EP1381067A2 - Electrical apparatus with switch and by-pass device - Google Patents
Electrical apparatus with switch and by-pass device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1381067A2 EP1381067A2 EP03075146A EP03075146A EP1381067A2 EP 1381067 A2 EP1381067 A2 EP 1381067A2 EP 03075146 A EP03075146 A EP 03075146A EP 03075146 A EP03075146 A EP 03075146A EP 1381067 A2 EP1381067 A2 EP 1381067A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- switches
- sides
- pass device
- switch
- terminals
- 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.)
- Granted
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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
- H01H71/02—Housings; Casings; Bases; Mountings
- H01H71/0264—Mountings or coverplates for complete assembled circuit breakers, e.g. snap mounting in panel
- H01H71/0271—Mounting several complete assembled circuit breakers together
Definitions
- the present invention concerns an electrical apparatus comprising two unipolar switches, each enclosed in a box-shaped container of insulating material and designed for being mounted on a common support with their respective sides parallel to each other and having connection terminals accessible from faces adjacent to the sides.
- the conductors of the electricity distribution network can be used for the transmission of control, measurement and data signals.
- An already existing network can thus be exploited for a function that would otherwise call for a specific and complex cable network.
- Typical examples of applications of this kind are conveyed wave remote control installations, in which a control device situated in any desired part of the building can activate an actuator device situated in some other part, and also intercom installations that make possible voice communication between different rooms served by the same electricity distribution network.
- a more recent example is the use of the electricity distribution network for connecting to Internet.
- the electricity distribution operator can inform his users about the conditions of the service and the users, in their turn, can benefit from the high-speed interconnection services made possible by cabled data transmission.
- a problem that has to be solved whenever it is desired to use the electricity distribution network for signal transmission derives from the existence of the usual main switches, be they automatic or manual, that serve to separate the installations in a single apartment from the network.
- main switches be they automatic or manual, that serve to separate the installations in a single apartment from the network.
- a typical by-pass device is a high-pass filter substantially constituted by a transformer coupled by means of capacitors to the network, respectively, upstream and downstream of the switch; the device is thus a double dipole with two input terminals and two output terminals.
- the by-pass device of course, must assure a degree of insulation between input and output at least equal to the insulation provided by the switch with which it is associated.
- connections between the known by-pass devices and the switch call for the use of four conductors to be connected to a like number of input and output terminals of the switch and therefore the tightening of eight terminal clamps. This implies a relatively laborious installation and, in any case, the use of relatively long interconnecting wires and therefore the risk of insulation problems between the input and the output of the switch.
- the present invention sets out to obviate the problems that have just been mentioned.
- each of the switch containers has on at least one side an opening corresponding to each of the connection terminals and the fact that the by-pass device, enclosed in a box-shaped container of insulating material and designed for being mounted on a common support with its sides parallel to the sides of the switches, has a pair of electrical terminals projecting from each side in positions such that, when the by-pass device is mounted on the common support between the two switches, its terminals can be inserted in the openings in the sides of the switch containers.
- the electrical apparatus is constituted by two unipolar switches 10 and a by-pass device 30.
- Each of the unipolar switches 10 is enclosed in a box-shaped container made of insulating material, plastic material for example.
- the container has a rear face 12 of such conformation as to permit its being coupled with a supporting rail 40, a front face 13 from which there projects a switch-operating lever 14, two opposite side faces 15, an upper face 16 and a lower face 17.
- Two openings 18 on the front face permit the insertion of a screwdriver to tighten or loosen the screws of two electrical connection clamps, not visible in the figure, that constitute the switch terminals.
- Both the upper face 16 and the lower face 17 are provided with respective openings 19 aligned with the terminal clamps that permit the insertion of the ends of two electrical conductors (not shown) to be gripped by the terminal clamps.
- the internal side faces 15 of the two switches i.e. their respective sides that face the other switch, are provided with slots 20, which are likewise aligned with their respective terminal clamps.
- One of the two switches in this example an automatic switch, is provided with a pin 5 that projects from a slot 6 of a side face 15, the other switch is provided with a similar slot (which cannot be seen in the figure) and the by-pass device 30 is provided with a through slot 7 that passes from one side to the other.
- the pin 5 passes through the slot 7 and engages with a tripping device that can be accessed through the corresponding slot of the other switch, so that the tripping of the automatic switch will also open the other switch.
- the by-pass device 30 is enclosed in a container similar to the ones of the switches 10 and is mounted on the same supporting rail 40.
- Two electric terminals 41 project from each of the sides 42 of the container in positions such that, when the two switches are made to slide along the rail towards the by-pass device (as indicated by the arrows in the figure), the terminals 41 of the by-pass device enter into the slots 20 on the sides of the switches.
- These terminals 41 are made of sheet metal and have a horseshoe shape, so that, once they have become inserted in the slots 20 while the clamps are slackened, they will pass under the heads of the locking screws of their respective terminal clamps.
- the operating levers of the two switches 10 may be mechanically coupled to each other, for example, by means of the usual slotted crosspiece (not shown in the figure).
- the by-pass device may be connected either - as in the example just described - to an automatic switch consisting of two elements, one of which is a simple unipolar switch and the other a unipolar switch with protection, or to a an automatic three-pole or four-pole switch.
- the conductor ends of the by-pass device are connected to the two corresponding ends of the conductors that serve also as signal transmission conductors.
- a typical case is the one of the four-pole switch: the by-pass device is inserted between the neutral pole and one of the phase poles.
- the electric apparatus in accordance with the invention has various advantages as compared with prior art equipment performing the same function:
Landscapes
- Connections Arranged To Contact A Plurality Of Conductors (AREA)
- Remote Monitoring And Control Of Power-Distribution Networks (AREA)
- Switch Cases, Indication, And Locking (AREA)
Abstract
Two unipolar switches (10), each enclosed in a box-shaped
container made of insulating material, are
designed for being mounted on a common support (40) with
their respective sides parallel to each other and have
connection terminals accessible from faces (13, 17)
adjacent to the sides. In order to realize an electrical
apparatus in which the two switches are shunted in high
frequency by a by-pass device, each of the switch
containers (10) is provided on at least one side (15)
with an opening (20) corresponding to each of the
connection terminals and the by-pass device (30)is
enclosed in a box-shaped container of insulating
material designed for being mounted with its sides (42)
parallel to the sides of the switches (10) on the common
support (40) and has two electric terminals (41)
projecting from each side (42) in positions such that,
when the by-pass device (30) is mounted on the common
support (40) between the two switches (10), the
terminals (41) can become inserted in the openings (20)
on the sides (15) of the switch containers (10).
Description
The present invention concerns an electrical
apparatus comprising two unipolar switches, each
enclosed in a box-shaped container of insulating
material and designed for being mounted on a common
support with their respective sides parallel to each
other and having connection terminals accessible from
faces adjacent to the sides.
As is well known, the conductors of the
electricity distribution network can be used for the
transmission of control, measurement and data signals.
An already existing network can thus be exploited for a
function that would otherwise call for a specific and
complex cable network.
Typical examples of applications of this kind
are conveyed wave remote control installations, in which
a control device situated in any desired part of the
building can activate an actuator device situated in
some other part, and also intercom installations that
make possible voice communication between different
rooms served by the same electricity distribution
network.
A more recent example is the use of the
electricity distribution network for connecting to
Internet. By means of this connection the electricity
distribution operator can inform his users about the
conditions of the service and the users, in their turn,
can benefit from the high-speed interconnection services
made possible by cabled data transmission.
A problem that has to be solved whenever it is
desired to use the electricity distribution network for
signal transmission derives from the existence of the
usual main switches, be they automatic or manual, that
serve to separate the installations in a single
apartment from the network. Let us consider, for
example, a user who disposes of a terminal by means of
which he can receive conveyed wave information from the
electricity distributor. If the automatic main switch
trips, the installation within the apartment will remain
cut off from the electricity distribution network and
the data transmission network. In the example under
consideration the user cannot use his terminal to find
out whether the tripping of the switch was caused by an
intervention of the electricity distribution operator,
some breakdown in the network or an overload of his own
installation.
With a view to solving this problem, there are
known the so-called by-pass devices, i.e. arrangements
that shunt the local installation switches for signals
only. Such by-pass devices perform their function by
exploiting the fact that signals are transmitted at high
frequencies, while electricity is distributed at low
frequencies. A typical by-pass device is a high-pass
filter substantially constituted by a transformer
coupled by means of capacitors to the network,
respectively, upstream and downstream of the switch; the
device is thus a double dipole with two input terminals
and two output terminals. The by-pass device, of course,
must assure a degree of insulation between input and
output at least equal to the insulation provided by the
switch with which it is associated.
The connections between the known by-pass
devices and the switch call for the use of four
conductors to be connected to a like number of input and
output terminals of the switch and therefore the
tightening of eight terminal clamps. This implies a
relatively laborious installation and, in any case, the
use of relatively long interconnecting wires and
therefore the risk of insulation problems between the
input and the output of the switch.
The present invention sets out to obviate the
problems that have just been mentioned.
According to the invention this aim is
attained by virtue of the fact that each of the switch
containers has on at least one side an opening
corresponding to each of the connection terminals and
the fact that the by-pass device, enclosed in a box-shaped
container of insulating material and designed for
being mounted on a common support with its sides
parallel to the sides of the switches, has a pair of
electrical terminals projecting from each side in
positions such that, when the by-pass device is mounted
on the common support between the two switches, its
terminals can be inserted in the openings in the sides
of the switch containers.
The invention will be understood more clearly
from the detailed description about to be given of a
particular embodiment thereof, which is to be considered
as an example and not limitative in any way, said
description making reference to the attached drawing,
the single figure of which shows a perspective view of
an electrical apparatus in accordance with the invention
in a mounting phase.
In the illustrated example the electrical
apparatus is constituted by two unipolar switches 10 and
a by-pass device 30.
Each of the unipolar switches 10 is enclosed
in a box-shaped container made of insulating material,
plastic material for example. The container has a rear
face 12 of such conformation as to permit its being
coupled with a supporting rail 40, a front face 13 from
which there projects a switch-operating lever 14, two
opposite side faces 15, an upper face 16 and a lower
face 17. Two openings 18 on the front face permit the
insertion of a screwdriver to tighten or loosen the
screws of two electrical connection clamps, not visible
in the figure, that constitute the switch terminals.
Both the upper face 16 and the lower face 17 (only the
lower face can be seen in the figure) are provided with
respective openings 19 aligned with the terminal clamps
that permit the insertion of the ends of two electrical
conductors (not shown) to be gripped by the terminal
clamps. The internal side faces 15 of the two switches,
i.e. their respective sides that face the other switch,
are provided with slots 20, which are likewise aligned
with their respective terminal clamps.
One of the two switches, in this example an
automatic switch, is provided with a pin 5 that projects
from a slot 6 of a side face 15, the other switch is
provided with a similar slot (which cannot be seen in
the figure) and the by-pass device 30 is provided with a
through slot 7 that passes from one side to the other.
When the two switches are mounted by the side of the by-pass
device, the pin 5 passes through the slot 7 and
engages with a tripping device that can be accessed
through the corresponding slot of the other switch, so
that the tripping of the automatic switch will also open
the other switch.
The by-pass device 30 is enclosed in a
container similar to the ones of the switches 10 and is
mounted on the same supporting rail 40. Two electric
terminals 41 project from each of the sides 42 of the
container in positions such that, when the two switches
are made to slide along the rail towards the by-pass
device (as indicated by the arrows in the figure), the
terminals 41 of the by-pass device enter into the slots
20 on the sides of the switches. These terminals 41, at
least in this example, are made of sheet metal and have
a horseshoe shape, so that, once they have become
inserted in the slots 20 while the clamps are slackened,
they will pass under the heads of the locking screws of
their respective terminal clamps. The tightening of
these screws onto the ends of the conductors that are to
be connected to the switches assures the electrical and
mechanical connection of the by-pass device 30 to the
two switches 10. On completion of the mounting
operation, the operating levers of the two switches 10
may be mechanically coupled to each other, for example,
by means of the usual slotted crosspiece (not shown in
the figure).
The by-pass device may be connected either -
as in the example just described - to an automatic
switch consisting of two elements, one of which is a
simple unipolar switch and the other a unipolar switch
with protection, or to a an automatic three-pole or
four-pole switch. In the latter case, of course, the
conductor ends of the by-pass device are connected to
the two corresponding ends of the conductors that serve
also as signal transmission conductors. A typical case
is the one of the four-pole switch: the by-pass device
is inserted between the neutral pole and one of the
phase poles.
As can be seen, the electric apparatus in
accordance with the invention has various advantages as
compared with prior art equipment performing the same
function:
- the connections between the by-pass device and the switches are very short,
- the layout of the connections is optimal for assuring the maximum degree of insulation, because the distance between the terminals is as large as possible,
- the mechanical and electrical connection between the by-pass device and the switches is made automatically and in a very simple manner and also without having to use any external connection elements.
Although only a single embodiment of the present
invention has here been illustrated and described, it is
evident that numerous variants and modifications are
possible within the ambit of the underlying inventive
concept. For example, the place of the screw-type
terminal clamps of the switches could be taken by some
other type of connection terminal, plug-in terminals for
example: in that case the terminals of both the by-pass
device and the switches could be different from the ones
described above and could, for example, be likewise of
the plug-in type.
Claims (2)
- Electrical apparatus comprising two unipolar switches (10), each enclosed in a box-shaped container made of insulating material and designed for being mounted on a common support (40) with their respective sides parallel to each other and having connection terminals accessible from faces (13, 17) adjacent to the sides, characterized in that each of the switch containers (10) is provided on at least one side (15) with an opening (20) corresponding to each of the connection terminals and that it comprises a by-pass device (30) enclosed in a box-shaped container of insulating material designed for being mounted with its sides (42) parallel to the sides of the switches (10) on the common support (40) and from each side of which there project two electric terminals (41) in positions such that, when the by-pass device (30) is mounted on the common support (40) between the two switches (10), said terminals (41) can become inserted in the openings (20) on the sides (15) of the switch containers (10).
- Electric apparatus in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the connection terminals are clamps with respective tightening screws and the terminals of the by-pass device (41) are shaped in such a way as to be clenched by the screws of the terminal clamps.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| IT2002RM000366A ITRM20020366A1 (en) | 2002-07-09 | 2002-07-09 | ELECTRIC APPLIANCE WITH SWITCH AND OVERPASS DEVICE. |
| ITRM20020366 | 2002-07-09 |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP1381067A2 true EP1381067A2 (en) | 2004-01-14 |
| EP1381067A3 EP1381067A3 (en) | 2005-04-13 |
| EP1381067B1 EP1381067B1 (en) | 2011-07-06 |
Family
ID=11456397
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP03075146A Expired - Lifetime EP1381067B1 (en) | 2002-07-09 | 2003-01-17 | Electrical apparatus with switch and by-pass device |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP1381067B1 (en) |
| IT (1) | ITRM20020366A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2009105184A1 (en) * | 2008-02-19 | 2009-08-27 | Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. | Multi-pole armature interlock for circuit breakers |
| DE102021208518A1 (en) | 2021-08-05 | 2023-02-09 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Insulated housing and low-voltage protective switching device |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE7711221U1 (en) * | 1977-04-09 | 1977-08-18 | Ellenberger & Poensgen Gmbh, 8503 Altdorf | Terminal board for electrical installation devices |
| DE3820113C1 (en) * | 1988-06-13 | 1989-11-09 | Kloeckner-Moeller Elektrizitaetsgesellschaft Mbh, 5300 Bonn, De | Additional switch for surface mounting on a line protection circuit breaker |
| DE29501577U1 (en) * | 1995-02-01 | 1995-04-20 | Heinrich Kopp Ag, 63796 Kahl | Housing for a phase coupler |
| DE69725846T2 (en) * | 1997-09-23 | 2004-05-13 | Bticino S.P.A. | Device for connecting two modular electrical units |
-
2002
- 2002-07-09 IT IT2002RM000366A patent/ITRM20020366A1/en unknown
-
2003
- 2003-01-17 EP EP03075146A patent/EP1381067B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2009105184A1 (en) * | 2008-02-19 | 2009-08-27 | Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. | Multi-pole armature interlock for circuit breakers |
| US7986203B2 (en) | 2008-02-19 | 2011-07-26 | Siemens Industry, Inc. | Multi-pole armature interlock for circuit breakers |
| DE102021208518A1 (en) | 2021-08-05 | 2023-02-09 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Insulated housing and low-voltage protective switching device |
| EP4138112A1 (en) * | 2021-08-05 | 2023-02-22 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Insulating housing and low-voltage protective switching device |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP1381067B1 (en) | 2011-07-06 |
| ITRM20020366A1 (en) | 2004-01-09 |
| EP1381067A3 (en) | 2005-04-13 |
| ITRM20020366A0 (en) | 2002-07-09 |
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