EP1329923A2 - Circuit breaker with simplified structure - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a manually movable actuation lever (3) in a housing, at least one fixed contact, at least one pivotable dual arm contact lever (26), a single holding and opening spring (39) with one end anchored on the contact lever, a pivotably mounted control lever (6), at least one locking lever (17) and an excess current trip (4) that moves the locking lever from the latching to the released position if an excess current occurs.

Description

DE 25 04 954 C1 describes a mechanical spring mechanism known for miniature circuit breakers. The jump mechanism, also called key switch, has a manually operated Actuator assembly on by a toggle with two Knee lever sections is formed. One of the two toggle arms is pivoted to the housing.

In addition to the toggle lever arrangement, there are two other levers coaxially mounted on a common axis, of which the one over one. Prestressed compression spring in the opening direction is. Another spring is used which is coaxial with each other stored lever in a predetermined relative position to each other bring to. A third spring ensures that the manually accessible toggle arm in the off position is biased.

The key switch is due to the large number of springs relatively complicated to assemble. Since it is Miniature circuit breakers are mass-produced, also play simple improvements play an essential role. Let it be the cost of simplifying the key switch significantly lower.

The object of the invention is therefore to create a new one To create auto switches with a single hold and Opening spring comes out.

This object is achieved by the line switch solved with the features of claim 1.

The housing of the new automatic switch contains one pivoted operating lever assembly, which is manual is to be moved. The actuating lever arrangement acts on the Switch lock, which is set up a movable Contact with a fixed contact hold or in case of overcurrent or manual Deselect the contacts to separate.

The key switch includes a first contact lever, which carries the movable contact, and a control lever. The The control lever and the contact lever differ from the State of the art not on a common axis, but the axes of rotation are separated from each other. The between single contact spring and control lever effective spring, serves both to generate the contact pressure as also to create the opening. There is only one Spring is required to handle both operating situations to master the structure is significantly simplified.

An overcurrent release device acts in the usual way a locking or locking lever, which ensures that the operating lever assembly Key switch in the preloaded position with a contact fork can hold.

In the operating lever arrangement, one of the toggle levers by a housing-fixed stop against excessive Protection of movement beyond the necessary stroke.

The contact lever is preferably a two-armed lever trained, one arm carrying the contact and the other arm is designed to cooperate with the control lever is. If the arm provided with the contact is simultaneously connected to the holding and opening spring is a tension spring as a holding and opening spring be used. Tension springs are opposite to compression springs advantageous because it is stretched without additional aid stay.

Particularly space-saving conditions result, if the pivot axis for the contact lever and the pivot axis for the control lever are parallel to each other. she are to the side to achieve the required separation, that is, radially offset from one another.

The pivot axes of the contact lever and the control lever are arranged such that the holding and opening spring in the on position, in which the movable contact touches the fixed contact, more excited than with separate contacts. This is the largest Actuation force available when it comes to the Separate contacts, even if they are due to previous Spark formation due to bouncing more or are less welded together.

It is particularly preferred if the pivot axis of the Contact lever and. that of the control lever placed in this way. are that the holding and opening spring on the control lever generates a torque that is aimed in one direction to rotate, in which he contacts the contact lever from the. fixed contact turns away.

Different speeds and torques can be transferred to the contact lever when using Help from two driving surfaces that exist on the control lever are actuated.

The use of simple takeaway, which is only act as driving surfaces in one direction of rotation, enables decoupling in the opposite direction or disengaging, if on another Make a faster movement forced on the contact lever becomes.

In addition, simple take-away areas make it easier essential the assembly.

If one of the two driving areas has a larger one radial distance from the pivot axis of the contact lever has than the other driving surface, can be different Torques and different speeds to reach. So preferably that take-away area is which causes the first contact separation in a larger one radial distance as the second driving surface. On this way, high torque contact separation reached while subsequently after the other takeaway takes effect, the contact lever at high speed is turned away from the fixed contact. A quick turn away accelerates the. Arc extinction.

This can be achieved especially if initially the driving surface with the greater radial distance engages the contact lever.

Favorable geometric conditions arise when the driving areas covered on opposite sides lie on the pivot axis of the contact lever.

If the locking lever is designed as a two-armed lever is one of which is an arm for cooperation from the Current release device is set up, a spatial Proximity of the fixed contact and the overcurrent release device reached. This favors a compact Design.

The locking of the operating lever assembly on the Control surface can be accomplished very easily by the locking lever carries a hook that is in the area the control surface and behind which there is an arm the toggle lever assembly can get caught around the toggle lever assembly to hold in the extended, depressed position.

In addition, developments of the invention are the subject of subclaims. Such combinations of features are also intended are considered to be claimed on the no express embodiment is directed.

Fig. 1

einen Ausschnitt aus dem erfindungsgemäßen Selbstschalter in der Einschaltstellung und in einer Draufsicht, wobei nur solche Komponenten veranschaulicht sind, die für das Verständnis der Erfindung wesentlich sind,

Fig. 2

die Anordnung nach Figur 1, in der Stellung nach dem Auslösen durch Überstrom,

Fig. 3

die Anordnung nach Figur 1, in der Stellung nach dem Ausschalten von Hand bzw vor dem Wiedereinschalten,

Fig. 4

den Steuerhebel in einer Draufsicht,

Fig. 5

den Verriegelungshebel in einer Draufsicht und

Fig. 6

den Kontakthebel in einer Draufsicht.

In the drawing, an embodiment of the object of the invention is shown in a greatly simplified form. Show it:

Fig. 1

a section of the self-switch according to the invention in the switched-on position and in a plan view, only those components are illustrated which are essential for understanding the invention,

Fig. 2

1 in the position after tripping by overcurrent,

Fig. 3

1 in the position after switching off manually or before switching on again,

Fig. 4

the control lever in a top view,

Fig. 5

the locking lever in a plan view and

Fig. 6

the contact lever in a plan view.

Figure 1 shows a highly schematic plan view and magnifies those essential to understanding Components of a self-switch 1. The self-switch is the technical term under the line circuit breaker, Motor protection switch, residual current switch, residual current switch and the like.

The auto switch 1 includes a section. Illustrated housing 2, an operating lever assembly 3, an overcurrent release device 4 and a key switch 5th

The key switch 5 includes a control lever 6, which is shown in Figure 3 for itself.

The control lever 6 has a first arm 7 which contains a bearing bore 8 at one end. That from the bearing hole 8 remote end of the arm 7 carries one opposite the longitudinal axis of the arm 7 oblique control surface 9, which in a manner described later with the Actuating lever arrangement 3 interacts. About in the middle between the control surface 9 and the bearing bore 8 a projection 11 protruding from the drawing plane is formed, which forms a driving surface 12 which points to the left. The driving surface 12 points approximately in the same direction as the control surface 9. Approximately at the level of the driving surface 12 protrudes from arm 7 an arcuate arm 13, that of the driving surface 12 with respect to two pins 14 and 15 carries, which rise from the plane of the drawing. The cone 14 serves as a journal, while the journal 15 has the function of an abutment. The axes of the pins 14 and 15 are parallel to the axis of the bore 8.

The arm 13 runs out curved and carries at its end a cylindrical stop 16, which is also made the drawing level. The stop 16 is from the bearing bore 8 radially spaced, and the connecting straight line between the center of the stop 16 and the bearing bore 8 closes with the longitudinal axis of the arm 7 at an angle of the 120 ° a. Both arms are approximately in one plane.

A locking lever 17 is on the bearing pin 14 pivoted, which is shown in Figure 4 for itself is. The locking lever 17 is a two-armed lever with an approximately central bearing bore 18 and two arms 19 and 21 extending from the bearing bore 18.

The arm 21 carries an approximately in at its free end Direction to the bearing bore 18 open hooks 22 and a guide surface 23.

If the locking lever 17 according to Figure 1 on the Bearing pin 14 is mounted, its guide surface 23 the control surface 9 opposite.

The arm 19 is located essentially within the Outer contour of the control lever 6, the arm 19 such is dimensioned such that it pivots the locking lever 7 on the journal 14 is not hindered.

The assembly consists of the control lever 16 and the Locking lever 17 is 8 in with the help of the bearing bore the control lever 6. a bearing pin 25, which is fixed to the housing is stored. The axis of the journal 25 is parallel to the axis of the journal 14 and the axis of rotation of the actuating lever arrangement Third

With the help of the control lever 5 is at least in one Direction of rotation pivoted a contact lever 26. The contact lever 26 is on a bearing journal 27 pivoted. The bearing pin 27 is to the bearing pin 25 parallel to this but offset at an angle.

The contact lever 26 is shown for itself in FIG. 6. It is a two-armed lever, one arm 28 is bent down in a way that its free End 29 can cooperate with the driving surface 12. Amgegenüberliegenden End, beyond a bearing bore 30 the contact lever 26 forms a contact arm 31 free end is a movable contact 32.

The contact arm is also in the assembled state 32 in the path of movement of the stop 16.

The overcurrent trip device 4 is in the usual Designed wisely. It carries a magnetic winding 34 that. serves an axial when a short-circuit current occurs movable plunger 35 to move. The plunger can also 35 by a thermal actuator 36 be set in motion. The magnetic winding 34 is made from a strong copper wire and also serves at the same time as a heater for the thermal actuator 36. The copper winding 34 is on a fixed contact tab 37 electrically connected. The contact tab 37 forms the fixed contact of the circuit breaker 1.

A tension spring engages on the arm 32 of the contact lever 26 39, whose other end is anchored on the pin 15. is.

The actuating lever arrangement 3 is designed as a toggle lever. It consists of a first toggle arm 41 with an actuation toggle 42 and a second toggle arm 43 together. The two toggle arms 41, 43 are over a toggle joint 44 rotatably connected to each other. The The toggle arm 41 is on an axis 45 fixed to the housing pivoted. The axis 45 is to the axes 25 and 27 in parallel.

A stop 46 provided in the housing 1 limits a pivoting movement of the toggle arm 41 in the counterclockwise direction based on the representation of Figure 1.

The remaining parts of a line switch 1 such as arc extinguishing devices, Connection terminals, supply line to the movable contact 32 and the like are there are not essential for understanding the invention and would only unnecessarily overload the drawing with details, not shown.

The other dimensions result from the following functional description.

First of all, assume that the auto switch 1 is in the position shown in Figure 1. The toggle arms 41, 43 is in the depressed position, wherein an actuation extension 47 of the toggle arm 41 abuts the stop 46. The toggle arm 43 supports itself with a cylindrical pin 48, which is on the free end is located on the control surface 9. The control surface 9 is skewed as shown, in in such a way that a force with a Component arises, which strives toggle arm 43 in Turn clockwise upwards.

The toggle lever arm 43 is prevented from this rotary movement, because it is in the hook 22 of the locking pawl 17th is hooked.

The hook 22 is, as is usual with switch locks, only slightly curved like a hook, just so far that the pin 22 can not come free. With the help of the oppressed The control lever 6 in the toggle lever arrangement Figure 1 shown held the maximum Rotation corresponds clockwise. In this position the pin 15 is in a position that the spring. 39 with biases a large force so that the moving contact 32 of the contact lever 26 with a corresponding contact force pressed against the fixed contact 37 becomes.

The point of application of the tension spring 39 lies, like the figure reveals between the stop 16 and the journal 27. The effective lever arm results from the radial one Distance of the longitudinal axis of the tension spring 39 from the bearing journal 2.7.

If an overcurrent occurs in this situation, either a short circuit or a slight overcurrent speaks either the magnetic winding 34 or the thermal Movement device 36 and pushes the plunger 35 after right towards arm 19 of the locking lever 17. The locking lever freely rotatably mounted on the journal 14 this turns it counterclockwise its latching position turned into its release position, in which his hook 22 the pin 48 of the toggle arm 43 releases. The pin 48 can now along the control surface 9 slide upwards, with the toggle arm 43 in the toggle joint 44 rotates counterclockwise performs.

The tension spring 39 is supported on the other end on the contact arm 32 is, the control lever 6 can now on the journal 25 in. Turn counterclockwise. Here comes first the. Driving surface 12 with the end 29 of the actuating arm 28 of the contact lever 26 in engagement. by virtue of the greater radial distance between the contact point between the driving surface 12 and the tip 29 of the journal 27 compared to the lever arm with which the tension spring 39 acts on the contact arm 32, the control lever rotates. 6 first with a relatively large force the contact lever 26 also counterclockwise. The now separating force occurring caused by the spring is approximately three times the force with which the movable contact 32 against the fixed contact 37 was pressed.

The conditions are roughly as if it were relevant end of the tension spring 39 not on the contact arm 32 but firmly anchored to the 2 housing.

The acting, very high torque tears a possible one Welding between the contact 32 and the fixed Contact 37 with certainty. The first contact separation takes place with great force and lower angular velocity.

As soon as the control lever 6 after tearing the touch between the contact 32 and the fixed contact 38 has pivoted sufficiently far, the cylindrical comes Stop 16, which acts as a second driving surface, with the Contact arm 31 engaged. The point of contact between the stop 16 and the journal 25 has a smaller one radial distance from the journal 27 as the point of contact between the driving surface 12 and the tip 29. This creates a quick translation, so to speak and the control lever 6 now moves the contact lever 26 with a greater angular velocity than the effect the driving surface 12.

At the same time, the axis moves due to the pivoting the tension spring 39 gets closer and closer to the bearing journal 27, so that the return force acting on the contact lever 26 decreases. In contrast, the force with which the control lever increases 6 is rotated, too, because of the pivoting of the Distance between the axis of the tension spring 39 and the bearing journal 25 enlarged.

The movement comes to a standstill as soon as Figure 2 shows the back of the locking lever 17 on one only stop 51 shown in FIG. 2 comes to the plant.

Figure 2 shows the end position after triggering overcurrent:

The surface 23 in turn lies on the control surface 9 on. The stop 16 presses against the contact arm 31 and keeps it pivoted away from the fixed contact 37. The gag 42 assumes a central position and signals to the outside that triggering by overcurrent has taken place. The pin 48 is finally in the Gusset between the tip of the control lever 6 and the surface 23 of the locking lever.

To switch on the automatic switch 1 again, the User the control knob 42 from the in Figure 2 shown center position clockwise to the right Position according to Fig. 3. The originally in the gusset area between surface 23 and the rounded tip of the control lever 6 located pin 48 of the toggle arm 43 is drawn in between these two surfaces, thereby they are separated, whereby the investment power in turn from the Spring 39 originates, the control lever 6 as mentioned above applies a counterclockwise torque.

When the toggle 42 reaches its right pivot end position has, the pin 48 is inside the hook 22nd

By pivoting the actuating knob 42 in the direction to the position as shown in Figure 1 the toggle lever assembly extended from the toggle levers 41 and 43 and pushes the control lever 6 clockwise against the torque exerted by the spring 39. At the end the pivoting movement has reached the position according to FIG. 1, in which the toggle arm 41 with the projection 47 on the abutment fixed to the housing 46. This is the starting position reached and the circuit above the fixed Contact 38 and the contact arm 32 restored. The Hooking in the hook 22 takes the locking lever 17th with and prevents separation from the control surface 9.

Hands-free switching is also possible: For this the user rotates the knob 42 clockwise on Figure 1. As soon as the two toggle arms 41 and 43 have left the oppression and in the other direction can buckle, the tension spring 39 does the rest the required pivoting movement of the contact carrier lever 26. This is done in the same way as before in Described in connection with overcurrent tripping. The the only difference is that the pin 48 the. Hook 22 does not leave and immediately in the position 3 comes.

To the toggle 42 in the To keep middle position around the. To signal overcurrent tripping is the tension spring 39 with an extension 52 provided that acts as a spiral spring. The spiral spring 52 presses one against a pin 53 on the toggle arm 41 to keep it in the middle position. She panned the toggle arm 41 until the pin 48 with a low preload in the gusset area between the Surface 23 and the tip of the control surface 9 held is.

A self-switch has a key switch that with just a single tension spring, both to generate the contact pressure as well as the opening force. For this purpose there is a control lever on one axis is mounted, which is opposite the bearing axis for the contact lever is radially offset. Due to the lateral offset can change the distance between parts of the contact lever and parts of the control lever used to do so Swivel movements to create the two axes. The relative distance changes in the area of the spring between the anchor points of the spring on the control lever and the contact lever.

Claims (18)

Automatic switch (1) With. a housing (2), with a manually movable actuating lever arrangement (3) which is pivotably mounted in the housing (2), with at least one fixed contact (38) arranged in the housing (2), with at least one two-armed contact lever (26) which is pivotally mounted in the housing (2) about a first pivot axis (27) fixed to the housing and carries at least one contact (32) which interacts with the associated fixed contact (38), with a single holding and opening spring (39), one end of which is anchored to the contact lever (26), with a control lever (6) pivotably mounted in the housing (2), which is mounted on a second pivot axis (25) which is fixed to the housing and is separated from the first pivot axis (27) of the contact lever (26), which is set up to positively transmit a movement to the contact lever (26) in one direction of rotation, which has an abutment (15) on which the other end of the holding and opening spring (39) is anchored, and which carries a control surface (9) which interacts with the actuating lever arrangement (3) in order to hold the control lever (6) in an on position in the actuating lever arrangement (3) in which the holding and opening spring (39) holds the contact lever (26) in the sense of making contact between the two contacts (32, 38), with at least one locking lever (17), which is pivotally mounted on the control lever (6) about an axis (14) between a latching position and a release position, and which is designed such that it holds the actuating lever arrangement (3) on the control surface (9) in the latching position, and with an overcurrent release device (4) which is set up to transfer the locking lever (17) from the latching position into the release position in the event of an overcurrent. Automatic switch according to claim 1, characterized in that it is designed for a nominal current of up to 25 amps. Automatic switch according to Claim 1, characterized in that the actuating lever arrangement (3) comprises a toggle lever with two toggle lever arms (41, 43), one of which is pivotably mounted in the housing (2) and the other of which cooperates with the control surface (9). Automatic switch according to Claim 1, characterized in that the toggle lever arrangement (41, 43) is assigned a stop (46) on the housing side, for limiting the pivoting movement of the toggle lever arms (41, 43) in the switched-on position. Automatic switch according to Claim 1, characterized in that the contact lever (26) is designed as a two-armed lever, one arm (32) carrying the contact and the other arm (28) being designed to interact with the control lever (6). Automatic switch according to Claim 5, characterized in that the arm (32) is connected to the contact with the holding and opening spring (39). Automatic switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivot axis (27) for the contact lever (26) and the pivot axis (25) for the control lever (6) are parallel to one another. Automatic switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivot axis (25) for the control lever (6) and the pivot axis (27) for the contact lever (26) are laterally offset from one another. Automatic switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivot axis (25, 27) of the contact lever (26) and that of the control lever (6) are arranged such that the holding and opening spring (39) in the switched-on position, in which the movable contact (32) touches the fixed contact (38), is more tensioned than with separate contacts (32, 38). Automatic switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivot axis (25, 27) of the contact lever (26) and. that of the control lever (6) are arranged such that the holding and opening spring (39) on the control lever (6) generates a torque which tends to rotate the control lever (6) in a direction in which it makes contact (32) of the contact lever (26) turns away from the fixed contact (38), Automatic switch according to Claim 1, characterized in that the control lever (6) carries a driving surface (12, 16) which is set up to interact with the contact lever (26). Automatic switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the control lever (6) has two driving surfaces (12, 16) which are set up to interact with the contact lever (2.6) and which are oriented such that they only engage the contact lever (26) a torque can transmit a direction of movement, and that the direction is the direction in the sense of moving the movable contact (32) away from the fixed contact (38). Automatic switch according to claim 12, characterized in that the one driving surface (12) is at a greater radial distance from the pivot axis (27) of the contact lever (26) than the other driving surface (16). Automatic switch according to claim 12, characterized in that the first driving surface (12) comes into engagement with the contact lever (26) while the other driving surface (16) is still at a distance from the contact lever (26). Automatic switch according to claim 12, characterized in that the driving surfaces (12, 16) lie on the opposite sides of the pivot axis (27) of the contact lever (26). Automatic switch according to Claim 1, characterized in that the locking lever (17) is designed as a two-armed lever, one arm (19) of which is designed to cooperate with the current release device (4). Automatic switch according to Claim 1, characterized in that the locking lever (17) carries a hook (22) which is located in the region of the control surface (9). Automatic switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the hook (22) opens at least approximately in the direction of the pivot axis (14) of the locking lever (17).

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