EP2743957B1 - Electric current breaking apparatus, in particular a coupling breaker - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to low-voltage electrical power cut-off devices in general, and in particular electrical power cut-off devices installed at home and commonly known as "branch circuit breakers".

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

We know the document FR 2,295,553 describing a device for breaking the electrical current, said apparatus being housed in an insulating casing and comprising at least one unipolar assembly and a control mechanism, said unipolar assembly comprising an insulating base supporting partitions delimiting a breaking chamber intended to ensure confinement of the cutoff, said chamber being at least partially closed by a cover which is applied to said breaking chamber, said chamber enclosing a fixed contact, a movable contact supported by a movable contact carrier, an extinguishing device arc, said control mechanism being manually or automatically brought into a position of opening the contacts via a so-called first trigger bar, said control mechanism comprising a shaft adapted to drive said contact carrier.

In this document, the part of the housing intended to achieve the confinement of the cutoff comprises two bulb parts referencing the fixed contacts and the magnetothermal trip units. These two bulb parts are themselves referenced on the base which also serves as external face. In addition, this base reference other mechanical functions, namely the so-called switch mechanism for the manual operation of the device and the mobile contact support. In each unipolar assembly, to ensure the interruption of the electric arc between the fixed contact and the movable contact when opening them, it is necessary to ensure a certain seal above the fin block and on the other hand, to bring the electric potential above the block of fins.

In the apparatus described in this document, the seal is obtained during the meeting of two plastic bulb parts constituted by the housing and the lid of the containment room of the cut.

This requires that the containment piece is made in two parts.

If on the contrary, the containment piece is made in one piece, this embodiment of the seal is not feasible, for issues of realization of molding parts. Indeed, if the piece is in one piece, it must be drilled to dispose the parts bringing the potential, which prevents to obtain a sufficient seal.

On the other hand, on the current devices, the potential above the fin block is brought via a specific metal piece called arc horn, which is soldered to the splitter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to propose a device for breaking the electric current of simplified design.

For this purpose, the subject of the present invention is an apparatus for breaking electric current, said apparatus being characterized in that the aforementioned conductive part comprises a portion capable of being brought to the aforementioned opening of the interrupting chamber provided in the part. confinement, so as to ensure the aforementioned sealing of the interrupting chamber.

According to a particular characteristic, this part also ensures the supply of the potential above the aforementioned arc extinguishing device.

By these characteristics, it reduces the number of parts used, namely a containment piece preferably made in one part, and an arc horn performing both the seal and the supply of potential.

According to another characteristic, each unipolar assembly comprises an electric circuit and a splitter adapted to bring the current to the input of said circuit, and the aforementioned conductive part forms a single piece with the splitter, and comprises a first so-called central part capable of providing the current distribution function and a second part able to ensure the aforementioned sealing of the breaking chamber and the supply of the potential above the arc extinguishing device.

By these characteristics, it further reduces the number of parts used.

According to another characteristic, the aforementioned electrical circuit comprising a magnetic protection device, the above-mentioned distributor is intended to ensure the distribution of the current between a calibration shunt of the value of the nominal current and the magnetic protection device.

According to another characteristic, this conductive part comprises a third part situated on the opposite side to the second, and forming an extension part intended to be electrically connected to the braid so as to reduce the length of this braid, between this conductive part and the mobile contact.

According to another characteristic, the aforementioned conductive member is fixed on the confinement piece at the aforementioned opening, by means of detent means provided in part on the conductive part and partly on the confinement part.

According to another characteristic, the aforementioned confinement piece also comprises snap-fastening means for the so-called central portion of the conductive splitter piece on the confinement piece.

According to another characteristic, the containment part of the cutoff also has on its lower face opposite to that receiving the conductive part, an opening for accommodating at least a portion of a support shaft of the movable contacts of the device.

According to another characteristic, the aforementioned confinement part also comprises means for referencing and / or fixing said part on a platinum, said platen being intended to support at least part of the elements of the device.

According to another characteristic, this plate comprises means for referencing a set of parts having a kinematic function, this assembly comprising the above-mentioned control mechanism, the fixed contact (s), the carrier (s) mobile contacts.

Thus, the only constraints imposed on the platen are therefore a certain mechanical strength and a certain dimensional accuracy while the confinement piece ensures only the confinement and the cut.

Thus, thanks to the invention, it reduces the number of constraints imposed on the different parts by their functions.

In addition, thanks to this architecture, we reduced the length of the kinematic chain in that the parts are referenced directly on the plate.

According to another characteristic, this apparatus comprises a thermal protection device against prolonged electric current overload and / or a magnetic protection device against instantaneous overcurrent of electric current, and / or a differential protection device in the case of a device. imbalance between several phases due to a ground fault of the installation to be protected, the protection device or devices cooperating with the control mechanism so as to cause the opening of the contacts when the corresponding fault occurs, and the above-mentioned plate comprises referencing means of at least one of the aforementioned protective devices.

According to another feature, the aforementioned confinement part comprises an end portion comprising three walls delimiting a recess of substantially parallelepiped shape intended to house an arc extinguishing device so as to form with the aforementioned plate, a breaking chamber arc, this part having at its upper part, an opening intended to be closed at least partially and in a sealed manner by the aforementioned conductive part, and on its underside, fastening means snap on the aforementioned plate.

According to another characteristic, the aforementioned confinement part comprises a central part comprising on its underside, an opening intended to house a movable contact-carrying shaft (8) of the apparatus, and on its upper face, means for fixing the the second part forming a distributor of the aforementioned conductive part.

According to another characteristic, this device is a branch circuit breaker intended to be located between a meter and an electrical distribution board, so as to connect a particular to the electrical network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective, illustrant une platine supportant les différents éléments d'un appareil de coupure du courant selon l'invention,
• La figure 2 est vue en perspective, illustrant une corne d'arc et une pièce de confinement de la coupure selon l'invention, avant mise en place de ces éléments sur un arbre porte-contacts mobiles et un dispositif d'extinction d'arc,
• La figure 3 est une vue en perspective illustrant ces trois mêmes éléments après cette mise en place,
• La figure 4 est une vue en perspective, illustrant une platine seule destinée à recevoir les différents éléments constitutifs de l'appareil,
• La figure 5 est une vue en perspective illustrant une pièce de confinement de la coupure équipée d'une corne d'arc et d'un répartiteur selon l'invention,
• La figure 6 est une vue en perspective, illustrant cet ensemble mis en place dans la platine,
• La figure 7 est une vue en coupe selon A-A de la figure 6.

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

• The figure 1 is a perspective view, illustrating a plate supporting the various elements of a current-breaking device according to the invention,
• The figure 2 is seen in perspective, illustrating an arc horn and a containment part of the cutoff according to the invention, before placing these elements on a movable contact-carrying shaft and an arc extinguishing device,
• The figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating these same three elements after this implementation,
• The figure 4 is a perspective view, illustrating a single plate for receiving the various components of the device,
• The figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating a containment room of the cut equipped with an arc horn and a distributor according to the invention,
• The figure 6 is a perspective view, illustrating this set set up in the platinum,
• The figure 7 is a sectional view according to AA of the figure 6 .

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

On the figure 1 has been shown a plate P on which are mounted the various elements of an electrical protection device such as a branch circuit breaker allowing an individual to be connected to the electrical network, said circuit breaker being intended to be located between a meter and a table electric. This assembly is intended to be mounted in an insulating housing (not shown), this housing having an opening for the passage of a lever M for the operation of the apparatus and having access openings to input terminals and to output terminals intended to be electrically connected respectively to the meter and to the electrical panel.

This device is of the multipole type and mainly comprises a control mechanism 1 and, according to this particular embodiment, four unipolar assemblies 2, 3, 4, 5 comprising three assemblies 2, 3, 4 intended to cut a phase and an assembly. unipolar 5 for the neutral cut, each of these sets being associated an input terminal and an output terminal. Each unipolar assembly 2, 3, 4, 5 comprises a fixed contact 6 electrically connected by a conductor to one of the terminals, and a movable contact 7 electrically connected by a flexible conductor to the other of the terminals.

This movable contact 7 is supported by a movable contact holder shaft 8 common to all the unipolar assemblies, and adapted to be rotated by a control mechanism 1 between a position in which the fixed and movable contacts 6 and 7 are open. position in which the fixed and mobile contacts are closed.

The control of the opening of the contacts can be effected either manually by the operation of a lever M belonging to the control mechanism 1, or automatically by means of a protective device comprising a magnetic protection device 9 against instantaneous overloads of electric current, and a thermal protection device 10 against prolonged overloads of electric current.

This apparatus also comprises a differential protection device comprising a differential relay 45 capable of sending an opening command to the control mechanism 1 during an imbalance caused by a receiver having a fault current.

Each unipolar phase assembly 2,3,4 comprises an electric circuit comprising, connected in series with the fixed contacts 6, 7 and movable, a thermal protection device 10 and a magnetic protection device 9. These two protection devices 9, 10 each comprise an actuator adapted to act on a so-called transfer bar 11, said bar extending substantially parallel to the alignment direction of the unipolar assemblies 2,3,4 and being intended to transmit the tripping order to the bar triggering circuit said first (12) not shown, which transmits the order of opening of the contacts to the control mechanism 1, through the differential trip bar 16, the control mechanism 1 driving through a rod (not visible in the figures) the shaft 8 movable contact carrier in an open position of the contacts 6,7 of all unipolar assemblies.

The control mechanism 1 is constituted by a first so-called switch mechanism 14 and a second so-called differential mechanism 15, this differential control mechanism being able to receive the trip commands from the differential protection device.

According to this particular embodiment of the invention, the magnetic protection devices 9 and thermal 10 also send their tripping commands, via the transfer bar 11, to the so-called differential control mechanism 15, which transmits this command to the mechanism said switch 14.

• Lors de la survenue d'une surcharge prolongée ou instantanée de courant, les dispositifs de protection thermique ou magnétique agissent sur une barre de transfert 11, laquelle agit sur une barre de déclenchement dite première 12, laquelle agit sur une barre de déclenchement dite seconde 16, ce qui provoque le déclenchement du mécanisme différentiel 15 par rupture d 'accrochage, ce qui provoque le déclenchement du mécanisme interrupteur 14 par rupture d'accrochage, ce qui commande l'ouverture de l'arbre porte-contact 8.
• Lors de la survenue d'un déséquilibre entre plusieurs phases, le relais du dispositif de protection différentiel agit sur la barre de déclenchement dite seconde, ce qui provoque le déclenchement du mécanisme différentiel 15 par rupture d'accrochage, ce qui provoque le déclenchement du mécanisme interrupteur 14 par rupture d'accrochage, ce qui commande l'ouverture de l'arbre porte-contact 8.
• Lors d'une ouverture manuelle, la manoeuvre de la manette M commande les mécanismes 14 et 15, ce qui commande l'ouverture des contacts par l'intermédiaire d'une bielle (non représentée).

The operation of such an electrical protection device is as follows:

• During the occurrence of a prolonged or instantaneous current overload, the thermal or magnetic protection devices act on a transfer bar 11, which acts on a so-called first trigger bar 12, which acts on a so-called second trigger bar 16 , which triggers the differential mechanism 15 by failure of attachment, which triggers the trigger mechanism 14 by snap failure, which controls the opening of the contact shaft 8.
• When the occurrence of an imbalance between several phases, the relay of the differential protection device acts on the so-called second trip bar, which causes the triggering of the differential mechanism 15 by snap failure, which triggers the mechanism switch 14 by snap-fastening, which controls the opening of the contact-carrier shaft 8.
• During manual opening, the operation of the handle M controls the mechanisms 14 and 15, which controls the opening of the contacts via a connecting rod (not shown).

As this is more particularly illustrated on the Figures 2 and 3 each unipolar sub-assembly of said phase 2,3,4 further includes a so-called containment piece of the cut-off 17, more commonly known as "capoule", which is intended to be fixed on the plate P and comprises three walls 18, 19,20 made by molding so as to define a recess 21 substantially parallelepiped closed at its lower part by the plate P. This recess 21 forms a breaking chamber housing a fin block 32, a fixed contact 6 and a movable contact 7 , said breaking chamber being intended to be partially closed at its upper face 23, as will be explained in the following, but leaving a so-called upper opening 24 for allowing the escape of gases.

This apparatus also comprises a part called a neutral arc horn 27, able to bring the potential above the opening zone of the neutral contact, this piece being well known to specialists, its function will not be described in more detail. , and is intended to be fixed on the plate P.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, this arc horn 27 is also intended to support the so-called first trigger bar 12, which is mounted in rotation about a fixed axis of this arc horn 27. According to one embodiment particular of the invention, the following parts of the apparatus, namely the fixed contacts 6, the shaft 8 movable contact carriers, the magnetic triggers 9 and thermal 10, the mechanisms said switch 14 and differential 15, the bar of transfer 11, the trigger bars 12, 16, the neutral arc horn 27, and the containment piece 17, are intended to be referenced or even as the case, fixed on the plate P.

On the figure 2 , we see the piece 17 confinement of the aforementioned cut mainly consists of a support having a central portion 28 and two end portions 29,30. This central portion 28 has on its underside an opening 31 intended to allow the movable contact holder shaft 8 to pass therethrough. The first end portion 29 has three walls 18, 19, 20 forming a recess 21 of substantially parallelepipedal shape. recess being intended to house an arc extinguishing device 32 formed in this particular embodiment by a block of fins. This part of the confinement part 17 delimiting the breaking chamber, comprises on its upper face 23 a so-called upper opening having a first part 24 intended to allow the evacuation of the cutoff gases, and a second part 33 intended to be sealingly sealed by a portion 38 of a part called arc horn 34 as will be explained in the following.

According to the invention, a one-piece piece 35 is used to ensure both the function of the current distributor, the sealing of the interrupting chamber, and the conduction of the potential above the block of fins 32.

For this purpose, this piece 35 is constituted by a metal blade 36 intended to be mechanically and electrically connected by one 36a of its ends, to a shunt 44 (visible on the figures 1 , 5 and 6 ) for setting the nominal value of the current flowing through the apparatus, and its opposite end 36b, to the movable contact 7 via a braid 40, while the shunt 40 is intended to be connected by a part, to the coil, and secondly, to the metal blade 36.

This metal blade 36 comprises a central portion 37 constituting a current distributor between the shunt and the movable contact, a first end portion 38 intended to be brought over the opening 33 of the breaking chamber 22 so as to performing the aforementioned partial seal, as well as a second end portion 39 intended to be mechanically and electrically connected to the braid 40. This first end portion 38 of the one-piece piece 35 is made by folding the corresponding end 36a of the blade 36 so as to form a portion whose shape matches the shape of the opening 33 of the interrupting chamber 22 so as to achieve a partial and sealed closure of said chamber. In the same way, the second end portion 39 of the one-piece piece 35 is folded so that it can be mechanically and electrically connected to the braid 40 in order to reduce its length.

This one-piece piece 35 is intended to be fixed on the containment piece 17 of the cut, on the one hand, at the central portion 28 forming a distributor, on the other hand, at its first end portion 29, by means of snap-fastening means 41, 42 provided on the central portion 28 of the confinement piece 17 and on the first end portion 29 of the confinement piece, these means cooperating with the corresponding parts of the one-piece piece 35.

This containment piece is intended to be fixed on the plate P by means of latching means 43 ( fig.3 ) provided on the lower face of the first end portion 29 of the containment piece 17 and cooperating with a corresponding shape provided on the plate P, these means being particularly visible on the figures 4,5 and 6 .

Thus, thanks to the invention, only two parts are used to perform the functions of containment room of the cutoff, current distributor and arc horn, this monobloc piece produced being advantageously used in the case where the piece of confinement is itself also monobloc, the sealing of the breaking chamber can not be achieved in this case by the simple juxtaposition of two bulb parts as was the case in the prior art.

It has therefore been realized thanks to the invention, a power cut apparatus of simpler design in that the number of parts used is reduced. According to the particular embodiment of the invention according to which a plate is used on which the kinematic elements of the apparatus are referenced, a reduction in the number of constraints imposed on the different pieces is also obtained, hence a reduced manufacturing cost. and a decrease in the amount of settings needed, hence a mounting cost also reduces.

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

Claims (14)

1. Electrical current breaking apparatus, said apparatus being housed in an insulating housing and comprising at least one single-pole phase assembly and a control mechanism (1), said single-pole phase assembly comprising an arc-extinguishing chamber (22) intended to ensure the containment of the arc-extinguishing, said chamber (22) being sealed at least partially and in a tight manner by a cover which is applied onto an opening of said arc-extinguishing chamber (22), said chamber (22) enclosing a fixed contact (6), a moving contact (7) supported by a moving-contact holder (8) and an arc-extinguishing device (32), said control mechanism being able to be brought manually or automatically into a position of opening of the contacts (6, 7), and a conductive part (34), called arc horn, suitable for bringing the electrical potential above the arc-extinguishing device (32),
   characterized in that the abovementioned conductive part (34) comprises a part (38) suitable for being brought over the abovementioned opening (33) of the arc-extinguishing chamber (22) provided in the containment part (17), so as to ensure the abovementioned seal-tightness of the arc-extinguishing chamber (22).
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that this part (38) also ensures the supply of the potential over the abovementioned arc-extinguishing device (32).
3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each single-pole assembly (3, 4, 5) comprises an electrical circuit and a distributor suitable for supplying the current at the input of said circuit, and in that the abovementioned conductive part (34) forms one and the same part (35) with the distributor, and comprises a so-called central first part (37) suitable for ensuring the current distribution function and a second part (38) suitable for ensuring the abovementioned seal-tightness of the arc-extinguishing chamber (22) and for supplying the potential over the arc-extinguishing device (32).
4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, characterized in that, the abovementioned electrical circuit comprising a magnetic protection device (9), the abovementioned distributor (37) is intended to ensure the distribution of the current between a rated current value calibration shunt and the magnetic protection device (9).
5. Apparatus according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that this conductive part (34) comprises a third part (39) situated on the side opposite the second (38), and forming an extension part intended to be electrically linked to the braid (40) so as to reduce the length of this braid between this conductive part (34) and the moving contact (7).
6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the abovementioned conductive part (34) is fixed to the containment part (17) at the level of the abovementioned opening (33), via snap-fitting means (42) provided partly on the conductive part (34) and partly on the containment part (17).
7. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the abovementioned containment part (17) also comprises snap-fitting fixing means (41) for fixing the so-called central part (37) of the distributor-forming conductive part to the containment part (17).
8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arc-extinguishing containment part (17) also comprises, on its bottom face opposite that receiving the conductive part (34), an opening (31) intended to house at least a part of a shaft (8) supporting the moving contacts (7) of the apparatus.
9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the abovementioned containment part (17) also comprises means (43) for registering and/or fixing said part on a plate P, said plate P being intended to support at least a part of the elements of the apparatus.
10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, characterized in that this plate P comprises registration means for a set of parts having a kinematic function, this set comprising the abovementioned control mechanism (1), the fixed contact(s) (6), and the moving-contact holder(s) (8).
11. Apparatus according to Claim 9 or 10, characterized in that it comprises a thermal protection device (10) protecting against prolonged overloads of the electrical current and/or a magnetic protection device (9) protecting against the instantaneous electrical current overloads, and/or a differential protection device in the case of an imbalance between a number of phases due to an earth fault of the installation to be protected, the protection device or devices co-operating with the control mechanism (1) in such a way as to cause the contacts to open upon the occurrence of the corresponding fault, and in that the abovementioned plate P comprises registration means for at least one of the abovementioned protection devices.
12. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the abovementioned containment part (17) comprises an end part (29) comprising three walls (18, 19, 20) delimiting a void (21) of substantially parallelepipedal form intended to house an arc-extinguishing device (32) so as to form, with the abovementioned plate, an arc-extinguishing chamber (22), this part comprising, in its top part, an opening (33) intended to be at least partially and tightly blocked by the abovementioned conductive part (34), and on its bottom face, snap-fitting fixing means (43) for fixing to the abovementioned plate P.
13. Apparatus according to Claim 12, characterized in that the abovementioned containment part (17) comprises a central part (28), comprising, on its bottom face, an opening (31) intended to house a moving-contact-holding shaft (8) of the apparatus, and, on its top face, fixing means (41) for fixing the distributor-forming second part (37) of the abovementioned conductive part (34).
14. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a coupling circuit breaker intended to be situated between a meter and an electrical distribution panel, so as to connect an individual to the electrical distribution network.

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