EP2030216B1 - Protection switch - Google Patents

Abstract

A protection switch (1) is disclosed, which is particularly suitable where rapid quenching of electrical arcing of the switch is concerned. The protection switch (1) comprises at least one single-pole protection switch module (2). The protection switch module (2) comprises a housing (3), a movable contact (84) mounted on a switching arm (43), which can be pivoted against a fixed contact (85) between a closed position and an open position, and a quenching device (41) for quenching electrical arcing of the switch. The quenching device (41) comprises a quenching chamber (63) with an inlet (102) and an outlet (106) for the arc, a first running rail (65), which connects the fixed contact (85) with a first side wall of the quenching chamber (63), and a second running rail (66) which connects a stopping surface (97), against which the movable contact (84) abuts in the open position of the switching arm (43), to a second side wall of the quenching chamber (63). There is also a separation strip (107), extending essentially from side wall to side wall, fashioned at the outlet (106) of the quenching chamber (63).

Description

The invention relates to a circuit breaker according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a circuit breaker is made JP 54-57173 A bakannt.

Another circuit breaker is off, for example FR 2 661 776 A1 known. The trigger mechanism of the known circuit breaker comprises an electromagnetic release and a bimetallic release. As trigger conditions, the electromagnetic triplet detects a short circuit, the bimetallic trigger detects an overload condition. When the respective triggering condition occurs, the corresponding trigger acts on a triggering arm, which in turn decoys the switching arm and thus triggers the return of the switching arm into the open position.

A circuit breaker of the abovementioned type is generally intended to bring about the fastest possible separation of the electrical connection formed between the moving contact and the fixed contact when the tripping condition occurs in order to effectively protect a circuit connected to the circuit breaker against a short circuit and / or overload damage. In particular, a switching arc, as it inevitably arises in the switching operation between the moving contact and the fixed contact, should be deleted as quickly as possible in order to bring the current flow to a standstill and avoid burning off the contact material as far as possible. The rapid extinction of the switching arc is particularly important in short-circuit and overload of particular importance, especially in these cases, the switching arc due to the high current flow unfolds a particularly strong destructive effect. At the same time, however, a protective guard should be made as simple as possible for reasons of production technology and be inexpensive to produce.

Circuit breakers of the above type are made in both single-pole and multi-pole versions. In terms of cost-effective production, it is customary, multi-pole circuit breaker modular in each case of single-pole circuit breaker modules to be realized, the circuit breaker modules are lined up frontally to implement a multi-pole circuit breaker. Such a modular circuit breaker is for example off EP 0 538 149 A1 known.

The invention has for its object to provide a background against the background described above, in particular with regard to a quick solution of switching arcs particularly suitable circuit breaker.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1 Advantageous developments can be found in the dependent claims. The circuit breaker according to the invention is equipped with a quenching device for particularly ratcheting deletion of a switching arc. The extinguishing device comprises an extinguishing chamber, which has an inlet and an outlet for the arc and approximately vertical side walls. The extinguishing device further comprises two rails, which serve to guide the switching arc of the contacts in the quenching chamber. A first track connects the fixed contact with a first side wall of the quenching chamber. The second running rail connects a stop surface on which the moving contact rests in the open position of the switching arm, with the second side wall of the quenching chamber.

At the outlet of the quenching chamber according to the invention, a separating web is integrally formed, which extends substantially from side wall to side wall of the quenching chamber and thereby separates the outlet of the quenching chamber into two approximately equal partial surfaces. The divider is aligned approximately perpendicular to the quenching plates of a splitter stack of the quenching chamber and extends beyond the outlet of the quenching chamber. As a result, the separating web divides the gas stream leaving the quenching chamber into two partial streams, thereby reducing the risk of the arc breaking through, ie, re-igniting after passing through the quenching chamber. The separating web extending according to the invention from the side wall to the side wall of the quenching chamber therefore extends in particular in the longitudinal direction over the quenching chamber cross section. This allows the extinguishing chamber to form with particularly good extinguishing behavior particularly flat. This in turn allows a particularly flat circuit breaker construction. Thus, for the circuit breaker according to the invention readily a width of about 12mm can be realized, while comparable circuit breakers usually previously have a width of about 18mm.

The second running rail is contacted with a power supply, via which the second running rail is short-circuited to the moving contact, so that the moving contact and the second running rail are always at the same electrical potential. The second track is advantageously contacted with the power supply, that the contact point between the rail and power supply - seen from the moving contact in the direction of the contact lever - behind the abutment surface of the switching arm, or that in other words, the stop surface of the switching arm on the second track between the contact point of this track with the power supply and the quenching chamber is located. This constructive configuration ensures that the geometric characteristics of the current flow within the circuit breaker also during the transition of the arc of the contacts on the adjacent rails (also referred to as commutation) is maintained. In particular, an induction effect caused by the current path, by means of which the arc is driven in the direction of the quenching chamber due to the electrodynamic interaction, remains in the commutation process according to the sign, so that the arc run is not slowed down during the commutation.

In a structurally simple and inexpensive design, which is advantageous at the same time in terms of their mechanical stability and a symmetrical current flow, the second track and the power supply are formed from the same metal strip, the track is cut free in the manner of a tab centrally from this sheet metal strip and bent out ,

The extinguishing device is optimized in a preferred embodiment in that a switching arc is quickly and effectively "sucked" into the quenching chamber without passing through the quenching chamber and backfiring at the outlet or raking off at the quenching chamber and backfiring in front of its inlet. This optimization becomes on the one hand achieved by a balanced entrainment of the outlet of the quenching chamber with respect to the inlet, which is suitably in a range of 35% to 50%, preferably about 40% to 45% and in particular about 42% is selected. Damming is the ratio of the free outlet area to the free inlet area. A suitable damming is achieved in particular by a corresponding dimensioning of the separating web.

In addition to the separating web, at least one guide plate is preferably arranged at the outlet of the quenching chamber, through which the gas stream leaving the quenching chamber is divided and deflected in the direction of a housing opening. It has been found that the baffle or the baffles significantly improve the pressure and flow conditions at the exit of the quenching chamber and thus further reduce the risk of a flashback of the arc before the outlet or inlet of the quenching chamber. Preferably, a plurality of baffles are provided over the portions of the outlet (i.e., from side wall to side wall) and optionally on both sides of the divider. The or each baffle is made in particular of plastic and is formed in a production-technically advantageous variant of the invention to the inside of the housing.

In a further advantageous variant of the invention, an arc run-up space formed between the rails is delimited by a cover plate at least towards a housing end face.

The or each cover plate is in turn arranged at a distance from the housing, so that between the cover plate and the housing, a channel is formed, which is guided approximately parallel to the arc run space. This embodiment of the invention is based on the finding that the arc on its way along the rails by sudden air heating pushes a pressure wave in front of him, which can hinder the inlet of the arc in the quenching chamber, while on the other hand in the region of the contacts creates a negative pressure, the under Circumstances, the arc undesirably suck back into the contact area. This problem is avoided by the duct running beyond the or each cover plate, especially since pressure equalization can take place through this duct during the arc run. To this To promote pressure equalization, the or each cover plate is preferably designed such that the limited by this cover pressure equalization channel is open on the one hand to the inlet of the quenching chamber and on the other hand to the contacts facing the end of the arc run space.

Preferably, the circuit breaker comprises a short-circuit release, which is designed to actuate the release slide in the event of a short circuit as a trigger condition. The Kumschlussauslöser comprises a magnetic coil, a magnetic yoke and a magnet armature which is connected to a provided for advancing the trigger slide ram.

In a further constructive simplification of the circuit breaker, the first rail is preferably integral with the yoke of the short-circuit release, ie as part of the same or with this one piece mechanically coherent executed. In order to obtain the geometric characteristics of the current flow within the circuit breaker in the commutation of the arc on the rails, while the magnetic yoke zweckmäßigerwelse is interrupted in a region adjacent to the outlet of the quenching chamber area by a gap.

Fig. 1

In einer perspektivischen Explosionsdarstellung einen einpoligen Schutzschalter mit einem Schutzschaltermodul und austauschbaren Blinddeckeln zur teilweisen Abdeckung der Stirnseiten des Schutzschaltermoduls.

Fig. 2

in perspektivischer Ansicht den Schutzschalter gemäß Fig. 1 mit einer ersten Art von Blinddeckeln,

Fig. 3

in Darstellung gemäß Fig. 2 den Schutzschalter mit einer zweiten Art von Blinddeckeln,

Fig. 4 bis 6

den Schutzschalter gemäß Fig. 2 in unterschiedlichen Seitenansichten,

Fig. 7

in einer perspektivischen Explosionsdarstellung ein Gehäuse sowie die in dem Gehäuse gehalterten Funktionsteile des Schutzschalters gemäß Fig. 2,

Fig. 8

iIn einer perspektivischen Ansicht die in Fig. 7 gezeigten Funktionsteile des Schutzschalters gemäß Fig. 2 in zusammengebautem Zustand,

Fig. 9

in gegenüber Fig. 8 um etwa 180° gedrehter perspektivischer Ansicht die Funktionsteile des Schutzschalters gemäß Fig. 2 in zusammengebautem Zustand,

Fig. 10 bis 13

in vergrößerter (und teils leicht gedrehter) Detallansicht aus Fig. 9 ein Schaltspiel des Schutzschalters gemäß Fig. 2 beim Auslösevorgang in sukzessive aufeinanderfolgenden Momentaufnahmen,

Fig. 14

in einem schematisch vereinfachten Längsschnitt eine Löscheinrichtung des Schutzschalters gemäß Fig. 2,

Fig. 15 und 16

in perspektivischer Darstellung (die im Wesentlichen einer Detailansicht aus Fig. 8 entspricht) eine Justageeinrichtung zur Einstellung der Ansprechschwelle eines bimetallischen Überlastauslösers des Schutzschalters gemäß Fig. 2,

Fig. 17

in einer perspektivischen Explosionsdarstellung eine zweipolige Ausführung des Schutzschalters mit zwei Schutzschaltermodulen gemäß Fig. 2,

Fig. 18

in perspektivischer Darstellung den Schutzschalter gemäß Fig. 17 in zusammengebautem Zustand, und

Fig. 19 bis 21

eine fünfpolige Ausführungsform des Schutzschalters, bei der fünf Schutzschaltermodule nach Art eines Stromverteilers miteinander verschaltet sind.

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

Fig. 1

In a perspective exploded view of a single-pole circuit breaker with a circuit breaker module and interchangeable blind covers for partial coverage of the front sides of the circuit breaker module.

Fig. 2

in perspective view the circuit breaker according to Fig. 1 with a first kind of blind covers,

Fig. 3

in illustration according to Fig. 2 the circuit breaker with a second type of blind covers,

4 to 6

the circuit breaker according to Fig. 2 in different side views,

Fig. 7

in a perspective exploded view of a housing and the content Erten in the housing functional parts of the circuit breaker according to Fig. 2 .

Fig. 8

i In a perspective view the in Fig. 7 shown functional parts of the circuit breaker according to Fig. 2 in assembled condition,

Fig. 9

in opposite Fig. 8 rotated by about 180 ° perspective view of the functional parts of the circuit breaker according to Fig. 2 in assembled condition,

Fig. 10 to 13

in enlarged (and partly slightly rotated) detail view Fig. 9 a switching operation of the circuit breaker according to Fig. 2 during the triggering process in successive successive snapshots,

Fig. 14

in a schematically simplified longitudinal section of a quenching device of the circuit breaker according to Fig. 2 .

FIGS. 15 and 16

in a perspective view (which is essentially a detail view Fig. 8 corresponds) an adjustment device for adjustment the threshold of a bimetallic overload release of the circuit breaker according to Fig. 2 .

Fig. 17

in a perspective exploded view of a two-pole version of the circuit breaker with two circuit breaker modules according to Fig. 2 .

Fig. 18

in perspective view of the circuit breaker according to Fig. 17 in assembled condition, and

Fig. 19 to 21

a five-pole embodiment of the circuit breaker, in which five circuit breaker modules are interconnected in the manner of a power distributor with each other.

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

The embodiment of the invention described in the following figures relates to a kind of modular system modular circuit breaker 1, which can be realized by combining a number of components in single or multi-pole design. The core component of this modular system is a circuit breaker module 2, which in itself already forms a fully functional single-pole circuit breaker.

Unipolar designs of the circuit breaker 1, as in particular in the Fig. 1 to 6 are represented, are essentially formed by a single circuit breaker module 2 accordingly. Multipole types of circuit breaker 1, as in the Fig. 17 to 21 are represented by stringing one of the number of poles of the circuit breaker 1 corresponding number of circuit breaker modules 2 are formed.

According to Fig. 1 The protection switch module 2, which is initially shown in a view from the outside, comprises a housing 3 made of insulating material. The circuit breaker module 2 is designed in the manner of a DIN rail mounted device. The housing 3 has correspondingly the characteristic for such devices, symmetrical to a front side 4 graded shape. At an outstanding central part 5 of the front side 4 protrudes to actuate the circuit breaker module 2, a handle 6 of a pivot lever 7 from the housing out. On a rear side 8 opposite the front side 4, the circuit breaker module 2 is provided with a receptacle, which is typical for DIN rail mounted devices, for latching the circuit breaker module 2 onto a mounting rail, in particular a DIN rail. For fixing the circuit breaker module 2 on the support rail, a locking slide 10 is provided which is guided in a guide 11 of the housing 3 slidably. The locking slide 10 is provided with laterally molded spring arms 12 which cooperate with a - simplified - sawtooth contour of the guide 11 such that the locking slide 10 captively fixed in the mounting state in the guide and bistable between a locking position in which a locking lug 13 of the locking slide 10th protrudes into the receptacle 9, and a release position, in which the detent 13 is retracted from the receptacle 9, is displaceable. As a result of the bistable guide the locking slide 10 remains in the release position when it is manually withdrawn by a user in particular for disassembly of the circuit breaker module 2 from the detent position, so that the circuit breaker module 2 can be easily lifted from the mounting rail. The bistable latching of the locking slide 10 in the release position is particularly advantageous in order to remove several coherent or interconnected circuit breaker modules 2 together from a mounting rail without having to press the locking slide 10 of each circuit breaker module 2 simultaneously. On the other hand, the locking slide 10 is resiliently guided in the locking position by cooperation of the spring arms 12 with the sawtooth contour of the guide 11, so that the Schutzschaftermodul 2 can be snapped by simply plugging it onto the mounting rail on this.

In the unipolar version of the circuit breaker 1, a blind cover 15a or 15b is snapped onto each end face 14a, 14b of the housing 3, which closes the housing 3 in the region of the pivot lever 7 to the outside. Each blind cover 15a, 15b is snapped with three holding projections 16 in corresponding receptacles 17 of the housing 3. Like from the FIGS. 2 and 3 can be seen, each dummy cover 15a, 15b covered in its Mantagstellung particular provided in each end face 14a, 14b of the housing 3 engagement opening 18 via which the circuit breaker module 2 (as will be explained in more detail) in multi-pole embodiments of the circuit breaker 1 with adjacent circuit breaker modules 2 coupled is.

Fig. 1 shows two types of blind covers 15a and 15b, which are alternatively aufeinander snapped onto the housing 3. The blind cover 15b differs from the blind covers 15a in that it is additionally provided with a rail 19, which in the assembled state (see. Fig. 3 ) Flanking the pivoting range of the handle 6 and thereby acts as protection against accidental operation of the circuit breaker module 2. Fig. 2 shows the circuit breaker module 2 with the blind covers 15a mounted thereon. Fig. 3 shows in a corresponding representation, the circuit breaker module 2 mounted thereon blind covers 15b.

As Fig. 1 Furthermore, it can be seen, the circuit breaker 1 further includes labels 20, which are used on both sides in the corresponding receptacles 21 of the housing 3 at the edges of the front page 4.

The 4 to 6 2 show the circuit breaker module 2 provided by way of example with blind covers 15a in a plan view of the end face 14a (FIG. Fig. 5 ) or on the adjacent side surfaces 22a ( Fig. 4 ) and 22b ( Fig. 6 ) of the housing 3.

In the side surface 22a, a housing opening 23 is provided, via which a feed connection 24 is accessible for connecting an electrical supply conductor. The opposite side surface 22b is provided with a further housing opening 25, via which a load connection 26 is accessible. Each side surface 22a, 22b is additionally provided with a respective housing opening 27a or 27b, via which a respectively corresponding signal connection 28a or 28b is accessible. The feed terminal 24 is a coupling contact 29 connected in parallel. The coupling contact 29 is made accessible via a housing slot 30 from the outside. The housing slot 30 extends over the entire housing width, i. from the end face 14a to an opposite end face 14b and is open to both end faces 14a and 14b. Likewise, each signal terminal 28a and 28b, a further coupling terminal 31 a and 31 b connected in parallel, each of the coupling terminals 31 a and 31 b is accessible via a further housing slot 32 a and 32 b.

Each housing slot 30, 32a, 32b is dimensioned such that the respectively arranged therein coupling contact 29 or 31a, 31b is finger-safe hidden and that the required Creepage distances are adhered to the housing surface. This is achieved in that the housing slots are particularly narrow and deep. The slot depth is in the case of the housing slot 30 about 20 mm, in the case of the housing slots 32a, 32b about 10 mm. The free slot width is approximately 4 mm in the case of the housing slot 30 and is reduced to approximately 1 mm in the rear area by guide webs 134 flanking the coupling contact 29 on both sides. In the case of the housing slots 32a, 32b, the free slot width is about 3 mm and is reduced at the rear to the outside to about 1 mm.

In Fig. 7 the circuit breaker module 2 is shown in an exploded view, in particular in which the recorded in the housing 3 functional parts of the circuit breaker module 2 are visible in a separate representation.

The functional parts of the circuit breaker module 2 are essentially divided into a switching mechanism 40 and an extinguishing device 41. The switching mechanism 40 can in turn be subdivided into three functional subgroups, namely a manual operating mechanism 42, a switching arm 43 and a triggering mechanism 44.

The manual operation mechanism 42 is essentially formed by the pivoting lever 7 and a coupling rod 45, the free end of which is bent approximately at right angles to form a driver 46. The manual operation mechanism 42 further includes a torsion spring 47.

The switching arm 43 has a two-part design and comprises a contact lever 48 and a latch lever 49, which has a pawl 51 cooperating with the driver 46 at a rearward end 50 of the lever. The switching arm 43 is biased by a tension spring 52.

The triggering mechanism 44 comprises a release slider 53, an overload release 55 formed essentially of a bimetallic strip 54 and an electromagnetic short-circuit release 56, a magnetic coil 57 with a magnetic core formed from two core disks 58, a magnetic yoke 49 and a magnet armature 60 includes. The armature 60 is connected to a rod-shaped plunger 61 made of plastic and is biased by a compression spring 62.

The extinguishing device 41 comprises an extinguishing chamber 63 with a packet of mutually parallel extinguishing plates 64 inserted therein and a first running rail 65 and second running rail 66. The running rail 65 is formed integrally with the magnet yoke 59. The running rail 66 is formed together with a power supply 67 as an integrally continuous sheet metal part, wherein the power supply 67 simultaneously forms a support for the bimetallic strip 54. The extinguishing device 41 further comprises two cover plates 68a and 68b and baffles 69, which are integrally formed on the inner wall of the housing 3.

In Fig. 7 Furthermore, the feed connection 24 designed as a screw-type terminal contact, which is connected in parallel to the coupling contact 29 via a rigid busbar 70, and also the load terminal 26, which is designed as a screw terminal connection, can be seen.

The circuit breaker module 2 further comprises a signal contact device, which is essentially formed by a signal relay 71 which is connected to the signal connections 28a and 28b and the respectively connected coupling contacts 31a and 31b.

Out Fig. 7 It is also clear that the housing 3 consists of two parts, namely a housing shell 73 and a housing cover 74 which can be placed thereon. The housing shell 73 and the housing cover 74 are fixed captive in the assembled state by rivets 75 or screw to each other.

In the Fig. 8 and 9 the above-described functional parts of the circuit breaker module 2 are shown in the assembled state, wherein Fig. 8 is a front view of the functional parts, as they would result in a view through the housing cover 74 through the inserted into the housing shell 73 functional parts. Fig. 9 shows the functional parts in a rear view, as they would result in a look through the bottom of the housing shell 73 therethrough. The housing shell 73 and the Housing cover 74 are in the Fig. 8 and 9 omitted for the sake of clarity.

In the assembled state, the latch lever 49 of the switching arm 43 is pivotably mounted about a housing-fixed axis of rotation 80. The contact lever 48 is in turn articulated to a pivot 81 on the latch lever 49, so that the switching arm 43 has a certain flexibility in itself. The relative mobility of the contact lever 48 with respect to the pawl lever 49 is limited by a slot 82 at a rear end 83 of the contact lever 84, through which the rotation axis 80 passes.

The rear end 83 opposite free end of the contact lever 48 forms a moving contact 84 which cooperates with a fixed contact 85 to switch a circuit. The fixed contact 85 is applied to an upper side of the magnetic yoke 59 at the base of the running rail 65 integrally connected thereto.

The Fig. 8 and 9 show the circuit breaker module 2 in a closed state of the switching arm 43, in which the moving contact 84 forming the end of the contact lever 48 bears against the fixed contact 85. In this closed state, an electrically conductive connection is provided between the feed terminal 24 or coupling contact 29 and the load terminal 26, via the busbar 70, the magnetic coil 57, the yoke 59, the fixed contact 85, the contact lever 48 with the moving contact 84, the bimetallic strip 54 and an adjoining busbar 86 leads. The electrical connection between the rear end 83 of the contact lever 48 and the bimetallic strip 54 and between the bimetallic strip 54 and the bus bar 86 is closed by a respective stranded connection 87 a, 87 b, which in the Fig. 8 and 9 is indicated only schematically.

In the Fig. 9 also indicated only schematically) tension spring 52 engages the contact lever 48 at a between the pivot 81 and the slot 82 (and thus also between the rotary joint 81 and the rotation axis 80) arranged on position. The opposite end of the tension spring 52 is re-mounted on the housing 3. The switching arm 43 is thus in total by the tension spring 52 in a rotational direction, which in the illustration Fig. 8 a rotation of the switching arm 43 in a clockwise direction, in according to the representation Fig. 9 a rotation of the switching arm 43 corresponds counterclockwise, biased toward an open position. As a result of the point of engagement of the tension spring 52 between the pivot 81 and the axis of rotation 80, by contrast, the contact lever 48 is biased relative to the latch lever 49 in the opposite direction of rotation, ie in the direction of the closed position. The switching arm 43 is held against the restoring force of the tension spring 52 by latching the pawl 51 with the driver 46 in the closed position.

The position of the pawl arm 49 in this closed position is chosen such that the switching arm 43 is "pushed" to a certain extent during closing, that is, the contact lever 48 is clamped relative to the pawl lever 49. By this four-voltage is achieved that the moving contact 84 is always biased against the fixed contact 85 in the closed position, wherein a successively increasing consumption of contact material in the course of the lifetime of the circuit breaker module 2 is compensated by the resilience of the contact lever 48.

The pivot lever 7 is connected to the housing shell 73 between a in Fig. 7 shown first pivot position and one in the Fig. 8 and 9 shown second pivot position pivotally mounted about a housing-fixed pivot axis 88, wherein - like the Fig. 8 and 9 can be removed - the second pivot position of the pivot lever 7 corresponds to the closed position of the switching arm 43. The coupling rod 45 is pivotable with a fixed end 89 and radially movable with respect to the pivot lever 7 in a radial guide 90 of the pivot lever 7. On the other hand, the fixed end 89 is guided in a slotted guide 91, which is integrally formed on the inner wall of the housing shell 73 and the housing cover 74 and in the Fig. 8 and 9 is indicated only schematically. The slotted guide 91 runs in the manner of a spiral segment on the pivot axis 88, wherein for each position of the pivot lever 7 between the first and the second pivot position, a crossing point of the linear guide 90 and the slotted guide 91 exists, the one corresponding to this position of the pivot lever 7 position of the fixed end 89 of the coupling rod 45 defined. Along the slotted guide 91 is the fixed end 89 of the coupling rod 45 at its radially outermost point with respect to the pivot axis 88 when the pivot lever 7 is in the second pivot position, and at its radially innermost Point, when the pivot lever 7 is in the first pivot position. The coupling rod 45 is guided mainly linearly by the interaction of the radial guide 90 with the slide guide 91 at a pivoting of the pivot lever 7.

The pivot lever 7 is biased by the torsion spring 47 in the direction of the first pivot position, so that it is deflected in the second pivot position against the spring pressure of the torsion spring 47. The slide guide 91 is designed such that in the second pivot position mediated via the coupling rod 45 operative connection between the driver 46 and the fixed end 89 above (ie on the handle 6 facing side) of the pivot axis 88, so that the pivot lever 7 through the latching of the driver 46 is held with the pawl 51 of the latching arm 43 against the restoring force of the torsion spring 47 in the second pivot position. The manual operation mechanism 42 and the switching arm 43 are thus coupled to each other via the latching of the driver 46 with the pawl 51 so that they stabilize against the respective restoring force of the tension spring 52 and the torsion spring 47 in the closed position and the second pivot position.

Kembestandteil the release mechanism 42 is the trip slider 53 which is actuated both by the bit metal strip 54 of the overload release 55 and the plunger 61 of the short-circuit release 56, and the actuation of one of the triggers 55 or 56, the provision of the switching arm 43 from the closed position in FIG the open position causes. The trip slider 53 affects this recovery process in two ways, firstly disengaging the shift arm 53 from the cam 46, thereby initiating the automatic restoring process of the shift arm 43 under the action of the tension spring 52, and by pushing the shift arm 43 "to the other ", so he added a pulse pulse to overcome the inertia of the switching arm 43 during the recovery faster and thus to accelerate the switching process.

For the case of short circuit, the tripping process in the Fig. 10 to 13 illustrated in the manner of snapshots.

Fig. 10 shows an enlarged view of the switching arm 43 again in its closed position in which the inter alia guided by the magnetic coil 57 electrical connection between the feed terminal 24 and the load terminal 26 is closed. A short circuit in a circuit connected to the terminals 24 and 16 leads to a sudden increase in the current flowing through the magnetic coil 57 current to a peak value, which can be up to about 6 kA in the case of the illustrated circuit breaker as intended. The strong increase in current causes a proportional increase in the magnetic field generated by the magnetic coil 57, as a result of which the armature 60 is attracted against the force caused by the compression spring 62 restoring force against the arranged inside the magnetic coil 57 core disks 58.

Each of the core disks 58 is provided with a longitudinal groove. The Kemscheiben 58 are attached to each other in such a way that the longitudinal grooves complement each other to a implementation in which the plunger 61 slidably rests. The plunger 61 is connected to the armature 60 and is advanced during its movement against the trigger slide 53. He strikes against a stop surface 92 of the trip slider 53 and raises the release slide 53 from the in Fig. 9 shown standby position.

To unlatch the driver 46 of the pawl 51, the release slide 53 has a Entklinkungskontur 93. The Entklinkungskontur 93 is provided with a recess 94 into which the coupling rod 45 engages with the driver 46 so that the driver 46 is withdrawn from the pawl 51 of the blade lever 49 by the advance of the trigger slide 53.

The trigger slide 53 is further provided with a projection which serves as a stop 95 for acting on the switching arm 43. This (first) stop 95 simultaneously or immediately after the unlatching of the switching arm 43 abuts against it and accelerates the switching arm 43 in the direction of its open position. The geometry of the trigger slide 53 is particularly dimensioned such that the stop 95 comes to the switching arm 43 at a time to the plant to which the switching arm 43 has not yet relaxed. The switching arm 43 is in turn designed such that the stop 95 abuts against the contact lever 48 (and not against the latch lever 49). Due to the friction of the contact lever 48 with the stop 95, the rotational mobility of the contact lever 48 is blocked. In this way it is prevented that the switching arm 43 relaxes before lifting the moving contact 84 of the fixed contact 85. Rather, the contact lever 48 is raised immediately with the abutment of the trigger slide 53 (s. Fig. 11 ), which in turn the moving contact 84 immediately separated from the fixed contact 85 and the short-circuit current is effectively limited already in the rise phase.

The trigger slide 53 is arranged in particular such that the stop 95 in the region of the rotary joint 81 strikes the switching arm 43, so that no torque is transmitted relative to the latch lever 49 by the stop 95 on the contact lever 48. The contact lever 48 projects beyond the latch lever 49 in the radial direction in the region of the rotary joint 81, so that it is ensured that the stop 95 strikes the contact lever 48.

As in Fig. 12 shown, comes in a subsequent triggering phase of the advance of the plunger 61, and consequently the feed of the trigger slide 53 due to the limited stroke of the short-circuit release 56 to stop. Under the action of the tension spring 52, the switching arm 43 continues to move in the direction of the open position and thereby stands out from the stop 95. As a result, the rotational fixation of the contact lever 48 is released, so that the switching arm relaxed (the position of the contact lever 48 in the relaxed state of the switching arm 43 is in Fig. 12 indicated by dashed lines).

Before the contact lever 43 reaches the open position, it strikes, again in the region of the rotary joint 81 against a second stop 96 of the release slide 53 and takes this with continued retraction in the open position.

Fig. 13 shows the final state of the tripping operation, in which the moving contact 48 abuts against a stop surface 97 which forms a fixed contact 85 at a distance opposite approach of the second running rail 66. The trip slider 53 is through the interaction of the second stop 96 with the switching arm 43 is lifted into a release position, in which the Entklinkungskontur 93 of the trip slider 53, the pawl 51 of the switching arm 43 flanked by a Aufgleitschräge 98.

After in the course of the triggering process, the driver 46 is unlatched with the pawl 51, and the pivot lever 7 is no longer held in the second pivot position and returns under the action of the torsion spring 47 in the first pivot position. In this case, the driver 46 is pushed out of the recess 94 of the Entklinkungskontur 93 and slides the Aufgleitschräge 98 down until it locks behind the latch 51 again. The engagement of the driver 46 behind the pawl 51 is by a spring tab 72 ( Fig. 8 ), which is molded integrally on the pivot lever 7 and pushes the coupling rod 45 in the second pivot position of the pivot lever 7 against the Aufgleitschräge 98. The switching arm 43 is thereby again coupled to the manual operation mechanism 42 and can by manual pivoting of the pivot lever 7 in the closed position according to Fig. 9 be reset. In this case, by interaction of the driver 46 with the Aufgleitschräge 98 simultaneously the trip slider 53 in the ready position according to Fig. 9 shifted back, provided that the displacement of the trigger slide 53 is no obstacle. Andemfalls, for example, when the trigger condition is still present and corresponding to one of the trigger 55 or 56 a displacement of the trigger slide in the standby position, the driver 46 slides on the Aufgleitschräge 98 upwards and is thereby lifted off the pawl 51 again.

In the course of the tripping operation described above, a switching arc arises between the fixed contact 85 and the lifting contact 84 which lifts it off, which leads to a strong heating and in the long term to a burning off of the contacts 84 and 85. The extinguishing device 41 serves for fast effective extinguishment of the arc.

When opening the contacts 84 and 85, the current flow within the contact lever 48, the arc gap and the distance of the magnetic yoke 59 opposite the contact lever 48 acts as a current loop. This current loop applies to the arc an induction force that drives the arc toward the quenching chamber 63.

With the abutment of the switching arm 43 on the abutment surface 97, the conductive connection between the bimetal strip 54, the stranded connection 87a (FIG. Fig. 8 and 9 ) and the contact lever 48 via the power supply 67 short-circuited. Due to the shape of the metal strip from which the power supply 67 and the slide rail 66 are integrally formed, it is ensured that the induction effect of the current flow is maintained on the arc in this process by the sign: The running rail 66 is - in particular from the synopsis of FIGS. 10 to 13 is recognizable - cut from the power supply 67 such that the running rail 66 is guided along in the region of the stop surface 97 on the contact lever 48 abutting in its open position, and - viewed from the moving contact 84 along the contact lever 48 - only behind the moving contact 84 in the power supply 67 goes over. The guided from the fixed contact 85 via the arc gap to the moving contact 84 thus current, even if the contact lever 48 is already applied to the stop surface 97, as before the abutment of the contact lever 48 within the contact lever 48 or the running rail 66 a certain distance in the direction of the Rear lever end 83 flow until it is discharged via the power supply 67 in the opposite direction. The running rail 66 is cut out centrally from the power supply 67 in order to ensure a symmetrical current flow in the transition region.

With regard to the electrodynamic effect of the current path, the magnetic yoke 59, into which the running rail 65 is integrated, is not closed in a circle around the magnetic coil 57. Rather, the yoke 59 is on a magnet armature 60 facing the bottom through a narrow air gap 99 (FIGS. FIGS. 8 and 9 ) interrupted. The air gap 99 is dimensioned such that it does not significantly affect the magnetic flux within the magnetic yoke 59, but effectively prevents current flow over the gap gap. It is rather within the magnetic yoke 59 always from an output 100 ( Fig. 8 ) of the magnetic coil 57 in the direction of the fixed contact 85 and optionally beyond this directed current path forced (the direction of the current path is in the context of this description regardless of the actual current flow direction as indicated by the feed terminal 24 or coupling contact 29 and aligned with the load terminal 26).

Overall, the geometric characteristics of the current flow within the circuit breaker module 2 and the induction effect caused thereby, over the entire tripping operation until the extinction of the arc is maintained.

Under the induction effect of the arc dissolves after striking the contact lever 48 on the stop surface 97 of the contacts 84 and 85 and passes to the adjacent rails 65 and 66 on. This process is called commutation. The arc then travels along the rails 65 and 66 in an arc run space 101 formed therebetween (furthermore under the influence of the electrodynamic forces). Fig. 13 ) to an inlet 102 ( Fig. 13 ) of the quenching chamber 63 to.

Through the inlet 102, the arc enters the quenching chamber 63 and is divided by the quenching plates 64 into a number of partial arcs. The quenching plates 64 favor the extinguishing of the arc in a conventional manner by multiplying the total voltage across the entire arc gap and the arc is cooled.

By the arc, the air is heated locally strong, creating a pressure wave in the arc run space 101, which pushes the arc during the propagation in the direction of the quenching chamber 63 in front of him. In order to prevent this pressure wave obstructing the inlet of the arc into the quenching chamber 63 or that the negative pressure arising after the cooling of the air sucks the arc in the region of the contacts 84 and 85, the extinguishing device 41 is provided with an air compensation system whose function in Fig. 14 is illustrated schematically.

Fig. 14 shows the extinguishing device 41 in a schematic section through the quenching chamber 63 and the arc run space 101 along a cutting line which coincides approximately with the running rail 66. In this illustration, it is clear that the arc run space 101 is closed on both end sides by the cover plates 68a and 68b becomes. Each cover plate 68a, 68b is in turn arranged at a distance from the adjacent wall of the housing 3, so that between the cover plates 68a, 68b and the housing 3 on both sides of the arc run space 101 and parallel to this ever a pressure equalization channel 103a and 103b is formed. Each pressure equalization channel 103a, 103b corresponds via a first opening 104 to an area of the arc run space 101 adjacent to the inlet 102 and to a second opening 105 in the respective cover plate 68a, 68b with a region of the arc run area 101 surrounding the contacts 84, 85 the pressure wave propagating with the arc in its propagation direction P results in a backflow R in the pressure compensation channels 103a, 103b, by which an overpressure at the inlet of the quenching chamber 63 is reduced and the formation of a negative pressure in the region of the contacts 84 and 85 is avoided.

At the end opposite the inlet 102, the quenching chamber 63 has an outlet 106 (FIG. Fig. 14 ) on. The damming of this outlet 106, ie the ratio of the free cross-sectional area of the outlet 106 to the free cross-sectional area of the inlet 102, is about 42%. This cross-sectional constriction has proven to be particularly suitable for slowing down the propagation of the arc in the quenching chamber 63, in order to avoid that the arc simply passes through the quenching chamber 63 and reignites at the outlet 106, in order to keep the quenching chamber sufficiently permeable on the other hand that the arc quickly enters the quenching chamber 63.

The damming is effected essentially by a separating web 107 made of insulating material, which is integrally formed on the outlet 106 of the extinguishing chamber 63 and protrudes therefrom in the propagation direction P. This separating web 107 furthermore effects separation of the gas stream leaving the quenching chamber 63 into two partial streams and thus further impedes flashback of the electric arc.

A further subdivision into (schematically indicated) partial flows T1 to T8, the gas flow through the integrally formed on the housing 3 baffles 69, of which three flank the divider 107 on both sides. The baffles 69 further direct the sub-streams T1 to T8 toward the side surface 22b (ie, in the illustration according to Fig. 14 approximately to the viewer) and thus avoid a pressure accumulation at the outlet 106 of the quenching chamber 63, which would favor the flashback of the arc.

In case of overload, the trip takes place in principle the same way as in the short circuit case described above. However, in this case, the trip slider 53 is not advanced by the plunger 61 of the short-circuit release 56, but by the bimetallic strip 54 of the overload release 55, which heats up due to the overload current and thereby deflects so that its free end 110 (FIG. Fig. 15 ) abuts against a projection of the trigger slide 53, which is referred to as attack 111 below.

In order to adjust the triggering threshold of the circuit breaker module 2 in case of overload, the attack 111 is formed on two sides and comprises an integrally formed on the trigger slide 53 bracket 112 (FIGS. Fig. 15 ) on which an eccentric 113 ( Fig. 16 ) is rotatably mounted. The holder 112 is in this case with a ring gear 114 ( Fig. 15 ) which, in cooperation with a corresponding detent tooth 115 (FIG. Fig. 16 ) of the eccentric 113 allows the eccentric 113 to lock in a plurality of defined rotational positions relative to the holder 112. By rotation of the eccentric 113 relative to the holder 112, the distance which the attack 111 assumes in the ready position of the trigger slide 53 to the free end 110 of the bimetallic strip 54 can be varied (This effect is shown in FIG Fig. 16 illustrated by two rotational positions in which the eccentric 113 is shown by way of example by solid or dashed lines, illustrates).

To actuate the signal relay 71, the trigger slide 53 further comprises a cantilever 116 (FIG. Fig. 9 ). The boom 116 is configured to actuate the signal relay 71 when the trip slider 53 is in the standby position. As if in synopsis of FIGS. 10 to 13 can be removed, the boom 116 releases the signal relay 71 in its movement into the release position. On the switching state of the signal relay 71 can thus be queried the position of the trip slider 53, and consequently the state of the trigger mechanism 44.

The Figures 17 and 18 show two circuit breaker modules 2 of the type described above, which are assembled into a two-pole design of the circuit breaker front 1. Between two circuit breaker modules 2 while a coupling piece 120 is inserted. The coupling piece 120 comprises a body 121 which is provided with two fixing projections 122 each. The fixing protrusions 122 can be snapped into corresponding receptacles 17 on the adjacent end faces 14a or 14b of the respectively adjacent circuit breaker module 2, so that the interposed protective circuit modules 2 are mechanically fixed to one another via the coupling piece 120.

On this body 121 on the one hand a handle coupling 123 and on the other hand, a release coupling 124 is formed. The handle coupling 123 is molded on a film hinge 125 pivotally mounted on the body 121 and engages in a Fig. 18 illustrated mounting state on both sides in the handles 6 of the adjacent circuit breaker modules 2, so that the pivot lever 7 of this circuit breaker modules 2 are coupled together in always aligned pivoting position. The triggering coupling 124 is flexibly molded onto the body 121 via a spring arm 126 bent in a meandering manner and, in the assembled state, engages on both sides through the engagement opening 18 of the respectively adjacent housing wall on a coupling projection 127 (FIG. FIGS. 8 to 10 ) of the trip slider 53 of the respective circuit breaker module 2 to. As a result, the trip slider 53 of both circuit breaker modules 2 are coupled such that by triggering a circuit breaker module 2, the respective other circuit breaker module 2 is triggered.

By means of the coupling piece 120, both a mechanical fixation of the circuit breaker modules 2 and a dynamic coupling of both the manual actuation mechanism 42 and the actuation mechanism 44 of both circuit breaker modules 2 are thus achieved by means of an integral component

To reinforce the mechanical fixation, the circuit breaker modules 2 are additionally connected to each other by brackets 128 on the side surfaces 22a, 22b and the back 8.

The respective outer end faces 14a, 14b of the circuit breaker modules 2 are each covered by a blind cover 15a (or 15b). Further front covers 129 close off the area of the front side 4 between the circuit breaker modules 2 arranged around the pivot lever 7.

The FIGS. 19 to 21 show a five-pole design of the circuit breaker 1, in which this is connected in the manner of a power distributor. In a power distributor usually a common power supply is provided, are branched off from the branch lines for supplying a number of poles corresponding number of load circuits via a respective separate circuit breaker module 2.

A dynamic coupling of the individual circuit breaker modules 2 is not desirable in a power distribution in the rule. The circuit breaker modules 2 are according to Fig. 19 Therefore (in contrast to the embodiment of the circuit breaker 1 described above) without interposed coupling pieces 120 juxtaposed. For a common supply of all circuit breaker modules 2, a busbar 130, which extends as a profile part substantially over the entire width of the juxtaposed circuit breaker modules 2, inserted into the aligned housing slots 30 so that the coupling contacts 29 of the circuit breaker modules 2 are short-circuited via the busbar 130. The connection of the circuit breaker modules 2 to an external supply line is carried out as intended via the feed terminal 24 of a circuit breaker module. 2

The bus bar 130 is provided with a back cover 131 of insulating material. In the inserted state, only this back cover 131 protrudes on the side surface 22a and closes the housing slot 30 to this side surface 22a touch-safe ( Figures 20 . 21 ). To the outer end faces 14a, 14b of the circuit breaker modules 2, the busbar 130 is covered by end strip 132

Each end strip 132 is provided with a peripheral circumferential guide groove 133. With this guide groove 133, the end strip 132 is pushed onto a guide web 134, which is the edge of the housing slot 30 at each end 14a, 14b rotates. Depending on an end strip 132 is preferably molded over a predetermined breaking point on the back 8 of the housing 3 of each circuit breaker module 2, so that it can be broken off if necessary and inserted into the housing slot 30.

In the FIGS. 19 to 21 further busbar pieces 135a and 135b are shown, which can be inserted in the same manner as the busbar 130 in the housing slots 32a or 32b to couple the coupling contacts 31a, 31b of the signal terminals 28a, 28b. The FIGS. 19 to 21 show a first type of busbar pieces 135a, each of which short-circuits only the coupling contacts 31a or 31b of two directly adjacent circuit breaker modules 2. One in the Figures 19 and 21 shown further type of busbar pieces 135b is formed from profile material and can be cut to length (as with the busbar 130) as desired to short any number of coupling contacts 31 a or 31 b.

The busbar pieces 135a and 135b can be used alternatively or in any combination to interconnect the signal circuits of the circuit breaker modules 2 together.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

breaker

2

Protection switch module

3

casing

4

front

5

midsection

6

handle

7

pivoting lever

8th

back

9

admission

10

locking slide

11

guide

12

spring arm

13

locking lug

14a, b

face

15a, b

blind cover

16

retaining projection

17

admission

18

engagement opening

19

railing

20

Legend plate

21

admission

22a, b

side surface

23

housing opening

24

feed tab

25

housing opening

26

load connection

27a, b

housing opening

28a, b

signal connection

29

coupling contact

30

housing slot

31a, b

coupling contact

32a, b

housing slot

40

switch lock

41

extinguishing device

42

Hand operating mechanism

43

shifting

44

release mechanism

45

coupling rod

46

takeaway

47

torsion spring

48

contact lever

49

ratchet lever

50

lever end

51

pawl

52

mainspring

53

trip slider

54

bimetallic strip

55

Overload release

56

Short-circuit release

57

solenoid

58

Kemscheibe

59

yoke

60

armature

61

tappet

62

compression spring

63

extinguishing chamber

64

splitter

65

runner

66

runner

67

power supply

68a, b

cover

69

baffle

70

conductor rail

71

signal relay

72

spring shackle

73

shell

74

housing cover

75

rivet

80

axis of rotation

81

swivel

82

Long hole

83

(rearward) lever end

84

moving contact

85

fixed contact

86

conductor rail

87a, b

stranded connection

88

swivel axis

89

fixed end

90

radial guide

91

link guide

92

stop surface

93

Entklinkungskontur

94

recess

95

(first) stop

96

(second) stop

97

stop surface

98

Aufgleitschräge

99

air gap

100

output

101

Arc running space

102

inlet

103a, b

Pressure compensation channel

104

opening

105

opening

106

outlet

107

divider

110

free end

111

attack

112

bracket

113

eccentric

114

sprocket

115

ratchet

116

boom

120

coupling piece

121

body

122

fixing projection

123

handle link

124

release coupling

125

film hinge

126

spring arm

127

coupling lead

128

clip

129

front cover

130

conductor rail

131

back cover

132

trim strip

133

guide

134

guide web

135a, b

Busbar piece

P

propagation

R

backwash

T1-T8

partial flow

Claims (10)

1. Protection switch (1) with at least one single-pole protection switch module (2), comprising a housing (3), a switching arm (43) carrying a moving contact (84) and being pivotably movable against a fixed contact (85) between a closed position and an open position, a manual operating mechanism (42) for manually adjusting the switching arm (43) between the closed position and the open position, a tripping mechanism (44) for automatically resetting the switching arm (43) into the open position upon occurrence of a tripping condition, as well as a quenching device (41) for quenching a switching arc,

   - the quenching device having a quenching chamber (63) which comprises an Inlet (102) and an outlet (106) for the arc,

   - the quenching device having a first running rail (65) which connects the fixed contact (85) with a first side wall of the quenching chamber (63) and

   - the quenching device having a second running rail (66) which connects a stopping surface (97), at which the moving contact (84) rests in the open position of the switching arm (43), with a second side wall of the quenching chamber (63),

   wherein a separation strip (107) extending substantially from side wall to side wall is molded onto the outlet (106) of the quenching chamber (63),
   characterized in that
   the outlet (106) of the quenching chamber (63) Is dammed up by 35% to 50% compared with the inlet (102).
2. Protection switch (1) according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the second running rail (66) Is contacted by a current supply (67) in such a way that the point of contact of this running rail (66) with the current supply (67) is located behind the stopping surface (97) of the switching arm (43) at the second running rail (66), as seen from the moving contact (84) along the switching arm (43).
3. Protection switch (1) according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterized In that
   the second running rail (66) is, in a manner of a lug, cut free and bent out from a center of the current supply (87).
4. Protection switch (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 3,
   characterized in that
   the outlet (106) of the quenching chamber (63) is dammed up by about 40% to 45%, in particular by about 42%, compared with the inlet (102),
5. Protection switch (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 4,
   characterized in that
   at least one guide plate (69) is disposed at the outlet (106) of the quenching chamber (63) for deflecting a gas flow leaving the quenching chamber (63).
6. Protection switch (1) according to claim 5,
   characterized in that
   the or each guide plate (69) is integrally molded onto the housing (3).
7. Protection switch (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 6,
   characterized In that
   an arc running space (101) formed between the running rails (65,66) is limited by a cover plate (68a,68b) towards at least one of the housing end faces, wherein a pressure compensating duct (103a,103b) Is formed between the cover plate (68a,68b) and the housing (3).
8. Protection switch (1) according to claim 7,
   characterized in that
   the or each cover plate (68a,68b) Is configured in such a way that the pressure compensating duct (103a,103b) confined by this cover plate (68a,68b) is opened on the one hand towards the inlet (102) of the quenching chamber (63) and on the other hand towards an end of the arc running space (101) facing the contacts (84,85).
9. Protection switch (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 8,
   characterized in
   a short circuit trip device (56) having a magnetic coil (57), a magnetic yoke (59) and a magnetic armature (60), which Is connected with a plunger (1) for advancing a trip slider (53) of the tripping mechanism (44), wherein the first running rail (65) is disposed integrally with the magnetic yoke (59).
10. Protection switch (1) according to claim 9,
    characterized in that
    the magnetic yoke (59) is interrupted by a gap (99) in an area adjoining the outlet (106) of the quenching chamber (63).

Images