EP1039500A1 - Circuit breaker with movable fuseholder - Google Patents

Abstract

The drawer moves along arc-shaped guides in order to insert the fuse into the fixed contacts without need for a large insertion force. The circuit breaker comprises a box (11) within which there are two contact elements (12) which stand at a distance from each other. A fuse carrier (14) is provided with an opening (15) which is able to receive a cartridge fuse (16). The fuse carrier is mounted to move between inserted and withdrawn positions so that the fuse is accessible from outside the box. The opening (15) for the fuse carrier is defined by two walls (33,34) which extend transversely w.r.t. the trajectory of the fuse carrier. The movement of the fuse carrier is oblique w.r.t. the alignment of the fixed contacts in the box.

Description

The present invention relates generally to circuit breakers of the kind comprising, in a housing, on the one hand, two contact members, which, established at a distance from each other, are each respectively in connection electric with two connection terminals, and, on the other hand, a fuse holder, commonly called "drawer", which has a recess specific to the housing of a fuse cartridge, and which, accessible from outside the box, is mounted movable between two positions, namely, a closed position, for which its recess is at the level of the contact members, so that a cartridge fuse present in this recess then establishes an electrical connection between these, and an open position, for which, removed from these organs of contact, its recess extends at least partly outside the housing, so that it is then possible to install a fuse cartridge therein or to turn it on remove.

Usually, the recess of the fuse holder used to house the the fuse cartridge is in particular defined by two walls of this fuse holder, one rear, the other front, which both extend generally transversely to the path of this fuse holder, and which will be said below for convenience, drive walls, because, both at opening and closing, it is through them that is done the fuse cartridge drive, this drive being necessary for ensure, upon opening, the release of this fusible element cartridge contact, and, upon closure, its engagement in them.

A circuit breaker of this type is for example described in the patent French which, deposited on December 20, 1994 under No 94 15332, was published under No. 2 728 384.

In practice, in this French patent No 94 15332, the fuse holder is overall curved.

To date, and this is the case both for a curved fuse holder and for a more traditionally straight fuse holder, that such a right fuse holder is simply movable in translation or at its translation is combined a certain tilting, the two drive walls extend substantially parallel to each other, being both substantially perpendicular to the path of the fuse holder, so that, for the position of closing of this fuse holder, the rear drive wall extends substantially parallel to the alignment of the contact members.

This arrangement has given, and can still give, satisfaction.

However, it has the disadvantage that, upon opening, this wall rear drive acts simultaneously on both ends of the fuse cartridge, thereby causing the release of this fuse cartridge of either of the two contact members.

It follows that, in order to actuate the fuse holder in opening, it is necessary apply a relatively large effort to it.

This effort is also multiplied when, as is frequently the case, two or more circuit breakers are coupled together and it is therefore necessary, at the opening, to simultaneously activate two or several fuse holders.

The present invention generally relates to a advantageously making it possible to minimize the effort to be provided for open such a fuse holder during opening.

More specifically, it relates to a circuit breaker of the kind previously stated and generally characterized in that, for the closed position of the fuse holder, the rear drive wall of the recess of this fuse holder serving as a housing for the fuse cartridge generally extends obliquely to the alignment of the contact, moving away from one of these backwards as you go that it gets closer to the other.

In other words, in the closed position, this drive wall rear is closer to one of the contact members than the other.

Thus, when the fuse holder is actuated during opening, it intervenes first on the end of the fuse cartridge by which it is engaged with the contact body to which it is closest, before working on the other end of this fuse cartridge.

There is therefore, thanks to the arrangement according to the invention, a shift in the time required to release the fuse cartridge from one, then from the other, contact organs, with, each time, a fractionation of the effort corresponding to the overall effort to be provided, for the benefit of the facility operator comfort and operation.

la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un coupe-circuit suivant l'invention, pour la position de fermeture de son porte-fusible ;

la figure 2 en est, à échelle supérieure, une vue en élévation, pour la position d'ouverture du porte-fusible, et après retrait du couvercle que comporte le boítier dans lequel intervient celui-ci :

la figure 3 est une vue partielle en coupe longitudinale de ce porte-fusible, représenté isolément ;

la figure 4 est, de manière schématique, le porte-fusible y ayant été volontairement représenté en tirets, une vue en élévation du type de celle de la figure 2, pour la position de fermeture du porte-fusible ;

les figures 5A et 5B sont des vues schématiques qui, analogues à celle de la figure 4, illustrent deux phases successives de l'ouverture du porte-fusible ;

la figure 6 est une vue schématique qui, analogue, elle aussi, à celle de la figure 4, correspond à la position d'ouverture de ce porte-fusible ;

la figure 7 est un diagramme donnant la courbe d'effort à laquelle donne lieu le coupe-circuit suivant l'invention lors de l'ouverture de son porte-fusible ;

les figures 8 et 9 sont des vues partielles en coupe longitudinale qui, analogues à celle de la figure 3, se rapportent, chacune respectivement, à deux variantes de réalisation de ce porte-fusible.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent, moreover, from the description which follows, by way of example, with reference to the appended schematic drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a circuit breaker according to the invention, for the closed position of its fuse holder;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of it, in elevation, for the open position of the fuse holder, and after removal of the cover that the housing comprises, in which it intervenes:

Figure 3 is a partial view in longitudinal section of this fuse holder, shown in isolation;

Figure 4 is schematically, the fuse holder having been voluntarily shown in dashes, an elevational view of the type of that of Figure 2, for the closed position of the fuse holder;

Figures 5A and 5B are schematic views which, similar to that of Figure 4, illustrate two successive phases of the opening of the fuse holder;

Figure 6 is a schematic view which, similar also to that of Figure 4, corresponds to the open position of this fuse holder;

FIG. 7 is a diagram giving the force curve to which the circuit breaker according to the invention gives rise when opening its fuse holder;

Figures 8 and 9 are partial views in longitudinal section which, similar to that of Figure 3, relate, each respectively, to two alternative embodiments of this fuse holder.

Figures 1 to 3 illustrate, first of all, by way of example, the application of the invention to a circuit breaker 10 of the type that is the subject of the patent French No 94 15332 mentioned above.

This circuit breaker 10 will therefore not be described in full detail here.

Only the elements necessary to understand it will be described. the invention.

It will suffice, first of all, to indicate, that this circuit breaker 10 comprises, overall, in a housing 11, on the one hand, two contact members 12, which, established at a distance from each other, are each respectively in connection electric with two connection terminals 13 accessible from outside the housing 11, and, on the other hand, a fuse holder 14, which has a recess 15 suitable for housing a fuse cartridge 16, which also accessible from the exterior of the housing 11, is mounted movable between two positions, namely, Figure 4, a closed position, for which its recess 15 is at right of the contact members 12, so that a fuse cartridge 16 present in this recess 15 then establishes an electrical connection between these, and an open position, Figures 2 and 6, for which, separated from these contact members 12, its recess 15 extends at least partly outside of the housing 11, so that it is then possible to set up a fuse cartridge 16 or remove it.

For example, and as shown, the housing 11 is of modular type.

It therefore takes the general form of a brochure, in comprising, on the one hand, two main faces 18, and, on the other hand, on its edge, a rear face 19, by which it is adapted to be attached to a any support rail, two side faces 20, from which are accessible the connection terminals 13, and a front face 21, on which opens the fuse holder 14.

For example, and as shown, the housing 11 thus formed is formed, on the one hand, by a base 23, which forms in one piece one of its faces main 18, its rear face 19, its lateral faces 20, and its front face 21, and, on the other hand, a cover 25, which individually forms the other of its main faces 18, and which is assumed to be removed in FIG. 2.

In the embodiment shown, the fuse holder 14 is presented itself in the form of a wafer, which, of slightly smaller thickness to that of the housing 11, slides parallel to the main faces 18 of this one, like a drawer.

This fuse holder 14 therefore also has two main faces 26, only one of which is visible in the figures, and, on the other hand, on its edge, a rear face 27, two lateral faces 28, 28 ′ and a front face 29.

As described in the French patent No 94 15332 mentioned above, this fuse holder 14 is generally curved, and, between it and the housing 11 guide means intervene which results in its path T, shown schematically in broken lines in Figures 2 and 4, is curved, being in generally circular practice.

One of the side faces 28, 28 ′ of this fuse holder 14 is therefore globally convex, while the other is globally concave.

Let 28 be the convex side face, and 28 'the concave side face.

When, as in this case, the circuit breaker 10 is intended to be implanted vertically, the convex side face 28 extends upwards, and the side face 28 'concave downwards, as shown.

Anyway, the recess 15 serving as a housing for the cartridge fuse 16 extends, transversely, from one of these lateral faces 28, 28 ' to the other.

More specifically, in the embodiment shown, this recess 15 has a bottom 30 on the side of one of the two lateral faces 28, 28 ', in this case the side face 28' concave, and it opens freely by a outlet 32 on the other of these lateral faces 28, 28 ′, and, therefore, in this case, on the convex side face 28.

In addition to the bottom 30, the recess 15 is, in particular, and mainly, defined by two walls 33, 34, one rear, the other front, hereinafter called simple convenience, drive walls, which extend both generally transversely to the path T of the fuse holder 14, the rear drive wall 33 being the one closest to the rear face 27 of this fuse holder 14, while the drive wall 34 before is that closer to the front face 29 thereof.

In addition to the bottom 30 and the drive walls 33, 34, the recess 15 is is further defined, in the embodiment shown, by two ribs 35, which operate substantially at three-quarters of its height, parallel to the path T of the fuse holder 14, and which in practice belong to the guide means acting between the latter and the housing 11.

In the embodiment shown, the fuse holder 14 comprises a second recess 36, which extends in front of the recess 15 between the latter and its front face 29, substantially parallel to the recess 15, and which is intended for the housing of a lamp not shown.

In a manner known per se, the two contact members 12 present in the housing 11 are generally in the form of a yoke, and they are thus able to grip each of the two ends of the fuse cartridge respectively 16.

When, as indicated, a lamp is provided, their wings are long enough to also interest this lamp, such as shown schematically in broken lines in Figure 2.

In practice, these two contact members 12 are arranged in a alignment A, which corresponds to the position of the fuse cartridge 16 for the closed position of the fuse holder 14, and which therefore extends substantially perpendicular to the path T thereof.

In the embodiment shown, this alignment A extends in oblique to the rear face 19 of the housing 11.

According to the invention, for the closed position of the fuse holder 14, and as is better visible, for example, in Figure 4, the wall drive 33 rear of the recess 15 serving as housing for the fuse cartridge 16 extends generally at an angle to the alignment Has contact members 12, moving away from one of these rearwards at as it gets closer to the other.

In other words, from the contact member 12 of which it is then the closer, this rear drive wall 33 approaches the face rear 19 of the housing 11 as it moves away from this body of contact 12.

In practice, in the embodiment shown, the two walls drive 33, 34 of the recess 15 of the fuse holder 14 extend generally oblique to each other.

More precisely, in its current part, at least, the wall 34 front drive is substantially perpendicular to the path T of the fuse holder 14, while the rear drive wall 33 is oblique by relative to this path T.

It follows from the above that the drive walls 33, 34 go in diverging from one another from the bottom 30 of the recess 15 to outlet 32 thereof on part of their height.

When, as in this case, the fuse holder 14 is generally curved, the drive walls 33, 34 therefore diverging from one with respect to the other from the side face 28 'concave of this fuse holder 14 to its side face 28 convex.

For the rest, the provisions can be of the same type as those described in French patent No 94 15332 mentioned above.

At the opening, that is to say when, as shown schematically by an arrow F in Figures 4, 5A and 5B, the fuse holder 14 is extracted from the housing 11, the wall drive 33 rear of the recess 15 of this fuse holder 14 does not intervene first of all, in a first phase, that on the end of the cartridge fuse 16 engaged with the contact member 12 to which it is closest, along arrow F 'in figure 4.

It is only after a certain stroke of the fuse holder 14 that, during of a second phase, and as shown schematically by an arrow F "in the figure 5A, it can operate on the other end of the fuse cartridge 16, that is to say on the end of this fuse cartridge 16 which it initially the most distant.

Thus, according to the invention, the release of the fuse cartridge 16 from contact members 12 is done in two stages, successively focusing on one, then on the other, of these contact members 12.

It follows that, as shown schematically by the force curve I represented in solid lines on the diagram of FIG. 7, on which are plotted, in abscissa, the stroke C of the fuse holder 14, and, on the ordinate, the force E to apply to it to extract it from the housing 11, there are, according to the invention, two force peaks P1, P2 offset relative to each other along the course C of the fuse holder 14, and therefore shifted in time relative to each other, the first force peak P1 corresponding to the release of the fuse cartridge 16 of the first of the contact members 12, and the second peak of effort P2 corresponding to its release of the second of these.

To make the benefit of this mismatch more apparent, we have also shown, in dashed lines, on the diagram of FIG. 7, the force curve II corresponding to a circuit breaker in which, so traditional, and the conditions being the same elsewhere, the wall drive 33 rear of the recess 15 of the fuse holder 14 forming the housing of the fuse cartridge 16 extends substantially parallel to the alignment of the contact members 12 for the closed position of this fuse holder 14.

As will be noted, the corresponding peak of effort P, which is then unique, is much higher than the previous stress peaks P1, P2.

In practice, it is even greater than the sum of these.

As will also be noted, the force curve I of the circuit breaker according to the invention experiences a decrease after the first peak of effort P1.

The reason is that, by its own elasticity, the first of the organs of contact 12 from which the fuse cartridge 16 is released exerts on it a expulsion effort as soon as more than half of its perimeter.

There is thus, at this moment, some assistance to the operator in removing the fuse holder 14.

FIG. 8 illustrates, as a variant, the application of the invention in the case where the fuse holder 14 is straight, that this fuse holder 14 is then simply displaceable in translation, or that, during its displacement, or at the end of this one, a tilting is associated with its translation.

But the other provisions are the same as the previous ones, and it the same is true of operation.

In the above, the drive walls 33, 34 of the recess 15 of the fuse holder 14 are, for example, substantially straight on their entire height, so that they also diverge over their entire height one with respect to the other from the bottom 30 of this recess 15.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, which corresponds, by way of example, to that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, but which can match just as well as that shown in Figure 8, these two walls 33, 34 are substantially parallel to each other on a fraction of their height from the bottom 30.

In other words, on the corresponding fraction of the height of these walls 33, 34, the recess 15 of the fuse holder 14 is generally cylindrical.

This arrangement allows the fuse cartridge 16 to be maintained right in the recess 15 when it is placed therein, avoiding so that it does not tilt to one side or the other of this recess 15 during this set up.

For example, the fraction thus concerned of the height of the walls drive 33, 34 from the bottom 30 is between 1/10 and 1/5.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, in which, as previously, guide means intervene between the fuse holder 14 and the housing 11, and in which these guide means comprise, also as before, on the fuse holder 14, projecting from one at least of the main faces 26 of this fuse holder 14, and, in practice, on each of these main faces 26, two ribs 35, which extend parallel to each other, distant from each other, parallel to the path T of fuse holder 14, for cooperation with a complementary rib provided for this purpose on the housing 11, the inner flank 38 of at least one of these ribs 35, and, preferably, that of each of these, is scalloped.

In other words, the internal flank 38 of each of the ribs 35, that is to say the side of each of the ribs 35 facing the other rib 35, forms, by its surface, large undulations 39, which are convex, and which are directed towards the opposite rib 35.

This arrangement advantageously makes it possible to limit the surfaces of friction between the fuse holder 14 and the housing 11, and, thus, to further reduce the effort to be made when opening the fuse holder 14.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the forms of realization described and represented, but includes any variant and / or a combination of their various elements.

Claims (7)

Circuit breaker of the kind comprising, in a housing (11), on the one hand, two contact members (12), which, set at a distance from each other, are each respectively in electrical connection with two connection terminals (13), and, on the other hand, a fuse holder (14), which has a recess (15) suitable for housing a fuse cartridge (16), and which, accessible from the exterior of the housing (11) is mounted movable between two positions, namely, a closed position, for which its recess (15) is in line with contact members (12), so that a fuse cartridge (16) present in this recess (15) then establishes an electrical connection between them, and a open position, for which, separated from these contact members (12), its recess (15) extends at least partially outside the housing (11), so that it it is then possible to install a fuse cartridge (16) there or remove, this recess (15) being defined in particular by two walls (33, 34), one back, the other front, say below for convenience walls both extending generally transversely relative to the path (T) of the fuse holder 14, characterized in that, for the closed position of the fuse holder (14), the rear drive wall (33) of the recess (15) extends generally obliquely to the alignment (A) of the contact members (12), moving away from one of these rearward as it gets closer to the other. Circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that the two drive walls (33, 34) of the recess (15) of the fuse holder (14) generally extend obliquely to each other. A circuit breaker according to any one of claims 1, 2, characterized in that, in its main part, at least, the wall drive (34) before the recess (15) of the fuse holder (14) is substantially perpendicular to the path (T) of this fuse holder (14), while its rear drive wall (33) is oblique to this path (T). Circuit breaker according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the recess (15) of the fuse holder (14) having a bottom (30) on the side of one of the two lateral faces (28, 28 ') and opening freely by an outlet (32) on the other of these lateral faces (28, 28 '), the two drive walls (33, 34) of this recess (15) are diverging one with respect to the other from its bottom (30) to its outlet (32) on a part at less than their height. Circuit breaker according to claim 4, characterized in that, the fuse holder (14) being generally curved, the drive walls (33, 34) of its recess (15) go diverging with respect to the other from its face lateral (28 ') concave to its lateral face (28) convex. A circuit breaker according to any one of claims 4, 5, characterized in that, over a fraction of their height from the bottom (30), the two drive walls (33, 34) of the recess (15) of the fuse holder (14) are substantially parallel to each other. Circuit breaker according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, guide means acting between the fuse holder (14) and the housing (11), and these guide means comprising, on the fuse holder (14), two ribs (35), which extend parallel to one the other, at a distance from each other, the internal flank (38) of at least one of these ribs (35) is scalloped.

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