EP2551884A1 - Remote triggering module - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus has a remote triggering module (5) that is guided and positioned in a case. The triggering module is connected electrically to a control line by flexible conducting blades (10). The flexible conducting blades are elastically deformed with respect to a contact terminal that is connected to a connection device and a fixed contact. The flexible conducting blades are maintained mechanically by a clip and a structure of the case. The triggering module includes an actuator for operating a mechanical lock if the control line conveys an opening signal.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of modular electrical appliances and more particularly to multipole electrical switches with integrated remote trip system.

The advantage of such a remote triggering system is to allow a delocalized intervention for example to cut or prohibit the power of a line by sending an electrical signal from a remote management center of the device. In practice, this type of signal is in particular issued by the operator of the line or lines concerned, typically the electricity supplier. The use of a remote control function has an undeniable economic interest in that it allows a decentralized management of lines to overcome the sending of agents to the locations of the connecting stations of the circuits concerned to the network electric.

The main objective of the present invention is to allow the addition of the remote release function in the easiest way possible to an existing multipole electrical switch structure. In other words, the object of the invention is to equip conventional multipolar electrical switch boxes with a new function by modifying the product only minimally , by not practically intervening in the function of electrical interruption such as that it is implemented primarily by the apparatus, at least for certain lines. This requirement doubles, in the invention, a requirement for ease and speed of connection of the new remote trigger function, a bit like the concept of "plug-and-play" in computer techniques.

The goal, it will be understood, is to change as little as possible the existing, and to be satisfied if necessary to use the residual space of the housings of such multipole electrical switches to add by a simple mechanical operation of connection the possibility of a remote control.

For the record, these switchgear devices are such that each pole comprises a movable contact capable of moving between two positions respectively in contact with and at a distance from a fixed contact, respectively corresponding to the closing and opening of a power line, said mobile and fixed contacts being located between two connecting devices to said line.

They also include a mechanical lock placed between a control lever protruding from the front of the housing and a contact holder (s) mobile (s), by means of which the manual movements of the joystick are reflected in contact.

This lock must of course also ensure the opening of the contacts in case of triggering caused by the receipt of an opening signal, carried by a so-called control line, in the trigger system.

In order to fulfill the aforementioned objectives, and others which will appear during the reading of this description, the apparatus of the invention is characterized in that the triggering system is embodied in the form of a module of a single holding content and plugged into the housing between a fixed contact and the connection device fixed contact side of the same line. This module is also shaped to be guided and positioned in the housing, and electrically connected to the corresponding line becoming the control line by means of flexible conductive blades protruding from the module and elastically deforming in contact respectively with a terminal connected to the device connection and fixed contact. It is mechanically held by at least one clip and the housing structure. Finally, it comprises an actuator capable of triggering the mechanical lock if the control line carries an opening signal.

The space required being available inside the housing, the operation of adding the function allowing the remote release consists in the species simply to insert the corresponding module, guided by voluminal correspondences, without it being by It is therefore necessary to use tools to fix it in the housing.

Preferably, in particular for guiding and positioning purposes, the module is plugged into a pole of the apparatus proximal to a side wall of the casing parallel to the direction drawn between the two connecting devices of the device. each pole, said module being guided and positioned in contact with said side wall and the bottom, the front and ribs of the housing.

In practice, it is therefore often the neutral pole of the multipolar electrical switch which is "sacrificed", the neutral line becoming in fact a control line on which is transmitted the remote trigger signal. Thus, for example, when the switch device of the invention is a four-pole switch, there remains a three-pole switch with a remote triggering system.

The tool-free plug-in mode of the remote trigger module has the immediate consequence of the removability of said module, which can be removed in the same way, by means of a strictly manual operation.

According to a possibility of the invention, the actuator consists of an electromagnet comprising a plunger core driven in the event of a signal on the control line in order to rotate a lever rotatably mounted in the module, one end of which is provided for contact a triggering member of the mechanical lock to tilt it.

When an opening signal is sent by the network operator to the multipole electrical switch device of the invention, it is received on the control line whose electromagnet constitutes a component since it is connected, via the flexible conductive blades, in series on said line.

The change of state of the electromagnet plunger, materialized by a change of position, is used to rotate a rotary lever whose free end describes a path making it hit the trigger member of the mechanical lock.

Preferably, the electromagnet is driven by a first electrical circuit arranged on an electronic card and connected to the control line via the flexible conductive blades.

This electronic card is arranged in the module, and its electrical connection points to the control line, allowing it to receive and manage the opening signal, are constituted by the above-mentioned flexible conductive blades.

More preferably, the electromagnet is a component of said first electrical circuit.

In practice, according to a possible configuration, the module of the invention may comprise means for informing the existence of an opening signal on the command line, said information being located in the module so as to be visible through a window in the front of the camera body.

This is the only modification to the housing that requires the addition of such a remote trigger system.

More specifically, said means may consist of a light-emitting diode (LED) illuminating when the control line conveys a control signal.

They can then be controlled, according to the invention, by a second electrical circuit independent of the first and arranged on the same electronic card.

This second circuit may preferably be connected to the movable contact by a direct link shunting the switch constituted by the movable contact and the fixed contact. The idea is that the user must be able to visualize the existence of a cutoff signal regardless of the relative position of the fixed and mobile contacts of the command line.

This direct connection consists of a flexible electrical wire connected at the output of the second electrical circuit and whose free end is connected to the moving contact. It thus shunts the switch constituted by the pair of contacts respectively fixed and mobile of this command line.

More specifically, the free end of the flexible electrical wire may comprise a rigid conductive end plate plugged between the contact carrier (s) and the conductive contact spring of the movable contact interposed between said contact carrier (s) and said contact mobile.

This type of connection, true to the principles that governed the design of the invention, is connectable without tools. The rigid end can in practice simply be wedged by the user between the insulating contact carrier (s) and the conductive metal spring. The electrical connection with the movable contact is thus performed.

Alternatively, the information means of the existence of an opening signal on the control line may consist of a movable mechanical member comprising a visual trigger information and appearing in front of the window in case of tripping.

On a structural level, the module is configured in a bracket comprising a planar facing face guided in contact with the side wall of the housing and a face oriented substantially parallel to and close to the facade, as well as side faces perpendicular to the preceding delimiting an interior volume enclosing the actuator, the flexible conductive blades protruding from said side faces.

This volume constitutes in practice an envelope in which are arranged the electronic card, the electromagnet, the rotary lever, etc. The latter can be secured to a pivoting shaft in bearings made in the lateral faces of the bracket, and comprises two branches located on either side of said shaft, a first branch being located on the path of the plunger core while the second branch exceeds the defined volume and extends to the vicinity of the trigger member of the mechanical lock.

The second branch is not, at rest, in contact with the triggering member of the mechanical lock. On the contrary, it is positioned such that an initial idle stroke, during the beginning of the displacement of the movable core of the electromagnet and the corresponding initial displacement of the pivoting lever, can be implemented. This vacuum stroke is used in particular to catch the mechanical games related to the defects of the different parts.

One of the major advantages of the invention has already been mentioned, namely that the remote triggering module can be implanted directly and without tools into housings of existing electrical appliances, for example multipolar electrical switches.

According to a hypothesis implemented in practice, the housing can be that of a multipolar differential switch to neutral, the pole chosen to become the pole connected to the control line being the neutral pole. The components of the differential function are then removed from the housing and replaced by the remote trigger module plugged in without any other means of attachment.

It should be noted that, to meet regulatory obligations, the kinematics of all the mechanisms is such that the phase contacts can not be closed before those of the command line are. Indeed, as soon as an opening signal occurs on the control line, the phase poles open at the same time as the control pole. This makes it possible to have a self-break from the command line and not to continuously feed the coil of the electromagnet from the moment when it has allowed the opening of the lock and therefore the opening of the phase lines and control.

It is then no longer possible to close the phase poles if the opening signal is still present, signaling the existence of an interruption command of the line. Indeed, in such a case, as soon as the movable control contact comes into pressure against the fixed contact, the electromagnet is energized and leads to the immediate unlocking of the lock. This remains true if the control stick of the device is kept in the closed position, which means that the phase poles can not be closed again.

• la figure 1 est une vue en élévation de face d'un appareil interrupteur électrique multipolaire muni d'un mécanisme de déclenchement à distance selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en élévation de face d'un tel appareil duquel on a retiré le couvercle ;
• la figure 3 montre en vue perspective l'appareil interrupteur électrique tel que déjà représenté aux figures 1 et 2, à nouveau sans le couvercle ;
• la figure 4 représente, en élévation de face, le module de déclenchement à distance ;
• la figure 5 représente le même module en vue en perspective ;
• la figure 6 représente une autre vue en perspective de l'appareil interrupteur de l'invention, vu sous un autre angle d'incidence ; et
• la figure 7 constitue un agrandissement de la liaison mécanique entre le fil assurant la continuité électrique avec le module de déclenchement à distance en shuntant l'interrupteur de la ligne de commande.

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

• the figure 1 is a front elevational view of a multipole electrical switch device provided with a remote release mechanism according to the invention;
• the figure 2 is a front elevational view of such an apparatus from which the cover has been removed;
• the figure 3 shows in perspective view the electrical switch device as already shown to Figures 1 and 2 , again without the lid;
• the figure 4 represents, in front elevation, the remote trip module;
• the figure 5 represents the same module in perspective view;
• the figure 6 is another perspective view of the switch apparatus of the invention, viewed at another angle of incidence; and
• the figure 7 is an enlargement of the mechanical connection between the wire providing electrical continuity with the remote trip module by shunting the switch of the control line.

The figure 1 very generally represents an apparatus according to the invention, provided with its lid and revealing the front of the product with its control handle (4) and various visual information devices. In particular, the window (3) has a mechanical indication restoring the position of the contacts, the window (2) reflects - also via mechanical indication - the type of trigger of the device, while the indication Luminous indication of the presence of voltage on the control pole appears in window (1).

When the cover (C) including the facade is removed, the device is presented in the manner that appears in figure 2 and 3 . The remote triggering module (5) takes place in the housing (B) of which only the base remains since the cover (C) has been removed. The example which is shown is that of a four-pole switch device, thus comprising four pairs of input and output connection devices (6) and (7), in this case conventional cage and screw connection means. .

The shape of the module (5) allows it to be guided inside the housing (B), in particular by its wall (8) at least a portion of which is planar and develops in a parallel orientation the side wall (9) is also flat and contiguous with the housing (B). The module (5) is held in place mechanically in the housing (B) by a clip (29) and the respective configurations of the module (5) shaped in the frame and the housing (B). The latter may comprise ribs which, in combination with the bottom and said wall (9) immobilize the module (5) when the housing (5) is open, the wall of the cover (C) forming the facade completing to organize the maintenance inside the housing (B) at the closing of the latter.

The module (5) also includes (see in particular figure 4 ) flexible conductive blades (10, 10 ') which ensure electrical continuity with the control pole, in this case the one located on the right in the figure 2 . These are brought into pressure contact with a terminal (11) of the connection device on one side, and with the fixed contact (12) on the other side. On the destination control line that becomes the pole to which the remote trip module (5) is electrically connected, the switch of the initial line is constituted, in addition to the fixed contact (12), with a movable contact (13). ) carried by a contact holder (14).

The movable contact (13) is connected to the connection device (6) while the fixed contact (12) is connected via the module (5) to the connection device (7).

With reference to Figures 4 and 5 the remote release module (5) comprises a lever (15) having a central shaft (16) pivoting in bearings (17, 17 ') formed in the side faces (18, 18') of the shaped volume stem constituting the envelope of said volume (5). This volume also contains an electronic card (19) with two separate electrical circuits. The first circuit includes as component of an electromagnet (20) and its plunger (21), the coil of the electromagnet being supplied with current via the flexible electric blades (10, 10 ') connected to the control line.

The electronic card (19) comprises a second electrical circuit intended for signaling, that is to say carrying on the upper face of the module (5), for example, a LED light-emitting diode (30) visible in a window (1). in the cover (C) of the housing (see figure 1 ).

This second electric circuit is fed between the electric flexible blade (10) on the one hand, and a wire (22) whose free end is provided with a rigid conductive end blade (23). The wire (22) appears more clearly in figure 6 , and deploys from a projection of the face (8) of the module (5) oriented parallel to the side wall (9) of the housing (B) of the product, leaving a space even when a portion of the face (8) is in contact with said lateral face (9).

Its rigid free end (23) actually gets jammed between the spring (24) of the movable contact (13) and a wall of the contact holder (14) against which one of the ends of said contact spring (24), which is in this case a spiral spring which aims in particular to ensure a contact pressure with sufficient fixed contact even in case of wear of the contacts. It is a metal component, therefore conductive.

An enlarged detail of the fixing of the rigid end (23) of the wire (22) between the contact carrier (14) and the contact spring (24) of the movable contact (13) appears in figure 7 . This attachment can be performed without tools, as the rest of the installation of the module (5) remote trigger, and it uses the existing.

The operation is as follows (see in particular figure 5 ): when an opening signal is conveyed on the control line, the coil of the electromagnet (20) is energized, and it excites the plunger (21) which moves and drives an end ( 25) of the lever (15). The latter pivots, rotating the free end (26) protruding from the side walls (18, 18 ') of the stem and acting on a trigger member (27) of the mechanical lock (see FIG. figure 3 ), causing the subsequent switching of the lock, and therefore the opening of the movable contacts (13), driven by the contact carrier (14) itself moved by the tilting of the mechanical lock.

From the moment when the movable contacts (13) have separated from the fixed contacts (12), the control line no longer supplies the coil of the electromagnet (20), and the plunger (21) comes to its initial position.

The product has triggered. However, as long as the opening signal remains present on the control line, the light signal indicating this state also remains active, since the electrical circuit comprising this light indicator means is powered by shunting the switch of the line, via the electric wire (22), and therefore does not depend on the state of said switch.

In this case, as soon as the user tries to close the switch manually using the control handle (4), the coil of the electromagnet (20) feeds, displaces the plunger and by therefore the lever (15) acting to tilt the lock. It is therefore not possible to re-engage the product as long as the opening signal remains on the command line.

Claims (15)

Multipole electrical switch device with integrated remote trip system, each pole comprising a movable contact able to move between two positions respectively in contact and at a distance from a fixed contact corresponding to the closing and opening of a power line and located between two connecting devices to said line, the apparatus further comprising a mechanical lock placed between a control lever protruding from the front of a housing and a movable contact holder, by means of which the manual movements of the handle are transmitted to the movable contacts, and which ensures the opening of the contacts in the event of triggering caused by the reception of an opening signal conveyed by a command line in the triggering system, characterized in that the triggering system is in the form of a contained one-piece module and plugged into the housing between a contact f ix and the fixed contact side connection device of the same line, the module being shaped to be guided and positioned in the housing, electrically connected to said line becoming the control line by means of flexible conductive blades protruding from the module and deforming resiliently in contact respectively with a terminal connected to the connection device and the fixed contact, and mechanically held by at least one clip and the structure of the housing, said module comprising an actuator adapted to trigger the mechanical lock if the vehicle control line an opening signal. Multipolar electrical switch device with integrated remote triggering system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the module is plugged at the pole of the proximal device of a side wall of the housing parallel parallel to the direction drawn between the two connection devices of each pole, said module being guided and positioned in contact with said side wall and the bottom, the front and ribs of the housing. Multipole electrical switch device with integrated remote trip system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuator consists of an electromagnet comprising a driven plunger in the event of a signal on the control line in order to make pivoting a rotatably mounted lever in the module and an end thereof is provided to engage a trigger member of the mechanical lock to tilt. Multipolar electrical switch device with integrated remote trip system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the electromagnet is controlled by a first electrical circuit arranged on an electronic card and connected to the control line via the flexible conductive blades. Multipolar electrical switch device with integrated remote trip system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the electromagnet is a component of said first electric circuit. Multipolar electrical switch device with integrated remote trip system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the module comprises means for informing the existence of an opening signal on the command line, said information being located in the module so as to be visible through a window made in the front of the housing of the device. Multipolar electrical switch device with integrated remote trip system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said means consist of a light emitting diode (LED) illuminating when the control line conveys a control signal. Multipole electrical switch device with integrated remote trip system according to one of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that said information means are controlled by a second electrical circuit independent of the first and disposed on the same electronic card. Multipole electrical switch device with integrated remote trip system according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that said second circuit is connected to the movable contact by a direct connection shunting the switch constituted by the movable contact and the fixed contact. Multipolar electrical switch device with integrated remote trip system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said direct link consists of a flexible electrical wire connected at the output of the second electrical circuit and whose free end is connected to the movable contact. Multipolar electrical switch device with integrated remote trip system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said free end comprises a rigid conductive end plate plugged between the contact carrier (s) and the conductive contact spring of the movable contact interposed between said contact carrier (s) and said moving contact. Multipole electrical switch device with integrated remote trip system according to claim 6, characterized in that the information means of the existence of an opening signal on the control line consist of a mobile mechanical member with information visual trigger appearing in front of the window when triggered. Multipole electrical switch device with integrated remote trip system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the module is configured in a bracket having a planar face guided in contact with the side wall of the housing and a substantially oriented face. parallel and close to the facade, as well as side faces of perpendicular shape to the preceding delimiting an interior volume containing the actuator, the flexible conductive blades protruding from said side faces. Multipolar electrical switch apparatus with integrated remote trip system according to claims 3 and 13, characterized in that the lever is secured to a pivoting shaft in bearings provided in the lateral faces of the bracket, and comprises two branches located on either side of said shaft, a first branch being located on the path of the plunger core while the second branch exceeds the defined volume and extends to the vicinity of the trigger member of the mechanical lock. Multipole electrical switch device with integrated remote trip system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing is that of a multipolar differential switch with neutral, the pole chosen to become the pole connected to the control line being the neutral pole, the components of the differential function being removed from the housing and replaced by the remote trigger module plugged in without other means of attachment.

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