EP2246871B1 - Circuit breaker for securing a circuit - Google Patents

Abstract

The circuit breaker has an actuator (8), contact pins (3-6) protruding from a housing, and contact spring (14) electrically connected to a contact pin (5). The contact spring can be connected to another contact pin (3) by covering a free end side. A slider (24) is coupled to the actuator. The slider has contact ends adjacent to the contact spring. The slider is guided in sliding manner in the housing and the contact spring impinges in the contact position counter to the returning force to engage in ON position.

Description

The invention relates to a circuit breaker for securing a circuit according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a circuit breaker is made of DE 842 082 C known.

From the utility model DE 94 22 029 U1 a circuit breaker is known in which for manual switching on and off and for release in case of overcurrent, a switching mechanism is provided which comprises a release lever coupled via a Verklinkungshebel with a rocker switch as an actuating lever. In overcurrent case, a heated bimetal acts on the release lever. Whose conditional movement leads to the unlatching of the switching mechanism, with the result that the coupled with the release lever Verklinkungshebel causes the contact opening.

The invention has for its object to provide a particularly simple circuit breaker.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

For this purpose, the circuit breaker comprises a slider coupled to an actuator, the contact end rests against the contact spring. The slider movably held in the housing acts on the contact spring counter to its restoring force in the contact position. The slide engages in closed position of the circuit breaker. For displacement of the slider in the closed position by means of the actuating element act locking elements in the form of switching cam on the slide and the actuating element via a switching edge together.

The engagement or locking of the slide and thus the appropriately designed as a rocker actuator takes place in the manner of a snap or snap connection. For this purpose, a first latching element and the slider a second latching element are provided on the actuating element, wherein upon actuation of the actuating element in the switch-on direction, the latching elements slide over the switching edge preferably provided on the actuating element into the latching position. Conveniently, the switching edge is formed directly adjacent to the locking lug on the actuating element. The switching cam moves when moving the slider in the on position along the switching edge along until the switching cam engages behind the locking lug. By locking the switching cam, the slider is locked in the on position.

For unlatching the latched slide as a result of thermal activation, this is expediently arranged rotatably in the housing base of the housing from an initial position about an axis of rotation, preferably about the slide longitudinal axis. Expediently, the actuating element carries a pivoting during its operation spring tab, which returns the rotated slider to its original position. The spring flap provided for returning the slide rotated out of its starting or rest position can also be integrally formed on the housing on the inside.

In an advantageous embodiment, two superimposed in the slider longitudinal direction of contact springs and two at the contact end of the slider in the slider longitudinal direction z. B. stage and / or superimposed contact arms provided, each of which rests against one of the free-end-side contact springs.

Conveniently, the contact end of the slider is guided in a slide guide of the housing or in the housing base. To guide the slide in the housing a slide guide is provided with a slide stop. As a slide guide, a slot-like recess is preferably provided in a base wall of the housing base.

The actuating element is pivotable between a closed position and an open position and snaps against the restoring force of a return spring in the switch-on. The housing has a housing base and a housing cap which can be placed thereon. At this are expediently at opposite Housing sides formed in the region of a passage opening for the actuating element two locking arms for fastening the housing in an installation opening.

In an expedient development, a return device for returning the actuating element to an off position is provided on the actuating element. The restoring device, which returns the actuating element in the event of overcurrent release in its open position, is preferably designed as a spiral spring. The appropriately designed as a rocker actuator can be performed manually both in the closed position and in the manner of a manual release in the off position.

An overcurrent release of the circuit breaker can be seen on the actuator located in the off position from outside the housing. At the switching position of the actuating element is particularly easy to see whether the hedged by the circuit breaker circuit is closed or interrupted.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the circuit breaker is designed to protect multiple circuits. For this purpose, the circuit breaker for each additional circuit from the housing outstanding contact terminals. Expediently, a contact spring is provided in each case for each further circuit, which is connected electrically conductively to the respective associated contact connection and held by the latter. With the second, the same circuit associated tab, the contact spring can be contacted in coverage. To close and open the circuit, the respective contact spring is acted against the spring force direction by means of the corresponding contact or slide arm of the slider. These are on slide in slide longitudinal direction in different planes, z. B. stage or directly superimposed contact arms provided, of which in each case a contact arm rests on one of the slider longitudinal direction arranged one above the other contact springs.

The advantages achieved by the invention are in particular that by means of gehäuseintem guided slide several functions of a circuit breaker feasible are so that this can be very simple. Thus, the integrally formed on the slide locking element in the form of a switching cam as a switching lock for locking the slide in the closed position (on-position) with closed circuit. The switching cam also serves to shift the slider from the open position (off position) to the on position.

By actuating the actuating element in the switching-on direction, the switching cam moves along the switching edge placed immediately next to the corresponding locking element of the actuating element. Furthermore, the slider is manually displaceable by means of the actuating element in the on and in the off position. Further, the slider serves as a contact switch for opening and closing the circuit. The additional rotary function of the slide is used to unlock a locking in the on position locking or snap connection or a Rastgesperres in the event of overcurrent tripping.

For thermal tripping of the circuit breaker, the slide can be coupled with a bimetal. This can be connected electrically between the first contact terminal and via the contact spring to the second contact terminal. An adjusting unit arranged in the housing with a bending point allows a manual adjustment of the bimetal. The bimetal preferably arranged transversely to the slide longitudinal direction in the housing or in the housing base has two longitudinal sections, of which a first longitudinal section is at least partially in register with the slide such that the bimetal unlatches the slide due to an overcurrent to the contact opening. For this purpose, the unlatching element in the form of the wing-like spring lobe is expediently formed on the slide, which extends along the first longitudinal section of the bimetal. The spring tab serves as an extended rotary lever and is acted upon as a result of bending out of the bimetal of this for rotation of the slider. By rotation of the slider due to the overcurrent release the locking mechanism formed by the latching lug and the switching cam is unlocked. As a result, the slider located in the on position is moved by the contact spring parallel to the spring force direction in the off position. In this case, the contact between the contact spring and the second contact connection opens.

By using the multifunctional slider, the circuit breaker has a comparatively small number of individual components. This allows a particularly simple production of the circuit breaker.

Fig. 1

in perspektivischer Darstellung einen Schutzschalter mit aus einem Gehäuse herausragenden Kontaktanschlüssen,

Fig. 2

in perspektivischer Darstellung das Gehäuseinnere des Schutz- schalters gemäß Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

in Explosionsdarstellung Einzelbauteile des Schutzschalters,

Fig. 4

in perspektivischer Darstellung ein Bimetall des Schutzschalters,

Fig. 5 und 6

eine Seitenansicht des Schutzschalters gemäß Fig. 2 mit einem Schieber in Aus-Stellung bzw. in Ein-Stellung,

Fig. 7 und 8

Ausschnitte aus den Fig. 5 und Fig. 6 in größerem Maßstab mit dem Schieber in Aus-Stellung bzw. in Ein-Stellung,

Fig. 9 und 10

in Draufsicht auf den Schieber dessen neutrale und gedrehte Stel- lung mit ver- bzw. entriegelter Rastverbindung gemäß Fig. 6, und

Fig. 11

in einer Seitenansicht den Schieber in Neutralstellung mit verriegel- ter Rastverbindung gemäß Fig. 9.

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

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a circuit breaker with protruding from a housing contact terminals,

Fig. 2

in a perspective view of the housing interior of the circuit breaker according to Fig. 1 .

Fig. 3

in exploded view, individual components of the circuit breaker,

Fig. 4

in perspective a bimetal of the circuit breaker,

FIGS. 5 and 6

a side view of the circuit breaker according to Fig. 2 with a slide in the off position or in the on position,

FIGS. 7 and 8

Cutouts from the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 on a larger scale with the slide in the off position or in the on position,

FIGS. 9 and 10

in a plan view of the slider whose neutral and rotated position with locked or unlocked locking connection according to Fig. 6 , and

Fig. 11

in a side view of the slide in neutral position with locked locking connection according to Fig. 9 ,

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

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a circuit breaker 1 with a housing 2, from which bottom or bottom side contact terminals 3 to 6 protrude. A housing cap 2 'of the housing 2 has on the upper side a housing opening 7 in which an actuating element 8 designed as a rocker switch is mounted in a rotational or pivotable manner. The actuator 8 allows the manner of a manual release both the manual switch on and a manual switch off the circuit breaker. 1

On the housing 2 provided latching arms 9 are used for locking and thus for fixing the circuit breaker 1 in a mounting or mounting hole. The housing 2 is closed at the bottom of the housing with a housing base 10, which has latching elements 11 which engage in the mounting of the circuit breaker 1 in the housing cap 2 'provided for recesses 12.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the housing interior of the circuit breaker 1. All the individual components of the circuit breaker 1 are mounted on the housing base 10. Housing underside, the contact terminals 3 to 6 protrude from the housing base 10 and thus out of the circuit breaker housing 2.

The circuit breaker 1 is provided to secure two circuits. A first circuit, the contact terminals 3 and 5 and the second circuit, the contact terminals 4 and 6 are assigned. Housing inside the circuits on the respective contact terminals 3 to 6 associated contact springs 14 and 15 can be closed and interrupted. The contact springs 14 and 15 are held at fixed ends 16 and 17, respectively. These opposing free ends 18,19 are in overlap with housing-side free or contact ends 20,21 of the contact terminals 3 and 4. The contact spring 15 is electrically conductively connected at its fixed end 17 to the contact terminal 6 and held on this. The contact spring 14 is held at the fixed end 16 by an intermediate piece 22 and is electrically conductively connected thereto and via a bimetal 23 coupled thereto with the contact connection 5.

The connectable to the contact terminals 3 and 5 circuit is heat protection monitored such that a current flowing through this and the contact terminal 5 in the circuit breaker 1 first through the bimetal 23, about this through the contact spring 14 and the contact terminal 3 from the circuit breaker 1 again flows out. In contrast, the connectable to the contact terminals 4 and 6 circuit is not heat protection monitored, as flowing through this current through the contact terminal 6 into the circuit breaker 1 and directly through the contact spring 15 and via the contact terminal 4 from this circuit breaker 1 flows out again. For closing and interrupting the respective circuit, a slider 24 is provided, which is arranged in the housing base 10 between a closed position (on position) and a switch-off position (off position) displaceable. In the illustration according to Fig. 2 the slider 24 is in the off position. This can be seen at the open contacts 25 to 28 between the free ends 18,19 of the contact springs 14 and 15 and the free ends 20,21 of the contact terminals 3 and 4, respectively.

The slider 24 is on the one hand manually displaceable by actuating the actuating element 8 both in the on position and in the off position. The slider 24 is on the other hand displaceable by an overcurrent trip in the off position. In the case of an overcurrent flowing through the bimetal 23, this is heated with the result that the bimetal 23 bends. As a result of this Ausbiegens of the bimetal 23 which is in the on position locked slide 24 is released or unlatched from a snap or snap connection. The displacement of the slider 24 in its off position is due to the restoring force of the leaf spring-like contact springs 14, 15 in the triggering or spring force 29th

Fig. 3 shows the circuit breaker 1 in exploded view. Therein, the intermediate piece 22 is shown with a first angled retaining end 30 for the contact spring 14. The intermediate piece 22 has a further, opposite the first holding end 30 approximately at right angles bent second holding end 31 for the bimetal 23.

The bimetal 23 is bent approximately U-shaped and comprises two comparatively long bimetallic brackets 32a, 33a and two comparatively short bimetallic brackets 32b, 33b, two mutually spaced bimetallic legs 32, 33, which merge into one another at a bimetallic end 34 and are connected together ( Fig. 4 ). The holding end 31 of the intermediate piece 22 is connected to the bimetal leg 33, while the bimetal leg 32 is connected to an angled or bent free end 35 of the contact terminal 5 ( Fig. 2 ).

In Fig. 3 Furthermore, an adjustment element 36, which is also referred to below as a support element, is shown, which is preferably made of plastic and is an injection-molded part executed housing base 10 is injected and thus secured thereto. A spring tab 36a of the adjusting element 36 can be bent in the direction of the short bimetallic brackets 32b, 33b toward adjustment or adjustment of the bimetal 23. About the contacts or contact points 25, 27 on the contact springs 14 and 15 as well as on the overlapping with these mating contacts 26,28 at the contact terminals 3 and 4, the respective circuit is closable and interruptible.

The Fig.5 and 6 show a side view of the circuit breaker 1. It is in Fig. 5 the slider 24 is positioned in the off position, whereas the slider 24 in Fig. 6 moved to the on position. The housing base 10 has a slide guide 37 with an upper stop 37a (FIG. Fig. 3 ) for the slider 24. The slider guide 37 is formed as an in a back 38 of the housing base 10 incorporated slot-like recess or recess along a displacement direction 39 of the slider 24. This closed recess 37 is limited in the release direction 29 by the slide stop 37a.

The slider 24 engages with an integrally formed on this slider arm 40 in the recess 37 a. The sliding in the recess 37 to stop 37a pusher arm 40 of the slider 24 also serves as a pressure lever for acting on the contact spring 15. The slider 24 has a further slide arm 41 which serves as a pressure lever for acting on the contact spring 14 and in the displacement direction 39 in particular offset to the slide arm 40 is integrally formed on the slide 24.

In the off position of the slide 24, the contacts 25,26 between the contact spring 14 and the contact terminal 3 and the contacts 27,28 between the contact spring 15 and the contact terminal 4 are open. In the off position of the slide 24 ( Fig. 5 ) is further unlocked formed between the actuator 8 and the slider 24 detent or snap connection 42. In contrast, the latching connection 42 in the on position of the slide 24 according to Fig. 6 locked.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show in an enlarged section of the FIGS. 5 and 6 the latching connection 42 of the circuit breaker 1 in the unlocked or in the locked state of the slider 24 with the actuating element 8. The latching connection 42 is formed by a molded on the slider 24 switching cam 43 as a first locking element and an integrally formed on the actuating element 8 locking lug 44 as a second locking element.

To the slider 24 from the in Fig. 7 illustrated off-position in the in Fig. 8 shown to shift position, the actuating element 8 is pivotally mounted about a rotatably mounted on the housing base 10 bearing pin 45 in the switching-46. On the actuating element 8, a switching edge 47 arranged directly next to the latching nose 44 is integrally formed. When tilting the actuating element 8 in the switching-on direction 46, the switching cam 43 moves along the switching edge 47 until the switching cam 43 - as in FIG Fig. 8 shown - the locking lug 44 engages behind and thus engages. In Fig. 8 is the slide 24 in the setting in which the switching cam 43 is acted upon by the blocking element acting as a locking member 44 locking. The slider 24 is locked in this closed position.

A return of the slider 24 from the on position to the off position due to an overcurrent trip is carried out by the bending of the bimetal 23 from the drawing plane according to the Figures 2 . 5 and 6 out with the result that the latching connection 42 is automatically unlocked. In order to ensure the automatic return of the slider 24 by the spring or restoring force of the contact springs 14,15 from the on to the off position, a return spring 48 is additionally provided in the form of a coil spring between the actuator 8 and the housing base 10, the the actuator 8 automatically returns from a closed position to an open position. The overcurrent release is visible or recognizable from outside the housing 2.

Like from the FIGS. 9 and 10 can be seen, is mounted for automatic unlocking of the latching connection 42 due to the overcurrent release of the slider 24 about a rotary or slide longitudinal axis 49 rotatably mounted on the housing base 10. It shows the Fig. 9 the bimetal 23 and the slider 24 in the neutral position with locked grid tie 42 while Fig. 10 the slider 24 in the rotated position and the bimetal 23rd in the bent state with unlocked locking connection 42 shows. To reverse rotation of the slider 24 after unlocking the latching connection 42, a spring tab 50 is provided on the actuating element 8. This moves during the return of the actuator 8 in its off position on a front side 51 of the slider 24 touching this along such that the rotated by the unlocking of the locking connection 42 counterclockwise slide 24 undergoes a reverse rotation in the neutral position.

In order to effect a reliable unlocking of the latching connection 42 by rotation of the slide 24, an unlatching element 52 in the form of a wing is integrally formed thereon for the extension of a rotary lever for the rotation of the slide 24. The bimetal 23 is preferably arranged transversely to the axis of rotation 49 of the slider 24 extending in the housing base 10. In this case, a first longitudinal section L1 of the two longitudinal sections L1 and L2 having bimetal 23 with the slider 24 and its wings 52 in register to unlatch the latched or locked slide 24.

In the event of overcurrent tripping, the short bimetal bars 32b, 33b of the bimetal 23 held on the long bimetallic bars 32a, 33a are bent out in the opposite direction to their direction of excursion 53. In this case, the short bimetallic brackets 32b, 33b rest on the adjusting element 36, so that as a result of their support on the adjusting element 36 an additional force component is generated in the direction of return 53 of the bimetal 23. The long bimetallic brackets 32a, 33a of the bimetal, which likewise extend in the direction of return 53, are thus supported by the short bimetallic brackets 32b, 33b, in that they are supported in the opposite direction on the adjusting element 36.

The bimetal 24 is arranged in the housing base 10 such that the short bimetallic brackets 32b, 33b facing away from the slider 24, while the long bimetallic brackets 32a, 33a facing the slider 24 and its wings 52. When the bimetal 24 is bent out, the slider vane 52 is acted upon by the first longitudinal section L1 which is in register with the slider 24 and its vane 52, and thus by the short bimetallic brackets 32b, 33b and partly by the long bimetallic brackets 32a, 33a.

In order to increase the release force of the bimetal 24 for reliable unlocking of the latching connection 42 in the event of an overcurrent release, the adjusting element 36 formed in the housing base 10 is placed on a side of the bimetal 23 facing away from the slider vane 52. The arrangement of the adjusting element 36 is in Fig. 11 comparatively clearly recognizable.

Fig. 11 shows the slider 24 and the bimetal 24 in a side view. The spring tabs 36a is bendable via a bending point 54 on the adjusting element 36 in and counter to the direction of repositioning 53 of the bimetal 24. The adjusting element 36 with its spring tabs 36a serves to align the bimetal 24 in register with the wing 52 of the slider 24 and adjust such that the deflection of the bimetal 24 causes the rotation of the slider 24 and thus a reliable unlocking of the locking connection 42. To adjust the bimetal 24, the spring tabs 36a is deflected or bent more or less around a bending point or bending edge 54 produced by a local material weakening of the adjusting element 36 in the direction of the short bimetallic brackets 32b, 33b of the bimetal 24 and thus in the direction of recession 53.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

breaker

2

casing

2 '

housing cap

3 to 6

Contact Termination

7

housing opening

8th

actuator

9

locking elements

10

housing base

11

locking elements

12

recess

14.15

contact spring

16.17

fixed end

18.19

free end

22

connecting piece

23

bimetallic

24

pusher

25

Contact

26

Contact

27

Contact

28

Contact

29

tripping direction

30.31

holding end

32

Bimetalischenkel

32a, b

Bimetallbügel

33a, b

Bimetallbügel

34

Bimetallende

35

free end

36

adjusting

36a

spring tabs

37

Slider guide / recess

37a

slide stop

38

back

39

shift direction

40.41

pusher

42

Snap / latch connection

43

first locking element / switching cam

44

second locking element / locking lug

45

pivot

46

switching-on

47

switching edge

48

Return spring

49

Rotary / slide longitudinal axis

50

spring tabs

51

front

52

slide wings

53

Ausbiegerichtung

54

Bend / Edge

L1,2

longitudinal section

Claims (7)

1. Circuit breaker (1) for securing a circuit, with an operating element (8) and with contact connectors (3 to 6), protruding from a housing (2, 10), and with a contact spring (14), which is linked electrically conductive to a first contact connector (5) and overlaps at the free end the second contact connector (3) which is contactable, characterized by a slider (24) - guided in a slidingly movable manner in the housing (2, 10) and locked with the operating element (8) in an energized position - whose contact end (40, 41) is adjacent to the contact spring (14) and loads it in contact position against its restoring force.
2. Circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that for the forming of the locking connection (42) of the slider (24) in an energized position a first locking element (44) is foreseen at the operating element (8) and a second locking element (43) is foreseen at the slider (24).
3. Circuit breaker according to claim 2, characterized in that when activating the operating element (8) into the energized direction (46) the locking elements (43, 44) glide over a switching edge (47) into the locking position.
4. Circuit breaker according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the contact end (40) of the slider (24) is guided in a slider guidance (37) of the housing (2, 10).
5. Circuit breaker according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the unlatching of the locked-in slider (24) the slider (24) is arranged in the housing (2, 10) rotably around its longitudinal axis (49) from an initial position.
6. Circuit breaker according to claim 5, characterized by a spring tab (50), moulded to the operating element (8) and returning the turned slider (24) into its initial position.
7. Circuit breaker according to one of the claims1 to 6, characterized in that for guiding the slider (24) in the housing (2, 10) a slider guidance (37) with a slider stop member (37a) is foreseen.

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