EP0611224A1 - Differential protection unit with functionally testable sub-assembly - Google Patents

Differential protection unit with functionally testable sub-assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0611224A1
EP0611224A1 EP94420024A EP94420024A EP0611224A1 EP 0611224 A1 EP0611224 A1 EP 0611224A1 EP 94420024 A EP94420024 A EP 94420024A EP 94420024 A EP94420024 A EP 94420024A EP 0611224 A1 EP0611224 A1 EP 0611224A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
differential protection
assembly
housing
chassis
protection block
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
EP94420024A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0611224B1 (en
Inventor
Robert Cros
Bernard Olivier
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 EP0611224A1 publication Critical patent/EP0611224A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0611224B1 publication Critical patent/EP0611224B1/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
    • H01H83/00—Protective switches, e.g. circuit-breaking switches, or protective relays operated by abnormal electrical conditions otherwise than solely by excess current
    • H01H83/14—Protective switches, e.g. circuit-breaking switches, or protective relays operated by abnormal electrical conditions otherwise than solely by excess current operated by imbalance of two or more currents or voltages, e.g. for differential protection
    • H01H83/144—Protective switches, e.g. circuit-breaking switches, or protective relays operated by abnormal electrical conditions otherwise than solely by excess current operated by imbalance of two or more currents or voltages, e.g. for differential protection with differential transformer
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/02—Housings; Casings; Bases; Mountings
    • H01H71/0207—Mounting or assembling the different parts of the circuit breaker
    • H01H2071/0242—Assembling parts of a circuit breaker by using snap mounting techniques
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/02—Housings; Casings; Bases; Mountings
    • H01H71/0207—Mounting or assembling the different parts of the circuit breaker
    • H01H71/0221—Majority of parts mounted on central frame or wall

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to a differential protection block which is usually used in association with a multipole circuit breaker.
  • a differential protection block which is usually used in association with a multipole circuit breaker.
  • Such a combination of a multipole circuit breaker and a differential protection block constitutes what is commonly called a differential circuit breaker.
  • a conventional differential protection block generally comprises a housing in which the various mechanical, electrical and electronic elements necessary for its operation are enclosed.
  • a housing in which the various mechanical, electrical and electronic elements necessary for its operation are enclosed.
  • a connection assembly constituting electrical conduction paths, one path being provided for each pole of the circuit breaker, a coil toroid intended to be mounted around said electrical conduction paths to detect a differential current.
  • a circuit breaker control mechanism for controlling a circuit breaker action in the multipole circuit breaker associated with said differential protection block, this control being effected in response to an electrical signal produced in said coil toroid.
  • a certain number of other elements can also be included such as an electronic control card, a power supply card, etc.
  • a major drawback of the differential protection blocks known up to now lies in the fact that the differential protection block must be fully assembled and connected to the multipole circuit breaker before it can be tested. If the test reveals a malfunction, it is difficult, if not impossible, to determine the source of the malfunction, because all the active elements of the protective block differential are enclosed in the housing of the device.
  • housings which are closed by means of non-removable devices for example rivets, gluing, hot deformation, etc.
  • disassembly of the defective differential protection unit is impossible, even for the sole purpose of identifying the cause of the malfunction.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a differential protection block designed so as to be able to carry out tests before incorporating the active elements of said differential protection block into the housing of the device.
  • Another object of the present invention consists in proposing such a differential protection block also making it possible to be able to easily isolate the electronic parts contained in the differential protection block before carrying out dielectric tests on an electrical panel containing such protection blocks. differential.
  • the invention therefore relates in particular to a differential protection block associable with a multipole circuit breaker to constitute together a differential circuit breaker, this differential protection block comprising a connection assembly constituting electrical conduction paths for the different poles of the multipole circuit breaker, a toroid with reel intended for be mounted around said electrical conduction paths to detect a differential current and a trip control mechanism for controlling a trip action in the multipole circuit breaker in response to an electrical signal produced by said coil toroid.
  • the differential protection block further comprises a chassis on which said active elements are fixed by forming together a rigid functional sub-assembly; where it follows that said functional sub-assembly can be connected to the residual current device in order to be able to carry out a functional test of the functional sub-assembly while being able to access at least some of said active elements, said functional sub-assembly then being enclosed in said housing when said functional test has deemed it functionally satisfactory.
  • said chassis consists of a first molded plastic chassis part and a second molded plastic chassis part which can be coupled to the first chassis part.
  • said first and second chassis parts together form, in the coupled position: an envelope substantially completely surrounding a coil toroid; a partitioned passage located in the center of the coil torus and intended to pass through said electrical conduction paths; an insulating support for said electrical conduction paths; and a support for externally disposing said disjunction control mechanism.
  • the block further comprises at least one electronic card which can be mounted externally on said chassis in order to control the operation of said disjunction control mechanism in response to an electrical signal produced by the coil toroid.
  • said upper half-housing comprises a window located above said electronic card included inside and in that a connection cover is provided which forms a cover and which supports on its face directed downwards connection contacts, where it follows that, by fixing the connection cover on an upper face of the upper half-housing, the connection cover hides the window and, simultaneously, the connection cover connection contacts automatically establish the electrical connections between the electronic card and the other active parts contained in the housing and, on the other hand, when the connection cover is removed, the electronic card is completely disconnected, thus making it possible to carry out a dielectric test of the differential protection block without risk of damaging the electronic card.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates the operating principle of a differential protection block in the present invention.
  • the differential protection block is designed for four poles.
  • the parts included in the block are in number corresponding to this number of poles.
  • the differential protection block has four current channels 1, 2, 3, 4 through which the electric currents of the four poles pass, during normal operation of the device.
  • Each current path can be constituted by a metallic structure, for example made of copper, which comprises at each end an input terminal 5 and an output terminal 6 and in its central part an electrical conduction part 7.
  • a magnetic toroid 8 is arranged so as to simultaneously surround the four pieces of electrical conduction 7.
  • the electric circuit presents an anomaly which consists in that a part of the electric current of at least one of the poles is derived so as to pass for example to the ground, the sum of the electric currents which circulate simultaneously through the four parts of electrical conduction 7 is no longer equal to zero.
  • a coil 9 wound around the magnetic core 8 then shows at its connection wires 10, 11 a potential difference or an electric current when the sum of the electric currents which crosses the four electrical conduction pieces 7 is not equal to zero.
  • connection wires 10 and 11 of the coil 9 are connected to an electronic card 12 which is intended to detect the appearance of a certain electric voltage or a certain electric current at the terminals of the coil 9 so as to send an electrical signal intended to control a tripping of a mechanism 13 designed so as to cause the tripping of the multipole circuit breaker D (FIG. 2) connected or coupled to the differential protection block.
  • differential protection block is well known in the prior art and it is generally in the form of an insulating housing which encloses all the parts constituting the device.
  • Figure 3 the general external shapes of the trigger mechanism 13 mentioned above, the trigger mechanism 13 being part of the parts included in the housing 14 of the differential protection block.
  • FIG. 4 represents, in exploded perspective, the essential elements which constitute the differential protection block.
  • This differential protection block is generally constituted by a functional sub-assembly 16 which includes a certain number of parts which we will describe below but which have the essential characteristic of being able to be assembled so as to form a single functional unit, c that is to say a single assembly capable of functioning.
  • the functional sub-assembly 16 is intended to be enclosed in the housing 14, which is constituted by a lower half-housing 14A and an upper half-housing 14B which are made of insulating plastic material and which are intended to come to couple so to constitute the housing 14 inside which is enclosed the functional sub-assembly 16.
  • the housing 14 may, when its two parts are assembled, have a generally external shape that is substantially parallelepiped.
  • the differential protection block further comprises a connection cover 18 whose structure and function will be described later.
  • the functional sub-assembly 16 is constituted by a frame 20 in and around which the connection assembly 22, the coil toroid 30, the electronic card 32 and the trigger mechanism 34 are fixed respectively. More precisely, the coil torus 30 is arranged inside the chassis 20 and the other elements 22, 32 and 34 are mounted outside the chassis 20. It is understood that an essential difference compared to the differential protection block of the prior art lies in the fact that, according to the invention, the differential protection block is constituted by a functional sub-assembly which, as its name suggests, comprises all the elements essential for operation, and a housing 14 which encloses the functional sub-assembly 16 .
  • differential protection blocks known to date, the various functional elements are fixed and housed inside a housing, this housing being produced for example in two parts so as to constitute a cavity internal intended to enclose all the functional elements. It follows from this that it is necessary to close the housing so that the functional elements contained therein can function properly. Consequently, in the differential protection blocks of the prior art, it is not possible to test the operation of the device taken as a whole before the case is closed, which is inconvenient because, when the case is closed , the origin of a fault observed in the operation of the differential protection block cannot be detected.
  • the chassis 20 is constituted by two independent chassis parts 20A and 20B which have a certain mirror symmetry with respect to each other and which are intended to come to couple with one another.
  • the two chassis parts 20A and 20B are each made in a single piece of electrically insulating molded plastic.
  • the chassis part 20A is very generally in the form of a vertical wall 36 and the chassis part 20B is also very generally in the form of a vertical wall 38.
  • the two vertical walls 36 and 38 are substantially parallel to each other when the two parts chassis 20A and 20B are coupled.
  • envelope walls 42, 44 (only the walls of the part 20B are visible in the figure) which extend perpendicular to the respective vertical wall 36 or 38.
  • the wall 42 constitutes a substantially cylindrical external envelope and the wall 44 constitutes a substantially cylindrical internal envelope. Consequently, the space separating the external wall 42 and the internal wall 44 is a substantially annular space which constitutes a housing for the coil toroid 30.
  • a similar annular space is provided in the same way on the chassis part 20A although 'it is not visible in Figure 6.
  • the two annular housings form only an annular housing whose overall width is slightly greater than the width of the torus coil 30. It follows from this that to begin to assemble or mount the functional sub-assembly 16, we start by housing the coil core 30 in the annular housing limited by the walls 42 and 44, then we couple the two pieces of chassis 20A and 20B so as to completely enclose the coil toroid 30.
  • the frame 20 then takes the form which is shown in FIG. 7.
  • the part which is at the center of the annular wall 44 is hollowed out and forms a transverse passage. More precisely, this hollowed out part central comprises four partition walls 46 which extend along an axis 48 which is perpendicular to the vertical wall 38.
  • the partition walls 46 share in four passages the cross section of the central recessed portion.
  • the four electrical conduction pieces 26 (FIG. 5) can pass right through respectively the four passages 50 which are separated from each other by the four partition walls 46.
  • similar shapes symmetrical to the shapes elements 42, 44, 46 and 50 are provided on the chassis part 20A (these forms of the part 20A not being visible in FIG. 6).
  • connection assembly 22 is mounted on the chassis 20.
  • each of the four electrical conduction paths (24, 26, 28) on the chassis 20 is carried out as follows.
  • An electrical conduction piece 26 is fixed radially at one end 52 (see FIG. 5) of the input terminal 24, then the assembly constituted by the elements 24, 26 and 52 is mounted on the chassis piece 20A so that the electrical conduction part 26 passes right through one of the housings 50 and the input terminal 24 comes to be positioned against suitable positioning surfaces formed on the outside of the vertical wall 36 of the chassis part 20A.
  • the output terminal 28 and its extension 54 are mounted on the chassis part 20B so that the output terminal 28 is positioned against suitable positioning surfaces formed on the outside of the vertical wall 38 of the part. chassis 20B. Finally, the free end of the electrical conduction piece 26 is mechanically and electrically connected to the extension 54 of the output terminal 28.
  • the electronic card 32 is mounted on the chassis 20.
  • This electronic card 32 can be positioned above the chassis 20 by snapping onto appropriate latching and positioning means 56 (see FIG. 7).
  • the disjunction control mechanism 34 (visible in FIG. 5) is mounted on the chassis 20 which includes suitable positioning and snap-on surfaces 58 (see FIG. 7).
  • the functional sub-assembly 16 comprises all the mechanical, electrical and electronic elements which allow its operation. It follows from this that it is then possible to connect the input terminals 24 and the output terminals 28 respectively to corresponding terminals of the multipole circuit breaker D and to an electrical circuit (not shown) simulating an electrical charge. One can then, in a conventional manner, act on the electric charge so as to carry out a test functional of the functional sub-assembly 16 thus connected to a multipole circuit breaker.
  • the assembly of the differential protection block can then be completed by mounting the lower half-casing 14A and the upper half-casing 14B on the functional sub-assembly 16 (see FIG. 4).
  • the two half-housings 14A and 14B are thus arranged on the functional sub-assembly 16 and are coupled to each other, the two half-housings 14A and 14B form an external envelope which practically completely encloses the sub-assembly functional 16.
  • This assembly can be completed by adding on the upper half-housing 14B a connection cover 18 whose structure and construction will be explained later.
  • a differential protection block according to the present invention was then completely assembled, and this differential protection block, the test of which revealed that it was operating correctly, can then be disconnected from the multipole circuit breaker and from the electrical test circuit to be stored as differential protection block good for marketing.
  • the coil toroid 30 as shown in FIG. 5 constitutes a sub-assembly which in itself has certain characteristics which will now be described.
  • the coil torus 30 has a general external shape of a torus, as can be seen in FIG. 5, to which is added laterally a protruding part 58 which allows the passage of the output wires of the coil of the torus so that these output wires can be connected to the electronic card 32.
  • this sub-assembly forming the coil toroid 30 has a specific structure which is particularly advantageous in the context of its use in the sub functional assembly 16 according to the present invention.
  • the coil toroid 30 is constituted, as shown in FIG.
  • the winding 64 is constituted by at least one insulated or painted winding wire.
  • the winding wire of the winding 64 is wound around the O-ring assembly constituted by the torus 60 and the two half-shells of insulation 62A and 62B, and the winding action is carried out so that the winding wire is constantly maintained under a certain tension, so that, when the winding is completed, the permanent tension of the winding wire generally constitutes a certain permanent force which keeps the two half-shells of insulation 62A and 62B applied against the toroid 60. It follows from this that the assembly constituted by the torus 60, the two half-insulating shells 62A, 62B and the winding 64 form a one-piece assembly.
  • the carcass 66 may have an annular shape having a section in the general shape of a U, one branch 66A of which extends along the surface of the coil 64 directed towards the center and the other branch of which 66B extends along from the surface of the winding 64 directed outwards.
  • the free ends of the two branches 66A and 66B include protrusions directed towards one another 68A and 68B, these protrusions having surfaces inclined both towards the bottom of the U-shape and towards the outside. It follows from this that when the carcass 66 is in place, as shown in FIG. 8, it encloses, due to its elasticity, the winding 64.
  • the winding 64 is thus substantially applied against the underside of the part of bottom 66C of the U-shaped part 66, against the internal face of the branch 66A, against the internal face of the branch 66B, against the inclined surface directed towards the bottom of the U-shaped part 70A of the protuberance 68A and against the inclined surface directed towards the bottom of the U-shaped part 70B of the protrusion 68B.
  • the coil toroid 30 further comprises a shield 72 which is constituted by a shield half-shell 72A and a shield half-shell 72B.
  • the two shielding half shells 72A, 72B laterally surround each side of the O-ring assembly formed by the parts 60, 62, 64 and 66 so as to form an almost continuous envelope 72 which serves as shielding.
  • FIG. 9 there is an exploded perspective view of the different components which constitute the coil toroid 30 described in relation to FIG. 8.
  • the carcass 66 is in the form of a half-shell which constitutes a recess of substantially toroidal shape or annular being able to envelop or surround the substantially toroidal external contour of the winding 64. More precisely than what has been described in relation to FIG. 8, it can be seen that the carcass 66 further comprises axially directed tabs 66A, 66B which constitute the branches 66A and 66B of the part 66 described above in relation to FIG. 8.
  • the carcass 66 forms with the branches 66A, 66B a single piece of molded plastic.
  • Figure 10 shows in enlarged perspective view the carcass 66 shown in Figure 9.
  • this carcass has branches 66A, 66B facing each other, these pairs of branches 66A, 66B being evenly spaced around the circumference.
  • the carcass 66 further comprises a portion in lateral protuberance 78 which serves to support and guide the connection wires connecting the winding 64 to the outside.
  • the carcass 66 can be made of an insulating plastic material having good mechanical properties of rigidity and elasticity.
  • the carcass 66 can serve both to provide firm support for the winding 64 and to provide a firm connection with the shield 72.
  • the carcass 66 serves as a connecting part between the assembly constituted by the torus 60, the insulation parts 62 and the winding 64 and the assembly constituted by the two shielding half-shells 72A and 72B.
  • This carcass 66 therefore makes it possible to fix the assembly of all these parts which together constitute what has previously been called the coil toroid 30.
  • the coil toroid 30 constitutes a monobloc assembly in which all the parts that compose it are rigidly connected to each other.
  • This one-piece assembly constituting the coil toroid 30 also has the advantage of being able to be dismantled.
  • the two shielding half shells 72A, 72B and the carcass 74 can be easily removed.
  • This particular construction of the coil toroid 30 also has the advantage of ensuring good protection of the coil 64 which constitutes the most fragile part of the assembly.
  • the carcass 74 encloses the winding 64 in a rigid and elastic manner, thereby avoiding any possibility of the appearance of a play at this winding 64, this play being detrimental because it can damage the winding 64 when the assembly is subjected to certain shocks or certain vibrations.
  • connection cover 18 is a part which can optionally be provided on the differential protection block according to the present invention as described above.
  • the connection cover 18 is intended to be mounted last, that is to say after having already completely assembled the functional sub-assembly 16, after having tested it and deemed good and after having locked up the functional sub-assembly 16 in the housing 14. More specifically, the connection cover 18 is intended to be fixed on the upper half-housing 14B when the two half-housings 14A and 14B are already assembled.
  • connection cover 18 ensures the following function.
  • a person responsible for checking an electrical installation including, among other things, a number of differential protection blocks according to the present invention may wish to carry out a dielectric test of the installation. To carry out such a test, it has hitherto been necessary to disconnect the electronic cards included in the known differential protection blocks.
  • the particular structure of the connection cover 18 according to the invention allows such disconnection of the electronic card to be carried out automatically.
  • the connection cover 18 is in the form of a plate or a cover 80 which has on its face directed downwards 80A (FIG. 12) terminals or connection contacts 82.
  • connection cover 18 masks the window 84 and, simultaneously, the connection contacts 82 of the connection cover 18 automatically establish the electrical connections between the electronic card 32 and the other active parts contained in the housing 14 (in particular the coil toroid, an electrical supply and the disjunction control mechanism) .
  • the electronic card 32 is completely disconnected, that is to say that it is completely electrically isolated from the rest of the differential protection block, and it is in this condition possible to perform the dielectric test mentioned above, without having to perform complicated operations of disconnection or disassembly of the electronic card.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Breakers (AREA)
  • Filters And Equalizers (AREA)
  • Electromagnets (AREA)
  • Emergency Protection Circuit Devices (AREA)

Abstract

Differential protection unit which can be associated with a multi-pole circuit breaker in order together to constitute a differential circuit breaker. This unit comprising: a housing consisting of a lower half-housing (14A) and an upper half-housing (14B) capable together of enclosing various active elements of the differential protection unit, these various active elements constituting at least: a set of connections (22); a torus with a coil; and a circuit-breaking control mechanism (34). According to the invention, a chassis is provided on which the said active elements (22, 34) are fixed, together forming a rigid functional subassembly (16); it results therefrom that the said functional subassembly (16) can be connected to the differential circuit breaker so as to be able to carry out a functional test of the functional subassembly (16) while being able to have access to at least some of the said active elements (22, 34). <IMAGE>

Description

La présente invention concerne de façon générale un bloc de protection différentielle qui est utilisé habituellement en association avec un disjoncteur multipolaire. Une telle association d'un disjoncteur multipolaire et d'un bloc de protection différentielle constitue ce que l'on appelle communément un disjoncteur différentiel.The present invention relates generally to a differential protection block which is usually used in association with a multipole circuit breaker. Such a combination of a multipole circuit breaker and a differential protection block constitutes what is commonly called a differential circuit breaker.

Un bloc de protection différentielle classique comprend de façon générale un boîtier dans lequel sont enfermés les différents éléments mécaniques, électriques et électroniques nécessaires pour son fonctionnement. Dans un tel boîtier, on peut par exemple loger un assemblage de connexion constituant des voies de conduction électrique, une voie étant prévue pour chaque pôle du disjoncteur, un tore à bobine destiné à être monté autour desdites voies de conduction électrique pour détecter un courant différentiel et un mécanisme de commande de disjonction destiné à commander une action de disjonction dans le disjoncteur multipolaire associé audit bloc de protection différentielle, cette commande s'effectuant en réponse à un signal électrique produit dans ledit tore à bobine. Dans ce même boîtier, on peut inclure en outre un certain nombre d'autres éléments tels qu'une carte électronique de commande, une carte d'alimentation, etc.A conventional differential protection block generally comprises a housing in which the various mechanical, electrical and electronic elements necessary for its operation are enclosed. In such a housing, it is possible, for example, to house a connection assembly constituting electrical conduction paths, one path being provided for each pole of the circuit breaker, a coil toroid intended to be mounted around said electrical conduction paths to detect a differential current. and a circuit breaker control mechanism for controlling a circuit breaker action in the multipole circuit breaker associated with said differential protection block, this control being effected in response to an electrical signal produced in said coil toroid. In this same box, a certain number of other elements can also be included such as an electronic control card, a power supply card, etc.

Un inconvénient majeur des blocs de protection différentielle connus jusqu'à présent réside dans le fait que le bloc de protection différentielle doit être entièrement monté et connecté au disjoncteur multipolaire avant de pouvoir être testé. Si le test révèle un dysfonctionnement, il est difficile, voir impossible, de déterminer la provenance du dysfonctionnement, parce que l'ensemble des éléments actifs du bloc de protection différentielle sont enfermés dans le boîtier de l'appareil.A major drawback of the differential protection blocks known up to now lies in the fact that the differential protection block must be fully assembled and connected to the multipole circuit breaker before it can be tested. If the test reveals a malfunction, it is difficult, if not impossible, to determine the source of the malfunction, because all the active elements of the protective block differential are enclosed in the housing of the device.

D'autre part, il est de plus en plus courant d'utiliser des boîtiers qui sont fermés au moyen de dispositifs indémontables, par exemple des rivets, un collage, une déformation à chaud, etc. Dans ce cas, le démontage du bloc de protection différentielle défectueux est impossible, même dans le seul but d'identifier l'origine du dysfonctionnement.On the other hand, it is more and more common to use housings which are closed by means of non-removable devices, for example rivets, gluing, hot deformation, etc. In this case, disassembly of the defective differential protection unit is impossible, even for the sole purpose of identifying the cause of the malfunction.

D'autre part, il est d'une pratique courante d'effectuer des essais diélectriques sur des tableaux électriques. Ces essais diélectriques imposent d'isoler les parties électroniques avant d'effectuer ces essais. Dans les disjoncteurs différentiels connus, il faut procéder soit au démontage des cartes électroniques contenues dans chaque bloc de protection différentielle soit effectuer des opérations compliquées destinées à déconnecter les cartes électroniques.On the other hand, it is common practice to perform dielectric tests on electrical panels. These dielectric tests require isolating the electronic parts before performing these tests. In known differential circuit breakers, it is necessary either to disassemble the electronic cards contained in each differential protection block or to perform complicated operations intended to disconnect the electronic cards.

Un objet de la présente invention consiste à proposer un bloc de protection différentielle conçu de façon à pouvoir faire des essais avant l'incorporation des éléments actifs dudit bloc de protection différentielle dans le boîtier de l'appareil.An object of the present invention is to provide a differential protection block designed so as to be able to carry out tests before incorporating the active elements of said differential protection block into the housing of the device.

Un autre objet de la présente invention consiste à proposer un tel bloc de protection différentielle permettant en outre de pouvoir facilement isoler les parties électroniques contenues dans le bloc de protection différentielle avant de procéder à des essais diélectriques sur un tableau électrique contenant de tels blocs de protection différentielle.Another object of the present invention consists in proposing such a differential protection block also making it possible to be able to easily isolate the electronic parts contained in the differential protection block before carrying out dielectric tests on an electrical panel containing such protection blocks. differential.

L'invention concerne donc en particulier un bloc de protection différentielle associable à un disjoncteur multipolaire pour constituer ensemble un disjoncteur différentiel, ce bloc de protection différentielle comprenant un assemblage de connexion constituant des voies de conduction électrique pour les différents pôles du disjoncteur multipolaire, un tore à bobine destiné à être monté autour desdites voies de conduction électrique pour détecter un courant différentiel et un mécanisme de commande de disjonction destiné à commander une action de disjonction dans le disjoncteur multipolaire en réponse à un signal électrique produit par ledit tore à bobine.The invention therefore relates in particular to a differential protection block associable with a multipole circuit breaker to constitute together a differential circuit breaker, this differential protection block comprising a connection assembly constituting electrical conduction paths for the different poles of the multipole circuit breaker, a toroid with reel intended for be mounted around said electrical conduction paths to detect a differential current and a trip control mechanism for controlling a trip action in the multipole circuit breaker in response to an electrical signal produced by said coil toroid.

Selon une caractéristique essentielle de l'invention, le bloc de protection différentielle comprend en outre un châssis sur lequel sont fixés lesdits éléments actifs en formant ensemble un sous-ensemble fonctionnel rigide ; d'où il résulte que ledit sous-ensemble fonctionnel peut être connecté au disjoncteur différentiel afin de pouvoir effectuer un test fonctionnel du sous-ensemble fonctionnel tout en pouvant accéder à au moins certains desdits éléments actifs, ledit sous-ensemble fonctionnel étant ensuite enfermé dans ledit boîtier lorsque ledit test fonctionnel l'a jugé fonctionnellement satisfaisant.According to an essential characteristic of the invention, the differential protection block further comprises a chassis on which said active elements are fixed by forming together a rigid functional sub-assembly; where it follows that said functional sub-assembly can be connected to the residual current device in order to be able to carry out a functional test of the functional sub-assembly while being able to access at least some of said active elements, said functional sub-assembly then being enclosed in said housing when said functional test has deemed it functionally satisfactory.

Selon un mode de réalisation particulier de l'invention, ledit châssis est constitué par une première pièce de châssis en matière plastique moulée et par une seconde pièce de châssis en matière plastique moulée accouplable à la première pièce de châssis.According to a particular embodiment of the invention, said chassis consists of a first molded plastic chassis part and a second molded plastic chassis part which can be coupled to the first chassis part.

Selon un autre mode de réalisation particulier de l'invention, lesdites première et seconde pièces de châssis forment ensemble, en position accouplée : une enveloppe entourant sensiblement complètement un tore à bobine ; un passage cloisonné situé au centre du tore à bobine et destiné à faire passer au travers lesdites voies de conduction électrique ; un support isolant pour lesdites voies de conduction électrique ; et un support pour disposer de façon externe ledit mécanisme de commande de disjonction.According to another particular embodiment of the invention, said first and second chassis parts together form, in the coupled position: an envelope substantially completely surrounding a coil toroid; a partitioned passage located in the center of the coil torus and intended to pass through said electrical conduction paths; an insulating support for said electrical conduction paths; and a support for externally disposing said disjunction control mechanism.

Selon un autre mode de réalisation particulier de l'invention, le bloc comprend en outre au moins une carte électronique pouvant être montée de façon externe sur ledit châssis afin de commander le fonctionnement dudit mécanisme de commande de disjonction en réponse à un signal électrique produit par le tore à bobine.According to another particular embodiment of the invention, the block further comprises at least one electronic card which can be mounted externally on said chassis in order to control the operation of said disjunction control mechanism in response to an electrical signal produced by the coil toroid.

Selon un autre mode de réalisation particulier de l'invention, ledit demi-boîtier supérieur comprend une fenêtre située au-dessus de ladite carte électronique incluse à l'intérieur et en ce qu'il est prévu un cache-raccordement qui forme un capot et qui supporte sur sa face dirigée vers le bas des contacts de connexion, d'où il résulte que, en venant fixer le cache-raccordement sur une face supérieure du demi-boîtier supérieur, le cache-raccordement masque la fenêtre et, simultanément, les contacts de connexion du cache-raccordement viennent établir automatiquement les connexions électriques entre la carte électronique et les autres pièces actives contenues dans le boîtier et, à l'opposé, lorsque l'on enlève le cache-raccordement, la carte électronique est complètement déconnectée, permettant ainsi d'effectuer un test diélectrique du bloc de protection différentielle sans risque d'endommager la carte électronique.According to another particular embodiment of the invention, said upper half-housing comprises a window located above said electronic card included inside and in that a connection cover is provided which forms a cover and which supports on its face directed downwards connection contacts, where it follows that, by fixing the connection cover on an upper face of the upper half-housing, the connection cover hides the window and, simultaneously, the connection cover connection contacts automatically establish the electrical connections between the electronic card and the other active parts contained in the housing and, on the other hand, when the connection cover is removed, the electronic card is completely disconnected, thus making it possible to carry out a dielectric test of the differential protection block without risk of damaging the electronic card.

Ces objets, caractéristiques et avantages, ainsi que d'autres de la présente invention seront mieux compris lors de la description détaillée d'exemples de réalisation qui va suivre, illustrée par les figures annexées et parmi lesquelles :

  • la figure 1 est une vue schématique d'un principe de fonctionnement d'un bloc de protection différentielle selon l'invention ;
  • la figure 2 est une vue en perspective montrant les formes générales externes d'un bloc disjoncteur ;
  • la figure 3 est une vue en perspective d'un mécanisme d'actionnement incorporé dans un bloc de protection différentielle accolé au disjoncteur de la figure 2 ;
  • la figure 4 est une vue en perspective éclatée d'un bloc de protection différentielle, dans laquelle on distingue entre autre un sous-ensemble fonctionnel du bloc de protection différentielle, ce sous-ensemble étant dans une configuration assemblé ;
  • la figure 5 est une vue en perspective éclatée montrant les principaux éléments constituant le sous-ensemble fonctionnel représenté sur la figure 4 ;
  • la figure 6 est une vue en perspective montrant deux parties séparées formant un châssis qui constitue une des pièces du sous-ensemble fonctionnel de la figure 5 ;
  • la figure 7 est une vue en perspective du châssis de la figure 6, le châssis étant représenté dans une position assemblée ;
  • la figure 8 est une vue en coupe simplifiée montrant la structure d'un tore à bobine qui constitue l'une des pièces du bloc de protection différentielle représenté sur les figures précédentes ;
  • la figure 9 est une vue en perspective éclatée du tore à bobine représenté sur la figure 8 ;
  • la figure 10 est une vue en perspective montrant de façon plus détaillée un élément formant enveloppe du tore à bobine représenté sur la figure 9 ;
  • la figure 11 est une vue en perspective d'un cache de raccordement qui constitue l'une des pièces pouvant optionnellement faire partie d'un bloc de protection différentielle selon la présente invention, ce cache de raccordement étant vu par dessus d'une façon associée à une carte électronique incluse dans le même bloc de protection différentielle ; et
  • la figure 12 est une vue en perspective du cache de raccordement de la figure 11, la vue étant prise par dessous.
These objects, characteristics and advantages, as well as others of the present invention will be better understood during the detailed description of embodiments which follows, illustrated by the appended figures and among which:
  • Figure 1 is a schematic view of an operating principle of a differential protection block according to the invention;
  • Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the general external shapes of a circuit breaker block;
  • Figure 3 is a perspective view of an actuating mechanism incorporated in a differential protection block attached to the circuit breaker of Figure 2;
  • Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a differential protection block, in which there is among others a functional sub-assembly of the differential protection block, this sub-assembly being in an assembled configuration;
  • Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the main elements constituting the functional sub-assembly shown in Figure 4;
  • Figure 6 is a perspective view showing two separate parts forming a frame which constitutes one of the parts of the functional sub-assembly of Figure 5;
  • Figure 7 is a perspective view of the chassis of Figure 6, the chassis being shown in an assembled position;
  • Figure 8 is a simplified sectional view showing the structure of a coil toroid which constitutes one of the parts of the differential protection block shown in the previous figures;
  • Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the coil torus shown in Figure 8;
  • Figure 10 is a perspective view showing in more detail an envelope member of the coil toroid shown in Figure 9;
  • FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a connection cover which constitutes one of the parts which can optionally be part of a differential protection block according to the present invention, this connection cover being seen from above in an associated manner an electronic card included in the same differential protection block; and
  • Figure 12 is a perspective view of the connection cover of Figure 11, the view being taken from below.

La figure 1 illustre le principe de fonctionnement d'un bloc de protection différentielle dans la présente invention.FIG. 1 illustrates the operating principle of a differential protection block in the present invention.

Dans cet exemple, le bloc de protection différentielle est prévu pour quatre pôles. Pour un bloc de protection différentielle prévu pour un autre nombre de pôles, par exemple pour 2 pôles ou 3 pôles, les pièces incluses dans le bloc sont en nombre correspondant à ce nombre de pôles.In this example, the differential protection block is designed for four poles. For a differential protection block provided for another number number of poles, for example for 2 poles or 3 poles, the parts included in the block are in number corresponding to this number of poles.

Le principe consiste, de façon très connue, à mesurer la somme des courants électriques qui circulent simultanément dans les quatre voies de courant correspondant aux quatre pôles. Par conséquent, le bloc de protection différentielle comporte quatre voies de courant 1, 2, 3, 4 dans lesquelles passent les courants électriques des quatre pôles, lors du fonctionnement normal de l'appareil. Chaque voie de courant peut être constituée par une structure métallique, par exemple en cuivre, qui comporte à chaque extrémité une borne d'entrée 5 et une borne de sortie 6 et dans sa partie centrale une pièce de conduction électrique 7. Un tore magnétique 8 est disposé de façon à entourer simultanément les quatre pièces de conduction électrique 7. Lorsque le circuit électrique branché en aval du bloc de protection différentielle fonctionne de façon normale, la somme des courants électriques qui circulent simultanément au travers des quatre pièces de conduction électrique 7 est à chaque instant très sensiblement égale à zéro. Si le circuit électrique présente une anomalie qui consiste en ce qu'une partie du courant électrique d'au moins un des pôles est dérivée de façon à passer par exemple à la terre, la somme des courants électriques qui circulent simultanément au travers des quatre pièces de conduction électrique 7 n'est plus égale à zéro. Une bobine 9 enroulée autour du tore magnétique 8 fait alors apparaître au niveau de ses fils de raccordement 10, 11 une différence de potentiel ou un courant électrique lorsque la somme des courants électriques qui traverse les quatre pièces de conduction électrique 7 n'est pas égale à zéro. Les fils de raccordement 10 et 11 de la bobine 9 sont connectés à une carte électronique 12 qui est destinée à détecter l'apparition d'une certaine tension électrique ou d'un certain courant électrique aux bornes de la bobine 9 de façon à envoyer un signal électrique destiné à commander un déclenchement d'un mécanisme 13 conçu de façon à provoquer la disjonction du disjoncteur multipolaire D (figure 2) relié ou accouplé au bloc de protection différentielle.The principle consists, in a very well-known manner, of measuring the sum of the electric currents which flow simultaneously in the four current paths corresponding to the four poles. Consequently, the differential protection block has four current channels 1, 2, 3, 4 through which the electric currents of the four poles pass, during normal operation of the device. Each current path can be constituted by a metallic structure, for example made of copper, which comprises at each end an input terminal 5 and an output terminal 6 and in its central part an electrical conduction part 7. A magnetic toroid 8 is arranged so as to simultaneously surround the four pieces of electrical conduction 7. When the electrical circuit connected downstream of the differential protection block operates in a normal manner, the sum of the electric currents which flow simultaneously through the four pieces of electrical conduction 7 is at all times very substantially equal to zero. If the electric circuit presents an anomaly which consists in that a part of the electric current of at least one of the poles is derived so as to pass for example to the ground, the sum of the electric currents which circulate simultaneously through the four parts of electrical conduction 7 is no longer equal to zero. A coil 9 wound around the magnetic core 8 then shows at its connection wires 10, 11 a potential difference or an electric current when the sum of the electric currents which crosses the four electrical conduction pieces 7 is not equal to zero. The connection wires 10 and 11 of the coil 9 are connected to an electronic card 12 which is intended to detect the appearance of a certain electric voltage or a certain electric current at the terminals of the coil 9 so as to send an electrical signal intended to control a tripping of a mechanism 13 designed so as to cause the tripping of the multipole circuit breaker D (FIG. 2) connected or coupled to the differential protection block.

Un tel bloc de protection différentielle est bien connu de l'art antérieur et il se présente de façon générale sous la forme d'un boîtier isolant qui renferme l'ensemble des pièces constituant l'appareil. On peut voir sur la figure 3, les formes générales externes du mécanisme de déclenchement 13 évoqué précédemment, le mécanisme de déclenchement 13 faisant partie des pièces incluses dans le boîtier 14 du bloc de protection différentielle.Such a differential protection block is well known in the prior art and it is generally in the form of an insulating housing which encloses all the parts constituting the device. We can see in Figure 3, the general external shapes of the trigger mechanism 13 mentioned above, the trigger mechanism 13 being part of the parts included in the housing 14 of the differential protection block.

La figure 4 représente, en perspective éclatée, les éléments essentiels qui constituent le bloc de protection différentielle. Ce bloc de protection différentielle est constitué de façon générale par un sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16 qui comprend un certain nombre de pièces que nous décrirons par la suite mais qui présentent pour caractéristique essentielle de pouvoir être assemblées de façon à former un seul ensemble fonctionnel, c'est-à-dire un seul ensemble pouvant fonctionner.FIG. 4 represents, in exploded perspective, the essential elements which constitute the differential protection block. This differential protection block is generally constituted by a functional sub-assembly 16 which includes a certain number of parts which we will describe below but which have the essential characteristic of being able to be assembled so as to form a single functional unit, c that is to say a single assembly capable of functioning.

Le sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16 est destiné à être enfermé dans le boîtier 14, lequel est constitué par un demi-boîtier inférieur 14A et un demi-boîtier supérieur 14B qui sont en matière plastique isolante et qui sont destinés à venir s'accoupler de façon à constituer le boîtier 14 à l'intérieur duquel est enfermé le sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16. Le boîtier 14 peut, lorsque ses deux parties sont assemblées, présenter une forme générale externe sensiblement parallélépipédique. Le bloc de protection différentielle comporte en outre un cache-raccordement 18 dont la structure et la fonction seront décrites par la suite.The functional sub-assembly 16 is intended to be enclosed in the housing 14, which is constituted by a lower half-housing 14A and an upper half-housing 14B which are made of insulating plastic material and which are intended to come to couple so to constitute the housing 14 inside which is enclosed the functional sub-assembly 16. The housing 14 may, when its two parts are assembled, have a generally external shape that is substantially parallelepiped. The differential protection block further comprises a connection cover 18 whose structure and function will be described later.

Sur la figure 5, on distingue, en perspective éclatée, les différents éléments essentiels qui constituent le sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16 représenté de façon assemblée sur la figure 4. Sur la figure 5, on voit que ce sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16 est constitué de façon générale par un châssis en matière plastique isolante 20 sur lequel ou dans lequel sont montés et fixés un certain nombre de pièces ou d'éléments actifs du bloc de protection différentielle. Ces pièces ou ces éléments actifs sont les suivants :

  • Un premier élément 22 est appelé par la suite "assemblage de connexion". L'assemblage de connexion 22 est constitué par un certain nombre de voies de conduction électrique indépendantes (le nombre de ces voies de conduction électriques étant égal au nombre de pôles du bloc de protection différentielle considéré), comme cela a été évoqué en relation avec la figure 1. Chaque voie de conduction électrique comporte une borne d'entrée 24, une pièce de conduction électrique 26 et une borne de sortie 28. Par souci de simplification, une seule voie de conduction électrique comporte sur la figure 5 les repères respectifs 24, 26 et 28.
  • Un autre élément du sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16 est constitué par un tore à bobine 30 qui comprend de façon générale un tore magnétique, une bobine enroulée sur le tore magnétique et une enveloppe externe. Ce tore à bobine 30 sera décrit plus en détails par la suite.
  • Un autre élément du sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16 est constitué par une carte électronique 32.
  • Enfin, un dernier élément du sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16 est constitué par un mécanisme d'actionnement 34.
In FIG. 5, there are, in exploded perspective, the different essential elements which constitute the functional sub-assembly 16 represented in an assembled manner in FIG. 4. In FIG. 5, it can be seen that this functional sub-assembly 16 consists of generally by an insulating plastic frame 20 on which or in which are mounted and fixed a number of parts or active elements of the differential protection block. These parts or active elements are as follows:
  • A first element 22 is hereinafter called "connection assembly". The connection assembly 22 is constituted by a number of independent electrical conduction paths (the number of these electrical conduction paths being equal to the number of poles of the differential protection block considered), as has been mentioned in connection with the FIG. 1. Each electrical conduction channel has an input terminal 24, an electrical conduction part 26 and an output terminal 28. For simplicity, a single electrical conduction channel has in FIG. 5 the respective references 24, 26 and 28.
  • Another element of the functional sub-assembly 16 is constituted by a coil toroid 30 which generally comprises a magnetic toroid, a coil wound on the magnetic torus and an external envelope. This coil toroid 30 will be described in more detail below.
  • Another element of the functional sub-assembly 16 is constituted by an electronic card 32.
  • Finally, a last element of the functional sub-assembly 16 is constituted by an actuation mechanism 34.

Le sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16 est constitué par un châssis 20 dans et autour duquel sont fixés respectivement l'assemblage de connexion 22, le tore à bobine 30, la carte électronique 32 et le mécanisme de déclenchement 34. Plus exactement, le tore à bobine 30 est disposé à l'intérieur du châssis 20 et les autres éléments 22, 32 et 34 sont montés à l'extérieur du châssis 20. On comprend qu'une différence essentielle par rapport au bloc de protection différentielle de l'art antérieur réside dans le fait que, selon l'invention, le bloc de protection différentielle est constitué par un sous-ensemble fonctionnel qui, comme son nom l'indique, comporte tous les éléments indispensables au fonctionnement, et un boîtier 14 qui enferme le sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16.The functional sub-assembly 16 is constituted by a frame 20 in and around which the connection assembly 22, the coil toroid 30, the electronic card 32 and the trigger mechanism 34 are fixed respectively. More precisely, the coil torus 30 is arranged inside the chassis 20 and the other elements 22, 32 and 34 are mounted outside the chassis 20. It is understood that an essential difference compared to the differential protection block of the prior art lies in the fact that, according to the invention, the differential protection block is constituted by a functional sub-assembly which, as its name suggests, comprises all the elements essential for operation, and a housing 14 which encloses the functional sub-assembly 16 .

A l'opposé, dans des blocs de protection différentielle connus jusqu'à ce jour, les différents éléments fonctionnels sont fixés et logés à l'intérieur d'un boîtier, ce boîtier étant réalisé par exemple en deux parties de façon à constituer une cavité interne destinée à enfermer l'ensemble des éléments fonctionnels. Il résulte de cela qu'il est nécessaire de fermer le boîtier pour que les éléments fonctionnels contenus à l'intérieur puissent fonctionner correctement. Par conséquent, dans les blocs de protection différentielle de l'art antérieur, on ne peut pas tester le fonctionnement de l'appareil pris dans sa globalité avant que le boîtier ne soit fermé, ce qui est gênant parce que, lorsque le boîtier est fermé, on ne peut pas détecter l'origine d'une défaillance constatée dans le fonctionnement du bloc de protection différentielle.In contrast, in differential protection blocks known to date, the various functional elements are fixed and housed inside a housing, this housing being produced for example in two parts so as to constitute a cavity internal intended to enclose all the functional elements. It follows from this that it is necessary to close the housing so that the functional elements contained therein can function properly. Consequently, in the differential protection blocks of the prior art, it is not possible to test the operation of the device taken as a whole before the case is closed, which is inconvenient because, when the case is closed , the origin of a fault observed in the operation of the differential protection block cannot be detected.

Une des pièces essentielles du bloc de protection différentielle selon la présente invention est constituée par le châssis 20. Ce châssis 20 est représenté en détail sur les figures 6 et 7. Le châssis 20 est constitué par deux pièces de châssis 20A et 20B indépendantes qui présentent une certaine symétrie miroir l'une par rapport à l'autre et qui sont destinées à venir s'accoupler l'une à l'autre. Les deux pièces de châssis 20A et 20B sont réalisées chacune en une seule pièce en matière plastique moulée électriquement isolante. La pièce de châssis 20A se présente d'une façon très générale sous la forme d'une paroi verticale 36 et la pièce de châssis 20B se présente pareillement d'une façon très générale sous la forme d'une paroi verticale 38. Les deux parois verticales 36 et 38 sont sensiblement parallèles l'une par à l'autre lorsque les deux pièces de châssis 20A et 20B sont accouplées. Sur le côté de la paroi 36 qui est dirigé vers la pièce de châssis 20B et sur le côté de la paroi 38 qui est dirigé vers la pièce de châssis 20A, sont respectivement disposées des parois d'enveloppe 42, 44 (seules les parois de la pièce 20B sont visibles sur la figure) qui s'étendent perpendiculairement à la paroi verticale respective 36 ou 38. Sur la pièce de châssis 20B, on discerne de façon plus détaillée l'ensemble des parois 42 et 44, bien que des parois similaires soient prévues sur la pièce de châssis 20A. La paroi 42 constitue une enveloppe sensiblement cylindrique externe et la paroi 44 constitue une enveloppe sensiblement cylindrique interne. Par conséquent, l'espace séparant la paroi externe 42 et la paroi interne 44 est un espace sensiblement annulaire qui constitue un logement pour le tore à bobine 30. Un espace annulaire semblable est ménagé de la même façon sur la pièce de châssis 20A bien qu'il ne soit pas visible sur la figure 6. Lorsque les pièces 20A et 20B sont accouplées l'une à l'autre, les deux logements annulaires ne forment qu'un logement annulaire dont la largeur globale est légèrement supérieure à la largeur du tore à bobine 30. Il résulte de cela que pour commencer à assembler ou monter le sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16, on commence par loger le tore à bobine 30 dans le logement annulaire limité par les parois 42 et 44, puis on accouple les deux pièces de châssis 20A et 20B de façon à enfermer complètement le tore à bobine 30.One of the essential parts of the differential protection block according to the present invention is constituted by the chassis 20. This chassis 20 is shown in detail in FIGS. 6 and 7. The chassis 20 is constituted by two independent chassis parts 20A and 20B which have a certain mirror symmetry with respect to each other and which are intended to come to couple with one another. The two chassis parts 20A and 20B are each made in a single piece of electrically insulating molded plastic. The chassis part 20A is very generally in the form of a vertical wall 36 and the chassis part 20B is also very generally in the form of a vertical wall 38. The two vertical walls 36 and 38 are substantially parallel to each other when the two parts chassis 20A and 20B are coupled. On the side of the wall 36 which is directed towards the chassis part 20B and on the side of the wall 38 which is directed towards the chassis part 20A, are respectively disposed envelope walls 42, 44 (only the walls of the part 20B are visible in the figure) which extend perpendicular to the respective vertical wall 36 or 38. On the frame part 20B, we can see in more detail all the walls 42 and 44, although similar walls are provided on the chassis part 20A. The wall 42 constitutes a substantially cylindrical external envelope and the wall 44 constitutes a substantially cylindrical internal envelope. Consequently, the space separating the external wall 42 and the internal wall 44 is a substantially annular space which constitutes a housing for the coil toroid 30. A similar annular space is provided in the same way on the chassis part 20A although 'it is not visible in Figure 6. When the parts 20A and 20B are coupled to each other, the two annular housings form only an annular housing whose overall width is slightly greater than the width of the torus coil 30. It follows from this that to begin to assemble or mount the functional sub-assembly 16, we start by housing the coil core 30 in the annular housing limited by the walls 42 and 44, then we couple the two pieces of chassis 20A and 20B so as to completely enclose the coil toroid 30.

Le châssis 20 se présente alors sous la forme qui est représentée sur la figure 7. La partie qui est au centre de la paroi annulaire 44 est évidée et forme un passage transversal. Plus exactement, cette partie évidée centrale comprend quatre parois de partition 46 qui s'étendent suivant un axe 48 qui est perpendiculaire à la paroi verticale 38. Les parois de partition 46 partagent en quatre passages la section transversale de la partie évidée centrale. De cette façon, les quatre pièces de conduction électrique 26 (figure 5) peuvent traverser de part en part respectivement les quatre passages 50 qui sont séparés les uns des autres par les quatre parois de partition 46. Bien sûr, des formes similaires symétriques aux formes des éléments 42, 44, 46 et 50 sont prévues sur la pièce de châssis 20A (ces formes de la pièce 20A n'étant pas visibles sur la figure 6).The frame 20 then takes the form which is shown in FIG. 7. The part which is at the center of the annular wall 44 is hollowed out and forms a transverse passage. More precisely, this hollowed out part central comprises four partition walls 46 which extend along an axis 48 which is perpendicular to the vertical wall 38. The partition walls 46 share in four passages the cross section of the central recessed portion. In this way, the four electrical conduction pieces 26 (FIG. 5) can pass right through respectively the four passages 50 which are separated from each other by the four partition walls 46. Of course, similar shapes symmetrical to the shapes elements 42, 44, 46 and 50 are provided on the chassis part 20A (these forms of the part 20A not being visible in FIG. 6).

Après avoir logé le tore à bobine 30 entre les parois cylindriques 42 et 44 et après avoir accouplé les deux pièces de châssis 20A et 20B, on monte l'assemblage de connexions 22 sur le châssis 20. Pour effectuer ce montage, on monte chacune des quatre voies de conduction électriques (24, 26, 28) sur le châssis 20. Le montage d'une voie de conduction électrique s'effectue de la manière suivante. On fixe une pièce de conduction électrique 26 radialement au niveau d'une extrémité 52 (voir figure 5) de la borne d'entrée 24, puis on monte l'ensemble constitué par les éléments 24, 26 et 52 sur la pièce de châssis 20A de telle sorte que la pièce de conduction électrique 26 traverse de part en part l'un des logements 50 et que la borne d'entrée 24 vienne se positionner contre des surfaces de positionnement adaptées ménagées sur l'extérieur de la paroi verticale 36 de la pièce de châssis 20A. Ensuite, on monte la borne de sortie 28 et son prolongement 54 sur la pièce de châssis 20B de telle sorte que la borne de sortie 28 vienne se positionner contre des surfaces de positionnement adaptées ménagées sur l'extérieur de la paroi verticale 38 de la pièce de châssis 20B. Enfin, on connecte mécaniquement et électriquement l'extrémité libre de la pièce de conduction électrique 26 au prolongement 54 de la borne de sortie 28.After having housed the coil toroid 30 between the cylindrical walls 42 and 44 and after having coupled the two chassis parts 20A and 20B, the connection assembly 22 is mounted on the chassis 20. To carry out this assembly, each of the four electrical conduction paths (24, 26, 28) on the chassis 20. The mounting of an electrical conduction path is carried out as follows. An electrical conduction piece 26 is fixed radially at one end 52 (see FIG. 5) of the input terminal 24, then the assembly constituted by the elements 24, 26 and 52 is mounted on the chassis piece 20A so that the electrical conduction part 26 passes right through one of the housings 50 and the input terminal 24 comes to be positioned against suitable positioning surfaces formed on the outside of the vertical wall 36 of the chassis part 20A. Next, the output terminal 28 and its extension 54 are mounted on the chassis part 20B so that the output terminal 28 is positioned against suitable positioning surfaces formed on the outside of the vertical wall 38 of the part. chassis 20B. Finally, the free end of the electrical conduction piece 26 is mechanically and electrically connected to the extension 54 of the output terminal 28.

Il résulte de cela que les éléments 24, 52, 26, 54 et 28 sont connectés électriquement les uns aux autres de façon à constituer une voie de conduction électrique. Cette voie de conduction électrique traverse par conséquent de part en part le passage 50 qui est au centre du tore à bobine 30 logé à l'intérieur du châssis 20. On procède ensuite d'une manière similaire pour monter les trois autres voies de conduction électrique de façon à ce que chacune d'elle passe dans l'un des trois autres passages 50.It follows from this that the elements 24, 52, 26, 54 and 28 are electrically connected to each other so as to constitute an electrical conduction path. This electrical conduction path therefore crosses right through the passage 50 which is in the center of the coil toroid 30 housed inside the chassis 20. Then we proceed in a similar manner to mount the other three electrical conduction paths so that each of them passes through one of the other three passages 50.

Ensuite, on monte sur le châssis 20 la carte électronique 32. Cette carte électronique 32 peut venir se positionner au-dessus du châssis 20 en venant s'encliqueter sur des moyens d'encliquetage et de positionnement appropriés 56 (voir figure 7).Next, the electronic card 32 is mounted on the chassis 20. This electronic card 32 can be positioned above the chassis 20 by snapping onto appropriate latching and positioning means 56 (see FIG. 7).

Ensuite, on monte le mécanisme de commande de disjonction 34 (visible sur la figure 5) sur le châssis 20 qui comprend des surfaces de positionnement et d'encliquetage appropriées 58 (voir figure 7).Next, the disjunction control mechanism 34 (visible in FIG. 5) is mounted on the chassis 20 which includes suitable positioning and snap-on surfaces 58 (see FIG. 7).

Enfin, on effectue les connexions électriques nécessaires entre le tore à bobine 30, la carte électronique 32 et le mécanisme de commande de disjonction 34 (ces connexions électriques n'étant pas représentées sur les dessins).Finally, the necessary electrical connections are made between the coil toroid 30, the electronic card 32 and the disjunction control mechanism 34 (these electrical connections not being shown in the drawings).

Quand on a achevé ce montage, on obtient un ensemble monobloc qui constitue le sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16 tel que représenté sur la figure 4. Le sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16 comporte tous les éléments mécaniques, électriques et électroniques qui permettent son fonctionnement. Il résulte de cela qu'il est alors possible de connecter les bornes d'entrée 24 et les bornes de sortie 28 respectivement à des bornes correspondantes du disjoncteur multipolaire D et à un circuit électrique (non représenté) simulant une charge électrique. On peut alors, d'une manière classique, agir sur la charge électrique de façon à effectuer un test fonctionnel du sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16 ainsi connecté à un disjoncteur multipolaire.When this assembly has been completed, a monobloc assembly is obtained which constitutes the functional sub-assembly 16 as shown in FIG. 4. The functional sub-assembly 16 comprises all the mechanical, electrical and electronic elements which allow its operation. It follows from this that it is then possible to connect the input terminals 24 and the output terminals 28 respectively to corresponding terminals of the multipole circuit breaker D and to an electrical circuit (not shown) simulating an electrical charge. One can then, in a conventional manner, act on the electric charge so as to carry out a test functional of the functional sub-assembly 16 thus connected to a multipole circuit breaker.

Si ce test fonctionnel ne révèle aucun dysfonctionnement, on peut alors parachever le montage du bloc de protection différentielle en montant sur le sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16 le demi-boîtier inférieur 14A et le demi-boîtier supérieur 14B (voir figure 4). Quand les deux demi-boîtiers 14A et 14B sont ainsi disposés sur le sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16 et sont accouplées l'une à l'autre, les deux demi-boîtiers 14A et 14B forment une enveloppe externe qui renferme pratiquement complètement le sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16.If this functional test does not reveal any malfunction, the assembly of the differential protection block can then be completed by mounting the lower half-casing 14A and the upper half-casing 14B on the functional sub-assembly 16 (see FIG. 4). When the two half-housings 14A and 14B are thus arranged on the functional sub-assembly 16 and are coupled to each other, the two half-housings 14A and 14B form an external envelope which practically completely encloses the sub-assembly functional 16.

On peut compléter ce montage en rajoutant sur le demi-boîtier supérieur 14B un cache-raccordement 18 dont la structure et la construction seront expliquées par la suite. On a alors assemblé complètement un bloc de protection différentielle selon la présente invention, et ce bloc de protection différentielle dont le test a révélé qu'il fonctionnait correctement peut alors être déconnecté du disjoncteur multipolaire et du circuit électrique de test pour être stocké en tant que bloc de protection différentielle bon pour une commercialisation.This assembly can be completed by adding on the upper half-housing 14B a connection cover 18 whose structure and construction will be explained later. A differential protection block according to the present invention was then completely assembled, and this differential protection block, the test of which revealed that it was operating correctly, can then be disconnected from the multipole circuit breaker and from the electrical test circuit to be stored as differential protection block good for marketing.

Si le test fonctionnel révèle que le sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16 présente un certain dysfonctionnement, on peut effectuer, en fonction du type de dysfonctionnement révélé, les deux actions suivantes.

  • Si le dysfonctionnement révélé est d'un type qui a provoqué une certaine destruction de certaines parties du sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16 de telle sorte qu'il est jugé que le sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16 ne peut pas être réparé, la totalité de ce sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16 est mise au rebut.
  • Si le dysfonctionnement révélé est d'un type qui correspond à une panne d'un seul des éléments fonctionnels constituant le sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16, c'est-à-dire une panne soit de l'assemblage de connexion 22, soit du tore à bobine 30, soit de la carte électronique 32, soit du mécanisme de commande de disjonction 34, soit d'un autre élément accessible et démontable individuellement, on peut procéder soit à une intervention directe sur l'élément défectueux, par exemple un réglage, soit à un démontage de l'élément défectueux et à un remplacement par un autre élément neuf. On refait alors un test fonctionnel du sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16 et, s'il révèle alors que le sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16 réparé fonctionne correctement, on peut parachever le montage du bloc de protection différentielle en adaptant le boîtier 14 et le cache-raccordement 18. On stocke alors, comme précédemment, ce bloc de protection différentielle en tant que bloc de protection différentielle bon pour une commercialisation.
If the functional test reveals that the functional sub-assembly 16 has a certain malfunction, the following two actions can be carried out, depending on the type of malfunction revealed.
  • If the malfunction revealed is of a type which has caused a certain destruction of certain parts of the functional sub-assembly 16 so that it is judged that the functional sub-assembly 16 cannot be repaired, the whole of this sub functional assembly 16 is scrapped.
  • If the malfunction revealed is of a type which corresponds to a failure of only one of the functional elements constituting the functional sub-assembly 16, that is to say a failure either of the connection assembly 22, or of the torus coil 30, either from the card electronics 32, either of the disjunction control mechanism 34, or of another element accessible and removable individually, it is possible to carry out either a direct intervention on the defective element, for example an adjustment, or a disassembly of the element defective and to be replaced by another new element. A functional test of the functional sub-assembly 16 is then redone and, if it then reveals that the repaired functional sub-assembly 16 is functioning correctly, the assembly of the differential protection block can be completed by adapting the housing 14 and the connection cover. 18. We then store, as before, this differential protection block as a differential protection block good for marketing.

Le tore à bobine 30 tel que représenté sur la figure 5 constitue un sous-ensemble qui présente en lui-même certaines caractéristiques qui vont être décrites maintenant. Le tore à bobine 30 présente une forme générale externe d'un tore, comme on peut le voir sur la figure 5, auquel est adjoint latéralement une partie en protubérance 58 qui permet le passage des fils de sortie de la bobine du tore afin que ces fils de sortie puissent être connectés à la carte électronique 32. Comme on peut le voir sur la figure 8, ce sous-ensemble formant le tore à bobine 30 présente une structure spécifique qui est tout particulièrement avantageuse dans le cadre de son utilisation dans le sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16 selon la présente invention. Le tore à bobine 30 est constitué, comme cela est représenté sur la figure 8, par un tore en matériau magnétique 60, par deux demi coquilles d'isolation 62A, 62B qui entourent latéralement de chaque côté le tore 60, par un bobinage 64 qui est enroulé autour des deux demi coquilles 62A, 62B, par une carcasse 66 (décrite par la suite) qui est montée sur le bobinage 64 et par deux demi coquilles d'enveloppe externe 68A et 68B. Les deux demi coquilles d'isolation 62A et 62B servent à créer une enveloppe mince électriquement isolante autour du tore 60. Ces deux demi coquilles d'isolation 62A et 62B ne se rejoignent pas tout à fait lorsqu'elles sont appliquées de part et d'autre du tore 60, afin de laisser un espace E entre elles. Le bobinage 64 est constitué par au moins un fil de bobinage isolé ou verni. Le fil de bobinage du bobinage 64 est enroulé autour de l'ensemble torique constitué par le tore 60 et les deux demi coquilles d'isolation 62A et 62B, et l'action d'enroulement est effectuée de façon à ce que le fil de bobinage soit constamment maintenu sous une certaine tension, de telle sorte que, lorsque le bobinage est achevé, la tension permanente du fil du bobinage constitue globalement une certaine force permanente qui maintient les deux demi coquilles d'isolation 62A et 62B appliquées contre le tore 60. Il résulte de cela que l'ensemble constitué par le tore 60, les deux demi coquilles d'isolation 62A, 62B et le bobinage 64 forment un ensemble monobloc.The coil toroid 30 as shown in FIG. 5 constitutes a sub-assembly which in itself has certain characteristics which will now be described. The coil torus 30 has a general external shape of a torus, as can be seen in FIG. 5, to which is added laterally a protruding part 58 which allows the passage of the output wires of the coil of the torus so that these output wires can be connected to the electronic card 32. As can be seen in FIG. 8, this sub-assembly forming the coil toroid 30 has a specific structure which is particularly advantageous in the context of its use in the sub functional assembly 16 according to the present invention. The coil toroid 30 is constituted, as shown in FIG. 8, by a torus made of magnetic material 60, by two half-shells of insulation 62A, 62B which laterally surround the torus 60 on each side, by a coil 64 which is wound around the two half-shells 62A, 62B, by a carcass 66 (described below) which is mounted on the winding 64 and by two half-shells of the outer casing 68A and 68B. The two half insulation shells 62A and 62B are used to create a thin electrically insulating envelope around the torus 60. These two half insulation shells 62A and 62B do not completely meet when they are applied on either side of the torus 60, in order to leave a space E between them. The winding 64 is constituted by at least one insulated or painted winding wire. The winding wire of the winding 64 is wound around the O-ring assembly constituted by the torus 60 and the two half-shells of insulation 62A and 62B, and the winding action is carried out so that the winding wire is constantly maintained under a certain tension, so that, when the winding is completed, the permanent tension of the winding wire generally constitutes a certain permanent force which keeps the two half-shells of insulation 62A and 62B applied against the toroid 60. It follows from this that the assembly constituted by the torus 60, the two half-insulating shells 62A, 62B and the winding 64 form a one-piece assembly.

La carcasse 66 peut présenter une forme annulaire ayant une section en la forme générale d'un U dont une branche 66A s'étend le long de la surface du bobinage 64 dirigée vers le centre et dont l'autre branche 66B s'étend le long de la surface du bobinage 64 dirigée vers l'extérieur. En outre, les extrémités libres des deux branches 66A et 66B comprennent des protubérances dirigées l'une vers l'autre 68A et 68B, ces protubérances présentant des surfaces inclinées à la fois vers le fond de la forme en U et vers l'extérieur. Il résulte de cela que lorsque la carcasse 66 est en place, comme cela est représenté sur la figure 8, elle enserre, du fait de son élasticité, le bobinage 64. Le bobinage 64 est ainsi sensiblement appliqué contre la face inférieure de la partie de fond 66C de la pièce en U 66, contre la face interne de la branche 66A, contre la face interne de la branche 66B, contre la surface inclinée dirigée vers le fond de la pièce en U 70A de la protubérance 68A et contre la surface inclinée dirigée vers le fond de la pièce en U 70B de la protubérance 68B.The carcass 66 may have an annular shape having a section in the general shape of a U, one branch 66A of which extends along the surface of the coil 64 directed towards the center and the other branch of which 66B extends along from the surface of the winding 64 directed outwards. In addition, the free ends of the two branches 66A and 66B include protrusions directed towards one another 68A and 68B, these protrusions having surfaces inclined both towards the bottom of the U-shape and towards the outside. It follows from this that when the carcass 66 is in place, as shown in FIG. 8, it encloses, due to its elasticity, the winding 64. The winding 64 is thus substantially applied against the underside of the part of bottom 66C of the U-shaped part 66, against the internal face of the branch 66A, against the internal face of the branch 66B, against the inclined surface directed towards the bottom of the U-shaped part 70A of the protuberance 68A and against the inclined surface directed towards the bottom of the U-shaped part 70B of the protrusion 68B.

Le tore à bobine 30 comprend en outre un blindage 72 qui est constitué par une demi-coquille de blindage 72A et une demi-coquille de blindage 72B. Les deux demi coquilles de blindage 72A, 72B entourent latéralement chaque côté de l'ensemble torique formé par les pièces 60, 62, 64 et 66 de façon à former une enveloppe quasi continue 72 qui sert de blindage.The coil toroid 30 further comprises a shield 72 which is constituted by a shield half-shell 72A and a shield half-shell 72B. The two shielding half shells 72A, 72B laterally surround each side of the O-ring assembly formed by the parts 60, 62, 64 and 66 so as to form an almost continuous envelope 72 which serves as shielding.

Sur la figure 9, on distingue en vue perspective éclatée les différents composants qui constituent le tore à bobine 30 décrit en relation avec la figure 8. La carcasse 66 se présente sous la forme d'une demi coquille qui constitue un évidement de forme sensiblement torique ou annulaire pouvant envelopper ou entourer le contour externe sensiblement torique du bobinage 64. De façon plus précise que ce qui a été décrit en relation avec la figure 8, on voit que la carcasse 66 comporte en outre des pattes dirigées axialement 66A, 66B qui constituent les branches 66A et 66B de la pièce 66 décrites précédemment en relation avec la figure 8. La carcasse 66 forme avec les branches 66A, 66B une seule pièce en matière plastique moulée.In FIG. 9, there is an exploded perspective view of the different components which constitute the coil toroid 30 described in relation to FIG. 8. The carcass 66 is in the form of a half-shell which constitutes a recess of substantially toroidal shape or annular being able to envelop or surround the substantially toroidal external contour of the winding 64. More precisely than what has been described in relation to FIG. 8, it can be seen that the carcass 66 further comprises axially directed tabs 66A, 66B which constitute the branches 66A and 66B of the part 66 described above in relation to FIG. 8. The carcass 66 forms with the branches 66A, 66B a single piece of molded plastic.

La figure 10 représente en vue perspective agrandie la carcasse 66 représentée sur la figure 9. Sur la figure 10, on voit que cette carcasse comporte des branches 66A, 66B en regard l'une de l'autre, ces couples de branches 66A, 66B étant régulièrement espacés sur la circonférence. La carcasse 66 comporte en outre une partie en protubérance latérale 78 qui sert à supporter et à guider les fils de connexion reliant le bobinage 64 à l'extérieur. La carcasse 66 peut être réalisée en une matière plastique isolante présentant de bonnes caractéristiques mécaniques de rigidité et d'élasticité. La carcasse 66 peut servir à la fois à assurer un maintien ferme du bobinage 64 et à assurer une liaison ferme avec le blindage 72. En d'autres termes, la carcasse 66 sert de pièce de liaison entre l'ensemble constitué par le tore 60, les pièces d'isolation 62 et le bobinage 64 et l'ensemble constitué par les deux demi-coquilles de blindage 72A et 72B. Cette carcasse 66 permet donc de fixer l'ensemble de toutes ces pièces qui constituent ensemble ce que l'on a appelé précédemment le tore à bobine 30. Il résulte de cela que le tore à bobine 30 constitue un ensemble monobloc dans lequel toutes les pièces qui le composent sont rigidement reliées les unes aux autres. Cet ensemble monobloc constituant le tore à bobine 30 présente en outre l'avantage de pouvoir être démontable. En particulier on peut démonter facilement les deux demi coquilles de blindage 72A, 72B et la carcasse 74.Figure 10 shows in enlarged perspective view the carcass 66 shown in Figure 9. In Figure 10, we see that this carcass has branches 66A, 66B facing each other, these pairs of branches 66A, 66B being evenly spaced around the circumference. The carcass 66 further comprises a portion in lateral protuberance 78 which serves to support and guide the connection wires connecting the winding 64 to the outside. The carcass 66 can be made of an insulating plastic material having good mechanical properties of rigidity and elasticity. The carcass 66 can serve both to provide firm support for the winding 64 and to provide a firm connection with the shield 72. In other words, the carcass 66 serves as a connecting part between the assembly constituted by the torus 60, the insulation parts 62 and the winding 64 and the assembly constituted by the two shielding half-shells 72A and 72B. This carcass 66 therefore makes it possible to fix the assembly of all these parts which together constitute what has previously been called the coil toroid 30. It follows from this that the coil toroid 30 constitutes a monobloc assembly in which all the parts that compose it are rigidly connected to each other. This one-piece assembly constituting the coil toroid 30 also has the advantage of being able to be dismantled. In particular, the two shielding half shells 72A, 72B and the carcass 74 can be easily removed.

Cette construction particulière du tore à bobine 30 présente en outre l'avantage d'assurer une bonne protection du bobinage 64 qui constitue la pièce la plus fragile de l'ensemble. En effet, la carcasse 74 enserre d'une façon rigide et élastique le bobinage 64 en évitant ainsi toute possibilité d'apparition d'un jeu au niveau de ce bobinage 64, ce jeu étant préjudiciable parce que pouvant détériorer le bobinage 64 lorsque l'ensemble est soumis à certains chocs ou certaines vibrations.This particular construction of the coil toroid 30 also has the advantage of ensuring good protection of the coil 64 which constitutes the most fragile part of the assembly. In fact, the carcass 74 encloses the winding 64 in a rigid and elastic manner, thereby avoiding any possibility of the appearance of a play at this winding 64, this play being detrimental because it can damage the winding 64 when the assembly is subjected to certain shocks or certain vibrations.

Les figures 11 et 12 illustrent le cache-raccordement qui a été évoqué précédemment. Le cache-raccordement 18 est une pièce qui peut optionnellement être prévue sur le bloc de protection différentielle selon la présente invention tel que décrit précédemment. Le cache-raccordement 18 est prévu pour être monté en dernier, c'est-à-dire après avoir déjà complètement assemblé le sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16, après l'avoir testé et jugé bon et après avoir enfermé le sous-ensemble fonctionnel 16 dans le boîtier 14. Plus précisément, le cache-raccordement 18 est destiné à venir se fixer sur le demi-boîtier supérieur 14B lorsque les deux demi-boîtiers 14A et 14B sont déjà assemblés.Figures 11 and 12 illustrate the connection cover which was mentioned above. The connection cover 18 is a part which can optionally be provided on the differential protection block according to the present invention as described above. The connection cover 18 is intended to be mounted last, that is to say after having already completely assembled the functional sub-assembly 16, after having tested it and deemed good and after having locked up the functional sub-assembly 16 in the housing 14. More specifically, the connection cover 18 is intended to be fixed on the upper half-housing 14B when the two half-housings 14A and 14B are already assembled.

Le cache-raccordement 18 permet d'assurer la fonction suivante. Lorsque les deux demi-boîtiers 14A, 14B sont assemblés, une personne chargée de vérifier une installation électrique incluant entre autre un certain nombre de blocs de protection différentielle selon la présente invention peut souhaiter effectuer un test diélectrique de l'installation. Pour effectuer un tel test, il était nécessaire jusqu'à présent de déconnecter les cartes électroniques incluses dans les blocs connus de protection différentielle. La structure particulière du cache-raccordement 18 selon l'invention permet d'effectuer automatiquement une telle déconnexion de la carte électronique. En effet, le cache-raccordement 18 se présente sous la forme d'une plaque ou d'un capot 80 qui comporte sur sa face dirigée vers le bas 80A (figure 12) des bornes ou contacts de connexion 82. Lorsque l'on amène le cache-raccordement 18 sur une fenêtre 84 (visible sur la figure 4) ménagée dans le demi-boîtier supérieur 14B. Cette fenêtre est située au-dessus de la carte électronique 32 contenue dans le boîtier 14. En venant fixer ainsi le cache-raccordement sur la face supérieure du demi-boîtier supérieur 14B, le cache-raccordement 18 masque la fenêtre 84 et, simultanément, les contacts de connexion 82 du cache-raccordement 18 viennent établir automatiquement les connexions électriques entre la carte électronique 32 et les autres pièces actives contenues dans le boîtier 14 (en particulier le tore à bobine, une alimentation électrique et le mécanisme de commande de disjonction). A l'opposé, lorsque l'on enlève le cache-raccordement 18, la carte électronique 32 est complètement déconnectée, c'est-à-dire qu'elle est complètement isolée électriquement du reste du bloc de protection différentielle, et il est dans cette condition possible d'effectuer le test diélectrique évoqué précédemment, sans avoir à effectuer des opérations compliquées de déconnexion ou de démontage de la carte électronique.The connection cover 18 ensures the following function. When the two half-boxes 14A, 14B are assembled, a person responsible for checking an electrical installation including, among other things, a number of differential protection blocks according to the present invention may wish to carry out a dielectric test of the installation. To carry out such a test, it has hitherto been necessary to disconnect the electronic cards included in the known differential protection blocks. The particular structure of the connection cover 18 according to the invention allows such disconnection of the electronic card to be carried out automatically. Indeed, the connection cover 18 is in the form of a plate or a cover 80 which has on its face directed downwards 80A (FIG. 12) terminals or connection contacts 82. When bringing the connection cover 18 on a window 84 (visible in FIG. 4) formed in the upper half-housing 14B. This window is located above the electronic card 32 contained in the housing 14. By thus fixing the connection cover on the upper face of the upper half-housing 14B, the connection cover 18 masks the window 84 and, simultaneously, the connection contacts 82 of the connection cover 18 automatically establish the electrical connections between the electronic card 32 and the other active parts contained in the housing 14 (in particular the coil toroid, an electrical supply and the disjunction control mechanism) . Conversely, when removing the connection cover 18, the electronic card 32 is completely disconnected, that is to say that it is completely electrically isolated from the rest of the differential protection block, and it is in this condition possible to perform the dielectric test mentioned above, without having to perform complicated operations of disconnection or disassembly of the electronic card.

Claims (5)

Bloc de protection différentielle associable à un disjoncteur multipolaire pour constituer ensemble un disjoncteur différentiel, ce bloc de protection différentielle comprenant :
   un boîtier constitué par un demi-boîtier inférieur (14A) et un demi-boîtier supérieur (14B) pouvant enfermer ensemble différents éléments actifs du bloc de protection différentielle, ces différents éléments actifs constituant au moins :
   un assemblage de connexions (22) constituant des voies de conduction électrique (26) pour les différents pôles du disjoncteur multipolaire ;
   un tore à bobine (30) destiné à être monté autour desdites voies de conduction électrique pour détecter un courant différentiel ; et
   un mécanisme de commande de disjonction (34) destiné à commander une action de disjonction dans le disjoncteur multipolaire en réponse à un signal électrique produit par ledit tore à bobine ;
   Caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend en outre un châssis (20) sur lequel sont fixés lesdits éléments actifs en formant ensemble un sous-ensemble fonctionnel rigide (16) ;
   d'où il résulte que ledit sous-ensemble fonctionnel (16) peut être connecté au disjoncteur différentiel afin de pouvoir effectuer un test fonctionnel du sous-ensemble fonctionnel (16) tout en pouvant accéder à au moins certains desdits éléments actifs (22, 30, 34), ledit sous-ensemble fonctionnel (16) étant ensuite enfermé dans ledit boîtier (14A, 14B) lorsque ledit test fonctionnel l'a jugé fonctionnellement satisfaisant.Differential protection block which can be combined with a multipole circuit breaker to form a differential circuit breaker together, this differential protection block comprising:
a housing constituted by a lower half-housing (14A) and an upper half-housing (14B) capable of enclosing together different active elements of the differential protection block, these different active elements constituting at least:
an assembly of connections (22) constituting electrical conduction paths (26) for the different poles of the multipole circuit breaker;
a coil toroid (30) intended to be mounted around said electrical conduction paths for detecting a differential current; and
a trip control mechanism (34) for controlling a trip action in the multipole circuit breaker in response to an electrical signal produced by said coil toroid;
Characterized in that it further comprises a chassis (20) on which said active elements are fixed by forming together a rigid functional sub-assembly (16);
from which it follows that said functional sub-assembly (16) can be connected to the residual current device in order to be able to carry out a functional test of the functional sub-assembly (16) while being able to access at least some of said active elements (22, 30 , 34), said functional sub-assembly (16) then being enclosed in said housing (14A, 14B) when said functional test has deemed it functionally satisfactory. Bloc de protection différentielle selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit châssis (20) est constitué par une première pièce de châssis (20A) en matière plastique moulée et par une seconde pièce de châssis (20B) en matière plastique moulée accouplable à la première pièce de châssis.Differential protection unit according to claim 1, characterized in that said chassis (20) consists of a first chassis part (20A) of molded plastic and by a second frame (20B) of molded plastic material which can be coupled to the first frame part. Bloc de protection différentielle selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce lesdites première (20A) et seconde (20B) pièces de châssis forment ensemble, en position accouplée :
   une enveloppe (42, 44) entourant sensiblement complètement un tore à bobine (30) ;
   un passage cloisonné (50) situé au centre du tore à bobine et destiné à faire passer au travers lesdites voies de conduction électrique (26) ;
   un support isolant pour lesdites voies de conduction électrique (26) ; et
   un support pour disposer de façon externe au moins ledit mécanisme de commande de disjonction (34).Differential protection block according to claim 2, characterized in that said first (20A) and second (20B) chassis parts together form, in the coupled position:
an envelope (42, 44) substantially completely surrounding a coil toroid (30);
a partitioned passage (50) located in the center of the coil torus and intended to pass through said electrical conduction paths (26);
an insulating support for said electrical conduction paths (26); and
a support for externally disposing at least said disjunction control mechanism (34). Bloc de protection différentielle selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend en outre au moins une carte électronique (32) pouvant être montée de façon externe sur ledit châssis afin de commander le fonctionnement duit mécanisme de commande de disjonction (34) en réponse à un signal électrique produit par le tore à bobine (30).Differential protection unit according to claim 3, characterized in that it further comprises at least one electronic card (32) which can be mounted externally on said chassis in order to control the operation of said circuit breaker control mechanism (34) in response to an electrical signal produced by the coil toroid (30). Bloc de protection différentielle selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que ledit demi-boîtier supérieur (14B) comprend une fenêtre (84) située au-dessus de ladite carte électronique (32) incluse à l'intérieur et en ce qu'il est prévu un cache-raccordement (18) qui forme un capot et qui supporte sur sa face dirigée vers le bas (80A) des contacts de connexion (82), d'où il résulte que, en venant fixer le cache-raccordement sur une face supérieure du demi-boîtier supérieur (14B), le cache-raccordement (18) masque la fenêtre (84) et, simultanément, les contacts de connexion (82) du cache-raccordement viennent établir automatiquement les connexions électriques entre la carte électronique (32) et les autres pièces actives contenues dans le boîtier et, à l'opposé, lorsque l'on enlève le cache-raccordement (18), la carte électronique (32) est complètement déconnectée, permettant ainsi d'effectuer un test diélectrique du bloc de protection différentielle sans risque d'endommager la carte électronique.Differential protection unit according to claim 4, characterized in that said upper half-housing (14B) comprises a window (84) located above said electronic card (32) included inside and in that it is provided a connection cover (18) which forms a cover and which supports on its face directed downwards (80A) connection contacts (82), from which it follows that, by fixing the connection cover on one side upper half of the upper housing (14B), the connection cover (18) masks the window (84) and, simultaneously, the connection contacts (82) of the connection cover automatically establish the electrical connections between the electronic card (32 ) and the other active parts contained in the housing and, conversely, when the cover (18), the electronic card (32) is completely disconnected, thus making it possible to carry out a dielectric test of the differential protection block without risk of damaging the electronic card.
EP19940420024 1993-02-09 1994-01-26 Differential protection unit with functionally testable sub-assembly Expired - Lifetime EP0611224B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9301506A FR2701335B1 (en) 1993-02-09 1993-02-09 Differential protection block with testable functional sub-assembly.
FR9301506 1993-02-09

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0611224A1 true EP0611224A1 (en) 1994-08-17
EP0611224B1 EP0611224B1 (en) 1998-08-05

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19940420024 Expired - Lifetime EP0611224B1 (en) 1993-02-09 1994-01-26 Differential protection unit with functionally testable sub-assembly

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EP (1) EP0611224B1 (en)
CN (1) CN1042870C (en)
DE (1) DE69412149T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2120589T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2701335B1 (en)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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FR2772979A1 (en) * 1997-12-18 1999-06-25 Schneider Electric Sa ELECTRICAL CONNECTION DEVICE OF A DIFFERENTIAL BLOCK ON A CIRCUIT BREAKER OR SIMILAR AND DIFFERENTIAL BLOCK EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A DEVICE
EP1033735A1 (en) * 1999-03-02 2000-09-06 Schneider Electric Industries SA Electronic trip device comprising a removable long-time-delay module with a conection/disconnection function
FR2811805A1 (en) * 2000-07-13 2002-01-18 Schneider Electric Ind Sa Electrical differential protection circuit switch reinforcing isolation mechanism having primary conductors rotating section attached and freeing conductor ends apparatus connection.
EP1480244A3 (en) * 2003-05-20 2006-10-25 ABB Service S.r.l A device for containing current-sensor means
US7167349B2 (en) 2003-05-21 2007-01-23 Fuji Electric Fa Components & Systems Co., Ltd. Earth leakage breaker
CN100446153C (en) * 2003-07-03 2008-12-24 富士电机株式会社 Leakage circuit breaker
EP3029705A1 (en) * 2014-12-01 2016-06-08 Hager-Electro SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiée) Method for manufacturing an electric device providing at least two electrical functions

Families Citing this family (4)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN1312719C (en) * 2004-12-14 2007-04-25 常熟开关制造有限公司(原常熟开关厂） Plastic casing circuit breaker
FR2926393B1 (en) * 2008-01-10 2009-12-18 Schneider Electric Ind Sas TRANSFORMATION BLOCK OF A DOUBLE-PASSING ELECTRONIC TRIGGER
EP2079091B1 (en) 2008-01-10 2014-01-29 Schneider Electric Industries SAS Voltage trigger case for a circuit breaker, voltage trigger device and assembly method
DE102020116428A1 (en) 2020-06-22 2021-12-23 Magnetec Gmbh Sensor, circuit breaker, charging cable and charging station

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Cited By (12)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2772979A1 (en) * 1997-12-18 1999-06-25 Schneider Electric Sa ELECTRICAL CONNECTION DEVICE OF A DIFFERENTIAL BLOCK ON A CIRCUIT BREAKER OR SIMILAR AND DIFFERENTIAL BLOCK EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A DEVICE
EP0926695A1 (en) * 1997-12-18 1999-06-30 Schneider Electric Sa Electrical connection device of a differential unit to a circuit breaker or similar and a differential unit equiped with such a device
TR199802642A3 (en) * 1997-12-18 1999-10-21 Schneider Electric S.A. A device for electrical connection of a differential unit to a circuit breaker or similar device and a differential unit equipped with such a device.
EP1033735A1 (en) * 1999-03-02 2000-09-06 Schneider Electric Industries SA Electronic trip device comprising a removable long-time-delay module with a conection/disconnection function
FR2790610A1 (en) * 1999-03-02 2000-09-08 Schneider Electric Ind Sa ELECTRONIC TRIGGER COMPRISING A REMOVABLE LONG DELAY MODULE ASSOCIATED WITH A CONNECTION / DISCONNECTION FUNCTION IN VOLTAGE
US6175289B1 (en) 1999-03-02 2001-01-16 Square D Company Electronic trip device with a removable voltage switch module
FR2811805A1 (en) * 2000-07-13 2002-01-18 Schneider Electric Ind Sa Electrical differential protection circuit switch reinforcing isolation mechanism having primary conductors rotating section attached and freeing conductor ends apparatus connection.
EP1480244A3 (en) * 2003-05-20 2006-10-25 ABB Service S.r.l A device for containing current-sensor means
US7167349B2 (en) 2003-05-21 2007-01-23 Fuji Electric Fa Components & Systems Co., Ltd. Earth leakage breaker
CN100367438C (en) * 2003-05-21 2008-02-06 富士电机机器制御株式会社 Earth leakage breaker
CN100446153C (en) * 2003-07-03 2008-12-24 富士电机株式会社 Leakage circuit breaker
EP3029705A1 (en) * 2014-12-01 2016-06-08 Hager-Electro SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiée) Method for manufacturing an electric device providing at least two electrical functions

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69412149T2 (en) 1999-02-11
DE69412149D1 (en) 1998-09-10
ES2120589T3 (en) 1998-11-01
CN1042870C (en) 1999-04-07
FR2701335A1 (en) 1994-08-12
EP0611224B1 (en) 1998-08-05
FR2701335B1 (en) 1995-04-14
CN1101456A (en) 1995-04-12

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