EP0462026A1 - Miniature circuit breaker with outlet for cut-off gases - Google Patents

Miniature circuit breaker with outlet for cut-off gases Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0462026A1
EP0462026A1 EP91420174A EP91420174A EP0462026A1 EP 0462026 A1 EP0462026 A1 EP 0462026A1 EP 91420174 A EP91420174 A EP 91420174A EP 91420174 A EP91420174 A EP 91420174A EP 0462026 A1 EP0462026 A1 EP 0462026A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
chamber
housing
circuit breaker
outlet
orifice
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Withdrawn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
EP91420174A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Michel Perrot
Didier Lebouc
Jean-Bruno Comino
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.)
Schneider Electric SE
Original Assignee
Merlin Gerin SA
Schneider Electric SE
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 Merlin Gerin SA, Schneider Electric SE filed Critical Merlin Gerin SA
Publication of EP0462026A1 publication Critical patent/EP0462026A1/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Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • H01H9/34—Stationary parts for restricting or subdividing the arc, e.g. barrier plate
    • H01H9/342—Venting arrangements for arc chutes

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a miniature electric circuit breaker with molded insulating housing of parallelepiped shape having a handle projecting from a front face, a fixing base arranged on an opposite rear face, and a pair of narrow lateral connection faces, said housing containing a main arc extinguishing chamber with deionization plates, and a decompression chamber communicating the output of the main chamber with the external medium through an evacuation orifice.
  • the exhaust of the breaking gases towards the external environment is generally effected by means of an orifice arranged in the narrow lateral face of the housing, that is to say in the environment in which is the connecting conductor.
  • the lateral orientation of the exhaust of ionized gases may cause priming with the connecting conductor.
  • the presence of flame arresters in the discharge orifice helps cool the ionized gases before they escape to the outside environment.
  • the cooling gradient nevertheless depends on the structure of the flame arresters.
  • the use of simple metal deionization grids does not allow optimum cooling of the ionized gases to be obtained, and the risk of external ignition remains for high currents.
  • the use of special deionization boxes makes it possible to improve cooling, but their incorporation into the discharge orifice is incompatible with the size of the miniature circuit breaker.
  • the object of the invention is to improve the exhaust of the breaking gas from a miniature circuit breaker.
  • the circuit breaker according to the invention is characterized in that the evacuation orifice is provided in the rear face of the insulating housing, to divert the ionized gas flow from the side of the mounting base, to an area devoid of connecting conductors or live conductive parts, and that the decompression chamber comprises a baffle located in the vicinity of the orifice evacuation.
  • the exhaust at right angles to the gases from the rear face of the box sends the hot gases to the rear part of the box, and prevents ignition in this region, regardless of the intensity of the current to be interrupted.
  • a miniature circuit breaker 10 with an insulating housing 12 molded in a parallelepiped shape has a front face 14 from which protrudes a lever 16 of the mechanism, an opposite rear face 18 equipped with a mounting base 20, and a pair 22.24 narrow side faces for connection.
  • the main arc extinguishing chamber 26 is formed by a stack of deionization sheets extending parallel to the base 20.
  • the outlet 28 of the arc extinguishing chamber 26 is positioned against a perforated wall 30 allowing passage cut-off gas during the arc extinction phase.
  • connection conductor 32 is introduced on the side of the face 22 into a cage of a connection terminal 34, which is housed in a cell 36 of the housing 12.
  • the base 20 for fixing the circuit breaker 10 can be adapted on a mounting rail (not shown).
  • a partition 38 of subdivision of the housing 12 is arranged between the cell 36 and the perforated wall 30 to confine a decompression chamber 40 at the outlet 28 of the extinguishing chamber 26.
  • the decompression chamber 40 is closed on the side of the side face 22, so as to prevent any escape of ionized gases from the side of the connecting conductor 32.
  • a discharge orifice 42 is provided in the rear face 18 of the housing 12, allowing communication between the decompression chamber 40 and the outside environment.
  • the breaking gases are directed towards the decompression chamber 40, and are evacuated through the orifice 42 towards the outside environment, after passing through a baffle 44 (see arrow direction F).
  • the presence of the discharge orifice 42 in the rear face 18 of the insulating housing 12 makes it possible to deflect the ionized gas flow on the side of the base 20, towards a posterior zone, devoid of active parts under tension.

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  • Breakers (AREA)

Abstract

An electrical circuit-breaker (10) with insulating casing (12) encloses a main arc-extinction chamber (26), and a decompression chamber (40) communicating with the outer environment through an exhaust orifice (42). According to the invention, the exhaust orifice (42) is accommodated in the rear face (18) of the insulating casing (12) in order to divert the ionised gas flow from the fixing base (20) side towards a region devoid of connection leads or live conductive parts. <IMAGE>

Description

L'invention est relative à un disjoncteur électrique miniature à boîtier isolant moulé de forme parallélépipédique ayant une manette faisant saillie d'une face avant, un socle de fixation agencé sur une face arrière opposée, et une paire de faces latérales étroites de raccordement, ledit boîtier renfermant une chambre principale d'extinction d'arc à tôles de désionisation, et une chambre de décompression faisant communiquer la sortie de la chambre principale avec le milieu extérieur à travers un orifice d'évacuation.The invention relates to a miniature electric circuit breaker with molded insulating housing of parallelepiped shape having a handle projecting from a front face, a fixing base arranged on an opposite rear face, and a pair of narrow lateral connection faces, said housing containing a main arc extinguishing chamber with deionization plates, and a decompression chamber communicating the output of the main chamber with the external medium through an evacuation orifice.

Dans les disjoncteurs de l'art antérieur, l'échappement des gaz de coupure vers le milieu extérieur s'effectue généralement au moyen d'un orifice agencé dans la face latérale étroite du boîtier, c'est à dire dans l'environnement dans lequel se trouve le conducteur de raccordement. En cas de coupure de courants de court-circuit, l'orientation latérale de l'échappement des gaz ionisés risque de provoquer des amorçages avec le conducteur de raccordement. La présence de pare-flammes dans l'orifice d'évacuation contribue à refroidir les gaz ionisés avant leur échappement vers le milieu extérieur. Le gradient de refroidissement dépend néanmoins de la structure des pare-flammes. L'utilisation de simples grilles métalliques de désionisation ne permet pas d'obtenir un refroidissement optimum des gaz ionisés, et le risque d'amorçage extérieur subsiste pour des forts courants. L'usage de boîtes de désionisation spéciales permet d'améliorer le refroidissement, mais leur incorporation dans l'orifice d'évacuation est incompatible avec l'encombrement du disjoncteur miniature.In the circuit breakers of the prior art, the exhaust of the breaking gases towards the external environment is generally effected by means of an orifice arranged in the narrow lateral face of the housing, that is to say in the environment in which is the connecting conductor. In the event of a short-circuit current cut, the lateral orientation of the exhaust of ionized gases may cause priming with the connecting conductor. The presence of flame arresters in the discharge orifice helps cool the ionized gases before they escape to the outside environment. The cooling gradient nevertheless depends on the structure of the flame arresters. The use of simple metal deionization grids does not allow optimum cooling of the ionized gases to be obtained, and the risk of external ignition remains for high currents. The use of special deionization boxes makes it possible to improve cooling, but their incorporation into the discharge orifice is incompatible with the size of the miniature circuit breaker.

L'objet de l'invention consiste à perfectionner l'échappement des gaz de coupure d'un disjoncteur miniature.The object of the invention is to improve the exhaust of the breaking gas from a miniature circuit breaker.

Le disjoncteur selon l'invention est caractérisé en ce que l'orifice d'évacuation est ménagé dans la face arrière du boîtier isolant, pour dévier l'écoulement gazeux ionisé du côté du socle de fixation, vers une zone dépourvue de conducteurs de raccordement ou de parties conductrices sous tension, et que la chambre de décompression comporte une chicane située au voisinage de l'orifice d'évacuation.The circuit breaker according to the invention is characterized in that the evacuation orifice is provided in the rear face of the insulating housing, to divert the ionized gas flow from the side of the mounting base, to an area devoid of connecting conductors or live conductive parts, and that the decompression chamber comprises a baffle located in the vicinity of the orifice evacuation.

L'échappement à angle droit des gaz par la face arrière du boîtier, envoie les gaz chauds vers la partie arrière du coffret, et évite tout amorçage dans cette région, quel que soit l'intensité du courant à interrompre.The exhaust at right angles to the gases from the rear face of the box, sends the hot gases to the rear part of the box, and prevents ignition in this region, regardless of the intensity of the current to be interrupted.

D'autres avantages et caractéristiques ressortiront plus clairement de la description qui va suivre d'un mode de réalisation de l'invention, donné à titre d'exemple non limitatif, et représenté au dessin annexé, dans lequel:

  • la figure 1 est une vue schématique en élévation du disjoncteur selon l'invention, avec une coupe partielle au niveau de l'échappement de la chambre d'extinction d'arc;
  • la fiqure 2 représente une vue en coupe selon la ligne II-II de la figure 1.
Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from the description which follows of an embodiment of the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, and represented in the appended drawing, in which:
  • Figure 1 is a schematic elevational view of the circuit breaker according to the invention, with a partial section at the exhaust of the arc extinguishing chamber;
  • Figure 2 shows a sectional view along line II-II of Figure 1.

Sur les figures, un disjoncteur 10 miniature à boîtier 12 isolant moulé de forme parallélépipédique, comporte une face avant 14 d'où fait saillie une manette 16 du mécanisme, une face arrière 18 opposée équipée d'un socle 20 de fixation, et une paire de faces latérales 22,24 étroites de raccordement. La chambre principale d'extinction d'arc 26 est formée par un empilage de tôles de désionisation s'étendant parallèlement au socle 20. La sortie 28 de la chambre d'extinction d'arc 26 est positionnée contre une paroi 30 perforée autorisant le passage de gaz de coupure pendant la phase d'extinction de l'arc.In the figures, a miniature circuit breaker 10 with an insulating housing 12 molded in a parallelepiped shape, has a front face 14 from which protrudes a lever 16 of the mechanism, an opposite rear face 18 equipped with a mounting base 20, and a pair 22.24 narrow side faces for connection. The main arc extinguishing chamber 26 is formed by a stack of deionization sheets extending parallel to the base 20. The outlet 28 of the arc extinguishing chamber 26 is positioned against a perforated wall 30 allowing passage cut-off gas during the arc extinction phase.

Un conducteur 32 de raccordement est introduit du côté de la face 22 dans une cage d'une borne de connexion 34, laquelle est logée dans un alvéole 36 du boîtier 12. Le socle 20 de fixation du disjoncteur 10 peut être adapté sur un rail de montage (non représenté).A connection conductor 32 is introduced on the side of the face 22 into a cage of a connection terminal 34, which is housed in a cell 36 of the housing 12. The base 20 for fixing the circuit breaker 10 can be adapted on a mounting rail (not shown).

Une cloison 38 de subdivision du boîtier 12 est'ménagée entre l'alvéole 36 et la paroi 30 perforée pour confiner une chambre de décompression 40 à la sortie 28 de la chambre d'extinction 26.La chambre de décompression 40 est obturée du côté de la face latérale 22, de manière à empêcher tout échappement de gaz ionisés du côté du conducteur 32 de raccordement. Un orifice 42 d'évacuation est prévu dans la face arrière 18 du boîtier 12, autorisant la communication de la chambre de décompression 40 avec le milieu extérieur.A partition 38 of subdivision of the housing 12 is arranged between the cell 36 and the perforated wall 30 to confine a decompression chamber 40 at the outlet 28 of the extinguishing chamber 26. The decompression chamber 40 is closed on the side of the side face 22, so as to prevent any escape of ionized gases from the side of the connecting conductor 32. A discharge orifice 42 is provided in the rear face 18 of the housing 12, allowing communication between the decompression chamber 40 and the outside environment.

Lors de la phase d'extinction d'arc dans la chambre principale 26, les gaz de coupure se dirigent vers la chambre de décompression 40, et sont évacués par l'orifice 42 vers le milieu extérieur, après passage dans une chicane 44 (voir sens flèche F).La présence de l'orifice 42 d'évacuation dans la face arrière 18 du boîtier 12 isolant permet de dévier l'écoulement gazeux ionisé du côté du socle 20, vers une zone postérieure, dépourvue de parties actives sous tension.During the arc extinction phase in the main chamber 26, the breaking gases are directed towards the decompression chamber 40, and are evacuated through the orifice 42 towards the outside environment, after passing through a baffle 44 (see arrow direction F). The presence of the discharge orifice 42 in the rear face 18 of the insulating housing 12 makes it possible to deflect the ionized gas flow on the side of the base 20, towards a posterior zone, devoid of active parts under tension.

Claims (2)

Disjoncteur électrique miniature à boîtier (12) isolant moulé de forme parallélépipèdique ayant une manette (16) faisant saillie d'une face avant (14), un socle (20) de fixation agencé sur une face arrière (18) opposée, et une paire de faces latérales (22,24) étroites de raccordement, ledit boîtier renfermant une chambre principale (26) d'extinction d'arc à tôles de désionisation, et une chambre de décompression (40) faisant communiquer la sortie (28) de la chambre principale (26) avec le milieu extérieur à travers un orifice(42)d'évacuation, caractérisé en ce que l'orifice (42) d'évacuation est ménagé dans la face arrière (18) du boîtier (12) isolant, pour dévier l'écoulement gazeux ionisé du côté du socle (20) de fixation, vers une zone dépourvue de conducteurs de raccordement ou de parties conductrices sous tension, et que la chambre de décompression (40)comporte une chicane(44)située au voisinage de l'orifice (42) d'évacuation.Miniature electric circuit breaker with insulated housing (12) of rectangular shape having a handle (16) projecting from a front face (14), a mounting base (20) arranged on an opposite rear face (18), and a pair narrow side faces (22,24) for connection, said housing containing a main chamber (26) for extinguishing arcs with deionization plates, and a decompression chamber (40) making the outlet (28) of the chamber communicate main (26) with the external medium through an evacuation orifice (42), characterized in that the evacuation orifice (42) is formed in the rear face (18) of the insulating housing (12), for deflecting the ionized gas flow on the side of the mounting base (20), towards an area devoid of connecting conductors or live conductive parts, and that the decompression chamber (40) comprises a baffle (44) located in the vicinity of the 'orifice (42) for evacuation. Disjoncteur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la sortie(28) de la chambre principale (26) d'extinction d'arc est positionnée contre une paroi (30) perforée du boîtier (12), et qu'une cloison (38) de subdivision sépare la chambre de décompression (40) d'un alvéole (36) de logement d'une borne de connexion (34).Circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that the outlet (28) of the main arc extinguishing chamber (26) is positioned against a perforated wall (30) of the housing (12), and that a partition (38 ) of subdivision separates the decompression chamber (40) from a cell (36) housing a connection terminal (34).
EP91420174A 1990-06-15 1991-05-30 Miniature circuit breaker with outlet for cut-off gases Withdrawn EP0462026A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9007616 1990-06-15
FR9007616A FR2663458B1 (en) 1990-06-15 1990-06-15 MINIATURE ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH CUTTING GAS EXHAUST.

Publications (1)

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EP0462026A1 true EP0462026A1 (en) 1991-12-18

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EP91420174A Withdrawn EP0462026A1 (en) 1990-06-15 1991-05-30 Miniature circuit breaker with outlet for cut-off gases

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EP (1) EP0462026A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2663458B1 (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2699730A1 (en) * 1992-12-17 1994-06-24 Merlin Gerin Miniature circuit breaker with lateral exhaust of the breaking gases.
EP1271584A2 (en) * 2001-06-29 2003-01-02 AEG Niederspannungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG Venting arrangement for a plug in component
WO2011066887A1 (en) * 2009-12-01 2011-06-09 Abb Ag Installation switching device having an arc-quenching unit
CN102368461A (en) * 2011-09-13 2012-03-07 上海诺雅克电气有限公司 Miniature circuit breaker

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3152232A (en) * 1960-02-29 1964-10-06 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Circuit breaker having bimetal rigidly secured to cradle
FR1569421A (en) * 1967-06-23 1969-05-30
FR2117785A1 (en) * 1970-12-17 1972-07-28 Maier & Cie Charles
DE2258607A1 (en) * 1971-12-02 1973-06-07 Legrand Sa OVERCURRENT SWITCH
FR2575861A1 (en) * 1985-01-07 1986-07-11 Merlin Gerin Miniature electric circuit breaker with arc forming chamber
GB2178596A (en) * 1985-07-09 1987-02-11 Mitsubishi Electric Corp Arc-extinguishing device
DE3705216A1 (en) * 1987-02-19 1988-09-01 Geyer Gmbh & Co Christian Electrical line protection circuit breaker

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3152232A (en) * 1960-02-29 1964-10-06 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Circuit breaker having bimetal rigidly secured to cradle
FR1569421A (en) * 1967-06-23 1969-05-30
FR2117785A1 (en) * 1970-12-17 1972-07-28 Maier & Cie Charles
DE2258607A1 (en) * 1971-12-02 1973-06-07 Legrand Sa OVERCURRENT SWITCH
FR2575861A1 (en) * 1985-01-07 1986-07-11 Merlin Gerin Miniature electric circuit breaker with arc forming chamber
GB2178596A (en) * 1985-07-09 1987-02-11 Mitsubishi Electric Corp Arc-extinguishing device
DE3705216A1 (en) * 1987-02-19 1988-09-01 Geyer Gmbh & Co Christian Electrical line protection circuit breaker

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2699730A1 (en) * 1992-12-17 1994-06-24 Merlin Gerin Miniature circuit breaker with lateral exhaust of the breaking gases.
EP1271584A2 (en) * 2001-06-29 2003-01-02 AEG Niederspannungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG Venting arrangement for a plug in component
EP1271584A3 (en) * 2001-06-29 2004-11-10 AEG Niederspannungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG Venting arrangement for a plug in component
WO2011066887A1 (en) * 2009-12-01 2011-06-09 Abb Ag Installation switching device having an arc-quenching unit
CN102368461A (en) * 2011-09-13 2012-03-07 上海诺雅克电气有限公司 Miniature circuit breaker

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2663458B1 (en) 1996-06-07
FR2663458A1 (en) 1991-12-20

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