EP2280406B1 - Electrical appliance for multipolar protection with remote triggering. - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a multipolar electrical protection apparatus for an installation head with a neutral pole module intended to be associated with at least one phase pole module, and which comprises an integrated remote release, such as the device described in FR-2 788 373 .

The purpose is in particular to allow to prohibit the power of a line, remotely, by an electrical signal from, for example, the electricity supplier. The interest of such a function can be safe, when an agent of the services of distribution of electricity must intervene on a line, or purely economic, for the remote management of the electricity supplier. The signal is then in both cases sent by the operator of the electrical network.

The objective of the present invention is to integrate this function directly into the housing of the multipole protection device, which implies either a rearrangement of the interior space of the housing, the external shape of which is not modified, either a rearrangement of the volume between the two connecting devices of the neutral pole line.

In other words, a function is added to the neutral pole apparatus or module, and the components necessary for carrying out said function must therefore be integrated into the available space. For the record, such a pole involves main title, between two line connection devices, a movable contact able to move between two positions respectively in contact and at a distance from a fixed contact respectively corresponding to the closing and opening of the neutral line, and a mechanical lock placed between a control lever and the movable contact, by means of which the movements of the joystick are transmitted to the movable contact and which opens the contacts in the event of triggering caused by a trigger member on receipt of a opening signal conveyed by a specific command line.

• un électroaimant dont la bobine est connectée entre un dispositif de connexion de la ligne de commande et le contact mobile, le noyau dudit électroaimant étant apte à entraîner l'organe déclencheur de la serrure à l'encontre d'un ressort de rappel au moyen d'une tringlerie ;
• une pièce de transmission comprenant un levier répercutant le mouvement de la manette à un arbre rotatif orienté parallèlement à l'axe de rotation du contact mobile, ledit arbre pouvant être solidarisé mécaniquement à au moins un appareil ou module de coupure de ligne de phase, sa position angulaire déterminant la fermeture ou l'ouverture du ou des contacts mobiles de chacun de ces appareils ou modules ;
• un déclencheur cliquet interposé entre l'organe déclencheur de la serrure et le contact mobile, comportant un bras de manoeuvre et un levier de maintien dépassant radialement en deux positions angulaires distinctes d'un fût lié en rotation audit arbre, le bras de manoeuvre étant entrainé par l'organe déclencheur de la serrure lorsque ce dernier est sollicité par l'électroaimant et ramenant l'arbre en position correspondant à l'ouverture des lignes de phase avant l'ouverture du contact mobile de neutre, le levier de maintien étant sollicité par le contact mobile de neutre en position d'ouverture de manière à maintenir l'arbre en position d'ouverture de la ou des lignes de phase.

This trigger operated remotely is possible, according to the invention, because the apparatus comprises the features of claim 1, in particular:

• an electromagnet whose coil is connected between a connection device of the control line and the movable contact, the core of said electromagnet being able to drive the trigger member of the lock against a return spring by means of a linkage;
• a transmission part comprising a lever transmitting the movement of the lever to a rotary shaft oriented parallel to the axis of rotation of the movable contact, said shaft being mechanically attachable to at least one phase line breaking device or module, its angular position determining the closing or opening of the mobile contact or contacts of each of these devices or modules;
• a ratchet release interposed between the trigger member of the lock and the movable contact, comprising an operating arm and a holding lever protruding radially in two distinct angular positions of a shaft connected in rotation with said shaft, the actuating arm being driven by the triggering member of the lock when the latter is urged by the electromagnet and bringing the shaft into position corresponding to the opening of the phase lines before the opening of the moving neutral contact, the holding lever being biased by the moving neutral contact in the open position so as to keep the shaft in the open position of the phase line or lines.

The kinematics of the entire mechanism is such that the phase contacts can not be closed before those of the neutral line are. Conversely, at the time of opening, the system is provided so that the neutral pole opens only when the phase pole or poles are themselves already open.

The electrical operation of the invention is quite normal in the absence of an external signal opening on the control line, capable of supplying the coil of the electromagnet. When such a signal occurs, the phase poles open, followed by the neutral pole. It is then not possible to close the neutral pole if the interruption signal is still present: as soon as the moving neutral contact comes into pressure against the fixed contact, the electromagnet is energized, and leads to the unlocking of the lock. Even if the control lever of the neutral pole is kept in the closed position, the phase poles can not be closed again.

A torsion spring is interposed between the barrel of the pawl trigger and the shaft of the transmission part, a rotation against the spring and in a restricted angular sector then being authorized by the mechanical link.

In fact, in the chosen configuration, the movable core of the electromagnet and the triggering member are connected by a freely rotating rod to its two connecting ends respectively to said core and said trigger member.

The movement of the mobile core of the electromagnet, for example due to its attraction by the coil, causes the rod to pull from its proximal end of the electromagnet, and this displacement has an effect on the triggering member, its tower driven by the other end of the rod in the direction of an unlocking of the lock.

Preferably, the connection of the rod to the trigger member comprises an initial vacuum stroke, during the beginning of the displacement of the movable core of the electromagnet, leading to an initial displacement of the rod alone before driving the triggering member of the the lock. This empty race is used in particular to catch the games related to the defects of the different parts.

More specifically, the bead wire comprises a curved U end guided by a stud protruding from the trigger member of the lock and inserted between the branches of the U. To be able to implement the idle stroke, the stud in question is placed between the branches of the U at a distance from the rounded bottom of said U when the plunger core of the electromagnet is not attracted by the coil.

When the idle stroke is over, the rod begins the training of the trigger member of the lock, starting unlocking the latter.

In a second step only, corresponding in fact to a certain rotation of the triggering member, the actuating arm of the trigger pawl is driven by the trigger member. The moving trigger member performs concomitant actions on the lock of the neutral pole and the ratchet trigger. The kinematics of the entire mechanism makes the rotation printed trigger trigger by the trigger member of the lock - itself driven by the rod - position at the end of stroke said trigger pawl and therefore the shaft of the coin in a position such that the phase pole (s) opens (s) a little before the neutral pole, and that the moving neutral contact can deviate abruptly from the fixed contact under the effect of biasing means specific and without the lever of the transmission part obstructing. The open mobile contact then exerts pressure on the holding lever, under the effect of said biasing means, ensuring the position of the pawl trigger and the non-arming stress of the phase pole or poles.

In fact, more specifically, the triggering member is connected to the housing of the apparatus by a rotary connection, and has a shaped end configured to drive the operating arm during its rotary path. The relative positioning and the precise configuration given to the various parts (end unciform, operating arm, ...) are such that they allow the succession of predetermined sequences as previously described.

In the invention, the lever of the transmission part is driven by a link of the lock, one end of which pivots in the handle and the other end is rotatably connected to the end of a link with which it forms a knee joint, the opposite end of said link being freely connected in rotation with the movable contact.

This is a traditional mechanism of connecting a joystick with a moving contact, echoing the position of one to the other and vice versa. The toggle lever allows the mobile contact to bear on the fixed contact, using a system using buttressing and friction in combination with a triggering device.

The link of the knee lever moves in contact with a pivoting ratchet, one end of which forms a guide ramp for the link and the other end is inserted into a notch of the trigger member of the lock. When the latter is driven by the rod, it releases one end of the ratchet which pivots under the effect of the stress exerted at its opposite end by the link, and the toggle switch changes mechanical state, causing the lock to trigger under the effect return means of the movable contact in the open position.

• la figure 1 est une vue en élévation de face d'un pôle de neutre d'un appareil de protection de ligne muni d'un mécanisme de serrure selon l'invention, dans une position dans laquelle les contacts respectivement mobile et fixe sont en position d'ouverture, à distance l'un de l'autre ;
• la figure 2 montre un détail agrandi de la serrure de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 représente le même appareil qu'en figure 1, contacts fermés;
• les figures 4 à 6 montrent les différentes phases de déclenchement de la serrure provoquées par un signal externe de déclenchement ;
• la figure 7 illustre le lien mécanique qui existe entre la manette de commande et le déclencheur à cliquet, via une pièce de transmission dotée d'un levier et le maillon de la serrure de déclenchement ;
• la figure 8 représente un agrandissement de la liaison mécanique entre le déclencheur à cliquets d'une part et la pièce de transmission du mouvement de la manette d'autre part.

The invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended figures, for which:

• the figure 1 is a front elevational view of a neutral pole of a line protection device provided with a lock mechanism according to the invention, in a position in which the respectively movable and fixed contacts are in the open position at a distance from each other;
• the figure 2 shows an enlarged detail of the lock of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 represents the same device as figure 1 , closed contacts;
• the Figures 4 to 6 show the different phases of triggering of the lock caused by an external trigger signal;
• the figure 7 illustrates the mechanical link that exists between the control handle and the ratchet release, via a transmission piece with a lever and the link of the trigger lock;
• the figure 8 represents an enlargement of the mechanical connection between the pawl trigger on the one hand and the transmission part of the movement of the lever on the other hand.

The figure 1 represents an apparatus according to the invention, and more specifically a neutral pole of a selective circuit breaker, that is to say the opening and closing mechanism placed on a neutral line and conventionally comprising a movable contact (1 ) adapted to cooperate with a fixed contact (2), and an actuator (3) connected to said movable contact (1) via a trigger lock mechanism. This mechanism is movable between a locked position of closure and an unlocked position of opening of the line, corresponding to the closing or opening of the contacts (1, 2). The operating member (3) allows the control of a change of position of said mechanism, and reflects any unlocking due to the appearance on the line of electrical conditions incompatible with the maintenance of its closure. The lock mechanism conventionally comprises a toggle consisting of a link (4) and a connecting rod (5). These two components are articulated to each other, and respectively to the control handle (3) and the movable contact (1). The transition from the open position of the contacts (1, 2) to their closed position (see figure 3 ) is made by contact of the link (4) with a pivoting pawl (6), one end of which forms a guide ramp (12) for the part of the link (4) where the articulation with the link is made (5). The other end (11) of said pawl (6) is provided to cooperate with a notch formed in a trigger member (8) pivoting about a fixed axis (9), as is more fully illustrated in FIG. figure 2 .

The indentation (7) serves to disengage the spring (10) from the pawl (6), which constitutes a return means enabling the triggering member (8) to be returned to the initial position, allowing the pawl (6) to be immobilized by insertion. its end (11) in a notch of the trigger, and therefore the firm guidance of the link (4) along the ramp (12) formed at its other end to allow the transmission by the toggle of the displacement of the operating member (3) in the direction of closing the contacts (1, 2). When the trigger member (8) pivots about the axis (9) clockwise, causing the release of the end (11) of the pawl (6), the latter is no longer locked and becomes free to rotate around the axis (13). In this case, the lock triggers because the link (4) is no longer in stable support against the ramp (12) of the pawl (6) which is no longer locked in rotation.

According to the invention, the lock is designed to trigger in the event of the sending of an external signal for example by the operator of the electrical network, on a particular control line connected to the neutral module for example via a connector rapid insertion of the conductor in contact with an elastically flexible terminal. The lock is triggered by tilting the trigger member (8) about the axis (9) under the action of a rod (14). This is connected via a pivoting plate (15) to the plunger core (16) of an electromagnet (17). The latter is therefore connected between the control line and the neutral in the module, so that in the event of a neutral break, the electromagnet (17) is no longer powered. This configuration provides a positive security of this component by limiting its heating in case of a problem, and therefore the risk that it breaks unexpectedly.

In the absence of a remote triggering signal, no action is exerted by the rod (14) on the trigger member (8), and the operation of the neutral pole of the breaking device is such that contained in Figures 1 and 3 . In other words, the manipulation of the operating member (3) leads to the opening or closing of the respectively movable (1) and fixed (2) contacts via the toggle consisting of the link (4) and the link (5).

If a trip signal is sent during operation, ie when the contacts (1, 2) are closed, exciting the coil of the electromagnet (17), the magnetic core (16) is attracted to the inside said coil (17) as shown in figure 4 . The end of the rod (14) connected to the pivoting plate (15) is driven downwards, and the rod (14) in turn rotates the trigger member (8). The connection between them is made by a curved end of the rod (14) acting on a pin (18) protruding from the trigger member (8). The Figures 1 to 3 show that in normal operation of the breaking device of the invention, there is a clearance between the curved end of the rod (14) and said pin (18), allowing an initial idle stroke when the movable core (16) is attracted by the coil of the electromagnet (17), this race being provided to make up the games related to the possible defects of the parts.

When said game is filled, as it appears in figure 4 , the rod is likely to rock the trigger member (8). The Figures 4 and 5 show two successive steps of the displacement of the core (16) in the electromagnet (17), and consequently two sequential phases of rotation of the trigger member (8) by the rod (14). The triggering member (8) has a uniform end (19) provided to cooperate with a pawl trigger (20), and more particularly with an actuating arm (21) thereof. In the position shown in figure 4 , the rod (14) initiates the unlocking of the lock since the trigger member (8) begins its tilting. At this point, the triggering member (8) has no effect on the pawl trigger (20).

In figure 5 on the other hand, the unciform end (19) of said member (8) is in contact with the actuating arm (21) of the release (20). In figure 6 the movable core (16) of the electromagnet (17) ends its stroke within the coil, and the unciform end (19) of the trigger member (8) rotates the trigger (20). ) via the operating arm (21). The rotation of the ratchet release (20) drives that of a shaft (22) provided to ensure the mechanical connection with a similar component of a phase pole module associated with the one shown, which concerns only the neutral pole .

In the position of said tree represented in figure 6 , the pawl release (20) is at the end of the stroke, positioning the shaft (22) such that an unlocking of the phase pole (s) associated with the neutral pole shown is produced.

The shaft (22) is actually part of a transmission part (23) further comprising a lever (24) (see FIG. figures 7 and 8 ) connected via the link (4) of the toggle lever to the control handle (3). Said link (4) has in fact an outgrowth (25) maintained in certain phases in contact with the lever (24) and making it possible to modify the positioning of the transmission part (23), and in particular of the shaft (22), depending on the actual joystick position (3). The trigger pawl (20) is subject to the shaft (22) with however an angular clearance residual as shown by the representation of the figure 8 . The barrel (26) of the pawl release (20) has in fact a protrusion (27) cooperating with a notch (28) of the part (23) and which allows a limited angular displacement corresponding to the sector defined by said notch (28). In other words, the shaft (26) is rotatably mounted on the shaft (22), on the angular sector delimited by the notch (28). A torsion spring (29) whose axially-oriented ends are retained respectively by the operating arm (21) and a rib (30) integral with the lever (24) recalls the pawl trigger (20) in the position shown in FIG. figure 8 , for purposes which will be explained in more detail below.

For reasons of safety, the neutral pole electrical apparatus according to the invention is associated with phase poles so that it has a pre-closure and a post-opening of its contacts (1). , 2). This allows in particular to avoid a possible return of current between two phases. Since the possibility of closing or controlling the opening of the phase poles depends on the angular position of the shaft (22), the kinematics of the entire system leading to the angular displacement of said shaft (22) must be provided to handle said pre-closing and post-opening. Thus, the position taken by the shaft (22) in figure 6 , leading to the opening of the phase poles or poles, occurs before triggering the neutral lock. In other words, when the unciform end (19) of the trigger member (8) rotates the trigger pawl (20) through the actuating arm 21) to rotate the shaft (22) in the position taken figure 6 , the neutral lock has not yet triggered, as it appears from the rest in said figure 6 .

Conversely, returning to the figure 1 , which can be considered as also illustrating a post-release, the movable contact (1) in the open position exerts an action on the retaining lever (31) of the pawl release (20) which holds the latter, and consequently the shaft (22), in a position such that any rearming of the phase pole (s) is impossible. The position of the shaft (22) in the figure 1 is indeed the same one that he occupies in the figure 6 . It should be noted that when the control lever (3) is in position such that the contact mobile contact with the fixed contact (2) during a closing phase, and despite the fact that the electromagnet (17) is powered, it is not yet possible to close the contacts of the phase or poles because the handle (3) is not in a stable position of closure, and that the position that it echoes to the shaft (22) through the transmission part (23) does not allow the closure of or phase poles. If there is a remote trip signal when the operator closes the neutral pole, the lock triggers when there is contact between the fixed contact (2) and the moving contact of the neutral pole at the moment when the electromagnet (17) is energized, and the pawl trigger (20) goes into the position prohibiting the closing of the phase pole (s).

Even if the user artificially forces the lever (3) in the theoretical closing position of the contacts (1, 2), the existence of a signal at a distance from the opening of the line must lead to the impossibility to close the phase poles. This is the case, since the lock having triggered, the movable contact (1) pushes the trigger pawl (20) and therefore the shaft (22) in the open position of the contacts of the phase or poles by pressing the movable contact (1) open on the holding lever (31), and that the return means in the open position of the movable contact (1) exert through the latter a constraint in this position.

The configuration shown with reference to the figures is only one possible example, not limiting, of the invention.

Claims (8)

1. A multipolar protective electrical appliance with a neutral pole module associated with at least one phase line cut-off module, including two devices for connection to the neutral line, a mobile contact (1) capable of moving between two positions respectively in contact with and away from a fixed contact (2) respectively corresponding to the closing and to the opening of the neutral line, a mechanical lock placed between a control handle (3) and the mobile contact (1), by means of which the displacements of the handle (3) are passed on to the mobile contact (1) and which ensures the opening of the contacts (1, 2) in the case of a trigger caused by a triggering member (8) upon receiving an opening signal conveyed by a control line, characterized in that it includes:

   - an electromagnet (17), the coil of which is connected between a device for connecting the control line and the mobile contact (1), the core (16) of said electromagnet (17) being able to drive the triggering member (8) of the lock against a return spring (10) by means of a linkage (14);

   - a transmission part (23) comprising a lever (24) passing on the movement of the handle (3) to a rotary shaft (22) oriented parallel to the axis of rotation of the mobile contact (1), said shaft (22) may be mechanically secured to at least one phase line cut-off appliance or module, its angular position determining the closing or the opening of the mobile contact(s) of each of these appliances or modules;

   - a pawl-type'triggering unit (20) interposed between the triggering member (8) of the lock and the mobile contact (1), including a maneuvering arm (21) and a holding lever (31), radially jutting out into distinct angular positions of a barrel (26), rotationally bound to said shaft (22), the maneuvering arm (21) being driven by the triggering member (8) of the lock when the latter is actuated by the electromagnet (17) and bringing back the shaft (22), into a position corresponding to the opening of the phase lines before opening the neutral mobile contact (1), the holding lever (31) being urged by the neutral mobile contact (1), into the opening position so as to maintain the shaft (22) in the position for opening the phase line(s).
2. The electric appliance according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a torsional spring (29) is interposed between the barrel (26) of the pawl-type triggering unit (20) and the shaft (22), rotation along a limited angular sector being allowed by their connection.
3. The electric appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobile core (16) of the electromagnet (17) and the triggering member (8) are connected by a linkage rod (14) free to rotate at its two ends for connecting to said core (16) and to said triggering member (8), respectively.
4. The electric appliance according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the connection of the linkage rod (14) to the triggering member (8) includes an initial free travel during the beginning of the displacement of the mobile core (16) of the electromagnet (17), leading to an initial displacement of the linkage rod (14) alone before driving the triggering member (8) of the lock.
5. The electric appliance according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the linkage rod (14) includes a U-curved end guided by a stud (18) jutting out from the triggering member (8) of the lock and being inserted between the branches of the U.
6. The electric appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the triggering member (8) is connected to the casing through a rotary connection, and has a hook-shaped end (19) configured in order to drive the maneuvering arm (21) during its rotary path.
7. The electric appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lever (24) of the transmission part (23) is driven by a link (4) of the lock, one end of which pivots in the handle (3) and the other end is rotationally bound to the end of a connecting rod (5) with which it forms a knuckle joint, the opposite end of said connecting rod (5) being connected with the mobile contact (1) so as to freely rotate.
8. The electric appliance according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the link (4) of the knuckle joint moves into contact with a pivoting pawl (6), one of the ends (12) of which forms a guiding ramp for the link (4) and the other end (11) is inserted into a notch of the triggering member (8) of the lock.

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