EP1226599B1 - Electric safety switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric safety switch device (1), especially a protective motor switch, comprising a housing (12) consisting of insulating material, a switching contact arrangement and a tripping unit with an electromagnetic instantaneous tripping device (10) comprising a trip coil (38), a magnet core (68), an armature (62) and a turn armature (69). The aim of the invention is to simplify the construction of the inventive device in such a way that said device can be assembled more comfortably and that the threshold values for the instantaneous tripping device can be adjusted more easily. To this end, the armature (62) is axially and moveably accommodated in a receiving body (60) made of insulating material. Said body (60) accommodates a spring element (64) which impinges the armature (62) with a spring force against the release moving direction thereof. The d receiving body (60) thus fitted can be mounted into the release unit and can be exchanged.

Description

The invention relates to an electrical circuit breaker, in particular Motor protection switch, according to the preamble of claim 1.

WO-A-9748113 describes a generic protective switching device. This comprises a tripping unit with a magnetic anchor device, which in the trip unit can be used. The separate magnet armature device consists of a sleeve-shaped insulating material, which has a movable armature, a pressed-in insulating material Magnetkem and a coil spring, the movable armature through Support applied to the magnetic core with a spring force. Furthermore, a Push rod available, which is supported on one side of the armature and the through the coil spring and a bore of the magnetic core through from the Magnet core protrudes outwards. The movable armature is means bow-shaped Wegbegrenzungsmittel held in the sleeve.

From DE 42 08 716 C2, such a switching device is already known. This protective switching device also has an insulating material housing with a Switching device and a trip unit with a short circuit sensitive electromagnetic quick release on.

The invention is based on the object, a generic switching device to create, which is so simplified in its construction that a more comfortable mounting of the device is possible and the thresholds for the quick release are easier to adjust.

Based on a protective device of the type mentioned is the Object according to the invention by the characterizing features of independent claim, while the dependent claims advantageous developments of the invention can be seen.

By forming a separate module comprising one Receiving body with a magnet armature and a spring element, which exchangeable, in particular via a non-positive connection with the Magnetic core of the quick release is connectable, is a replaceable Unit created for the quick release of a protective device. By Replacement of this unit according to the invention can easily the Tripping value of a protective switching device can be changed. costly Adjustments in a confined space are unnecessary. Advantageous is the unit from the front side (side of the actuator) of the switching device forth, in particular can be inserted perpendicular to the front surface of the device, can be fixed in the device. The inventive design is advantageous for devices with at least partially glued in the housing trip units. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the trip unit is exclusive fixed by gluing in the housing.

Figur 1:

ein Schutzschaltgerät gemäß der Erfindung in Perspektivansicht;

Figur 2:

die Auslöseeinheit des erfindungsgemäßen Schutzschaltgerätes in Explosionsdarstellung;

Figur 3a:

einen auswechselbaren Aufnahmekörper mit Magnetanker und Federelement in Explosionsdarstellung;

Figur 3b:

eine Schnittdarstellung des Aufnahmekörpers entlang der Linie A-A in Fig. 3a;

Figur 3c:

eine Schnittdarstellung des Aufnahmekörpers entlang der Linie B-B in Fig. 3a;

Figur 4:

eine vormontierte Auslöseeinheit mit separatem vormontierten Aufnahmekörper; und

Figur 5:

ein Schaltgerätegehäuseteil mit eingebauter Auslöseeinheit und separatem vormontierten Aufnahmekörper.

Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following, explained with reference to figures embodiment. Show it

FIG. 1:

a protective switching device according to the invention in perspective view;

FIG. 2:

the trip unit of the protection switching device according to the invention in an exploded view;

FIG. 3a:

an exchangeable receiving body with armature and spring element in exploded view;

FIG. 3b:

a sectional view of the receiving body along the line AA in Fig. 3a;

FIG. 3c:

a sectional view of the receiving body along the line BB in Fig. 3a;

FIG. 4:

a preassembled trip unit with a separate preassembled receiving body; and

FIG. 5:

a switching device housing part with built-in trip unit and separate pre-assembled receiving body.

Fig. 1 shows an electrical circuit breaker 1, in particular Motor protection switch, with a rotary drive and a rotary head 11 for on and Switching off and displaying tripping in case of overload or short circuit and with a housing 12 which is divided into three housing parts 13, 14, 15. The middle one Housing part 14 has cable entry openings 16 with cable clamps 17.

Fig. 2 shows the trip unit of the invention Protective switching device in an exploded view. It includes the Tripping unit a parts carrier 5, to which a connecting piece 6 can be fastened. The parts carrier 5 is advantageously made of a thermoplastic plastic.

The connecting piece 6 is made of copper and is L-shaped, wherein the lower outwardly directed leg 18 is provided as a contact tapping for the cable clamp 17.
The parts carrier 5 has a fixing pin 23 which projects into a corresponding recess on the lower leg 18 of the connecting piece 6.

The upper leg 21 is provided with a connection zone 19 for connection of an overcurrent or bimetallic release 9. In this case, a heating conductor 22, in particular by means of a plasma or inert gas welding connection, connected via the connection zone 19 with the connecting piece 6. For this purpose, the heating element 22 is placed in a known manner spirally around a bimetal 8 and at its other free end, preferably also by means of a plasma or inert gas welding connection, connected to the bimetal 8.
The inert gas welding connection between the copper and the bimetal 8, which is very difficult to weld, establishes a secure connection, thereby eliminating quality problems in this respect.
With the inert gas or plasma welding, the heating element 22 is welded to the passive side of the bimetal 8. The passive side of the bimetal 8 is well suited for welding because only the active side is made of an alloy that is relatively difficult or impossible to weld.

The lower end of the bimetal 8 is connected to a yoke plate 28 at an outwardly bent tongue 33 perpendicular.
The yoke plate 28 consists of a substantially U-shaped region with two parallel side limbs 29, 31 and a transverse leg 30 connecting them holding the quick release 10, one at the second leg 31 at right angles integrally connected mounting portion 32 and a tongue 33rd

At the attachment portion 32, a fixing tab is arranged, which in a elongated, provided with Fixiernoppen, latching opening of the parts carrier. 5 intervenes. As a result, the yoke plate 28 is fastened in the part carrier 5.

To the attachment portion 32 of the yoke plate 28 is a, substantially L-shaped contact element 7 with one of its leg parts arranged parallel to each other.

The trip coil 38 of the quick release 10 is its one coil end with the contact element 7 and with its other coil end to the yoke plate 28 connected to the attachment portion 32. The connection also takes place preferably by inert gas or plasma welding.

The parallel to the attachment portion 32 extending leg portion of the Contact element 7 is partially provided with recesses to Parts of the yoke plate 28 in contact with each other without contact and head side to be connected to a coil end of the trigger coil. hereby is built extremely space-saving.

In the lower part of the parts carrier 5, a slot motor 47 is pre-assembled.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the trip unit fixed only by gluing in the housing 12 (i.e. Screwing, locking, bracing or the like). As special Suitable splices have extensions on the voltage-carrying Share proved. In the illustrated embodiment, at least one first Klebefortsatz K1 at the connection zone 19 of the connecting piece 6, a second adhesive extension K2 on the tongue connected to the yoke plate 28 33 and a third and fourth adhesive extension K3, K4 on the yoke plate 28 itself, in Corner of side legs 29 and transverse leg 30, arranged.

The flow of current in the arranged on the parts carrier 5 parts is made by the lower leg of the connector 6 to the weld Connecting zone 19 / heating element 22, then in the heating element 22nd up to the welded joint heating element 22 / bimetal 8, then via the bimetal 8 up to the welded joint bimetal 8 / yoke plate 28, then over the attachment portion 32 of the yoke plate 28 to the Weld joint attachment portion 32 / trigger coil 38, then over the winding of the trigger coil 38 to the Welded connection trip coil 38 / contact element 7 in the Contact element 7 to continue the flow over the with the Contact element 7 cooperating movable contact element.

3a shows a preassemblable unit with a receiving body 60, a Magnetic armature 62 and a spring element 64 in an exploded view.

The armature 62 is formed substantially rod-shaped, with its lower part MA _{1 has} a nearly square cross-section and its upper part MA _{2 is formed} as a pin-shaped extension significantly smaller and in particular circular cross-section. In this case, the upper part MA _{2 is} advantageously not centric, but arranged offset from the center of the armature 62. At its free end, the upper part MA _{2 is expanded} by a preferably plate-like head piece 63. The magnet armature 62 is made of a magnetizable material.
The magnet armature body (with the exception of the head piece 63) can for example be easily rotated from a square profile. It can be made by centering the material in the central axis of the square profile, the lower part MA ₁ and centering of the material from the center of the profile, the upper part MA ₂ manufactured (eg by turning on a lathe).

The receiving body 60 is made of insulating material and serves to accommodate the Magnetic armature 62 and the spring element 64. In this case, the armature 62nd longitudinally movable in the, substantially tubular, Receiving body 60 stored. By the spring element 64, which is preferably designed as a torsion spring and also in, respectively on, the receiving body 60 is arranged, the armature 62 is opposite its triggering movement direction (here: down) with a spring force applied. For this purpose, the torsion spring supports with its one free end an abutment 66 of the receiving body 60. With her other free End behind the torsion spring engages behind the head 63 of the armature 62 and acts on this by a spring force against his Triggering movement direction.

The receiving body 60 consists essentially of a lower, tubular section I and a head section II.

The section I serves in its upper part I _{1 of} the guide of the armature 62 and in its lower part I _{2 of} the attachment within the quick release 10. In its upper part I ₁ , the receiving body 60 in adaptation to the lower part MA _{2 of} the armature 62th the wall area narrowing the circular cross-section (according to FIG. 3b). In its lower edge open part I ₂ , the receiving body 60 in its interior in adaptation to the cross section of the magnet armature 62, in particular circular, formed (Figure 3c).

For the mounting of the armature 62 in the receiving body 60 of the armature 62 is preceded by its head 63, introduced from below into the lower part I _{2 of} the receiving body 60. In a preassembled rest position of the armature 62 is biased within the receiving body 60 by a free, under the head piece 63 of the armature 62 cross, end of the torsion spring against the Auslösebewegungsrichtung. In this case, the armature 62 is limited by the formed between the upper and lower part of the armature 62 transition plane MA _Ü , which cooperates with a particular annular abutment in the interior of the receiving body 60 in its displacement against the tripping direction. In this way, in the preassembled unit (60, 62, 64) mounted armature 62 is movably mounted between the described rest position and a tripping in the direction of release position. The triggering position is achieved upon the occurrence of a certain magnetic field and thus at a certain short-circuit current level by the longitudinally mounted armature 62 and the fixed magnetic core 68 are magnetized by the generated magnetic field and attract by the magnetic effect. The achievable at a certain current displacement of the armature 62 and the spring force with which the armature 62 is biased against the release movement direction, interact. Thus, by the dimensioning of the torsion spring of the limiting current adjustable at which the quick release 10 should trigger. For the tripping operation, the armature 62 acts on a percussion armor 69, which is guided in regions in the magnetic core 68.

According to Figure 4, the receiving body 60 for attachment to the quick release 10 with its lower open end of section I through an opening 29a of the side leg 29 on the magnetic core 68 of the quick release 10th releasably attached (force-fit). This will be a simple Interchangeability of the preassemblable unit consisting of receiving body 60, armature 62 and spring element 64 guaranteed. This has one facilitated assembly and a simplified dimensioning of Switching devices with respect to their thresholds for short-circuit currents result. So that the unit 60, 62, 64 is secured against rotation in the short-circuit release 10, have the receiving body 60 and the side legs 29 corresponding Anti-rotation means 70, 71 on. For this purpose, the receiving body 60 preferably with a circumferentially arranged outwardly directed Fixation formed during the side legs 29 in his Opening 29a one cooperating with the fixation process Has recess.

The parts carrier is made of thermoplastic and is glued into the housing, which consists of duroplastic, or a housing part, as the other parts carrier of the other phases also.
The gluing is done without an additional connection, such as screw or bracing and the like.

Adhesive pockets are present on the housing, which are filled with a quantity of approximately 0.010 g of adhesive material.
In the adhesive pockets dive pins of the trip unit, which are glued there.
The first pins, or pin pairs, are each formed on the yoke plate while the second pins are formed on the connector. Furthermore, third pins are integrally formed on the yoke plate.

Glued only metal extensions of sheets, which are referred to here as pins. The pins are spatially distributed to ensure a good stop. There are twelve pins in total.
This eliminates any glands. Due to the permanently fixed connection is achieved in a simple manner that the bimetallic position remains stable. Thermal and mechanical stresses are also significantly reduced by the use of the thermoplastic by gluing, while the heat and dimensional stability is ensured.

The pre-assembled parts carrier is in the housing in existing for this Chambers inserted.

In addition, a Dimensioning the quick release (10) instead of replacing the whole unit (60, 62, 64) also by a changeability of the Spring preload can be achieved. For this purpose, the receiving body (60) Have means for changing the bias of the spring means (64). In In one possible embodiment, these means are used as an abutment for the Receiving a spring arm of the torsion spring formed so that these in different postions guarantees different biases. Furthermore, the subject matter of the invention also extends to others Protection devices such as circuit breakers or circuit breakers or like. Also, all features shown in the drawing belong to the Invention, in particular geometry, as shown.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

switchgear

1

parts carrier

5

connector

6

contact element

7

bimetallic

8th

Overcurrent release

9

instantaneous release

10

turret

11

casing

12

housing parts

13, 14, 15

Cable entry holes

16

cable clamp

17

lower thigh

18

connecting zone

19

upper leg

21

heating element

22

fixation pin

23

yoke plate

28

side leg

29, 31

transverse leg

30

attachment section

32

tongue

33

trip coil

38

receiving body

60

armature

62

headpiece

63

spring element

64

abutment

66

magnetic core

68

impact armature

69

anti-rotation

70, 71

Claims (12)

1. Electrical protective switching device (1), in particular a motor circuit breaker, having

   an enclosure (12) made of insulating material,

   a switching contact arrangement, and

   a tripping unit with an electromagnetic quick-action release (10) comprising a release coil (38), a magnet core (68), a magnet armature (62) and an impact armature (69), with

   the magnet armature (62) being mounted such that it can move axially in a holding body (60) composed of insulating material,

   the holding body (60) holding a spring element (64) which applies a spring force to the magnet armature (62) in the opposite direction to its tripping movement direction, and

   the holding body (60) fitted in this way can be mounted replaceably in the tripping unit,

      characterized in that

   the magnet core (68) is a stationary component of the quick-action release (10), and

   the fitted holding body (60) is plugged onto the magnet core (68) such that it can be detached.
2. Switching device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the holding body (60) is essentially tubular and has a lower part (I) which is closed around the circumference, is provided with one open end, and in which the magnet armature (62) is guided in places, and has an upper part (II), which is open in places on the circumference and in which the magnet armature (62) interacts with the spring element (64).
3. Switching device according to one or more of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the holding body (60) is arranged in an opening (29a) in a U-shaped yoke plate (28) of the quick-action release (10).
4. Switching device according to one or more of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that that end of the holding body (60) which faces away from the magnet armature head can be plugged on to the magnet core (68).
5. Switching device according to one or more of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the holding body (60) and the yoke plate (28) have rotation protection means (70, 71) which ensure that the holding body (60) cannot rotate.
6. Switching device according to one or more of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the spring element (64) is a rotary spring.
7. Switching device according to one or more of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the holding body (60) has means for varying the prestressing of the spring means (64).
8. Switching device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the means are in the form of an opposing bearing for holding one spring arm end of the rotary spring.
9. Switching device according to one or more of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the tripping unit is fixed exclusively by adhesive bonding in the enclosure (12).
10. Switching device according to one or more of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that the enclosure (12) is composed of a thermosetting plastic material.
11. Switching device according to one or more of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that the holding body (60) has an axial length which is greater than the length of the magnet armature (62) plus its displacement movement.
12. Switching device according to one or more of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that the lower part MA1 of the magnet armature (62) and the part I1, which guides the lower part MA1, of the holding body (60) are designed to match one another such that the magnet armature (62) is guided in the holding body (60) such that it cannot rotate.

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