EP1475817B1 - Circuit breaker - Google Patents

Circuit breaker Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1475817B1
EP1475817B1 EP01982867A EP01982867A EP1475817B1 EP 1475817 B1 EP1475817 B1 EP 1475817B1 EP 01982867 A EP01982867 A EP 01982867A EP 01982867 A EP01982867 A EP 01982867A EP 1475817 B1 EP1475817 B1 EP 1475817B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
base
circuit breaker
arc
contact
moving 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
EP01982867A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1475817A4 (en
EP1475817A1 (en
Inventor
Shunichi C/O Mitsubishi Denki K. K. Katsube
Kazunori C/O Mitsubishi Denki K. K. Fukuya
Michihiro c/o Mitsubishi Denki K. K. HAYASHI
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Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Publication date
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Publication of EP1475817A1 publication Critical patent/EP1475817A1/en
Publication of EP1475817A4 publication Critical patent/EP1475817A4/en
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Publication of EP1475817B1 publication Critical patent/EP1475817B1/en
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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
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H73/00—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism
    • H01H73/02—Details
    • H01H73/06—Housings; Casings; Bases; Mountings
    • 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
    • H01H2009/0077—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00 using recyclable materials, e.g. for easier recycling or minimising the packing material
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H69/00—Apparatus or processes for the manufacture of emergency protective devices
    • 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
    • H01H71/025—Constructional details of housings or casings not concerning the mounting or assembly of the different internal parts
    • H01H71/0257—Strength considerations

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a circuit breaker in which upon detection of an over-current, a moving contact is turned, and an arc generated between contacts is extinguished with the use of arc-extinguishing device.
  • thermosetting resin In the conventional circuit breaker, a thermosetting resin has been employed as a material of a base because the thermosetting resin is relatively easy to satisfy requirements such as a heat resistance, an arc resistance, a mechanical strength, etc.
  • the thermosetting resin needs incineration or reclamation of flashes generated during the step of molding, and sprues, runner or the like generated during the step of injection molding. Therefore recycle or reuse of the flash, sprue, runner and the like has been difficult.
  • the Japanese Laid-Opened Patent Application No. 171847/1996 discloses a molded article containing a thermoplastic resin composed of Nylon 6, Nylon 66 and Nylon MXD6, an inorganic compound dehydrating at not less than 200°C, and any reinforcing material.
  • This molded article is superior in the aspect of flame retardancy or fire resistance and an insulation performance after opening/closing of contacts, and also preferable as a molded article for use in circuit breakers.
  • properties thereof performed as a base are not sufficient, particularly in the aspect of heat resistance.
  • an over-travel value means an amount of traveling the moving contact from contact point with the assumed stationary contact toward to the further progressive position for the direction to the assumed stationary contact when removing the stationary contact under the assumed contact state of these contacts. Accordingly, to maintain a constant contact pressure, an over-travel value is set to be several times as much as thickness of the stationary contact in view of tolerance. Further, a structure for holding the contacts such as the base, the moving contact, the stationary contact and the like are subject to a reaction force of the contact pressure in order to maintain the contact pressure between the contacts. This reaction force causes the structure to be deformed, e.g., creep deformed, resulting in reduction in over-travel value due to use for long years.
  • thermoplastic resin serving as a principal component.
  • Document JP 2001 176372 discloses a device according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • the present invention was made to solve the above-discussed problems, and has an object of obtaining a circuit breaker, which is superior in heat resistance and arc resistance, and in which there is less occurrence of fusion or heat deformation even if the circuit breaker is subject to a heat history at a high temperature such that a heat is generated particularly at the time of over-current tripping or repetition thereof.
  • the circuit breaker preferably includes: an open/close mechanism for opening and closing the moving contact with the other contact through a retention holder for turnably holding the moving contact; a base for holding the other contact and the arc-extinguishing device, and for turnably holding the retention holder; and a cover for covering the base to form a housing therewith; wherein the base is formed of the molded article.
  • the base preferably includes: a bottom portion holding to the retention holder, the other contact and the arc-extinguishing device; and a side wall portion, which is perpendicularly provided intersecting the bottom portion, and defines a boundary between inside and outside of the housing; wherein the bottom portion of the base is irradiated with electron beams, while the side wall portion of the base is not irradiated with the electron beams.
  • the circuit breaker is superior in heat resistance to an arc heat generated at the time of production of any arc, and in impact resistance to elevation of an inner pressure within the housing.
  • the retention holder, the other contact and the arc-extinguishing device are preferably disposed along a section of the base defining a turning plane of the moving contact; and the section of the base is irradiated with electron beams.
  • the circuit breaker is superior in the heat resistant and arc resistance, and a micro-machining is made possible, which contributes to small-sizing of an outer diameter and fabricating parts of high density.
  • the molded article preferably contains 60-200 parts by weight of reinforcing material with respect to 100 parts by weight of resin component. As a result, there is less occurrence of fusion or heat deformation, and the circuit breaker is superior in arc resistance and in strength.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an exterior appearance of a circuit breaker according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 2 is a perspective of the circuit breaker with a cover removed from the exterior view of Fig. 1
  • Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing an exterior appearance of a retention holder of Fig. 2
  • Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing an enlarged contact point portion of Fig. 1
  • Fig. 5 is a top plan view showing a frame format of a base of Fig. 1 .
  • reference numeral 1 designates a circuit breaker
  • numeral 2 designates a base formed of an insulating resin molded article
  • Numeral 3 designates a cover, which is formed of an insulating resin molded article, and placed over the base 2 to form a housing together with the base 2.
  • Numeral 4 designates a handle for opening and closing a moving contact 5 via an open/close mechanism 7 and a retention holder 6 from outside of the cover 3.
  • Numeral 6 designates a retention holder for turnably holding the moving contact 5 on a moving contact retention portion 6A ( Fig. 3 ).
  • Numeral 7 designates an open/close mechanism of which metal frame 7A is supported on the base 2, and which drives opening and closing operation of the retention holder 6.
  • Numeral 8 designates an over-current detector that detects an over-current and causes the open/close mechanism to trip.
  • Numeral 9 designates an arc-extinguishing device for carrying out extinction of an arc generated between contact portions 5A and 10A. In this arc-extinguishing device, a plurality of metal arc-extinguishing plates 9A ( Fig. 4 ) are supported by an insulating grid side plate 9B.
  • Numeral 10 designates a base side contact (acting as a stationary contact) provided with a contact portion 10A opposite to a moving contact portion 5A.
  • Numeral 11 designates a support member that turnably supports the base side contact 10 round a support pin 12, and forms cable way.
  • Numeral 13 designates a flexible copper wire for electrical connection between the support member 10 and a stationary conductor 14.
  • Numeral 15 designates an insulating member covering the stationary conductor 14.
  • the base 2 is provided with a bottom portion 2C.
  • the base side contact portion 10A is disposed on the bottom portion 2C thereof ( Figs. 5 and 7 ) through the support member 11.
  • the open/close mechanism 7, the over-current detector 8 and the arc-extinguishing device 9 are disposed above the bottom portion 2C.
  • terminal strips 14A, 16 are disposed at terminal strip retention parts 2D, 2E, and a rotary shaft 6B of the retention holder 6 ( Fig. 3 ) is supported by a retention holder bearing 2F.
  • the arc-extinguishing device 9 and the base side contact portion 10A are located in a region near the arc generated between the contact portions 5A and 10A, and considerably affected by a heat generation due to the arc. This region is indicated by reference numeral 2G ( Fig. 5 ). Furthermore, a side wall portion 2A defining a boundary between the inside and the outside of housing, and inter-phase wall portions 2B for insulation between phases are formed in an integral molding such that the walls intersect the bottom portion 2C perpendicularly. A large force acts on a contact portion with the support member 11 for the base side contact 10 on which the contact portion 10A is provided, a support portion for the open/close mechanism, and a support portion for the rotary shaft 6B of the retention holder 6.
  • the base 2 is formed of a molded article of which main resin is a crystalline thermoplastic resin, and is irradiated with electron beams.
  • the electron beams are the ones substantially in a straight line by making an electron flow thin, and is widely utilized in the field of medical items for the purpose of sterilization
  • the crystalline thermoplastic resin is not particularly limited as far as it is a crystalline one. Considering, however, that a circuit breaker is continuously used over 10 to 15 years in the marketplace, polyester and polyamide of which heat resistant continuous use temperature is preferably not lower than 120°C. From the viewpoint very little influence due to moisture absorption, polyester is preferably used and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) are suitable. Furthermore, an alloy of these thermoplastic resins is preferably used. From the viewpoint of good tracking performance and insulation performance after interruption, a resin which does not have any benzene ring such as polyamide is preferably used, and Nylon 12, Nylon 6, Nylon 66 or the like is suitable.
  • a crosslinking accelerator is added in the amount of 0.5 to 2 parts mainly for the purpose of accelerating crosslinking between amorphous portions in the crystalline thermoplastic resin by electron irradiation.
  • a polyfunctional monomer such as triallyl isocyanurate (abbreviated to TAIC), tris(hydroxyethyl)isocyanuric acrylate (abbreviated to THEICA), tris(hydroxyethyl)isocyanuric methacrylate (abbreviated to THEICM), or trimethylolpropane triacrylate (abbreviated to TMPTA), is preferably used. Furthermore, it is preferable that these monomers are combined and added.
  • Addition of TAIC or THEICA is preferable in view of high gel fraction under the electron irradiation of same amount.
  • An antioxidant is added in the amount of 0.2 to 0.9 parts for the purpose of preventing the crosslinking accelerator from being self-cross-linked when kneading the materials. Preferably, addition thereof is in the amount of 0.4 to 0.6 parts.
  • a hindered phenolic antioxidant including 2,6-di-t-butyl-P-cresol (hereinafter referred to as to BHT), triethylene glycol-bis[3-(3-t-butyl-5-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate], 1,6-hexanediol-bis[3-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)p ropionate], penta- erythrityl tetrakis[3-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate], N,N'-hexamethylene-bis(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxy-hidrocinnam
  • the reinforcing material is typically a glass fiber.
  • a glass fiber is the one that is made of glass and is fiber like.
  • Glass material includes E glass, S glass, D glass, T glass, a silica glass or the like. As is generally known, it is preferable from the viewpoint of improvement in impact-resistant strength that the glass fiber is 6-13 micrometers in diameter, and not less than 10 in an aspect ratio.
  • the inorganic filler includes alumina, calcium carbonate, mica, clay, talc, kaolin, wollastonite and the like.
  • the flame-retardant material includes red-phosphorus-based, phosphate esters, halide-based and the like. From the viewpoint of extremely little metallic corrosions, phosphate esters and halide-based materials are preferably employed for the parts including the contact portions 5A, 10A. Further, the halide-based materials are preferable from the viewpoint of performing flame retardancy by adding a small amount of them as compared with phosphate esters. Furthermore, even in the event of occurrence of any retention in cylinder during molding, dibromopolystyrene is preferable from the viewpoint of difficulty in decomposition.
  • antimony trioxide is preferably used from the viewpoint of increase in synergistic effect with halide-based material.
  • Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing application of electron beams to the base shown in Fig. 5 .
  • Fig. 7 is a plan view showing a positional relation between the base and an electron beam-shielding jig at the time of electron irradiation of Fig. 6 .
  • the base is shown by broken lines.
  • Figs. 8 and 9 are schematic views showing further examples of the electron irradiation jig of Fig. 6 .
  • numeral 40 designates an electron irradiation device.
  • Numeral 41 designates electron beams.
  • Numeral 50 designates an electron beam-shielding jig, which is provided with a passage hole 51 for causing the electron beams 41 to pass through an iron plate of 4mm plate in thickness, for example.
  • the passage hole 51 opens toward the bottom portion 2C of the base 2, and the side wall portion 2A and the terminal strip retention parts 2D, 2E of the base 2 are masked or shielded by the electron beam-shielding jig 50.
  • FIG. 6 an example of the electron beam-shielding jig 50 being separated from the base 2 is shown in Fig. 6 , it is also preferable that the electron beam-shielding jig is crossly placed onto the base 2.
  • the bottom portion 2C of the base 2 is cross-linked.
  • the sidewall portion 2A and the terminal strip retention parts 2D, 2E are not cross-linked due to the fact that the electron beams 41 are blocked.
  • a crystalline thermoplastic resin contains non-crystalline parts depending upon the degree of crystallinity.
  • a crosslinking accelerator and an antioxidant are added to the mentioned molded article resin material, in addition to the typical materials composing a resin such as a base resin, reinforcing material, inorganic filler, flame-retardant material, flame-retardant assistant.
  • the non-crystalline parts are cross-linked by irradiation of the electron beams 41, a problem still exits in that electrons remain in the internal part of the molded article, if strength of the electron beams 41 is small and the electron beams 41 do not penetrate through the molded article. It is therefore desirable that the electron beams 41 are strong enough to get through the molded article.
  • An acceleration voltage of the electron irradiation is preferably not less than 2MV on conditions that the electron beams penetrate through a plate of 2mm in thickness of the bottom portion 2C of the base 2, as well as provides a cross-link.
  • an optimum acceleration voltage thereof is in the range of 3 to 5MV so as not to leave any irradiation electron beam in the material as a space charge.
  • the inter-phase walls 2B are not irradiated with the electron beams except the thin retention holder bearing 2F. That is, as the electron beam-shielding jigs 55, 56 ( Figs. 8, 9 ), it is preferable that a jig configured to shield the entire inter-phase wall portions 2B, or the inter-phase wall portions 2B except for the retention holder bearing 2F parts, is used.
  • the over-current detector 8 detects the over-current and transmits a trip command to the open/close mechanism 7.
  • the open/close mechanism 7 turns the retention holder 6 counterclockwise in Figs. 2 and 4 due to a charged energy of a toggle link mechanism.
  • the moving contact 5 also turns in the same direction as the retention holder 6 following the retention holder 6, and the contact portions 5A and 10A come to be separated, whereby arc is generated between the contact portions 5A and 10A. This arc is electromagnetically attracted to the arc-extinguishing device 9, and the arc is extinguished.
  • the contact portions 5A and 10A are separated due to an electromagnetic repulsion before separation of the open/close mechanism 7.
  • a region considerably affected thermally by the arc at the time of generation of arc is the region 2G ( Fig. 5 ) where the arc-extinguishing device 9 and the contact portions 5A, 10A are located above.
  • a large force acts on the region 2G with the support 11 for the base side contact 10 on which the contact portion 10A is provided, the support portion for the frame 7A of the open/close mechanism 7, and the support portion for the rotary shaft 6B of the retention holder 6.
  • an insulating base 2 whose main resin is a crystalline thermoplastic resin and which is irradiated with the electron beams after molding is used.
  • the base 2 which is superior in heat resistance and arc resistance while performing such advantages as micro-fabrication and recycle of a sprue, runner and the like incidental to the thermoplastic resin.
  • the base 2 in which there is less fusion or heat deformation and which is excellent in creep-resistant characteristic even if the base is subject to in a heat history at a high temperature, thereby not negatively affecting on the contact pressure between the contact portions 5A and 10A.
  • the retention holder bearing 2F is also irradiated with the electron beams, thus being excellent in heat resistance and over-travel characteristic between the contact portions.
  • the molded article contains 60-200 weight parts of reinforcing material in a ratio of 100 weight parts of resin component, occurrence of fusion or heat deformation of the base 2 is less, and the base 2 is superior in creep-resistant characteristic and in strength. As a result, reduction in contact pressure is especially less. In this manner, it is very useful to apply a structural material containing a large amount of reinforcing materials to the base 2, which receives a local force and on which a high temperature such as arc heat acts.
  • the bottom portion 2C of the base 2 is cross-linked, and the sidewall portion 2A is shielded from the electron beams not to be cross-linked. Therefore, there is less fusion or heat deformation at the bottom portion 2C of the base 2, which is prone to be heated to a high temperature by interrupting any overload on the circuit breaker, resulting in superior creep-proof characteristic.
  • the sidewall portion is reduced in impact resistant characteristic due to formation of cross-link, the sidewall portion receives an internal pressure that occurs at the time of a short circuit interruption, and may be damaged. In this first embodiment, however, since the base sidewall portion 2A is not cross-linked and superior in impact resistant characteristic, it is now possible to obtain the base 2 possessing both heat resistance and impact resistance.
  • Fig. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing a die for molding a base for a 225A frame according to the first example of the invention.
  • reference numeral 90 designates a die consisting of a stationary die 90A and a moving die 90B, and an internal part of which is formed in conformity with a configuration of the base 2.
  • Numeral 91 designates an injection port (filler hole) for injecting a mixture material therethrough, which is provided through the stationary die 90A.
  • the mixture material was injected through the fill port 91 located at the center of the stationary die 90A, using a 250t injection molding machine on the conditions of a moving die temperature being 85 to 95°C, a stationary die temperature being 85 to 95°C, a cylinder temperature being 230 to 280°C, and a total of pressurizing time and injection time being 10 seconds. In this manner, the base 2 was molded.
  • the foregoing molded article was subject to the electron irradiation at an acceleration voltage of 2MV using NISSIN-HIGH VOITAGE Electron Irradiation Equipment under the condition that four sidewalls 2A, 2D, 2E ( Fig. 5 ) are covered with the iron electron beam-shielding jig 50 of 4mm in thickness.
  • Test results are shown in Tables 1 to 2.
  • a resin in the tables is indicated with the number of parts including both flame retardant and flame retardant assistant.
  • 15 parts of dibromopolystyrene were added as a flame retardant, and 5 parts of antimony trioxide were added as a flame retardant assistant.
  • triallyl isocyanurate (abbreviated to TAIC) was added as a crosslinking accelerator, and 2,6-di-t-buthyl-P-cresol (abbreviated to BHT) was added as an antioxidant.
  • TAIC triallyl isocyanurate
  • BHT 2,6-di-t-buthyl-P-cresol
  • the samples (14) to (15) and the comparative examples (23), (24) contain 8 parts of ethylene/propylene copolymer acting as a shock absorber.
  • the circuit breaker employing the samples (14) to (15) was also superior in impact resistant characteristic.
  • the base 2 which was molded with a die of Fig. 10
  • a mechanical strength was increased at the bottom 2C of the base 2 due to the cross-link by irradiation with the electron beams (however, the impact resistance was decreased), and the sidewall portion 2A without irradiation with the electron beams was superior in impact resistance.
  • the foregoing circuit breaker was a quite satisfiable one sufficiently resistant to any internal pressure elevation generated accompanying the occurrence of arc.
  • the comparative examples (22), (24), which were not irradiated with any electron beam, were inferior to the foregoing samples (14) to (15) in heat resistance characteristic.
  • FIG. 11 is a view showing an exterior appearance of a circuit breaker according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 12 is a partially cutaway view for explaining the circuit breaker of Fig. 11 .
  • reference numeral 20 designates an insulating housing consisting of a base 21 and a cover 22, which are formed of the same material as the base 2 described in the foregoing first embodiment and the first example.
  • the base 21 is formed by integral molding of a side face part (layout section) 21A making up one side face of the circuit breaker, and a wall part 21B that intersects perpendicularly with the side face part 21A from a peripheral edge of the side face part 21A.
  • an arc-extinguishing device 38 and a stationary contact 23 is disposed along a turning plane of a moving contact 25.
  • the cover 22 is formed into a flat plate shape, and is disposed opposite to the side face part 21A of the base 21 to form the other side face of the circuit breaker. This cover 22 is secured to the base 21 with a screw or rivet.
  • the side face part 21A of the base 21 and the cover 22 are irradiated with electron beams in the same manner as in the foregoing first embodiment and example.
  • the electron beam-shielding jig 50 is used as shown in Fig. 6 and the tubular wall part 21B is not irradiated with any electron beam at all, at the time of applying the electron beams to the base 21, portions coming in contact with the cover 22 do not become too hard. Accordingly, crack or chip is difficult to occur.
  • the electron beam-shielding jig 50 is not used.
  • the interruption circuit is provided with a stationary contact 23, a stationary contact point 24 fixed to the stationary contact 23, and a moving contact 25 having a moving contact portion 25a that performs contact/separate operation with respect to the stationary contact 24.
  • Numeral 26 designates an arm for integrally supporting the moving contact 25 (i.e., holding member for turnably holding the moving contact 25).
  • the arm 26 is formed with a U-shaped groove 26a, a stopper engaging part 26b, and a slot 26c with which a shaft 27 engages.
  • Numeral 27 designates a shaft acting as a rotational center of the arm 26 (holder) and the moving contact 25, and this shaft 27 is supported in the insulating housing 20.
  • Numeral 28 designates a main spring provided in a tensioned manner giving an impetus in such a direction as to separate at all times the moving contact 25 from the stationary contact 24.
  • Numeral 29 designates a handle, which is formed of a synthetic resin and allows an open/close operation from outside.
  • Numeral 30 designates a reset spring giving an impetus counterclockwise to the handle 29.
  • Numeral 31 designates a manipulation link formed by bending a rod material into a U-shape, and one end of the manipulation link 31 is engaged with the handle 29, and the other end thereof is engaged with a link engagement groove 32a of a latch 32. Furthermore, the handle 29 is constituted of a handgrip 29b, which protrudes outside the insulating housing 20, and a protrusion 29c, which connects the manipulation link 31.
  • Numeral 32 is a latch pivotally mounted on the shaft 27.
  • This latch 32 is provided with a link engaging groove 32a for engagement with the other end of the manipulation link 31, a trigger finger 32b fro receiving a pressure provided by a rod 37 of an electromagnetic trip section 34, and a trigger member 32c for receiving a force in a direction of releasing the engagement between the manipulation link 31 and the link engaging groove 32a by the pressure due to flexture of a bimetal 33.
  • a return spring 32d is disposed in a compressed manner. This return spring 32 gives an impetus to the latch 32 counterclockwise with respect to the arm 26 at all times.
  • Numeral 33 designates a bimetal, which is heated and flexed rightward in Fig. 12 in response to a current applied.
  • Numeral 34 designates an electromagnetic trip device including a plunger 36 driven by an electromagnetic force due to application of a current to the electromagnet 35 and a rod 37 protruding in the left direction of Fig. 12 by an attractive operation of this plunger 36.
  • the bimetal 33 and the electromagnetic trip device 34 are formed into an over-current trip device.
  • Numeral 38 designates an arc-extinguishing device.
  • Numeral 39 designates an arc-extinguishing plate of the arc-extinguishing device 38.
  • Numeral 40 designates an arc generation chamber that includes the mentioned stationary contact 24 and moving contact 25, and this arc generation chamber 40 is filled with arc generated at the time of separation of the moving contact 25.
  • Numeral 41 designates an arc runner for inducing the arc toward the arc-extinguishing device 38.
  • a protrusion 21a integrally provided at the base 21, a handle shaft bearing 21b, an arm shaft bearing 21c, and an electromagnetic trip fixing part 21d are described.
  • the protrusion 21a is provided extendedly so as to support one end of the main spring 28, and the force provided by the main spring 28 acts on the protrusion 21a.
  • the handle shaft bearing 21b is provided so as to pivotally mount the rotary shaft of the handle 29 thereon, and the force from this rotary shaft acts on the handle shaft bearing 21b.
  • the arm shaft bearing 21c is provided so as to pivotally mount the rotary shaft 27 of the arm 26 and the moving contact 25 thereon, and the force from the rotary shaft 27 acts on the arm shaft bearing 21c.
  • the electromagnetic trip fixing part 21d is in the form of a rib, which is provided so as to position the electromagnetic trip device 34 at the base 21. The force from the moving contact 25 acts on the electromagnetic trip fixing part 21d via the stationary contact 23 and the electromagnetic trip device 34.
  • the side face part 21A (layout section) of the base 21 is irradiated with the electron beams, it becomes possible to secure such advantages as micro-fabrication properties incidental to the thermoplastic resin or recycling properties of sprue, runner and the like. Further advantages of improving heat resistance and arc resistance are assured. Furthermore, since the cover 22 is also irradiated with the electron beams, heat resistance and arc resistance are also improved.
  • interruption capacity may be small and an arc energy may be small at the time of interruption as compared with the circuit breaker in which the retention holder, the other contact point and the arc-extinguishing device are disposed on the bottom of the base as is arranged in the foregoing first embodiment. Accordingly, the insulating molded article such as the base 21 and cover 22 tends to be located more proximate to the arc.
  • the side face part 21A of the base 21 and the cover 22 are irradiated with the electron beams, thereby improving mechanical strength, heat resistance, and arc resistant characteristic. As a result, it becomes possible to obtain a circuit breaker in which energy of the arc is small, and which has a sufficient resistance to a heat generation due to the arc rather than to a pressure elevation in an internal part due to a strong pressure caused by arc generation.
  • the arc-extinguishing device 38 can be constructed just by fitting the arc-extinguishing plate 39 directly into the grooves of the base 21 and cover 22 and any arc-extinguishing sidewall is not required to secure the arc-extinguishing plate 39.
  • the arc-extinguishing plate 39 can be lengthened in widthwise dimension (in the direction of perpendicularly passing through the plane of Fig. 12 ) of the circuit breaker making it possible to contribute to improvement in arc-extinguishing performance.
  • the protrusion 21a, the handle shaft bearing 21b, the arm shaft bearing 21c and the electromagnetic trip fixing part 21d are also improved in mechanical strength due to the electron beam irradiation, thereby making it possible to cover the disadvantages of thermoplastic resin, particularly nylon, which is softer and less accurate in positioning than in thermosetting resin.
  • the circuit breaker in which the base 21 is box-shaped, and the cover 22 is flat plate-shaped, is described.
  • the circuit breaker is not limited to such configuration, and it is preferable that both of the base 21 and cover 22 are box-shaped.
  • a single electrode circuit breaker is described.
  • a double electrode circuit breaker in which the two poles are provided in parallel in the direction of thickness of the circuit breaker between the base 21 and the cover 22.
  • a center base for providing an insulation between the two parallel electrodes is disposed, and further the moving contact 25, the handle 29, the electromagnetic trip device 34 and the like are disposed at this center base.
  • the present invention is applicable to any molded circuit breaker that requires heat resistance, arc resistance and over-travel characteristic, the circuit breaker being mainly composed of a thermoplastic resin, and in which a flash, sprue, runner and the like can be recycled or reused.

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  • Treatments Of Macromolecular Shaped Articles (AREA)
EP01982867A 2001-11-20 2001-11-20 Circuit breaker Expired - Lifetime EP1475817B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/JP2001/010134 WO2003044818A1 (fr) 2001-11-20 2001-11-20 Disjoncteur

Publications (3)

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EP1475817A1 EP1475817A1 (en) 2004-11-10
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JP (1) JP4177255B2 (ja)
KR (1) KR100528152B1 (ja)
CN (1) CN1255839C (ja)
DE (1) DE60139216D1 (ja)
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JP2007042310A (ja) * 2005-08-01 2007-02-15 Fuji Electric Fa Components & Systems Co Ltd 開閉・制御機器
JP4655094B2 (ja) 2008-02-08 2011-03-23 富士電機機器制御株式会社 消弧用樹脂加工品、及びそれを用いた回路遮断器
CN101604600B (zh) * 2009-06-05 2012-10-03 上海诺雅克电气有限公司 带辅助支撑件的多极断路器
CN101707166B (zh) * 2009-09-29 2013-04-10 湖北盛佳电器设备有限公司 具有自动合闸功能的内置式b型智能断路器
JP7079578B2 (ja) * 2017-08-22 2022-06-02 ポリプラスチックス株式会社 難燃性ポリブチレンテレフタレート樹脂組成物
KR102054332B1 (ko) * 2018-06-26 2019-12-10 엘에스산전 주식회사 배선용 차단기의 아크 소호실 베이스
CN109777052A (zh) * 2019-01-07 2019-05-21 宏秀电气有限公司 一二次融合设备壳体用材料

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JPS54131689A (en) * 1978-04-03 1979-10-12 Teijin Ltd Preparation of crosslinked aromatic polyester
JP2901249B2 (ja) * 1988-07-23 1999-06-07 出光興産株式会社 スチレン系重合体成形品およびその製造方法
JPH06251688A (ja) * 1993-02-26 1994-09-09 Toshiba Lighting & Technol Corp 端子装置及び回路遮断器
JPH0721897A (ja) * 1993-06-29 1995-01-24 Fuji Electric Co Ltd 回路遮断器
CH689681A5 (de) * 1994-01-13 1999-08-13 Schurter Ag Elektrische Sicherung und Verfahren zu ihrer Herstellung.
JP3418848B2 (ja) * 1994-08-23 2003-06-23 財団法人歯友会 放射線によって改質されたプラスチック成形品
JP2001176372A (ja) * 1999-12-21 2001-06-29 Mitsubishi Electric Corp 回路遮断器
JP2001307612A (ja) * 2000-04-21 2001-11-02 Kawamura Electric Inc 配線用遮断器

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WO2003044818A1 (fr) 2003-05-30
CN1255839C (zh) 2006-05-10
KR100528152B1 (ko) 2005-11-15
JP4177255B2 (ja) 2008-11-05
JPWO2003044818A1 (ja) 2005-03-24
CN1486500A (zh) 2004-03-31
KR20040021583A (ko) 2004-03-10
TW526509B (en) 2003-04-01
DE60139216D1 (de) 2009-08-20
EP1475817A4 (en) 2008-04-16
EP1475817A1 (en) 2004-11-10

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