relative spatial arrangements of the fixed and movable horns, so that the switching is greatly facilitated.

L'invention permet ainsi d'obtenir une diminution du temps de stagnation de l'arc entre les contacts, et donc une diminution de l'érosion des contacts, notamment au niveau des surfaces de contact, une diminution du temps de déplacement de l'arc et une réduction des risques de réamorçage.The invention thus makes it possible to obtain a reduction in the stagnation time of the arc between the contacts, and therefore a reduction in the erosion of the contacts, in particular at the level of the contact surfaces, a reduction in the travel time of the arc and a reduced risk of re-ignition.

L'invention peut donc être appliquée avec une effica­cité particulièrement grande, dans les cas où les vitesses de séparation des contacts obtenus sont élevées.The invention can therefore be applied with particularly high efficiency, in cases where the separation speeds of the contacts obtained are high.

D'autres avantages et caractéristiques de l'invention apparaîtront à la lecture de la description suivante, faite à titre d'exemple non limitatif et se référant au dessin annexé dans lequel :

  • la figure 1 représente une vue éclatée d'un disjoncteur incorporant l'invention,
  • la figure 2 représente une vue schématique en élévation de la chambre de coupure en position de contact fermé,
  • la figure 3 représente une vue schématique analogue à la figure 2, en position de contact ouvert.
Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given by way of nonlimiting example and referring to the appended drawing in which:
  • FIG. 1 represents an exploded view of a circuit breaker incorporating the invention,
  • FIG. 2 represents a schematic elevation view of the breaking chamber in the closed contact position,
  • 3 shows a schematic view similar to Figure 2, in the open contact position.

L'appareil représenté sur la figure 1 est un dis­joncteur dont le détail ne sera pas décrit. Ce disjoncteur comporte deux circuits, à savoir un circuit de phase et un circuit de neutre et la chambre de coupure qui sera décrite est la chambre de coupure de phase, la chambre de coupure de neutre étant par ailleurs identique.The device shown in Figure 1 is a circuit breaker, the details of which will not be described. This circuit breaker has two circuits, namely a phase circuit and a neutral circuit and the breaking chamber which will be described is the phase breaking chamber, the neutral breaking chamber being also identical.

Le circuit de phase comporte une borne 1, du type borne à cage, formée par le prolongement d'une culasse 2 à l'intérieur de laquelle est montée une bobine de disjonction 3, relié par l'une de ses extrémités 4, à la culasse et per­mettant, lors de l'apparition brutale d'une surintensité, le déplacement brutal d'un noyau 5, relié à une tige 6 dont l'extrémité vient déplacer un levier déclencheur 7 articulé en son milieu 8 par rapport au boîtier d'un appareil, l'autre extrémité 9 du levier déclencheur étant destinée d'une part à libérer un cliquet d'un mécanisme de serrure qui ne sera pas décrit dans le détail et d'autre part à pro­pulser le contact mobile. La deuxième extrémité 10 est élec­triquement reliée à une pièce de contact fixe 11, fixée, avec interposition d'un isolant, sur la culasse 2. La forme de cette pièce de contact fixe il est bien vue sur les fig­ures 2 et 3. Elle comporte depuis le bas, après un retour 12, une partie s'étendant obliquement vers l'avant, 13, jusqu'à un coude 14 formant le point de contact fixe propre­ment dit, coude à partir duquel la pièce s'étend obliquement en arrière sur une partie 15 jusqu'à un nouveau coude 16 formant la corne d'arc du contact fixe. A partir de cette corne d'arc, la pièce revient, vers le bas, en direction de la culasse puis s'étend parallèlement à celle-ci sur une partie 17 formant l'électrode de guidage d'arc.The phase circuit comprises a terminal 1, of the cage terminal type, formed by the extension of a yoke 2 inside which is mounted a tripping coil 3, connected by one of its ends 4, to the breech and allowing, during the sudden appearance of an overcurrent, the sudden displacement of a core 5, connected to a rod 6 whose end comes to move a trigger lever 7 articulated in its middle 8 relative to the housing an apparatus, the other end 9 of the trigger lever being intended on the one hand to release a pawl from a lock mechanism which will not be described in detail and on the other hand to propel the mobile contact. The second end 10 is electrically connected to a fixed contact piece 11, fixed, with the interposition of an insulator, on the cylinder head 2. The shape of this fixed contact piece is clearly seen in Figures 2 and 3. It comprises from the bottom, after a return 12, a part extending obliquely forward, 13, up to an elbow 14 forming the fixed point of contact proper, elbow from which the part extends obliquely back on a part 15 to a new bend 16 forming the arcing horn of the fixed contact. From this arc horn, the part returns downwards in the direction of the breech, then extends parallel to the latter on a part 17 forming the arc guide electrode.

A une certaine distance au-dessus de l'électrode de commutation 17 s'étend une tôle de guidage d'arc 18, parallèle à l'électrode 17 et faisant partie d'une pièce 19 du circuit de phase et présentant une petite corne 20 à l'opposé de la corne fixe 16, après quoi la partie 19 se prolonge avec des retours adéquats, jusqu 'à la deuxième borne de phase 21.At a certain distance above the switching electrode 17 extends an arc guide plate 18, parallel to the electrode 17 and forming part of a part 19 of the phase circuit and having a small horn 20 opposite the fixed horn 16, after which the part 19 is extended with adequate returns, up to the second phase terminal 21.

Le contact mobile 22 est porté par un porte-contact 23, faisant partie du mécanisme qui ne sera pas décrit en détail. D'une façon en soi connue, il peut légèrement bas­culer par rapport au porte-contact lui-même afin d'assurer la pression de contact grâce à un puissant ressort de con­tact 24. Le contact mobile 22 présente une tête 25 au niveau de laquelle il est, géométriquement, articulé autour de l'axe 26 pour son pivotement entre la position de fermeture de contact représentée sur la figure 2 et la position d'ouverture de contact représentée sur la figure 3. Le con­tact présente encore un corps 27 muni d'une fenêtre 28 à travers laquelle peut passer un doigt de l'extrémité supérieure 9 du levier déclencheur 7 et l'on comprend, en se référant à la figure 2, que lorsque la bobine de disjonction 3 déplace rapidement la tige 6 vers la gauche de la figure, le basculement du levier 7 autour de son axe 8 provoque, avec une vitesse égale à celle de la tige, le déplacement dans le sens horaires de l'extrémité 9, qui entraîne immédiatement le contact mobile 22 en rotation autour de son axe géométrique 26 jusqu'à l'ouverture des contacts.The movable contact 22 is carried by a contact carrier 23, forming part of the mechanism which will not be described in detail. In a manner known per se, it can tilt slightly with respect to the contact holder itself in order to ensure the contact pressure thanks to a powerful contact spring 24. The movable contact 22 has a head 25 at which it is, geometrically, articulated around the axis 26 for its pivoting between the contact closed position shown in Figure 2 and the contact open position shown in Figure 3. The contact also has a body 27 provided with a window 28 through which a finger can pass from the upper end 9 of the trigger lever 7 and it is understood, with reference to FIG. 2, that when the disjunction coil 3 rapidly displaces the rod 6 to the left of the figure, the tilting of the lever 7 around its axis 8 causes, with a speed equal to that of the rod, the clockwise movement of the end 9, which immediately causes the movable contact 22 to rotate about its geometric axis 26 up to 'when opening the contacts.

Au corps 27, se rattache une queue 29 dont le point de contact 30 vient au contact du point de contact 14 du con­tact fixe. L'extrémité inférieure de la queue 29 porte une tresse conductrice 31 extrêmement souple qui est également soudée à la pièce 19 pour assurer la continuité électrique entre le contact mobile 22 et la borne 21.A body 29 is attached to the body 27, the contact point 30 of which comes into contact with the contact point 14 of the fixed contact. The lower end of the tail 29 carries an extremely flexible conductive braid 31 which is also welded to the part 19 to ensure electrical continuity between the movable contact 22 and the terminal 21.

A partir du corps 27 s'étend une corne de contact mobile 32 dirigée obliquement vers le haut jusqu'au voisinage de la petite corne 20 de la pièce 19. La longueur de cette corne 32 est, dans le cas représenté à titre d'exemple, de l'ordre de la moitié de la distance séparant les pièces 17 et 18.From the body 27 extends a movable contact horn 32 directed obliquely up to the vicinity of the small horn 20 of the part 19. The length of this horn 32 is, in the case shown by way of example , of the order of half the distance between parts 17 and 18.

La chambre de coupure conforme à l'invention est ainsi formée par l'espace 33 situé, à l'arrière du contact mobile, entre les cornes 16, 20 et les parties 17, 18. Une cage d'extinction d'arc, d'une type usuel 34, occupe la partie de la chambre de coupure la plus éloignée du contact.The breaking chamber according to the invention is thus formed by the space 33 located at the rear of the movable contact, between the horns 16, 20 and the parts 17, 18. An arc extinguishing cage, d 'a usual type 34, occupies the part of the breaking chamber furthest from the contact.

Lorsque le contact mobile est en position de contact fermé, comme représenté sur la figure 2, les surfaces de contact 14 et 30 sont en contact sous la pression exercée par le puissant ressort 24. Dans cette position, qui assure la continuité électrique entre les bornes 1 et 21, le courant traverse d'abord la bobine 3 puis le contact fixe, le contact mobile, la tresse 31 et la borne 21. Dans cette position, l'extrémité de la corne 32 se trouve disposée au voisinage immédiat de la petite corne 20.When the movable contact is in the closed contact position, as shown in FIG. 2, the contact surfaces 14 and 30 are in contact under the pressure exerted by the powerful spring 24. In this position, which ensures electrical continuity between the terminals 1 and 21, the current first passes through the coil 3 then the fixed contact, the movable contact, the braid 31 and the terminal 21. In this position, the end of the horn 32 is placed in the immediate vicinity of the small horn 20.

Lors de l'ouverture du contact mobile, lorsque inter­vient, en cas de surintensité brutale, le fonctionnement du disjoncteur comprenant la bobine 3, la queue de contact 29 s'éloigne du contact fixe 14 de sorte qu'un arc tend à se former entre le contact fixe, au niveau de son coude 14, et la queue de contact mobile. En raison à la fois des forces électrodynamiques engendrées et du fait que la queue de con­tact mobile 29 est plus proche de la partie 15 de la pièce de contact fixe que de sa partie 13 située électriquement en aval du point de contact 14, l'arc électrique représenté par les flèches sur la figure 3, tend à se déplacer vers la corne d'arc 16 et, sur le contact mobile, vers la corne 32, ce déplacement de l'arc s'effectuant très rapidement. Au moment où l'arc arrive vers l'extrémité de la corne mobile 32 la vitesse de déplacement de l'arc est déjà élevée. Il en résulte que la commutation se fait facilement entre l'extrémité de la corne 32 et la partie voisine 20 de la partie 18 formant une tôle de guidage, l'arc étant ensuite pris dans la cage d'extinction d'arc 34.When the movable contact opens, when, in the event of a sudden overcurrent, the operation of the circuit breaker comprising the coil 3, the contact tail 29 moves away from the fixed contact 14 so that an arc tends to form between the fixed contact, at its elbow 14, and the mobile contact tail. Due to both the electrodynamic forces generated and the fact that the movable contact tail 29 is closer to the part 15 of the fixed contact piece than to its part 13 located electrically downstream of the contact point 14, the arc electric represented by the arrows in figure 3, tends to move towards the arc horn 16 and, on the movable contact, towards the horn 32, this displacement of the arc taking place very quickly. By the time the bow arrives towards the end of the movable horn 32 the speed of movement of the bow is already high. As a result, the switching takes place easily between the end of the horn 32 and the adjacent part 20 of the part 18 forming a guide plate, the arc then being caught in the arc extinguishing cage 34.

On comprend, par ailleurs, que le risque d'amorçage en aval du point de contact 14, c'est-à-dire dans la partie 13, est éliminé, alors que s'il y a réamorçage en dehors de la chambre d'extinction, au niveau des parties 14 ou 15, l'arc sera le siège d'importantes forces électrodynamiques et se trouvera immédiatement repoussé dans la chambre de coupure.It is understood, moreover, that the risk of priming downstream of the contact point 14, that is to say in the part 13, is eliminated, whereas if there is priming outside the chamber extinction, at the level of parts 14 or 15, the arc will be the seat of important electrodynamic forces and will be immediately pushed back into the breaking chamber.

Claims (5)

1. Appareil électrique de coupure, notamment du type disjoncteur, interrupteur ou interrupteur différentiel, comprenant au moins un contact fixe (11) et au moins un con­tact mobile (22) susceptible, en position de fermeture, de s'appliquer contre le contact fixe pour assurer une con­tinuité électrique entre les deux points des contacts fixe et mobile, et une position d'ouverture éloignée du contact fixe, et une chambre de coupure (33) située du côté opposé à la direction d'ouverture de contact et s'étendant entre une électrode de commutation (17) reliée au contact fixe et une tôle de guidage d'arc (18) située en face et à une certaine distance de l'électrode de commutation et électriquement reliée au contact mobile, ledit appareil étant caractérisé en ce que le contact mobile (22) présente une corne de guid­age d'arc allongée (32) s'étendant obliquement vers la tôle de guidage d'arc (18), dont son extrémité est peu éloignée, cette corne d'arc coopérant avec une corne d'arc fixe (16) disposée entre le contact fixe et l'électrode de commuta­tion, l'agencement des deux cornes étant tel que le trajet d'arc entre les deux cornes, à l'ouverture du contact mobile, se trouve situé du côté de la chambre de coupure (33).1. Electric cut-off device, in particular of the circuit breaker, switch or differential switch type, comprising at least one fixed contact (11) and at least one movable contact (22) capable, in the closed position, of being applied against the fixed contact to ensure electrical continuity between the two points of the fixed and movable contacts, and an open position remote from the fixed contact, and a breaking chamber (33) located on the side opposite to the direction of contact opening and extending between a switching electrode (17) connected to the fixed contact and an arc guide plate (18) located opposite and at a certain distance from the switching electrode and electrically connected to the movable contact, said device being characterized in that that the movable contact (22) has an elongated arc guide horn (32) extending obliquely towards the arc guide plate (18), the end of which is not far apart, this cooperating arc horn t with a fixed arcing horn (16) disposed between the fixed contact and the switching electrode, the arrangement of the two horns being such that the arcing path between the two horns, at the opening of the movable contact, is located on the side of the switching chamber (33). 2. Appareil selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le contact fixe (11) présente une surface de contact proprement dit (14) formée par un coude dont l'une des branches (15) se dirige vers la corne d'arc fixe (16) en amont, le contact mobile (22) étant articulé sur un axe (26) situé de façon telle que le contact mobile s'éloigne plus rapidement de l'autre branche (13) du coude de contact fixe que de la corne d'arc fixe (16).2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixed contact (11) has an actual contact surface (14) formed by an elbow, one of the branches (15) of which points towards the fixed arc horn (16) upstream, the movable contact (22) being articulated on an axis (26) situated in such a way that the movable contact moves away more quickly from the other branch (13) of the fixed contact elbow than from the horn fixed arc (16). 3. Appareil selon l'une des revendications 1 et 2, caractérisé en ce que la tôle d'extinction d'arc (18) présente, au voisinage de l'extrémité de la corne (32) du contact mobile, une petite corne (20) orientée vers ladite extrémité.3. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the arc extinguishing plate (18) has, in the vicinity of the end of the horn (32) of the movable contact, a small horn ( 20) oriented towards said end. 4. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que le contact mobile (22) possède un corps surmonté d'une tête (25) articulée autour d'un axe (26) pour le pivotement entre ses deux positions, et à l'opposé, une queue de contact (29) présentant la surface de contact proprement dit (30), la corne d'arc (32) du contact mobile s'étandant obliquement à partir du corps (27) vers la tôle d'extinction d'arc (18).4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the movable contact (22) has a body surmounted by a head (25) articulated around an axis (26) for pivoting between its two positions, and in contrast, a contact tail (29) having the actual contact surface (30), the arcing horn (32) of the movable contact extending obliquely from the body (27) towards the arc extinguishing sheet (18). 5. Appareil selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que le contact mobile (22) est entraîné, à partir d'un mécanisme de disjonction (3, 6) agissant sur une extrémité d'un levier (7) articulé en son centre (8), l'autre extrémité (9) du levier entraînant le contact mobile au niveau du corps (27) de celui-ci.5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the movable contact (22) is driven, from a disjunction mechanism (3, 6) acting on one end of a lever (7) articulated in its center ( 8), the other end (9) of the lever driving the movable contact at the body (27) thereof.
EP90401430A 1989-06-16 1990-05-30 Improvements to electrical switch apparatus Withdrawn EP0403328A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8908028 1989-06-16
FR8908028A FR2648613B1 (en) 1989-06-16 1989-06-16 IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTRICAL SWITCHING DEVICES

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EP0403328A1 true EP0403328A1 (en) 1990-12-19

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1115131A1 (en) * 2000-01-07 2001-07-11 Schneider Electric Industries SA Circuit breaker pole with wide arc extinguishing chamber
EP1376628A1 (en) * 2002-06-28 2004-01-02 ETI Elektroelement d.d. Circuit breaker for low tension with dual arrangement of contacts and electric arc

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3452173A (en) * 1966-03-25 1969-06-24 Ite Imperial Corp Selectively positioned interposed vertical transfer gap
DE1944143A1 (en) * 1968-09-03 1970-03-12 Gen Electric Arc chamber with arc horns that are coated with a thermally sprayed refractory metal
EP0047696A2 (en) * 1980-09-09 1982-03-17 Merlin Gerin Miniature circuit breaker with arcing-contacts
EP0050719A1 (en) * 1980-08-21 1982-05-05 Heinrich Kopp GmbH &amp; Co. KG Contact and extinguishing means for electrical automatic miniature switches

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3452173A (en) * 1966-03-25 1969-06-24 Ite Imperial Corp Selectively positioned interposed vertical transfer gap
DE1944143A1 (en) * 1968-09-03 1970-03-12 Gen Electric Arc chamber with arc horns that are coated with a thermally sprayed refractory metal
EP0050719A1 (en) * 1980-08-21 1982-05-05 Heinrich Kopp GmbH &amp; Co. KG Contact and extinguishing means for electrical automatic miniature switches
EP0047696A2 (en) * 1980-09-09 1982-03-17 Merlin Gerin Miniature circuit breaker with arcing-contacts

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1115131A1 (en) * 2000-01-07 2001-07-11 Schneider Electric Industries SA Circuit breaker pole with wide arc extinguishing chamber
FR2803687A1 (en) * 2000-01-07 2001-07-13 Schneider Electric Ind Sa POLE FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BREAKER, PROVIDED WITH A WIDE ARC EXTINGUISHING CHAMBER
US6288621B1 (en) 2000-01-07 2001-09-11 Square D Company Pole for an electrical circuit breaker, equipped with a wide arc extinguishing chamber
EP1376628A1 (en) * 2002-06-28 2004-01-02 ETI Elektroelement d.d. Circuit breaker for low tension with dual arrangement of contacts and electric arc

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2648613A1 (en) 1990-12-21
FR2648613B1 (en) 1991-09-13

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