EP2031627B1 - Construction unit made of a ground fault circuit breaker and an overvoltage protection device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an assembly consisting of a residual current circuit breaker and an overvoltage protection device, the residual current circuit breaker terminals for the phase conductors (L1, L2, L3) and the neutral conductor (N) and the overvoltage protection device at least one overvoltage protection element with a surge, in particular a surge.

Electrical circuits work with the voltage specified for them, the rated voltage (usually ≅ mains voltage), normally without interference. This does not apply if surges occur. Overvoltages are all voltages that are above the upper tolerance limit of the rated voltage. These include above all the transient overvoltages that can occur due to atmospheric discharges, but also by switching operations or short circuits in power supply networks and galvanically, inductively or capacitively coupled into electrical circuits, especially in building and industrial installations. In order to protect electrical or electronic circuits and the devices and systems connected to the circuits, wherever they are used, against transient overvoltages, overvoltage protection elements have been developed and have been known for decades.

The necessary measures for the protection of the power supply of plants and devices are divided into different stages depending on the arrester selection and the expected environmental influences. The overvoltage protection devices for the individual stages basically differ in terms of the level of the discharge capacity and the protection level.

The first protection level (type 1) is usually formed by a lightning arrester, which is installed as the most powerful protection device in the central power supply of a building. An essential component of such a lightning arrester is a spark gap with at least two electrodes, wherein an arc arises when the spark gap between the two electrodes is ignited.

The second protection level (type 2) usually forms a varistor-based surge arrester. This protection level again limits the remaining voltage across the lightning arrester. Depending on the risk potential of the system to be protected or the building to be protected, it may be sufficient in individual cases if the second level of protection, ie. H. the surge arrester, is started.

In addition, there are triggered lightning arresters based on the AEC principle (Active Energy Control), which represent a combination of lightning current arresters and surge arresters. With such an arrester combination, lightning current and surge arresters can be connected directly in parallel. This is particularly advantageous if lightning current and surge arresters can not be installed separately from each other.

In the context of the present invention, the variants described above are to be collectively referred to as arresters, without the invention being restricted to a specific type of arrester. Such an arrester then forms the essential component of an overvoltage protection element, wherein the overvoltage protection element has at least one housing receiving the arrester. Preferably, however, a surge arrester of the second protection level (type 2), ie. H. a varistor and / or a gas-filled surge arrester used.

Known overvoltage protection devices have for connection to electrical lines on a device base, which can be mounted for example on a mounting rail. To install such a surge protection device, which is intended to protect, for example, the phase-leading conductors L1, L2, L3 and the neutral conductor N and possibly also the earth conductor PE, corresponding terminals for the phase conductors and the earth or neutral conductors are provided in the known surge protection devices on the device base , Such an overvoltage protection device is for example from the brochure " Surge protection TRABTECH 2005 ", pages 20 and 21 the applicant and from the DE 20 2004 005 491 U1 and the DE 20 2004 006 227 U1 known.

For simple mechanical and electrical contacting of the device base with the respective overvoltage protection element in the known overvoltage protection device, the overvoltage protection elements are designed as "protective plug", d. H. the lower device part has plug sockets connected to the connection terminals and the overvoltage protection element has corresponding plug pins, so that the overvoltage protection element can be plugged onto the device lower part. In addition, the known overvoltage protection device still has a changeover contact as a signal generator for a defect message, for which purpose a contact element is provided on the device lower part and a corresponding countercontact element is provided on the overvoltage protection element. As a result, the installation and installation of overvoltage protection elements is very simple and time-saving feasible.

In addition to the overvoltage protection devices described above, residual current circuit breakers are also used in electrical circuits, which in common usage are referred to as RCD switches or according to the European standard as RCD (Residual Current Protective Device). Residual current circuit breakers are basically used to protect people, animals and property from the dangers of electric current. If due to inadequate electrical isolation between the power grid and ground, power is flowing in a "wrong" way, such as through a person's body, then the circuit under test will be disconnected from the rest of the power supply by the residual current circuit breaker within a very short time. RCDs are residual-current circuit-breakers independent of the mains supply, which do not have semiconductor-based amplifier circuits, so that the risk that the residual-current-operated circuit-breaker no longer functions in the event of a fault due to a transistor failure is eliminated. In Europe, residual current circuit breakers are nowadays usually installed in fuse boxes in addition to overcurrent protection devices (circuit breakers and fuses).

Should be ensured in an electrical circuit, a complete protection solution for people and equipment both against overvoltages and against a fault current, so far in practice, a corresponding residual current circuit breaker and adapted to the respective network shape surge protection device installed separately, so that both devices individually must be connected electrically.

From the DE 30 29 453 C2 an apparatus arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1 protection is known, however, the residual current circuit breaker is arranged before the surge arresters, so that a coupled from the mains overvoltage the switching contacts of the residual current circuit breaker charged so that they can weld at high surge currents. The residual current circuit breaker can then no longer fulfill its protective function in the fault current case, with the additional problem that such a failure of the residual current circuit breaker is not detected.

The EP 0 173 018 A1 discloses an electrical installation with an overvoltage protection device and a residual current circuit breaker, the overvoltage protection device is arranged in terms of network and consumer in a secondary branch. The EP 0 173 018 A1 gives the skilled person the doctrine which in itself is already known from the prior art ( DE 30 29 453 C2 ) discard known assembly of a residual current circuit breaker and a surge protective device and instead form the residual current circuit breaker and the surge protection device as two separate, independent devices, the overvoltage protection device based on the network with the consumers arranged therein and the residual current circuit breaker is to be arranged in a secondary branch.

The present invention is therefore an object of the invention to improve a unit initially described consisting of a residual current circuit breaker and a surge protection device to the extent that a safe protection of both persons and equipment is guaranteed against fault currents and surges, the installation and the structure of the unit should be as simple as possible.

This object is achieved in the initially described unit initially and essentially by the fact that from the point of view of the feeding network in Energieflußrichtung the surge protective device is arranged in front of the residual current circuit breaker, and that the electrical connection between the to be connected to the input side terminals of the residual current circuit breaker conductor L1, L2, L3, N and the individual overvoltage protection elements via pre-bent conductor elements.

The arrangement of the overvoltage protection device in the direction of energy flow before the residual current circuit breaker of the residual current circuit breaker is protected by the surge protective device against overvoltages. A coupled from the mains overvoltage is discharged before the residual current circuit breaker, so that the switching contacts of the residual current circuit breaker are not burdened by the overvoltage. By using pre-bent conductor elements for the electrical connection between the conductors L1, L2, L3, N to be connected to the input side terminals of the residual current circuit breaker and the individual overvoltage protection elements, a complex manual wiring of the individual devices can be dispensed with. The connection of the phase conductors and the neutral conductor to the unit according to the invention takes place as the electrician in the installation of normal residual current circuit breakers is used to; an additional electrical connection of the overvoltage protection device is therefore not required.

According to a first preferred embodiment, insulated copper wires, in particular enamel-insulated copper wires, are used as pre-bent conductor elements. Such enamel-insulated copper wires have the advantage that they are very simple and inexpensive to produce and also easily adaptable to the respective requirements. For example, enamel-insulated copper wires are considerably cheaper than corresponding stamped and bent parts. To make the installation of the residual current circuit breaker and the overvoltage protection device easy, the one ends of the conductor elements protrude into the connections for the phase conductors and the neutral conductor on the residual current circuit breaker. When connecting the phase conductors and the neutral conductor to the input side of the residual current circuit breaker thus the individual feeding conductors are connected simultaneously via the conductor elements to the individual overvoltage protection elements.

Preferably, it is provided that the projecting into the input-side terminals for the phase conductors and the neutral conductor at the residual current circuit breaker ends of the conductor elements are electrically and mechanically connected to a metal plate. The metal plates are each arranged at the individual ends of the conductor elements, that when connecting the phase conductor and the neutral conductor to the residual current circuit breaker, the phase conductor and the neutral conductor are arranged on one side of the metal plate and the end of a conductor element on the opposite side of the metal plate. The metal plates, which are preferably soldered or welded to the ends of the conductor elements, thus ensure a secure double clamping of a conductor to be connected and the one end of a pre-bent conductor element. Are the terminals of the residual current circuit breaker designed as screw terminals, so protrude the ends of the conductor elements and the soldered or welded metal plates into the terminal space for the leads inside.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the conductor elements are arranged and held in a particular plastic carrier. The carrier has for this purpose corresponding recesses in which the pre-bent conductor elements can be engaged. By use a carrier receiving the conductor elements are on the one hand protected the pre-bent conductor elements, on the other hand simplifies the assembly of the conductor elements in the assembly, since this only the support in the housing of the unit must be used and fixed.

As is known from the overvoltage protection devices described above, the overvoltage protection elements are also designed as "protective plugs" in the case of the overvoltage protection device of the constructional unit according to the invention. the overvoltage protection device has a lower device part, which preferably has plug contacts designed as plug contacts, into which the overvoltage protection elements, preferably designed as plug pins corresponding plug-in contacts are inserted, so that the overvoltage protection elements can be plugged onto the device base. In this case, it is advantageously provided that the plug-in contacts arranged in the device lower part are electrically and mechanically connected, in particular soldered or welded, to the second ends of the individual conductor elements assigned to the overvoltage protection elements. Preferably, a metal plate is soldered or welded at one end of the enamel-insulated copper wires, which are preferably used as conductor elements, in each case a metal plate and at the other end a socket. The thus preassembled conductor elements are also arranged and held together in a plastic carrier, so that for the assembly of this module only the plastic carrier must be inserted into the housing of the device base of the surge protective device and secured there.

As is likewise known in the case of the overvoltage protection devices described at the outset, the device lower part of the overvoltage protection device of the constructional unit according to the invention also has a telecommunications contact for remote signaling of the state of at least one overvoltage protection element and the overvoltage protection elements an optical status indication. The telecommunications contact in the lower part of the device has a switch, wherein the optical status indicator and the switch via a common mechanical actuation system can be actuated. The mechanical actuating system has a first spring-loaded actuating device in the form of a lever system for actuating the switch and a second spring-loaded actuating device for actuating the optical status indicator. Regarding the preferred concrete Realization of the mechanical actuation system will be on the DE 20 2004 006 227 U1 directed.

Finally, it is also preferably provided in the overvoltage protection device of the assembly according to the invention that the device lower one of the number of overvoltage protection elements corresponding number of coding elements and the individual overvoltage protection elements each have a corresponding Gegenkodierelement, whereby a faulty plugging an overvoltage protection element can be prevented to an incorrect position on the device base.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels einer Baueinheit aus einem Fehlerstromschutzschalter und einem Überspannungsschutzgerät,

Fig. 2

ein elektrisches Ersatzschaltbild der Baueinheit gemäß Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

die Baueinheit gemäß Fig. 1, mit teilweise weggelassenem Gehäuse,

Fig. 4

den Fehlerstromschutzschalter der Baueinheit gemäß Fig. 1, mit daran angeschlossenen Leiterelementen,

Fig. 5

die einzelnen vorgebogenen Leiterelemente zur Realisierung der elektrischen Verbindung zwischen den Anschlüssen des Fehlerstromschutzschalters und den einzelnen Überspannungsschutzelementen,

Fig. 6

die vorgebogenen Leiterelemente gemäß Fig. 5, angeordnet in einem Kunststoffträger und

Fig. 7

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Baueinheit bestehend aus einem Fehlerstromschutzschalter und einem Überspannungsschutzgerät.

In particular, there are a variety of ways to design the unit according to the invention of a residual current circuit breaker and a surge protective device and further. Reference is made to both the claims subordinate to claim 1, as well as to the following description of preferred embodiments in conjunction with the drawings. In the drawing show

Fig. 1

3 is a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of an assembly consisting of a residual current circuit breaker and an overvoltage protection device,

Fig. 2

an electrical equivalent circuit diagram of the assembly according to Fig. 1 .

Fig. 3

the unit according to Fig. 1 , with partly omitted housing,

Fig. 4

the residual current circuit breaker of the unit according to Fig. 1 with connected conductor elements,

Fig. 5

the individual pre-bent conductor elements for realizing the electrical connection between the terminals of the residual current circuit breaker and the individual overvoltage protection elements,

Fig. 6

the pre-bent conductor elements according to Fig. 5 , arranged in a plastic carrier and

Fig. 7

a perspective view of a second embodiment of an assembly according to the invention consisting of a residual current circuit breaker and an overvoltage protection device.

The Fig. 1 and 7 each show a structural unit 1 according to the invention consisting of a residual current circuit breaker 2 and an overvoltage protection device 3, wherein the two structural units 1 each shown on a support rail 4 can be latched. The two in the Fig. 1 and 7 illustrated units 1 differ from each other in that the unit 1 according to Fig. 1 in a 3-phase power supply and the unit 1 according to Fig. 7 can be used in a single-phase power supply. Accordingly, the residual current circuit breaker 2 in the embodiment according to Fig. 1 Input and output side three terminals 5 for the phase conductors L1, L2, L3 and one terminal 6 for the neutral conductor N on, while in the residual current circuit breaker 2 according to Fig. 7 Input and output side only one terminal 5 is provided for the phase conductor L1 and a terminal 6 for the neutral conductor N respectively. Corresponding to the number of terminals 5, 6, the overvoltage protection device 3 has a corresponding number of overvoltage protection elements 7, wherein the individual overvoltage protection elements 7 each have a arranged in a housing 8 arrester 9, 10.

From the diagram according to Fig. 2 It can be seen that the arresters connected to the input-side terminals 5 for the phase conductors L1, L2, L3 9 are formed as varistors, while the arrester 10, on the one hand to the terminal 6 for the neutral conductor N and the second terminals 5 of the other Arrester 9 and on the other hand connected to ground PE, is designed as a gas-filled surge arrester. Besides, it is off Fig. 2 It can be seen that, from the point of view of the supplying network in the direction of energy flow E, the overvoltage protection device 3 is arranged in front of the residual current circuit breaker 2 according to the equivalent electrical circuit diagram in FIG Fig. 2 has the residual current circuit breaker 2 is still a switching mechanism 11, a summation current transformer 12, a residual current release 13 and a - also in Fig. 1 shown - test button 14 on. In that regard, the residual current circuit breaker 2 corresponds to a commercially available RCD.

The in the electrical equivalent circuit diagram according to Fig. 2 only schematically illustrated electrical connection between the to be connected to the input-side terminals 5, 6 of the residual current circuit breaker 2 conductors L1, L2, L3, N and the individual overvoltage protection elements 7 of the overvoltage protection device 3 is concretely by in detail in Fig. 5 illustrated pre-bent conductor elements 15 realized. As a conductor elements 15 while enamel-insulated copper wires are used, which can be produced particularly inexpensive and can be easily bent according to the particular requirements.

As in particular from the Fig. 3 and 4 it can be seen, protrude the one ends 16 of the conductor elements 15 in the terminals 5, 6 for the phase conductors L1, L2, L3 and the neutral conductor N on the residual current circuit breaker 2 into it. In addition, a metal plate 17 is welded to the individual ends 16 of the paint-insulated copper wires 15 used as conductor elements, which are in the assembled state within the clamping pockets 18 of the terminals 5, 6 formed as screw terminals. As in particular from Fig. 4 It can be seen that the metal plates 17 are located below the ends 16 of the conductor elements 15, so that the connected phase conductors L1, L2, L3 and the neutral conductor N in the connected state are bent from below against the metal plates 17 and thereby electrically contacted within the clamping pocket 18 , The arrangement of the metal plates 17 at the ends 16 of the conductor elements 15 thus ensures secure double clamping of both the conductors to be connected and the ends of the conductor elements 15 in the clamping pockets 18 of the terminals 5, 6.

Out Fig. 3 and especially from Fig. 6 It can be seen that the individual enamel-insulated copper wires 15 are arranged and held together in a plastic carrier 19. The plastic carrier 19 has for this purpose at least partially corresponding recesses 20 in which the pre-bent copper wires 15 are engaged. By arranging and holding the copper wires 15 in the plastic support 19, the copper wires 15 are protected against damage on the one hand, on the other hand, the installation of the copper wires 15 is very easy to carry out by simply the plastic support 19 with the therein copper wires 15 in the device base 21 of the surge protection device 3 is inserted and locked in it.

In the Fig. 1 and 7 is shown that the overvoltage protection device 3 consists of a lower device part 21 and a plurality of, designed as a "protective plug" overvoltage protection elements 7. For attaching the overvoltage protection elements 7 on the device base 21 plug contacts 22 are formed in the lower part of the device designed as sockets into which the corresponding plug pins, not shown here connected to the arresters 9, 10 of the overvoltage protection elements 7 can be inserted. Out Fig. 5 it can be seen that the plug contacts 22 of the device base 21 with the second ends 23 of the conductor elements 15, which are assigned to the individual overvoltage protection elements 7, are electrically and mechanically connected. Preferably, the plug contacts 22 are welded or soldered to the ends 23 of the conductor elements 15.

How out Fig. 1 . 3 and 7 it can be seen, the individual overvoltage protection elements 7 of the overvoltage protection device 3 each have on their upper side an optical status indicator 24, wherein the status indicator 24 is preferably designed as a green / red color display. In addition, the lower device part 21 still has a - not shown here - telecommunications contact for remote signaling of the states of the individual overvoltage protection elements 7

Even if the assembly 1 consists of the residual current circuit breaker 2 and the overvoltage protection device 3, the residual current circuit breaker 2 and the overvoltage protection device 3 each have a separate housing 25, 26, wherein the housing 26 is the housing of the device base 21. However, the housing 25 of the residual current circuit breaker 2 and the housing 26 of the device base 21 are mechanically firmly connected to each other, in particular glued together. For fixation and securing of the plastic carrier 19 on the spring circuit breaker 2, the housing 25 of the residual current circuit breaker 2 has a lid 27 attachable to the feed side (FIG. Fig. 7 ), which has corresponding recesses for receiving and holding the plastic carrier 19.

Finally, out of the Fig. 1 and 3 Still apparent that the lower device part 21 of the overvoltage protection device 3 has two earth terminals 28 for connection to the equipotential bonding and to the system ground. The two ground terminals 28 are formed as bi-connect terminals, so that at the respective lower ground terminal 28 a stripped conductor or a conductor with ferrule and to the respective upper ground terminal 28 a conductor with fork shoe contact can be easily connected.

Claims (12)

1. Modular unit consisting of a fault current circuit breaker (2) and an overvoltage protection device (3), wherein the fault current circuit breaker (2) has connections (5, 6) for the phase conductors (L1, L2, L3) and the neutral conductor (N), and the overvoltage protection device (3) has at least one overvoltage protection element (7) comprising an arrester (9, 10), in particular a surge arrester,
   characterized
   in that the overvoltage protection device (3) is arranged in front of the fault current circuit breaker (2) in the direction of energy flow (E) from the point of view of the feeding grid, and
   in that the electrical connection between the conductor (L1, L2, L3, N) to be connected to the input-side connections (5, 6) of the fault current circuit breaker (2) and the individual overvoltage protection elements (7) is performed via pre-bent conductor elements (15).
2. Modular unit according to Claim 1, characterized in that insulated copper wires, in particular enamel-insulated copper wires, are used as conductor elements (15).
3. Modular unit according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the one ends (16) of the conductor elements (15) protrude into the connections (5, 6) for phase conductors (L1, L2, L3) and neutral conductors (N) at the fault current circuit breaker (2) in such a way that, when the phase conductors (L1, L2, L3) and the neutral conductor (N) are connected to the fault current circuit breaker (2), the phase conductors (L1, L2, L3) and the neutral conductor (N) are connected simultaneously to the individual overvoltage protection elements (7) via the conductor elements (15).
4. Modular unit according to Claim 3, characterized in that those ends (16) of the conductor elements (15) which protrude into the connections (5, 6) for the phase conductors (L1, L2, L3) and the neutral conductor (N) at the fault current circuit breaker (2) are electrically and mechanically connected, in particular soldered or welded, to a metal plate (17), wherein the metal plates (17) are arranged at the ends (16) of the conductor elements (15) in such a way that, when the phase conductors (L1, L2, L3) and the neutral conductor (N) are connected to the fault current circuit breaker (2), the phase conductors (L1, L2, L3) and the neutral conductor (N) are arranged on one side of the metal plates (17) and the ends (16) of the conductor elements (15) are arranged on the opposite side of the metal plates (17).
5. Modular unit according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the conductor elements (15) are arranged and held in a carrier (19), wherein the carrier (19) preferably consists of plastic.
6. Modular unit according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the overvoltage protection device (3) has a device lower part (21), wherein the device lower part (21) has plug-type contacts (22) which are connected to the connections (5, 6) and connection plug-type contacts which correspond to the overvoltage protection elements (7), with the result that the overvoltage protection elements (7) can be plugged onto the device lower part (21).
7. Modular unit according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the conductor elements (15) are each, at their end (23) assigned to the overvoltage protection elements (7), electrically and mechanically connected, in particular soldered or welded, to the plug-type contacts (22).
8. Modular unit according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the device lower part (21) of the overvoltage protection device (3) has at least one telecommunications contact having a switch for remotely signalling the state of at least one overvoltage protection element (7), and in that the overvoltage protection element (7) has an optical state display (24), wherein the optical state display (24) and the switch of the telecommunications contact are actuable via a common mechanical actuation system.
9. Modular unit according to one of Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the device lower part (21) of the overvoltage protection device (3) has at least one coding element, and the overvoltage protection element (7) has at least one corresponding opposing coding element, wherein the coding elements and/or the opposing coding elements are preferably adjustable.
10. Modular unit according to one of Claims I to 9, characterized in that the fault current circuit breaker (2) and the overvoltage protection device (3) or the device lower part (21) of the overvoltage protection device (3) each have a separate housing (25, 26), wherein the housing (25) of the fault current circuit breaker (2) and the housing (26) of the overvoltage protection device (3) or the device lower part (21) are fixedly connected, in particular screwed or adhesively bonded, to one another.
11. Modular unit according to Claims 5 and 10, characterized in that the carrier (19), with the conductor elements (15) arranged and held therein and with the plug-type contacts (22) electrically and mechanically connected to the conductor elements (15), is fastened, in particular latched, in the housing (26) of the device lower part (21).
12. Modular unit according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the overvoltage protection device (3) has two earth connections (28) for connection to the equipotential bonding and to the earth of the installation.

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