EP1676289B1 - Safety switch comprising a bimetallic snap disk - Google Patents

Abstract

A circuit breaker includes a bimetallic snap-action disk fixed to a bimetallic connection disposed in the vicinity of a fixed contact connection inside a coverable housing. The bimetallic disk has a contact end with a contact superposed with a fixed contact of the fixed contact connection in such a way that a contact is established. When the contacts are opened, a spring-loaded isolating slide moves between the contacts. The isolating slide has an illuminated push button for reliably identifying a disconnection.

Description

The invention relates to a circuit breaker with a Bimetallschnappscheibe according to the preamble of claim 1.

One from the DE 298 24 696 U1 Known circuit breaker has a Bimetallschnappscheibe which is fixed to a bimetallic connection. This is arranged within a housing base next to a fixed contact connection. The housing base can be covered by means of a plastic or metal existing cap. The Bimetallschnappscheibe carries a bimetallic contact, which is inside the housing with a fixed contact of the fixed contact terminal in contacting overlap position.

In the case of an example caused by an overcurrent contact opening by snapping or bending the Bimetallschnappscheibe moves a spring-loaded by means of a spring element separating slide between the contacts. As a result, even after the bimetallic snap disk has cooled down, it is prevented from snapping back into the contacting closed position. A circuit in which the circuit breaker is used as a fuse element, then remains interrupted.

Such a circuit breaker is used in particular as a fuse element in circuits of a motor vehicle and plugged into corresponding flat fuse base of the motor vehicle. Other applications of such circuit breaker with Bimetallschnappscheibe are in electrical household appliances or the like. possible.

At one of the US 4,573,031 A known circuit breaker of the isolating slide integrally connected to a projecting from the housing pushbutton, via which the procedure in the event of tripping between the contacts separating slide can be manually guided in its Ausgansposition.

At one of the US 2002/0149464 A1 known circuit breaker is an additional Leutelement for visual indication of a trip case within a push-button housing arranged and protrudes out of this. Also, according to the US 4,630,020 A such a luminous element may be arranged completely inside the hollow pushbutton or spaced apart from the isolating slide inside the housing in the region of a housing opening provided with a transparent cover.

The invention has for its object to provide an improved in terms of a trigger detection circuit breaker.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1. For this purpose, an illuminated push button is provided, the housing internally with the Separating element is connected. As a result, on the one hand a triggering of the circuit breaker is visually displayed in the form of an externally visible light signal. In addition, on the other hand, as a result of the coupling of the illuminated push button with a displaceable in the case of release between the contacts separating element from the outside of a faultless normal position to the travel of the separating element further from the switch housing outstanding push button position also be detected mechanically or manually. The push button also serves by its operation to return the separating element from the contact separation position, so that the contacts get into the contact position due to the spring force of the Bimetallschnappscheibe.

Housing internally, i. in a coverable by means of a housing cap housing base within the housing base, the push button with the slider-like separating element is mechanically coupled. For this purpose, a snap or snap connection is provided. Expediently carries the push button at least one, preferably two locking arms with end locking cams, which engage in the production of the locking or snap connection in corresponding recesses of the separating element. Also, the locking cams may be provided on the separating element and the recesses on the push button.

To illuminate the push button, an electric lighting element, such as a lamp or light emitting diode, is provided. The luminous element is arranged stationary in the housing or housing base. In this case, the luminous element can be connected inside the housing between the bimetallic connection and the fixed contact connection. In this Verschaltungsvariante the light-emitting element is flowed through when triggered Bimetallschnappscheibe so that in the OFF state, i. when the circuit breaker is tripped, the push button is illuminated.

According to an alternative wiring variant, the luminous element is contacted with its one housing-internal connection with the bimetal terminal, while the second terminal of the luminous element is led out of the housing base. In this variant, in which the outwardly guided light-emitting element connection is connected, for example, to a neutral conductor of a power network, this is Luminous element in the normal state, that is current flowing in contacting the overlapping position of the contacts and corresponding external wiring of the circuit breaker, so that the push button lights in the ON state and is unlit in a contact opening (OFF state).

The luminous element is arranged within the housing or housing base in the region of a material recess of the push button. Through this material recess along the push button, a knob shaft and this superior knob portion is formed, which always at least partially surmounted even with a contact opening the light-emitting element. The shaft length is adapted to the travel of the coupled with the push button separating element, so that the push button with the knob shank can move without contact along the stationary light-emitting element or move. In this case, the distance formed between the button portion and the luminous element increases in the case of triggering about the travel of the separating element or the coupled with this push button.

The push-button and the separating element moving in the release case between the contacts form a two-part separating slide in the latched coupling state, for the two parts of which expediently different materials are used. Thus, the separating element, which rests in the installed state on the bimetallic contact and / or on the fixed contact, consists of a very temperature-resistant, i. heat-resistant plastic, suitably made of thermosetting plastic. In contrast, the push button is made of a transparent material, preferably of a transparent plastic. This ensures that the light emitted by the luminous element passes to the outside via the button shaft and / or the knob section of the pushbutton projecting beyond it.

To achieve the highest possible degree of prefabrication with the smallest possible number of individual parts of the fixed contact terminal and the bimetal are formed as identical flat contacts. In the middle area of these are trough-like cranked. The trough formed thereby is then used either for fastening the Bimetallschnappscheibe or for receiving the fixed contact. For this purpose, the two identical flat contacts - related to the longitudinal axis - to Rotated 180 ° against each other used in the housing base and expediently fixed there by means of connecting rivets. When using tubular or tubular rivets these take over the further function of the contacting recording of the terminals or the individual terminal of the light-emitting element.

The advantages achieved by the invention are in particular that a reliable tripping detection is achieved by a built-in a push button on this externally operable gate valve of a circuit breaker with Bimetallschnappscheibe lighting in a simple manner. The push button thus assumes a dual function, on the one hand in the actuation effected by the return of the separating element from the contact separation position and on the other hand in an optical signaling of an example overcurrent-induced tripping case of the circuit breaker.

Fig. 1 und 2

jeweils einen Schutzschalter mit Bimetallschnappscheibe und beleuchtetem Druckknopf bei abgedecktem bzw. abdeckungsfreiem Gehäusesockel,

Fig. 3

den Schutzschalter nach Fig. 1 in einer Explosionsdarstellung mit in Druckknopf und Trennelement entkoppeltem Trennschieber,

Fig. 4 und 5

den Trennschieber in Seiten- bzw. Vorderansicht, und

Fig. 6 und 7

zwei unterschiedliche Schaltungsvarianten eines in den Gehäusesockel eingesetzten Leuchtelementes.

Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing. Show:

Fig. 1 and 2

each a circuit breaker with bimetallic snap and lit push button with covered or cover-free housing base,

Fig. 3

the circuit breaker Fig. 1 in an exploded view with a release slide decoupled in push-button and separating element,

4 and 5

the slide in side or front view, and

6 and 7

two different circuit variants of a light element inserted in the housing base.

Corresponding parts are provided in all figures with the same reference numerals.

The circuit breaker 1 according to the Fig. 1 to 3 comprises a housing cap 3 which can be covered with a housing cap 2, in which a bimetallic connection 4 and a fixed contact connection 5 are arranged parallel next to each other. The connection side with the terminal ends 4a and 5a of the housing base. 3 led out terminals 4 and 5 are fixed within the housing base 3 with hollow rivets 6.

How out Fig. 3 it can be seen, the terminals 4 and 5 are designed as similar flat contacts and bent to form a trough 4b, 5b. In the respective trough apex, the connections 4b, 5b are provided with openings 7. In the installed state, the openings 7 serve in the bimetallic connection 4 for fastening a Bimetallschnappscheibe 8 by means of a rivet 9 and the fixed contact terminal 5 for receiving a fixed contact 10. The Bimetallschnappscheibe 8 carries at its the bimetal 4 remote contact end 11 a bimetallic contact 12. This is in the installed state in contacting overlap position with the fixed contact 10 ( Fig. 2 ).

Within the expediently made of plastic housing base 3, a two-part separating slide 13 is disposed between the bimetal 4 and the fixed contact terminal 5. This consists of an L-shaped separating element 14 and a mechanically coupled with this push button 15. A designated detent or snap connection is formed by two provided in the exemplary embodiment of the push button 15 locking arms 16, the freiendseitig each other facing cam 16 a wear. By means of the latching arms 16, the push button 15 is snapped onto the separating element 14, wherein the locking cam 16a engage in corresponding recesses 17 of the separating element 14. This is comparatively clear Fig. 5 seen.

As Fig. 4 shows in a side view of the separating slide 13, the push button 15 to form a button shaft 15a and a button protruding thereon 15b a material recess 18 on. In this is in the final assembly state, a light-emitting element 19, such as a light or a light emitting diode. The push button 15 is made of a transparent material, preferably made of transparent plastic.

The light-emitting element 19 is in each case in the direction of the arrow 20 ( Fig. 4 ) extending position of the separating slide 13 from the button portion 15 b of the push button 15th at least partially covered in such a way that in each position of the separating slide 13, the light emitted by the light emitting element 19 via the knob shaft 15a and / or the button portion 15b of the push button 15 to the outside, ie outside of the switch housing 2, 3 passes.

The isolating slide 13 has the function, in the case of, for example, triggered by an overcurrent circuit breaker 1, as a result, by moving open or bending the Bimetallschnappscheibe 8, the contact end 11 with the bimetallic contact 12 away from the fixed contact 10 to move between the two contacts 10, 11 , For this purpose, the separating slide 13 is spring-loaded with a spring element 21. The spring element 21 is supported on the one hand on the side facing away from the push button 15 bottom 22 of the separating element 14 and on the other hand on the housing base 3 from. The electrically insulating separating function takes over the transverse to the extension of the push button 15 extending separating leg 14a of the separating element 14, which passes at right angles into the locking recesses 17 supporting shaft 14b of the separating element 14.

The separating element 14 itself consists of a temperature or heat-resistant plastic material, preferably of a duroplastic. The reason for this is that the separating element 14 is always at least in approximate physical contact with the contacts 10, 12 which are in operation during operation.

Im in Fig. 2 shown trigger-free ON state of the circuit breaker 1 is the separating limb 14b of the separating element 14 on the push button 15 remote from the underside of the contacts 10, 12 to this. In the case of triggering, in which the bimetallic contact 12 lifts off from the fixed contact 10 as a result of bending or snapping the bimetallic contact 12 is displaced in the direction of travel 20 as a result of the spring force caused by the spring element 21 and exactly to form an abutment or stop within the housing base 3 between the two contacts 10, 12 out. As a result, they are mechanically spaced from each other and electrically isolated from each other.

As a result of this sliding movement of the separating slide 13, the push button 15 is moved due to its coupling with the separating element 14 by the same travel in the direction of travel 20 and thereby guided by this distance on the housing cap 2 to the outside of the switch housing 2, 3. In this tripping end position of the separating slide 13, the push button 15 projects beyond a dome-like button sleeve 23 placed on the housing cap 2. This can be a one-piece component of the housing cap 2 or can be snapped onto it as a separate part.

When triggered, the separation of the contacts 10, 12 remain so long due to the interposed sliding gate 13 until by pushing the push button 15 in the opposite direction to the direction of travel 20, the separating element 14 is moved. As a result of the spring force of the bimetallic snap disk 8 after cooling, the bimetal contact 12 is thereby pressed against the fixed contact 10 again. In this contacting overlapping position, the separating slide 13 is held in its returned starting position, which corresponds to the ON state of the circuit breaker 1.

According to the in Fig. 2 comparatively clearly visible interconnection of the light-emitting element 19, a first terminal 19 a via an ohmic resistor 24 from the housing base 3 led out to form an external supply terminal 25. The supply terminal 25 is expediently brought out on the same side of the housing housing housing 3, on which the terminal ends 4a, 5a of the terminals 4 and 5 are located. The further connection 19b of the light-emitting element 19 is guided into the hollow rivet 6 which fixes the bimetallic connection 4 within the housing base 3 and makes electrical contact with it via the bimetallic connection 4, z. B. plugged with the rivets 6 or soldered.

At this in Fig. 6 block diagram shown Verschaltungsvariante, in which the outwardly guided light-emitting element terminal 19a is connected, for example, to a neutral conductor of a power grid, the light-emitting element 19 is in the normal state, ie current flowing in contact with the overlapping position of the contacts. With appropriate external wiring lights up the Push button in the ON state and is unlit in the OFF state with open contacts 10,12.

According to another Verschaltungsvariante after Fig. 7 For example, the light-emitting element 19 can also be wired exclusively inside the housing in a manner not shown. This is according to the variant of the Fig. 2 and 6 led outward terminal 19a of the light emitting element 19 analogous to the plug-in contact of the terminal 19b in the solid contact terminal 5 fixing rivet 6 electrically contacted. In this case, the switching on of the light-emitting element 19 can in turn be connected with a series connection of the ohmic resistor 24 and the light-emitting element 19 between the bimetallic connection 4 and the fixed contact connection 5. In this wiring variant, the light-emitting element 19 is current-flowed when the bimetallic snap-action disk 8 is triggered, so that in the OFF state the pushbutton 15 is illuminated and unlit in the ON state.

In both Verschaltungsvarianten, but especially in the Verschaltungsvariante after the Fig. 2 and 6 , instead of an open wiring of light-emitting element 19 and resistor 24, this and the solder joint formed between it and the terminal 19a may be coated with a shrink tubing (not shown). As a result, unwanted electrical contact is safely avoided.

The described circuit breaker 1 with illuminated push button 15 is suitable for a variety of applications, such as motor, transformer or cable drum protection.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

breaker

2

housing cap

3

housing base

4

Bimetallanschluss

4a

terminal end

4b

trough

5

Fixed contact terminal

5a

terminal end

5b

trough

6

rivet

7

opening

8th

bimetal

9

rivet

10

fixed contact

11

Contact end

12

bimetallic

13

separating slide

14

separating element

14a

separating leg

14b

shaft

15

push-button

15a

knob shaft

15b

button portion

16

detent arm

16a

locking cam

17

recess

18

material cut

19

light element

19a, b

connection

20

Arrow / travel direction

21

spring element

22

bottom

23

button sleeve

24

resistance

25

connection

Claims (6)

1. Circuit breaker (1),

   - with a housing (3),

   - with a fixed contact connection (5) with a fixed contact (10),

   - with a bimetallic connection (4), which is arranged within the housing (3) adjacent to the fixed contact connection (5),

   - with a bimetallic snap-action disc (8), which is fixed to the bimetallic connection (4) and whose contact end (11) bears a bimetallic contact (12), which is in a contact-making, overlapping position with the fixed contact (10),

   - with a spring-loaded isolating slide (13) moving between the contacts (10, 12) in the event of the contact opening,

   - with an electrical luminous element (19), and

   - with a pushbutton (15), the pushbutton (15) being connected within the housing to an isolating element (14) so as to form the isolating slide (13),

   characterized

   - in that the pushbutton (15) is made from a transparent material, and

   - in that the luminous element (19), which is provided for the purpose of illuminating the pushbutton (15), is arranged such that it is fixed in position within the housing in the region of a material cutout (18) in the pushbutton (15).
2. Circuit breaker according to Claim 1,
   characterized
   in that, owing to the material cutout (18), a pushbutton shaft (15a) and a pushbutton section (15b), which protrudes beyond said pushbutton shaft (15a) and always at least partially protrudes beyond the luminous element (19), are formed.
3. Circuit breaker according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized
   in that the luminous element (19) is connected within the housing between the bimetallic connection (4) and the fixed contact connection (5).
4. Circuit breaker according to one of Claims 1 to 3,
   characterized
   in that a first connection (19a) of the luminous element (19) is passed out of the housing (3), and contact is made between the second connection (19b) and the bimetallic connection (4) within the housing.
5. Circuit breaker according to one of Claims 1 to 3,
   characterized
   in that the isolating element (14) is made from a thermally resistant plastic and/or a plastic which is resistant to thermal deformation.
6. Circuit breaker according to one of Claims 1 to 5,
   characterized
   in that the fixed contact connection (5) and the bimetallic connection (4) are in the form of identical flat contacts and are bent out in the central region in the manner of a trough, the flat contacts (4, 5) being inserted into the housing (3), rotated about their longitudinal axis, such that the bimetallic snap-action disc (8) is fixed to the outside of the trough (4b) of the bimetallic connection (4) and the fixed contact (10) is fixed to the inside of the trough (5b) of the fixed contact (5).

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