EP2455961A1

EP2455961A1 - Electric switching device

Info

Publication number: EP2455961A1
Application number: EP11185484A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Matteo Chiaravalli; Paolo Antonello; Sergio Valagussa
Original assignee: ABB SpA
Current assignee: ABB SpA
Priority date: 2010-11-17
Filing date: 2011-10-17
Publication date: 2012-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 2031-10-17
Also published as: AU2011239222A1; ITBG20100062A1; EP2455961B1; AU2011239222B2; NZ595956A; CN102568967A; CN102568967B

Abstract

An electrical switching device suitable for connecting/disconnecting an electrical distribution source and an electrical load connected to an electrical circuit with a line voltage, comprising:
- a first pole (2) and a second pole (3), each having a pair of contacts (4,5,8,9) which are mutually coupled to/decoupled from each other;
- a differential protection device (50) comprising actuation means adapted to cause decoupling between first pole and second pole contacts.

The differential protection device is configured in such a manner as to apply a supply voltage depending on the line voltage to the actuation means after the detection of a differential current higher than the predetermined threshold.

The differential protection device is configured in such a manner as to interrupt the application of the supply voltage after the contact decoupling, regardless of the fact that the electrical source is connected upstream or downstream with respect to the contacts.

Description

The present invention relates to an electric switching device equipped with protection from the occurrence of differential currents above a predetermined threshold.
As known, switching devices used in low-voltage electrical circuits (that is, for applications with nominal voltages up to 1000V AC / 1500V DC), for example, circuit breakers, disconnectors and contactors, are devices that are designed to ensure the protection of electrical circuits and the safety of the operators of the circuits themselves, by means of their opening at failure events. Consequently to the opening of the circuit breakers, the current circulating between the electrical distribution source, or electrical line, and one or more electrical loads fed by the source itself is interrupted.
The circuit breakers comprise one or more poles, each having a moving contact which can be coupled to/decoupled from a respective stationary contact in such a manner as to close/open the circuit breaker; a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal are connected to the moving contact and to the stationary contact, respectively.
In particular, the differential circuit breakers ("earth leakage circuit breakers" or "residual current circuit breakers") comprise at least a differential protection device suitable for performing a protection function against the detection of a differential current above a predetermined threshold. The differential current is due to the occurrence of an earth leakage current, also known as residual current or imbalance current, which causes the imbalance between the incoming current in the circuit breaker and the outgoing current from the same circuit breaker.
Differential circuit breakers having one or more of their poles protected against failure due to overloads and/or short circuits (indicated with the term "phase", while the remaining poles are indicated with the term "neutral") are known as magneto-thermal differential circuit breakers ("residual current circuit breakers with overload and overcurrent protection" or "RCBO"). According to a known solution, the differential protection device causes the circuit breaker opening by using a voltage that is drawn from the line voltage of the electrical circuit in which the circuit breaker itself is installed. Circuit breakers employing differential protection devices designed in this way are known as "voltage dependent" ("VD").
In particular, the voltage is applied by connecting the differential protection device to two poles of the circuit breaker, between the first electrical terminals and the moving contacts, or between the second electrical terminals and the stationary contacts. In the first connection configuration, it is necessary for an installer to connect the electrical distribution source to the second electrical terminals, whereas in the second connection configuration it is necessary for him to connect the electrical source to the first electrical terminals. In this way, in both cases when the circuit breaker opens, the differential protection device is only connected to the electrical load, and hence, the application of the voltage is automatically interrupted.
In the event that an installation error occurs, when the circuit breaker opens, the differential protection device remains electrically connected to the electrical distribution source and a current continues to flow between the source and the protection device. Hence, the voltage continues to be applied to the differential protection device after its intervention, when it is no longer necessary and can damage it, because of its high level, or reduce its service life. Once the differential protection device is damaged, the operation of the circuit breaker is completely compromised since following the detection of a differential residual current above the predetermined threshold, the circuit breaker is no longer tripped in response, with serious risk for the safety of a user of the electrical circuit.
In the state of the art, in order to obviate the described problem, circuit breakers that depend on the line voltage show signaling means on their front mask, for example the inscriptions "LOAD" and "LINE", to indicate to the user where to correctly connect the electrical load and the electrical distribution source. Nevertheless, this solution does not guarantee that the user will correctly install the circuit breaker.
The object of the present invention is to provide a circuit breaker of the line voltage dependent type allowing to overcome the disadvantage exhibited in the state of the art by adopting solutions that are particularly simple and cheap economical from the design perspective.
Such an object is achieved by an electrical switching device adapted to mutually connect/disconnect an electrical distribution source and an electrical load operatively connected to a circuit having a line voltage. The switching device comprises:

a first pole having at least a first moving contact which can be coupled to/decoupled from a respective first stationary contact, and at least a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal connected to said respective first moving contact and to said first stationary contact respectively;
a second pole having a second moving contact which can be coupled to/decoupled from a respective second stationary contact, and at least a third electrical terminal and a fourth electrical terminal connected to said second moving contact and to said second stationary contact, respectively, said first, second, third and fourth electrical terminals being suitable to electrically connect the first pole and the second pole to the electrical source and to the electrical load;
a differential protection device comprising detection adapted to detect a differential current and actuation means adapted to cause the decoupling of the first and second moving contacts from the respective first and second stationary contacts, said differential protection device being operatively connected to said first and second poles, and configured in such a manner that, following the detection of a differential current above a predetermined threshold, a supply voltage, depending on the line voltage present between the first pole and the second pole, is applied to said actuation means to cause the decoupling of the first and second moving contacts from the respective first and second stationary contacts.

The differential protection device is configured in such a manner as to cause the interruption of application of the supply to the actuation means following said decoupling of the first and second moving contacts from the respective first and second stationary contacts respectively, regardless of whether the electrical source is connected to said first and third electrical terminals or to said second and fourth electrical terminals.
The switching device according to the present invention will be described below in reference to one of its embodiments as a magneto-thermal differential circuit breaker; in particular, reference will be made to a bipolar embodiment having a phase and a neutral. However the principles and the technical solutions disclosed in the following description should be understood as valid also for different configurations of magneto-thermal differential circuit breakers, for example, having more than two poles (and any number of phases), and, more generally, for any type of voltage dependent switching device.
Characteristics and advantages will become more apparent from the description of preferred, but not exclusive embodiments, of a circuit breaker according to the present invention illustrated as examples in the accompanying drawings wherein:

figure 1 shows a first magneto-thermal differential circuit breaker from which a portion of its case was removed in order to see some of its internal components;
figure 2 shows in detail a portion of the circuit breaker of figure 1 with the addition of further internal components of the circuit breaker itself;
figure 3 schematically shows the circuit breaker of figure 1, particularly illustrating the differential protection device and its electrical connections to the poles and to the test mechanism of the circuit breaker itself;
figure 4 schematically shows a second magneto-thermal differential circuit breaker, particularly illustrating the differential protection device and its electrical connections to the poles and to the test mechanism of the circuit breaker itself.

For simplicity sake, throughout the description the same numerical references will be used to indicate equal or equivalent elements according to different embodiments of circuit breakers according to the present invention.
A circuit breaker according to the present invention is suitable for connecting/disconnecting an electrical distribution source and an electrical load operatively associated with an electrical circuit with a line voltage and comprises a case inside which at least a first pole and a second pole are defined.
With reference to the mentioned figures, hereinafter magneto-thermal differential circuit breakers 1 of the modular type (hereinafter indicated as circuit breakers 1) having a first pole 2, or phase 2, and a second pole 3, or neutral 3, both schematically visible in figures 3 and 4, are described as examples. The first pole 2 and the second pole 3 are defined inside an overall case of circuit breaker 1 that is obtained by coupling the first half-shell 12, visible in figure 1, with a second half-shell, not shown in figures. In particular, the circuit breaker 1 of the illustrated examples has a case with a front width equal to a standard DIN module (a DIN module being equal to 17.5 mm).
It should be pointed out that the inventive concept set forth hereinafter is nevertheless applicable regardless of the fact that first pole 2 and second pole 3 of circuit breaker 1 are protected or are not protected against failures due to an overload and/or an overcurrent; for example, in circuit breaker 1 both poles 2, 3 could be configured as phases.
The first pole 2 comprises at least a first moving contact 4 which can be coupled to/decoupled from a respective first stationary contact 5 and at least a first electrical terminal 6 and a second electrical terminal 7 (schematically shown in figures 3 and 4), which are connected to the first moving contact 4 and to the first stationary contact 5, respectively.
In turn, the second pole 3 comprises at least a second moving contact 8 which can be coupled to/decoupled from a respective second stationary contact 9 and at least a third electrical terminal 10 and a fourth electrical terminal 11 (schematically shown in figures 3 and 4, as well as the second stationary and moving contacts 9, 8) which are connected to the second moving contact 8 and to the second stationary contact 9, respectively.
Such first, second, third and fourth electrical terminals 6, 7, 10, 11 are suitable for electrically connecting the first pole 2 and the second pole 3 to the electrical distribution source and to the electrical load.
A known suitable driving mechanism, such as the mechanism indicated with the numerical reference 13 in figure 1, is operatively associated with the first and second moving contacts 4, 8 in such a manner as to cause their decoupling from the respective first and second stationary contacts 5, 9 after its actuation.
The circuit breaker 1 comprises at least a differential protection device 50 having detection means suitable for detecting a differential current due to an imbalance between the currents circulating in the first pole 2 and in the second pole 3. The differential protection device 50 further comprises actuation means adapted to cause the decoupling of first and second moving contacts 4, 8 from the respective first and second stationary contacts 5, 9.
The differential protection device 50 is operatively associated with the first pole 2 and the second pole 3 of the circuit breaker 1 and is configured such that, after the detection of a differential current greater than a predetermined threshold (hereinafter indicated for simplicity sake as "current I_D"), a supply voltage that depends on the line voltage present between the first pole 2 and the second pole 3 is applied to the actuation means to cause decoupling of the first and second moving contacts 4, 8 from the respective first and second stationary contacts 5,9.
In the illustrated examples, the detection means comprise a detection winding 400, or secondary winding 400, wound around a magnetic core 54 that surrounds the conductive paths of the first pole 2 and the second pole 3, in which flows the current of the circuit breaker 1. The detection winding 400 is associated with the magnetic core 54 in such a manner as to generate an electrical signal when a differential current occurs.
The detection means further comprise electronic means 300 (schematically shown in figures 3 and 4), for example a microprocessor, which are operatively associated with the detection winding 400 and configured in such a manner as to detect the electrical signal that is generated following the occurrence of the current I_D and drive, following such detection, the application of a supply voltage to the actuation means.
In the illustrated examples, the electronic means 300 outputs an electrical driving signal suitable for driving the closure of at least an electronic switch 58 located electrically in series between the actuation means and the second pole 3 (see figures 3 and 4).
The actuation means comprise a first coil 55 arranged along an axis 56 (represented in figure 1). The first coil 55 is operatively associated with a moving element (like, for example, the moving pin 57 in figures 1 and 2) in such a manner as to cause its movement from a position of rest to an actuating position after the application of the supply voltage to the ends of the coil 55 itself. During such movement, the moving element operatively interacts with the first moving contact 4 and the second moving contact 8 in such a manner as to cause the decoupling from the respective first stationary contact 5 and second stationary contact 9. For example, the moving pin 57 operates the driving mechanism 13 during its own movement along the axis 56.
Advantageously, the protection function of the first pole 2 from failures due to overcurrents and/or short circuits is carried out by a second coil 59, which is also arranged along axis 56; in particular, the second coil 59 is arranged around at least one portion of the first coil 55 (see figures 1 and 2). Also the second coil 59 is operatively associated with the moving element 57 in such a manner as to cause its movement from the position of rest to the actuating position following the passage in the first pole 2 of an overcurrent and/or a short circuit current. Thanks to this particular design solution, the overall dimensions of the circuit breaker 1 are reduced.
In a circuit breaker 1 according to the present invention, the differential protection device 50 is configured in such a manner as to cause the application interruption of the supply voltage to the actuation means following (in particular, immediately after) the decoupling of the first and second moving contacts 4, 8 from the respective first and second stationary contacts 5, 9, independently from the fact that the electrical source is connected to the first and third electrical terminals 6, 10 or to the second and fourth electrical terminals 7, 11.
According to a first preferred embodiment, the circuit breaker 1 comprises a differential protection device 50 having an auxiliary contact electrically located in series between the actuation means and the first pole 2, and operatively connected to the first moving contact 4 in such a manner as to interrupt the series connection between the actuation means and the first pole 2 following the decoupling of the first moving contact 4 from the respective stationary contact 5. Preferably, the auxiliary contact comprises a first conductor element, which is electrically connected to the actuation means and that it is able to operatively interact with the first moving contact 4 in such a manner as to be coupled with the first moving contact 4, when the first moving contact 4 is coupled to the respective first stationary contact 5, and in such a manner as to be decoupled from the first moving contact 4, when the first moving contact 4 is decoupled from the respective first stationary contact 5. In this way, when the first conductor element is coupled with the first moving contact 4, the actuation means are connected to the first pole 2. Alternatively, the first conductor element could be suitable for operatively interacting with the second moving contact 8, in the same way as described for the interaction with the first moving contact 4.
In the circuit breaker 1 shown in figures 1-3, the first conductor element comprises a first spring 201 arranged around a first pin 200, which is associated with and transverse with respect to the case of circuit breaker 1. In particular, in figures 1 and , the first spring 201 is visible, while the corresponding first pin 200, which extends transversally from the inner wall of the second half-shell facing toward the first half-shell 12, is schematically shown dotted in figure 2.
The first spring 201 has a first end 203 connected to a second conductive pin 205, which extends transversally from the inner wall 14 of the first half-shell 12. This second conductive pin 205 is electrically connected to the first coil 55 through the connection 206 illustrated in figure 2. Alternatively, the first end 203 could be connected to the coil 55 with any other type of electrical connection.
The first spring 201 further comprises a second end 204, which extends toward the first moving contact 4 in such a manner as to be in contact with it only when the first moving contact 4 is coupled with the respective first stationary contact 5. In particular, the first moving contact 4 exhibits a central body 15, which is pivoted in a rotating manner on a pin 16 that is associated with the first half-shell 12 and transverse with respect to the inner wall 14. A tooth 17, which is suitable for contacting the second end 204 of the first spring 201, extends from the central body 15.
A starting situation, wherein circuit breaker 1 of figures 1-3 is closed and the second end 204 of the first spring 201 is in contact with the respective tooth 17, should be considered. Hence, a first terminal 61 of the first coil 55 (schematically illustrated in figure 3) is electrically connected to the first moving contact 4 through the second conductive pin 205 and the first spring 201.
When the current I_D is generated, the detection means of the differential protection device 50 drive the closure of the switch 58 in order to realize the connection between a second terminal 62 of the first coil 55 and the second pole 3. In this way, the supply voltage necessary to move the moving pin 57 and operate the driving mechanism 13 is applied to coil 55.
After the intervention of the driving mechanism 13, the first moving contact 4 turns counterclockwise around the pin 16 with reference to figures 1 and 2, decoupling itself from the respective first stationary contact 5, and decoupling its tooth 17 from the second end 204 of the first spring 201. In this way the electrical connection between the first coil 55 and the first pole 2 is interrupted, and current no longer flows in the first coil 55 independently of the fact that the electrical source is connected to first and third electrical terminals 6, 10 or to second and fourth electrical terminals 7, 11.
According to a second embodiment, schematically illustrated in figure 4, the circuit breaker 1 comprises a differential protection device 50 configured in such a manner as to realize an electrical connection between the first coil 55 and the first and second poles 2, 3 upon the detection of the current I_D. This electrical connection has a first electrical connection 65 situated between the first electrical terminal 6 and the first moving contact 4, and a second electrical connection 66 situated between the second stationary contact 9 and the fourth electrical terminal 11. Alternatively, the electrical connection could have a first connection located between the second electrical terminal 7 and the first stationary contact 5, and a second electrical connection located between the third electrical terminal 10 and the second moving contact 8.
Due to the position of the first electrical connection 65 and of the second electrical connection 66 of the electrical connection, current does not flow in the first coil 55 following the decoupling of the first and second moving contacts 4, 8 from the respective first and second stationary contacts 5, 9. The differential protection device 50 is therefore configured in such a manner as to automatically interrupt the supply voltage application to the first coil 55 without the aid of auxiliary contacts such as, for example, the auxiliary contact realized by the first spring 201 described for the circuit breaker 1 shown in figures 1-3.
Advantageously, a circuit breaker 1 according to the present invention may comprise a test mechanism 100 which has the task of verifying that the differential protection device 50 is working correctly. A test winding 53 is wound around the magnetic core 54 and has a first electrical terminal 67 and a second electrical terminal 68 (see figures 3 and 4). The test mechanism 100 is configured in such a manner as to apply, upon its operation, a test voltage between the first terminal 67 and the second terminal 68 of the test winding 53. The applied test voltage is suitable for simulating the occurrence of the current I_D, generating a magnetic flux in the core 54. In fact, after the detection of such magnetic flux an electric signal is generated in the detection winding 400 of the detection means, having a value indicating the presence of the current I_D.
Preferably, the test voltage is drawn from the line voltage present between the first pole 2 and the second pole 3 through the realization of a suitable electrical connection between the test winding 53 and the poles 2, 3. This connection can comprise at least one resistor 103 (see figures 3 and 4) suitable for setting the value of the current flowing in the test winding 53.
In the circuit breaker 1 shown in figures 1-3, the first terminal 67 of the test winding 53 is electrically connected to a third conductive pin 207 associated with the first half-shell 12 and transverse with respect to the inner wall 14. The second terminal 68 of the test winding 53 is electrically connected to the second pole 3.
The test mechanism 100 of the circuit breaker 1 comprises a moving element 101, or push button 101, which can be operated by applying force, which extends from outside the case of the circuit breaker 1 to be actuated by an external operation. The push button 101 is suitable for operatively interacting, after being actuated, with a second conductor element electrically connected to the second conductive pin 205. The push button 101 operatively interacts with the second conductor element in such a manner as to push at least a portion of the second conductor element against the third conductive pin 207. Preferably, the second conductor element comprises a second spring 208 (visible in figure 2) arranged around the second conductive pin 205 and having one end 209 which extends between the third conductive pin 207 and the push button 101, in such a manner as to operatively interact with the push button 101 during its actuation. In particular, the end 102 of the push button 101 is shaped in such a manner as to couple with a portion of the end 209.
Starting from a situation of closed circuit breaker 1, an operator can press the push button 101 moving it toward the third conductive pin 207. During this movement, the end 102 of the push button 101 is coupled with the end 209 of the second spring 208 pushing it against the third conductive pin 207, as it can be seen in figure 2. Hence, an electrical connection is realized between the first terminal 67 of the test winding 53 and the first moving contact 4, comprising: the third conductive pin 207, the second spring 208, the second conductive pin 205 and, finally, the first spring 201.
In practice it has been found how a circuit breaker, according to the present invention, fully performs that predefined task. In particular, employing a circuit breaker according to the present invention, damages to the actuation means of the circuit breaker due to installation errors, are avoided.
Furthermore, the described solutions are particularly simple and cheap to realize from a design perspective. In fact, the solution illustrated in figures 1-3 provides substantially only the use of the first spring 201 mounted on a pin, in order to interrupt the voltage supply application to the actuation means. The solution illustrated in figure 3 provides only the realization of an electrical connection having suitable electrical connections 65, 66 between the actuation means and the first and second poles 2, 3.
The circuit breakers designed in this way are susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all of which are in the scope of the present invention. In particular, all details can be replaced by other equivalent technical elements. For example, the pins that, in the description, are associated with a particular half-shell of the circuit breaker 1, could be all or in part associated with the other half-shell.
Furthermore, the type of materials within the scope of the provided applications described above, as well as the dimensions, could be any according to the requirements of the state of the art.

Claims

An electric switching device (1) adapted to mutually connect/disconnect an electrical distribution source and an electric load operatively connected to a circuit having a line voltage, said switching device (1) comprising:
- a first pole (2) having at least a first moving contact (4) which can be coupled to/decoupled from a respective first stationary contact (5) and at least a first electrical terminal (6) and a second electrical terminal (7) connected to said first moving contact (4) and said first stationary contact (5), respectively;

- a second pole (3) having at least a second moving contact (8) which can be coupled to/decoupled from a respective second stationary contact (9) and at least a third electrical terminal (10) and a fourth electrical terminal (11) connected to said second moving contact (8) and said second stationary contact (9), respectively, said first, second, third and fourth electrical terminals (6, 7, 10, 11) being adapted to electrically connect the first pole (2) and the second pole (3) to the electrical source and to the electric load;

- a differential protection device (50) comprising detection means adapted to detect a differential current, and actuation means adapted to cause the decoupling of the first and second moving contacts (4, 8) from the respective first and second stationary contacts (5, 9), said differential protection device (50) being operatively connected to said first and second poles (2, 3) and configured in such a manner that, following the detection of a differential current above a predetermined threshold, a supply voltage depending on the line voltage present between the first pole (2) and the second pole (3) is applied to said actuation means to cause the decoupling of the first and second moving contacts (4, 8) from the respective first and second stationary contacts (5, 9);
characterized in that said differential protection device (50) is configured in such a manner as to cause interruption of application of the supply voltage to the actuation means following said decoupling of the first and second moving contacts (4, 8) from the respective first and second stationary contacts (5, 9), regardless of whether the electrical source is connected to said first and third electrical terminals (6, 10) or to said second and fourth electrical terminals (7, 11).
The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said differential protection device (50) comprises an auxiliary contact electrically positioned in series between said actuation means and said first pole (2), said auxiliary contact being operatively connected to said first moving contact (4) in such a manner as to interrupt the series connection between the actuation means and the first pole (2) following said decoupling of the first moving contact (4) from the respective first stationary contact (5).
The device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said auxiliary contact comprises a first conductor element electrically connected to the actuation means and adapted to operatively interact with said first moving contact (4) in such a manner as to be coupled to the first moving contact (4), when the first moving contact (4) is coupled to the respective first stationary contact (5), and in such a manner as to be decoupled from the first moving contact (4), when the first moving contact (4) is decoupled from the respective first stationary contact (5).
The device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said first conductor element comprises at least a first spring (201) having a first end (203) electrically connected to said actuation means and a second end (204) which extends toward said first moving contact (4) in such a manner as to be in contact with the first moving contact (4), when the first moving contact (4) is coupled to the respective first stationary contact (5).
The device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said first moving contact (4) comprises a tooth (17) adapted to contact the second end (204) of the first spring (201).
The device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a first pin (200) and a second conductive pin (205) associated with and transverse with respect to the case of the switching device (1), said first spring (201) being arranged around the first pin (200) and said first end (203) of the first spring (201) being connected to the second conductive pin (205) which is electrically connected to said actuation means.
The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said differential protection device (50) is configured in such a manner as to realize an electrical connection between said actuation means and said first and second poles (2, 3) following detection of said differential current above a predetermined threshold, said electrical connection having a first electrical connection (65) located between the first electrical terminal (6) and the first moving contact (4), and a second electrical connection (66) located between the fourth electrical terminal (11) and the second stationary contact (9).
The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said detection means comprise:
- a detection winding (400) wound around a magnetic core (54) that surrounds the conductive paths of the first pole (2) and of the second pole (3), said detection winding (400) being associated with said magnetic core (54) in such a manner as to generate an electrical signal when said differential current occurs;

- electronic means (300) operatively associated with said detection winding (400) and configured in such a manner as to detect the electric signal that is generated when said differential current exceeds a predetermined threshold, said electronic means (300) being configured in such a manner as to drive, following said detection, the application of a supply voltage to said actuation means.
The device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises:
- a test winding (53) wound around the magnetic core (54) and having a first terminal (67) and a second terminal (68);

- a test mechanism (100) configured in such a manner as to apply, following actuation thereof, a test voltage between said first and second terminals (66, 67) of the test winding (53).
The device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises:
- a third conductive pin (207) associated with and transverse with respect to said case of the switch, said first terminal (67) of the test winding (53) being electrically connected to the third conductive pin (207), and said second terminal (68) of the test winding (53) being electrically connected to the second pole (3);

- a second conductor element electrically connected to said second conductive pin (205);
and characterized in that said test mechanism (100) comprises a moving element (101) adapted to operatively interact, following actuation thereof, with said second conductor element in such a manner as to push at least a portion of said second conductor element against said third conductive pin (207).
The device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that said second conductor element comprises at least a second spring (208) arranged around the second pin (205) and having an end (209) that extends between said third conductive pin (207) and said moving element (101) in such a manner as to be able to operatively interact with said moving element (101).
The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said actuation means comprise a first coil (55) which is operatively associated with a moving element (57) in such a manner as to cause movement of the moving element (57) from a position of rest to an actuating position following application of the supply voltage at the ends of the first coil (55).
The device (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises at least a second coil (59) which is associated with said first pole (2) and which is arranged around at least one portion of said first coil (55), said second coil (59) being operatively associated with said moving element (57) in such a manner as to cause the movement of the moving element (57) from said position of rest to said actuating position following the occurrence in said first pole (2) of a fault due to an overcurrent and/or to a short circuit current.
The device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a case having front width equal to a standard DIN module.