EP1160818B1 - Circuit breaker - Google Patents

Circuit breaker Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1160818B1
EP1160818B1 EP99961477A EP99961477A EP1160818B1 EP 1160818 B1 EP1160818 B1 EP 1160818B1 EP 99961477 A EP99961477 A EP 99961477A EP 99961477 A EP99961477 A EP 99961477A EP 1160818 B1 EP1160818 B1 EP 1160818B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
restriction
handle
point
circuit breaker
movable contact
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
EP99961477A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1160818A1 (en
EP1160818A4 (en
Inventor
Shiro Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha MURATA
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Original Assignee
Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mitsubishi Electric Corp filed Critical Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Publication of EP1160818A1 publication Critical patent/EP1160818A1/en
Publication of EP1160818A4 publication Critical patent/EP1160818A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1160818B1 publication Critical patent/EP1160818B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
    • H01H71/50—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release
    • H01H71/501—Means for breaking welded contacts; Indicating contact welding or other malfunction of the circuit breaker
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
    • H01H71/50—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release
    • H01H71/52—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release actuated by lever
    • H01H71/522—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release actuated by lever comprising a cradle-mechanism
    • H01H71/525—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release actuated by lever comprising a cradle-mechanism comprising a toggle between cradle and contact arm and mechanism spring acting between handle and toggle knee

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a circuit breaker and, more particularly, to a circuit breaker having a function of restricting the handle position to a predetermined position between a closed position and an open position when the contacts are welded together in the closed position (hereinafter referred to as the isolation function).
  • Fig. 8 is sectional view of the main portion of an opening and closing mechanism unit showing a conventional circuit breaker disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-229920, for example.
  • 1 is stationary contact member mounted to a housing or a base (not shown) and has a stationary contact 2.
  • 3 is a movable contact member including a movable contact 4 capable of contacting and separating the stationary contact 2 and is pivotally supported by a pivot pin 5.
  • 6 is a cross bar made of an insulating material and connecting one end of each of the movable contact members for the respective pole units.
  • 7 is an arc extinguisher for extinguishing an electric arc generated between the separated contacts 2 and 4.
  • a movable contact member side link (hereinafter referred to as a lower link) having one end pivotally supported on the movable contact member 3 by a shaft 9
  • 10 is a handle side link (hereinafter referred to as an upper link) pivotally supported at one end on the other end of the lower link 8 and at the other end on a cradle 11.
  • 14 is a toggle link mechanism composed of the lower link 8, the upper link 10, the shaft 12, the toggle spring (not shown) and the like, the shaft 12 serving as knee joint.
  • 15 is a handle arm having one end (not shown) pivotally supported in a predetermined positional relationship with respect to the toggle link mechanism 14.
  • the handle 16a is a handle knob formed of a synthetic resin, which can be operated from outside of a housing or a cover (not shown) and which is mechanically connected to the handle arm 15 for moving together.
  • 500 is a projection portion formed on the lower link 8 and 501 is a projection portion formed on the upper link 10, 502 is a pin disposed on the handle arm 15, which is a member for holding the mechanism portion to restrict the handle 16 to a predetermined position when the handle knob 16a is being driven from its closed position to the open position when the movable contact 2 and the stationary contact 4 are welded together.
  • the pin 502 formed on the handle arm 15 out of the members that restrict the mechanism portion passes through a position very close to the projection 501 on the upper link 10 upon the opening or closing operation or the tripping motion. Therefore, when the distance between the pin 502 and the projection portion 501 is made large so that they do not interfere with each other during the usual opening and closing operation, it is not possible to ensure a sufficient engagement between the member, and when the above distance is made small to ensure the operation, precise dimensional tolerance of the members is required.
  • the pin 502 on the handle arm 15 and the projection portion 501 on the upper link 10 are positioned close to and directly faced with the arc extinguisher chamber unit 7, the molten debris and the like generated by the arc during the current interrupting operation deposit on the projection portion 501 and the pin 502.
  • the clearance between the members becomes small or even zero, resulting in a problem that the circuit breaker may become inoperable during the opening or closing operation or upon the trip operation.
  • US-A-5,543,595 discloses a circuit breaker which includes a stop to prevent a handle moving to an off position when the contacts are welded together.
  • a reversing lever has a stop face that bears on an upper toggle between the handle and the contacts.
  • the reversing lever is itself rotatably mounted on a supporting lever on which the upper toggle is also rotatably mounted.
  • US-A-5,927,484 discloses a circuit breaker with a crossbar formed with a protrusion which abuts one end of a positive off-link to rotate its other end into the path of a handle, when the contact are welded together and the handle is being moved to the off position.
  • the present invention has been made to solve the above-discussed problems and has as its object the provision of a circuit breaker in which, a stable opening and closing operation can be achieved during the ordinary opening and closing operation or the tripping operation, the isolation function can be ensured upon the contact welding, and the deposition of molten debris to the mechanism unit can be minimized during the current interrupting operation to provide a smooth isolation function.
  • a circuit breaker according to the present invention is defined in claim 1 below, and comprises a stationary contact member, a movable contact member opposing to and capable of separating from and contacting with the stationary contact member, a cross bar rotatably supporting the movable contact member, a toggle link mechanism for driving the movable contact member, and a handle pivotally supported with respect to the toggle link mechanism to predetermined relative positions of a frame, the circuit breaker further comprising a restriction member rotatably supported at one end from the frame and engaging with the handle and the cross bar when the handle is being moved into an open position in the state where a stationary contact of the stationary contact member and a movable contact of the movable contact member are welded, thereby to preventing the handle from moving into the open position.
  • the restriction point between the restriction member and the cross bar is positioned on the other side of the frame from an arc extinguisher.
  • the restriction member may have an opening portion formed on the side opposite to the restriction point between the restriction member and the cross bar.
  • a circuit breaker of the present invention comprises a stationary contact member, a movable contact member opposing to and capable of separating from and contacting with the stationary contact member, a cross bar rotatably supporting the movable contact member, a toggle link mechanism for driving the movable to predetermined relative positions, and a restriction member rotatably supported atone end from a frame and engaging with the handle and a movable contact member side link of the toggle link mechanism when the handle is being moved into an open position in the state where a stationary contact of the stationary contact member and a movable contact of the movable contact member are welded, thereby to preventing the handle from moving into the open position.
  • the movable contact member side link may be provided with a restriction pin for engaging with the restriction member.
  • restriction member may have an opening portion formed on the side opposite to the restriction point between the restriction member and the toggle link mechanism.
  • Fig. 1 is a partially removed perspective view showing the inside of the circuit breaker of the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the main portion of the opening and closing mechanism when the circuit breaker shown in Fig. 1 is in its closed position.
  • Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of the main portion of the opening and closing mechanism when the circuit breaker shown in Fig. 1 is in its open position.
  • 20 is an insulating housing composed of a base 20a and a cover 20b, both being made of a synthetic resin.
  • 21 is a stationary contact member mounted within the insulating housing 20 and has a stationary contact 22.
  • 23 is a movable contact member including a movable contact 24 capable of contacting and separating the stationary contact 22 and is pivotally supported by a pivot pin 25.
  • 26 is a cross bar made of an insulating material and connecting one end of each of the movable contact members 24 for the respective pole units.
  • 27 is an arc extinguisher for extinguishing an electric arc generated between the separated contacts 22 and 24.
  • a movable contact member side link (hereinafter referred to as a lower link) having one end pivotally supported on the cross bar 26 by a shaft 29, 30 is a handle side link (hereinafter referred to as an upper link) pivotally supported at one end on the other end of the lower link 28 and at the other end on a cradle 31 by shafts 32 and 33, respectively.
  • 34 is a toggle link mechanism composed of the lower link 28, the upper link 30, the toggle spring (not shown) and the like, a shaft 32 serving as knee joint.
  • 35 is a handle arm having one end (not shown) pivotally supported in a predetermined positional relationship with respect to the toggle link mechanism 34.
  • the handle arm 35a is a handle knob formed of a synthetic resin, which can be operated from outside of a cover 20b of a housing 20 and which is mechanically connected to the handle arm 35 for moving together.
  • the handle arm 35 and the handle knob 35a together constitute a handle 36 that is pivotally supported in a predetermined positional relationship with respect to the toggle link mechanism 34.
  • the handle 40 is a frame mounted to the bottom portion of the base 20a of the housing 20 and has a support 40a for pivotally supporting the handle arm 35.
  • 41 is a restriction member or a stopper including a first engaging portion 41 a for engaging the cross bar 26 and a second engaging portion 41b for engaging a first restriction pin 43 disposed on the handle arm 35 and will be described later, the stopper being pivotally supported on the frame 40 by a shaft 42.
  • the first restriction pin 43 may be integrally formed in the handle arm 35 by embossing press or the like so that it projects toward the viewer from the plane of Fig. 2.
  • Fig. 4 illustrates a state in which the stationary contact 22 and the movable contact 24 are welded together due to a massive pulse current in a position in which the engagement between the cradle and the latch of the unillustrated opening and closing mechanism are not released.
  • the toggle mechanism 34 is held at the same position as that of the closed position and, when the handle 36 is moved clockwise toward the open position as shown in Fig. 4 in order to put it in the open position for the maintenance and inspection purpose, then the toggle spring (not shown) expands to rotate the handle arm 35 clockwise toward the open position.
  • the first restriction pin 43 disposed on the handle arm 35 engages the second restriction portion 41b of the stopper 41 at the restriction point 55, causing the stopper 41 to rotate in the direction of the arrow B about the shaft 42 of the stopper 41, whereby the first restriction portion 41a of the stopper 41 abuts against the stop 26a of the cross bar 26 at the restriction point 50 to prevent the handle 36 from further moving toward the open position.
  • the stopper 41 is rotated counterclockwise about the shaft 42 by a distance corresponding to the gap G (see Fig. 2) defined between the cross bar 26 and the movable contact member 23 and the handle arm 35 is moved to the open position.
  • the restriction point 55 between the handle arm 35 and the stopper 41 is positioned further than the shaft 42 which is the center of rotation of the stopper 41, the amount of movement of the stopper 41 is increased to allow the handle arm 35 to move further toward the open position, decreasing the room for ensuring the isolatin function. Therefore, the restriction point 55 between the handle arm 35 and the stopper 41 should preferably be as close as possible to the shaft 42 or the rotational center of the stopper 41 within a realistic range.
  • the restriction point 55 between the handle arm 35 and the stopper 41 can be located higher or closer to the handle 36 by providing an opening portion P in the stopper 41 at the opposite side to the restriction point 50 between the stopper 41 and the cross bar 26, permitting to further decrease the load applied to the restriction point 50.
  • Figs. 5 to 7 are enlarged side views of the main portion of the opening and closing mechanism of the circuit breaker of the second embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 5 shows the circuit breaker in its closed position, Fig. 6 shows the circuit breaker in its opened position, and Fig. 7 shows a position in which the handle is moved toward the open position when the engagement between the cradle and the latch of the opening and closing mechanism is not released and when the welding phenomenon occurs between the stationary contact 22 and the movable contact 24 and the movable contact 24 cannot be separated.
  • the components 21 to 43 are similar to those in the previously described first embodiment, so that their explanations will be omitted.
  • 57 is a restriction pin secured to the lower link 28 and is projected toward the viewer in Fig. 5.
  • the first restriction pin 43 on the handle arm 35 engages the second restriction portion 41 b of the stopper 41 at the restriction point 55, thereby rotating the stopper 41 about the shaft 42 in the direction of the arrow B. Then, the first restriction portion 41a of the stopper 41 abuts and engages with the second restriction pin 57 secured to the lowr link 28 to prevent the handle 36 from further moving toward the open position.
  • 60 is a restriction point between the lower link 28 and the stopper 41.
  • the handle 36 can be prevented from moving into the open position and, since the first restriction portion 41a engages the second restriction pin 57 and the lower link 28 is subjected to a large force pulling it upward in Fig. 7, the operational force on the handle 36 can be used in breaking the weld between the contacts 22 and 24 when the weld is weak.
  • the present invention having the above described structure, has the advantageous results as discussed bellow.
  • the handle By providing a restriction member and arrange it such that the restriction member engages the handle arm and the cross bar upon the contact welding, the handle can be prevented from moving into the open position, and since there is no crossing movements of the components in the vicinity of the position other than the position at which the opening and closing mechanism portion is restricted upon normal switching operation or the tripping operation, making the high dimensional precision not required.
  • the restriction portion is located at a position far from the molten debris generating portion such as the arc extinguisher and since there are various mechanism components and partitions intervening between the molten debris generating portion (the arc extinguisher) and the restriction portion, the molten debris generated and scattered upon the current interruption deposits at lesser amount on the restriction portion, realizing a stable opening and closing operation.
  • the handle can be prevented from moving into the open position, and the operational force on the handle 36 can be used in lifting the lower link and the breaking the weld between the contacts 22 and 24 when the weld is weak.
  • the circuit breaker of the present invention is useful as the circuit breaker for protecting various electric devices used in the power distribution system.

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EP99961477A 1999-12-28 1999-12-28 Circuit breaker Expired - Lifetime EP1160818B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/JP1999/007405 WO2001048779A1 (fr) 1999-12-28 1999-12-28 Coupe-circuit

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1160818A1 EP1160818A1 (en) 2001-12-05
EP1160818A4 EP1160818A4 (en) 2003-04-02
EP1160818B1 true EP1160818B1 (en) 2004-07-21

Family

ID=14237751

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99961477A Expired - Lifetime EP1160818B1 (en) 1999-12-28 1999-12-28 Circuit breaker

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1160818B1 (ja)
JP (1) JP3857139B2 (ja)
AU (1) AU752069B2 (ja)
DE (1) DE69918864T2 (ja)
WO (1) WO2001048779A1 (ja)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3972782B2 (ja) * 2002-09-26 2007-09-05 富士電機機器制御株式会社 回路しゃ断器
DE102006044119B4 (de) 2006-09-20 2018-03-08 Eaton Industries Gmbh Elektrisches Schaltgerät
DE102010011999A1 (de) * 2010-03-18 2011-04-07 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Leistungsschalter
JP6395676B2 (ja) 2015-07-31 2018-09-26 三菱電機株式会社 回路遮断器
CN114551174B (zh) * 2022-03-25 2023-08-18 乐星电气(无锡)有限公司 一种具有连锁保护机构的断路器

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS58201222A (ja) * 1982-05-20 1983-11-24 寺崎電気産業株式会社 電気開閉器
US5142112A (en) * 1990-04-03 1992-08-25 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Circuit breaker positive off interlock
US5184717A (en) * 1991-05-29 1993-02-09 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Circuit breaker with welded contacts
FR2704354B1 (fr) * 1993-04-20 1995-06-23 Merlin Gerin Mecanisme de commande d'un disjoncteur electrique modulaire.
DE9401785U1 (de) * 1994-02-03 1995-07-20 Kloeckner Moeller Gmbh Schaltschloß mit einem Sperrmechanismus
US5910760A (en) * 1997-05-28 1999-06-08 Eaton Corporation Circuit breaker with double rate spring

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1160818A1 (en) 2001-12-05
AU752069B2 (en) 2002-09-05
DE69918864D1 (de) 2004-08-26
WO2001048779A1 (fr) 2001-07-05
EP1160818A4 (en) 2003-04-02
AU1804500A (en) 2001-07-09
JP3857139B2 (ja) 2006-12-13
DE69918864T2 (de) 2005-07-21

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