EP1992003B1 - Overcurrent switching apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an overcurrent switching device for medium or high voltage applications with current detection means for transferring a contact system assigned to them when a threshold current is exceeded from a first state to a second state, wherein the lying in a first branch current detection means are arranged downstream via coupling means actuating means, which Actuating means for transferring the lying in a second branch circuit contact system are formed from the first to the second state.

An overcurrent switching device of the type mentioned is for example from the DE 100 02 870 A1 known. Other similar devices are out DE 10 47 915 B and from EP 1 526 560 A2 known. The closest prior art is the DE 3629040 A1 which describes a low-voltage vacuum switch of comparable operating principle.

From the international patent application PCT / DE2005 / 001147 An electronic module with such an overcurrent switching device is known. In this older overcurrent switching device, a connection conductor has a deformable portion as current detection means. The deformable section is deformed when a threshold current is exceeded such that a contact system is transferred from a first state to a second state. The deformable portion is also used here to form the contact system by forming the contact system together with a contact part.

Object of the present invention is to provide an overcurrent switching device that can be flexibly and precisely designed according to the particular requirements.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1.

An essential advantage of the overcurrent switching device according to the invention is that in her the current detection means and the coupling and actuating means are assemblies or elements by themselves, and thus can be produced by itself and measured accordingly; This also applies to the contact system, because it forms a system for itself, act on the actuating means. All this allows a precise adjustment and a large adjustment range of the threshold current, in which the contact system from its first to its second state can be transferred. In this case, the contact system can advantageously be used flexibly in that the first state of the contact system can be the open state and the second state can be the closed state of the contact system or vice versa, so that an opening or a closing overcurrent switching device depends on the respective requirements in a simple manner is trained. In addition, the advantageous possibility is given to effect a switching operation in the second current branch in the event of an overcurrent in the first current branch.

In such an embodiment, an electromagnetic force acts in an advantageous manner between the parallel conductors with opposite current conduction, so that the deformable portion is deformed when a threshold current is exceeded by this force and transferred from a normal position to a working position. The threshold current is simple and flexible adjustable over the deformability of the deformable section.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the coupling means comprise a blocking element fixedly connected to the deformable section. Such a blocking element, for example a retaining pin, is a simple way of coupling the current-detecting means with the actuating means.

In a preferred embodiment, the actuating means comprise a spring-loaded actuator having such a configuration that, in a blocking element in the normal position of the deformable portion, the actuator is held in a cocked spring position and released in a working position of the deformable portion. Such an actuator can be released in a simple manner by the blocking element, whereby a rapid transfer of the contact system from its first to its second state is advantageously possible.

The actuator may be designed in different ways, e.g. as a pestle. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the actuating member is a movable, by means of the spring tensionable carriage with a rigidly connected guide rod. Such a slide is particularly durable or releasable by the blocking element.

In a further embodiment, the contact system is formed of a rigidly connected to the actuating means moving contact for forming a conductive connection between a first and a second mating contact. The mating contacts can both be configured as a fixed contacts. Optionally, it may also be advantageous to have a mating contact to perform as a fixed contact and the other mating contact as a flexible contact, wherein the flexible contact can be obtained, for example, using a flexible connection cable. Such a contact system can be converted in a simple manner by the actuating means from its first in its second state.

The invention further relates to a bridging device for an electronic module, as described in the aforementioned earlier international patent application PCT / DE2005 / 001147 can be removed, and has set itself the task of such a bridging device for an electronic module so educate that it has a flexible structure with precisely adjustable threshold current.

To achieve the object according to the invention serves a bridging device for an electronic module with an overcurrent switching device in one of the embodiments described above, wherein the current detection means for transfer of their associated contact system when a threshold current in the electronics module from a first state in which the electronics module to a Circuit arrangement is connected, in a second state in which the electronic module is bridged in the circuit arrangement, are formed. This bridging device advantageously allows a flexible construction with precisely adjustable threshold current. The bridging device thus forms an advantageous application of the overcurrent switching device according to the invention and can be used, for example, advantageously for bridging an electronic module according to the German Offenlegungsschrift DE 101 03 031 A1 deploy.

In a further embodiment, the contact system is conductively connected to terminals of the electronic module. As a result, the bridging of the electronic module when exceeding the threshold current is ensured by forming a conductive connection between the terminals via the contact system in a simple manner.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the current detection means detect the current of the electronic module.

Figur 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Überströmschaltvorrichtung in einer ersten Ausgestaltung einer Überbrückungsvorrichtung gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform;

Figur 2

eine schematische Darstellung, einer Überstromschaltvorrichtung in einer zweiten Ausgestaltung einer Überbrückungsvorrichtung gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing and embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Show it:

FIG. 1

a schematic representation of an overflow switching device according to the invention in a first embodiment of a lock-up device according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2

a schematic representation of an overcurrent switching device in a second embodiment of a lock-up device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows an overcurrent switching device ÜS1 a bridging device ÜB1 in an electronic module 1 with terminals 2 and 3, which via conductors 4 and 5 with a first mating contact 6 and a second mating contact 7, which are formed in the embodiment as the first fixed contact 6 and second fixed contact 7, and with a circuit unit 8 are connected. The circuit unit 8 comprises schematically illustrated electronic components 9, for example a plurality of switching elements such as IGBTs, diodes and an intermediate circuit capacitor of an inverter, which are connected to each other via current detection means in the form of connecting conductors 10, 11 and other connections not shown in the figures (compare the circuit unit of the above mentioned German Offenlegungsschrift DE 101 03 031 A1 ). The connecting conductors 10 and 11 are arranged in the circuit unit 8 such that an overcurrent occurring in the event of a fault flows through these connecting conductors 10 and 11. The connecting conductors 10 and 11 are designed as busbars and connected to one another at one end, so that a current flowing in the circuit unit 8 current through the busbars 10 and 11 is guided in opposite directions. With the busbar 11, which is designed as a deformable busbar, coupling means 12 and 13 in the form of a retaining pin 12 made of an insulating material as a blocking element 12 is fixed, which extends through a recess 13 in the busbar 10 therethrough. The coupling means 12, 13 are as actuating means 14, 15 and 18, a movable carriage 14, which is blocked by the retaining pin 12 and is biased by a spring 15 against an insulating body 16 of the electronic module, downstream. Through a recess 17 of the insulating body 16 extends through a guide rod 18 of the carriage 14, at the end of a moving contact 19 is arranged, which forms a contact system 20 together with the first fixed contact 6 and the second fixed contact 7.

The Indian FIG. 1 shown state of the device corresponds to the normal Betriebszüstand the electronic module 1, in which usual operating currents flow within the electronic module 1. In case of a fault, for example by a Short circuit within the electronic module 1 or a wrong control of a switching element, can flow through the discharge of the capacitor of the circuit unit 8, a significantly higher current than the usual operating current in the electronic module. Due to the opposing leadership of the current through the busbars 10 and 11 is formed between these due to electromagnetic interaction, a force which pushes the busbars 10 and 11, while the deformable busbar 11 is deformed such that the fixed to the busbar 11 associated retaining pin 12 in the direction of the movement arrow A moves and releases the carriage 14. The movement of the carriage 14 is guided by the guide rod 18 in the recess 17 of the insulating body 16 and by forming a closed contact between the moving contact 19 and the Fixed contacts 6 and 7 limited. A short-circuit current in the electronic module 1 thus causes a closure of the contact system 20, so that between the terminals 2 and 3 of the electronic module 1 via the conductors 4 and 5 and the fixed contacts 6 and 7 and the moving contact 19, the remaining components of the electronic module 1 are bridged. A bridging of electronic modules in a circuit arrangement of a plurality of modules, for example in a series circuit, is particularly necessary if the functionality of the circuit arrangement is to be maintained in the event of failure of a single electronic module due to a malfunction.

FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of an overcurrent switching device ÜS2 a bridging device ÜB2 in an electronic module 21. Terminals'22 and 23 of the electronic module 21 are via conductors 24 and 25 with contacts 26 and 27 and connected to a circuit unit 28 with schematically represented electronic components 29, for example, figuratively not shown switching elements such as IGBTs, capacitors and diodes. Connecting conductors 30 and 31 and other connections not shown in the figures are provided for connecting the components 29. The connection conductors 30 and 31 are arranged in the circuit unit 28 such that an overcurrent occurring in the event of a fault flows through these connection conductors 30 and 31. The connecting conductors 30 and 31 are connected together at one end and together with a coil 32 current detection means 30, 31, 32. The coil 32 surrounds a portion of the connecting conductors 30, 31 and is via coupling means 33 and 34 in the form of connecting lines 33 and 34 coupled to actuating means 36 and 37. In the embodiment of FIG. 2 For example, the actuating means 36, 37 comprise a control device 36 having a control connection 37 for controlling an electrical switch 38, which forms the contact system 39 with the contacts 26 and 27.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2 causes in case of failure of a semiconductor device driven by the capacitor of the circuit unit short-circuit current, an induction voltage in the coil 32, which is compared in the control device 36 with a threshold value. If the induction voltage is above the threshold value, then the switch 38 is closed via the control connection 37, so that the contact system 39 is closed off of the contacts 26, 27 and the switch 38, via the connection terminals 22, 23 and the conductors 24, 25 the remaining elements of the electronic module 21 are bridged. The switch 38 is thereby formed so that it after transferring to the second state, in the embodiment of the closed state, in remains in this state, even if after a decay of the short-circuit current, the induction voltage of the coil is no longer applied. A bridging of electronic modules in a circuit arrangement of several modules, for example a series circuit, is particularly necessary if the functionality of the series circuit is to be maintained in the event of failure of a single electronic module due to a malfunction. The switch 38 can be designed as a thyristor or as an electromagnet, wherein the control can be done either directly by the voltage induced in the coil 32 or depending on the desired precision, or via the control device 36, which can be configured for example as a simple trigger circuit.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

ÜB1, ÜB2

bridging devices

ÜS1, ÜS2

Overcurrent switching devices

1

electronic module

2, 3

terminals

4, 5

ladder

6

First fixed contact

7

Second fixed contact

8th

circuit unit

9

electronic components

10, 11

busbars

12

retaining pin

13

execution

14

carriage

15

feather

16

insulator

17

execution

18

guide rod

19

moving contact

20

Contact system

21

electronic module

22, 23

terminals

24, 25

ladder

26, 27

contacts

28

circuit unit

29

components

30, 31

connecting conductors

32

Kitchen sink

33, 34

connecting cables

35

electrical switching device

36

control device

37

control connection

38

switching contact

39

Contact system

A, B

movement arrows

Claims (8)

1. Overcurrent switching apparatus for medium-voltage or high-voltage applications having current detection means (10, 11) for switching a contact system (20), which is associated with them, from a first state to a second state when a threshold current is exceeded, wherein the current detection means (10, 11) which are located in a first current branch are followed via coupling means (12, 13, 33, 34) by operating means (14, 15, 18) which are designed to switch the contact system (20, 39), which is located in a second current branch, from the first state to the second state wherein the current detection means (10, 11) comprise two busbar sections (10, 11) which run parallel to one another, in which the current is carried in opposite senses and of which at least one section (11) can be deformed, wherein the deformable section (11) can be changed from a normal position to an operating position by the threshold current being exceeded.
2. Overcurrent switching apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that
   the coupling means (12, 13) comprise a blocking element (12) which is firmly connected to the deformable section (11).
3. Overcurrent switching apparatus according to Claim 2, characterized in that
   the operating means (14, 15, 18) comprise an operating member (14) which can be spring-loaded and is designed such that, when a blocking element (12) is in the normal position of the deformable section (11), the operating member (14) is held in a position with a stressed spring (15) and is released in an operating position of the deformable section (11).
4. Overcurrent switching apparatus according to Claim 3, characterized in that
   the operating member (14) is a moving carriage (14) which can be stressed by means of the spring (15) and has a rigidly connected guide rod (18).
5. Overcurrent switching apparatus according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the contact system (20) is formed from a moving contact (19) which is rigidly connected to the operating means (14, 15, 18), in order to form a conductive connection between a first and a second opposing contact (6, 7).
6. Bridging apparatus for an electronics module (1) having an overcurrent switching apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the current detection means (10, 11) are designed to switch the contact system (20) associated with them from a first state, in which the electronics module (1) is connected to a circuit arrangement, to a second state, in which the electronics module is bridged in the circuit arrangement, when a threshold current is exceeded in the electronics module (1).
7. Bridging apparatus according to Claim 6,
   characterized in that
   the contact system (20) is conductively connected to connecting terminals (2, 3) of the electronics module (1).
8. Bridging apparatus according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that
   the current detection means (10, 11) detect the current in the electronics module (1).

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