EP1003193A1 - Sicherheits-Stromkreisunterbrecher - Google Patents

Sicherheits-Stromkreisunterbrecher Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1003193A1
EP1003193A1 EP98121837A EP98121837A EP1003193A1 EP 1003193 A1 EP1003193 A1 EP 1003193A1 EP 98121837 A EP98121837 A EP 98121837A EP 98121837 A EP98121837 A EP 98121837A EP 1003193 A1 EP1003193 A1 EP 1003193A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
mobile
piece
electrical contact
fixed
circuit breaker
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP98121837A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Helmut Heindorf
Juan Carlos Rodriguez Lafuente
Ismael Jiminez Jimenez
Jaime Fernandez Del Rio
Gema Cozar Romeu
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.)
ABB Electrification Solutions SL
Original Assignee
ABB Electrification Solutions SL
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 ABB Electrification Solutions SL filed Critical ABB Electrification Solutions SL
Priority to EP98121837A priority Critical patent/EP1003193A1/de
Publication of EP1003193A1 publication Critical patent/EP1003193A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H15/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for actuation in opposite directions, e.g. slide switch
    • H01H15/02—Details
    • H01H15/06—Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon
    • H01H15/10—Operating parts
    • H01H15/102—Operating parts comprising cam devices
    • 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
    • H01H73/22—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 having electrothermal release and no other automatic release
    • H01H73/34—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 having electrothermal release and no other automatic release reset action requiring replacement or reconditioning of a fusible or explosive part
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H85/00—Protective devices in which the current flows through a part of fusible material and this current is interrupted by displacement of the fusible material when this current becomes excessive
    • H01H85/02—Details
    • H01H85/46—Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the protective device
    • H01H2085/466—Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the protective device with remote controlled forced fusing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H61/00—Electrothermal relays
    • H01H61/04—Electrothermal relays wherein the thermally-sensitive member is only heated directly

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a safety circuit breaker which mechanically interrupts a circuit upon a certain driving signal.
  • Such a safety circuit breaker is provided in order to ensure that a current flow is stopped immediately, if a fault current has occurred and if the normally provided means for cutting off the circuit upon detection of such a fault current fails in order to prevent any dangers caused by the fault current, above all to people's health.
  • Conventional safety circuit breakers interrupt a circuit in a residual manner, i.e. the circuit must be manually restored.
  • circuit breakers can fail in proper working, in particular it can happen that the mechanical parts thereof do not operate correctly.
  • circuit breaker comprising the features according to claim 1. Further advantageous design measures of the subject-matter according to the present invention are indicated in the dependent claims.
  • the circuit breaker according to the invention guarantees that the circuit is surely interrupted if a fault current is detected, namely in that a fuse wire is controlled so that a peak current is led therethrough for a short predetermined period in order to fuse it.
  • a fault current namely in that a fuse wire is controlled so that a peak current is led therethrough for a short predetermined period in order to fuse it.
  • the mobile piece and the fixed piece, which were clamped together by means of the fuse wire will be separated from each other, since the mobile piece is urged by the urging means apart from the fixed piece.
  • the disconnection of the circuit is irreversible so that it would be necessary to replace the fused wire manually by a new fuse wire to be able to close the contacts again to restore the circuit or to replace the whole circuit breaker by a new one.
  • the circuit breaker according to the invention is positioned within an electric circuit, i.e. there is at least one line leading into the circuit breaker and at least one line leading out of the circuit breaker. Furthermore, the circuit breaker is connected to another electrical line providing a control current which is connected to the fuse wire. This electrical line is provided to supply a driving current being sufficient to blow the fuse wire if a fault current is detected, i.e. if the normally provided circuit breaker fails.
  • the control current is controlled by an electronic printed circuit board that decides when a peak current shall pass through the fuse wire during a short predetermined period so as to blow the fuse wire.
  • the mechanical solution according to the invention for actuating the mobile piece if necessary is easy and reliable by the provision of the mobile piece with an inclined contact surface portion against which the inclined contact surface portion of the mobile electrical contact is urged by the urging means.
  • the first, closed position is held if the mobile piece is clamped together with the fixed piece by the fuse wire.
  • the second, open position is held if the fuse wire is blown so that the urging means urges the mobile piece apart from the fixed piece.
  • the movable electrical contact is disconnected from the fixed electrical contact.
  • the circuit is broken.
  • the fuse wire is formed as a longitudinal member having thickened end portions, respectively, and a thin middle portion.
  • the thickened end portions can be inserted in recesses provided in the mobile piece and the fixed piece, respectively, when the mobile piece is brought in its closed position. If the fuse wire is inserted, it clamps both pieces together and holds the mobile piece in its closed position.
  • the thin wire portion between both thickened end portions is fusable by a predetermined current passing therethrough. If this predetermined current is supplied then the fuse wire breaks and the mobile piece is not clamped thereby any longer but it moves in its opened position.
  • the mobile electrical contact is formed as a longitudinal member being pivotally supported by an axle which is fixed in the casing.
  • the mobile electrical contact can be pivotally turned about the axle in two positions. Due to the fact that the mobile electrical contact is urged by urging means so that a torque is generated around the turning axle, the mobile electrical contact is urged in one direction so as to be pushed against the mobile piece. However, the mobile piece cannot be moved as long as it is clamped by the fuse wire. Thus, the fuse wire is held under a certain tension.
  • the mobile electrical contact is formed with a slanted portion which is provided on one side opposite to the mobile piece.
  • the mobile piece comprises a corresponding slanting portion being in contact with the slanting portion of the mobile electrical contact.
  • the urging force urging the mobile electrical contact against the mobile piece is tranferred at the slanted portions. Therefore, a component is generated causing that the mobile piece is urged in a direction apart from the fixed piece (which is prevented by the fused wire as outlined above).
  • the mobile piece and the fixed piece in an appropriate manner symmetrically, i.e. comprising two slanted portions, two circuits can be broken.
  • the shape of the mobile piece is not limited to a symmetrical design.
  • the circuit breaker can be designed such that the mobile piece and the fixed piece are designed so that three or more circuits can be broken.
  • FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the circuit breaker according to the present invention.
  • the reference no. 10 indicates a casing in which all members are inserted as can be seen by the dashed lines in Figure 1.
  • a base plate 14 is inserted into the casing.
  • On the base plate 14 all other components are deposited or partly integrally formed therewith.
  • a fixed piece 2 axles 7, spring recesses 8 and fixed contact holding portions 9 are integrally formed on the base plate 14. This can be done by one single forming process allowing a cost saving manufacturing method.
  • a mobile piece 1 can be deposited on the base plate 14 .
  • the shape of the mobile piece 1 is very specific and the fixed piece 2 formed on the base plate 14 has a corresponding shape so that the mobile piece 1 only has to be inserted in predetermined locations so that a wrong assembly can easily be avoided.
  • a fuse wire 3 which is insertable into the mobile piece 1 and in the fixed piece 2 as will be explained later.
  • the mobile electrical contacts 5 in this embodiment, each being urged by a spring 6 as an urging means.
  • the spring 6 and the mobile electrical contacts 5 are also inserted in prepared recesses and locations within the base plate 14.
  • the whole assembly can be clearly seen.
  • the mobile piece 1 and the fixed piece 2 are designed in such a specific and complicated structure in order to enable that four electric contacts can be broken at the same time when the fuse wire is blown.
  • the present invention can also be embodied by a circuit breaker being provided only for one or any other number of electric contacts.
  • the mobile piece 1 is a substantially longitudinal member having two end portions respectively.
  • the mobile piece 1 is designed in a symmetrical manner wherein the symmetry plane extends at the middle of a groove 15 standing rectangular to the upper surface of the mobile piece as viewed in Figure 3.
  • the same is valid for the other portion of the mobile piece 1.
  • the end portion is shaped with a contact surface portion 16 which is slightly slanted having a specific function as will be explained later.
  • a stop portion 17 and the function thereof will also be explained later.
  • the mobile piece 1 can be moved between a closed position and an opened position.
  • FIG. 2 shows the mobile piece in its closed position.
  • the mobile piece 1 is shown in its opened position, i.e. the mobile piece 1 has been moved to the left hand side, as can be seen from the Figures 5 and 6.
  • the mobile electrical contact 5 which is designed as a kind of a rocker button has no contact with the contact surface portion 16 but has contact with the stop portion 17.
  • FIG 2 shows a condition in which the circuit breaker is in a kind of stand-by condition allowing the current to pass therethrough.
  • the fuse wire 3 is undamaged.
  • the fuse wire consists of a longitudinal member having thickened end portions and a small thin middle portion. As can be seen from Figure 2, the end portions are inserted in certain recesses 18 provided in the mobile piece 1 and the fixed piece 2, respectively. Thus, the fuse wire 3 is in a fixed position and clamps the mobile piece 1 and the fixed piece 2 together.
  • the thin middle portion of the fuse wire 3 is provided in a groove 15 which is provided also in both the mobile piece 1 and the fixed piece 2.
  • the mobile electrical contacts 5 are designed as longitudinal flat members having a slanted end portion at the side opposite to the slanted surface portion 16 of the mobile piece 1, respectively. Furthermore, the mobile electrical contact 5 can be supported by an axle 7 serving as a pivotal axis for turning the mobile electrical contact 5. However, in the normal operational standby condition as seen in Figure 4, the mobile electrical contact 5 is not supported on the axle 7, but there is a certain gap between the axle 7 and the mobile electrical contact 5, since the contact 5 is supported on the slanted surface contact portion 16 on the one side and on the fixed electrical contact 4 on the other side. In this condition, it is ensured that the mobile electrical contact 5 has a good electrical contact with the fixed electrical contact 4.
  • a spring 6 as an urging means urges the mobile electrical contact in a direction against the slanted surface portion 16.
  • the spring is supported in a spring recess 8.
  • the mobile electrical contact 5 urges the mobile piece 1 with its slanted end portion and a component of the urging force is pressing the mobile piece in a direction "a" as can be seen from Figure 4 (see arrow a) and another component of the urging force presses the mobile piece 1 in a direction "b" (see arrow b) as can be seen from Figure 4. Therefore, the mobile piece 1 is in a tension state being only held by the clamping fuse wire 3.
  • the inclination angle of the slanted portions of the mobile electrical contact 5 and the mobile piece 1 in this embodiment is about 20°.
  • an electrical driving signal is transmitted to the fuse wire by a terminal (not shown).
  • This signal is a peak current between 200 and 500A which passes through the fuse wire during 0,5 ms. With this energy, the fuse wire blows and is destroyed. This means that the fuse wire does not clamp the mobile piece 1 and the fixed piece 2 together anymore. Then, the urging force caused by the spring 6 and transmitted through the mobile electrical contact 5 to the mobile piece 1 causes the mobile piece 1 to leave its closed position leftwards in Figure 2 to reach its opened position.
  • the mobile electrical contact 5, in particular the slanted surface portion thereof, disengages from the slanted contact surface portion 16 of the mobile piece 1 and the urging force of the spring 6 pushes the mobile electrical contact 5 until it will be stopped by the contact with the stop portion 17 of the mobile piece 1.
  • the mobile electrical contact 5 will be turned about the pivotal axis 7 and it will lose its electrical contact with the fixed electrical contact 4.
  • the mobile electrical contact 5 is in contact with the pivotal axis 7 and that in the former condition (closed position of the mobile piece) there is a gap between the axis 7 and the mobile electrical contact 5 in order to ensure that there is a good electrical contact of the mobile electrical contact and the fixed electrical contact (cf. Figure 4).
  • the electrical circuit is broken.
  • the force urging the mobile piece 1 away from the fixed piece 2 caused by the mobile electrical contact 5 due to the spring force of the spring 6 is additionally depending on the friction of both surfaces being in contact so that the friction can also be selected properly.
  • the mobile electrical contact 5 is made of copper and the contact portion of the fixed electrical contact 4 is made of AgC being welded directly to the wire leading outside of the casing.
  • the present invention relates to a safety circuit breaker which mechanically interrupts a circuit upon a certain driving signal, if a fault current has occurred and if the normally provided means for cutting off the circuit upon detection of such a fault current fails.
  • a circuit breaker is disclosed that employs a fuse wire (3).
  • a fixed piece (2) and a mobile piece (1) are provided in a casing (10) .
  • a fixed electrical contact (4) being connected with a wire from outside
  • a mobile electrical contact (5) being connected with another wire leading outside the casing (10).
  • the mobile electrical contact is movable between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position the mobile electrical contact (5) is in contact with the fixed electrical contact (4).
  • the mobile electrical contact (5) In the open position, the mobile electrical contact (5) is disconnected from the fixed electrical contact (4). This is caused by the movement of the mobile piece (1) which serves as a support plane of the mobile electrical contact (5). Furthermore, the mobile electrical contact (5) is urged against the mobile piece (1) by an urging means (6). If the fuse wire (3) which clamps the fixed piece (1) and the movable piece (2) together is broken, the mobile piece (1) is urged away from the fixed piece (2) and takes its open position and the mobile electrical contact (5) loses its contact to the fixed electrical contact and a circuit is broken.

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  • Fuses (AREA)
EP98121837A 1998-11-17 1998-11-17 Sicherheits-Stromkreisunterbrecher Withdrawn EP1003193A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP98121837A EP1003193A1 (de) 1998-11-17 1998-11-17 Sicherheits-Stromkreisunterbrecher

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP98121837A EP1003193A1 (de) 1998-11-17 1998-11-17 Sicherheits-Stromkreisunterbrecher

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1003193A1 true EP1003193A1 (de) 2000-05-24

Family

ID=8232987

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98121837A Withdrawn EP1003193A1 (de) 1998-11-17 1998-11-17 Sicherheits-Stromkreisunterbrecher

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1003193A1 (de)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2470701A (en) * 1947-08-29 1949-05-17 Rca Corp Safety switch
US2696539A (en) * 1953-04-30 1954-12-07 Edward W Peterson Dual circuit electrical safety device
DE19542690A1 (de) * 1995-11-16 1997-05-22 Aeg Niederspannungstech Gmbh Vorrichtung zum zwangsweisen Trennen von Netzleitungen bei Schaltgeräten

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2470701A (en) * 1947-08-29 1949-05-17 Rca Corp Safety switch
US2696539A (en) * 1953-04-30 1954-12-07 Edward W Peterson Dual circuit electrical safety device
DE19542690A1 (de) * 1995-11-16 1997-05-22 Aeg Niederspannungstech Gmbh Vorrichtung zum zwangsweisen Trennen von Netzleitungen bei Schaltgeräten

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