EP0827173B1 - Circuit breaker - Google Patents

Circuit breaker

Info

Publication number
EP0827173B1
EP0827173B1 EP96906042A EP96906042A EP0827173B1 EP 0827173 B1 EP0827173 B1 EP 0827173B1 EP 96906042 A EP96906042 A EP 96906042A EP 96906042 A EP96906042 A EP 96906042A EP 0827173 B1 EP0827173 B1 EP 0827173B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
handle
movable contact
handle arm
open position
contact element
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP96906042A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0827173A1 (en
EP0827173A4 (en
Inventor
Haruhisa Toda
Kohei Kurata
Sinsaku Yamasaki
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.)
Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Original Assignee
Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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 Mitsubishi Electric Corp filed Critical Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Publication of EP0827173A1 publication Critical patent/EP0827173A1/en
Publication of EP0827173A4 publication Critical patent/EP0827173A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0827173B1 publication Critical patent/EP0827173B1/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
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
    • H01H71/50—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release
    • H01H71/501—Means for breaking welded contacts; Indicating contact welding or other malfunction of the circuit breaker
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H73/00—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism
    • 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
    • H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
    • H01H71/50—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release
    • H01H71/52—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release actuated by lever
    • H01H71/522—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release actuated by lever comprising a cradle-mechanism
    • H01H71/525—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release actuated by lever comprising a cradle-mechanism comprising a toggle between cradle and contact arm and mechanism spring acting between handle and toggle knee

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a circuit interrupter.
  • Fig. 11 is a sectional view illustrating a conventional circuit interrupter disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-42286.
  • the reference numeral 1 is a cover and 2 is a base, both of which are made of a synthetic resin.
  • 3 is a housing composed of the cover 1 and the base 2
  • 4 is a stationary contact secured to the base 2 and having at one end thereof a terminal portion 5 for allowing an external conductor (not shown) to be connected thereto and at the upper surface of the other end thereof a stationary contact element 6.
  • movable contact 7 is a movable contact having a movable contact element 8 opposing to the stationary contact element 6
  • 9 is a movable contact arm pivotally supporting the movable contact 7 by a pivot pin 10
  • 11 is a contact pressure spring disposed between the movable contact arm 9 and the movable contact 7 for always biasing the movable contact 7 toward the stationary contact element 6
  • 12 is a crossbar made of an electrically insulating material for connecting each of the movable contact arms 9 disposed in parallel for all of the poles.
  • 13 is an arc extinguishing device for extinguishing an electric arc generated between the contact elements 6 and 8 and is provided with a plurality of arc extinguishing magnetic plates 15 inside of a pair of arc extinguishing side plates 14.
  • 16 is a lower link pivotally supported at its one end to the movable contact arm 9 by a shaft 17, 18 is an upper link pivotally connected at one end to the other end of the lower link 16 and at the other end to a cradle 19 by shafts 20 and 21, respectively.
  • 22 is a toggle link mechanism composed of the lower link 16, the upper link 18 and the shaft 20, the shaft 20 serving as a knee.
  • 23 is a handle arm supported at its one end (not shown) to be pivotable to a predetermined position relative to the toggle link mechanism 22, 24 is a toggle spring made of a synthetic resin and operable from the exterior of the cover 1 and is interconnected to the handle arm 23.
  • 27 is a bimetal connected to the movable contact 7
  • 28 is a stationary iron core secured to the bimetal
  • 29 is a movable iron core disposed opposite to the stationary iron core
  • 30 is a trip bar rotatable and having the movable iron core 29 secured thereto
  • 31 is a rotatable latch usually engaged at one end by the cradle 19 and at the other end by the trip bar
  • 32 is a cradle shaft for rotatably supporting the cradle 19
  • 33 is a stopper for latching the cradle 19 upon the tripping and is engaged with a frame 34 to be secured thereto.
  • the frame 34 also supports the support point or the fulcrum for positioning the cradle shaft 32 and for pivoting the latch 31.
  • Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-39176 discloses a conventional circuit interrupter in which the operating lever (corresponding to the handle arm) and the movable contact assembly engages each other when the contact elements are welded together so as not to permit the handle to move into the open position.
  • USB-A-5 304 765" discloses a circuit interrupter according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • the circuit interrupter comprises, within an insulating housing composed of a base and a cover, a stationary contact, a movable contact separable from and opposing to said stationary contact, a toggle mechanism for driving said movable contact, a handle arm pivotally supported at a predetermined position relative to said toggle mechanisms, a trip device responsive t an overcurrent to actuate said toggle mechanism, and is characterized by a prevention portion engageable with said handle arm for preventing said handle to move into the open position. This allows the handle to be prevented from moved to the open position and the handle arm to be made relatively small-sized
  • the prevention portion may be a cam portion disposed in a handle side link of the toggle link mechanism for engaging with the handle arm upon the welding of said movable contact and said stationary contact to prevent the handle from moving into the open position. This allows the handle to be prevented from moving in the direction of the open position and the handle arm to be made relatively small.
  • the prevention portion which engages the handle arm of the handle side link of the toggle mechanism may be formed as an arc-shaped cam portion having its center on the pivot point of the handle side link. Since the pivot point of the handle side link and the center of the cam potion coincide, even when the handle side link pivots, the handle does not move in the direction toward the open position beyond the position in which it engages the cam portion, so that the welding of the contact elements can be clearly indicated.
  • the cam portion which engages the handle arm of the handle side link may comprise a second cam portion, which engages the handle arm in the first period of the handle moving process in which the handle is being moved toward the open position upon the welding of the movable contact element to the stationary contact element, and a first cam portion, which engages the handle arm in the last period of the handle moving process in which the handle is being moved toward the open position upon the welding of the movable contact element to the stationary contact element.
  • the bent engaging portion of the handle arm engages the second cam portion of the handle side link, thereby to cause the connection portion between the handle side link and the movable contact side link to quickly collapse, whereby the opening operation can be made more reliable.
  • the movable contact can be pulled up by the clockwise moment to separate the contact elements. The further movement of the handle arm causes engagement with the first cam portion, whereby the handle is prevented from further moving toward the open position.
  • the cam portion which engages the handle arm of the handle side link may be defined by a first cam portion of an arc having its center on the fulcrum of the handle side link and a second cam portion of an arc having its center at a position shifted from the fulcrum of the handle side link. Therefore, when the circuit interrupter is moving the handle from the closed position to the open position in the counterclockwise direction, the bent engaging portion of the handle arm engages the second cam portion of the handle side link, thereby to cause the connection portion between the handle side link and the movable contact side link to quickly collapse, whereby the opening operation can be made more reliable.
  • the movable contact can be pulled up by the clockwise moment to separate the contact elements. The further movement of the handle arm causes engagement with the first cam portion, whereby the handle is prevented from further moving toward the open position.
  • a further disclosed embodiment of the circuit interrupter may comprise, within an insulating housing composed of a base and a cover, a stationary contact, a movable contact separable from and opposing to said stationary contact, a cross bar connecting one end of the movable contact together, a toggle mechanism for driving the movable contact, a handle arm pivotably supported at a predetermined position relative to said toggle mechanism, a handle moving in relation to the handle arm and a trip device responsive to an overcorrect to actuate said toggle mechanism, and may be characterized by a stopper for engaging between the cross bar and the handle arm upon the welding of the movable contact element of the movable contact to the stationary contact element of the stationary contact for preventing the handle to move into the open position. This allows the handle to be prevented from moved to the open position and made relatively small-sized, and the stopper to abut against the rigid cross bar which is not easily destroyed, so that the mechanism is strong.
  • a torsion spring for causing the stopper to always engage the handle arm may be provided.
  • the handle arm is always biased in the clockwise direction to ensure the movement of the handle into the direction of the closed position, whereby position of the contact element of the circuit interrupter is ensured to precisely correspond to the state indicated by the handle.
  • Fig. 1 is a sectional side view of a circuit interrupter which is the first embodiment of the present disclosure showing the closed position with its one portion cut away to show the interior.
  • Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of the main portion showing the open position of the circuit interrupter shown in Fig. 1
  • Fig. 3 is a sectional side view of the main portion showing the tripped position of the circuit interrupter shown in Fig. 1.
  • 40 is a cover and 41 is a base, both made of a synthetic resin.
  • 42 is a housing composed of the cover 40 and the base 41
  • 43 is a stationary contact secured to the base 41 and having a stationary contact element 43a.
  • 44 is a movable contact having a movable contact element 44a opposing to the stationary contact element 43a and is pivotally supported by a pivot pin 45.
  • 46 is a cross bar made of an insulating material connected to one end of the respective movable contacts 44 provided at each poles.
  • 47 is a contact pressure spring disposed between the movable contact 44 and the cross bar 46 for always biasing the movable contact 44 toward the stationary contact element 43a.
  • 48 is a flexible conductor with its one end connected to the movable contact 44 and the other end connected to a trip device (not shown).
  • arc extinguishing device for extinguishing an electric arc generated between the contact elements 43a and 44a and is provided with a plurality of arc extinguishing magnetic plates 51 disposed within a pair of arc extinguishing side plates 50.
  • 52 is a movable contact side link (hereinafter simply referred to as a lower link) pivotally connected at one end to the cross bar 46 by a shaft 53
  • 54 is a handle side link (herein after simply referred to as an upper link) pivotally connected at one end to the other end of the lower link 52 and at the other end to a cradle 55 by shafts 56 and 57
  • a prevention portion is provided at the upper link 54.
  • This prevention portion is defined by a cam portion 54a of an arc section having a radius of R and a center at the center of the shaft 57 which is the fulcrum of the upper link 54.
  • 58 is a toggle link mechanism composed of the lower link 52, the upper link 54 and the shaft 56, the shaft 56 being a knee portion.
  • 59 is a handle arm having a bent engaging portion 59a and pivotally supported at one end 59b as a pivot point on an unillustrated frame so as to be pivotable into a predetermined position relative to the toggle link mechanism 58.
  • 60 is a toggle spring connected at one end to the handle arm 59 through a spring holding pin 61 and the other end to the shaft 56.
  • 62 is a handle made of a synthetic resin and operable from the outside of the cover 40 cooperable with the handle arm 59.
  • 63 is a latch, which comprises a latch engaging portion 63a engaging the cradle 55 and a recess portion 63b in which a latch support shaft 64 is received, and engageable with the trip device (not shown) to be rotated about the latch support shaft 64.
  • 65 is a cradle support shaft pivotally supported by the unillustrated frame, and 66 is a stopper pin for the upper link 54 and the movable contact 44.
  • connection point between the cradle 55 and the upper link 54 or the point of the shaft 57 is moved beyond the line of action of the toggle spring 60, so that the toggle link mechanism 58 collapses due to the spring force of the toggle spring 60, and the movable contact element 44a is separated from the stationary contact element 43a for each pole concurrently, thereby to become the tripped position shown in Fig. 3.
  • Fig. 4 illustrates the state in which a pulse-like massive current for example flows in the closed position so that a welding phenomenon took place between the stationary contact element 43a and the movable contact element 44a while the engagement between the cradle 55 and the latch 63 is not released, whereby the movable contact element 44a fails to separate from the stationary contact element 43a.
  • the toggle link mechanism 58 is held in the closed position, and when the handle 62 is moved in the counterclockwise direction toward the open position in order to put the circuit interrupter in the open position as required for the inspection and maintenance as illustrated in Fig. 4, then the toggle spring 60 is expanded to allow the handle arm 59 to be rotated in the counterclockwise direction into the open position.
  • the arrangement may be such that the bent engaging portion 59a of the handle arm 59 abuts against and engages the lower link of the toggle link mechanism 58 maintained at the closed position.
  • the handle arm can be made smaller as compared to that in the case where the movable contact assembly and the handle arm abut against and engage with each other.
  • Fig. 5 is a sectional side view of the circuit interrupter which is the second embodiment of the present disclosure with its one portion removed to show the interior thereof and illustrates the state in which the handle is moved toward the open position while the contact elements of the circuit interrupter are welded to each other.
  • Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional side view of the main portion of the circuit interrupter shown in Fig. 5 with its contact elements welded and with its handle moved in the open position.
  • 100 is an upper link, the configuration of which cam portion engaging the bent engaging portion 59a of the handle arm 59 comprises a first cam portion 100a having a radius of curvature R1 with its center at the center C1 of the shaft 57 and a second cam portion 100b having a radius of curvature R2 with its center at a position as the center C2 shifted by a distance L from the center C1 of the shaft 57 toward the lower link 52.
  • the upper link 100 rotates in the direction of collapse and the first cam portion 100a and the bent engaging portion 59a engage with each other, the upper link 100 rotates until the upper link 100 lifts up the movable contact 44, but the handle 62 prevents the upper link 100 to move in the direction of closed beyond the point at which it abuts the cam portion 100a.
  • Fig. 8 is a sectional side view of the circuit interrupter in the closed position which is the third embodiment of the present disclosure, with one portion thereof removed to show the interior.
  • 1 ⁇ 66 are similar components to those of the above described first embodiment and their explanation is omitted.
  • 70 is a stopper, which is pivotally supported by the stopper support shaft 65 of the cradle 55 and having an arm portion 70a at one end and having a stopper shaft 71 for engaging with the bent engaging portion 59a of the handle arm 59 secured at the other end.
  • Fig. 9 illustrates the state in which a pulse-like massive current for example flows in the closed position so that a welding phenomenon took place between the stationary contact element 43a and the movable contact element 44a while the engagement between the cradle 55 and the latch 63 is not released, whereby the movable contact element 44a fails to separate from the stationary contact element 43a.
  • the toggle spring 60 is expanded to allow the handle arm 59 to be rotated in the counterclockwise direction into the open position (see Fig. 9).
  • the bent engaging portion 59a of the handle arm 59 causes the rotation of the shaft 71 which is in abutment with the bent engaging portion 59a of the handle arm 59 in the counterclockwise direction, and causes the arm portion 70a of the stopper 70 to rotate in the counterclockwise direction until it abuts against and engages a projection portion 46a of the structurally rigid cross bar 46, whereby the handle arm 59 is prevented from being further moved toward the open position.
  • the handle arm can be made smaller than that used in the conventional design in which the movable contact assembly and the handle arm abut against and engage with each other.
  • Fig. 10 is a sectional side view of a circuit interrupter.
  • 72 is a torsion spring, which is connected to the stopper shaft 71 for causing the stopper shaft 71 to always abut against the bent engaging portion 59a of the handle arm 59 thereby to always biasing the stopper 70 in the clockwise direction.
  • the biasing force of the torsion spring 72 acting on the stopper 70 is a biasing force causing the handle arm 59 and the handle 62 to rotate in the clockwise direction.
  • the present invention has been made in order to solve the described problem with prior art devices, and advantageously provides an arrangement in which the handle cannot be moved to the open position when the movable contact element and the stationary contact element are welded together and in which the handle arm is relatively small.
  • Another advantage is to provide an arrangement in which the handle cannot be moved to the open position when the movable contact element and the stationary contact element are welded together, the handle arm is relatively small and in which the mechanism is strong.

Landscapes

  • Breakers (AREA)
EP96906042A 1996-03-15 1996-03-15 Circuit breaker Expired - Lifetime EP0827173B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/JP1996/000670 WO1997035333A1 (fr) 1996-03-15 1996-03-15 Disjoncteur

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0827173A1 EP0827173A1 (en) 1998-03-04
EP0827173A4 EP0827173A4 (en) 2000-05-17
EP0827173B1 true EP0827173B1 (en) 2006-10-18

Family

ID=14153043

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96906042A Expired - Lifetime EP0827173B1 (en) 1996-03-15 1996-03-15 Circuit breaker

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0827173B1 (zh)
JP (1) JP3814671B2 (zh)
KR (1) KR100336946B1 (zh)
DE (1) DE69636639T2 (zh)
TW (1) TW353756B (zh)
WO (1) WO1997035333A1 (zh)

Families Citing this family (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3057155B2 (ja) * 1998-08-07 2000-06-26 寺崎電気産業株式会社 回路遮断器
US6166344A (en) * 1999-03-23 2000-12-26 General Electric Company Circuit breaker handle block
ATE355604T1 (de) * 2000-04-07 2006-03-15 Hager Electro Sicherheitseinrichtung für elektrisches gerät vom schutzschalter typ
KR100618607B1 (ko) * 2004-12-07 2006-09-08 엘에스산전 주식회사 배선용 차단기의 메카니즘 구조
JP4552655B2 (ja) * 2005-01-12 2010-09-29 富士電機ホールディングス株式会社 回路遮断器
KR200419048Y1 (ko) * 2006-03-17 2006-06-16 엘에스산전 주식회사 배선용 차단기
JP4857881B2 (ja) * 2006-04-14 2012-01-18 富士電機機器制御株式会社 回路遮断器
JP5595827B2 (ja) * 2010-08-06 2014-09-24 河村電器産業株式会社 回路遮断器
JP2016033892A (ja) * 2014-07-31 2016-03-10 河村電器産業株式会社 回路遮断器
JP6395676B2 (ja) * 2015-07-31 2018-09-26 三菱電機株式会社 回路遮断器
CN106206193B (zh) * 2016-08-29 2019-05-21 苏州未来电器股份有限公司 断路器的快速脱扣机构

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS58201221A (ja) * 1982-05-20 1983-11-24 寺崎電気産業株式会社 電気開閉器
JPS58201222A (ja) * 1982-05-20 1983-11-24 寺崎電気産業株式会社 電気開閉器
JPS58201223A (ja) * 1982-05-20 1983-11-24 寺崎電気産業株式会社 電気開閉器
ZA898764B (en) * 1988-12-08 1990-08-29 Westinghouse Electric Corp Electrical circuit breaker handle locking apparatus
US5200724A (en) * 1989-03-30 1993-04-06 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Electrical circuit breaker operating handle block
US5142112A (en) * 1990-04-03 1992-08-25 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Circuit breaker positive off interlock
US5165532A (en) * 1991-05-29 1992-11-24 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Circuit breaker with interlock for welding contacts
US5213206A (en) * 1991-05-29 1993-05-25 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Circuit breaker with positive on/off interlock
DE9401785U1 (de) * 1994-02-03 1995-07-20 Klöckner-Moeller GmbH, 53115 Bonn Schaltschloß mit einem Sperrmechanismus
JPH07302534A (ja) * 1994-05-10 1995-11-14 Fuji Electric Co Ltd 回路遮断器の開閉機構

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69636639D1 (de) 2006-11-30
TW353756B (en) 1999-03-01
EP0827173A1 (en) 1998-03-04
DE69636639T2 (de) 2007-08-23
WO1997035333A1 (fr) 1997-09-25
KR100336946B1 (ko) 2002-10-25
EP0827173A4 (en) 2000-05-17
KR19990008310A (ko) 1999-01-25
JP3814671B2 (ja) 2006-08-30

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