EP0962952A1 - Dispositif de coupure électrique comprenant un dispositif de déclenchement différentiel et disjoncteur comprenant un tel dispositif - Google Patents

Abstract

The differential release mechanism (9) may be actuated by a relay (16) and displacing a rod (19) between rest and activation positions. The starting point of the rod is arranged outside of the electromagnetic relay (7) and acts directly on the starting point tripping device (20) at the time of the occurrence of a differential defect. This same rod assures the resetting of the relay (16) after opening of the contacts.

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical switching device comprising, arranged in the same narrow housing, one substantially in the extension of the other in a plane substantially parallel to the large side faces of the housing, a trigger electromagnetic capable of acting on a trigger member to control a tripping device so as to cause the separation of the fixed contacts and mobile during a sudden rise in current, and a differential trigger capable of acting on the aforementioned triggering device to control the triggering device for so as to separate the contacts when an insulation fault occurs in the installation, said differential trip device comprising a suitable actuation means moving an actuating rod between a rest position and a position actuation of the trigger member.

We know a differential circuit breaker as described in document EP-0.665.569 of the Applicant, comprising a differential trigger block coupled and laterally coupled to a circuit breaker block. In this document, the mechanism of the differential unit is linked to the circuit breaker block mechanism by a mechanical trip link acting on the trip bar of the circuit breaker block, for the transmission of an order of differential trigger.

However, because the two blocks are joined laterally, the differential circuit breaker block has a width and therefore a large size. The need was therefore felt to reduce this size. One of the solutions envisaged was to have the RCD and circuit breaker in the same module and in the same plane. A such a device is described in the US patent. 4,608,546. In this document, the same rod is used to carry out a trigger triggered, either by the magnetic trigger or by the differential release. This percussion rod is slidably mounted in the fixed core of the magnetic trigger and can be driven in translation either by the moving core of the magnetic release, either by a differential release rod controlled by the differential relay.

This device has a number of drawbacks. One of these drawbacks is that what this percussion rod needs to be guided very freely inside the core fixed and mobile core, because the differential energy produced by the differential trigger is very weak. As a result, the pollution likely to be caused during the cut in the radial clearances located between the percussion rod and the fixed core, or well between the moving core and the differential trigger rod, can generate blockages hampering the proper functioning of the differential.

In addition, the fact that this rod is freely sliding decreases the efficiency and the yield of the magnetic trigger since the mobile core loses its energy of percussion.
The double function ensured by the percussion rod leads to a stack of games, namely a game at the trigger relay with the trigger rod, a game between the trigger rod and the percussion rod and a game between the rod percussion and the circuit breaker trip bar, as well as a stack of longitudinal dimensions.

In addition, the presence of two parts between the relay button and the tripping increases inertia and response times.

Another drawback is that the differential trigger rod needs to be non-magnetic, because it must not be influenced by the magnetic trigger.

Finally, in this device, the rearming of the differential system is operated by the joystick upon returning to the armed position. As a result, this rearming is not carried out if the Return of the joystick is prevented, for example in the event of lockout.

The present invention provides a switching device comprising a device for differential trigger, simple design, which solves all these problems.

To this end, the present invention relates to a switching device of the kind previously mentioned, this device being characterized in that the trigger rod is located outside the electromagnetic trigger and acts directly on the organ of the aforementioned trip when a differential fault occurs.

Thanks to these characteristics, the risks of friction likely to prevent the sliding of the differential trigger rod are removed. The effectiveness of magnetic trigger is no longer diminished, since it is no longer necessary for the percussion is freely sliding.

The play and the risks of dispersion of the longitudinal dimensions are reduced.

Finally, the inertia of the parts and therefore the response times are also considerably diminished.

According to a particular characteristic, this trigger rod ensures the rearming of the actuation means after opening the contacts.

According to a particular characteristic, the aforementioned trigger rod comprises a spout able to cooperate with the triggering device so that the actuation of the triggering device resets the differential actuation means after opening the contacts.

This association of a spout with the actuating rod is made possible by the fact that the rod trigger is independent of the magnetic trigger, and allows to obtain a automatic differential reset independent of the joystick.

According to another characteristic, the trigger device comprising a system attachment retaining the movable contact in the closed position by means of a rotary plate integral in rotation with the movable contact, and unlocking of the attachment system under the effect of the actuation of the trigger member causing the rotation of the plate in one direction and the separation of the contacts, the aforementioned spout cooperates with the plate so that the rotation of the plate causes the rearming of the differential actuation means.

According to another characteristic, the actuating means is capable of driving the rod trip in translation parallel to its longitudinal axis between a position of rest and an actuating position of the trigger member

Advantageously, the device comprising a manual control lever for contacts, the trigger rod extends between the handle and the magnetic trigger.

According to a particular characteristic, the magnetic trip device comprising a rod percussion cooperating with a coil, the trigger rod comprises a part straight forming an angle α of about 10 ° with the axis of the percussion rod and a part end curved substantially at right angles to the end of the rod percussion, said curved part cooperating with the triggering member.

According to another characteristic, the device also includes a button test circuit test, said test button being placed under the lever and acting on a spring element located laterally to the rod, said spring element connecting a test resistor incorporated into the circuit electronics of the differential function to the potential of the coil carcass.

The invention also relates to a circuit breaker comprising a breaking device comprising the aforementioned characteristics taken alone or in combination.

• La figure 1 illustre dans une vue en coupe longitudinale, un disjoncteur différentiel conforme à l'invention, dans une position armée et contacts fermés.
• La figure 2 est une vue similaire à la précédente, illustrant le disjoncteur différentiel dans une position contacts fermés et relais différentiel déclenché, juste avant l'ouverture des contacts et ,
• La figure 3 est une vue similaire à la précédente, illustrant le même disjoncteur dans une position réarmée du relais simultanément à l'ouverture des contacts.

However, other advantages and characteristics of the invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows, of a particular embodiment of the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example, and represented in the appended drawings in which :

• Figure 1 illustrates in a longitudinal sectional view, a differential circuit breaker according to the invention, in an armed position and closed contacts.
• FIG. 2 is a view similar to the previous one, illustrating the differential circuit breaker in a closed contact and differential relay tripped position, just before the opening of the contacts and,
• Figure 3 is a view similar to the previous one, illustrating the same circuit breaker in a reset position of the relay simultaneously with the opening of the contacts.

In the figures, we see a modular differential circuit breaker block B intended to be connected to electrical conductors of an alternative network by means of a connection terminal 1, to protect the network during the appearance of an overload, a short circuit or a differential fault (or insulation fault).

This device is housed in a narrow housing 2 consisting of two parts, one of which has been removed so as to show the mechanism of the device. This case has a upper side a, one lower side b, one front side c, one rear side d and two large side faces of which only one is visible. This case mainly contains a pair separable contacts 3, 4 respectively fixed 3 and mobile 4, a mechanism command 5 for opening and closing the circuit breaker actuated by a handle 6, a electromagnetic trip 7, thermal trip 8, differential trip 9 and a tripping device D of the circuit breaker.

The electromagnetic trip device 7 is intended to cause the opening of the contacts during the appearance of a short circuit. It comprises in a manner known per se, a coil 10 mounted on a sheath 11 inside which is fixed a fixed core (not shown), and slides a movable core (not visible) secured to a percussion rod 12. This core mobile is able to move between a rest position and an active position in which the percussion rod 12 acts on a triggering member or trigger bar 20, so as to cause the separation of the contacts 3, 4, under the effect of the magnetic field created by the passage of a short circuit current through the coil.

The thermal trigger 8 is in the form of a bimetallic strip 13 and is able to activate the tripping device D of the circuit breaker, so as to cause the separation of contacts, when a current overload occurs.

The differential trip device 9 comprises a means for detecting a differential current in the form of a totalizing transformer 14, a test circuit with test button 15 (FIG. 1), an actuating means in the form of a relay 16, said to be magnetic latching, and a electronic processing circuit with auxiliary power source 17 mounted on a card electronic.

In a manner known per se, the totalizing transformer comprises a magnetic circuit in toroid shape crossed by neutral conductors and connected power phase electrically at the lower terminals of the circuit breaker block and constituting the winding transformer primary. A secondary winding is wound on the toroid, and is electrically connected by wires to the input of the electronic circuit 17. The output of the electronic circuit is connected by an electrical connection to the coil of the relay trigger 16.

The trigger relay 16 being known per se, it will not be described here in detail. This relay comprises a coil which, following an order given by the electronic circuit, is able to move a core 16b, which core 16b acts on a trigger rod differential 19 when a differential fault occurs, so as to move the rod between a rest position and a position in which the rod 19 strikes the bar trigger 20. A spring 18 is interposed between a bearing face 16a of the relay 16 and a bearing face of the core 16b.

As seen in the figures, the trigger rod 19 extends between the lever above 6 and the coil 10 of the electromagnetic trip device 7, forming an angle a about 10 ° with the axis of this coil 10. This rod comprises a rectilinear part 19a ending with a curved part 19b substantially at 90 °, in the direction of the bar trigger 20. The end of the rod 19c has a slightly rounded shape corresponding to the shape of the part of the bar 20 intended to cooperate with said rod 19.

The tripping device of circuit breaker D comprises, in a manner known per se, a attachment system 22, 20 arranged so as to retain the movable contact 4 in position closed by means of a plate 23 rotatably mounted in the housing and secured to the contact mobile 4.

We also see in the figures that the trigger rod 19 has a spout 21, having, in the plane of the figure, a substantially triangular section, and suitable for cooperate (come to bear) with the plate 23, so that the rotational movement of the plate 23 after each triggering, causes the rearming of the rod differential trip 19, i.e. its displacement in the direction of relay 16 to against the force of the spring 18 until the magnetic catch is restored, as explained in more detail below.

It will be noted that the rod 19 is guided in translation by positioning supports and guide 24, integral with the side walls of the housing.

This circuit breaker further comprises a test circuit with test button, said button 15 being located under the lever 6 and acting on a spring element 15a located laterally to the rod, said spring element connecting a test resistor 17a incorporated in the electronic circuit of the differential function at the coil carcass potential 10.

The operation of the differential circuit breaker according to the invention will be described below, in reference to Figures 1 to 3, only upon detection of a differential fault, its operating in the event of an overload or short circuit not being modified compared to this which is known from the prior art.

In FIG. 1, the circuit breaker is in an armed position, closed contacts, corresponding to normal operation of the electrical network. In this state, the rod 19 is retained in a rest position resting on the core 16b of the relay, which core is retained by magnetic snap.

When an insulation fault occurs on the network protected by the circuit breaker differential, the summing transformer 14 sends a trip order to the circuit electronics 17, which after amplification, controls the excitation of the coil of the relay 16. This causes the magnetic detachment of the core 16b of relay 16, which drives the trigger rod 19 (fig. 2), in translation in the direction of the bar trigger 20 under the force of spring 18 (the core comes off, the spring being the stronger, it acts on the stem).

During this movement, the rod, by its curved end 19b strikes the bar trigger 20; which results in the unlocking of the fastening system 20,22 retaining the movable contact 4 in the closed position by means of the plate 23. The plate 23 is rotated counterclockwise until the contacts open under the effect of a return spring. During this movement, the plate 23 strikes the spout 21 of the trigger rod 19 and recalls said rod 19 in the retracted position in moving said rod 19 towards the body of relay 16, until the hooking of the relay core is restored. This corresponds to the state of the circuit breaker shown in Figure 3. The handle 6 can then be manually actuated in the direction clockwise, until the contacts close, which corresponds to the state of the circuit breaker shown in figure 1.

Thus, thanks to the presence of this spout 21, the resetting of the differential relay 16 is always insured, immediately after a differential trip.

It will be noted that the invention will apply equally to breaking devices such as RCDs with own current only with auxiliary source devices.

Claims (11)

Electrical cut-off device comprising, arranged in the same narrow housing, one substantially in the extension of the other in a plane substantially parallel to the large side faces of the housing, an electromagnetic trigger capable of acting on a trigger device for controlling a trigger device so as to cause the separation of the fixed and mobile contacts during a sudden elevation of the current and a differential trigger capable of acting on the aforementioned triggering member to control the release device so as to cause the separation of contacts when an insulation fault occurs in the installation, said trigger differential comprising an actuating means able to move a rod actuation between a rest position and an actuation position of the trigger, characterized in that the trigger rod (19) is arranged at outside of the electromagnetic trip device (7) and acts directly on the aforementioned trip (20) upon the appearance of a differential fault. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that this trigger rod (19) ensures the resetting of the actuating means (16) after the opening of the contacts (3,4). Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the trigger rod (19) above includes a spout (21) adapted to cooperate with the trigger device D so that the actuation of the trigger device D causes the rearming of the differential actuation means (16) after opening of the contacts (3,4). Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the device release (D) comprising a hooking system (22) retaining the contact movable (4) in the closed position by means of a rotary plate (23) integral in rotation of the movable contact (4), and unlocking the attachment system (22) under the effect of actuation of the trigger member (20) causing the rotation of the plate (23) in one direction and the separation of the contacts, the aforementioned spout (21) cooperates with the plate (23) so that the rotation of the plate (23) during triggering causes the resetting of the differential actuation means (16). Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the actuating means (16) is adapted to drive the trigger rod (19) in translation parallel to its longitudinal axis, between a rest position and a actuation position of the trigger member (20). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device comprising a handle (6) for manual control of the contacts, the rod trigger (19) extends between the lever (6) and the magnetic trigger (7). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the magnetic trigger (7) comprising a percussion rod (12) cooperating with a coil (10), the trigger rod (19) comprises a rectilinear part (19a) forming an angle a of about 10 ° with the axis of the percussion rod (12) and a part curved end (19b) substantially at right angles, towards the end of the percussion rod (12), said curved portion (19b) cooperating with the trigger (20). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating means is a relay (16) with magnetic latching. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further includes a test button test circuit, said test button being located under the lever (6) and acting on a spring element located laterally to the rod, said element spring connecting a test resistor (17a) incorporated into the electronic circuit of the function differential to the potential of the coil carcass (10). Circuit breaker comprising a breaking device according to any one of previous claims. Circuit breaker according to claim 10, characterized in that the trigger (20) is a trigger bar.

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