EP0806784A2 - Switchgear with movable connection lines - Google Patents

Abstract

The switching device (1) has movable lines (2) for providing electrical connections with the terminal clamps of an immediately adjacent switching device within the switch cabinet. The lines are movable along a defined linear path relative to the switching device, with all lines mechanically coupled together so that they are moved in common. The lines may be mounted on a common carrier (6) which is displaced parallel to the side faces (10,11) of the switching device.

Description

The invention relates to a switching device for installation in a control cabinet, which switching device has lines for establishing electrical connections to the connection terminals of a further switching device arranged immediately adjacent.

A control cabinet generally has a plurality of rails spaced apart from one another, on which rails the various switching devices are fixed and then electrically connected to one another.

There are switching devices that are present in every switch box and must always be electrically connected in series. The best example of this are miniature circuit breakers and residual current circuit breakers. For the sake of clarity, these components are usually arranged on the same rail immediately adjacent to one another. Since, as already mentioned, they always have to be connected in series, it is obvious to assemble both switches in one piece in order to reduce the effort required for their wiring.

A fault current module has become known from EP-A1-649 158 , which has a rigid bracket which runs horizontally with respect to the installation position in a control cabinet and in which bracket the lines necessary for establishing electrical connections to an adjacent circuit breaker lead are. The ends of the lines protrude from the bracket in such a way that when the circuit breaker and FI module are arranged next to each other on a mounting rail, they engage in the connection terminals of the circuit breaker.

With such an interconnection of the FI module and the circuit breaker, it is necessary, in accordance with regulations, to connect the two devices in a non-detachable manner in order to prevent separate replacement of an individual component which has not been carried out properly. However, if other, side-by-side devices are wired to each other in the manner described - for example circuit breakers with impulse switches - it is permitted to replace each of the two devices individually. The disadvantage that the design according to EP-A1-649 158 entails in such a case is that in the event of a fault, even if only part of the switch block is defective, the entire switch block is always replaced or removed for repair as a whole must become.

When replacing one of the two modules, however, there is the difficulty that they are positively connected to one another by the mounting rail on the one hand and the rigid bracket on the other. In order to release this connection, both modules must be removed together so that both are terminated by the additional cabling and removed from the rail.

It is an object of the invention to provide a configuration option for a switching device of the type mentioned at the outset, in which a restriction of the freedom of movement of the adjacent switching device by the electrical connecting lines is avoided.

According to the invention, this is achieved in that the lines are fixed on the switching device relative to the switching device along a predetermined path.

The lines can thus be removed from the connecting terminals of the adjacent switching device, thereby releasing the mechanical connection of the two switching devices themselves without any movement of the switching device provided with the lines.

In a further development of the invention it can be provided that all lines can be moved together.

This can reduce the time required for assembly and disassembly.

In this context, it can further be provided that all lines are mechanically connected to one another, because the joint mobility can thus be realized particularly well.

A preferred embodiment of the invention can consist in that the lines are fixed on the switching device so as to be translationally displaceable.

This type of definition is easier to manufacture than the pivotable mounting that can be imagined as an alternative.

In this context, it can further be provided that the lines are arranged on a common carrier, which carrier is mounted in the switching device so as to be displaceable parallel to the side surfaces of the switching device between a retracted and an extended position.

After conventional connection terminals have been constructed in such a way that the lines to be inserted into them are to be introduced in the direction parallel to the side walls, any neighboring switching device designed in accordance with the standards can be wired in such a configuration. Furthermore, it can be provided that the carrier has a first straight section which runs parallel to the side surfaces of the switching device, which section runs inside the switching device and has one end extending through a switching device transverse wall.

This results in a compact design, the arrangement of the carrier inside the switchgear simultaneously serves to isolate the lines of the housing walls.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the carrier has a second section, which is fixed at the end of the first section which extends through the switching device transverse wall and runs essentially normal to this, completely outside the switching device and which has the connection terminals of the adjacent switching device connectable cable ends.

The lines are connected to one another mechanically particularly well, thereby simplifying their introduction into the connecting terminals of the adjacent switching device. A further feature of the invention can be that the carrier section running parallel to the side surfaces of the switching device has a spring-attached projection at its end projecting through the switching device transverse wall, which in the extended position of the carrier is located on an edge of the switching device transverse wall starts. This allows the carrier to be detachably fixed in its extended position, as a result of which the neighboring switching device can be brought into its position in a particularly simple manner.

It can be advantageous that the carrier is formed by a flat plate, on the surfaces of which the lines are fixed, since this embodiment can be produced particularly easily.

In this connection it can be provided that the plate has walls running essentially normal to these surfaces on each surface equipped with lines.

These walls serve for mutual electrical insulation of the individual lines. It can be particularly advantageous that all the lines are fixed on one and the same surface of the plate, because this enables the lines to be designed in a similar manner and is therefore particularly easy to assemble, that is to say they can be applied to the plate.

In a further development of the invention, it can further be provided that the second carrier section running outside the switching device has rail-shaped approaches, preferably extending essentially over the entire length of the second carrier section, on which a cover covering the lines can be positively fixed. This means that the cables can be enclosed on all sides and electrically isolated from their environment.

In this connection it can be provided that extensions extending in the direction of the carrier plate are arranged on the inside of the cover.

With the help of such extensions, the lines between the carrier plate and cover can be clamped and fixed on the carrier, which means that further fastening measures, such as Gluing, screwing or the like can be omitted.

An improvement in this connection can be achieved in that the cover has a nose in the region of its side edge adjacent to the switching device, which nose engages in a corresponding recess in the switching device transverse wall in the retracted position of the carrier.

The cover is thus secured in the retracted position of the carrier against horizontal displacements, so that it can no longer be detached from the carrier plate. Measures to permanently close the lid, e.g. Gluing is not required.

It can be advantageous that on the side wall on which the further switching device can be attached, peg-shaped projections are formed, which engage in correspondingly mirror-inverted holes in the side wall of the adjacent further switching device in the engaged state, because the adjacent switching device is in exact alignment the side wall can be created.

Another object of the invention is to provide a circuit breaker which comprises a switching device of the type described hitherto, has both RCD and CB function, is of compact design and is easy to wire.

According to the invention, this is achieved in that the switching device is formed by a fault current module comprising a switch lock, a summation current transformer and a circuit of the summation current transformer that actuates the switch lock, in that the adjacent switching device is formed by a circuit breaker, and in that the switch lock of the fault current module with one through the side walls from Fault current module and tripping finger is provided through which the switch lock of the adjacent circuit breaker can be actuated.

With such a design, the switch contacts of the circuit breaker are also used for switching off if the FI module responds. Separate, series-connected contacts of the FI part therefore do not need to be provided, which results in a downsizing of the overall arrangement.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, which show a preferred embodiment.

• Fig.1 ein erfindungsgemäßes Schaltgerät und ein benachbart dazu angeordnetes weiteres Schaltgerät im Aufriß;
• Fig.2 eine besonders bevorzugte Ausführungsform der Erfindung mit geöffnetem Gehäuse im Aufriß;
• Fig.3 einen erfindungsgemäßen Leitungsträger im Schrägriß;
• Fig.4 das erfindungsgemäße Schaltgerät nach Fig.2 mit geschlossenem Gehäuse im Schrägriß;
• Fig.5a,b eine Deckel für den Träger nach Fig.4 im Schrägriß und im Schnitt;
• Fig.6 eine Seitenansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Schaltgerätes nach Fig.2;
• Fig.7 eine Unteransicht des erfindungsgemäßen Schaltgerätes nach Fig.2;
• Fig.8 das erfindungsgemäße Schaltgerät nach Fig.2 mit einem dazu benachbart anzuordnendem Leitungsschutzschalter im Aufriß;
• Fig.9 die Anordnung nach Fig.8, wobei FI-Modul und LS-Schalter aneinander angerückt sind und der Leitungsträger sich in seiner ausgefahrenden Position befindet und
• Fig.10 die Anordnung nach Fig.9, wobei der Leitungsträger sich in seiner eingefahrenen Position befindet.

Show it:

• 1 shows a switching device according to the invention and a further switching device arranged adjacent to it in elevation;
• 2 shows a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention with the housing open in elevation;
• 3 shows a cable carrier according to the invention in an oblique view;
• 4 shows the switching device according to the invention according to Figure 2 with a closed housing in an oblique view;
• 5a, b show a cover for the support according to FIG. 4 in an oblique view and in section;
• 6 shows a side view of the switching device according to the invention according to FIG. 2;
• 7 shows a bottom view of the switching device according to the invention according to FIG. 2;
• 8 shows the switching device according to the invention according to FIG. 2 with a circuit breaker to be arranged adjacent to it in elevation;
• 9 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 8, the RCD module and the circuit breaker being moved towards one another and the line carrier being in its extended position, and
• 10 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 9, the line carrier being in its retracted position.

As already mentioned at the beginning, it is customary to provide a switching device 1 for control cabinets, which is to be electrically connected to a further switching device 4 arranged directly adjacent, with corresponding lines 2 in order to avoid their manual laying.

This measure is also provided in a switching device 1 according to the invention, as can best be seen from FIG. 1. A problem that arises with such an arrangement is, as already mentioned, that a mechanical connection of the two switching devices 1, 4 is also established simultaneously with the electrical connection through the lines 2.

In order to be able to release or establish this connection established by the lines 2 without movement of the two switching devices 1, 4 —a situation that inevitably arises after mounting the two switching devices 1, 4 in a control cabinet — the lines are provided according to the invention 2 relative to the switching device 1 along a predetermined path movable to fix this.

This movability can be realized, for example, in that the lines 2 are arranged so as to be pivotable about axes 5. However, the lines 2 are preferably slidably displaceable, in particular slidably mounted parallel to the side walls 10, 11 of the switching device 1.

In principle, the lines 2 could each be fixed on the switching device 1 so as to be movable, that is to say pivotable or displaceable, but for reasons of simpler handling, it is expedient to fix them together on the switching device 1 so as to be movable. The lines 2 are preferably mechanically connected to one another, whereby the joint mobility is automatically given. In the case of the pivotable mounting of the lines 2 shown in FIG. 1, the axes 5 would then be combined to form a common axis or at least all axes 5 would be arranged in alignment with one another. For the further explanation, reference is now made to a very specific exemplary embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 10.

The switching device 1 is designed as a fault current module, which itself has no switch contacts but only the fault current detection circuit with the associated switch lock. The fault current detection circuit is formed from a switch lock, a summation current transformer 17 and a circuit of the summation current transformer 17 that actuates the switch lock. To maintain clarity, only the summation current transformer 17 is shown in FIG. The neighboring switching device 4 is a circuit breaker.

The switch lock of the residual current module has a trigger finger 15, which trigger finger 15 protrudes through the side wall 11 of the residual current module and through the side wall 40 of the circuit breaker and can actuate the switch lock of the circuit breaker (see FIG. 8). The switch contacts of the circuit breaker are thus used both for switching off in the event of a line overload and in the event of a fault current.

The invention is in no way limited to this embodiment variant, but rather can be transferred to any type of device which can be installed in control cabinets. Examples of this are: circuit breakers with an adjacent FI switch; Miniature circuit breakers with adjacent impulse switches, staircase automatons, etc.

As can best be seen from FIG. 2, a carrier 6 is provided, on which the lines 2 are arranged. The carrier 6 is mounted parallel to the side surfaces 10, 11 of the switching device 1 between a retracted and an extended position in the switching device 1.

The most important component of this carrier 6 is its section 60, which runs parallel to the side surfaces 10, 11. This section 60, like a drawer, is displaceably guided within the switching device 1 and extends with one end 61 through one of the switching device transverse walls 12, 13. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the lower transverse wall 12 was selected for this purpose, but it would be entirely equivalent to carry out the support section 60 through the upper transverse wall 13.

At the end 61 of the first section 60 which extends through the switching device transverse wall 12 there is a second section 62 which is essentially normal to this section 60 fixed. This is entirely outside the switching device 1 and carries the line ends 20. These are distributed on the carrier section 62 so that when the carrier 6 moves in the direction of the arrow 8 into the terminals 3 of one immediately adjacent, that is to say to the side wall 11 extend further arranged switching device 4.

The structure of the carrier 6 will now be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. The first carrier section 60 also has a spring-mounted extension 63 at its end 61 which projects through the transverse wall 12. This extension 63 is located in the retracted position of the carrier 6 inside the switching device 1, in the extended carrier position it protrudes just beyond the transverse wall 12 and can thus attach to the edge 64 of the transverse wall 12 (cf. also FIG. 4 ). The carrier 6 can thereby be locked in its extended position.

The carrier 6 is formed by a flat plate 65, on the surfaces of which the lines 2 are fixed. (To maintain clarity, only one of the lines 2 is shown in FIG. 3). According to the embodiment shown in the drawings, all lines 2 are fixed on one and the same surface of plate 65, namely on the surface of plate 65 facing away from further switching device 4. However, within the meaning of the invention it is also entirely possible to distribute the lines 2 on both surfaces of the plate 65 in order to e.g. with the same plate dimensions to accommodate lines 2 of larger cross section, or to arrange the lines 2 on the surface of the plate 65 facing away from the further switching device 4.

It is important in all cases that the lines 2 are sufficiently insulated from one another. This could be realized, for example, in that the lines 2 are coated with an insulating material, e.g. Pour plastic.

Another possibility is to equip the plate 65 on each surface equipped with lines 2 with walls 66 running essentially normal to these surfaces. This creates individual chambers in which the lines 2 are received, insulated from one another.

With this type of insulation, it is not necessary to insulate each line 2 individually; rather, bare metal tracks, for example copper tracks, can be used. So that these bare copper tracks are not also exposed in the control cabinet, a cover 7 is provided which covers the lines 2 in the region of the second carrier section 62. Rail-shaped lugs 67 are arranged on the carrier section 62 and likewise rail-shaped lugs 75 are arranged in the cover 7 itself (cf. FIGS. 5 a, b) in order to secure it in a form-fitting manner.

The cover 7 is open on its end face 72 facing the switching device 1, but is closed on the end face facing away from the switching device 1 by an end wall 71. The cover 7 can thus be pushed onto the carrier section 62 in the direction of the arrow 9 in FIG.

On the inside of the cover 7, extensions 73 extending in the direction of the carrier plate 65 are arranged. As can be seen in FIG. 6, these extensions 73 are of such a height that they are supported on the lines 2 and thus clamp them between the carrier plate 65 and the cover 7.

In the area of its side edge 72 adjacent to the switching device 1, the cover 7 has a nose 74, which nose 74 engages in a corresponding recess in the switching device transverse wall 12 in the retracted position of the carrier 6 (see FIG. 7).

Any displacement of the cover 7 in the retracted position of the carrier 6, that is to say after assembly has been completed, can thus be prevented and reliable insulation of the lines 2 is ensured.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, as already explained above, the movement of the switch lock of the switching device 1 is transmitted to the switch lock of the adjacent circuit breaker by a trigger finger 15 protruding through the side wall 11. So that this trigger finger 15 can be inserted exactly into the corresponding socket of the circuit breaker switch lock when the two switching devices 1, 4 are joined together, it is favorable to design the side wall 11 to which the further switching device 4 can be attached with peg-shaped lugs 16 to provide. When the two switching devices 1, 4 are completely moved towards one another, the lugs 16 engage in mirror-inverted holes in the side wall of the adjacent switching device 4 and thus ensure an exact alignment of the two switching devices 1, 4.

Finally, the procedure for installing an FI / LS module according to the invention is explained with reference to FIGS. 8-10. The fault current module 1 is fixed (snapped on) on the control cabinet rail and the carrier 6 is brought into its extended position. The circuit breaker 4 is also arranged on the rail at a small horizontal distance from the fault current module (Fig. 8). The two switching devices 1, 4 are now pushed towards one another until the lugs 16 engage in the corresponding bores and the trigger finger 15 in the corresponding socket and the switching devices 1, 4 lie with their side surfaces 11, 40 against one another (FIG. 9). .

Finally, the carrier 6 is brought into its retracted position, the line ends 20 are thus pushed into the connection terminals 3 of the circuit breaker 4 and the electrical connections are made by tightening the connection terminals 3 (FIG. 10).

Claims (16)

Switchgear for installation in a control cabinet, which switchgear (1) has lines (2) for establishing electrical connections to the connection terminals (3) of a directly adjacent further switchgear (4), characterized in that the lines (2) are relative to the switchgear (1) are movably attached to it along a predetermined path. Switching device according to claim 1, characterized in that all lines (2) can be moved together. Switching device according to claim 2, characterized in that all lines (2) are mechanically connected to one another. Switching device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the lines (2) are fixed on the switching device (1) so as to be translationally displaceable. Switching device according to claim 4, characterized in that the lines (2) are arranged on a common carrier (6), which carrier (6) parallel to the side surfaces (10, 11) of the switching device (1) between a retracted and an extended position is slidably mounted in the switching device (1). Switching device according to Claim 5, characterized in that the carrier (6) has a first straight section (60) running parallel to the side faces (10, 11) of the switching device (1), which section (60) inside the switching device (1 ) runs and with one end (61) extends through a switching device transverse wall (12, 13). Switching device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the carrier (6) has an end which is fixed to the end (61) of the first section (60) and which extends through the switching device transverse wall (12), essentially normal to it, entirely outside the switching device (1 ) extending second section (62) which carries the line ends (20) which can be connected to the connection terminals (3) of the adjacent switching device (4). Switching device according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the support section (60) running parallel to the side surfaces (10, 11) of the switching device (1) has a resilient end at its end (61) which projects through the switching device transverse wall (12) has held approach (63), which in the extended position of the carrier (6) on an edge (64) of the switching device transverse wall (12). Switching device according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the carrier (6) is formed by a flat plate (65), on the surfaces of which the lines (2) are fixed. Switching device according to Claim 9, characterized in that the plate (65) has walls (66) running essentially normal to these surfaces on each surface equipped with lines (2). Switching device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that all lines (2) are fixed on one and the same surface of the plate (65). Switching device according to one of Claims 9, 10 or 11, characterized in that the second carrier section (62), which extends outside the switching device (1), is rail-shaped, preferably extending essentially over the entire length of the second carrier section (62) Has lugs (67) on which a cover (7) covering the lines (2) can be positively fixed. Switching device according to claim 12, characterized in that on the inside of the cover (7) in the direction of the carrier plate (65) extending extensions (73) are arranged. Switching device according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the cover (7) in the region of its side edge (72) adjacent to the switching device (1) has a nose (74), which nose (74) in the retracted position of the carrier into a corresponding one Recess of the switching device transverse wall (12) engages. Switching device according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that on the side wall (11) on which the further switching device (4) can be attached, peg-shaped projections (16) are formed, which in the engaged state are mirror images of the side wall ( 40) of the adjacent further switching device (4) engage the holes drilled. FI / LS switch comprising a switching device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the switching device (1) by a fault current module comprising a switching lock, a summation current transformer (17) and a circuit actuating the switching lock of the summation current transformer (17 ) is formed that the adjacent switching device (4) is formed by a circuit breaker, and that the switch lock of the residual current module is provided with a trigger finger (15) which extends through the side walls (11, 40) of the residual current module and circuit breaker, through which the Switch lock of the adjacent circuit breaker is actuated.

Images