EP0621615B1 - Low voltage circuit breaker - Google Patents

Low voltage circuit breaker Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0621615B1
EP0621615B1 EP94105111A EP94105111A EP0621615B1 EP 0621615 B1 EP0621615 B1 EP 0621615B1 EP 94105111 A EP94105111 A EP 94105111A EP 94105111 A EP94105111 A EP 94105111A EP 0621615 B1 EP0621615 B1 EP 0621615B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
contact
arc
plate
section
stationary contact
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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.)
Expired - Lifetime
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EP94105111A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0621615A1 (en
Inventor
Francesco Perdoncin
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ABB SACE SpA
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ABB SACE SpA
SACE SpA
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Publication of EP0621615A1 publication Critical patent/EP0621615A1/en
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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/30Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
    • H01H9/46Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts using arcing horns
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/30Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
    • H01H9/34Stationary parts for restricting or subdividing the arc, e.g. barrier plate

Definitions

  • the invention is based on a low-voltage switch according to the preamble of patent claim 1.
  • a switch of the type mentioned with a fixed and a movable contact is known from US 2,467,937 A.
  • the power supply 4 for the fixed contact 13 is expanded in a U-shape and the two legs 11 of the U are bridged at their free ends by a yoke 12.
  • An arcing horn 9 with two plate-shaped sections arranged at an angle to one another is attached to the yoke.
  • the first section that adjoins the yoke and is inclined relative to the U carries the fixed contact 13.
  • the second section that adjoins the first is arranged parallel to the U and serves to guide a base point of a switching arc.
  • a plate 17 made of gas-emitting insulating material is arranged between the U and the arcing horn 9, a plate 17 made of gas-emitting insulating material is arranged.
  • the formation of the power supply 4 together with magnetic elements 22 and 29 causes the switching arc to migrate from the fixed contact 13 to the arcing horn 9, which makes it easier to extinguish the switching arc. Emigration is supported by gas, which is emitted by the insulating material when the arc is applied. Since the insulating material is arranged on the side of the fixed contact 13 or the arcing horn 9 facing away from the base point of the switching arc, that of the switching arc is in the region of the fixed contact 13 caused gas formation weak and affects the switching capacity of the switch only slightly.
  • the invention as defined in claim 1, is based on the object of increasing the switching power in a switch of the type mentioned.
  • the switch according to the invention is characterized by a low contact erosion and low wear of the arcing chamber with a high switching capacity. This is achieved in that the extinguishing gas emerging from the insulating part under the influence of an arc flows specifically in the direction of the quenching plate package, and that the base point of the switching arc rooted at the fixed contact is guided particularly quickly into the quenching plate package by this gas flow and by the force of the magnetic field of the current to be switched off .
  • the multi-pole switch shown in Figure 1 has a housing 1 made of insulating material.
  • the housing 1 comprises - separately for each pole - a predominantly plate-shaped, fixed contact 2 and a movable contact 3 which can be pivoted about a fixed axis 4 and which is connected to a flexible power connection.
  • Both contacts 2, 3 are in an arc quenching chamber 5 containing a quenching plate package 6 guided.
  • a recess 23 provided in the housing 1 enables a pivoting movement of the movable contact 3.
  • the size of the recess 23 is advantageously chosen such that it is hardly larger than the thickness of the movable contact 3.
  • the fixed contact 2 which can be seen more clearly from FIGS. 2 and 3, has a power supply with an opening 10 which is delimited by two legs 11 of equal size and a yoke 12.
  • the supplied current I is divided at the opening 10.
  • Half the current I / 2 flows through each leg 11.
  • the two streams I / 2 are brought together again in the yoke 12.
  • the yoke 12 continues in a contact tongue 13 which is slightly inclined with respect to the plate-shaped fixed contact, typically by approximately 10 to 30 °, and which is directed into the arc quenching chamber 5.
  • the opening 10 creates two turns in the power supply of the fixed contact 2.
  • the magnetic field generated by the current I / 2 flowing in these turns acts on an arc-extinguishing chamber on the contact tongue 13 in an electrically conductive manner, for example by riveting and / or soldering Extension piece 14, which extends the contact tongue 13 in the direction of the baffle plate 6 and together with the contact tongue 13 a plate-shaped Conductor forms.
  • the extension piece 14 is formed on the base of the contact tongue 13 on the yoke 12 as a contact element 7. In the switched-on position of the switch, this contact element 7 contacts an unspecified contact element of the movable contact 3.
  • An insulating part 15 made of a material that emits extinguishing gas when the arc occurs, such as preferably polytetrafluoroethylene, polyamide or polyoxymethylene, forms a side wall of the arc extinguishing chamber 5 that shields the current supply of the fixed contact 2 against the thermal effect of a switching arc.
  • the insulating part 15 has an opening 16 through which the formed by the contact tongue 13 and the extension piece 14 is passed. The lateral boundary surfaces of the opening 16 rest on the narrow side surfaces of the contact tongue 13 and thus make it more difficult for gas to pass from the arc quenching chamber 5.
  • the insulating part 15 On the arc extinguishing chamber side, the insulating part 15 has two wedge-shaped lugs 18.
  • the tips 19 of the lugs 18 start in the area of the contact element 7.
  • a section 20 of the bridge of the nose which attaches to the tip 19 of each nose 18 rises at an angle corresponding to the inclination of the contact tongue 13.
  • the bridge of the nose Above the contact element 7 in the end section of the extension piece 14, the bridge of the nose has a section which is formed parallel to the plate-shaped part of the fixed contact 2 and which is increasingly moving away from the part of the extension piece 14 which is guided through the opening 16.
  • the two sections 20 of the lugs 18 and a part 17 of the insulating part 15 connecting the two lugs at their tips 19 protrude considerably beyond the contact element 7 and a section of the extension piece 14 adjoining the contact element 7 and thus form a groove-shaped depression 21, the base of which is from the contact element 7 and the adjoining section of the extension piece 14 is formed Fig.1).
  • the function of the switch according to the invention is now as follows: In the switched-on state, the current I flows in a current path which leads from the current supply of the fixed contact 2 with the two legs 11 and the contact tongue 13 via the contact element 7 and the movable contact 3 to the flexible current connection of the movable contact.
  • the current I at the opening 10 in the two U-shaped legs 11 is divided into two half-size currents I / 2 flowing parallel to one another.
  • the two currents I / 2 are brought together again in the yoke 12 and conducted in the contact tongue 13 as current -I with a practically reversed direction of direction relative to the current I running in the plate-shaped part of the current supply to the contact element 7.
  • Each of the two legs 11 is in each case part of one of two windings provided in the power supply to the contact element 7, in which the contact tongue 13 is also contained.
  • the contact tongue 13 with the contact element 7 and the movable contact 3 form an upwardly extending loop in this current path.
  • the movable contact 3 When switched off, the movable contact 3 is pivoted to the right into the position shown in FIG. 1 and an arc is formed which is based on the contact element 7 and the contact element (not shown) of the movable contact 3.
  • the swiveling movement is supported by the magnetic field of the current to be switched off, which widens the loop formed by the contact tongue 13, the arc and the movable contact 3 and thereby leads the movable contact 3 to the right.
  • the magnetic field of the current flowing in the loop drives the arc to the arc stack 6.
  • the base point of the arc burning on the contact element 7 also heats up the surrounding material of the insulating part 15 in the region of the lugs 18 and the connecting part 17, whereby this material releases extinguishing gas. Because the base and a part of the arc starting at the base point is practically surrounded by insulating material, the arc releases a large part of its energy to the insulating material. In this way, relatively large amounts of extinguishing gas are formed from the insulating part 15 even with small flows. At the same time, it is ensured that this quenching gas has a preferential flow directed towards the quenching plate packet 6, which drives the base point of the arc rooted on the contact element 7 into the extension piece 14.
  • a third force on the arc exerts the magnetic field of the current flowing through the two windings provided in the current supply of the fixed contact 2. This field supports the extinguishing gas flow when the arc base point is shifted from the contact element 7 to the extension piece 14.
  • the combined action of these forces leads the arc very quickly and safely into the arc stack 6 and extinguishes it there.
  • the extinguishing gas outgassed from the insulating part 15 ensures that the extinguishing sections delimited by the extinguishing plates are free of ionized particles, so that the extinguishing sections solidify rapidly very rapidly and, even when switching high currents in the n / a range, undesired reignitions are eliminated.
  • it is particularly advantageous here that contact erosion and wear of the arc quenching chamber 6 are drastically reduced.

Landscapes

  • Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
  • Driving Mechanisms And Operating Circuits Of Arc-Extinguishing High-Tension Switches (AREA)

Description

Bei der Erfindung wird ausgegangen von einem Niederspannungsschalter nach dem Oberbegriff von Patentanspruch 1.The invention is based on a low-voltage switch according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Ein Schalter der eingangs genannten Art mit einem feststehenden und einem beweglichen Kontakt ist aus US 2,467,937 A bekannt. Bei diesem Schalter ist die Stromzuführung 4 für den fest-stehenden Kontakt 13 U-förmig erweitert und sind die beiden Schenkel 11 des U an ihren freien Enden durch ein Joch 12 überbrückt. Am Joch ist ein Lichtbogenhorn 9 mit zwei zueinander unter einem Winkel angeordneten plattenförmigen Abschnitten angebracht. Der an das Joch anschliessende und gegenüber dem U geneigt angeordnete erste Abschnitt trägt den feststehenden Kontakt 13. Der an den ersten anschliessende zweite Abschnitt ist parallel zum U angeordnet und dient der Führung eines Fusspunkts eines Schaltlichtbogens. Zwischen dem U und dem Lichtbogenhorn 9 ist eine Platte 17 aus gasabgebendem Isolierstoff angeordnet.A switch of the type mentioned with a fixed and a movable contact is known from US 2,467,937 A. In this switch, the power supply 4 for the fixed contact 13 is expanded in a U-shape and the two legs 11 of the U are bridged at their free ends by a yoke 12. An arcing horn 9 with two plate-shaped sections arranged at an angle to one another is attached to the yoke. The first section that adjoins the yoke and is inclined relative to the U carries the fixed contact 13. The second section that adjoins the first is arranged parallel to the U and serves to guide a base point of a switching arc. Between the U and the arcing horn 9, a plate 17 made of gas-emitting insulating material is arranged.

Bei einem Schaltvorgang bewirkt die Ausbildung der Stromzuführung 4 zusammen mit Magnetelementen 22 und 29 ein Auswandern des Schaltlichtbogens vom feststehenden Kontakt 13 auf das Lichtbogenhorn 9, wodurch das Löschen des Schaltlichtbogens erleichtert wird. Unterstützt wird das Auswandern hierbei durch Gas, welches bei der Einwirkung des Lichtbogens vom Isolierstoff abgeben wird. Da der Isolierstoff auf der vom Fusspunkt des Schaltlichtbogens abgewandten Seite des feststehenden Kontakts 13 bzw. des Lichtbogenhorns 9 angeordnet ist, ist die vom Schaltlichtbogen im Bereich des feststehenden Kontakts 13 hervorgerufene Gasbildung schwach und beeinflusst das Schaltvermögen des Schalters nur geringfügig.During a switching operation, the formation of the power supply 4 together with magnetic elements 22 and 29 causes the switching arc to migrate from the fixed contact 13 to the arcing horn 9, which makes it easier to extinguish the switching arc. Emigration is supported by gas, which is emitted by the insulating material when the arc is applied. Since the insulating material is arranged on the side of the fixed contact 13 or the arcing horn 9 facing away from the base point of the switching arc, that of the switching arc is in the region of the fixed contact 13 caused gas formation weak and affects the switching capacity of the switch only slightly.

Ein weiterer Niederspannungsschalter mit einem löschgasabgebenden Isolierstoff ist in DE 37 29 504 Al beschrieben. Dieser Schalter weist einen fest-stehenden Kontakt mit einer U-förmig gebogenen Stromzuführung auf, deren ein feststehendes Kontaktelement tragendes und in eine Lichtbogenlöschkammer geführtes Ende ein an ein Löschblechpaket erstrecktes Verlängerungsstück zur Aufnahme eines Fusspunktes eines Schaltlichtbogens aufweist. Die Stromzuführung ist teilweise mit Isoliermaterial abgedeckt. Hierdurch wird erreicht, dass der Schaltlichtbogen auf dem Verlängerungsstück leichter läuft und zugleich schneller gelöscht wird.Another low-voltage switch with an insulating material that emits extinguishing gas is described in DE 37 29 504 A1. This switch has a fixed contact with a U-shaped curved power supply, the end of which carries a fixed contact element and is guided into an arc quenching chamber has an extension piece extending to a quenching plate package for receiving a base point of a switching arc. The power supply is partially covered with insulating material. This ensures that the switching arc runs more easily on the extension piece and is extinguished faster at the same time.

Der Erfindung, wie sie in Patentanspruch 1 definiert ist, liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, bei einem Schalter der eingangs genannten Art die Schaltleistung zu erhöhen.The invention, as defined in claim 1, is based on the object of increasing the switching power in a switch of the type mentioned.

Der erfindungsgemässe Schalter zeichnet sich bei hoher Schaltleistung durch einen geringen Kontaktabbrand und einen geringen Verschleiss der Löschkammer aus. Dies wird dadurch erreicht, dass aus dem Isolierteil unter Lichtbogeneinwirkung austretendes Löschgas gezielt in Richtung des Löschblechpakets strömt, und dass der am feststehenden Kontakt wurzelnde Fusspunkt des Schaltlichtbogens durch diese Gasströmung und durch die Kraft des magnetischen Feldes des abzuschaltenden Stroms besonders rasch in das Löschblechpaket geführt wird.The switch according to the invention is characterized by a low contact erosion and low wear of the arcing chamber with a high switching capacity. This is achieved in that the extinguishing gas emerging from the insulating part under the influence of an arc flows specifically in the direction of the quenching plate package, and that the base point of the switching arc rooted at the fixed contact is guided particularly quickly into the quenching plate package by this gas flow and by the force of the magnetic field of the current to be switched off .

Aufgrund der raschen Verschiebung des Lichtbogenfusspunktes und wegen des schnellen Wachstums des Lichtbogens können besonders grosse Ströme unterbrochen werden. Da das zur magnetischen Beblasung des Schaltlichtbogens verwendete Magnetfeld zum überwiegenden Teil in Windungsabschnitten der Stromzuführung des feststehenden Kontakts gebildet wird, welche quer zur Bewegungsrichtung des beweglichen Kontakts angeordnet sind, können bei vorgegebenen äusseren Abmessungen des Schalters das Volumen der Lichtbogenlöschkammer und der Hub des beweglichen Kontakts um bis zu 50 % zu erhöht werden.Large currents can be interrupted due to the rapid shift of the arc base and the rapid growth of the arc. Since the magnetic field used for magnetic blowing of the switching arc is predominantly formed in winding sections of the current supply of the fixed contact, which are arranged transversely to the direction of movement of the movable contact, For example, the volume of the arc quenching chamber and the stroke of the movable contact can be increased by up to 50% given the external dimensions of the switch.

Nachfolgend wird ein bevorzugtes Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung anhand von Zeichnungen näher beschrieben. Hierbei zeigt:

Fig.1
eine Aufsicht auf einen Teil eines Pols eines erfindungsgemäss ausgeführten Schalters, welcher längs der Bewegungsrichtung eines beweglichen seiner Kontakte geschnitten ist,
Fig.2
eine Seitenansicht eines feststehenden der Kontakte des Schalters gemäss Fig.1 von links, und
Fig.3
in perspektivischer Ansicht den feststehenden Kontakt gemäss Fig.2 und ein damit zusammenwirkendes Isolierteil vor dem Zusammenbau des Schalters.
A preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below with reference to drawings. Here shows:
Fig. 1
2 shows a plan view of a part of a pole of a switch designed according to the invention, which is cut along the direction of movement of a movable one of its contacts,
Fig. 2
a side view of a fixed of the contacts of the switch according to Figure 1 from the left, and
Fig. 3
in a perspective view the fixed contact according to Figure 2 and an interacting insulating part before assembling the switch.

Der in Fig.1 dargestellte mehrpolige Schalter weist ein Gehäuse 1 aus Isolierstoff auf. Das Gehäuse 1 umfasst - getrennt für jeden Pol - einen überwiegend plattenförmig ausgebildeten, feststehenden Kontakt 2 sowie einen um eine feststehende Achse 4 schwenkbaren und mit einem flexiblen Stromanschluss verbundenen beweglichen Kontakt 3. Beide Kontakte 2, 3 sind in eine ein Löschblechpaket 6 enthaltende Lichtbogenlöschkammer 5 geführt. Eine im Gehäuse 1 vorgesehene Aussparung 23 ermöglicht eine Schwenkbewegung des beweglichen Kontakts 3. Um möglichst wenig Gas aus der Lichtbogenlöschkammer 5 bei einem Schaltvorgang entweichen zu lassen, wird die Grösse der Aussparung 23 mit Vorteil so gewählt, dass sie kaum grösser ist als die Dicke des beweglichen Kontakts 3.The multi-pole switch shown in Figure 1 has a housing 1 made of insulating material. The housing 1 comprises - separately for each pole - a predominantly plate-shaped, fixed contact 2 and a movable contact 3 which can be pivoted about a fixed axis 4 and which is connected to a flexible power connection. Both contacts 2, 3 are in an arc quenching chamber 5 containing a quenching plate package 6 guided. A recess 23 provided in the housing 1 enables a pivoting movement of the movable contact 3. In order to allow as little gas as possible to escape from the arc quenching chamber 5 during a switching operation, the size of the recess 23 is advantageously chosen such that it is hardly larger than the thickness of the movable contact 3.

Der aus den Figuren 2 und 3 genauer ersichtliche feststehende Kontakt 2 weist eine Stromzuführung auf mit einer Öffnung 10, welche von zwei parallel zueinander erstreckten und gleich gross bemessenen Schenkeln 11 sowie einem Joch 12 begrenzt ist. Der zugeführte Strom I wird an der Öffnung 10 aufgeteilt. Durch jeden Schenkel 11 fliesst so der halbe Strom I/2. Die beiden Ströme I/2 werden im Joch 12 wieder zusammengeführt. Das Joch 12 setzt sich in einer gegenüber dem plattenförmigen feststehenden Kontakt geringfügig - typischerweise um ca. 10 bis 30° - geneigten und in die Lichtbogenlöschkammer 5 gerichteten Kontaktzunge 13 fort.The fixed contact 2, which can be seen more clearly from FIGS. 2 and 3, has a power supply with an opening 10 which is delimited by two legs 11 of equal size and a yoke 12. The supplied current I is divided at the opening 10. Half the current I / 2 flows through each leg 11. The two streams I / 2 are brought together again in the yoke 12. The yoke 12 continues in a contact tongue 13 which is slightly inclined with respect to the plate-shaped fixed contact, typically by approximately 10 to 30 °, and which is directed into the arc quenching chamber 5.

Auf diese Weise verlaufen die Ströme in den Schenkeln 11 und in der Kontaktzunge 13 praktisch in entgegengesetzten (durch Pfeile angezeigten) Richtungen. Durch die Öffnung 10 entstehen zwei Windungen in der Stromzuführung des feststehenden Kontakts 2. Das von dem in diesen Windungen fliessenden Strom I/2 erzeugte Magnetfeld wirkt auf ein lichtbogenlöschkammerseitig an der Kontaktzunge 13 in elektrisch leitender Weise, etwa durch Nieten und/oder Löten, angeschlossenes Verlängerungsstück 14, das die Kontaktzunge 13 in Richtung des Löschblechpakets 6 verlängert und zusammen mit der Kontaktzunge 13 ein plattenförmiges Leiterstück bildet. Das Verlängerungsstück 14 ist am Ansatz der Kontaktzunge 13 am Joch 12 als Kontaktelement 7 ausgebildet. Dieses Kontaktelement 7 kontaktiert in der Einschaltstellung des Schalters ein nicht bezeichnetes Kontaktelement des beweglichen Kontakts 3.In this way, the currents in the legs 11 and in the contact tongue 13 practically run in opposite directions (indicated by arrows). The opening 10 creates two turns in the power supply of the fixed contact 2. The magnetic field generated by the current I / 2 flowing in these turns acts on an arc-extinguishing chamber on the contact tongue 13 in an electrically conductive manner, for example by riveting and / or soldering Extension piece 14, which extends the contact tongue 13 in the direction of the baffle plate 6 and together with the contact tongue 13 a plate-shaped Conductor forms. The extension piece 14 is formed on the base of the contact tongue 13 on the yoke 12 as a contact element 7. In the switched-on position of the switch, this contact element 7 contacts an unspecified contact element of the movable contact 3.

Ein Isolierteil 15 aus einem bei Lichtbogeneinwirkung löschgasabgebendem Material, wie vorzugsweise Polytetrafluoräthylen, Polyamid oder Polyoxymethylen, bildet eine die Stromzuführung des feststehenden Kontaktes 2 gegenüber der thermischen Wirkung eines Schaltlichtbogens abschirmende Seitenwand der Lichtbogenlöschkammer 5. Das Isolierteil 15 weist eine Öffnung 16 auf, durch die das von der Kontaktzunge 13 und dem Verlängerungsstück 14 gebildete Leiterstück hindurchgeführt ist. Die seitlichen Begrenzungsflächen der Öffnung 16 liegen auf den schmalen Seitenflächen der Kontaktzunge 13 auf und erschweren so den Durchgang von Gas aus der Lichtbogenlöschkammer 5.An insulating part 15 made of a material that emits extinguishing gas when the arc occurs, such as preferably polytetrafluoroethylene, polyamide or polyoxymethylene, forms a side wall of the arc extinguishing chamber 5 that shields the current supply of the fixed contact 2 against the thermal effect of a switching arc. The insulating part 15 has an opening 16 through which the formed by the contact tongue 13 and the extension piece 14 is passed. The lateral boundary surfaces of the opening 16 rest on the narrow side surfaces of the contact tongue 13 and thus make it more difficult for gas to pass from the arc quenching chamber 5.

Lichtbogenlöschkammerseitig weist das Isolierteil 15 zwei keilförmige Nasen 18 auf. Die Spitzen 19 der Nasen 18 setzen im Bereich des Kontaktelementes 7 an. Ein an die Spitze 19 jeder Nase 18 ansetzender Abschnitt 20 des Nasenrückens steigt mit einem der Neigung der Kontaktzunge 13 entsprechenden Winkel an. Oberhalb des Kontaktelements 7 im Endabschnitt des Verlängerungsstücks 14 weist der Nasenrücken einen parallel zum plattenförmigen Teil des feststehenden Kontakts 2 ausgebildeten Abschnitt auf, welcher sich nach oben hin von dem durch die Öffnung 16 geführten Teil des Verlängerungsstücks 14 zunehmend entfernt. Die beiden Abschnitte 20 der Nasen 18 und ein die beiden Nasen an ihren Spitzen 19 verbindendes Teil 17 des Isolierteils 15 überragen das Kontaktelement 7 und einen an das Kontaktelement 7 anschliessenden Abschnitt des Verlängerungsstücks 14 beträchtlich und bilden so eine nutförmige Vertiefung 21, deren Grund vom Kontaktelement 7 und dem daran anschliessenden Abschnitt des Verlängerungsstücks 14 gebildet ist Fig.1).On the arc extinguishing chamber side, the insulating part 15 has two wedge-shaped lugs 18. The tips 19 of the lugs 18 start in the area of the contact element 7. A section 20 of the bridge of the nose which attaches to the tip 19 of each nose 18 rises at an angle corresponding to the inclination of the contact tongue 13. Above the contact element 7 in the end section of the extension piece 14, the bridge of the nose has a section which is formed parallel to the plate-shaped part of the fixed contact 2 and which is increasingly moving away from the part of the extension piece 14 which is guided through the opening 16. The two sections 20 of the lugs 18 and a part 17 of the insulating part 15 connecting the two lugs at their tips 19 protrude considerably beyond the contact element 7 and a section of the extension piece 14 adjoining the contact element 7 and thus form a groove-shaped depression 21, the base of which is from the contact element 7 and the adjoining section of the extension piece 14 is formed Fig.1).

Die Funktionsweise des erfindungsgemässen Schalters ist nun wie folgt:
Im Einschaltzustand fliesst der Strom I in einem Strompfad, welcher von der Stromzuführung des feststehenden Kontakts 2 mit den beiden Schenkein 11 und der Kontaktzunge 13 über das Kontaktelement 7 und den beweglichen Kontakt 3 zum flexiblen Stromanschluss des beweglichen Kontakts führt. Hierbei teilt sich der Strom I an der Öffnung 10 in den beiden U-förmig ansetzenden Schenkein 11 in zwei parallel zueinander fliessende Ströme halber Grösse I/2 auf. Im Joch 12 werden die beiden Ströme I/2 wieder zusammengeführt und in der Kontaktzunge 13 als Strom -I mit praktisch umgekehrtem Richtungsinn gegenüber dem im plattenförmigen Teil der Stromzuführung verlaufenden Strom I zum Kontaktelement 7 geführt. Jeder der beiden Schenkel 11 ist jeweils Teil einer von zwei in der Stromzuführung zum Kontaktelement 7 vorgesehenen Windungen, in den auch die Kontaktzunge 13 enthalten ist. Die Kontaktzunge 13 mit dem Kontaktelement 7 und der bewegliche Kontakt 3 bilden in diesem Strompfad eine sich nach oben erstreckende Schlaufe.
The function of the switch according to the invention is now as follows:
In the switched-on state, the current I flows in a current path which leads from the current supply of the fixed contact 2 with the two legs 11 and the contact tongue 13 via the contact element 7 and the movable contact 3 to the flexible current connection of the movable contact. Here, the current I at the opening 10 in the two U-shaped legs 11 is divided into two half-size currents I / 2 flowing parallel to one another. The two currents I / 2 are brought together again in the yoke 12 and conducted in the contact tongue 13 as current -I with a practically reversed direction of direction relative to the current I running in the plate-shaped part of the current supply to the contact element 7. Each of the two legs 11 is in each case part of one of two windings provided in the power supply to the contact element 7, in which the contact tongue 13 is also contained. The contact tongue 13 with the contact element 7 and the movable contact 3 form an upwardly extending loop in this current path.

Beim Ausschalten wird der bewegliche Kontakt 3 nach rechts in die in Fig.1 angegebene Lage geschwenkt und bildet sich ein auf dem Kontaktelement 7 und dem nicht dargestellten Kontaktelement des beweglichen Kontakts 3 fussender Lichtbogen. Die Schwenkbewegung wird hierbei unterstützt durch das magnetische Feld des abzuschaltenden Stroms, welches die von der Kontaktzunge 13, dem Lichtbogen und dem beweglichen Kontakt 3 gebildete Schlaufe aufweitet und dabei den beweglichen Kontakt 3 nach rechts führt. Zugleich treibt das magnetische Feld des in der Schlaufe fliessenden Stroms den Lichtbogen an das Löschblechpaket 6.When switched off, the movable contact 3 is pivoted to the right into the position shown in FIG. 1 and an arc is formed which is based on the contact element 7 and the contact element (not shown) of the movable contact 3. The swiveling movement is supported by the magnetic field of the current to be switched off, which widens the loop formed by the contact tongue 13, the arc and the movable contact 3 and thereby leads the movable contact 3 to the right. At the same time, the magnetic field of the current flowing in the loop drives the arc to the arc stack 6.

Der auf dem Kontaktelement 7 brennende Fusspunkt des Lichtbogens heizt zugleich das umgebende Material des Isolierteils 15 im Bereich der Nasen 18 und des Verbindungsteils 17 kräftig auf, wodurch dieses Material Löschgas abgibt. Da der Fusspunkt und ein an dem Fusspunkt ansetzender Teil des Lichtbogens praktisch von Isoliermaterial umgeben sind, gibt der Lichtbogen einen grossen Teil seiner Energie an das Isoliermaterial ab. Es werden so bereits bei kleinen Strömen verhältnismässig grosse Mengen an Löschgas aus dem Isolierteil 15 gebildet. Gleichzeitig ist sichergestellt, dass dieses Löschgas eine auf das Löschblechpaket 6 gerichtete Vorzugsströmung aufweist, welche den auf dem Kontaktelement 7 wurzelnden Fusspunkt des Lichtbogens in das Verlängerungsstück 14 treibt.The base point of the arc burning on the contact element 7 also heats up the surrounding material of the insulating part 15 in the region of the lugs 18 and the connecting part 17, whereby this material releases extinguishing gas. Because the base and a part of the arc starting at the base point is practically surrounded by insulating material, the arc releases a large part of its energy to the insulating material. In this way, relatively large amounts of extinguishing gas are formed from the insulating part 15 even with small flows. At the same time, it is ensured that this quenching gas has a preferential flow directed towards the quenching plate packet 6, which drives the base point of the arc rooted on the contact element 7 into the extension piece 14.

Eine dritte Kraft auf den Lichtbogen übt das magnetische Feld des durch die beiden in der Stromzuführung des feststehenden Kontaktes 2 vorgesehenen Windungen fliessenden Stroms aus. Dieses Feld unterstützt den Löschgasstrom bei der Verschiebung des Lichtbogenfusspunktes vom Kontaktelement 7 auf das Verlängerungsstück 14. Durch die gemeinsame Wirkung dieser Kräfte wird der Lichtbogen sehr rasch und sicher in das Löschblechpaket 6 geführt und dort gelöscht. Hierbei sorgt das aus dem Isolierteil 15 ausgegaste Löschgas dafür, dass die von den Löschblechen begrenzten Löschstrecken frei von ionisierten Teilchen sind, so dass sich die Löschstrecken sehr rasch dielektrisch verfestigen und selbst beim Schalten starker Ströme im kA-Bereich unerwünschte Rückzündungen entfallen. Von besonderem Vorteil ist es hierbei zugleich, dass Kontaktabbrand und Verschleiss der Lichtbogenlöschkammer 6 drastisch reduziert werden.A third force on the arc exerts the magnetic field of the current flowing through the two windings provided in the current supply of the fixed contact 2. This field supports the extinguishing gas flow when the arc base point is shifted from the contact element 7 to the extension piece 14. The combined action of these forces leads the arc very quickly and safely into the arc stack 6 and extinguishes it there. In this case, the extinguishing gas outgassed from the insulating part 15 ensures that the extinguishing sections delimited by the extinguishing plates are free of ionized particles, so that the extinguishing sections solidify rapidly very rapidly and, even when switching high currents in the n / a range, undesired reignitions are eliminated. At the same time, it is particularly advantageous here that contact erosion and wear of the arc quenching chamber 6 are drastically reduced.

BezugszeichenlisteReference list

11
Gehäusecasing
22nd
feststehender Kontaktfixed contact
33rd
beweglicher Kontaktmoving contact
44th
Achseaxis
55
LichtbogenlöschkammerArc quenching chamber
66
LöschblechpaketExtinguishing sheet package
77
KontaktelementContact element
1010th
Öffnungopening
1111
Schenkelleg
1212th
Jochyoke
1313
Kontakt zungeContact tongue
1414
VerlängerungsstückExtension piece
1515
IsolierteilInsulating part
1616
Öffnungopening
1717th
VerbindungsteilConnecting part
1818th
NasenNoses
1919th
Spitzensharpen
2020th
AbschnitteSections
2121
Vertiefungdeepening
2323
AussparungRecess
II.
Stromelectricity

Claims (3)

  1. Low-voltage switch having a stationary contact (2) and a moving contact (3) and having an arc extinguishing chamber (5) which accommodates the two contacts as well as an arc splitter stack (6), and in the case of which a section, which is constructed in the form of a plate, of a power supply lead of the stationary contact (2) is widened in a U-shape, the two limbs (11) of the U are bridged by a yoke (12) at their free ends, and a conductor element is fitted on the yoke (12), which conductor element is formed by a contact tongue (13) of the stationary contact (2) and by an elongation element (14) fastened thereto, is inclined in the direction of the arc splitter stack (6) with respect to the plate-shaped section of the power supply lead, interacts with an insulating part (15) which is made of a material which emits extinguishing gas under the influence of an arc, and shields the plate-shaped section of the power supply lead of the stationary contact (2) with respect to the arc extinguishing chamber (5), characterized in that the conductor element is constructed in the form of a plate, in that the elongation element (14) is extended in the direction of the arc splitter stack (6), in that the insulating part (15) is provided with an opening (16) which is of rectangular construction and has lateral boundary surfaces, through which opening the plate-shaped conductor element is guided in such a manner that the lateral boundary surfaces rest on narrow side surfaces of the contact tongue (13), and in that the insulating part (15) and the stationary contact (2) form on the extinguishing chamber side a groove-shaped depression in whose base a contact element (7) of the stationary contact (2), which contact element interacts with the moving contact (3) in the switched-on position of the switch, is arranged.
  2. Switch according to Claim 1, characterized in that the depression is bounded laterally by two tabs (18) of the insulating part (15), which are extended in the direction of the arc splitter stack (5) and each have a first section (20) with a tab rear which is arranged parallel to the elongation element (14).
  3. Switch according to Claim 2, characterized in that the tabs (18) each have a second section, which is connected to the first section (20), is extended parallel to the plate-shaped section of the power supply lead of the stationary contact (2) and in whose region the elongation element (14) is guided out of the insulating part (15).
EP94105111A 1993-04-21 1994-03-31 Low voltage circuit breaker Expired - Lifetime EP0621615B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITMI930789 1993-04-21
IT93MI000789A IT1264164B1 (en) 1993-04-21 1993-04-21 LOW VOLTAGE SWITCH IN INSULATING BOX

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0621615A1 EP0621615A1 (en) 1994-10-26
EP0621615B1 true EP0621615B1 (en) 1997-02-12

Family

ID=11365838

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94105111A Expired - Lifetime EP0621615B1 (en) 1993-04-21 1994-03-31 Low voltage circuit breaker

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US5475193A (en)
EP (1) EP0621615B1 (en)
DE (2) DE4332546A1 (en)
ES (1) ES2102088T3 (en)
IT (1) IT1264164B1 (en)
ZA (1) ZA942756B (en)

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IT1314358B1 (en) * 1999-12-31 2002-12-09 Abb Ricerca Spa ARC CHAMBER FOR LOW VOLTAGE SWITCHES
FR2803687B1 (en) * 2000-01-07 2002-02-22 Schneider Electric Ind Sa POLE FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BREAKER, PROVIDED WITH A WIDE ARC EXTINGUISHING CHAMBER
US6926547B2 (en) 2001-07-06 2005-08-09 Delphi Technologies, Inc. Electrical connector
DE102005007303B4 (en) * 2005-02-17 2013-03-21 Abb Ag Electrical installation device with arc prechamber space, arc guide rails and current limiting arc quenching device
US7716816B2 (en) * 2006-09-22 2010-05-18 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. Method of manufacturing a switch assembly
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JP5856426B2 (en) * 2011-10-07 2016-02-09 富士電機株式会社 Contact device and electromagnetic contactor using the same
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ZA942756B (en) 1996-02-16
EP0621615A1 (en) 1994-10-26
DE4332546A1 (en) 1994-10-27
ES2102088T3 (en) 1997-07-16
DE59401787D1 (en) 1997-03-27
IT1264164B1 (en) 1996-09-17
US5475193A (en) 1995-12-12
ITMI930789A0 (en) 1993-04-21
ITMI930789A1 (en) 1994-10-21

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