EP1146529B1 - Pole for a low voltage current limiting circuit breaker and circuit breaker having the same - Google Patents

Pole for a low voltage current limiting circuit breaker and circuit breaker having the same Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1146529B1
EP1146529B1 EP01410034A EP01410034A EP1146529B1 EP 1146529 B1 EP1146529 B1 EP 1146529B1 EP 01410034 A EP01410034 A EP 01410034A EP 01410034 A EP01410034 A EP 01410034A EP 1146529 B1 EP1146529 B1 EP 1146529B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
contact
arc
chamber
circuit breaker
pole
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
EP01410034A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1146529A1 (en
Inventor
Alain Brouillat
Lucas Pellegrin
Marc Rival
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Schneider Electric Industries SAS
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Schneider Electric Industries SAS
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Publication date
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Publication of EP1146529A1 publication Critical patent/EP1146529A1/en
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Publication of EP1146529B1 publication Critical patent/EP1146529B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H77/00—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting
    • H01H77/02—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting in which the excess current itself provides the energy for opening the contacts, and having a separate reset mechanism
    • H01H77/10—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting in which the excess current itself provides the energy for opening the contacts, and having a separate reset mechanism with electrodynamic opening
    • H01H77/107—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting in which the excess current itself provides the energy for opening the contacts, and having a separate reset mechanism with electrodynamic opening characterised by the blow-off force generating means, e.g. current loops
    • H01H77/108—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting in which the excess current itself provides the energy for opening the contacts, and having a separate reset mechanism with electrodynamic opening characterised by the blow-off force generating means, e.g. current loops comprising magnetisable elements, e.g. flux concentrator, linear slot motor
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/30—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
    • H01H9/302—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts wherein arc-extinguishing gas is evolved from stationary parts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/30—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
    • H01H9/34—Stationary parts for restricting or subdividing the arc, e.g. barrier plate
    • H01H9/346—Details concerning the arc formation chamber
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/30—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
    • H01H9/44—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts using blow-out magnet
    • H01H9/446—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts using blow-out magnet using magnetisable elements associated with the contacts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H77/00—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting
    • H01H77/02—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting in which the excess current itself provides the energy for opening the contacts, and having a separate reset mechanism
    • H01H77/10—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting in which the excess current itself provides the energy for opening the contacts, and having a separate reset mechanism with electrodynamic opening
    • H01H77/102—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting in which the excess current itself provides the energy for opening the contacts, and having a separate reset mechanism with electrodynamic opening characterised by special mounting of contact arm, allowing blow-off movement
    • H01H77/104—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting in which the excess current itself provides the energy for opening the contacts, and having a separate reset mechanism with electrodynamic opening characterised by special mounting of contact arm, allowing blow-off movement with a stable blow-off position
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/30—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
    • H01H9/46—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts using arcing horns

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an electric circuit breaker limiter of low power voltage.
  • US 5,694,098 discloses a limiter circuit breaker whose poles comprise a fixed contact and a movable contact located at the entrance of an arc extinguishing chamber.
  • the contacts are flanked laterally by the branches of a U-shaped magnetic circuit, intended to produce a magnetic field tending to drive the moving contact through which a current flows towards a separation position.
  • An insulating screen is interposed between the U-shaped magnetic circuit and the contacts, the side walls of the insulating screen forming a corridor between the contact zone and the inlet opening of the chamber.
  • US Pat. No. 2,555,993 describes a switch intended to cut off the supply of an inductance of a control circuit of a circuit breaker, this inductance being crossed by a direct current of the order of 200 A.
  • the switch includes a fixed contact, a movable contact, an expansion chamber containing an inlet port and no outlet port, and an exhaust stack located between the contacts and the chamber inlet.
  • the contacts are arranged in a corridor whose width decreases from the contact zone to the entrance of the chamber.
  • the walls of this corridor are made of an insulating material consisting of phosphorus asbestos in a substrate of 90% zircon.
  • the side walls of the corridor are laterally framed by two metal plates that are part of a U-shaped magnetic circuit excited by a winding so as to produce a magnetic field tending to move the arc to the expansion chamber.
  • the electric arc is quickly propelled towards the expansion chamber, due to the magnetic field.
  • the arc undergoes a constriction and a cooling, due to the interaction with the walls of the corridor.
  • the ionized hot gases produced escape through the exhaust stack and do not impede the progression of the arc to the expansion chamber, so that the flames are confined in this chamber and are not evacuated into the chamber. atmosphere. Expansion in the expansion chamber helps to cool the arc and cause it to go out.
  • the purpose here is to increase the voltage of the arc until it exceeds the voltage across the inductor during discharge.
  • the cutoff performance of the apparatus is very low, and dictated by the application, since the intensity of the arc current never exceeds the initial value of 200A, and the maximum energy dissipated corresponds to the stored energy. in the inductor.
  • the architecture of the device can not be transposed to a circuit breaker limiter low voltage power, especially due to the hot gas exhaust from the chimney. Consequently, the teaching of this document does not appear to be transposable to low-voltage power limit circuit breakers of the type previously described.
  • a power switch is described in the patent DE 728 612.
  • This switch comprises a fixed contact and a movable contact, arranged in an arc chamber consisting of a volume containing the contacts, extending by a narrow slot which opens, to the opposite of the volume containing the contacts, on an open outdoor space.
  • the arc chamber is laterally delimited by ceramic walls which are relatively far apart from one another at the volume containing the contacts, progressively approaching one another to form a narrowing at the entrance in the slot and extend parallel to each other all along the slot.
  • Two arc horns extend from the volume containing the contacts towards the opposite end of the slot, moving away from each other.
  • Side discharge plates frame the ceramic sidewalls and constitute a magnetic circuit for blowing the arc.
  • the electric arc When the contacts open, the electric arc is magnetically blown into the slot.
  • the divergent disposition of the arc horns is essential to compensate or even overcompensate for the decrease of the outflow section for the cutoff gases.
  • the movement of the arc inside the chamber is not hindered by an increase in pressure.
  • the arc finds new ceramic surfaces allowing a significant heat exchange.
  • the rapid movement of the arc until its extinction makes it possible to avoid excessive local exposure of the chamber.
  • the dimensions of this device are very important. Indeed, the length of the slit from the contacts until the opening on the space outside must be sufficient to allow the arc to extinguish before reaching the end of the chamber.
  • the distance between the arc horns near the opening on the outside is also very important, since it results from the continuous divergence between the arc horns, necessary to counteract the pressure increase due to the narrowing section of the slit. In practice these constraints also impose an opening angle of about 120 ° between the arc horns. Therefore, this technology appears incompatible with a simultaneous search for compactness and high cut performance.
  • US Pat. No. 2,970,197 discloses a switch comprising a fixed contact member comprising a fixed main contact, a fixed secondary contact and a fixed arcing contact, cooperating with a movable contact member carrying, on the same pivoting arm, a contact moving head, a movable secondary contact and a moving arc contact.
  • An arc extinguishing chamber provided with separators is located between the lateral branches of a U-shaped magnetic circuit.
  • the contacts are located in a corridor narrowing progressively toward the entrance of the chamber.
  • the magnetic circuit is powered by a coil, connected in series between the fixed main contact and a lower arc horn.
  • the opening takes place in several steps: in a first step, the main contacts, relatively distant from the extinguishing chamber, separate, forcing the current to pass through the secondary contacts closer to the chamber. In a second step, the secondary contacts also separate, forcing the current to pass through the arc contacts located near the chamber.
  • a primary electric arc arises during the separation of the arcing contacts between the arcing contacts. The arc elongates and reaches the lower bow horn by dividing into two secondary arcs in series: a first secondary arc between the fixed contact and the lower arc of the bow and a second secondary arc between the arc horn lower and moving arc contact.
  • the excitation coil of the magnetic circuit is energized. Since the impedance of the coil is lower than that of the first secondary arc, the latter goes out, so that all the current flows through the coil, generating a magnetic flux between the lateral branches of the magnetic U.
  • the magnetic field drives the second secondary arc to the chamber.
  • the arc meets separators in the chamber which cool it down to extinction.
  • the process of progressive migration of the arc to the chamber in this device is excessively long and incompatible with the expected performance of a limiter circuit breaker.
  • the mechanism is also very complicated, due to the presence of a multiplicity of contacts.
  • EP-A-0887832 discloses a pole for an electric circuit breaker according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • the invention aims to increase the arc voltage of a high-capacity limiter circuit breaker, in a reduced volume, by a simple device.
  • the insulating side walls of the screen constitute a protection of the magnetic circuit vis-à-vis the electric arc. They also form a significant heat exchange surface contributing to the cooling of the arc. The constriction of the corridor near the chamber further increases this heat exchange and promotes the constriction of the arc. The two conjugated phenomena contribute to the increase of the arc voltage and a strong limitation of the current.
  • the magnetic circuit cumulates two functions: on the one hand, a current limiting function provided in conjunction with the elastic return means, insofar as the magnetic field generates on the moving loads in the moving contact crossed by a current, forces tending to cause the separation of the contacts independently of any order of opening, beyond a threshold defined by the elastic return means; and on the other hand, a function of driving the arc towards the arc extinguishing chamber, through the obstacle constituted by the constriction.
  • This second function is partially provided by the part of the magnetic circuit close to the contact zone, but also more specifically by the portion of the circuit flanking the narrowing zone. The more this part located laterally on both sides of the throat is important, the more the effect obtained will be marked.
  • the present invention aims at imposing on the arc until its extinction an intermediate position. through a strangulation.
  • the pole comprises a lower arcuate horn electrically connected to the first contact member, and comprising said first receiving surface of a root of an electric arc and an extension extending inside the chamber extinction, said extension constituting a second receiving surface of an arc root whose width, measured along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the pole, is smaller than that of the first receiving surface.
  • the second receiving surface accommodates part of the arc root for very high intensity short-circuit currents. In addition, it allows evacuation of the heat generated on the first receiving surface. In addition, the second receiving surface allows the breaking of small currents, thereby favoring the complete entry of the root of the arc into the extinction chamber.
  • the width of the second receiving surface must be smaller than the diameter of a root of an arc under short-circuit conditions, because it is desired to avoid in this case that the arc does not fully penetrate the chamber.
  • the greater width of the second receiving surface will be less than or equal to the distance between the walls of the insulating screen at the level of the constriction.
  • the pole further comprises an upper arc horn having a free end located near the movable contact member in the separation position, and extending towards the inside of the chamber.
  • the head of the electric arc migrates on the upper arc of the arc, forming a secondary arc in series with the first, between the upper arc horn and the movable contact member.
  • the head of the main arc quickly migrates inside the chamber following the upper arch horn, allowing its role of energy absorption to be played in the chamber.
  • the lateral branches of the magnetic circuit have an air gap which is smaller at the level of the constriction than at the level of the contact zone. While the width of the gap of the magnetic circuit in its front part, at the level where it frames the fingers of contacts, is dictated by the width of the contact fingers, therefore by the size of the circuit breaker, it is possible to take advantage of the previous narrowing of the entry corridor in the chamber to reduce the air gap in the part closest to the chamber, which makes it possible to increase the field in this region where the displacement of the bow is hindered by shrinkage.
  • the magnetic circuit forms a magnetic U, whose base is located below the contact zone of the fixed contact member.
  • the U-shape is a good compromise between the amount of metal needed to build the magnetic circuit and the concentration of the field obtained.
  • the magnetic circuit can in particular form an O in section, which allows an even greater concentration of the field.
  • the insulating screen comprises a gas-resistant gas-resistant material.
  • the vaporization of the coating is a highly endothermic phenomenon which contributes to the cooling of the arc.
  • the pressure gradient generated by the vaporization at the narrowing which could be an obstacle to the displacement of the arc towards the chamber, is in fact compensated by appropriate sizing of the magnetic circuit, especially in its anterior part.
  • the chosen material has a sufficient resistance to the arc to fulfill its function of side protection of the magnetic circuit.
  • the insulating screen comprises a polyamide loaded with glass fibers. In practice, the fiberglass load will not exceed 30%, to prevent the glass fibers flush on the surface of the material after a few cuts.
  • the insulating screen comprises a polyamide loaded with mineral fillers, in proportions that can reach or exceed 30%.
  • the insulating screen comprises a polyamide loaded with mineral fillers, in proportions that can reach or exceed 30%.
  • the arc energy absorption means located inside the arc extinction chamber comprise separators extending perpendicularly to the median longitudinal plane.
  • a power low-voltage limiting electric circuit breaker comprising an opening mechanism and at least one pole as described above, the movable support of which is connected to the mechanical mechanism. 'opening.
  • a power low-voltage limiting circuit breaker comprises four poles 10, 12, 14, 16 and an opening and closing control mechanism 18, mounted in an insulating housing.
  • the control mechanism 18, of known structure, comprises a control handle 20, an opening and closing spring 22 and a pole shaft 24 pivoting on bearings formed in intermediate walls of the housing.
  • the latter comprises a base 26 and a cover 28 which has been removed in FIG. 1, but can be seen in FIG.
  • Each pole comprises a fixed contact member 30 connected to a first contact pad 32, a movable contact member 34 connected to a second contact pad 36 and an arc extinguishing chamber 38.
  • the fixed contact member 30 comprises a metal piece 40 curved in half-loop, which supports a contact pad 42 defining a contact zone, and which extends towards the interior of the chamber by a lower arcuate horn 44 metal, at the potential of the fixed contact member 30.
  • the horn 44 has a receiving surface 45 (Figure 3) wide near the contact area and becomes narrower at the entrance to the chamber 38. It extends inside the chamber by a tongue providing a receiving surface 47 ( Figure 3).
  • the arc horn 44 is fixed on the fixed contact member on the one hand by two screws 46 (FIG. 3) close to the contact patch 42, and on the other hand inside the chamber by a screw 48 whose head is isolated from the contact member by a sleeve 50 of plastic material.
  • the chamber comprises an upper arc horn 52 and planar spacers 54 disposed between the lower arc horn 44 and the upper arc horn 52, perpendicular to the section plane II-II of Figure 2, which constitutes a median longitudinal plane pole.
  • the upper arch horn 52 has a curved rear end 56 whose rim partially delimits an inlet opening in the chamber 58.
  • the chamber is delimited laterally by side walls 59.
  • the chamber is provided with an opening outlet 60 provided with a gate 62, the inlet opening 58 being located between the contact zone formed by the fixed contact pad 42 and the outlet opening 60.
  • the movable contact member 34 comprises a movable support 66 pivoting about a first fixed geometric axis 68 relative to the base 26, and three contact fingers 70 pivoting about a second fixed geometric axis 72, disposed parallel and in a manner offset from the first.
  • a rod 74 ensures the coupling of the support 66 to the pole shaft.
  • the fingers 70 support at one end a contact pad 76 intended to ensure contact with the contact pad 42 supported by the fixed contact member 30.
  • the fingers 70 constitute at their other end a cam 78 with two side ramps and else of a dead point.
  • an elastic energy accumulator 80 comprising a spring 81 guided in a cage and pushing out of it a rod supporting a rotary roller. The roller is thus permanently in contact with the cam 78, so that the elastic energy accumulator 80 constitutes with the cam 78 a bistable mechanism.
  • the pole further comprises a U-shaped magnetic circuit 82 formed by a stack of transformer plates arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal median plane II-II.
  • the magnetic circuit 82 comprises a base 84 extending perpendicularly to the plane of FIG. 2 and two lateral branches 86 which extend substantially parallel to the plane of FIG. 2.
  • the bent portion of the piece 40 of the fixed contact member 30 surrounds the base 84 of the magnetic circuit 82 so as to induce a magnetic flux function of the current flowing through the fixed contact member 30.
  • a rear portion 90 of the magnetic circuit laterally surrounds the contact zone formed by the fixed contact patch 42. Between the contact zone 42 and the chamber 38, the magnetic circuit 82 has an anterior portion 92 whose gap is narrower than that of the posterior part 90.
  • a screen 94 comprising two lateral insulating walls 96 is interposed between the lateral branches 86 of the contact zone 42.
  • the lateral insulating walls 96 consist of an arc-resistant insulating material, preferably a gas-generating material, in this case a polyamide heavily loaded with fiberglass (about 30%).
  • the insulating side walls 96 of the insulating screen 94 are parallel to the median longitudinal plane II-II of the pole, at a very short distance from the contact fingers.
  • the lateral insulating walls 96 of the screen 94 are also parallel to the median longitudinal plane, but at a shorter distance from each other.
  • the lateral insulating walls 96 of the screen 94 further comprise an intermediate portion plane and oblique with respect to the median longitudinal plane, making the junction between the posterior part and the anterior part.
  • the corridor constituted by the lateral insulating walls 96 of the screen 94 thus sees its width gradually shrink by one third, or even half, in the direction of the chamber 38, and constitutes a throat 98 opening at the entrance to the chamber.
  • the screen 94 further comprises anterior and posterior walls perpendicular to the median longitudinal plane, and protecting the anterior and posterior ends of the lateral branches of the magnetic circuit.
  • the screen 94 also has an internal coating 97 of insulation and protection in direct contact with the magnetic circuit.
  • the coating 97 is constituted by a liquid crystal polymer.
  • the operation of the device is as follows.
  • the circuit breaker In the closed position in FIG. 2, the circuit breaker allows the passage of current between the two contact pads 32, 36, through the contact members 30, 34 and the contact pads 42, 76.
  • the bistable mechanism 80 recalls the fingers 70 to the fixed contact pad 42, ensuring a sufficient contact pressure.
  • the intensity of the current is very high in the curved portion 40 of the fixed contact member 30 and induces a large magnetic flux in the magnetic circuit 82.
  • the magnetic circuit 82 concentrates the field lines between the side branches 86, in the contact zone and in the area swept by the fingers of contacts 70 during opening.
  • the contact fingers 70 which are also traversed by the short-circuit current, are subjected to repulsive forces induced by the magnetic field. These forces induced by the magnetic circuit add to the necking forces at the interface between the pads 42, 76, so that the contact fingers 70 pivot against the restoring force of the spring 81, until reaching the neutral position of the bistable mechanism 80. Beyond the dead point, the contact fingers 70 continue their travel in the clockwise direction to the separation position of FIG. 4, under the combined action of the spring 81 and the electromagnetic forces.
  • An electric arc is born between the contact pads 42, 76 as soon as they are separated, causing a sudden rise in temperature in the corridor.
  • the walls 96 of the screen cause a gas emission in the rear part and in the narrowed front part of the passage, so that the pressure increases in the corridor.
  • the arc subjected to the electromagnetic forces, curves towards the chamber 38 and the root of the arc migrates on the wide part of the lower arc horn 44, and tends to enter the chamber.
  • the root of the arc has an important section, depending on the intensity of the short-circuit current.
  • the width of the receiving surface 47 of the arc located on the part of the arc horn extending inside the chamber 38 is insufficient to allow migration of the root of the arc inside. of the chamber 38.
  • the root of the arc occupies the entire available surface between the contact patch 42 and the anterior end of the lower arcuate horn 44, within the chamber. In other words, a portion of the arc root remains on the wide receiving surface 44 of the lower arcuate horn, below the constriction 98, while another part of the arc root is on the narrower part 47 of the lower bow horn, directly in the chamber, until the extinction.
  • the head of the main arc migrates on the upper arc horn 52, whereas a secondary arc is formed in series with the first one between the end curved 56 of the upper arc horn and the contact fingers 70.
  • the head of the arc can enter the chamber, which avoids too much ablation of the walls of the housing near the door. curved end 56 of the upper arch horn.
  • the root of the arc remains at least partially on the wide portion 45 of the arc horn 44 located between the contact pad 42 and the constriction 98. Therefore, the effects necking and cooling of the arc caused by the convergence of the walls 96 extend throughout the duration of the cut, ensuring the maintenance of a high arc voltage until extinction of the arc.
  • the arc would tend to leave the chamber 38 and move back to the contact zone 42, to minimize the dissipated energy and reduce the arc voltage.
  • This is the field induced by the magnetic circuit 82, and in particular by the part of the circuit situated at the level of the throat 98, which acts continuously on the arc until it is extinguished, and prevents the arc from rolling backwards. to the contact pads 42, 76.
  • the reduction of the gap at the throttle 98 and the correlative increase of the magnetic field further promote this action.
  • the lateral insulating walls 96 of the screen 94 are subjected to the arc, in particular at the level of the throat 98. This is the reason why the constituent material of the Screen 94 must have great robustness.
  • the coating 97 makes it possible to ensure the isolation of the magnetic circuit in case of failure of the screen, particularly if molten metal drops can pass through one of the walls 96. Its function is to avoid in this case all risk of initiating an arc between the magnetic circuit 82 and one of the contact members.
  • the opening is confirmed by an opening order of the mechanism 18, which causes the support in the position of FIG. 5.
  • the opening When the opening takes place on small currents, it is initiated by the mechanism 18. There is then directly a passage from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 5, without intermediate passage by the position of the Figure 4.
  • the field induced by the magnetic circuit 82 is sufficiently intense to project the arc to the chamber.
  • the section of the root of the arc is small so that the root of the arc manages to pass through the constriction 98 and enter completely into the chamber 38, to stabilize on the part 47 of the horn arc inside the chamber.
  • the passage of the constriction 98 gives rise to a cooling and a constriction of the arc.
  • the extinction of the arc occurs conventionally in the chamber 38.
  • the magnetic circuit 82 has a constant air gap from its posterior part to its anterior part. This embodiment is simpler than the previous one, and may be sufficient for lower cutoff performance.
  • the structure of the limiter circuit breaker may be different from that of the exemplary embodiment.
  • the invention also applies to a pole whose movable support of the movable contact member moves in translation.
  • the screen 94 may be loaded with mineral particles intended to give it a high degree of robustness, without impairing its dielectric properties. Good results have been obtained for example with zinc borate in proportions of up to 30% and beyond.
  • the mineral particles may or may not be added to the glass fibers.
  • the emission of gases by the walls 96 increases the pressure in the corridor.
  • This increase in pressure contributes to the constriction of the arc and the increase of the arc voltage.
  • the increase in pressure is not necessarily homogeneous, and a pressure gradient can occur due to the constriction, which tends to oppose the passage of the arc through the constriction. This is why it is considered that it is not absolutely necessary to use a gas generating material. In any case, it is advisable to choose a material that does not cause too much gas emission.
  • the magnetic circuit must be sized to counteract the effects of the pressure gradient on the arc.
  • the coating 97 may be omitted if the robustness and the durability of the screen 94 are sufficient to ensure the absence of priming at the magnetic circuit.
  • the length of the lower arcuate horn inside the chamber is not necessarily important. From the point of view of breaking the short-circuit currents under high voltage, it is always advantageous for a substantial portion of the arc root stationary on the portion 45 of the lower arc horn located between the contact patch and throttling, since this is how the arc is forced through the throttle 98 during the entire duration of the cut.
  • the prolongation of the arc horn inside the chamber is the result of a compromise allowing in particular to ensure cooling of the arc horn during the cut.
  • the upper arc-horn may be omitted, if the walls of the housing are at this level reinforced, or if a gas-forming effect is desired, for example to clean the contact pad 76.
  • the height of the constriction that is to say its dimension along an axis perpendicular to the plane of Figure 3, is not necessarily important. Experience shows that it is the lower part of the constriction, the closest to the lower bow horn, which is essential.

Description

L'invention concerne un disjoncteur électrique limiteur de basse tension de puissance.The invention relates to an electric circuit breaker limiter of low power voltage.

Le document US 5 694 098 décrit un disjoncteur limiteur dont les pôles comportent un contact fixe et un contact mobile situé à l'entrée d'une chambre d'extinction d'arc. Les contacts sont encadrés latéralement par les branches d'un circuit magnétique en U, destiné à produire un champ magnétique tendant à entraîner le contact mobile traversé par un courant vers une position de séparation. Un écran isolant s'interpose entre le circuit magnétique en U et les contacts, les parois latérales de l'écran isolant formant un couloir entre la zone de contact et l'ouverture d'entrée de la chambre.US 5,694,098 discloses a limiter circuit breaker whose poles comprise a fixed contact and a movable contact located at the entrance of an arc extinguishing chamber. The contacts are flanked laterally by the branches of a U-shaped magnetic circuit, intended to produce a magnetic field tending to drive the moving contact through which a current flows towards a separation position. An insulating screen is interposed between the U-shaped magnetic circuit and the contacts, the side walls of the insulating screen forming a corridor between the contact zone and the inlet opening of the chamber.

Pour ce type d'appareil, des difficultés apparaissent lors d'essais de coupure de courants de court-circuit à une tension relativement élevée, par exemple à 100kA sous une tension de l'ordre de 600Volts. Ceci tient au fait que pour des appareils limiteurs de calibre élevé de ce type, il est difficile d'obtenir une tension d'arc élevée, de l'ordre de 600 à 700 Volts crête, dans un volume réduit. En effet, le nombre de doigts de contact et la largeur des doigts sont conditionnés par le calibre de l'appareil, c'est-à-dire par la valeur nominale de l'intensité du courant qui est accepté par l'appareil. Il s'ensuit que lorsque le calibre de l'appareil est élevé, les parois latérales du pôle sont assez éloignées l'une de l'autre et ne permettent pas un échange thermique optimal avec l'arc électrique. On compense alors ce déficit en augmentant la longueur de l'arc, donc la distance entre les contacts fixe et mobile dans la position de séparation et en augmentant les dimensions de la chambre d'extinction. Les dimensions de l'appareil s'en trouvent augmentées.For this type of apparatus, difficulties arise in breaking tests of short-circuit currents at a relatively high voltage, for example at 100kA at a voltage of the order of 600Volts. This is because for such high-level limiting devices it is difficult to obtain a high arc voltage in the order of 600 to 700 volts peak in a reduced volume. Indeed, the number of contact fingers and the width of the fingers are conditioned by the caliber of the device, that is to say by the nominal value of the intensity of the current that is accepted by the device. It follows that when the caliber of the apparatus is high, the side walls of the pole are quite far apart from each other and do not allow optimal heat exchange with the electric arc. This deficit is then compensated by increasing the length of the arc, thus the distance between the fixed and mobile contacts in the separation position and by increasing the dimensions of the extinguishing chamber. The dimensions of the apparatus are increased.

Le brevet US 2 555 993 décrit un interrupteur destiné à couper l'alimentation d'une inductance d'un circuit de commande d'un disjoncteur, cette inductance étant traversée par un courant continu de l'ordre de 200A. L'interrupteur comprend un contact fixe, un contact mobile, une chambre d'expansion contenant un orifice d'entrée et aucun orifice de sortie, et une cheminée d'évacuation située entre les contacts et l'entrée de la chambre. Les contacts sont disposés dans un couloir dont la largeur diminue de la zone de contact vers l'entrée de la chambre. Les parois de ce couloir sont en un matériau isolant constitué d'amiante phosphorée, dans un substrat de 90% de zircon. Les parois latérales du couloir sont encadrées latéralement par deux plaques métalliques qui font partie d'un circuit magnétique en U excité par un enroulement de manière à produire un champ magnétique tendant à déplacer l'arc vers la chambre d'expansion. Lors de l'ouverture des contacts, l'arc électrique est rapidement propulsé en direction de la chambre d'expansion, du fait du champ magnétique. En passant dans le rétrécissement du couloir, l'arc subit une constriction et un refroidissement, dus à l'interaction avec les parois du couloir. Les gaz chauds ionisés produits s'échappent par la cheminée d'évacuation et n'entravent pas la progression de l'arc vers la chambre d'expansion, de sorte que les flammes sont confinées dans cette chambre et ne sont pas évacuées dans l'atmosphère. L'expansion dans la chambre d'expansion contribue à refroidir l'arc et à provoquer son extinction. Une fois l'arc éteint, les gaz résiduels accumulés dans la chambre d'expansion ressortent par la cheminée d'évacuation. Le but est ici d'augmenter la tension de l'arc jusqu'à ce qu'elle dépasse la tension aux bornes de l'inductance en cours de décharge. Les performances de coupure de l'appareil sont très faibles, et dictées par l'application, puisque l'intensité du courant d'arc ne dépasse jamais la valeur initiale de 200A, et que l'énergie maximale dissipée correspond à l'énergie emmagasinée dans l'inductance. De plus, l'architecture de l'appareil n'est pas transposable à un disjoncteur limiteur basse tension de puissance, du fait notamment des échappements de gaz chauds par la cheminée. Par conséquent, l'enseignement de ce document ne paraît pas transposable aux disjoncteurs limiteurs basse tension de puissance du type précédemment décrit.US Pat. No. 2,555,993 describes a switch intended to cut off the supply of an inductance of a control circuit of a circuit breaker, this inductance being crossed by a direct current of the order of 200 A. The switch includes a fixed contact, a movable contact, an expansion chamber containing an inlet port and no outlet port, and an exhaust stack located between the contacts and the chamber inlet. The contacts are arranged in a corridor whose width decreases from the contact zone to the entrance of the chamber. The walls of this corridor are made of an insulating material consisting of phosphorus asbestos in a substrate of 90% zircon. The side walls of the corridor are laterally framed by two metal plates that are part of a U-shaped magnetic circuit excited by a winding so as to produce a magnetic field tending to move the arc to the expansion chamber. When opening contacts, the electric arc is quickly propelled towards the expansion chamber, due to the magnetic field. While passing through the narrowing of the corridor, the arc undergoes a constriction and a cooling, due to the interaction with the walls of the corridor. The ionized hot gases produced escape through the exhaust stack and do not impede the progression of the arc to the expansion chamber, so that the flames are confined in this chamber and are not evacuated into the chamber. atmosphere. Expansion in the expansion chamber helps to cool the arc and cause it to go out. Once the arc is extinguished, the residual gases accumulated in the expansion chamber emerge through the exhaust stack. The purpose here is to increase the voltage of the arc until it exceeds the voltage across the inductor during discharge. The cutoff performance of the apparatus is very low, and dictated by the application, since the intensity of the arc current never exceeds the initial value of 200A, and the maximum energy dissipated corresponds to the stored energy. in the inductor. In addition, the architecture of the device can not be transposed to a circuit breaker limiter low voltage power, especially due to the hot gas exhaust from the chimney. Consequently, the teaching of this document does not appear to be transposable to low-voltage power limit circuit breakers of the type previously described.

Un interrupteur de puissance est décrit dans le brevet DE 728 612. Cet interrupteur comporte un contact fixe et un contact mobile, disposés dans une chambre d'arc constituée d'un volume contenant les contacts, se prolongeant par une fente étroite qui débouche, à l'opposé du volume contenant les contacts, sur un espace extérieur ouvert. La chambre d'arc est délimitée latéralement par des parois en céramique qui sont relativement éloignées l'une de l'autre au niveau du volume contenant les contacts, se rapprochent progressivement l'une de l'autre pour former un rétrécissement à l'entrée dans la fente et se prolongent parallèlement l'une à l'autre tout le long de la fente. Deux cornes d'arc s'étendent du volume contenant les contacts vers l'extrémité opposée de la fente, en s'éloignant l'une de l'autre. Des tôles de soufflage latérales encadrent les parois latérales en céramique et constituent un circuit magnétique de soufflage de l'arc. A l'ouverture des contacts, l'arc électrique est soufflé magnétiquement dans la fente. La disposition divergente des cornes d'arc est essentielle pour compenser, voire surcompenser, la diminution de la section de passage vers l'extérieur pour les gaz de coupure. Ainsi, le déplacement de l'arc à l'intérieur de la chambre n'est pas entravé par une augmentation de pression. Au fur et à mesure de sa progression dans la fente, l'arc trouve de nouvelles surfaces en céramique permettant un échange thermique important. Le déplacement rapide de l'arc jusqu'à son extinction permet d'éviter une exposition locale trop importante de la chambre. Les dimensions cet appareil sont très importantes. En effet, la longueur de la fente depuis les contacts jusqu'à l'ouverture sur l'espace extérieur doit être suffisante pour permettre à l'arc de s'éteindre avant d'atteindre l'extrémité de la chambre. De même, la distance entre les cornes d'arc à proximité de l'ouverture sur l'extérieur est également très importante, puisqu'elle résulte de la divergence continue entre les cornes d'arc, nécessaire pour contrecarrer l'augmentation de pression due au rétrécissement de section de la fente. En pratique ces contraintes imposent d'ailleurs un angle d'ouverture d'environ 120° entre les cornes d'arc. Par conséquent, cette technologie paraît incompatible avec une recherche simultanée de compacité et de performances élevées de coupure.A power switch is described in the patent DE 728 612. This switch comprises a fixed contact and a movable contact, arranged in an arc chamber consisting of a volume containing the contacts, extending by a narrow slot which opens, to the opposite of the volume containing the contacts, on an open outdoor space. The arc chamber is laterally delimited by ceramic walls which are relatively far apart from one another at the volume containing the contacts, progressively approaching one another to form a narrowing at the entrance in the slot and extend parallel to each other all along the slot. Two arc horns extend from the volume containing the contacts towards the opposite end of the slot, moving away from each other. Side discharge plates frame the ceramic sidewalls and constitute a magnetic circuit for blowing the arc. When the contacts open, the electric arc is magnetically blown into the slot. The divergent disposition of the arc horns is essential to compensate or even overcompensate for the decrease of the outflow section for the cutoff gases. Thus, the movement of the arc inside the chamber is not hindered by an increase in pressure. As it progresses in the slot, the arc finds new ceramic surfaces allowing a significant heat exchange. The rapid movement of the arc until its extinction makes it possible to avoid excessive local exposure of the chamber. The dimensions of this device are very important. Indeed, the length of the slit from the contacts until the opening on the space outside must be sufficient to allow the arc to extinguish before reaching the end of the chamber. Similarly, the distance between the arc horns near the opening on the outside is also very important, since it results from the continuous divergence between the arc horns, necessary to counteract the pressure increase due to the narrowing section of the slit. In practice these constraints also impose an opening angle of about 120 ° between the arc horns. Therefore, this technology appears incompatible with a simultaneous search for compactness and high cut performance.

Le brevet US 2 970 197 décrit un interrupteur comportant un organe de contact fixe comportant un contact principal fixe, un contact secondaire fixe et un contact d'arc fixe, coopérant avec un organe de contact mobile portant, sur un même bras pivotant, un contact principal mobile, un contact secondaire mobile et un contact d'arc mobile. Une chambre d'extinction d'arc munie de séparateurs est située entre les branches latérales d'un circuit magnétique en U. Les contacts sont situés dans un couloir se rétrécissant progressivement vers l'entrée de la chambre. Le circuit magnétique est alimenté par une bobine, branchée en série entre le contact principal fixe et une corne d'arc inférieure. L'ouverture a lieu en plusieurs étapes : dans un premier temps, les contacts principaux, relativement éloignés de la chambre d'extinction, se séparent, obligeant le courant à passer dans les contacts secondaires plus proches de la chambre. Dans un deuxième temps, les contacts secondaires se séparent également, obligeant le courant à passer dans les contacts d'arc situé à proximité de la chambre. Un arc électrique primaire naît lors de la séparation des contacts d'arc, entre les contacts d'arc. L'arc s'allonge et atteint la corne d'arc inférieure en se divisant en deux arcs secondaires en série : un premier arc secondaire entre le contact fixe et la corne d'arc inférieure et un deuxième arc secondaire entre la corne d'arc inférieure et le contact d'arc mobile. Dès que le premier arc secondaire est tiré entre le contact d'arc fixe et la corne d'arc inférieure, la bobine d'excitation du circuit magnétique est alimentée. L'impédance du bobinage étant inférieure à celle du premier arc secondaire, ce dernier s'éteint, de sorte que tout le courant traverse le bobinage, générant un flux magnétique entre les branches latérales du U magnétique. Le champ magnétique entraîne le deuxième arc secondaire vers la chambre. L'arc rencontre dans la chambre des séparateurs qui le refroidissent jusqu'à son extinction. Le processus de migration progressive de l'arc vers la chambre dans ce dispositif est excessivement long et incompatible avec les performances attendues d'un disjoncteur limiteur. Le mécanisme est également très compliqué, du fait de la présence d'une multiplicité de contacts.US Pat. No. 2,970,197 discloses a switch comprising a fixed contact member comprising a fixed main contact, a fixed secondary contact and a fixed arcing contact, cooperating with a movable contact member carrying, on the same pivoting arm, a contact moving head, a movable secondary contact and a moving arc contact. An arc extinguishing chamber provided with separators is located between the lateral branches of a U-shaped magnetic circuit. The contacts are located in a corridor narrowing progressively toward the entrance of the chamber. The magnetic circuit is powered by a coil, connected in series between the fixed main contact and a lower arc horn. The opening takes place in several steps: in a first step, the main contacts, relatively distant from the extinguishing chamber, separate, forcing the current to pass through the secondary contacts closer to the chamber. In a second step, the secondary contacts also separate, forcing the current to pass through the arc contacts located near the chamber. A primary electric arc arises during the separation of the arcing contacts between the arcing contacts. The arc elongates and reaches the lower bow horn by dividing into two secondary arcs in series: a first secondary arc between the fixed contact and the lower arc of the bow and a second secondary arc between the arc horn lower and moving arc contact. As soon as the first secondary arc is pulled between the fixed arc contact and the lower arc horn, the excitation coil of the magnetic circuit is energized. Since the impedance of the coil is lower than that of the first secondary arc, the latter goes out, so that all the current flows through the coil, generating a magnetic flux between the lateral branches of the magnetic U. The magnetic field drives the second secondary arc to the chamber. The arc meets separators in the chamber which cool it down to extinction. The process of progressive migration of the arc to the chamber in this device is excessively long and incompatible with the expected performance of a limiter circuit breaker. The mechanism is also very complicated, due to the presence of a multiplicity of contacts.

Le document EP-A-0887832 décrit un pôle pour un disjoncteur électrique selon le préambule de la revendication 1.EP-A-0887832 discloses a pole for an electric circuit breaker according to the preamble of claim 1.

L'invention vise à augmenter la tension d'arc d'un disjoncteur limiteur de calibre élevé, dans un volume réduit, par dispositif simple.The invention aims to increase the arc voltage of a high-capacity limiter circuit breaker, in a reduced volume, by a simple device.

Selon l'invention, cet objectif est atteint grâce à pôle pour un disjoncteur électrique limiteur basse tension de puissance comportant un mécanisme d'ouverture, le pôle comportant

  • un socle ;
  • un premier organe de contact, comportant une zone de contact ;
  • un deuxième organe de contact, comportant
    • un support mobile apte à être relié au mécanisme d'ouverture et mobile par rapport au socle entre une position de fermeture et une position d'ouverture,
    • au moins un doigt de contact mobile parallèlement à un plan longitudinal médian du pôle, et apte à prendre, par rapport au support mobile en position de fermeture, une position de contact dans laquelle le doigt de contact est en contact avec la zone de contact du premier organe de contact, et une position de séparation dans laquelle le doigt de contact est séparé du premier organe de contact, et
    • un moyen de rappel élastique apte à rappeler le doigt de contact mobile vers sa position de contact, lorsque le doigt de contact mobile se trouve à proximité de sa position de contact ;
  • une chambre d'extinction d'arc, comportant une ouverture de sortie constituant la voie d'échappement de l'ensemble des gaz émis lors d'une coupure, une ouverture d'entrée située entre la zone de contact et l'ouverture de sortie, des moyens d'absorption d'énergie d'arc situés à l'intérieur de la chambre d'extinction d'arc, et des parois latérales délimitant latéralement la chambre d'extinction d'arc, la distance mesurée perpendiculairement au plan longitudinal médian entre les parois latérales définissant une largeur de la chambre ;
  • un circuit magnétique, apte à être excité par un courant traversant les organes de contact,, le circuit magnétique comportant deux branches latérales qui s'étendent parallèlement au plan longitudinal médian de part et d'autre de celui-ci et qui encadrent la zone de contact, le circuit magnétique étant apte à produire un champ magnétique tendant à entraîner le doigt de contact traversé par un courant vers la position de séparation,
  • un écran isolant comportant deux parois isolantes latérales s'interposant entre les branches latérales et les organes de contacts, les parois isolantes latérales de l'écran isolant formant un couloir entre la zone de contact et l'ouverture d'entrée de la chambre,
caractérisé en ce que
  • les parois isolantes latérales de l'écran isolant sont à une distance l'une de l'autre qui est plus faible à proximité de l'ouverture d'entrée de la chambre d'extinction d'arc qu'à proximité de la zone de contact, et qui est plus faible à proximité de l'ouverture d'entrée de la chambre d'extinction d'arc que la largeur de la chambre d'extinction d'arc, de telle sorte que le couloir forme un étranglement entre la zone de contact et l'organe de contact mobile d'une part, et la chambre d'extinction d'autre part, cet étranglement étant au moins partiellement encadré latéralement par les branches latérales du circuit magnétique,
  • le pôle comporte en outre une première surface de réception d'une racine d'un arc électrique, située entre la zone de contact et l'étranglement et reliée électriquement au premier organe de contact.
According to the invention, this objective is achieved by means of a pole for a low-voltage electric power limiting circuit breaker comprising an opening mechanism, the pole comprising
  • a pedestal ;
  • a first contact member having a contact area;
  • a second contact member, comprising
    • a movable support adapted to be connected to the opening mechanism and movable relative to the base between a closed position and an open position,
    • at least one contact finger movable parallel to a median longitudinal plane of the pole, and adapted to take, relative to the movable support in the closed position, a contact position in which the contact finger is in contact with the contact zone of the first contact member, and a separation position in which the contact finger is separated from the first contact member, and
    • an elastic return means adapted to return the movable contact finger towards its contact position, when the movable contact finger is close to its contact position;
  • an arc extinguishing chamber, comprising an outlet opening constituting the escape route of all the gases emitted during a break, an inlet opening located between the contact zone and the exit opening , arc energy absorbing means located inside the arc extinguishing chamber, and lateral walls laterally delimiting the arc extinguishing chamber, the distance measured perpendicularly to the median longitudinal plane between the side walls defining a width of the chamber;
  • a magnetic circuit, capable of being excited by a current flowing through the contact members, the magnetic circuit comprising two lateral branches which extend parallel to the median longitudinal plane on either side of the latter and which surround the zone of contact, the magnetic circuit being able to produce a magnetic field tending to drive the contact finger through which a current flows towards the separation position,
  • an insulating screen comprising two lateral insulating walls interposed between the lateral branches and the contact members, the insulating side walls of the insulating screen forming a corridor between the contact zone and the inlet opening of the chamber,
characterized in that
  • the insulating side walls of the insulating screen are at a distance from each other which is smaller near the entrance opening of the arc extinguishing chamber than near the contact, and which is lower near the entrance opening of the arc extinguishing chamber than the width of the arc extinguishing chamber, so that the corridor forms a constriction between the zone of contact and the mobile contact member on the one hand, and the extinguishing chamber on the other hand, this constriction being at least partially flanked laterally by the lateral branches of the magnetic circuit,
  • the pole further comprises a first receiving surface of a root of an electric arc, located between the contact zone and the throat and electrically connected to the first contact member.

Les parois isolantes latérales de l'écran constituent une protection du circuit magnétique vis-à-vis de l'arc électrique. Elles forment par ailleurs une surface d'échange thermique importante contribuant au refroidissement de l'arc. L'étranglement du couloir à proximité de la chambre augmente encore cet échange thermique et favorise la constriction de l'arc. Les deux phénomènes conjugués contribuent à l'augmentation de la tension d'arc et à une forte limitation du courant.The insulating side walls of the screen constitute a protection of the magnetic circuit vis-à-vis the electric arc. They also form a significant heat exchange surface contributing to the cooling of the arc. The constriction of the corridor near the chamber further increases this heat exchange and promotes the constriction of the arc. The two conjugated phenomena contribute to the increase of the arc voltage and a strong limitation of the current.

Le circuit magnétique cumule quant à lui deux fonctions : d'une part, une fonction de limitation du courant assurée conjointement avec les moyens de rappel élastique, dans la mesure où le champ magnétique engendre sur les charges en mouvement dans le contact mobile traversé par un courant, des forces tendant à provoquer la séparation des contacts indépendamment de tout ordre d'ouverture, au delà d'un seuil défini par les moyens de rappel élastique ; et d'autre part, une fonction d'entraînement de l'arc vers la chambre d'extinction d'arc, au travers de l'obstacle constitué par l'étranglement. Cette deuxième fonction est partiellement assurée par la partie du circuit magnétique proche de la zone de contact, mais également plus spécifiquement par la partie du circuit encadrant la zone du rétrécissement. Plus cette partie située latéralement de part et d'autre de l'étranglement est importante, plus l'effet obtenu sera marqué. Par ce dispositif, il est possible de faire pénétrer rapidement dans la chambre d'extinction une partie d'un arc électrique de section importante tel qu'on le rencontre lors de la coupure d'un courant élevé par un disjoncteur limiteur, tout en provoquant une constriction de l'arc et un échange thermique avec les parois isolantes latérales au passage par la restriction. L'action du circuit magnétique se prolonge jusqu'à l'extinction de l'arc, de sorte qu'une partie de l'arc se maintient dans la chambre pendant l'ensemble de la coupure, alors que la racine de l'arc reste au moins partiellement sur la première surface de réception. L'arc s'étend donc en permanence de part et d'autre de l'étranglement, maintenant la tension d'arc à un niveau élevé jusqu'à l'extinction de l'arc. Contrairement à l'enseignement général de l'état de la technique, qui inciterait à propulser le plus rapidement possible l'arc dans la chambre d'extinction, la présente invention vise à imposer à l'arc jusqu'à son extinction une position intermédiaire à travers un étranglement.The magnetic circuit cumulates two functions: on the one hand, a current limiting function provided in conjunction with the elastic return means, insofar as the magnetic field generates on the moving loads in the moving contact crossed by a current, forces tending to cause the separation of the contacts independently of any order of opening, beyond a threshold defined by the elastic return means; and on the other hand, a function of driving the arc towards the arc extinguishing chamber, through the obstacle constituted by the constriction. This second function is partially provided by the part of the magnetic circuit close to the contact zone, but also more specifically by the portion of the circuit flanking the narrowing zone. The more this part located laterally on both sides of the throat is important, the more the effect obtained will be marked. By this device, it is possible to quickly penetrate into the extinguishing chamber a portion of an electric arc of large section as encountered when cutting a high current by a limiter circuit breaker, while causing a constriction of the arc and a heat exchange with the insulating side walls to the passage through the restriction. The action of the magnetic circuit extends until the extinction of the arc, so that a part of the arc is maintained in the chamber during the whole of the cut, while the root of the arc remains at least partially on the first receiving surface. The arc therefore extends permanently from either side of the throttle, keeping the arc voltage at a high level until the arc goes out. Contrary to the general teaching of the state of the art, which would incite to propel as quickly as possible the arc in the extinguishing chamber, the present invention aims at imposing on the arc until its extinction an intermediate position. through a strangulation.

Avec un tel dispositif, il devient possible, pour un niveau de performance donné, de diminuer la distance entre les doigts de contact mobiles en position de séparation et le contact fixe.With such a device, it becomes possible, for a given level of performance, to reduce the distance between the movable contact fingers in the separation position and the fixed contact.

Préférentiellement, le pôle comporte une corne d'arc inférieure reliée électriquement au premier organe de contact, et comportant ladite première surface de réception d'une racine d'un arc électrique ainsi qu'un prolongement s'étendant à l'intérieur de la chambre d'extinction, ledit prolongement constituant une deuxième surface de réception d'une racine d'arc dont la largeur, mesurée suivant un axe perpendiculaire au plan longitudinal du pôle, est plus petite que celle de la première surface de réception. La deuxième surface de réception accueille une partie de la racine d'arc pour les courants de court-circuit d'intensité très élevée. De plus, elle permet une évacuation de la chaleur générée sur la première surface de réception. Par ailleurs, la deuxième surface de réception permet la coupure des petits courants, en favorisant dans ce cas l'entrée complète de la racine de l'arc dans la chambre d'extinction. Mais la largeur de la deuxième surface de réception doit être inférieure au diamètre d'une racine d'un arc dans des conditions de court-circuit, car l'on souhaite éviter dans ce cas que l'arc ne pénètre totalement dans la chambre. En pratique, la plus grande largeur de la deuxième surface de réception sera inférieure ou égale à la distance entre les parois de l'écran isolant au niveau de l'étranglement.Preferably, the pole comprises a lower arcuate horn electrically connected to the first contact member, and comprising said first receiving surface of a root of an electric arc and an extension extending inside the chamber extinction, said extension constituting a second receiving surface of an arc root whose width, measured along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the pole, is smaller than that of the first receiving surface. The second receiving surface accommodates part of the arc root for very high intensity short-circuit currents. In addition, it allows evacuation of the heat generated on the first receiving surface. In addition, the second receiving surface allows the breaking of small currents, thereby favoring the complete entry of the root of the arc into the extinction chamber. But the width of the second receiving surface must be smaller than the diameter of a root of an arc under short-circuit conditions, because it is desired to avoid in this case that the arc does not fully penetrate the chamber. In practice, the greater width of the second receiving surface will be less than or equal to the distance between the walls of the insulating screen at the level of the constriction.

Selon un mode de réalisation, le pôle comporte en outre une corne d'arc supérieure ayant une extrémité libre située à proximité de l'organe de contact mobile en position de séparation, et s'étendant vers l'intérieur de la chambre. La tête de l'arc électrique migre sur la corne d'arc supérieure, avec formation d'un arc secondaire en série avec le premier, entre la corne d'arc supérieure et l'organe de contact mobile. La tête de l'arc principal migre rapidement à l'intérieur de la chambre en suivant la corne d'arc supérieure, ce qui permet de faire jouer son rôle d'absorption d'énergie à la chambre.According to one embodiment, the pole further comprises an upper arc horn having a free end located near the movable contact member in the separation position, and extending towards the inside of the chamber. The head of the electric arc migrates on the upper arc of the arc, forming a secondary arc in series with the first, between the upper arc horn and the movable contact member. The head of the main arc quickly migrates inside the chamber following the upper arch horn, allowing its role of energy absorption to be played in the chamber.

Avantageusement, les branches latérales du circuit magnétique ont un entrefer qui est plus faible au niveau de l'étranglement qu'au niveau de la zone de contact. Alors que la largeur de l'entrefer du circuit magnétique dans sa partie antérieure, au niveau où il encadre les doigts de contacts, est dictée par la largeur des doigts de contact, donc par le calibre du disjoncteur, il est possible de profiter du rétrécissement antérieur du couloir d'entrée dans la chambre pour réduire l'entrefer dans la partie la plus proche de la chambre, ce qui permet d'augmenter le champ dans cette région où le déplacement de l'arc est gêné par le rétrécissement.Advantageously, the lateral branches of the magnetic circuit have an air gap which is smaller at the level of the constriction than at the level of the contact zone. While the width of the gap of the magnetic circuit in its front part, at the level where it frames the fingers of contacts, is dictated by the width of the contact fingers, therefore by the size of the circuit breaker, it is possible to take advantage of the previous narrowing of the entry corridor in the chamber to reduce the air gap in the part closest to the chamber, which makes it possible to increase the field in this region where the displacement of the bow is hindered by shrinkage.

Selon un mode de réalisation, le circuit magnétique forme un U magnétique, dont la base est située en dessous de la zone de contact de l'organe de contact fixe. La forme en U constitue un bon compromis entre la quantité de métal nécessaire pour constituer le circuit magnétique et la concentration du champ obtenue. Toutefois, d'autres configurations sont envisageables. Le circuit magnétique peut notamment former un O en section, ce qui permet une concentration encore plus importante du champ.According to one embodiment, the magnetic circuit forms a magnetic U, whose base is located below the contact zone of the fixed contact member. The U-shape is a good compromise between the amount of metal needed to build the magnetic circuit and the concentration of the field obtained. However, other configurations are possible. The magnetic circuit can in particular form an O in section, which allows an even greater concentration of the field.

Préférentiellement, l'écran isolant comporte un matériau gazogène résistant à l'arc. La vaporisation du revêtement est un phénomène fortement endothermique qui contribue au refroidissement de l'arc. Le gradient de pression engendré par la vaporisation au niveau du rétrécissement, qui pourrait s'avérer un obstacle au déplacement de l'arc vers la chambre, se trouve en fait compensé par un dimensionnement approprié du circuit magnétique, notamment dans sa partie antérieure. Par ailleurs, il est nécessaire que le matériau choisi ait une résistance suffisante à l'arc pour remplir sa fonction de protection latérale du circuit magnétique. Suivant un mode de réalisation, l'écran isolant comporte un polyamide chargé de fibres de verre. En pratique, la charge en fibre de verre ne dépassera pas 30%, pour éviter que les fibres de verre n'affleurent à la surface du matériau après quelques coupures. Alternativement ou cumulativement, l'écran isolant comporte un polyamide chargé de charges minérales, dans des proportions qui peuvent atteindre ou dépasser 30%. Alternativement, il est possible d'envisager d'utiliser des céramiques, mais ces matériaux ont le défaut de favoriser les dépôts métalliques en provenance des contacts, qui détériorent rapidement leurs performances.Preferably, the insulating screen comprises a gas-resistant gas-resistant material. The vaporization of the coating is a highly endothermic phenomenon which contributes to the cooling of the arc. The pressure gradient generated by the vaporization at the narrowing, which could be an obstacle to the displacement of the arc towards the chamber, is in fact compensated by appropriate sizing of the magnetic circuit, especially in its anterior part. Furthermore, it is necessary that the chosen material has a sufficient resistance to the arc to fulfill its function of side protection of the magnetic circuit. According to one embodiment, the insulating screen comprises a polyamide loaded with glass fibers. In practice, the fiberglass load will not exceed 30%, to prevent the glass fibers flush on the surface of the material after a few cuts. Alternatively or cumulatively, the insulating screen comprises a polyamide loaded with mineral fillers, in proportions that can reach or exceed 30%. Alternatively, it is possible to consider using ceramics, but these materials have the defect of promoting the metal deposits from the contacts, which deteriorate their performance quickly.

Préférentiellement, les moyens d'absorption d'énergie d'arc situés à l'intérieur de la chambre d'extinction d'arc comportent des séparateurs s'étendant perpendiculairement au plan longitudinal médian.Preferably, the arc energy absorption means located inside the arc extinction chamber comprise separators extending perpendicularly to the median longitudinal plane.

Selon un autre aspect de l'invention, celle-ci a également trait à un disjoncteur électrique limiteur basse tension de puissance, comportant un mécanisme d'ouverture et au moins un pôle tel que décrit précédemment, dont le support mobile est relié au mécanisme d'ouverture.According to another aspect of the invention, it also relates to a power low-voltage limiting electric circuit breaker, comprising an opening mechanism and at least one pole as described above, the movable support of which is connected to the mechanical mechanism. 'opening.

D'autres avantages et caractéristiques de l'invention ressortiront de la description qui va suivre de différents modes de réalisation de l'invention, donnés à titre d'exemples non limitatifs et représentés aux dessins annexés dans lesquels:

  • la figure 1 représente une vue en perspective d'un disjoncteur limiteur selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
  • la figure 2 représente une vue d'un pôle du disjoncteur de la figure 1 en position de fermeture, en coupe longitudinale suivant le plan II-II de la figure 3 ;
  • la figure 3 représente une vue en coupe suivant un plan III-III de la figure 2 ;
  • la figure 4 représente une vue en coupe longitudinale du pôle de la figure 2, en position de séparation ;
  • la figure 5 représente une vue en coupe longitudinale du pôle de la figure 2, en position d'ouverture ;
  • la figure 6 représente un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention, dans une vue correspondant à la vue de la figure 3 du premier mode de réalisation.
Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will emerge from the following description of various embodiments of the invention given by way of non-limiting example and represented in the accompanying drawings, in which:
  • FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of a limiting circuit breaker according to a first embodiment of the invention;
  • Figure 2 shows a view of a pole of the circuit breaker of Figure 1 in the closed position, in longitudinal section along the plane II-II of Figure 3;
  • Figure 3 shows a sectional view along a plane III-III of Figure 2;
  • Figure 4 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the pole of Figure 2, in the separation position;
  • Figure 5 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the pole of Figure 2, in the open position;
  • FIG. 6 represents a second embodiment of the invention, in a view corresponding to the view of FIG. 3 of the first embodiment.

En référence aux figures 1 à 5, un disjoncteur limiteur basse tension de puissance comporte quatre pôles 10, 12, 14, 16 et un mécanisme de commande d'ouverture et de fermeture 18, montés dans un boîtier isolant. Le mécanisme de commande 18, de structure connue, comporte une poignée de commande 20, un ressort d'ouverture et de fermeture 22 et un arbre des pôles 24 pivotant sur des paliers ménagés dans des parois intermédiaires du boîtier. Ce dernier comporte un socle 26 et un couvercle 28 qui a été ôté sur la figure 1, mais est visible sur la figure 2.With reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, a power low-voltage limiting circuit breaker comprises four poles 10, 12, 14, 16 and an opening and closing control mechanism 18, mounted in an insulating housing. The control mechanism 18, of known structure, comprises a control handle 20, an opening and closing spring 22 and a pole shaft 24 pivoting on bearings formed in intermediate walls of the housing. The latter comprises a base 26 and a cover 28 which has been removed in FIG. 1, but can be seen in FIG.

Chaque pôle comporte un organe de contact fixe 30 relié à une première plage de contact 32, un organe de contact mobile 34 relié à une deuxième plage de contact 36 et une chambre d'extinction d'arc 38.Each pole comprises a fixed contact member 30 connected to a first contact pad 32, a movable contact member 34 connected to a second contact pad 36 and an arc extinguishing chamber 38.

L'organe de contact fixe 30 comporte une pièce métallique 40 recourbée en demi-boucle, qui supporte une pastille de contact 42 définissant une zone de contact, et qui se prolonge vers l'intérieur de la chambre par une corne d'arc inférieure 44 métallique, au potentiel de l'organe de contact fixe 30. La corne 44 comporte une surface de réception 45 (figure 3) large à proximité de la zone de contact et devient plus étroite à l'entrée de la chambre 38. Elle se prolonge à l'intérieur de la chambre par une languette offrant une surface de réception 47 (figure 3). La corne d'arc 44 est fixée sur l'organe de contact fixe d'une part par deux vis 46 (figure 3) à proximité de la pastille de contact 42, et d'autre part à l'intérieur de la chambre par une vis 48 dont la tête est isolée de l'organe de contact par un fourreau 50 en matériau plastique. Outre cette corne d'arc inférieure 44, la chambre comprend une corne d'arc supérieure 52 et des séparateurs plans 54 disposés entre la corne d'arc inférieure 44 et la corne d'arc supérieure 52, perpendiculairement au plan de coupe II-II de la figure 2, qui constitue un plan longitudinal médian du pôle. La corne d'arc supérieure 52 possède une extrémité postérieure 56 recourbée dont le rebord délimite partiellement une ouverture d'entrée dans la chambre 58. La chambre est délimitée latéralement par des parois latérales 59. Par ailleurs, la chambre est munie d'une ouverture de sortie 60 munie d'une grille 62, l'ouverture d'entrée 58 étant située entre la zone de contact constituée par la pastille de contact fixe 42 et l'ouverture de sortie 60.The fixed contact member 30 comprises a metal piece 40 curved in half-loop, which supports a contact pad 42 defining a contact zone, and which extends towards the interior of the chamber by a lower arcuate horn 44 metal, at the potential of the fixed contact member 30. The horn 44 has a receiving surface 45 (Figure 3) wide near the contact area and becomes narrower at the entrance to the chamber 38. It extends inside the chamber by a tongue providing a receiving surface 47 (Figure 3). The arc horn 44 is fixed on the fixed contact member on the one hand by two screws 46 (FIG. 3) close to the contact patch 42, and on the other hand inside the chamber by a screw 48 whose head is isolated from the contact member by a sleeve 50 of plastic material. In addition to this lower arc horn 44, the chamber comprises an upper arc horn 52 and planar spacers 54 disposed between the lower arc horn 44 and the upper arc horn 52, perpendicular to the section plane II-II of Figure 2, which constitutes a median longitudinal plane pole. The upper arch horn 52 has a curved rear end 56 whose rim partially delimits an inlet opening in the chamber 58. The chamber is delimited laterally by side walls 59. Furthermore, the chamber is provided with an opening outlet 60 provided with a gate 62, the inlet opening 58 being located between the contact zone formed by the fixed contact pad 42 and the outlet opening 60.

L'organe de contact mobile 34 comporte un support mobile 66 pivotant autour d'un premier axe géométrique fixe 68 par rapport au socle 26, et trois doigts de contact 70 pivotant autour d'un deuxième axe géométrique fixe 72, disposé parallèlement et de manière décalée par rapport au premier. Une bielle 74 assure l'accouplement du support 66 à l'arbre des pôles. Les doigts 70 supportent à une extrémité une pastille de contact 76 destinée à assurer le contact avec la pastille de contact 42 supportée par l'organe de contact fixe 30. Les doigts 70 constituent à leur autre extrémité une came 78 avec deux rampes de part et d'autre d'un point mort. Entre le support 66 et chaque doigt 70 est disposé un accumulateur d'énergie élastique 80, comportant un ressort 81 guidé dans une cage et repoussant hors de celle-ci une tige supportant un galet rotatif. Le galet est ainsi en permanence en contact avec la came 78, de sorte que l'accumulateur d'énergie élastique 80 constitue avec la came 78 un mécanisme bistable.The movable contact member 34 comprises a movable support 66 pivoting about a first fixed geometric axis 68 relative to the base 26, and three contact fingers 70 pivoting about a second fixed geometric axis 72, disposed parallel and in a manner offset from the first. A rod 74 ensures the coupling of the support 66 to the pole shaft. The fingers 70 support at one end a contact pad 76 intended to ensure contact with the contact pad 42 supported by the fixed contact member 30. The fingers 70 constitute at their other end a cam 78 with two side ramps and else of a dead point. Between the support 66 and each finger 70 is disposed an elastic energy accumulator 80, comprising a spring 81 guided in a cage and pushing out of it a rod supporting a rotary roller. The roller is thus permanently in contact with the cam 78, so that the elastic energy accumulator 80 constitutes with the cam 78 a bistable mechanism.

Le pôle comporte en outre un circuit magnétique 82 conformé en U constitué par un empilement de tôles de transformateur disposées perpendiculairement au plan médian longitudinal II-II. Le circuit magnétique 82 comporte une base 84 s'étendant perpendiculairement au plan de la figure 2 et deux branches latérales 86 qui s'étendent sensiblement parallèlement au plan de la figure 2. La partie recourbée de la pièce 40 de l'organe de contact fixe 30 entoure la base 84 du circuit magnétique 82 de manière à y induire un flux magnétique fonction du courant traversant l'organe de contact fixe 30.The pole further comprises a U-shaped magnetic circuit 82 formed by a stack of transformer plates arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal median plane II-II. The magnetic circuit 82 comprises a base 84 extending perpendicularly to the plane of FIG. 2 and two lateral branches 86 which extend substantially parallel to the plane of FIG. 2. The bent portion of the piece 40 of the fixed contact member 30 surrounds the base 84 of the magnetic circuit 82 so as to induce a magnetic flux function of the current flowing through the fixed contact member 30.

Une partie postérieure 90 du circuit magnétique encadre latéralement la zone de contact constituée par la pastille de contact fixe 42. Entre la zone de contact 42 et la chambre 38, le circuit magnétique 82 comporte une partie antérieure 92 dont l'entrefer est plus étroit que celui de la partie postérieure 90.A rear portion 90 of the magnetic circuit laterally surrounds the contact zone formed by the fixed contact patch 42. Between the contact zone 42 and the chamber 38, the magnetic circuit 82 has an anterior portion 92 whose gap is narrower than that of the posterior part 90.

Un écran 94 comportant deux parois isolantes latérales 96 s'interpose entre les branches latérales 86 de la zone de contact 42. Les parois isolantes latérales 96 sont constituées par un matériau isolant résistant à l'arc, de préférence gazogène, en l'occurrence un polyamide fortement chargé en fibre de verre (de l'ordre de 30%). Au niveau postérieur, à proximité de la zone de contact 42, les parois isolantes latérales 96 de l'écran isolant 94 sont parallèles au plan longitudinal médian II-II du pôle, à très faible distance des doigts de contact. Du côté antérieur, entre la zone de contact 42 et l'entrée de la chambre 58, les parois isolantes latérales 96 de l'écran 94 sont également parallèles au plan longitudinal médian, mais à plus faible distance l'une de l'autre. Les parois isolantes latérales 96 de l'écran 94 comportent en outre une partie intermédiaire plane et oblique par rapport au plan longitudinal médian, faisant la jonction entre la partie postérieure et la partie antérieure. Le couloir constitué par les parois isolantes latérales 96 de l'écran 94 voit donc sa largeur rétrécir progressivement d'un tiers, voire de moitié, en direction de la chambre 38, et constitue un étranglement 98 débouchant à l'entrée de la chambre. L'écran 94 comporte en outre des parois antérieures et postérieures perpendiculaires au plan longitudinal médian, et protégeant les extrémités faces antérieure et postérieure des branches latérales du circuit magnétique. L'écran 94 comporte également un revêtement interne 97 d'isolation et de protection au contact direct du circuit magnétique, Le revêtement 97 est constitué par un polymère à cristaux liquides.A screen 94 comprising two lateral insulating walls 96 is interposed between the lateral branches 86 of the contact zone 42. The lateral insulating walls 96 consist of an arc-resistant insulating material, preferably a gas-generating material, in this case a polyamide heavily loaded with fiberglass (about 30%). At the posterior level, near the contact zone 42, the insulating side walls 96 of the insulating screen 94 are parallel to the median longitudinal plane II-II of the pole, at a very short distance from the contact fingers. On the anterior side, between the contact zone 42 and the inlet of the chamber 58, the lateral insulating walls 96 of the screen 94 are also parallel to the median longitudinal plane, but at a shorter distance from each other. The lateral insulating walls 96 of the screen 94 further comprise an intermediate portion plane and oblique with respect to the median longitudinal plane, making the junction between the posterior part and the anterior part. The corridor constituted by the lateral insulating walls 96 of the screen 94 thus sees its width gradually shrink by one third, or even half, in the direction of the chamber 38, and constitutes a throat 98 opening at the entrance to the chamber. The screen 94 further comprises anterior and posterior walls perpendicular to the median longitudinal plane, and protecting the anterior and posterior ends of the lateral branches of the magnetic circuit. The screen 94 also has an internal coating 97 of insulation and protection in direct contact with the magnetic circuit. The coating 97 is constituted by a liquid crystal polymer.

Le fonctionnement du dispositif est le suivant.The operation of the device is as follows.

En position fermée sur la figure 2, le disjoncteur permet le passage du courant entre les deux plages de contact 32, 36, aux travers des organes de contact 30, 34 et des pastilles de contact 42, 76. Le mécanisme bistable 80 rappelle les doigts 70 vers la pastille de contact fixe 42, assurant une pression de contact suffisante.In the closed position in FIG. 2, the circuit breaker allows the passage of current between the two contact pads 32, 36, through the contact members 30, 34 and the contact pads 42, 76. The bistable mechanism 80 recalls the fingers 70 to the fixed contact pad 42, ensuring a sufficient contact pressure.

En cas de court-circuit, l'intensité du courant est très élevée dans la partie recourbée 40 de l'organe de contact fixe 30 et induit un flux magnétique important dans le circuit magnétique 82. Le circuit magnétique 82 concentre les lignes de champ entre les branches latérales 86, dans la zone de contact et dans la zone balayée par les doigts de contacts 70 lors de l'ouverture. Les doigts de contact 70, qui sont également traversés par le courant de court-circuit, sont soumis à des forces de répulsion induites par le champ magnétique. Ces forces induites par le circuit magnétique s'ajoutent aux forces de striction à l'interface entre les pastilles 42, 76, de sorte que les doigts de contact 70 pivotent contre la force de rappel du ressort 81, jusqu'à atteindre le point mort du mécanisme bistable 80. Au-delà du point mort, les doigts de contact 70 continuent leur course dans le sens horaire jusqu'à la position de séparation de la figure 4, sous l'action conjointe du ressort 81 et des efforts électromagnétiques.In the event of a short-circuit, the intensity of the current is very high in the curved portion 40 of the fixed contact member 30 and induces a large magnetic flux in the magnetic circuit 82. The magnetic circuit 82 concentrates the field lines between the side branches 86, in the contact zone and in the area swept by the fingers of contacts 70 during opening. The contact fingers 70, which are also traversed by the short-circuit current, are subjected to repulsive forces induced by the magnetic field. These forces induced by the magnetic circuit add to the necking forces at the interface between the pads 42, 76, so that the contact fingers 70 pivot against the restoring force of the spring 81, until reaching the neutral position of the bistable mechanism 80. Beyond the dead point, the contact fingers 70 continue their travel in the clockwise direction to the separation position of FIG. 4, under the combined action of the spring 81 and the electromagnetic forces.

Un arc électrique est né entre les pastilles de contact 42, 76 dès leur séparation, provoquant une brusque montée en température dans le couloir. Les parois 96 de l'écran provoquent une émission de gaz dans la partie postérieure et dans la partie antérieure rétrécie du couloir, de sorte que la pression augmente dans le couloir. L'arc, soumis aux efforts électromagnétiques, se courbe vers la chambre 38 et la racine de l'arc migre sur la partie large de la corne d'arc inférieure 44, et tend à pénétrer dans la chambre. Toutefois, la racine de l'arc a une section importante, fonction de l'intensité du courant de court-circuit. La largeur de la surface de réception 47 de l'arc située sur la partie de la corne d'arc s'étendant à l'intérieur de la chambre 38 est insuffisante pour permettre une migration de la racine de l'arc à l'intérieur de la chambre 38. Par conséquent, la racine de l'arc occupe toute la surface disponible entre la pastille de contact 42 et l'extrémité antérieure de la corne d'arc inférieure 44, à l'intérieur de la chambre. En d'autres termes, une partie de la racine d'arc reste sur la surface de réception large 44 de la corne d'arc inférieure, en deçà de l'étranglement 98, alors qu'une autre partie de la racine d'arc se trouve sur la partie plus étroite 47 de la corne d'arc inférieure, directement dans la chambre, et ceci jusqu'à l'extinction.An electric arc is born between the contact pads 42, 76 as soon as they are separated, causing a sudden rise in temperature in the corridor. The walls 96 of the screen cause a gas emission in the rear part and in the narrowed front part of the passage, so that the pressure increases in the corridor. The arc, subjected to the electromagnetic forces, curves towards the chamber 38 and the root of the arc migrates on the wide part of the lower arc horn 44, and tends to enter the chamber. However, the root of the arc has an important section, depending on the intensity of the short-circuit current. The width of the receiving surface 47 of the arc located on the part of the arc horn extending inside the chamber 38 is insufficient to allow migration of the root of the arc inside. of the chamber 38. Therefore, the root of the arc occupies the entire available surface between the contact patch 42 and the anterior end of the lower arcuate horn 44, within the chamber. In other words, a portion of the arc root remains on the wide receiving surface 44 of the lower arcuate horn, below the constriction 98, while another part of the arc root is on the narrower part 47 of the lower bow horn, directly in the chamber, until the extinction.

Du fait de la courbure importante de l'arc provoquée par le champ magnétique, une partie intermédiaire de l'arc, entre sa racine et sa tête, pénètre dans la chambre dès la séparation des pastilles de contact 42, 76. Cette partie intermédiaire de l'arc traverse l'étranglement 98, où elle subit à la fois une striction et un refroidissement importants, dus aux interactions avec les parois isolantes latérales 96 de l'écran 94. Ces deux phénomènes se conjuguent pour contribuer à élever la tension de l'arc et à provoquer une forte limitation du courant traversant le pôle.Due to the large curvature of the arc caused by the magnetic field, an intermediate part of the arc, between its root and its head, enters the chamber as soon as the contact pads 42, 76 are separated. the arc passes through the constriction 98, where it undergoes both a strong necking and cooling, due to the interactions with the lateral insulating walls 96 of the screen 94. These two phenomena combine to contribute to raising the tension of the arc and to cause a strong limitation of the current passing through the pole.

Lorsque les doigts de contact 70 atteignent la position de séparation de la figure 4, la tête de l'arc principal migre sur la corne d'arc supérieure 52, alors qu'un arc secondaire se forme en série avec le premier entre l'extrémité recourbée 56 de la corne d'arc supérieure et les doigts de contact 70. Dès que cette commutation a lieu, la tête de l'arc peut entrer dans la chambre, ce qui évite une trop forte ablation des parois du boîtier à proximité de l'extrémité recourbée 56 de la corne d'arc supérieur.When the contact fingers 70 reach the separation position of FIG. 4, the head of the main arc migrates on the upper arc horn 52, whereas a secondary arc is formed in series with the first one between the end curved 56 of the upper arc horn and the contact fingers 70. As soon as this switching takes place, the head of the arc can enter the chamber, which avoids too much ablation of the walls of the housing near the door. curved end 56 of the upper arch horn.

Toutefois, comme on l'a indiqué précédemment, la racine de l'arc reste au moins partiellement sur la partie large 45 de la corne d'arc 44 située entre la pastille de contact 42 et l'étranglement 98. Par conséquent, les effets de striction et de refroidissement de l'arc provoqués par la convergence des parois 96 se prolongent pendant toute la durée de la coupure, assurant le maintien d'une tension d'arc élevée jusqu'à extinction de l'arc.However, as indicated above, the root of the arc remains at least partially on the wide portion 45 of the arc horn 44 located between the contact pad 42 and the constriction 98. Therefore, the effects necking and cooling of the arc caused by the convergence of the walls 96 extend throughout the duration of the cut, ensuring the maintenance of a high arc voltage until extinction of the arc.

Il est à noter qu'en l'absence de champ magnétique, l'arc aurait tendance à quitter la chambre 38 et à reculer vers la zone de contact 42, pour minimiser l'énergie dissipée et diminuer la tension d'arc. C'est le champ induit par le circuit magnétique 82, et notamment par la partie du circuit située au niveau de l'étranglement 98, qui agit de manière continue sur l'arc jusqu'à son extinction, et empêche l'arc de reculer vers les pastilles de contact 42, 76. La réduction de l'entrefer au niveau de l'étranglement 98 et l'augmentation corrélative du champ magnétique favorisent encore davantage cette action.It should be noted that in the absence of a magnetic field, the arc would tend to leave the chamber 38 and move back to the contact zone 42, to minimize the dissipated energy and reduce the arc voltage. This is the field induced by the magnetic circuit 82, and in particular by the part of the circuit situated at the level of the throat 98, which acts continuously on the arc until it is extinguished, and prevents the arc from rolling backwards. to the contact pads 42, 76. The reduction of the gap at the throttle 98 and the correlative increase of the magnetic field further promote this action.

Pendant toute la durée de l'ouverture des contacts, les parois isolantes latérales 96 de l'écran 94 sont soumises à l'arc, notamment au niveau de l'étranglement 98. C'est la raison pour laquelle le matériau constitutif de l'écran 94 doit avoir une grande robustesse. Le revêtement 97 permet quant à lui d'assurer l'isolation du circuit magnétique en cas de défaillance de l'écran, notamment si des gouttes de métal en fusion arrivent à traverser l'une des parois 96. Sa fonction est d'éviter dans ce cas tout risque d'amorçage d'un arc entre le circuit magnétique 82 et l'un des organes de contact.During the entire duration of the opening of the contacts, the lateral insulating walls 96 of the screen 94 are subjected to the arc, in particular at the level of the throat 98. This is the reason why the constituent material of the Screen 94 must have great robustness. The coating 97 makes it possible to ensure the isolation of the magnetic circuit in case of failure of the screen, particularly if molten metal drops can pass through one of the walls 96. Its function is to avoid in this case all risk of initiating an arc between the magnetic circuit 82 and one of the contact members.

L'ouverture est confirmée par un ordre d'ouverture du mécanisme 18, qui entraîne le support dans la position de la figure 5.The opening is confirmed by an opening order of the mechanism 18, which causes the support in the position of FIG. 5.

Lorsque l'ouverture a lieu sur de petits courants, elle est initiée par le mécanisme 18. On a alors directement un passage de la position représentée sur la figure 2 à la position représentée sur la figure 5, sans passage intermédiaire par la position de la figure 4. Le champ induit par le circuit magnétique 82 est toutefois suffisamment intense pour projeter l'arc vers la chambre. La section de la racine de l'arc est peu importante de sorte que la racine de l'arc parvient à passer au travers de l'étranglement 98 et à entrer complètement dans la chambre 38, pour se stabiliser sur la partie 47 de la corne d'arc se trouvant à l'intérieur de la chambre. Le passage de l'étranglement 98 donne lieu à un refroidissement et une constriction de l'arc. L'extinction de l'arc a lieu de manière conventionnelle dans la chambre 38.When the opening takes place on small currents, it is initiated by the mechanism 18. There is then directly a passage from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 5, without intermediate passage by the position of the Figure 4. The field induced by the magnetic circuit 82, however, is sufficiently intense to project the arc to the chamber. The section of the root of the arc is small so that the root of the arc manages to pass through the constriction 98 and enter completely into the chamber 38, to stabilize on the part 47 of the horn arc inside the chamber. The passage of the constriction 98 gives rise to a cooling and a constriction of the arc. The extinction of the arc occurs conventionally in the chamber 38.

Naturellement, diverses modifications sont possibles.Naturally, various modifications are possible.

Selon un deuxième mode de réalisation représenté sur la figure 6, le circuit magnétique 82 a un entrefer constant de sa partie postérieure à sa partie antérieure. Ce mode de réalisation est plus simple que le précédent, et pourra s'avérer suffisant pour des performances de coupure moins élevées.According to a second embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the magnetic circuit 82 has a constant air gap from its posterior part to its anterior part. This embodiment is simpler than the previous one, and may be sufficient for lower cutoff performance.

La structure du disjoncteur limiteur peut être différente de celle de l'exemple de réalisation. En particulier, il est possible de monter le ou les doigts de contact pivotant autour d'un axe supporté par le support mobile. Il est également possible de prévoir une structure classique, dans laquelle l'arbre des pôles et les supports sont remplacés par un barreau de commutation unique commun aux pôles. L'invention s'applique également à un pôle dont le support mobile de l'organe de contact mobile se déplace en translation.The structure of the limiter circuit breaker may be different from that of the exemplary embodiment. In particular, it is possible to mount the pivoting contact finger or fingers around an axis supported by the movable support. It is also possible to provide a conventional structure, in which the pole shaft and the supports are replaced by a single switching rod common to the poles. The invention also applies to a pole whose movable support of the movable contact member moves in translation.

L'écran 94 peut être chargé en particules minérales destinées à lui conférer une grande robustesse, sans nuire à ses qualités diélectriques. De bons résultats ont été obtenus par exemple avec du borate de zinc dans des proportions allant jusqu'à 30% et au-delà. Les particules minérales peuvent le cas échéant être ou non additionnées aux fibres de verre.The screen 94 may be loaded with mineral particles intended to give it a high degree of robustness, without impairing its dielectric properties. Good results have been obtained for example with zinc borate in proportions of up to 30% and beyond. The mineral particles may or may not be added to the glass fibers.

L'émission de gaz par les parois 96 augmente la pression dans le couloir. Cette augmentation de pression contribue à la constriction de l'arc et à l'augmentation de la tension d'arc. Toutefois, l'augmentation de pression n'est pas nécessairement homogène, et un gradient de pression peut apparaître du fait de l'étranglement, qui tend à s'opposer au passage de l'arc au travers de l'étranglement. C'est pourquoi on considère qu'il n'est pas absolument nécessaire d'utiliser un matériau gazogène. En tout état de cause, il convient de choisir un matériau ne provoquant pas une émission de gaz trop important. De plus, le circuit magnétique doit être dimensionné de manière à contrecarrer les effets du gradient de pression sur l'arc.The emission of gases by the walls 96 increases the pressure in the corridor. This increase in pressure contributes to the constriction of the arc and the increase of the arc voltage. However, the increase in pressure is not necessarily homogeneous, and a pressure gradient can occur due to the constriction, which tends to oppose the passage of the arc through the constriction. This is why it is considered that it is not absolutely necessary to use a gas generating material. In any case, it is advisable to choose a material that does not cause too much gas emission. In addition, the magnetic circuit must be sized to counteract the effects of the pressure gradient on the arc.

Le revêtement 97 peut être omis si la robustesse et la tenue dans le temps de l'écran 94 sont suffisantes pour assurer l'absence d'amorçage au niveau du circuit magnétique.The coating 97 may be omitted if the robustness and the durability of the screen 94 are sufficient to ensure the absence of priming at the magnetic circuit.

La longueur de la corne d'arc inférieure à l'intérieur de la chambre n'est pas nécessairement importante. Du point de vue de la coupure des courants de court-circuit sous une tension élevée, on a toujours intérêt à ce qu'une partie importante de la racine d'arc stationne sur la partie 45 de la corne d'arc inférieure située entre la pastille de contact et l'étranglement, puisque c'est ainsi qu'on contraint l'arc à traverser l'étranglement 98 durant toute la durée de la coupure. La prolongation de la corne d'arc à l'intérieur de la chambre résulte d'un compromis permettant notamment d'assurer un refroidissement de la corne d'arc pendant la coupure.The length of the lower arcuate horn inside the chamber is not necessarily important. From the point of view of breaking the short-circuit currents under high voltage, it is always advantageous for a substantial portion of the arc root stationary on the portion 45 of the lower arc horn located between the contact patch and throttling, since this is how the arc is forced through the throttle 98 during the entire duration of the cut. The prolongation of the arc horn inside the chamber is the result of a compromise allowing in particular to ensure cooling of the arc horn during the cut.

La corne d'arc supérieure peut être omise, si les parois du boîtier sont à ce niveau renforcées, ou si un effet gazogène est souhaité, par exemple pour nettoyer la pastille de contact 76.The upper arc-horn may be omitted, if the walls of the housing are at this level reinforced, or if a gas-forming effect is desired, for example to clean the contact pad 76.

La hauteur de l'étranglement, c'est-à-dire sa dimension suivant un axe perpendiculaire au plan de la figure 3, n'est pas nécessairement importante. L'expérience montre que c'est la partie basse de l'étranglement, la plus proche de la corne d'arc inférieure, qui est essentielle.The height of the constriction, that is to say its dimension along an axis perpendicular to the plane of Figure 3, is not necessarily important. Experience shows that it is the lower part of the constriction, the closest to the lower bow horn, which is essential.

Claims (10)

  1. Pole for a low-voltage limiting electrical power circuit breaker comprising an opening mechanism (18), the pole comprising:
    - a frame (26);
    - a first contact means (30) comprising a contact area (42);
    - a second contact means (34) comprising:
    - a movable support (66) designed to be connected to the opening mechanism (18) and movable with respect to the frame (26) between a closed position and an open position,
    - at least one contact finger (70) movable in a direction parallel to a longitudinal mid-plane (II-II) of the pole and able to take, with respect to the movable support (66) in the closed position, a contact position in which the contact finger (70) is in contact with the contact area (42) of the first contact means (30), and a separated position in which the contact finger (70) is separated from the first contact means (30), and
    - a flexible return means (81) designed to return the movable contact finger (70) to the contact position thereof when the movable contact finger (70) is close to its contact position;
    - an arc extinguishing chamber (38), comprising an outlet opening (60) constituting the exhaust channel for outlet of all the gases emitted when breaking is performed, an inlet opening (58) situated between the contact area (42) and the outlet opening (60), arc energy absorption means (54) situated inside the arc extinguishing chamber (38), and side walls (59) laterally delineating the arc extinguishing chamber (38), the distance measured perpendicularly to the longitudinal mid-plane (II-II) between the side walls (59) defining a width of the chamber;
    - a magnetic circuit (82) designed to be excited by a current flowing through the contact means (30, 34), the magnetic circuit comprising two lateral branches (86) which extend in a parallel direction to the longitudinal mid-plane (II-II) on each side of the latter and which bound the contact area (42), the magnetic circuit (82) being designed to produce a magnetic field tending to drive the contact finger (70) through which a current is flowing to the separated position,
    - an insulating shield (94) comprising two insulating side walls (96) interposed between the lateral branches (86) of the magnetic circuit and the contact means (30, 70), the insulating side walls (96) of the insulating shield forming a passage between the contact area (42) and the inlet opening (58) of the chamber,
    characterized in that
    - the insulating side walls (96) of the insulating shield (94) are at a distance from one another, which distance is smaller near the inlet opening (58) of the arc extinguishing chamber (38) than near the contact area (42) and which distance is smaller near the inlet opening (58) of the arc extinguishing chamber (38) than the width of the arc extinguishing chamber (38), in such a way that the passage forms a constriction (98) between the contact area (42) and the movable contact means (34) on the one hand and the arc extinguishing chamber (38) on the other hand, this constriction (98) being at least partially bounded laterally by the lateral branches (86) of the magnetic circuit,
    - the pole further comprises a first surface (45) for receiving a root of an electric arc, situated between the contact area (42) and the constriction and electrically connected to the first contact means (30).
  2. Circuit breaker pole according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a lower arcing horn (44) electrically connected to the first contact means (30) and comprising said first surface (45) for receiving an electric arc root, and an extension (47) extending inside the arc extinguishing chamber (38), said extension (47) constituting a second surface for receiving an electric arc root the width whereof, measured along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal plane (II-II) of the pole, is smaller than that of the first surface for receiving (45).
  3. Circuit breaker pole according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises an upper arcing horn (52) having a free end (56) situated near the movable contact means (34) in the separated position and extending towards the inside of the chamber (38).
  4. Circuit breaker pole according to claim 1, characterized in that the lateral branches (86) of the magnetic circuit (82) have an air-gap which is smaller at the location of the constriction (98) than at the location of the contact area (42).
  5. Circuit breaker pole according to claim 1, characterized in that the magnetic circuit (82) forms a magnetic U-shape having a base (84) situated below the contact area (42) of the stationary contact means (30).
  6. Circuit breaker pole according to claim 1, characterized in that the insulating shield (94) comprises a gas-generating material resistant to the arc.
  7. Circuit breaker pole according to claim 6, characterized in that the insulating shield (94) comprises a polyamide charged with glass fibres.
  8. Circuit breaker pole according to claim 6, characterized in that the insulating shield (94) comprises a polyamide charged with mineral charges.
  9. Pole according to claim 1, characterized in that the arc energy absorption means (54) situated inside the arc extinguishing chamber comprise separators (54) extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal mid-plane (II-II).
  10. Low-voltage limiting electrical power circuit breaker, comprising an opening mechanism (18) and at least one pole (10, 12, 14, 16) according to any one of the foregoing claims, the movable support (66) whereof is connected to the opening mechanism (18).
EP01410034A 2000-04-10 2001-03-30 Pole for a low voltage current limiting circuit breaker and circuit breaker having the same Expired - Lifetime EP1146529B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0004545A FR2807565B1 (en) 2000-04-10 2000-04-10 POLE FOR AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BREAKER LOW POWER VOLTAGE LIMITER AND CIRCUIT BREAKER PROVIDED WITH SUCH A POLE
FR0004545 2000-04-10

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1146529A1 EP1146529A1 (en) 2001-10-17
EP1146529B1 true EP1146529B1 (en) 2007-05-02

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ID=8849058

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01410034A Expired - Lifetime EP1146529B1 (en) 2000-04-10 2001-03-30 Pole for a low voltage current limiting circuit breaker and circuit breaker having the same

Country Status (5)

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US (1) US6373016B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1146529B1 (en)
DE (1) DE60128176T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2284603T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2807565B1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1146529A1 (en) 2001-10-17
DE60128176D1 (en) 2007-06-14
FR2807565A1 (en) 2001-10-12
ES2284603T3 (en) 2007-11-16
US6373016B2 (en) 2002-04-16
US20010027961A1 (en) 2001-10-11
DE60128176T2 (en) 2007-12-20
FR2807565B1 (en) 2003-03-14

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