EP0511043B1 - Electromechanical switch with reversable auxiliary module - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electromechanical switch device according to the preamble of claim 1 comprising a main device to which is added an additive block of auxiliary contacts.

It is desirable, both from the point of view of the manufacturer of the device and of its user, to be able to use without any constitutive modification the same additive block with auxiliary contacts for closing (normally open) or for opening (normally closed).

Document US-A-3 388 353 describes a switching device of this kind in which auxiliary contacts of an additive block of reduced thickness can be used in closing contacts or in opening contacts by simply turning the block.

The invention more particularly aims to facilitate the use of such an additive block.

• un boîtier principal muni de plusieurs pôles électriques à chacun desquels sont associés au moins un contact mobile coopérant avec un contact fixe et des bornes de puissance correspondantes, et un élément de transmission susceptible de prendre une position marche et une position arrêt en fonction de l'état d'un organe de commande qui régit l'ouverture et/ou la fermeture des contacts,
• un bloc additif comportant un boîtier qui peut être adjoint au boîtier principal et qui présente un circuit électrique à contacts auxiliaires actionnables par l'élément de transmission,
• le bloc additif étant retournable de manière à être adjoint en un même emplacement du boîtier principal, dans une première position où certains des contacts auxiliaires sont à ouverture et dans une deuxième position où les mêmes contacts sont à fermeture.

To this end, it offers an electromechanical switch device comprising:

• a main box provided with several electrical poles to each of which are associated at least one movable contact cooperating with a fixed contact and corresponding power terminals, and a transmission element capable of assuming an on position and an off position depending on the state of a control member which governs the opening and / or closing of the contacts,
• an add-on unit comprising a box which can be added to the main box and which has an electrical circuit with auxiliary contacts actuable by the transmission element,
• the additive unit being reversible so as to be added in the same location of the main housing, in a first position where some of the auxiliary contacts are open and in a second position where the same contacts are closed.

According to the invention, this device is characterized in that the housing of the additive unit presents to the user one or the other of two large opposite faces exclusively visible in each of the two positions of the additive housing, in that in each large face open through openings for the bilateral introduction of conductors in terminals whose access openings have axes which are parallel to those of the power terminals, and in that the two large opposite faces include marking areas serving to indicate the function of the add-on block in the position it occupies on the main housing.

It is advantageous that the add-on block is housed and locked in a front opening of the switchgear housing. Depending on the case, one or two returnable additive blocks can be housed in this opening.

It is particularly interesting that the add-on block is engaged in a front opening of the main box and rests on the nose of the latter, and that the same pivoting lever of the switch device actuates the main contacts and the auxiliary contacts.

On the other hand, a reversible flap can be added to the additive housing to take two operating positions in which it is applied to one or the other of the two large opposite faces of the additive housing and releases a respective functional marking provided on the add-on unit and / or the flap.

• La figure 1 représente en perspective un disjoncteur équipé d'un bloc additif conformément l'invention ;
• La figure 2 est une vue en coupe partielle et à plus grande échelle du disjoncteur de la figure 1 ;
• Les figures 3 et 4 sont des coupes du bloc additif montrant celui-ci respectivement en position d'introduction et en position de fonctionnement dans le disjoncteur ;
• La figure 5 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne V-V du bloc de la figure 3 ;
• La figure 6 est une vue du bloc selon le plan VI-VI de la figure 5 ;
• La figure 7 est une vue selon la flèche VII d'une partie du levier de transmission visible sur la figure 2 ;
• La figure 8 est une vue latérale du levier de transmission ;
• Les figures 9 à 12 montrent le bloc dans différentes positions fonctionnelles ;
• Les figures 13 et 14 montrent en plan l'avant du disjoncteur selon que le bloc additif est monté en additif à ouverture ou à fermeture ;
• La figure 15 montre schématiquement une variante de réalisation du bloc additif ;
• La figure 16 est une élévation d'une autre variante de réalisation du bloc additif, muni d'un volet réversible ;
• Les figures 17 et 18 sont des vues en coupe selon A-A du bloc additif de la figure 16.

The following description of an exemplary embodiment is made with reference to the accompanying drawings and aims to explain the invention.

• Figure 1 shows in perspective a circuit breaker equipped with an add-on block according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a partial sectional view on a larger scale of the circuit breaker of Figure 1;
• Figures 3 and 4 are sections of the add-on block showing it respectively in the insertion position and in the operating position in the circuit breaker;
• Figure 5 is a sectional view along line VV of the block of Figure 3;
• Figure 6 is a view of the block according to the plane VI-VI of Figure 5;
• Figure 7 is a view along arrow VII of a portion of the transmission lever visible in Figure 2;
• Figure 8 is a side view of the transmission lever;
• Figures 9 to 12 show the block in different functional positions;
• Figures 13 and 14 show in plan the front of the circuit breaker depending on whether the additive block is mounted as an additive with opening or closing;
• FIG. 15 schematically shows an alternative embodiment of the additive block;
• Figure 16 is an elevation of another alternative embodiment of the additive block, provided with a reversible flap;
• Figures 17 and 18 are sectional views along AA of the additive block of Figure 16.

The illustrated switching device is a motor circuit breaker having a housing 10 which comprises a cover 11 towards the front and a body or base 12 which can be fixed on a support towards the rear. The housing 10 is provided frontally - that is to say on the side opposite the fixing side - with areas 13, 14 for access to power terminals 15. Access is made for a screwdriver via orifices 16 provided in these areas to allow the attachment or release of power conductors. These conductors are introduced into holes 17 provided in upper and lower areas 18, perpendicular to areas 13, 14. In addition, the housing 10 is provided with a nose 20 which carries, on a flat front surface 21 and parallel to the surfaces 13, 14, adjustment or display elements such as 22 and at least one manual control button such as 23. It also has surfaces 24, 25 parallel to the areas 18 and usually arranged horizontally as shown in the figure 1.

The housing 10 houses, in particular in the nose 20, a control mechanism 26 cooperating with the button 23 and triggering members for controlling the movement of contact bridges 27. These bridges are displaceable according to a X axis perpendicular to the front surface 21 and have movable contacts 29 which cooperate with fixed contacts 28 to each open and close a polar current path between two terminals 15. The contacts are opened from the mechanism 26 by action according to arrow F1 on the end of a lever 30 applicable on a support of the contact bridges. It can also be carried out from an electromagnet integrated in the housing or forming part of a block attached to the housing 10; the opening action can then be exerted on an intermediate point of a large arm 30a of the lever 30 according to arrow F2. The closure of the contacts can be generated in a known manner by the button 23 or the electromagnet.

The lever 30 pivots on pivots 31 and is biased in the direction of closing the contacts 28, 29 by a light spring 32. It is bent so as to present a small arm 30b which directly controls the additive block. The arms 30a, 30b form an approximately right angle between them.

According to the invention, an opening 33 is formed frontally in the surface 24 of the housing between the nose 20 and the front area 13 of access to the terminals 15. In the opening 33 can be introduced by translation, in the manner of 'A cassette, a removable add-on block, for example snap-on or snap-in, the housing 40 has a width at most equal to that of the main housing 10; the width of the housing 40 is here equal to that of the housing 10, reduced by the thickness of the side partitions 34 thereof. In the absence of the additive block, the opening 33 is masked by a removable strip. The depth of the housing 40 and its insertion into the housing 10 are such that the front face of the housing 40 does not protrude from the front surface 21 of the housing 10.

The housing 40 of the additive block consists of a body 40a and a cover 40b (see Figure 6) or two half-shells and it includes a fixed contact member 42 and a movable contact 43 to establish or cut a connection electric with single cutoff between two screw terminals 44, 45. The screw access openings 46 have axes D1 which are parallel to the axes D2 of the screws of the power terminals 15 and which are interposed between these axes to facilitate wiring ( see figure 13). Through openings 47 for introducing the conductors open onto a large horizontal face 48 and onto a large opposite horizontal face 49 of the housing 40. One could of course provide in the housing 40 an electrical connection with double break.

On the front side of the housing 40, there is provided between the openings 46 for access to the terminals 44, 45 an opening 50. This opening is centered on the median plane Y of the housing and houses the maneuverable end of a lock 60 described further.

The add-on block 40 can be turned around an axis perpendicular to the plane of the front surface 21 of the circuit breaker. This reversal allows the additive block to take two functionally distinct positions. To take one of these positions, the face 49 of the housing 40 slides, when it is introduced into the opening 33, on the surface 24 of the nose 20 of the housing 10. To take the other position, the face 48 of the housing 40 slides upon introduction onto the surface 24.

The following arrangements are made inside the housing 40 of the additive block.

The movable contact 43 is carried by one end of an elastic blade 52. The latter is biased, on the side opposite to the contacts, by a contact pressure spring 53. The elastic blade is recessed to its other end in a connection piece 54 connected to terminal 44. The fixed contact 42 is carried by another connection piece 55 connected to terminal 45.

The contact-carrying blade 52 is maneuvered by a lever 56 articulated at one end 56a on trunnions of axis D3 and accessible at its other end 56b, which is free, by a rear opening 57 of the housing 40. The blade 52 and the lever 56 cooperate at an intermediate point 56c of the latter. In place of the lever, a sliding operating member can be provided.

The lock is constituted in a first variant (Figures 2 to 5) by a lever 60 independent of the lever 56 and cooperating with the latter in particular in the insertion range. It is constituted in a second variant (FIG. 15) by at least one hard point snap-in element using an elastic effect and provided in the housings 10 and / or 40.

The locking lever 60 (FIGS. 2 to 5) comprises an operating head 61 housed in the opening 50 and a projection 62 penetrating into a recess 58 in the housing 40 and capable of being hooked in one or the other of two recesses 63, 64 provided in the housing 10, on both sides of the front opening 33. The lever 60 pivots about an axis D4 of the housing 40. The axis D4 is parallel to the axis D3 and to the axis longitudinal of the blade 52, these axes being perpendicular to the plane Y. The lever 60 has a heel 66 opposite to the projection 62 and applicable against the lever 56 in order to force the latter into the open position of the auxiliary contacts in phase d 'introduction. Finally, the lever 60 is returned to its position in FIG. 4 by a spring or by elastic tabs 67.

The reversible additive block can occupy a first position - corresponding to the closing additive function (Figures 9 and 10) - and a second position - corresponding to the opening additive function (Figures 2 to 4 and 11, 12) -. Appropriate functional markings 70F and 700 are provided respectively on the opposite faces 48, 49 of the housing 40 of the additive block; in this way, we visualize the function effectively performed by the block in place while obscuring the marking of the uninsured function. The opening function is illustrated in Figure 13 and the closing function in Figure 14.

The lever 30 of the circuit breaker controls by a first arm 30a a member carrying the power contacts and by a second arm 30b the end tab 56b of the lever 56 of the additive block. The tab 56b is offset from the central plane Y of the housing 40.

The arm 30b of the lever 30 ends with a finger 71F active for the operation in additive with closure and with a finger 710 active for operation in additive with opening. Each finger opens the auxiliary contacts when the main contacts are open (additive to closure) and closed (additive to opening). The fingers 71F, 710 act in opposite directions on the tab 56b and are aligned along axes D5, D6 symmetrical with respect to the plane Y; tab 56b is aligned with D5 (additive to closure) or D6 (additive to opening). Other fingers 71M, 71N, indicated in dashes in FIG. 7, can be provided on the lever 30 to actuate other control levers such as 56 when the additive block has other contacts (for example in the case of '' a four-terminal additive).

The assembly and operating mode of the additive block described are as follows.

When the add-on block must be loaded into the circuit breaker, the operator chooses its apparent side up according to the desired mode and slides the housing 40 onto the horizontal surface 24 of the housing 10 to engage it in the opening 33 (Figure 3). The projection 62 of the lever 60 is forced to disappear; the lever 60 pivots clockwise and the heel 66 pushes the lever 56 which pivots in the same direction. Whatever the state of the circuit breaker, it is thus certain that the tab 56b is positioned on the correct side of the finger 710 or 71F. At the end of the introduction, caused by a stop 72 of the housing 10, the projection 62 is housed in the opening 63 or 64 to ensure the retention of the additive block.

It can be seen that the additive block is added to the main device without modifying the depth and width of the latter, or disturbing its mounting or that of any lateral additives.

Assuming that the function chosen is that of closing additive (FIGS. 9 and 10), the markings 70F appear on the surface 49 of the housing 40. When the main contacts of the circuit breaker are closed (FIG. 9), the lever 30 is tilted counterclockwise and the finger 71F lets the lever 56 come to the left under the effect of the spring 53, so that the auxiliary contacts 42, 43 are closed. When the main contacts of the circuit breaker are open (Figure 10), the lever 30 is tilted clockwise and the finger 71F is applied to the tab 56b. The lever 56 pushes the blade 52 by compressing the spring 53 and therefore separates the contacts 42, 43.

If the selected function is that of additive with opening (FIGS. 11 and 12), these are the markings 700 which appear on the surface 48 of the housing 40. If the main contacts of the circuit breaker are closed (FIG. 11), finger 710 applies to tab 56b to open the auxiliary contacts. If the main contacts are open (Figure 12), the finger 710 lets the tab 56b return to the right and the auxiliary contacts are closed.

To unload the additive block, the operator actuates the lever 60 of the lock to clear the projection 62 (Figures 2 to 5) or releases the notches or latching elements 73 (Figure 15), then pulls the housing 40 out of the housing 10.

In the variant illustrated in FIG. 15, the control lever 56 moves itself into the open position of auxiliary contacts during the introduction phase. To this end, it includes a projection 56d which plays the same role as the projection 62 previously described. The housing 40 is locked relative to the housing 10 by means of notches or snap-fastening elements 73 using the elasticity of the walls of the housings or of specific elements thereof.

In another alternative embodiment, illustrated by FIGS. 16 to 18, there is added to the housing 40 of the additive block a reversible flap 80 mounted captive and tilting on the housing thanks to bearings 81. The flap can be applied to the large horizontal face 48 of the housing 40 (Figures 16 and 17) and respectively on the large face 49 of the housing (Figure 18). It has a viewing window 82 which releases respective functional markings 83, 84 permanently provided on the faces 48, 49 and representative of the opening and closing operation of the additive. Terminal markings such as 700, 70F can be provided on the front face of the housing 40 or on the reversible flap. Striated surfaces or the like 85 are provided to facilitate gripping of the flap; one of the intermediate positions of the flap, during a turning maneuver, is indicated in dashes in FIG. 17.

In its two operating positions, the flap 80 protects the screw terminals 44 of the additive block against direct contact with the operator's finger by means of adequate surfaces such as 86; the flap also makes it possible to provide this protection while reducing the thickness 1 of the housing 40. Finally, it will be noted that in all cases, the tab 56b and the fingers 710, 71F move in the direction of the thickness 1 of the housing 40.

The reversible flap could, in a snap-on variant, have functional markings on its two opposite faces. It can also be used to facilitate the extraction of the housing 40.

The invention has been described in relation to a motor circuit breaker. It also applies to switching devices such as contactors, contactor-circuit breakers or line circuit breakers. Other modifications can be made to the embodiment described without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. The pivoting transmission lever and the pivoting operating lever can be replaced by members movable in translation.

Claims (8)

1. Electromechanical switch device comprising :

   - a main casing (10) provided with a plurality of electrical poles with each of which are associated at least one mobile contact (29) cooperating with a fixed contact (28) and respective power terminals (15), and a transmission member (23) adapted to assume an on position and an off position according to the state of a member which governs the opening and/or the closing of the contacts (28, 29),

   - an add-on module comprising a casing (40) which is adapted to be added to the main casing (10) and which includes an electrical circuit having auxiliary contacts (42, 43) adapted to be operated by the transmission member (23),

   - the add-on module being adapted to be turned over so that it can be added to the main casing (10) in the same location in a first position in which some of the auxiliary contacts (42, 43) are open and in a second position in which the same contacts (42, 43) are closed, characterized in that the casing (40) of the add-on module shows to the user one or other of two opposite large surfaces (48, 49) exclusively visible in each of the two positions of the add-on module (40), and in that through-apertures (47) end in each large surface (48, 49) for the insertion of conductors from both sides into terminals (44, 45) whose access openings (46) have axes (D1) which are parallel to those (D2) of the power terminals (15), and in that the two opposite large surfaces (48, 49) comprise marking areas (700, 70F, 83, 84) indicating the function of the add-on module in the position it occupies on the main casing (10).
2. Device according to claim 1,
   characterized in that a reversible flap (80) is added to the add-on module (40) and adapted to assume two operative positions in which it is applied to one or the other of the two opposite large surfaces (48, 49) of the add-on module and uncovers a respective functional marking on the add-on module (40) and/or the flap (80).
3. Device according to claim 2,
   characterized in that the reversible flap (80) is a captive flap adapted to tilt on the add-on module casing (40) and includes at least one display opening (82) for showing a functional marking (83).
4. Device according to claim 2,
   characterized in that the reversible flap (80) has surfaces (86) preventing terminals (44) of the add-on module (40) from being touched.
5. Device according to claim 1,
   characterized in that the add-on module comprises an auxiliary contact actuator member (56) which cooperates with a transmission lever (30) by means of members (56b, 710, 71F) offset relative to a plane of symmetry (Y) of the add-on module (40), these members comprising a lug (56b) of the add-on module which cooperates with two fingers (710, 71F) at one end of a transmission lever (30) in the main casing (10), said fingers being adapted to be applied to the lug in opposite directions.
6. Device according to claim 1,
   characterized in that the add-on module comprises an auxiliary contact actuator member (56) which cooperates with the transmission member (30) by means of members (56b, 710, 71F) offset relative to a plane of symmetry (Y) of the add-on module (40), these members moving in the direction of the thickness (1) of the add-on module.
7. Device according to claim 1,
   characterized in that the add-on module casing (40) is inserted in a front aperture (33) of the main casing (10) and rests on a nose (20) of the latter.
8. Device according to claim 1,
   characterized in that the transmission member of the main casing is a pivoted lever (30) having a receiver arm (30a) acted on by a trip mechanism and/or the armature of a solenoid in the main casing (10) or added to the latter and a control arm (30b) adapted to be applied to the actuator member (56).

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