EP2131378B1 - Device for controlling an electrical switching device comprising a device for indicating the weld of the contacts, and electrical switching device including such a device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for controlling an electric switchgear housed in an insulating housing, comprising at least one movable contact carried by a contact carrier intended to cooperate with at least one fixed contact with respect to the housing, said contact movable which can be operated either manually via a handle rotatably mounted about an axis of the housing, or automatically between an open position and a closed position of the fixed and movable contacts, and a closure device abruptly, said device being intended, at the beginning of the manual closing maneuver of the joystick and a certain stroke thereof, to hold the movable contact in the open position by storing energy and, after this race of the joystick, releasing said moving contact in such a way that the energy stored previously causes the fixed and mobile contacts to close abruptly, said closure device br USQUE UTILIZATION comprising a ratchet rotatably mounted about the axis of the handle, said pawl being biased by a spring against a stop of the handle, being driven by the handle in the direction of closing and cooperating with the contact holder so as to ensure the sudden closure of said movable contact, as well as an electrical switching device comprising such a device.

We know the document FR 2,616,583 describing a control mechanism of a miniature electric circuit breaker, said mechanism comprising a handle coupled to a transmission link to form a toggle joint, a movable contact support device having a plate rotatably mounted on a pivot, and a breakable mechanical link under the action of a trigger lever. The connection is formed by a catch of the release lever cooperating with a hook hook pivotally mounted on an axis of the plate. The rod is coupled directly to the hook, the assembly constituting a reduction stage allowing a reduction of the triggering force. This mechanism advantageously comprises a device for abrupt closing of the contacts comprising a locking arm arranged on the insulating support lever of the contact arm and cooperating with a pawl pivotally mounted on the axis of the joystick. This pawl is associated with a return spring which urges the pawl in the trigonometric direction against a stop of the joystick. This device does not include means for signaling the welding of the contacts.

The document is also known EP 0 342 133 describing a miniature circuit breaker control mechanism with contact welding indicator. In this document, the device for indicating the welding of the contacts comprises a stop provided on the contact carrier intended to interfere with a locking nose provided on the base of the handle, so as to hold the handle in an intermediate position. in case of welding contacts. This mechanism also comprises an apparent signal indicator of the opening of the circuit breaker arranged on the base of the handle in the vicinity of the hinge of the toggle joint, so as to be visible from the outside of the housing through the orifice when the handle arrives in the open position. In this document, when the contacts are welded and the operator presses the joystick, the operator acts directly on the signaling. It is then possible to display the signaling while the contacts are soldered. This can mislead the operator and cause him to put himself in a dangerous situation.
And we also know the document FR 2,660,794 describing a miniature circuit breaker mechanism having a bistable indicator mounted to rotate freely on the handle axis between an active position and an inactive position. The indicator comprises a first signaling arm equipped with an indicator light, and a second control arm movable between two end stops, and having a step cooperating with the nose of the contact carrier to lock the indicator in the position inactive when the handle is actuated from the closed position to the open position when the contacts are soldered.

The present invention solves the aforementioned problems and proposes a device for controlling an electrical switching device comprising a contact welding signaling device, of simple design, having a reduced number of parts, and for which the handling of the controller when the contacts are soldered does not mislead the indicator in the open position of the contacts.

For this purpose, the subject of the present invention is a control device of the kind mentioned above, this device being characterized in that the aforementioned pawl comprises a light, said light being visible from the outside through an opening of the housing, that when the fixed and mobile contacts are open.
According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the above-mentioned pawl is integral with the indicator light.
According to a particular characteristic, this pawl has a so-called first outer surface, in the form of a cylinder portion, cooperating with a ramp belonging to the contact-carrier, so that it is retained in the open position of the contacts during the closing of the the handle for a certain period corresponding to the time during which the pawl slides along the ramp of the contact carrier.

According to another characteristic, the aforementioned pawl has at one of the ends of its so-called first outer surface a second surface portion extending substantially perpendicularly to the first and intended to cooperate with a beak portion formed at the end of the ramp of the aforementioned contact carrier, so as to retain the pawl in a position in which the indicator is not visible from the outside, when the handle is driven to the open position of the contacts, when the contacts are soldered.

According to another characteristic, the aforesaid indicator is formed by a strip of material extending from said so-called second surface portion.

According to another characteristic, the base of the handle has an outer surface also in the form of a cylinder portion, and this base has a clearance of material whose outer shape is complementary to that of the inner surface facing the axis of the cylinder. lever, the strip of material forming the indicator, so that in the open position of the contacts, these two last surfaces are superimposed, said strip of light material having an outer surface located in the extension of the outer surface of the aforementioned base.

According to another characteristic, this control device comprising a transmission rod coupled to the lever, a device for supporting the movable contact comprising a plate rotatably mounted on a pivot and having a mechanical link breakable with the transmission rod, a lever of tripping triggered by a trigger to cause failure in the event of failure of the mechanical link, causing the automatic triggering of the mechanism independently of the handle and the separation of the contacts, the breakable mechanical link having a detent of the release lever cooperating with a hook hook pivotally mounted on an axis of the plate, the breaking of the mechanical connection corresponding to the unlocking of the attachment, this device is characterized in that it further comprises a stop integral with the plate and adapted to cooperate with the hook so as to guarantee the position of the joystick in a intermediate position of the handle in which the contacts are welded.

The invention further relates to an electrical switching device comprising a control device comprising the previously mentioned features taken alone or in combination.

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective, illustrant la partie intérieure d'un appareil de coupure selon l'invention comportant un dispositif de commande selon l'invention, en position ouverte des contacts,
• La figure 2 est une vue partielle, en perspective, illustrant plus particulièrement la manette dans cette position ouverte des contacts de l'appareil,
• La figure 3 est une vue de dessus de l'appareil, dans cette même position des contacts,
• La figure 4 est une vue en perspective, illustrant la partie arrière du même appareil dans cette même position,
• La figure 5 est une vue en perspective, illustrant la partie intérieure du même appareil, dans une position correspondant à un début de fermeture de l'appareil,
• La figure 6 est une vue identique à la figure précédente, dans une position du dispositif correspondant à la fermeture brusque de l'appareil,
• La figure 7 est une vue identique aux précédentes, l'appareil étant dans une position fermée,
• La figure 8 est une vue en plan, illustrant la partie intérieure de l'appareil, dans une position de celui-ci dans laquelle ses contacts sont soudés,
• La figure 9 est une vue partielle et comportant un arraché, illustrant plus particulièrement la manette dans une position soudée des contacts, et
• La figure 10 est une vue de dessus de l'appareil de coupure, dans une position soudée des contacts, après que l'on ait forcé sur la manette.

But other advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent in the detailed description which follows and refers to the accompanying drawings given solely by way of example and in which:

• The figure 1 is a perspective view, illustrating the inner part of a cut-off device according to the invention comprising a control device according to the invention, in the open position of the contacts,
• The figure 2 is a partial view, in perspective, illustrating more particularly the handle in this open position of the contacts of the apparatus,
• The figure 3 is a top view of the device, in this same position of the contacts,
• The figure 4 is a perspective view, illustrating the rear part of the same apparatus in this same position,
• The figure 5 is a perspective view, illustrating the inner part of the same apparatus, in a position corresponding to a beginning of closing of the apparatus,
• The figure 6 is a view identical to the previous figure, in a position of the device corresponding to the sudden closure of the apparatus,
• The figure 7 is a view identical to the previous ones, the apparatus being in a closed position,
• The figure 8 is a plan view, illustrating the inner part of the apparatus, in a position thereof in which its contacts are welded,
• The figure 9 is a partial view and comprising a snatch, illustrating more particularly the handle in a welded position of the contacts, and
• The figure 10 is a top view of the switchgear, in a soldered position of the contacts, after being forced on the controller.

On the figures 1 and 4 to 8 , we see a miniature electric circuit breaker molded insulating housing B comprising a control device 1 according to the invention. This control device 1 is of the type described in the European patent application no. 86,402,267 of the plaintiff. The device actuates a contact holder 2 having a contact piece 3 cooperating with a fixed contact 4. An opening 5 is formed in the front face 6 of the housing for the passage of the handle of a handle 7 mounted to pivotally limited on a X axis between a closed position in which the contacts 3,4 are closed, and an open position corresponding to the separation of the contacts 3,4. The handle 7 is equipped with an internal base 8 coupled to a transmission rod 9 to form a toggle device whose articulation 10 is eccentric with respect to the axis X of the lever 7. The lever 7 is requested in a direction corresponding to the opening of the contacts by a return spring 11 illustrated on the figure 2 . The fixed contact 4 is secured to the casing of an electromagnetic trip unit 12. The contact carrier 2 of insulating material is articulated around a pivot 14 belonging to a rotary plate 15 for driving the contact carrier 2.

A triggering lever 16 controlled by the striker 17 of the electromagnetic release and the bimetallic strip 18 of the thermal release is pivotally mounted on a Y axis carried by the plate 15 with a predetermined offset with respect to the aforementioned pivot 14.

A breakable mechanical connection is provided between the transmission rod 9 and the drive plate of the contact carrier 2. In the locked position, the connection allows the manual control of the mechanism by the lever 7. The movement of the trigger lever 16 towards the triggered position under the action of the trigger, causes the momentary break of the mechanical connection, causing the automatic triggering of the mechanism, independently of the joystick. The trip lever 16 is associated with a return spring 19 for ensuring the automatic restoration of the mechanical link when the handle 7 is actuated to the open position, following a trigger of the fault mechanism.

The breakable mechanical link comprises a hook 20 pivotally mounted on an axis Z of the plate 15. At the opposite of this axis Z, a spout 21 of the hook (not visible in the figures) cooperates in the locked position of the link with a retaining catch 22 (not visible in the figures) located on the arm of the trip lever 16. The transmission link 9 is coupled to the hook 20 and the plate 15 at a hinge point that can move when triggered in two consecutive apertures 23,24 of the plate 15. This point of articulation is located between the hinge axis Z of the hook 20 on the plate 15 and the spout 21 of the hook hook.
It will also be noted that the device further comprises a stop 33 ( fig.8 ) integral with the plate 15 and adapted to cooperate with the hook 20 so as to ensure the position of the handle 7 in an intermediate position of the handle 7 wherein the contacts 3,4 are welded.

This control device 1 also comprises a pawl 25 rotatably mounted around the axis X of the lever 7 and returned by the aforementioned spring 11 in the counterclockwise direction against a stop 7a of the base 8 of the handle 7 ( fig.2 ).
As illustrated on the figure 9 this spring 11 comprises a first leg 11a fixed in the casing 26 and a second leg 11b resting on a stop 25a of the pawl and also intended to return the lever 7 in the open position by the abutments on the stops 7a of the handle and 25b of the ratchet ( fig.2 ).
This pawl 25 has an outer surface 27, said first, in the form of a cylinder portion intended to cooperate with a ramp 28 provided at the end of the contact carrier 2, so that the contact carrier 2 is retained in the position of opening of the contacts during the closure of the handle 7, for a certain period corresponding to the time during which the pawl 25 slides along the ramp 28 of the contact carrier 2.

This pawl 25 comprises, at the end 29 of the outer surface 27 in the form of said cylinder portion, a surface portion 30, said second, extending substantially perpendicular to the surface portion 27, said first, and from of which extends a band of material forming the indicator 31. This portion of surface 30, called second, comprises a portion 30a ( fig.2 ) intended to cooperate with a nose portion 32 formed at the end of the ramp 28 of the aforementioned contact carrier 2, so as to retain the pawl, against its return spring 11, in a position in which the LED 31 is not visible from the outside, when the handle 7 is driven from the closed position of the contacts to the open position of the contacts when the contacts are soldered.

As illustrated on the figure 2 , the base 8 of the handle 7 has an outer surface 34 also shaped cylinder portion, and this base has a clearance of material 35 whose outer shape is complementary to that of the inner surface 37 of the strip of material 31 forming the light, so that in the open position of the contacts, these two last surfaces are superimposed, said strip of material 31 forming a light having an outer surface 38 located in the extension of the outer surface 34 of the aforementioned base 8.

The operation of the control device according to the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the figures:

On the Figures 1 to 4 the 3,4 contacts of the device are open. The return spring 11 lever reminds the pawl 25 and its associated indicator 31 against the base 8 of the handle 7, the assembly consisting of the handle 7 and the pawl 25 being biased in the open position by said spring 11. In this position, the handle 7 is located to the left of the device and the indicator 31 appears through the opening 5 of the housing.

On the figure 5 , the handle 7 has begun to be moved manually to the closed position by a movement from left to right.
At the beginning of the closing stroke, the kinematic chain connecting the lever 7 to the plate 15 drives the contact holder 2 towards the fixed contact 4. During its movement, the lever 7 drives the pawl 25 in its movement because the indicator 31 is supported on the base 8 of the handle 7 in the open position. The pawl 25 rotates with the handle 7 and approaches the contact holder, which rotates in the opposite direction. The engagement of the pawl 25 with the ramp 28 of the contact carrier 2 stops the rotation of the contact carrier, and maintains the contact piece 3 of the contact carrier 2 at a predetermined distance from the fixed contact 4. The contact carrier 2 remains then still, but the pawl 25 can nevertheless slide along the ramp 28, allowing the closing movement of the lever 7. During this movement of the lever 7, the latter continues to actuate the mechanism that tends the pressure spring of contact. This results in an accumulation of energy in the contact pressure spring until the end of the sliding movement of the pawl on the ramp, position represented on the figure 6 .
The final movement of the handle 7 towards the closed position illustrated on the figure 7 , causes the release of the contact carrier 2 by the pawl 25, followed by the abrupt closure of the contact carrier 2 under the action of the drive train and in particular the contact pressure spring.
While moving the handle 7 from the open position illustrated on the figure 1 at the closed position shown on the figure 7 , the indicator 31 passes from the visible position from the outside to the retracted position inside the device.

When manually opening the circuit breaker as shown on the figure 8 , the pawl abuts on the spout 32 of the contact holder without hindering the free pivoting of the plate and the contact holder. Then, the ratchet remains in position and the handle and its mechanism continue their rotation. When the opening distance between the contacts 3 and 4 is greater than 1.5mm, the pawl escapes the stop 32 and is biased against the face 7a of the base 8 of the lever under the effect of the spring. 11, to the open position of the joystick illustrated on the figure 5 and the indicator 31 appears through the opening 5 of the housing, as shown in FIG. figure 1 .

When the contacts are welded, and we want to move from the closed position shown on the figure 7 at the open position shown on the figure 1 , the handle 7 can move to a certain point but does not drive the plate because the contacts are welded. During this movement, the pawl 25 is biased towards the lever in the opposite trigonometric direction by its return spring 11. During this movement of the pawl 25, the latter comes into contact with its so-called second ramp surface 30, with the spout 32 of the contact carrier and is retained by this contact carrier in an intermediate position in which the indicator 31 is retracted inside the device as shown in FIG. figure 8 . When one forces on the handle 7 so as to try to bring it into the open position, the indicator 31 remains in this intermediate position as the contacts are welded.
Thus, according to the invention, the indicator 31 is carried by the pawl 25 which serves for the sudden closure. This pawl is locked in the intermediate position by the contact carrier 2 when the contacts are welded. Thus, the kinematics of the indicator is independent of external actions on the controller.
The present invention applies to any electrical breaking device such as a circuit breaker, a switch or a disconnector, etc. whose contacts can be actuated by a handle or the like, and comprising a sudden closure device, said abrupt closure device comprising a pawl rotatably mounted about the axis of the handle.

It has thus been realized according to the invention, a control device in which the kinematics of the indicator is independent of the actions of the operator on the controller without it it is necessary to bring additional pieces. Whatever the force applied on the handle, the indicator does not appear when the contacts are soldered.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated which have been given by way of example.

On the contrary, the invention includes all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations if they are made according to the claims.

Claims (8)

1. Control device for an electrical switching unit housed in an insulating casing, having at least one mobile contact (3) carried by a contact holder (2) intended to cooperate with at least one fixed contact (4) with respect to the casing, said mobile contact (3) being able to be actuated either manually by way of a lever handle (7) mounted so as to rotate about an axis of the casing, or automatically, between an open position and a closed position of the fixed contact (4) and mobile contact (3), and a sudden closure device, said device being intended, at the start of a manual closing manoeuvre of the lever handle (7) and over a particular travel thereof, to keep the mobile contact (3) in the open position by storing energy and, after this travel of the lever handle (7), to release said mobile contact (3) such that the energy previously stored causes the sudden closure of the fixed contact (4) and mobile contact (3), said sudden closure device having a detent (25) that is mounted so as to rotate about the axis of the lever handle (7), said detent (25) being returned by a spring (11) against an abutment of the lever handle (7), being driven by the lever handle (7) in the direction of closure of the fixed contact (4) and mobile contact (3) and cooperating with the contact holder (2) so as to ensure the sudden closure of said mobile contact (3),
   characterized in that the abovementioned detent (25) has an indicator (31), said indicator (31) being visible from the outside through an opening (5) in the casing only when the fixed contact (4) and mobile contact (3) are open.
2. Control device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the abovementioned detent (25) is made in one piece with the indicator (31).
3. Control device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the abovementioned detent (25) has an outer surface (27), known as the first surface, in the form of a portion of a cylinder, which cooperates with a ramp (28) belonging to the contact holder (2) such that the latter is kept in the open position of the contacts (3, 4) during the closure of the lever handle (7) for a particular period of time corresponding to the time for which the detent (25) slides along the ramp (28) of the contact holder (2).
4. Control device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the abovementioned detent (25) has, at the end (29) of its abovementioned outer surface (27), known as the first surface, a surface portion (30), known as the second surface, that extends substantially perpendicularly to the first surface and is intended to cooperate with a nose-forming part (32) formed at the end of the ramp (28) of the abovementioned contact holder (2) so as to keep the detent (25) in a position in which the indicator (31) is not visible from the outside, when the lever handle (7) is driven towards the open position of the contacts, when the contacts are joined together.
5. Control device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the abovementioned indicator (31) is formed by a strip of material extending from the abovementioned surface portion (30) known as the second surface.
6. Control device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the base (8) of the lever handle (7) has an outer surface (34) that is likewise in the form of a portion of a cylinder, and in that this base has a material depression (35) of which the external form is complementary to that of the internal surface (37), directed towards the axis of the lever handle (7), of the strip of material (31) forming the indicator, such that, in the open position of the contacts, these two latter surfaces are superposed on one another, said strip of material (31) forming an indicator having an outer surface (38) in continuation of the outer surface (34) of the abovementioned base (8).
7. Control device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, having a transmission link rod (9) coupled to the lever handle (7), a support device for the mobile contact having a mounting plate (15) mounted so as to rotate on a pivot (14) and having a breakable mechanical connection to the transmission link rod (9), a release lever (16) controlled by a tripping device for breaking the mechanical connection in the event of a fault, causing the mechanism to trip automatically independently of the lever handle and causing the contacts to separate, the breakable mechanical connection having a retaining catch (22) for the release lever (16) cooperating with a catching hook (20) mounted so as to pivot on an axis X of the mounting plate, the breaking of the mechanical connection corresponding to the unlocking of the catching, characterized in that it has an abutment (33) secured to the mounting plate (15) and able to cooperate with the hook (20) so as to ensure the position of the lever handle (7) in an intermediate position of the lever handle (7) in which the contacts are joined together.
8. Electrical switching unit having a control device according to any one of the preceding claims.

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