EP0458711A1 - Hand operated protective interrupter - Google Patents

Hand operated protective interrupter Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0458711A1
EP0458711A1 EP91420161A EP91420161A EP0458711A1 EP 0458711 A1 EP0458711 A1 EP 0458711A1 EP 91420161 A EP91420161 A EP 91420161A EP 91420161 A EP91420161 A EP 91420161A EP 0458711 A1 EP0458711 A1 EP 0458711A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
control button
connecting rods
rod
housing
circuit breaker
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP91420161A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0458711B1 (en
Inventor
Bernard Truchet
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Crouzet Automatismes SAS
Original Assignee
Thales Avionics SAS
Crouzet Automatismes SAS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Thales Avionics SAS, Crouzet Automatismes SAS filed Critical Thales Avionics SAS
Publication of EP0458711A1 publication Critical patent/EP0458711A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0458711B1 publication Critical patent/EP0458711B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H73/00—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism
    • H01H73/22—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism having electrothermal release and no other automatic release
    • H01H73/30—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism having electrothermal release and no other automatic release reset by push-button, pull-knob or slide
    • H01H73/306—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism having electrothermal release and no other automatic release reset by push-button, pull-knob or slide the push-button supporting pivotally a combined contact-latch lever

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to circuit breakers comprising a manual actuation device to bring them into the open or closed position and which can automatically trip when the current flowing through them is too intense.
  • Such manually operated circuit breakers are generally designed so as to provide good reliability for a minimum cost price which is sought in particular when these circuit breakers are produced in large series and are intended for relatively common use.
  • the latter must include a device allowing rapid movement of the electrical contacts, in all circumstances, during a closing or opening operation of the contacts.
  • a user slowly actuating the operating button of the circuit breaker can cause the establishment of an electric arc for a period sufficient to cause deterioration. contacts.
  • circuit breakers currently existing comprise a large number of component parts, pivotally or pivotally mounted, connected to each other or to the circuit breaker housing by means of articulations produced using articulation axes.
  • Circuit breakers of this type have a relatively large complexity, are therefore relatively high cost and are difficult to miniaturize.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a circuit breaker with manual control of very simple design and easily miniaturizable.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a circuit breaker with manual control, comprising a device enabling rapid switching on or off regardless of the way in which the user actuates the circuit breaker.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a manually operated circuit breaker that can automatically trip even if the user is trying to act in the direction of its engagement.
  • the circuit breaker comprises a housing and a control button which can move linearly in the upper part of the housing; a control rod disposed longitudinally inside the housing and movable under the action of the control button; a tilting part pivotally mounted on the rod and determining the opening or closing of the circuit breaker.
  • the control button comprises two connecting rods pivotally mounted inside the control button, in its upper part, and extending downwards outside the control button towards the cavity of the housing, these connecting rods each comprising a first inclined support surface directed inwards and downwards and a second support surface situated lower, inclined and directed inwards and upwards, these four support surfaces surrounding and holding a part in place cylindrical connected to the upper part of the rod, and the connecting rods also each comprising an inclined bearing surface directed outwards and upwards sliding against a lower edge of a bore in the upper part of the housing, so that, when of the upward movement of the control button, the connecting rods slide at their external bearing surface against a lower edge of the bore, thus bringing the connecting rods towards one another and their passage to the inside the bore when the control button is in the high release position.
  • the angle made by the first inclined bearing surface directed inwards and downwards with the longitudinal axis is greater than the angle made by the inclined bearing surface directed outwards and upwards, so that, when the control button moves at the level of the first upper part of its travel, the connecting rods slide inside the bore of the upper part of the housing, thus causing a displacement of the control rod of the same amplitude as the displacement of the control button and, when the control button moves within the second lower part of its travel, the connecting rods come out of the bore and their bearing surfaces slide on the lower edge, so that the movement of the control button causes a movement of smaller stroke of the control rod.
  • FIG. 1 shows a housing 1, made of insulating material, enclosing the entire mechanism constituting the circuit breaker according to the invention.
  • the housing 1 has a cavity 2 opening to the outside upwards through an opening having the shape of a bore 3.
  • a socket or barrel 4 is mounted on the housing 1 by fitting into the bore 3 and is rigidly fixed to the housing by any suitable means, for example by gluing.
  • the socket 4 projects outwards from the housing 1 and has a threaded external cylindrical surface 5 onto which a nut 6 is screwed in order to removably fix the circuit breaker on a wall 7 of any device, the wall 7 being in abutment against a shoulder 8 of the socket 4 and against the flat face directed downwards 9 of the nut 6.
  • the socket 4 represents a cylindrical internal bore 10 in which the external cylindrical surface 11 of the button slides longitudinally operating 12 which has a projecting upper part 13 of a shape adapted to its gripping by a user, in order to be able to manually actuate the circuit breaker, either by pushing the button 12 downwards, or by pulling it towards the high.
  • the downward movement of the button 12 produces the closing of the circuit breaker, that is to say the closing of electrical contacts, and its upward movement produces its tripping, that is to say the opening of contacts electric.
  • the button 12 has an interior recess opening downwards 14, into which are threaded two connecting rods 15, 15 ′, of identical shape, and whose respective upper ends 16 and 16 ′ are pivotally connected to the button 12 at the level of the 'upper end of the recess 14, so that the connecting rods 15, 15' can move by pivoting at their upper ends 16, 16 'respectively along pivot axes perpendicular to the plane of the sheet of Figure 1.
  • Each connecting rod 15, 15 ′ extends longitudinally downwards towards the interior of the cavity 2 of the housing 1 and has a first flat surface 17, 17 ′ inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis 18 of the circuit breaker and oriented towards inside and downwards, as well as a second planar surface 19, 19 ′, situated lower than the first planar surface and inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis 18 so as to be directed towards the inside and up.
  • the two connecting rods 15 and 15 ′ are arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis 18, so that their respective flat surfaces 17, 19, 17 ′, 19 ′ together constitute four bearing surfaces for a cylindrical part 20 which is arranged substantially in the middle of these four flat surfaces and whose longitudinal axis is parallel to these flat surfaces (that is to say that the longitudinal axis of the part 20 is perpendicular to the plane of the sheet of the figure 1).
  • a control rod 21 is arranged longitudinally inside the cavity 2 of the housing 1.
  • This rod 21 has the shape of a plate and is made of sheet metal.
  • the rod 21 comprises a window 22 of rectangular shape, located in the vicinity of the upper part of the trigger 21.
  • the window 22 is adapted to accommodate the cylindrical part 20. It therefore has a dimension in the longitudinal direction slightly greater than the diameter of the cylindrical piece 20 and a dimension in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical piece 20 slightly greater than the length of this cylindrical piece.
  • the control rod 21 has, in the vicinity of its lower part located inside the cavity of the housing 1, a longitudinal slot of elongated rectangular shape 24.
  • This slot 24 extends substantially along the longitudinal axis 18 and has a width slightly greater than the thickness of a flat piece of sheet metal 25 which is hereinafter called a tilting piece.
  • the tilting part 25 passes right through the rod 21 while threading into the slot 24, so that the longitudinal displacements of the rod 21 are transmitted almost completely to the tilting part 25.
  • the tilting part 25 has a complex shape.
  • This part has in its upper part a notch 26 whose bottom 27 is in an arc of concave circle directed upwards and whose lateral edges 28 and 29 are planar surfaces located in planes joining at the level of the axis of curvature 30 of the bottom 27.
  • the notch 26 is applied, at its bottom 27, against the upper face of the longitudinal slot 24 formed in the control rod 21 (visible in Figure 6), so that the tilting part 25 can move freely by sliding in the slot 24 of the rod 21 in a pivoting movement around the axis 30.
  • the minimum distance separating the two lateral edge 28 and 29 of the notch 26 is slightly greater than the thickness of the rod 21, so as to bear against the parallel faces of the rod 21 when the tilting part 25 is in the extreme pivoting position in a in either direction relative to the rod 21.
  • the tilting part 25 comprises, in its upper part located on the right (when looking at FIGS. 1 and 5), a lug 31 having a bearing surface directed towards the bottom, this lug being able to come to rest against a stop 32 rigidly fixed on a lateral face of a bimetallic strip 33.
  • the tilting part 25 also comprises, in its straight part, a projecting part directed downwards 34 having a surface support 25 directed towards the left, that is to say directed towards the control rod 21.
  • the tilting part 25 also comprises a projecting part directed downwards 36, extended by a projecting part directed towards the left 37 and near entering an outer surface 38 of convex cylindrical shape, the axis of curvature of which coincides with the pivot axis 30.
  • the cylindrical surface 38 directed downwards faces the underside of the slot 24 formed in the rod 21
  • the tilting part 25 can thus pivot around the axis 30 while remaining connected longitudinally to the rod 21, owing to the fact that the two cylindrical surfaces 27 and 38 face respectively the upper and lower end surfaces of the slot 24 of the rod. This produces an articulation of the tilting part 25 relative to the rod 21, without resorting to additional parts of the hinge pin type.
  • the tilting part 25 also has at its left end a protrusion 39 directed downwards and to the right and facing the protrusion 37, so that a compression spring 40 can be housed so as to fit into the level of its two ends, respectively on the protuberance 39 and on the protuberance 37.
  • the left end of the spring 40 bears against the lateral edges of the protuberance 39, that is to say in abutment against the left part of the tilting part 25.
  • the right end of the spring 40 abuts against the left side wall 41 of the control rod 21.
  • the spring 40 therefore exerts a force between the rod 21 and the tilting part 25 which tends to rotate the tilting part 25 clockwise.
  • a contact support 42 is made in the form of an elongated metal sheet disposed approximately longitudinally in the cavity 2.
  • the upper end of the contact support 42 is connected to the control rod 21 , by fitting into a small window 42 ′ located between the lower window end 22 and the upper end of the slot 24.
  • the connection between the upper end of the contact support 42 and the control rod 21 allows the pivoting of the contact support 42 relative to the rod, at their connection.
  • the contact support 42 has a longitudinal slot 43 of width slightly greater than the thickness of the tilting part 25, so that the tilting part 25 can be threaded into the contact support 42.
  • the slot 43 formed in the contact support 42 is limited downwards so as not to be present in a central region 45 of the contact support 42, the left face of this region 45 coming to bear against a bearing face 49 directed towards the right of the end bottom of the protruding part 36 of the tilting part 25 ( Figure 5).
  • the bearing surface 35 directed to the left and formed at the end of the protuberance 34 of the tilting part 25 comes to bear against a rigid intermediate piece 46 rigidly fixed at the lower end of the contact support 42, this piece 46 supporting a movable electrical contact 47 directed to the right and disposed opposite a fixed electrical contact 47 ′ directed to the left, these two electrical contacts being effectively opposite when the circuit breaker is tripped (FIG. 2).
  • the control rod 21 is guided longitudinally in the housing 1 by means of grooves 50 forming a slide formed in this housing, as shown in FIG. 6.
  • FIGS. 1 to 4 represent the same device according to different positions and operating modes.
  • the circuit breaker is in the tripped position, that is to say in the stable position of opening of the electrical contacts 47 and 47 ′.
  • a compression spring 50 is interposed between an upper support surface 51 of a support and guide part 52 of the barrel 4 and a downwardly directed surface 53 of a support part 54 connected to the upper part 13 of the control button 12.
  • This compression spring 50 makes it possible to continuously push up the control button 12 which drives with it up the assembly of the mobile mechanism essentially consisting of connecting rods 15, 15 ′, of the control rod 21, the tilting part 25 and the contact support 42.
  • the connecting rods 15 and 15 ′ are located inside the bore 10 of the barrel 4, are found in a relatively close position, one of the other and their inclined bearing surfaces 17, 17 ′ and 19, 19 ′ surround the cylindrical part 20 with minimum clearance.
  • the set of parts moving longitudinally moves downwards.
  • the inclined bearing faces 17 and 17 ′ of the connecting rods 15 and 15 ′ come into abutment against the cylindrical piece 20 to push the latter down, and this cylindrical piece 20 drives the control rod 21 downwards as well as the moving parts supported by this rods.
  • the lug 31 of the tilting part 25 comes to rest on the stop 32 of the bimetallic strip 33. While the downward movement continues, the tilting part 25 pivots anti-clockwise around its pivot axis 30.
  • the contact support 42 is in flexion, because it is made of elastic material, which limits the contact force of one contact 47 on the other 47 ′ to a certain force corresponding to the arrow taken by the elastic support 42 in the closing position of the circuit breaker.
  • the control button 12 When the circuit breaker is in the latched position, as shown in FIG. 2, a user can cause it to trip by grasping the control button 3 and pulling it up, as represented by the arrow 57 in FIG. 4.
  • the control button 12 In FIG. 4, the control button 12 is in an intermediate position, that is to say in a position which it occupies during its upward movement caused by the user.
  • the compression spring 40 causes a reaction force towards the top of the rod 21, which causes separation forces in the connecting rods 15 and 15 ′ under the action of contact directed upwards of the cylindrical part 20 against the oblique bearing surfaces 17 and 17 ′. This blocks the circuit breaker in the on position.
  • these connecting rods 15 and 15 ′ each comprise oblique bearing surfaces 58 and 58 ′ directed upwards and outwards which slide against a lower rounded edge 60 of the bore 10 of the barrel 4.
  • the angle made by the bearing surface 58 or 58 ′ with the longitudinal axis 18 is less than the angle made by the bearing surface 17 or 17 ′ with this same longitudinal axis. In this way, a relatively small effort directed upwards (arrow 57) makes it possible to bring the connecting rods 15 and 15 ′ inside the bore 10 due to the sliding of their bearing surfaces 58 and 58 ′ against the lower edge 60.
  • the connecting rods 15, 15 ′ slide inside the bore 10 and consequently, a displacement of the button 12 up or down produces a displacement of the same amplitude of the rod 21.
  • the connecting rods 15, 15 ′ slide at their surfaces 58, 58 ′ on the rim 60 of the barrel 4, moving away or approaching it, and this has the consequence that a displacement of the button 12 produces a displacement of smaller amplitude of the rod 21. This reduction in movement causes the threshold effect of effort during manual actuation of button 12 in the direction of engagement or disengagement.
  • the circuit breaker according to the invention has a very great simplicity of construction, in particular because of the very limited number of parts required and because of the absence of complicated articulation device using pivoting articulation axes.
  • This circuit breaker has however a weak functioning, in particular because, during the engagement or the disengagement manual or during the tripping, the approach or the distance of the electric contacts 47 and 47 ′ always takes place very quickly, this which greatly limits the formation of harmful electric arcs.

Abstract

The present invention relates to a [lacuna] comprising a casing (1), a control button (12), a control rod (21) which can move under the action of the control button (12), a rocking component (25) mounted pivotably on the rod (21). This rocking component includes a lug (31) which bears on a stop (32) mounted on a bimetallic strip (33) when the rod (21) and the rocking component (25) are together displaced downwards under the action of the control button (12). This downwards displacement of the rocking component (25) causes its pivoting owing to the bearing of the lug (31) on the stop (32). The pivoting of the rocking component (25) causes the pivoting of the contact support (42) in order to bring it into the opening or closing position of the electrical contacts (47, 47'). …<IMAGE>…

Description

La présente invention concerne les disjoncteurs comportant un dispositif d'actionnement manuel pour les amener en position d'ouverture ou de fermeture et pouvant disjoncter automatiquement lorsque le courant qui les traverse est trop intense. De tels disjoncteurs à commande manuelle sont en général conçus de façon à procurer une bonne fiabilité pour un coût de revient minimum qui est recherché en particulier lorsque ces disjoncteurs sont fabriqués en grande série et sont destinés à un usage relativement courant.The present invention relates to circuit breakers comprising a manual actuation device to bring them into the open or closed position and which can automatically trip when the current flowing through them is too intense. Such manually operated circuit breakers are generally designed so as to provide good reliability for a minimum cost price which is sought in particular when these circuit breakers are produced in large series and are intended for relatively common use.

Pour éviter un détérioration des contacts électriques du disjoncteur, celui-ci doit comporter un dispositif permettant un déplacement rapide des contacts électriques, en toutes circonstances, lors d'une manoeuvre de fermeture ou d'ouverture des contacts. En effet, si un disjoncteur est dépourvu d'un dispositif d'actionnement des contacts permettant leur mouvement rapide, un utilisateur actionnant lentement le bouton de manoeuvre du disjoncteur peut provoquer l'établissement d'un arc électrique pendant une durée suffisante pour provoquer une détérioration des contacts.To avoid deterioration of the electrical contacts of the circuit breaker, the latter must include a device allowing rapid movement of the electrical contacts, in all circumstances, during a closing or opening operation of the contacts. In fact, if a circuit breaker does not have a device for actuating the contacts allowing their rapid movement, a user slowly actuating the operating button of the circuit breaker can cause the establishment of an electric arc for a period sufficient to cause deterioration. contacts.

D'autre part, les disjoncteurs existant actuellement comportent un grand nombre de pièces constitutives, montées de façon basculante ou pivotante, reliées entre elles ou au boîtier de disjoncteur au moyen d'articulations réalisées à l'aide d'axes d'articulation. Les disjoncteurs de ce type présentent une complexité relativement grande, sont par conséquent d'un coût de revient relativement élevé et sont difficilement miniaturisables.On the other hand, the circuit breakers currently existing comprise a large number of component parts, pivotally or pivotally mounted, connected to each other or to the circuit breaker housing by means of articulations produced using articulation axes. Circuit breakers of this type have a relatively large complexity, are therefore relatively high cost and are difficult to miniaturize.

Un objet de la présente invention est de prévoir un disjoncteur à commande manuelle de conception très simple et facilement miniaturisable.An object of the present invention is to provide a circuit breaker with manual control of very simple design and easily miniaturizable.

Un autre objet de la présente invention est de prévoir un disjoncteur à commande manuelle, comportant un dispositif permettant l'enclenchement ou le déclenchement rapide quelle que soit la manière dont l'utilisateur actionne le disjoncteur.Another object of the present invention is to provide a circuit breaker with manual control, comprising a device enabling rapid switching on or off regardless of the way in which the user actuates the circuit breaker.

Un autre objet de la présente invention est de prévoir un disjoncteur à commande manuelle pouvant disjoncter automatiquement même si l'utilisateur est en train de solliciter dans les sens de son enclenchement.Another object of the present invention is to provide a manually operated circuit breaker that can automatically trip even if the user is trying to act in the direction of its engagement.

Pour atteindre ces objets, le disjoncteur selon l'invention comprend un boîtier et un bouton de commande pouvant se déplacer linéairement dans la partie supérieure du boîtier ; une tringle de commande disposée longitudinalement à l'intérieur du boîtier et déplaçable sous l'action du bouton de commande ; une pièce basculante montée de façon pivotante sur la tringle et déterminant l'ouverture ou la fermeture du disjoncteur. Le bouton de commande comporte deux bielles montées pivotantes à l'intérieur du bouton de commande, dans sa partie supérieure, et s'étendant vers le bas à l'extérieur du bouton de commande vers la cavité du boîtier, ces bielles comprenant chacune une première surface d'appui inclinée dirigée vers l'intérieur et vers le bas et une seconde surface d'appui située plus bas, inclinée et dirigée vers l'intérieur et vers le haut, ces quatre surfaces d'appui entourant et maintenant en place une pièce cylindrique reliée à la partie supérieure de la tringle, et les bielles comprenant aussi chacune une surface d'appui inclinée dirigée vers l'extérieur et vers le haut venant glisser contre un bord inférieur d'un alésage de la partie supérieure du boîtier, de façon que, lors du déplacement vers le haut du bouton de commande, les bielles glissent au niveau de leur surface d'appui extérieur contre un rebord inférieur de l'alésage, provoquant ainsi le rapprochement des bielles l'une vers l'autre et leur passage à l'intérieur de l'alésage lorsque le bouton de commande est en position haute de déclenchement.To achieve these objects, the circuit breaker according to the invention comprises a housing and a control button which can move linearly in the upper part of the housing; a control rod disposed longitudinally inside the housing and movable under the action of the control button; a tilting part pivotally mounted on the rod and determining the opening or closing of the circuit breaker. The control button comprises two connecting rods pivotally mounted inside the control button, in its upper part, and extending downwards outside the control button towards the cavity of the housing, these connecting rods each comprising a first inclined support surface directed inwards and downwards and a second support surface situated lower, inclined and directed inwards and upwards, these four support surfaces surrounding and holding a part in place cylindrical connected to the upper part of the rod, and the connecting rods also each comprising an inclined bearing surface directed outwards and upwards sliding against a lower edge of a bore in the upper part of the housing, so that, when of the upward movement of the control button, the connecting rods slide at their external bearing surface against a lower edge of the bore, thus bringing the connecting rods towards one another and their passage to the inside the bore when the control button is in the high release position.

Selon un mode de réalisation de la présente invention, l'angle que fait la première surface d'appui inclinée dirigée vers l'intérieur et vers le bas avec l'axe longitudinal est supérieur à l'angle que fait la surface d'appui inclinée dirigée vers l'extérieur et vers le haut, de sorte que, lorsque le bouton de commande se déplace au niveau de la première partie haute de sa course, les bielles glissent à l'intérieur de l'alésage de la partie supérieure du boîtier, provoquant ainsi un déplacement de la tige de commande de même amplitude que le déplacement du bouton de commande et, lorsque le bouton de commande se déplace à l'intérieur de la seconde partie inférieure de sa course, les bielles sortent de l'alésage et leurs surfaces d'appui viennent en glissement sur le rebord inférieur, de sorte que le déplacement du bouton de commande provoque un déplacement de plus petite course de la tige de commande.According to an embodiment of the present invention, the angle made by the first inclined bearing surface directed inwards and downwards with the longitudinal axis is greater than the angle made by the inclined bearing surface directed outwards and upwards, so that, when the control button moves at the level of the first upper part of its travel, the connecting rods slide inside the bore of the upper part of the housing, thus causing a displacement of the control rod of the same amplitude as the displacement of the control button and, when the control button moves within the second lower part of its travel, the connecting rods come out of the bore and their bearing surfaces slide on the lower edge, so that the movement of the control button causes a movement of smaller stroke of the control rod.

Ces objets, caractéristique et avantages ainsi que d'autres de la présente invention seront exposés plus en détail dans la description d'un exemple de réalisation qui va suivre, illustré par les figures annexées parmi lesquelles :

  • la figure 1 représente, en coupe longitudinale, un disjoncteur selon l'invention, dans sa position de déclenchement, sans sollicitation de la part de l'utilisateur ;
  • la figure 2 est une vue semblable à celle de la figure 1 dans laquelle le disjoncteur selon l'invention est en position enclenchée, du fait de l'actionnement par l'utilisateur ;
  • la figure 3 est une vue semblable du même disjoncteur, en position disjonctée, alors que l'utilisateur continue d'appuyer sur l'interrupteur pour l'enclencher ;
  • la figure 4 est une vue semblable du même disjoncteur dans laquelle, alors que le disjoncteur est enclenché, l'utilisateur l'actionne afin d'obtenir son déclenchement ;
  • la figure 5 représente, en vue de face par rapport à la figure 1, une "pièce basculante" qui est une des pièces du disjoncteur selon l'invention ;
  • la figure 6 représente, en vue de côté par rapport à la figure 1, une "tringle de commande" qui est une autre pièce du disjoncteur selon l'invention ; et
  • la figure 7 représente, en vue de côté par rapport à la figure 1, un "support de contact" qui est une autre pièce du disjoncteur selon l'invention.
These objects, characteristic and advantages as well as others of the present invention will be explained in more detail in the description of an exemplary embodiment which follows, illustrated by the appended figures among which:
  • Figure 1 shows, in longitudinal section, a circuit breaker according to the invention, in its tripping position, without solicitation from the user;
  • Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 in which the circuit breaker according to the invention is in the engaged position, due to actuation by the user;
  • Figure 3 is a similar view of the same circuit breaker, in the tripped position, while the user continues to press the switch to activate it;
  • Figure 4 is a similar view of the same circuit breaker in which, while the circuit breaker is turned on, the user actuates it to obtain tripping;
  • 5 shows, in front view relative to Figure 1, a "tilting part" which is one of the parts of the circuit breaker according to the invention;
  • 6 shows, in side view with respect to Figure 1, a "control rod" which is another part of the circuit breaker according to the invention; and
  • 7 shows, in side view with respect to Figure 1, a "contact support" which is another part of the circuit breaker according to the invention.

La figure 1 représente un boîtier 1, réalisé en matériau isolant, renfermant l'ensemble du mécanisme constituant le disjoncteur selon l'invention. Le boîtier 1 présente une cavité 2 débouchant à l'extérieur vers le haut par une ouverture ayant la forme d'un alésage 3. Une douille ou canon 4 est monté sur le boîtier 1 par emboîtement dans l'alésage 3 et est fixée rigidement au boîtier par tout moyen approprié, par exemple par collage. La douille 4 est en saillie vers l'extérieur du boîtier 1 et présente une surface extérieure sylindrique filetée 5 sur laquelle vient se visser un écrou 6 afin de fixer de façon amovible le disjoncteur sur une paroi 7 d'un appareil quelconque, la paroi 7 étant en appui contre un épaulement 8 de la douille 4 et contre la face plane dirigée vers le bas 9 de l'écrou 6. La douille 4 représente un alésage interne cylindrique 10 dans lequel vient coulisser longitudinalement la surface cylindrique externe 11 d'un bouton de manoeuvre 12 qui présente une partie supérieure en saillie 13 de forme adaptée à sa préhension par un utilisateur, afin de pouvoir actionner manuellement le disjoncteur, soit en poussant le bouton 12 vers le bas, soit en le tirant vers le haut. Le déplacement vers le bas du bouton 12 produit l'enclenchement du disjoncteur, c'est-à-dire la fermeture de contacts électriques, et son déplacement vers le haut produit son déclenchement, c'est-à-dire l'ouverture de contacts électriques.Figure 1 shows a housing 1, made of insulating material, enclosing the entire mechanism constituting the circuit breaker according to the invention. The housing 1 has a cavity 2 opening to the outside upwards through an opening having the shape of a bore 3. A socket or barrel 4 is mounted on the housing 1 by fitting into the bore 3 and is rigidly fixed to the housing by any suitable means, for example by gluing. The socket 4 projects outwards from the housing 1 and has a threaded external cylindrical surface 5 onto which a nut 6 is screwed in order to removably fix the circuit breaker on a wall 7 of any device, the wall 7 being in abutment against a shoulder 8 of the socket 4 and against the flat face directed downwards 9 of the nut 6. The socket 4 represents a cylindrical internal bore 10 in which the external cylindrical surface 11 of the button slides longitudinally operating 12 which has a projecting upper part 13 of a shape adapted to its gripping by a user, in order to be able to manually actuate the circuit breaker, either by pushing the button 12 downwards, or by pulling it towards the high. The downward movement of the button 12 produces the closing of the circuit breaker, that is to say the closing of electrical contacts, and its upward movement produces its tripping, that is to say the opening of contacts electric.

Le bouton 12 comporte un évidement intérieur débouchant vers le bas 14, dans lequel sont enfilées deux bielles 15, 15′, de forme identique, et dont les extrémités supérieures respectives 16 et 16′ sont reliées de façon pivotante au bouton 12 au niveau de l'extrémité supérieure de l'évidement 14, de façon que les bielles 15, 15′ puissent se déplacer par pivotement au niveau de leurs extrémités supérieures 16, 16′ respectivement selon des axes de pivotement perpendiculaires au plan de la feuille de la figure 1. Chaque bielle 15, 15′ s'étend longitudinalement vers le bas vers l'intérieur de la cavité 2 du boîtier 1 et présente une première surface plane 17, 17′ inclinée par rapport à l'axe longitudinal 18 du disjoncteur et orientée vers l'intérieur et vers le bas, ainsi qu'un seconde surface plane 19, 19′, située plus bas que la première surface plane et inclinée par rapport à l'axe longitudinal 18 de façon à être dirigée vers l'intérieur et vers le haut. Les deux bielles 15 et 15′ sont disposées de façon symétrique par rapport à l'axe longitudinal 18, de telle sorte que leurs surfaces planes respectives 17, 19, 17′, 19′ constituent ensemble quatre surfaces d'appui pour un pièce cylindrique 20 qui est disposée sensiblement au milieu de ces quatre surfaces planes et dont l'axe longitudinal est parallèle à ces surfaces planes (c'est-à-dire que l'axe longitudinal de la pièce 20 est perpendiculaire au plan de la feuille de la figure 1).The button 12 has an interior recess opening downwards 14, into which are threaded two connecting rods 15, 15 ′, of identical shape, and whose respective upper ends 16 and 16 ′ are pivotally connected to the button 12 at the level of the 'upper end of the recess 14, so that the connecting rods 15, 15' can move by pivoting at their upper ends 16, 16 'respectively along pivot axes perpendicular to the plane of the sheet of Figure 1. Each connecting rod 15, 15 ′ extends longitudinally downwards towards the interior of the cavity 2 of the housing 1 and has a first flat surface 17, 17 ′ inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis 18 of the circuit breaker and oriented towards inside and downwards, as well as a second planar surface 19, 19 ′, situated lower than the first planar surface and inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis 18 so as to be directed towards the inside and up. The two connecting rods 15 and 15 ′ are arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis 18, so that their respective flat surfaces 17, 19, 17 ′, 19 ′ together constitute four bearing surfaces for a cylindrical part 20 which is arranged substantially in the middle of these four flat surfaces and whose longitudinal axis is parallel to these flat surfaces (that is to say that the longitudinal axis of the part 20 is perpendicular to the plane of the sheet of the figure 1).

Lorsque le bouton de commande 12 est déplacé longitudinalement vers le haut ou vers le bas, les deux bielles 15 et 15′ se déplacent ensemble pareillement vers le haut ou vers le bas et entraînent dans leur déplacement la pièce cylindrique 20. Une tringle de commande 21 est disposée longitudinalement à l'intérieur de la cavité 2 du boîtier 1. Cette tringle 21 présente la forme d'une plaque et est réalisée en tôle métallique. La tringle 21 comporte un fenêtre 22 de forme rectangulaire, située au voisinage de la partie supérieure de la trigle 21. La fenêtre 22 est adaptée pour y loger la pièce cylindrique 20. Elle présente en conséquence une dimension dans le sens longitudinal légèrement supérieure au diamètre de la pièce cylindrique 20 et une dimension dans le sens de l'axe longitudinal de la pièce cylindrique 20 légèrement supérieur à la longueur de cette pièce cylindrique. Ainsi, les déplacements longitudinaux, c'est-à-dire les déplacements dans le sens de l'axe longitudinal 18, de la pièce cylindrique 20 se transmettent à la tringle de commande 21 de façon quasiment intégrale puisque la pièce cylindrique 20 est logée dans la fenêtre rectangulaire 22 de la tringle 21 avec un jeu 23 minimum.When the control button 12 is moved longitudinally up or down, the two connecting rods 15 and 15 ′ move together in the same way up or down and cause the cylindrical part 20 to move. A control rod 21 is arranged longitudinally inside the cavity 2 of the housing 1. This rod 21 has the shape of a plate and is made of sheet metal. The rod 21 comprises a window 22 of rectangular shape, located in the vicinity of the upper part of the trigger 21. The window 22 is adapted to accommodate the cylindrical part 20. It therefore has a dimension in the longitudinal direction slightly greater than the diameter of the cylindrical piece 20 and a dimension in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical piece 20 slightly greater than the length of this cylindrical piece. Thus, the longitudinal displacements, that is to say the displacements in the direction of the longitudinal axis 18, of the cylindrical part 20 are transmitted to the control rod 21 almost completely since the cylindrical part 20 is housed in the rectangular window 22 of the rod 21 with a clearance 23 minimum.

La tringle de commande 21 comporte au voisinage de sa partie inférieure située à l'intérieur de la cavité du boîtier 1, une fente longitudinale de forme rectangulaire allongée 24. Cette fente 24 s'étend sensiblement selon l'axe longitudinal 18 et présente une largeur légèrement supérieure à l'épaisseur d'une pièce plane en tôle métallique 25 qui est appelée par la suite pièce basculante. La pièce basculante 25 traverse de part en part la tringle 21 en s'enfilant dans la fente 24, de sorte que les déplacements longitudinaux de la tringle 21 se transmettent de façon quasi intégrale à la pièce basculante 25.The control rod 21 has, in the vicinity of its lower part located inside the cavity of the housing 1, a longitudinal slot of elongated rectangular shape 24. This slot 24 extends substantially along the longitudinal axis 18 and has a width slightly greater than the thickness of a flat piece of sheet metal 25 which is hereinafter called a tilting piece. The tilting part 25 passes right through the rod 21 while threading into the slot 24, so that the longitudinal displacements of the rod 21 are transmitted almost completely to the tilting part 25.

Comme on peut le voir sur les figures 1 et 5, la pièce basculante 25 présente une forme complexe. Cette pièce présente dans sa partie supérieure une entaille 26 dont le fond 27 est en arc de cercle concave dirigé vers le haut et dont les bords latéraux 28 et 29 sont des surfaces planes situées dans des plans se rejoignant au niveau de l'axe de courbure 30 du fond 27. L'entaille 26 vient s'appliquer, au niveau de son fond 27, contre la face supérieure de la fente longitudinale 24 ménagée dans la tringle de commande 21 (visible en figure 6), de sorte que la pièce basculante 25 puisse librement se déplacer en coulissant dans la fente 24 de la tringle 21 selon un mouvement de pivotement autour de l'axe 30. La distance minimale séparant les deux bord latéraux 28 et 29 de l'entaille 26 est légèrement supérieure à l'épaisseur de la tringle 21, de façon à venir s'appuyer contre les faces parallèles de la tringle 21 lorsque la pièce basculante 25 est en position extrême de pivotement dans un sens ou dans l'autre par rapport à la tringle 21. La pièce basculante 25 comporte, dans sa partie supérieure située à droite (lorsque l'on regarde les figures 1 et 5), un ergot 31 présentant une surface d'appui dirigée vers le bas, cet ergot pouvant venir s'appuyer contre un butée 32 fixée rigidement sur une face latérale d'un bilame 33. La pièce basculante 25 comporte également, dans sa partie droite, une partie en saillie dirigée vers le bas 34 présentant une surface d'appui 25 dirigée vers la gauche, c'est-à-dire dirigée vers la tringle de commande 21. La pièce basculante 25 comporte également une partie en saillie dirigée vers le bas 36, prolongée par une partie en saillie dirigée vers la gauche 37 et présentant une surface extérieure 38 de forme cylindrique convexe, dont l'axe de courbure est confondu avec l'axe de pivotement 30. La surface cylindrique 38 dirigée vers le bas est en regard de la face inférieure de la fente 24 ménagée dans la tringle 21. La pièce basculante 25 peut ainsi pivoter autour de l'axe 30 tout en restant liée longitudinalement à la tringle 21, du fait que les deux surfaces cylindriques 27 et 38 font face respectivement aux surfaces d'extrémité supérieure et inférieure de la fente 24 de la tringle. On réalise de la sorte une articulation de la pièce basculante 25 par rapport à la tringle 21, sans avoir recours à des pièces supplémentaires du type axe d'articulation. La pièce basculante 25 comporte également au niveau de son extrémité gauche une protubérance 39 dirigée vers le bas et vers la droite et faisant face à la protubérance 37, de sorte qu'un ressort de compression 40 puisse être logé de façon à s'emboîter au niveau de ses deux extrémités, respectivement sur la protubérance 39 et sur la protubérance 37. L'extrémité gauche du ressort 40 vient en appui contre les bord latéraux de la protubérance 39, c'est-à-dire en appui contre la partie gauche de la pièce basculante 25. L'extrémité droite du ressort 40 vient en appui contre la paroi latérale gauche 41 de la tringle de commande 21. Le ressort 40 exerce donc une force entre la tringle 21 et la pièce basculante 25 qui tend à faire pivoter la pièce basculante 25 dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre.As can be seen in Figures 1 and 5, the tilting part 25 has a complex shape. This part has in its upper part a notch 26 whose bottom 27 is in an arc of concave circle directed upwards and whose lateral edges 28 and 29 are planar surfaces located in planes joining at the level of the axis of curvature 30 of the bottom 27. The notch 26 is applied, at its bottom 27, against the upper face of the longitudinal slot 24 formed in the control rod 21 (visible in Figure 6), so that the tilting part 25 can move freely by sliding in the slot 24 of the rod 21 in a pivoting movement around the axis 30. The minimum distance separating the two lateral edge 28 and 29 of the notch 26 is slightly greater than the thickness of the rod 21, so as to bear against the parallel faces of the rod 21 when the tilting part 25 is in the extreme pivoting position in a in either direction relative to the rod 21. The tilting part 25 comprises, in its upper part located on the right (when looking at FIGS. 1 and 5), a lug 31 having a bearing surface directed towards the bottom, this lug being able to come to rest against a stop 32 rigidly fixed on a lateral face of a bimetallic strip 33. The tilting part 25 also comprises, in its straight part, a projecting part directed downwards 34 having a surface support 25 directed towards the left, that is to say directed towards the control rod 21. The tilting part 25 also comprises a projecting part directed downwards 36, extended by a projecting part directed towards the left 37 and near entering an outer surface 38 of convex cylindrical shape, the axis of curvature of which coincides with the pivot axis 30. The cylindrical surface 38 directed downwards faces the underside of the slot 24 formed in the rod 21 The tilting part 25 can thus pivot around the axis 30 while remaining connected longitudinally to the rod 21, owing to the fact that the two cylindrical surfaces 27 and 38 face respectively the upper and lower end surfaces of the slot 24 of the rod. This produces an articulation of the tilting part 25 relative to the rod 21, without resorting to additional parts of the hinge pin type. The tilting part 25 also has at its left end a protrusion 39 directed downwards and to the right and facing the protrusion 37, so that a compression spring 40 can be housed so as to fit into the level of its two ends, respectively on the protuberance 39 and on the protuberance 37. The left end of the spring 40 bears against the lateral edges of the protuberance 39, that is to say in abutment against the left part of the tilting part 25. The right end of the spring 40 abuts against the left side wall 41 of the control rod 21. The spring 40 therefore exerts a force between the rod 21 and the tilting part 25 which tends to rotate the tilting part 25 clockwise.

Comme cela est représenté en figures 1 et 7, un support de contact 42 est réalisé sous forme d'une tôle métallique allongée disposée approximativement longitudinalement dans la cavité 2. L'extrémité supérieure du support de contact 42 est reliée à la tringle de commande 21, par emboîtement dans une petite fenêtre 42′ situées entre l'extrémité inférieure de fenêtre 22 et l'extrémité supérieure de la fente 24. La liaison entre l'extrémité supérieure du support de contact 42 et la tringle de commande 21 permet le pivotement du support de contact 42 par rapport à la tringle, au niveau de leur liaison. Le support de contact 42 comporte une fente longitudinale 43 de largeur légèrement supérieure à l'épaisseur de la pièce basculante 25, de sorte que la pièce basculante 25 puisse être enfilée dans le support de contact 42. La fente 43 ménagée dans le support de contact 42 est limitée vers le bas de façon à n'être pas présente dans une région centrale 45 du support de contact 42, la face gauche de cette région 45 venant en appui contre une face d'appui 49 dirigée vers la droite de l'extrémité inférieure de la partie en protubérance 36 de la pièce basculante 25 (figure 5). La surface d'appui 35 dirigée vers la gauche et ménagée à l'extrémité de la protubérance 34 de la pièce basculante 25 vient en appui contre une pièce intermédiaire rigide 46 fixée rigidement au niveau de l'extrémité inférieure du support de contact 42, cette pièce 46 supportant un contact électrique mobile 47 dirigé vers la droite et disposé en regard d'un contact électrique fixe 47′ dirigé vers la gauche, ces deux contact électriques étant effectivement en regard lorsque le disjoncteur est enclenché (figure 2).As shown in Figures 1 and 7, a contact support 42 is made in the form of an elongated metal sheet disposed approximately longitudinally in the cavity 2. The upper end of the contact support 42 is connected to the control rod 21 , by fitting into a small window 42 ′ located between the lower window end 22 and the upper end of the slot 24. The connection between the upper end of the contact support 42 and the control rod 21 allows the pivoting of the contact support 42 relative to the rod, at their connection. The contact support 42 has a longitudinal slot 43 of width slightly greater than the thickness of the tilting part 25, so that the tilting part 25 can be threaded into the contact support 42. The slot 43 formed in the contact support 42 is limited downwards so as not to be present in a central region 45 of the contact support 42, the left face of this region 45 coming to bear against a bearing face 49 directed towards the right of the end bottom of the protruding part 36 of the tilting part 25 (Figure 5). The bearing surface 35 directed to the left and formed at the end of the protuberance 34 of the tilting part 25 comes to bear against a rigid intermediate piece 46 rigidly fixed at the lower end of the contact support 42, this piece 46 supporting a movable electrical contact 47 directed to the right and disposed opposite a fixed electrical contact 47 ′ directed to the left, these two electrical contacts being effectively opposite when the circuit breaker is tripped (FIG. 2).

La tringle de commande 21 est guidée longitudinalement dans le boîtier 1 à l'aide de rainures 50 formant glissière ménagées dans ce boîtier, comme cela est représenté en figure 6.The control rod 21 is guided longitudinally in the housing 1 by means of grooves 50 forming a slide formed in this housing, as shown in FIG. 6.

Pour comprendre le mode de fonctionnement du disjoncteur selon l'invention, on se reportera maintenant, successivement, aux figure 1 à 4 qui représentent le même appareil selon différentes positions et modes de fonctionnement.To understand the operating mode of the circuit breaker according to the invention, reference will now be made, successively, to FIGS. 1 to 4 which represent the same device according to different positions and operating modes.

Dans la figure 1, le disjoncteur est en position déclenchée, c'est-à-dire dans la position stable d'ouverture des contacts électriques 47 et 47′. Un ressort de compression 50 est intercalé entre une surface d'appui supérieure 51 d'une partie de support et guidage 52 du canon 4 et une surface dirigée vers le bas 53 d'une partie d'appui 54 reliée à la partie supérieure 13 du bouton de commande 12. Ce ressort de compression 50 permet de pousser en permanence vers le haut le bouton de commande 12 qui entraîne avec lui vers le haut l'ensemble du mécanisme mobile constitué essentiellement des bielles 15, 15′, de la tringle de commande 21, de la pièce basculante 25 et du support de contact 42. Dans cette position, les bielles 15 et 15′ sont situées à l'intérieur de l'alésage 10 du canon 4, se retrouvent dans une position relativement rapprochée l'une de l'autre et leurs surfaces d'appui inclinées 17, 17′ et 19, 19′ entourent avec un jeu minimum la pièce cylindrique 20.In Figure 1, the circuit breaker is in the tripped position, that is to say in the stable position of opening of the electrical contacts 47 and 47 ′. A compression spring 50 is interposed between an upper support surface 51 of a support and guide part 52 of the barrel 4 and a downwardly directed surface 53 of a support part 54 connected to the upper part 13 of the control button 12. This compression spring 50 makes it possible to continuously push up the control button 12 which drives with it up the assembly of the mobile mechanism essentially consisting of connecting rods 15, 15 ′, of the control rod 21, the tilting part 25 and the contact support 42. In this position, the connecting rods 15 and 15 ′ are located inside the bore 10 of the barrel 4, are found in a relatively close position, one of the other and their inclined bearing surfaces 17, 17 ′ and 19, 19 ′ surround the cylindrical part 20 with minimum clearance.

Lorsqu'un utilisateur appuie sur le bouton 12 vers le bas, afin de manoeuvrer le disjoncteur pour le mettre en position d'enclenchement, l'ensemble des pièces mobiles longitudinalement se déplace vers le bas. En particulier, les faces d'appui inclinées 17 et 17′ des bielles 15 et 15′ viennent en appui contre la pièce cylindrique 20 pour pousser celle-ci vers le bas, et cette pièce cylindrique 20 entraîne vers le bas la tringle de commande 21 ainsi que les pièces mobiles supportées par cette tringles. Lors de son déplacement vers le bas, l'ergot 31 de la pièce basculante 25 vient en appui sur la butée 32 du bilame 33. Tandis que le déplacement vers le bas se poursuit, la pièce basculante 25 pivote dans le sens contraire des aiguilles d'une montre autour de son axe de pivotement 30. La surface d'appui 49 de la protubérance 36 de la pièce basculante pousse vers la droite le support de contact 42, ce qui provoque son pivotement dans le sens contraire des aiguilles d'une montre et ce qui amène le contact mobile 47 en contact contre son homologue fixe 47′, afin d'établir la connexion électrique. On se retrouve alors dans la position représentée en figure 2.When a user presses the button 12 downwards, in order to operate the circuit breaker in order to put it in the latching position, the set of parts moving longitudinally moves downwards. In particular, the inclined bearing faces 17 and 17 ′ of the connecting rods 15 and 15 ′ come into abutment against the cylindrical piece 20 to push the latter down, and this cylindrical piece 20 drives the control rod 21 downwards as well as the moving parts supported by this rods. During its downward movement, the lug 31 of the tilting part 25 comes to rest on the stop 32 of the bimetallic strip 33. While the downward movement continues, the tilting part 25 pivots anti-clockwise around its pivot axis 30. The bearing surface 49 of the protuberance 36 of the tilting part pushes the contact support 42 to the right, which causes it to pivot in anti-clockwise and which brings the movable contact 47 into contact against its fixed counterpart 47 ′, in order to establish the electrical connection. We then find ourselves in the position shown in Figure 2.

Dans cette position, le support de contact 42 est en flexion, parce qu'il est en matériau élastique, ce qui limite la force d'appui d'un contact 47 sur l'autre 47′ à une certaine force correspondant à la flèche prise par le support élastique 42 dans la position d'enclenchement du disjoncteur.In this position, the contact support 42 is in flexion, because it is made of elastic material, which limits the contact force of one contact 47 on the other 47 ′ to a certain force corresponding to the arrow taken by the elastic support 42 in the closing position of the circuit breaker.

Si, comme cela est représenté en figure 3, un courant électrique trop intense provoque le déplacement vers le droite du bilame 33, la butée 32 se désengage de l'ergot 31 et, sous l'action du ressort de compression 40, la pièce basculante 25 pivote immédiatement dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre et la surface d'appui 35 de sa protubérance 34 pousse vers la gauche la pièce rigide 46 qui entraîne le pivotement dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre du support de contact 42, ce qui provoque l'écartement rapide des contacts électriques 47 et 47′ et par conséquent la disjonction du système. On peut utiliser, d'une façon classique, un ensemble de deux bilames 33 et 56 reliés par une pièce de liaison 53 (représentée partiellement afin de clarifier le dessin), le bilame 33 étant par exemple un bilame de compensation et le bilame 56 étant alors le bilame de disjonction. Cette disposition classique de disjonction par bilame compensé en température ne modifie en rien la description qui a été faite précédemment. Le dispositif ainsi disjoncté, tel que représenté en figure 3, ne reste pas dans cette position mais remonte immédiatement dans la position correspondant à le figure 1, sous l'action du ressort de compression 50. Lorsque le ou les bilames sont refroidis, le dispositif est prêt pour un nouvel enclenchement.If, as shown in FIG. 3, an excessively strong electric current causes the bimetallic strip 33 to move to the right, the stop 32 disengages from the lug 31 and, under the action of the compression spring 40, the tilting part 25 pivots immediately clockwise and the bearing surface 35 of its protuberance 34 pushes the rigid piece 46 to the left which causes the contact support 42 to pivot clockwise, which causes the rapid separation of the electrical contacts 47 and 47 ′ and consequently the disjunction of the system. It is possible to use, in a conventional manner, a set of two bimetallic strips 33 and 56 connected by a connecting piece 53 (partially shown to clarify the drawing), the bimetallic strip 33 being for example a compensation bimetallic strip and the bimetallic strip 56 being then the disjunction bimetallic strip. This conventional arrangement of disjunction by temperature compensated bimetallic strip in no way modifies the description which has been made previously. The device thus tripped, as shown in FIG. 3, does not remain in this position but immediately rises to the position corresponding to FIG. 1, under the action of the compression spring 50. When the bimetallic strip (s) are cooled, the device is ready for a new engagement.

Lorsque le disjoncteur est en position enclenchée, comme cela est représenté en figure 2, un utilisateur peut provoquer son déclenchement en saisissant le bouton de commande 3 et en le tirant vers le haut, comme cela est représenté par la flèche 57 de la figure 4. Dans la figure 4, le bouton de commande 12 est dans une position intermédiaire, c'est-à-dire dans une position qu'il occupe au cours de son déplacement vers le haut provoqué par l'utilisateur. On a vu précédemment que, lorsque le disjoncteur est enclenché, le ressort de compression 40 provoque une force de réaction vers le haut de la tringle 21, ce qui provoque des forces d'écartement dans les bielles 15 et 15′ sous l'action de contact dirigé vers le haut de la pièce cylindrique 20 contre les surfaces d'appui oblique 17 et 17′. Cela bloque le disjoncteur dans la position enclenchée. Toutefois, lorsque l'utilisateur tire vers le haut le bouton 12, cela entraîne vers le haut les bielles 15 et 15′. Or, ces bielles 15 et 15′ comprennent chacune des surfaces d'appui obliques 58 et 58′ dirigées vers le haut et vers l'extérieur qui viennent glisser contre un bord arrondi inférieur 60 de l'alésage 10 du canon 4. De préférence, l'angle que fait la surface d'appui 58 ou 58′ avec l'axe longitudinal 18 est inférieure à l'angle que fait la surface d'appui 17 ou 17′ avec ce même axe longitudinal. De la sorte, un effort relativement faible dirigé vers le haut (flèche 57) permet de ramener les bielles 15 et 15′ à l'intérieur de l'alésage 10 du fait du glissement de leurs surfaces d'appui 58 et 58′ contre le bord inférieur 60. Juste au moment où les bielles 15 et 15′ passent à l'intérieur de l'alésage 10, il n'y a plus d'effort de frottement entre les surfaces d'appui 58 et 58′ et le bord inférieur 60, ce qui diminue la résistance au déplacement vers le haut du bouton de commande 12, provoquant ainsi un phénomène de déclenchement rapide. L'ouverture du contact électrique s'effectue donc très rapidement, ce qui permet d'éviter la formation d'un arc électrique entre les contact 47 et 47′.When the circuit breaker is in the latched position, as shown in FIG. 2, a user can cause it to trip by grasping the control button 3 and pulling it up, as represented by the arrow 57 in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, the control button 12 is in an intermediate position, that is to say in a position which it occupies during its upward movement caused by the user. We have previously seen that, when the circuit breaker is switched on, the compression spring 40 causes a reaction force towards the top of the rod 21, which causes separation forces in the connecting rods 15 and 15 ′ under the action of contact directed upwards of the cylindrical part 20 against the oblique bearing surfaces 17 and 17 ′. This blocks the circuit breaker in the on position. However, when the user pulls up the button 12, this drives the connecting rods 15 and 15 ′ upwards. However, these connecting rods 15 and 15 ′ each comprise oblique bearing surfaces 58 and 58 ′ directed upwards and outwards which slide against a lower rounded edge 60 of the bore 10 of the barrel 4. Preferably, the angle made by the bearing surface 58 or 58 ′ with the longitudinal axis 18 is less than the angle made by the bearing surface 17 or 17 ′ with this same longitudinal axis. In this way, a relatively small effort directed upwards (arrow 57) makes it possible to bring the connecting rods 15 and 15 ′ inside the bore 10 due to the sliding of their bearing surfaces 58 and 58 ′ against the lower edge 60. Just when the connecting rods 15 and 15 ′ pass inside the bore 10, there is no more friction force between the bearing surfaces 58 and 58 ′ and the lower edge 60, which decreases the resistance to the upward movement of the control button 12, thus causing a rapid tripping phenomenon. The opening of the electrical contact is therefore carried out very quickly, which avoids the formation of an electric arc between the contacts 47 and 47 ′.

Lorsque le bouton 12 est déplacé entre sa position la plus haute et une position intermédiaire, les bielles 15, 15′ glissent à l'intérieur de l'alésage 10 et par conséquent, un déplacement du bouton 12 vers le haut ou le bas produit un déplacement de même amplitude de la tringle 21. Lorsque le bouton 12 se déplace au voisinage de la position intermédiaire (correspondant à la position représentée en figure 4), les bielles 15, 15′ glissent au niveau de leurs surfaces 58, 58′ sur le rebord 60 du canon 4, en s'écartant ou se rapprochant, et cela a pour conséquence qu'un déplacement du bouton 12 produit un déplacement de plus faible amplitude de la tringle 21. Cette démultiplication du mouvement provoque l'effet de seuil d'effort lors de l'actionnement manuel du bouton 12 dans le sens de l'enclenchement ou du désenclenchement.When the button 12 is moved between its highest position and an intermediate position, the connecting rods 15, 15 ′ slide inside the bore 10 and consequently, a displacement of the button 12 up or down produces a displacement of the same amplitude of the rod 21. When the button 12 moves in the vicinity of the intermediate position (corresponding to the position shown in FIG. 4), the connecting rods 15, 15 ′ slide at their surfaces 58, 58 ′ on the rim 60 of the barrel 4, moving away or approaching it, and this has the consequence that a displacement of the button 12 produces a displacement of smaller amplitude of the rod 21. This reduction in movement causes the threshold effect of effort during manual actuation of button 12 in the direction of engagement or disengagement.

Le disjoncteur selon l'invention présente une très grande simplicité de construction, en particulier du fait du nombre de pièces très limité nécessaire et du fait de l'absence de dispositif d'articulation compliqué utilisant des axes d'articulation pivotants. Ce disjoncteur a toutefois un fonctionnement faible, en particulier du fait que, lors de l'enclenchement ou du désenclenchement manuel ou lors de la disjonction, le rapprochement ou l'éloignement des contacts électriques 47 et 47′ s'effectue toujours très rapidement, ce qui limite fortement la formation d'arc électrique néfaste.The circuit breaker according to the invention has a very great simplicity of construction, in particular because of the very limited number of parts required and because of the absence of complicated articulation device using pivoting articulation axes. This circuit breaker has however a weak functioning, in particular because, during the engagement or the disengagement manual or during the tripping, the approach or the distance of the electric contacts 47 and 47 ′ always takes place very quickly, this which greatly limits the formation of harmful electric arcs.

Claims (2)

Disjoncteur comprenant un boîtier (1) et un bouton de commande (12) pouvant se déplacer linéairement dans la partie supérieure (4) du boîtier, comprenant : - une tringle de commande (21) disposée longitudinalement à l'intérieur du boîtier (1) et déplaçable sous l'action du bouton de commande (12) ; - une pièce basculante (25) montée de façon pivotante sur la tringle (21) et déterminant l'ouverture ou la fermeture du disjoncteur,
   caractérisé en ce que le bouton de commande (12) comporte deux bielles (15, 15′) montées pivotantes à l'intérieur du bouton de commande (12), dans sa partie supérieure, et s'étendant vers le bas à l'extérieur du bouton de commande (12) vers la cavité du boîtier (1), ces bielles comprenant chacune une première surface d'appui (17, 17′) inclinée dirigée vers l'intérieur et vers le bas et une seconde surface d'appui (19, 19′) située plus bas, inclinée et dirigée vers l'intérieur et vers le haut, ces quatre surfaces d'appui (17, 17′, 19, 19′) entourant et maintenant en place une pièce cylindrique (20) reliée à la partie supérieure de la tringle (21), et les bielles (15, 15′) comprenant aussi chacune une surface d'appui inclinée (58, 58′) dirigée vers l'extérieur et vers le haut venant glisser contre un bord inférieur d'un alésage (10) de la partie supérieure (4) du boîtier, de façon que, lors du déplacement vers le haut du bouton de commande (12), les bielles glissent au niveau de leur surface d'appui extérieur (58, 58′) contre un rebord inférieur (60) de l'alésage, provoquant ainsi le rapprochement des bielles l'une vers l'autre et leur passage à l'intérieur de l'alésage (10) lorsque le bouton de commande (12) est en position haute de déclenchement. Circuit breaker comprising a housing (1) and a control button (12) which can move linearly in the upper part (4) of the housing, comprising: - a control rod (21) arranged longitudinally inside the housing (1) and movable under the action of the control button (12); - a tilting part (25) pivotally mounted on the rod (21) and determining the opening or closing of the circuit breaker,
characterized in that the control button (12) comprises two connecting rods (15, 15 ′) pivotally mounted inside the control button (12), in its upper part, and extending downwards outside from the control button (12) to the housing cavity (1), these connecting rods each comprising a first inclined bearing surface (17, 17 ′) directed inwards and downwards and a second bearing surface ( 19, 19 ′) located lower, inclined and directed inwards and upwards, these four bearing surfaces (17, 17 ′, 19, 19 ′) surrounding and holding in place a connected cylindrical part (20) at the upper part of the rod (21), and the connecting rods (15, 15 ′) also each comprising an inclined bearing surface (58, 58 ′) directed outwards and upwards sliding against a lower edge a bore (10) in the upper part (4) of the housing, so that when the control button (1 2), the connecting rods slide at their external bearing surface (58, 58 ′) against a lower rim (60) of the bore, thus causing the connecting rods to approach one another and their passage to inside the bore (10) when the control button (12) is in the high release position. Disjoncteur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'angle que fait la première surface d'appui (17, 17′) inclinée dirigée vers l'intérieur et vers le bas avec l'axe longitudinal (18) est supérieur à l'angle que fait la surface d'appui inclinée (58, 58′) dirigée vers l'extérieur et vers le haut, de sorte que, lorsque le bouton de commande (12) se déplace au niveau de la première partie haute de sa course, les bielles (15, 15′) glissent à l'intérieur de l'alésage (10) de la partie supérieure du boîtier, provoquant ainsi le déplacement de la tige de commande (21) de même amplitude que le déplacement du bouton de commande (12) et, lorsque le bouton de commande se déplace à l'intérieur de la seconde partie inférieure de sa course, les bielles (15, 15′) sortent de l'alésage (10) et leurs surfaces d'appui (58, 58′) viennent en glissement sur le rebord inférieur (60), de sorte que le déplacement du bouton de commande (12) provoque un déplacement de plus petite course de la tige de commande (21).Circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle made by the first inclined support surface (17, 17 ′) directed inwards and downwards with the longitudinal axis (18) is greater than the angle made by the inclined bearing surface (58, 58 ′) directed outwards and upwards, so that, when the control button (12) moves at the level of the first upper part of its travel, the connecting rods (15, 15 ′) slide inside the bore (10) of the upper part of the housing, thus causing the displacement of the control rod (21) by the same amplitude as the displacement of the control button ( 12) and, when the control button moves inside the second lower part of its travel, the connecting rods (15, 15 ′) come out of the bore (10) and their bearing surfaces (58, 58 ′) Slide on the lower edge (60), so that the movement of the control button (12) causes a displacement smaller stroke of the control rod (21).
EP91420161A 1990-05-22 1991-05-17 Hand operated protective interrupter Expired - Lifetime EP0458711B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9006605A FR2662541B1 (en) 1990-05-22 1990-05-22 MANUALLY CONTROLLED CIRCUIT BREAKER.
FR9006605 1990-05-22

Publications (2)

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EP0458711A1 true EP0458711A1 (en) 1991-11-27
EP0458711B1 EP0458711B1 (en) 1994-12-28

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91420161A Expired - Lifetime EP0458711B1 (en) 1990-05-22 1991-05-17 Hand operated protective interrupter

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US (1) US5128647A (en)
EP (1) EP0458711B1 (en)
DE (1) DE69106218T2 (en)
FR (1) FR2662541B1 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2748151B1 (en) * 1996-04-30 1998-07-10 Crouzet Automatismes MANUAL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AN ELECTRIC SWITCHING MEMBER

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1092997B (en) * 1959-07-06 1960-11-17 Licentia Gmbh Switching device in flat design, especially small self-contained switch, with thermal release
FR1497408A (en) * 1965-10-24 1967-10-06 Texas Instruments Inc Thermostatic circuit breaker

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3361882A (en) * 1965-10-24 1968-01-02 Texas Instruments Inc Circuit breaker having a compensating element which compensates for ambient temperature without displacing the catch attached thereto

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1092997B (en) * 1959-07-06 1960-11-17 Licentia Gmbh Switching device in flat design, especially small self-contained switch, with thermal release
FR1497408A (en) * 1965-10-24 1967-10-06 Texas Instruments Inc Thermostatic circuit breaker

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2662541B1 (en) 1996-06-14
DE69106218D1 (en) 1995-02-09
DE69106218T2 (en) 1995-08-24
EP0458711B1 (en) 1994-12-28
FR2662541A1 (en) 1991-11-29
US5128647A (en) 1992-07-07

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