EP2897153B1 - Interface for interconnecting a circuit breaker and a surge arrester, surge arrester including such an interface and self-protected electrical assembly comprising a surge arrester and a circuit breaker interconnected by such an interface - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates generally to the field of surge arresters.

It relates more particularly to a modular interface for the mechanical and electrical connection in series of a circuit breaker and a temporary overvoltage protection device, in particular of atmospheric origin.

• un interrupteur électrique relié à un connecteur capable de transmettre un signal représentatif de l'état de fonctionnement du disjoncteur et/ou de l'appareil de protection, et
• un premier élément mécanique de sécurité destiné à être lié au dispositif d'ouverture et de fermeture du disjoncteur, déplaçable entre une position armée correspondant à l'état enclenché du dispositif d'ouverture et de fermeture du disjoncteur et une position déclenchée correspondant à l'état déclenché du dispositif d'ouverture et de fermeture du disjoncteur, le premier élément mécanique de sécurité étant apte dans cette position déclenchée à actionner l'interrupteur électrique pour transmettre un signal représentatif de l'état déclenché du disjoncteur.

It relates in particular to a modular interface which comprises:

• an electrical switch connected to a connector capable of transmitting a signal representative of the operating state of the circuit breaker and / or the protection device, and
• a first mechanical safety element intended to be connected to the opening and closing device of the circuit breaker, movable between an armed position corresponding to the engaged state of the opening and closing device of the circuit breaker and a triggered position corresponding to the tripped state of the opening and closing device of the circuit breaker, the first mechanical safety element being adapted in this triggered position to actuate the electrical switch to transmit a signal representative of the tripped state of the circuit breaker.

The invention also relates to a temporary overvoltage protection device, comprising a modular block provided with a receiving housing accommodating at least one plug-in / withdrawable surge arrester cassette containing an overvoltage limiting device and a fusible link which establishes the electrical connection. of the overvoltage limiting device to an electrical terminal of the modular block.

Finally, the invention relates to an electrical assembly protected against transient overvoltages including a temporary overvoltage protection device, in particular of atmospheric origin, and a circuit breaker mechanically and electrically connected to each other by such a modular interface .

BACKGROUND

Surge protection devices, called commonly used surge arresters, generally use a varistor as the main element of overvoltage limitation. This varistor closes the overvoltage from a known value and limits its propagation on the electrical network.

When the varistor reaches the end of its life, it can become dangerous because it may overheat or cause a short circuit. It is then necessary to disconnect the protection device from the electrical network to which it is connected.

For this, it is known, including documents EP1607995 , EP2065914 and EP1447831 , to associate a circuit breaker to the protection device in order to produce a self-protected electrical assembly in which the circuit breaker trips in case of failure of the varistor to isolate the protection device from the electrical network.

More particularly, in the document EP2065914 an interface is provided which interconnects an overvoltage protection device and a circuit breaker. This interface comprises mechanical means related to the operation of the protection device, which, when a malfunction occurs on the varistor, automatically actuate, via coupling means, the opening of the circuit breaker. In addition, this interface comprises remote information means of its operating state. These means comprise an electrical switch which is actuated by said mechanical means, the change of electrical state of the switch to inform a user of the change of operating state of the interface. The electrical switch is electrically connected to a connector that remotely transfers this status change information from the interface.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

Compared to the prior art, the invention provides a modular interface that remotely centralize fault information of the protection device and / or tripping of the circuit breaker.

More particularly, it is proposed according to the invention a modular interface as defined in claim 1.

Thus, advantageously, thanks to the invention, it is possible to remotely, completely independently, information relating to the operating state of the protective device on the one hand and the state of operation of the associated circuit breaker on the other hand. In addition, in case of fault in the protection device, the second mechanical safety element of the modular interface according to the invention ensures that the user replaces the defective element of the protective device after have tripped the circuit breaker before resetting the circuit breaker to close the electrical circuit.

Other nonlimiting and advantageous features of the modular interface according to the invention are set forth in claims 2 to 9.

The invention also relates to a temporary overvoltage protection device, comprising a modular block provided with a receiving housing accommodating at least one plug-in / withdrawable surge arrester cassette containing an overvoltage limiting device and a fusible link which establishes the electrical connection. of the overvoltage limiting device to an electrical terminal of the modular block, characterized in that the modular block comprises a housing which houses a modular interface as mentioned above, each actuator associated with a lightning arrester cassette being, on the one hand, connected to said casing by an elastic return means which tends to position said actuator in a release position where it places said lever in a release position corresponding to the triggered position of the arm of said second mechanical security element, and, secondly, maintained by an element of the surge arrester cassette linked to the link fusible, in a connection position in which said elastic return means is under stress.

Preferably, in the protection apparatus according to the invention said elastic return means is a helical coil spring.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the protection device according to the invention, the housing of the modular block houses a shaft called "cassette locking shaft" provided with at least one locking element and an end that cooperates directly or indirectly with the first mechanical safety element, said cassette locking shaft being movably mounted in the modular block and being capable of taking two distinct positions, namely, on the one hand, a first position called "safety position" corresponding to the armed position of said first mechanical safety element, in which each locking element cooperates with a complementary part of a lightning arrester cassette so as to prevent the withdrawal and / or the plug-in of each lightning arrester cassette into the modular block, and, secondly, a second position called "access position" corresponding to the triggered position of said first mechanical security element, wherein each locking element leaves free said complementary portion of the lightning arrestor cassette so as to allow unplugging and / or the racking of each lightning arrester cassette in the modular block.

According to a preferred characteristic, there is provided an elastic return means which tends to place the cassette locking shaft in the safety position.

According to a first advantageous embodiment of the protection apparatus according to the invention, said end of the cassette locking shaft cooperates with a transmission element pivotally connected to the first mechanical safety element and mounted to rotate freely around a shaft parallel to the rotation shaft of said first mechanical safety element, said cassette locking shaft carrying at least one pad and being rotatably mounted in the modular block to take two distinct angular positions, namely, a on the other hand, the safety position in which each stud protrudes through a window of the housing in the housing accommodating each lightning cassette, and, secondly, the access position in which each stud is set back from the outlet. of said window inside said housing.

Advantageously, here, said elastic return means is a wire spring wound around the cassette locking shaft, one end of which is connected to said shaft and whose other end is locked against a fixed part of said modular block housing.

According to a second advantageous embodiment of the protection device according to the invention, the cassette locking shaft is in the form of a slide mounted movable in translation in the modular block and provided with at least one notch oriented in the direction of translation of said strip so that, firstly, in said safety position each notch is engaged on a pad integral with a lightning arrestor cassette to bind this lightning cassette to the cassette locking shaft, and on the other hand, in said access position, each notch is moved away from the fixed pin of the corresponding lightning cassette to release this lightning cassette from the cassette locking shaft.

Advantageously, here, said elastic return means is a spring helical compression interposed between an end portion of the cassette lock shaft and a fixed portion of the modular block.

Finally, the invention proposes an electrical assembly protected against transient overvoltages including a device for protection against temporary overvoltages, in particular of atmospheric origin, and a circuit breaker mechanically and electrically connected to each other by a modular interface. according to the invention, the housing comprises a main lateral side of junction with the circuit breaker traversed by a pin which connects said first mechanical safety element to the opening and closing device of said circuit breaker.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, given as non-limiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be achieved.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective d'un ensemble électrique conforme à l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de face de l'ensemble de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est un schéma électrique de l'ensemble de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue schématique en perspective de l'appareil de protection contre les surtensions de l'ensemble de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue de face de l'appareil de protection de la figure 4 ;
• les figures 6 à 11 sont différentes vues d'une enveloppe cache-fils de protection et de maintien des fils électriques issus de l'appareil de protection de la figure 4 ;
• la figure 12 est une vue schématique en perspective de l'appareil de protection de la figure 4 avec son enveloppe cache-fils représentée en éclaté ;
• les figures 13 et 14 sont des représentations en perspective, vues de deux côtés opposés, du socle de l'enveloppe cache-fils de la figure 6 ;
• les figures 15 et 16 sont des représentations en perspective, vues de deux côtés opposés, du capot de l'enveloppe cache-fils de la figure 6 ;
• la figure 17 est une vue identique à celle de la figure 4 sans les cassettes parafoudres ;
• la figure 18 est une vue identique à celle de la figure 17 sans l'enveloppe cache-fils de protection et de maintien des fils électriques issus de l'appareil de protection et sans une partie du boîtier de cet appareil de protection pour faire apparaître un mode de réalisation préférentiel du mécanisme d'une interface modulaire ;
• la figure 19 est une vue en perspective de dessous d'une partie arrière du boîtier de l'appareil de protection de la figure 17 ;
• la figure 20 est une vue en perspective de trois quart de la partie arrière du boîtier de la figure 19 qui loge un autre mode de réalisation simplifié du mécanisme de l'interface modulaire ;
• la figure 21 est une vue en perspective de dessous de la figure 20 ;
• la figure 22 est une vue schématique en perspective de trois quart de la partie arrière et de la partie inférieure du boîtier de l'appareil de protection de la figure 17, qui loge le mode de réalisation préférentiel du mécanisme d'une interface modulaire ;
• la figure 23 est une vue schématique en perspective éclatée du mode de réalisation préférentiel du mécanisme de l'interface modulaire de la figure 22 ;
• les figures 24 et 25 sont des représentations en perspective assemblées, vues de deux côtés opposés, du mécanisme de la figure 23 ;
• les figures 26 à 29 sont des vues de côtés du mécanisme de la figure 23 assemblé dans différentes configurations de fonctionnement ;
• la figure 30 est une vue schématique en perspective de l'ensemble électrique de la figure 1, vue du côté de l'appareil de protection contre les surtensions transitoires, sur laquelle ont été enlevées les parties avant et inférieure du boîtier de l'appareil de protection ainsi qu'une partie du boîtier d'une cassette parafoudre connectée au réseau électrique, pour faire apparaître le dispositif de limitation de surtension de ladite cassette parafoudre ;
• la figure 31 est une vue en loupe d'une partie de la figure 30 ;
• la figure 32 est une vue de détail en coupe de l'actionneur associé au dispositif de limitation de surtension qui apparaît sur la figure 31 ;
• la figure 33 est une vue identique à celle de la figure 30 sur laquelle la cassette parafoudre dont le boîtier est ouvert, est déconnectée du réseau électrique ;
• la figure 34 est une vue en loupe d'une partie de la figure 33 ;
• la figure 35 est une vue de détail en coupe de l'actionneur associé au dispositif de limitation de surtension qui apparaît sur la figure 33 ;
• la figure 36 est une vue schématique en perspective de l'ensemble électrique de la figure 1, vue du côté de l'appareil de protection contre les surtensions transitoires, sur laquelle le disjoncteur est enclenché, l'enveloppe cache-fils a été supprimée ainsi que le boîtier de l'appareil de protection pour faire apparaître les cassettes parafoudres ainsi qu'un premier mode de réalisation d'un arbre de verrouillage cassette en position de sécurité;
• la figure 37 est une vue en loupe de la zone B de la figure 36 ;
• la figure 38 est une vue schématique en perspective du disjoncteur enclenché, du mécanisme de l'interface modulaire et du premier mode de réalisation de l'arbre de verrouillage cassette de l'ensemble électrique de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 39 est une vue identique à celle de la figure 36 avec le disjoncteur déclenché et le premier mode de réalisation de l'arbre de verrouillage cassette en position d'accès ;
• la figure 40 est une vue en loupe de la zone B de la figure 39 ;
• la figure 41 est une vue schématique en perspective du disjoncteur déclenché, du mécanisme de l'interface modulaire et du premier mode de réalisation de l'arbre de verrouillage cassette de l'ensemble électrique de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 42 est une vue schématique en perspective de dessous de l'ensemble électrique de la figure 1, sur laquelle le disjoncteur est enclenché, l'enveloppe cache-fils a été supprimée ainsi que le boîtier de l'appareil de protection pour faire apparaître les cassettes parafoudres ainsi qu'un deuxième mode de réalisation d'un arbre de verrouillage cassette en position de sécurité ;
• la figure 43 une vue schématique en perspective du disjoncteur enclenché, du mécanisme de l'interface modulaire et du deuxième mode de réalisation de l'arbre de verrouillage cassette de l'ensemble électrique de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 44 est une vue identique à celle de la figure 42 avec le disjoncteur déclenché et le deuxième mode de réalisation de l'arbre de verrouillage cassette en position d'accès ; et
• la figure 45 une vue schématique en perspective du disjoncteur déclenché, du mécanisme de l'interface modulaire et du deuxième mode de réalisation de l'arbre de verrouillage cassette de l'ensemble électrique de la figure 1.

In the accompanying drawings:

• the figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an electrical assembly according to the invention;
• the figure 2 is a front view of the whole of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a circuit diagram of the whole of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the surge protection device of the entire figure 1 ;
• the figure 5 is a front view of the protection apparatus of the figure 4 ;
• the Figures 6 to 11 are different views of a protective wire cover and maintenance of electrical wires from the protection device of the figure 4 ;
• the figure 12 is a schematic perspective view of the protective device of the figure 4 with its wire cover, shown in exploded form;
• the Figures 13 and 14 are perspective representations, viewed from two opposite sides, of the base of the hiding envelope of the figure 6 ;
• the Figures 15 and 16 are perspective representations, viewed from two opposite sides, of the hood of the wire-cap figure 6 ;
• the figure 17 is a view identical to that of the figure 4 without the lightning arresters;
• the figure 18 is a view identical to that of the figure 17 without the protective cover and the maintenance of the electrical wires coming from the protection device and without a part of the housing of this protection device to reveal a preferential embodiment of the mechanism of a modular interface;
• the figure 19 is a perspective view from below of a rear portion of the housing of the protective device of the figure 17 ;
• the figure 20 is a perspective view of three quarters of the back part of the case of the figure 19 which houses another simplified embodiment of the mechanism of the modular interface;
• the figure 21 is a perspective view from below of the figure 20 ;
• the figure 22 is a schematic perspective view of three quarters of the back and bottom of the housing of the protective device of the figure 17 which houses the preferred embodiment of the mechanism of a modular interface;
• the figure 23 is a schematic perspective exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the mechanism of the modular interface of the figure 22 ;
• the Figures 24 and 25 are perspective representations assembled, seen from two opposite sides, of the mechanism of the figure 23 ;
• the Figures 26 to 29 are side views of the mechanism of the figure 23 assembled in different operating configurations;
• the figure 30 is a schematic perspective view of the electrical assembly of the figure 1 , seen from the side of the transient overvoltage protection device, on which the front and bottom parts of the protective device casing and a part of the casing of a surge arrester cassette connected to the electrical network have been removed, to reveal the overvoltage limiting device of said lightning arrester cassette;
• the figure 31 is a magnifying glass view of some of the figure 30 ;
• the figure 32 is a sectional detail view of the actuator associated with the surge limiting device that appears on the figure 31 ;
• the figure 33 is a view identical to that of the figure 30 on which the surge arrester cassette whose case is open, is disconnected from the electrical network;
• the figure 34 is a magnifying glass view of some of the figure 33 ;
• the figure 35 is a sectional detail view of the actuator associated with the overvoltage limiting device that appears on the figure 33 ;
• the figure 36 is a schematic perspective view of the electrical assembly of the figure 1 as seen from the side of the transient overvoltage protection device, on which the circuit breaker is engaged, the wire cover has been removed as well as the housing of the protective device to reveal the lightning arresters as well as a first embodiment of a cassette locking shaft in the safety position;
• the figure 37 is a magnifying view of area B of the figure 36 ;
• the figure 38 is a schematic perspective view of the circuit breaker engaged, the mechanism of the modular interface and the first embodiment of the cassette lock shaft of the electrical assembly of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 39 is a view identical to that of the figure 36 with the circuit breaker tripped and the first embodiment of the cassette locking shaft in the access position;
• the figure 40 is a magnifying view of area B of the figure 39 ;
• the figure 41 is a schematic perspective view of the tripped circuit breaker, the mechanism of the modular interface and the first embodiment of the cassette lock shaft of the electrical assembly of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 42 is a schematic perspective view from below of the electrical assembly of the figure 1 , on which the circuit breaker is switched on, the wire cover has been removed as well as the housing of the protective device to reveal the surge arresters and a second embodiment of a cassette locking shaft in position of security ;
• the figure 43 a schematic perspective view of the circuit breaker engaged, the mechanism of the modular interface and the second embodiment of the cassette lock shaft of the electrical assembly of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 44 is a view identical to that of the figure 42 with the circuit breaker tripped and the second embodiment of the cassette locking shaft in the access position; and
• the figure 45 a schematic view in perspective of the tripped circuit breaker, the mechanism of the modular interface and the second mode of embodiment of the cassette lock shaft of the electrical assembly of the figure 1 .

We have shown on Figures 1, 2 and 3 , an electrical assembly 1 comprising a protection device 300 against temporary overvoltages, in particular of atmospheric origin, and a circuit-breaker 200. The protection device 300 is electrically and mechanically connected to the circuit-breaker 200 by a modular interface 100.

The circuit breaker 200 is in itself quite conventional and it will not be described here in detail.

Essentially, the circuit breaker 200 comprises a housing housing electrical input and output terminals connected by an electrical circuit that can be opened by an opening and closing device 230.

The casing of the circuit breaker 200 is generally parallelepipedal with two parallel main lateral faces 211, a rear face provided with a horizontal groove 202 for its mounting on a rail (not shown) of a box or electrical cabinet, a front face and two opposite upper and lower transverse faces. The rear, front, top and bottom faces are all perpendicular to the main lateral faces of the housing.

The casing of the circuit breaker 200 has on its rear face latches 201 which make it possible to lock the circuit breaker 200 on the rail of the box or of the electrical cabinet. More particularly, here the circuit breaker 200 housing is equipped with four locks 201, two at the top (see FIG. figure 2 ) and two at the bottom (see figures 36 , 38 , 42 and 44 ) of the housing. Each latch 201 is in the form of a plate which slides in a corresponding vertical rail (not visible) of the housing, between a locking position and an unlocking position. There is provided elastic return means (not visible in the figures), generally coming from formation with each latch, which tend to recall each latch in the locking position. One end of each latch 201 emerges in the groove 202 of the rear face of the housing, to engage the rail of the cabinet or electrical cabinet, in the latch lock position. The other opposite end of each latch 201 emerges above the upper face or below the bottom face of the breaker case 200. This opposite end of each latch 201 is provided with an opening 201A that allows pulling. each latch 201 out of the groove 202 from its locking position to its unlocking position against said elastic return means so as to release the latch 201 from its socket with the corresponding mounting rail.

The front face of the casing of the circuit breaker 200, has in projecting, in its central zone, a part of frontage through which said casing is intended to emerge out of a plastron (not shown), through a window of this plastron, when in place on the rail, for example in an electrical cabinet. The facade portion has a front face and two opposite transverse faces that extend at right angles to the front face of the circuit breaker housing. Levers attached to a handle 230 common maneuver protrude from the front face of the facade portion. These levers belong to the opening and closing device of the circuit breaker 200, they can be actuated by the handle 230 to manually open or close the electrical circuit connecting the input and output terminals of the circuit breaker 200 (see FIG. figure 3 ). As shown on the Figures 1 and 2 when the circuit-breaker 200 is switched on (closed electrical circuit), its levers and its lever 230 are raised. On the other hand, the levers and the lever 230 are lowered (see figures 39 and 41 ) when circuit breaker 200 is tripped (open circuit).

The circuit breaker 200 is a modular device in the sense that its housing has a width, measured between its two main lateral faces 211, equal to an integer multiple of a base module M. Here, according to the example shown, the circuit breaker 200 is a three-phase circuit breaker (that is to say comprising three phase terminals L1, L2, L3 and a neutral terminal N) whose case is quad-module (whose width is equal to 4 times the base module M ), a module per pole of the circuit breaker 200. There is also provided a pole opening / closing lever of the circuit breaker 200, so four levers attached to the handle 230.

The upper face of the circuit breaker box 200 comprises access openings to the input terminals of the circuit breaker 200 and the lower face of the circuit-breaker box comprises access openings to the output terminals of the circuit breaker 200. As shown in FIG. the figure 3 the L1, L2, L3 and neutral N phase electrical wires (not shown) from the electrical network are connected, via said access openings on the upper face of the housing, to the input terminals of the circuit breaker 200 while the electrical wires F1, F2, F3, FN from the protection device 300 are connected via said openings access of the lower face of the housing, to the output terminals of the circuit breaker 200. Furthermore, the front face of the circuit breaker box 200 comprises openings giving access to the screws of the input and output terminals of the circuit breaker 200.

As shown by Figures 1, 2 , 4 , 5 , 12 and 17 , the protection device 300 against transient overvoltages comprises a modular block 310 with two parallel side faces 311D, 313 parallel, a rear face provided with a horizontal groove 311 G for mounting on a rail (not shown) of a cabinet or electrical cabinet, a front face 312A and two opposite transverse faces upper 311 B, 312B and lower 311 B, 312B. The rear, front, top and bottom faces are all perpendicular to the main lateral faces of the modular block. The width of the modular block 310, taken between its two main lateral faces 311 D, 313, is here also equal to four times the width of a basic module M. The front face 312A of the modular block 310 of the protective device 300, has in projecting, in its median zone, a front portion 312'A by which said modular block 310 is intended to emerge from a plastron (not shown), through a window of this plastron, when it is in place on the rail, for example in an electrical cabinet. The front portion 312'A comprises a front face and two opposite transverse faces which extend at right angles to the front face 312A of the modular block 310 of the protection apparatus 300.

As shown more particularly in the electrical diagram of the figure 3 , the modular block is a housing which houses at least one varistor 333 associated with a thermal disconnection means 335, 700, a spark gap E as well as electrical wires F1, F2, F3, FN respectively connected to each varistor 333 and to the spark gap E, a portion of said electrical wires emerging outside the housing to be connected to the output terminals L1, L2, L3, N of the circuit breaker 200.

According to the example shown, the modular block 310 houses three varistors 333 connected, at the output, to the phase terminals L1, L2, L3 of the circuit breaker 200, and, as input, to the neutral terminal N of the circuit breaker 200 which is otherwise also connected to the spark gap E itself grounded.

The modular block 310 here comprises a housing rear portion 311 snapped together with a front portion of the housing 312 (see FIG. figure 17 ).

The rear housing portion 311 of the modular block 310 shown in isolation on the Figures 19 to 22 , has a bottom 311 A forming the rear wall of the modular block 310 whose outer face forms the rear face provided with the groove 311G. The bottom 311A is bordered by four walls 311B, 311D perpendicular to the bottom 311A, namely an upper wall 311B and a bottom wall 311B parallel to each other and two opposite side walls 311D, parallel to each other and perpendicular to the upper and lower walls 311B.

The upper and lower walls 311 B of this rear housing portion 311 are provided close to their free edge ratchet teeth 311 E and an interlocking groove 311 E adapted to cooperate with complementary arrangements 312E of the part front of housing 312.

The front housing portion 312 of the modular block 310 shown in isolation on the figure 18 , has a front wall 312A forming the front wall of the modular block 310 whose outer face forms the front face 312 of the modular block 310. This front wall 312A also forms the front portion 312'A and it delimits, in the central zone of the modular block 310, a housing 320 in recess of the front face of said block. This housing 320 is intended to accommodate three cassettes 330 surge arresters (see figure 4 ). It is delimited by opposite lower walls 315 and 314 opposite, a side wall which closes one side of the front portion 312'A and a bottom wall 312C which closes said housing 320 at the rear. The bottom walls 315 and above 314 of the housing 320 comprise grooves 315A, 314A for mounting said arrester cassettes 330 which are plug-in / withdrawable into the modular block 310. These lower walls 315 and upper 314 also include openings 315C through which the pins 801 and 802 engage. said arresters cassettes 330 to realize the electrical and mechanical connection thereof in the modular block 310 (see figures 30 and 33 ). In addition, the bottom wall 312C of the housing 320 has openings 312D (see FIG. Figures 17 and 18 ) whose contour is adapted to allow insertion in these openings 312D of polarizing pads 337 provided on the back of the lightning arrester cassettes 330 (see FIG. figures 31 and 34 ), when the surge arresters 330 are plugged into the housing 320 of the modular block 310. In this way, the installer or the user is ensured to insert in the modular block 310 the type or caliber of cassette surge protector accepted by the protection device 300.

Finally, the housing front portion 312 has upper and lower walls 312B which extend rearward perpendicularly to the front wall 312A. The upper and lower walls 312B of this housing front portion 312 are provided near their free edge with snap edges 312E and an interlocking groove 312E adapted to cooperate with the detent teeth 311E and the interlocking groove 311 E of the upper and lower walls 311B of the housing front portion 312 for assembling said front and rear housing parts 312, 311 of the modular block 310 (see figures 4 and 18 ).

As the figures 30 , 31 , 33 , 34 each surge arrester cassette 330 comprises a housing 331 which houses a varistor 333 (overvoltage limiting device) and a thermal disconnection device 335, 700.

The casing 331 of each lightning cassette 330, of generally parallelepipedal shape, has two parallel main lateral faces, a rear face, a front face and two opposite transverse upper and lower faces. The front face has in its central zone a projecting front portion which carries an operating lever 332. The front portion comprises a front face and two opposite transverse faces, one upper and the other lower, which extend at right angles to the front face of the housing 331. The operating lever 332 has two branches extending from a median zone of the façade portion, along both sides of the front face of the facade portion. The operating lever 332 also comprises a gripping portion which extends perpendicular to the two branches, against the upper transverse face of the front portion of the housing 331. The operating lever 332 is incorporated here in the profile of the front face and the upper transverse face of the front portion of the housing 331 of the lightning arrester cassette 330.

As shown more particularly in figure 1 when the three lightning arresters 330 are mounted in the receiving housing 320 of the modular block 310, the front portion carrying the operating lever 332 of each lightning arrester 330 aligns with the front portion 312'A of the front panel 312 of the modular block 310 so that these aligned front portions are intended to emerge out of a plastron (not shown), through a window of this plastron, when modular block 310 is in place on the rail in a box or an electrical cabinet.

As shown by figures 3 , 30 , 31 , 33 and 34 , the varistor 333 of each arrester cassette 330 is in the form of a block composed of metal oxides such as zinc oxides. This block comprises 333D mounting and wedging tabs in interior arrangements 331 D of the casing 331 of the cassette. Block 333 also includes lugs 333A, 333B of current-conducting material for connecting the varistor to the power grid. One of these conductive tabs 333A is in contact with a conductive plate 800 which leaves the bottom wall 331C of the casing 331 of the cassette to form the pin 801 which establishes the electrical connection with one of the phase electric wires F1, F2 , F3 of the modular block 310. The other of these tabs 333B is clamped in a clamp which keeps it in contact with a conductive blade which leaves the upper wall of the casing 331 of the cassette to form the pin 802 which establishes the connection with a conductive plate 500 electrically connected to the neutral electrical wire FN of the modular block 310.

Each varistor 333 has an extremely non-linear voltage / current characteristic. Beyond a certain threshold voltage across the varistor 333, the impedance of the varistor 333 drops to allow the evacuation of the current creating the overvoltage. When the voltage returns to an acceptable normal level, the impedance of the varistor 333 returns to its idle state. For large deviated current amplitudes, the voltage across the varistor increases. The life of the varistor 333 is limited, depending on the stresses, the properties of the ceramic blocks are degraded, the leakage current of the varistor in the standby state increases, and the thermal resistance of the varistor decreases. For this reason, a thermal disconnection device 335, 700 is provided in each lightning arrester cassette 330 which, in the event of exceeding the thermal capacity of the varistor 333, disconnects the varistor 333 from the electrical network to which it is connected. protective apparatus 300 to prevent damage related to this thermal overflow.

As shown by figures 30 , 31 , 33 and 34 each thermal disconnection device comprises a fuse link 335 (in the form of an angle plate of fuse material) which maintains an insulating slider 700 in a connection position (see FIG. figures 30 and 31 ) against a tension spring (not visible in the figures). The slide 700 is slidably mounted on a slide 336 and the tension spring is stretched between the slide 700 and a fixed part of the casing 331 of the lightning cassette 330 of so that it tends to slide the slider 700 from its connection position to a disconnected position (see figures 33 and 34 ) in which an insulating wall 710 of the slider 700 is interposed between the conductive tabs 333A of the associated varistor 333 and the conductive strip 800 for connection to the live electrical wire, so as to open the electrical circuit and disconnect the varistor 333 from the circuit which it is connected to. The fuse link 335 is placed in contact with a conductive tab 333C issuing from the varistor 333 so that when the varistor 333 ages and exceeds its thermal capacity, the heat transmitted by conduction by the conducting tongue 333C to the fuse link 335 causes its melting and release of the slider 700 which is pulled by the tension spring to its disconnected position.

The modular block 310 of the protection device 300 and the circuit breaker 200 are placed side by side and assembled by one of their lateral main faces. For their assembly, the modular block 310 houses two hooks 340 which emerge out of the modular block 310 through the main lateral face 313 concerned ( figures 4 and 5 ), and is provided in correspondence of the windows (not visible in the figures) in the relevant lateral main face of the circuit breaker 200. The hooks 340 are actuated by locks 341 which allow to lock the hooks 340 attached to the circuit breaker 200.

As shown by Figures 1, 2 , 4 , 5 , the protection device 300 comprises, outside the modular block 310, a wire-cover 400 of electrically insulating material which encloses the electric wires F1, F2, F3, FN which exit outside the modular block 310 passing, at the bottom, the main side face 311B, 313 of the modular block 310 by which said modular block 310 is assembled to the circuit breaker 200, to electrically connect to the output terminals of the circuit breaker 200.

This wire cover 400 comprises a base 410 closed by a cover 420 (see figures 6 and 9 ). It is attached to the underside of the circuit breaker 200 so that the external face of its cap 420 is pressed against the underside of the circuit breaker 200 and the external face of its base 410 extends in the extension of the lower face of the modular block. 310 of the protection device 300. Thus, the electrical assembly 1 consisting of the circuit breaker 200 and the protection device 300 provided with the wire-cap envelope 400 forms a unitary block that is generally rectangular parallelepipedal (see FIG. Figures 1 and 2 ).

The free ends E1, E2, E3, EN of said electrical wires F1, F2, F3, FN exit from the wire cover 400 through openings 421 of the cover 420 to be connected to the output terminals of the circuit breaker 200 (see FIG. figures 4 and 5 ).

Advantageously, the base 410 is disjoint from the modular block 310 of the protection device 300 (as shown more particularly by the figure 5 there is a gap E between the base 410 and the modular block 310) and it is provided, on the one hand, holding means 412A, 412B, 412C, 412D, 414A, 414B, 414C, 414D cooperating with said electrical wires F1, F2, F3, FN for maintaining each electric wire F1, F2, F3, FN in a determined position, and, on the other hand, mounting means 415, 415A, 417, 417A, 418, 418A for fixing said base 410 at circuit breaker 200 (see figures 6 , 7 , 9, 10 , 13, 14 ).

Said holding means 412A, 412B, 412C, 412D, 414A, 414B, 414C, 414D of the base 410 are arranged to hold the free ends E1, E2, E3, EN of the electric wires F1, F2, F3, FN on a line A in regularly spaced positions (see figure 4 ).

The base 410 thus advantageously makes it possible to reduce as far as possible the length of the electric wires F1, F2, F3, FN between the varistors 333 of the protection device 300 and the terminals L1, L2, L3, LN of the circuit breaker 200, which allows to avoid the appearance of residual surges and to comply with the provisions of the French standard NF 15/100. The base 410 also ensures the maintenance of electrical son F1, F2, F3, FN in specific positions determined, allowing the use of flexible son rather than rigid, less expensive.

As shown more particularly by Figures 6 to 14 , the base 410 is a molded piece made of rigid plastic material, which comprises a base plate 411, here rectangular in outline, and walls 412, 413, 414 which rise perpendicularly to the base plate 410, from the inner face 411 A thereof.

Three of these walls 412, said side walls and front wall, border the base plate 411 on three contiguous sides to form with the base plate 410, a rectangular parallelepiped box open on one side. Another wall 413, called the rear wall, runs along the fourth side of the base plate 410 while being placed at a distance from the edge of the plate. The other walls 414, said inner walls, are placed inside the space delimited by the side walls 412, the front wall 412 and the rear wall 413 of the base 410.

One of the side walls 412 (the one placed facing the main lateral face 313 of the modular block 310 of the protection apparatus 300) and the inner walls 414 comprise notches 412A, 412B, 412C, 412D, 414A, 414B, 414D with the rounded funds which house said electrical wires F1, F2, F3, FN so that they form said holding means. As best shown by the figure 12 , the electric wires F1, F2, F3, FN coming out of the modular block 310, enter the base 410 through the notches 412A, 412B, 412C, 412D of the corresponding side wall 412 of the base 410 and they follow in the base 410 a path determined in particular by the notches 414A, 414B, 414D of the internal walls 414. The neutral electric wire FN follows the longest path determined by the notches 414D, then in decreasing order, the electric wire F1 phase follows the determined path by the notches 414A and the electrical wire F2 phase follows the path determined by the notches 414B. The phase electric wire F3 follows the shortest path determined by an inner wall 414C bent against which supports said electric wire F3.

As the Figures 15 and 16 , the cap 420 is a one-piece molded piece of rigid plastic material, which is in the form of a rectangular closure plate whose dimensions correspond to the clearance close to the dimensions of the internal space delimited by the internal faces of the side walls 412 , before 412 and back 413 of base 410. As shown by the figures 6 , 8 and 9 , this closure plate 420 is positioned between the side walls 412, before 412 and rear 413 of the base 410 above the inner walls 414 of said base 410 so that it closes the outlet of the notches 412A, 412B, 412C, 412D of the walls of the base 410 to block the electric son F1, F2, F3, FN in the notches. This closure plate 420 has aligned through holes 421 (see figures 4 and 15 ), here oblong, through which the free ends E1, E2, E3, EN of said electrical son F1, F2, F3, FN out of the cover son-son 400 to be connected to the output terminals of the circuit breaker 200 ( see figures 4 and 5 ).

The closure plate 420 also carries, on its inner face 420A turned towards the base 410, means for holding said electrical wires F1, F2, F3, FN. These holding means comprise walls 424, 424A, 424B, 424D which extend from the inner face 420A of the closure plate 420 of said cover, perpendicular to it.

The wall 424 of the cover closes the corresponding opening of the side wall 412 of the base 410 just above the outlet of said notches 412A, 412B, 412C (see FIG. figures 8 and 14 ). The other walls 424A, 424B, 424D of the cover guide and hold the electrical son F1, F2, F3, FN at the bottom of the corresponding notches of the base 410.

The cover 420 and the base 410 comprise latching means adapted to cooperate together for the assembly of the cover with the base. These latching means comprise teeth 412E provided projecting on the inner face of the side walls and before 412 of the base 410 which cling to the edge 422A of flanges 422 provided on the edge of the closure plate 420 of the cover (see Figures 12 to 15 ). The base plate 411 of the base 410 has, at the right of the teeth 412E, openings 419 (see FIG. figure 8 ) through which the tip of a tool accesses from outside the wire cover 400 to said ratchet teeth 412E to disassemble the base 410 and the cover 420. The detent means also include the cover 420 snap teeth 423A carried by lugs 423 provided on an edge of the closure plate 420 and on the base 410 of the windows 413A provided in correspondence in the rear wall 413 of the base (see figures 10 and 14 ). Finally, there is provided on the hood 420 amounts 426 which rise from the inner face 420A of the closure plate 420, perpendicularly thereto. These amounts 426 are distributed along the edge of the closure plate 420 and are oriented so that one of their edge extends to the right of the edge of the closure plate. These uprights 426 bear against the internal face of the walls of the base 410 when the cover 420 is snapped onto the base 410 to reinforce the holding in position of the cover 420 on the base 410.

The sheath 400 (base 410 closed by the cover 420) clings to the circuit breaker 200 via said mounting means of the base 410. These mounting means of the base 410 are latching means.

In particular, as shown by the Figures 13 and 14 said mounting means comprise posts 415, 417 which have at their free ends ratchet teeth 415A, 417A. The amounts 415, 417 rise from the inner face 411A of the base plate 411 of the base, perpendicularly thereto. A pair of internal pillars 415 is located in the internal space delimited between the side walls 412, before 412 and rear 213 of the base 410 and closed by the closure plate 420. Two other pairs of external uprights 417 are located on an edge of the base 410 at the back of the rear wall 413 of the base 410, outside the internal space delimited between the lateral walls 412, before 412 and rear 213 of the base 410 and closed by the closure plate 420. Each pair of external uprights 417 form a fork with two parallel branches whose two outer sides carry the ratchet teeth 417A oriented in opposite directions. These forks are intended to fit in grooves provided on the rear face of the circuit breaker 200 housing and to hook on the edge of notches provided on the walls facing said grooves. The hooking and unhooking of each fork is effected by mutual reconciliation of the branches 417 which bend slightly elastically. As shown in figure 4 , the closure plate 420 forming the cover has additional holes 425 which allow the internal amounts 415 of the base 410 to pass through so that their free ends provided with the ratchet teeth 415A emerge outside the wire cover 400 and can be hooked on the edge of corresponding openings of the bottom face of the circuit breaker 200 housing. At the foot of the internal uprights 415, the base plate 411 of the base 410 is pierced with openings 419 through which the tip of a The tool accesses the 415A snap-in teeth of the internal 415A uprights to disassemble the base 410 and thus the wire cover 400 of the circuit breaker 200.

Finally, as shown by the figures 8 , 13 and 14 two flexible tongues 411L are cut into the base plate 411 of the base 410 of the wire cover 400. Each of the tongues 411 L has a free end, located on an edge of said base plate 411, integral with a pull tab 416 which extends perpendicular to said tongue 411 L on either side thereof (in the direction perpendicular to the base plate). Each pull tab 416 is provided with a gripping aperture 416A located in a portion of the pull tab 416 extending on the side of the outer face of said base plate 411 and being secured to a hook 418A which extends a portion 418 of the pull tab 416 located on the side of the inner face 411A of said base plate 411. Each hook 418A is intended to hook, at the rear of the circuit breaker 200, a mounting tab of the circuit breaker 200 and with the drawbars 416 of the wire cover 400, it is possible to pull on these circuit breaker mounting tabs for disengage from the mounting rail on which the circuit breaker 200 is mounted.

In the electrical assembly 1 shown in the various figures, it is advantageously provided a modular interface 100 which provides the mechanical and electrical connection in series of the circuit breaker 200 and the protective device 300 against temporary overvoltages.

This modular interface 100 is here an integral part of the protection device 300 in that its mechanism, which will be described below, is fully housed in the housing (modular block 310) of the protection device 300, but in an alternative embodiment not shown, it can be provided that the modular interface has its own housing interposed between the circuit breaker housing and that of the protection device.

This modular interface 100 comprises the hooks 340 actuated by the locks 341 (previously described) for the assembly of the modular block 310 of the protection device 300 and the case of the circuit breaker 200.

• un interrupteur électrique 110 relié par des fils électriques 111, 112, 113 à un connecteur 120 capable de transmettre un signal représentatif de l'état de fonctionnement du disjoncteur 200 et/ou de l'appareil de protection 300 ;
• un premier élément mécanique de sécurité 130 destiné à être lié aux leviers d'ouverture/fermeture (constituant avec la manette 230 un dispositif d'ouverture et de fermeture) du disjoncteur 200, déplaçable entre une position armée (figures 26 et 27) correspondant à l'état enclenché du dispositif d'ouverture et de fermeture du disjoncteur 200 et une position déclenchée (figures 28 et 29) correspondant à l'état déclenché du dispositif d'ouverture et de fermeture du disjoncteur 200, le premier élément mécanique de sécurité 130 étant apte dans cette position déclenchée à actionner l'interrupteur électrique 110 pour transmettre un signal représentatif de l'état déclenché du disjoncteur 200 ; et
• un deuxième élément mécanique de sécurité 140 distinct du premier élément mécanique de sécurité 130 et fonctionnant indépendamment de ce dernier, destiné à être lié à l'appareil de protection 300 et déplaçable entre une position repos (voir figures 26 et 29) correspondant à l'état de fonctionnement normal de l'appareil de protection 300 et une position déclenchée (figures 27 et 28) correspondant à la mise en défaut d'une varistance 333 (dispositif de limitation de surtension) dudit appareil de protection 300, le deuxième élément mécanique de sécurité 140 étant apte dans cette position déclenchée à actionner l'interrupteur électrique 110, sans incidence sur la position dudit premier élément mécanique de sécurité 130, pour transmettre un signal représentatif d'un défaut de fonctionnement de l'appareil de protection 300, en étant placé sur le trajet (figure 28) que parcourt le premier élément mécanique de sécurité 130 depuis sa position déclenchée (figure 28) vers sa position armée (figure 27) de sorte que, dans cette position déclenchée (figure 28), ledit deuxième élément mécanique de sécurité 140 forme une butée 143 pour le premier élément mécanique de sécurité 130 interdisant à ce dernier d'atteindre sa position armée depuis sa position déclenchée.

As shown by Figures 3, 18, 23 to 29 , the modular interface 100 also includes:

• an electrical switch 110 connected by electrical wires 111, 112, 113 to a connector 120 capable of transmitting a signal representative of the operating state of the circuit breaker 200 and / or the protection device 300;
• a first mechanical safety element 130 intended to be connected to the opening / closing levers (constituting with the lever 230 an opening and closing device) of the circuit breaker 200, movable between an armed position ( Figures 26 and 27 ) corresponding to the activated state of the opening and closing device of the circuit breaker 200 and a triggered position ( Figures 28 and 29 ) corresponding to the tripped state of the opening and closing device of the circuit breaker 200, the first mechanical safety element 130 being adapted in this triggered position to actuate the electric switch 110 to transmit a signal representative of the tripped state of the circuit breaker 200; and
• a second mechanical safety element 140 separate from the first mechanical safety element 130 and operating independently of the latter, intended to be connected to the protection device 300 and movable between a rest position (see figures 26 and 29 ) corresponding to the normal operating state of the protection device 300 and a triggered position ( figures 27 and 28 ) corresponding to the faulting of a varistor 333 (limitation device overvoltage) of said protection device 300, the second mechanical safety element 140 being adapted in this triggered position to actuate the electric switch 110, without affecting the position of said first mechanical safety element 130, to transmit a signal representative of a malfunction of the protection device 300, being placed on the path ( figure 28 ) that the first mechanical safety element 130 travels from its triggered position ( figure 28 ) to his armed position ( figure 27 ) so that in this triggered position ( figure 28 ), said second mechanical safety element 140 forms a stop 143 for the first mechanical safety element 130 preventing the latter from reaching its armed position from its tripped position.

As shown by figures 17 and 20 , the connector 120 is attached to the rear face of the rear housing portion 311 of the modular block 310 of the protection device 300, in a housing 311 F provided in recess of the rear face. In the mounted position on the modular block 310, the connector 120 is accessible from above the modular block 310 to be connected to a signaling interface (not shown) displaying the information transmitted by said connector.

The first and second mechanical safety elements 130, 140 are rotatably mounted respectively around two parallel shafts A1, A2 of axes X1, X2 (see FIG. figure 23 ) fixed in the housing 310 of the protection device 300.

According to the preferred example represented on Figures 23 to 29 , each of the first and second mechanical safety elements 130, 140 is able, independently of one another, to pivot a rocker 150 causing the closing of the electric switch 110.

• une partie centrale 151 montée à rotation libre autour d'un arbre A3 fixe d'axe X3 parallèle aux axes X1, X2 de rotation des premier et deuxième éléments mécaniques de sécurité 130, 140, et pourvue d'un doigt de commande 152 dudit interrupteur électrique 110, et
• deux branches 153, 154 qui s'étendent depuis la partie centrale 151, sensiblement à l'opposé l'une de l'autre, l'une 153 des branches comportant une surface d'appui 153A tournée vers le premier élément mécanique de sécurité 130 et l'autre branche 154 comportant une surface d'appui 154A tournée vers le deuxième élément mécanique de sécurité 140, lesdits premier et deuxième éléments mécaniques de sécurité 130 prenant respectivement appui sur les surfaces d'appui 153A, 154A des branches 153, 154 de la bascule 150 pour la faire pivoter vers l'interrupteur électrique 110 (voir figures 29 et 27).

This rocker 150 is a unitary piece made of insulating material. She understands :

• a central portion 151 mounted to rotate freely around a fixed shaft A3 X3 axis parallel to the axes X1, X2 of rotation of the first and second mechanical security elements 130, 140, and provided with a control finger 152 of said switch 110, and
• two branches 153, 154 extending from the central portion 151, substantially opposite each other, one of the 153 branches having a bearing surface 153A facing the first mechanical safety element 130 and the other leg 154 having a bearing surface 154A facing the second mechanical safety element 140, said first and second mechanical safety elements 130 respectively taking support the bearing surfaces 153A, 154A of the branches 153, 154 of the rocker 150 to rotate it towards the electrical switch 110 (see figures 29 and 27 ).

The first mechanical safety element 130 is a unitary piece of insulating material which comprises a plate 131, one face of which supports a bearing 132 for receiving the shaft A1 of axis X1 and another opposite face of which supports a pin 133 for connection to the opening and closing device (levers attached to the handle 230) of the circuit breaker 200. The mechanical connection between the pin 133 and the circuit breaker 200 is effected through an opening 313A of the main lateral face 313 of the modular block 310 of the protection device 300 which establishes the junction with the circuit breaker 200 (see figure 17 ). The plate 131 comprising an actuating finger 134 for the control of the electric switch 110 and is extended by an arm 135 which extends on the same side as the actuating finger 134 and which has at its free end a return 136 able to abut against said stop 143 of the second mechanical safety element 140 placed in the released position (see figure 28 ).

The second mechanical safety element 140 is a unitary piece of insulating material which comprises an arm 141 which is provided with an actuating finger 142 for the control of the electric switch 110 and which has, on the one hand, an end free 143 forming said abutment for said first mechanical safety element 130, and, on the other hand, opposite said free end 143, an end 144 mounted to rotate freely on the shaft A2 X2 axis which s' extends in the rear housing portion 311 of the modular block 310 of protection apparatus 300, this end 144 being connected to a lever 145 threaded onto the shaft A2 and adapted to be pivoted about this shaft A2 by at least one actuator 160 of which the action is released when a varistor 333 (overvoltage limitation device) of said protection device 300 is defective.

As best shown by the figure 23 , the arm 141 of the second mechanical safety element 140 is formed with the lever 145 to form a single part L-shaped globally.

The lever 145 comprises a body formed by a succession of parts tubular 146 X2 axis in which is threaded the shaft A2.

The lever 145 and the arm 141 are mounted in interior arrangements 317, 318 of the rear housing portion 311 of the modular block 310 (see FIG. figures 19 and 21 ). These interior arrangements comprise tabs 317 with notches 317A with a rounded bottom in which the shaft A2 is fitted and a set of walls 318 wedging said lever 145 so that the arm 141 is placed adequately with respect to the main lateral face 311. D of the modular block 310 and the other elements (in particular the first mechanical safety element 130) of the modular interface 100.

There is provided an elastic return means which tends to position the second mechanical safety element 140 in its rest position. The elastic return means here is a wire spring 148 wound around the body 146 of said second mechanical safety element 140, one end of the wire spring 148 being attached to said body 146 and another end of the wire spring 148 being locked against a fixed portion of the modular interface, here against the inner face of the upper wall 311 B of the rear housing part 311 (see Figures 21 to 25 ).

As shown by Figures 21 to 25 according to the embodiment shown, there are provided three actuators 160 distributed along the body 146 of the lever 145 of the second mechanical safety element 140, each actuator 160 comprises a rear portion 165 (see figures 32 and 35 ) which is engaged in a free space 147 provided between two tubular parts of the body 146.

Each actuator 160 is associated with a varistor 333 of a lightning arrester cassette 330 of the protection device 300.

More generally, there are provided as many actuators 160 as varistors 333 of the protection device 300.

Each actuator 160 is, on the one hand, connected to the rear housing part 311 of the modular block 330 by an elastic return means 170 which tends to position said actuator 160 in a release position where it places said lever 145 in a position triggered corresponding to the triggered position of the arm 141 of said second mechanical security element 140, and, secondly, held by an element 600 of the lightning arrester cassette 330 connected to the fuse link 335, in a connection position in which said resilient biasing means 170 is under stress.

In particular, as shown by the Figures 30 to 35 , each actuator 160 comprises a plate of which a rear face 161 is hollowed to fit the cylindrical outer surface of a tubular portion of the body 146 of the lever 145. In this manner, each actuator 160 is pivotally mounted about the shaft A2. A rounded upper edge 162 of the plate of each actuator 160 bears against the lever 145 connected to the arm 141 of the second safety element 140. The rear portion 165 of the actuator 160 extends from the rear face 161 of the plate between two tubular portions 146 of the body of the lever 145, towards the bottom of the rear housing portion 311 of the modular block 310. This rear portion 165 comprises an orifice 166 in which is attached the end 171 of a coil spring traction 170 whose other end is attached to a stud 316 carried by the bottom 311A of the rear housing portion 311 (see Figures 21 and 22 ). In addition, the front face 163 of the plate of each actuator 160 carries a stud 164 projecting. This stud 164 passes through a window 331 E of the rear wall of the casing 331 of the associated arrester cassette 330 so that its free end bears against a rear face 602 of an inner element 600 of said lightning arrester cassette 300. figures 31 and 34 , this inner element 600 is an elongate strip along the block of the varistor 333 of the lightning arrester cassette 330. This bar 600 comprises a longitudinal groove 603 slidably mounted on an internal rib 331 B of the casing 331 of the lightning arrester cassette 330. the opposite of its rear face 602, the bar 600 comprises a front face 601 bearing against a face 701 of the slider 700 (of the thermal disconnection device of the lightning arrester cassette 330) maintained in the connection position by means of the fuse link 335. In this connection position shown on the Figures 31 and 32 , the bar 600, bearing against the slider 700 held by the fuse link 335, maintains, via the stud 164, the plate of the actuator 160 pointing downwards in said connecting position in which the coil spring 170 is stretched and the lever 145 and the arm 141 of the second mechanical safety element 140 are placed in the rest position. On the other hand, as the Figures 34 and 35 when the slider 700 takes its disconnection position, because of the melting of the fuse link 335 caused by exceeding the thermal capacity of the varistor 333 of the lightning arrester cassette 330, it releases the support of the front face 601 of the bar 600. The bar 600 can then slide freely on the internal rib 331 B and no longer opposes any resistance to the stud 164 of the actuator 160 which is pulled by the coil spring 170 pulling back to its original compressed state. The helical coil spring 170 then causes the upward tilting of the actuator 160 which, by pressing the rounded upper edge 162 of its plate, causes the lever 145 and the arm 141 of the second mechanical safety element 140 to pivot from the rest position (lowered) to the triggered position (raised) in which, on the one hand, the actuating finger 142 of the arm 141 actuates via the flip-flop 150 the electrical switch 110 connected to the connector 120, and on the other hand , the abutment 143 of the arm 141 of the second mechanical safety element 140 is placed on the path of the first mechanical safety element 130 taken between its triggered and armed positions.

With reference to Figures 26 to 29 , we will summarize below the operation of the modular interface 100.

As shown on the figure 26 in normal operation of the electrical assembly 1 connected to the local electrical installation (circuit breaker 200 switched on and varistors 333 of the protection device 300 connected to the electrical network), the plate 131 of the first mechanical safety element 130 is raised by armed position in which its actuating finger 134 is out of contact with the bearing surface 153A of the rocker 150 and the arm 141 of the second mechanical safety element 140 is lowered into the rest position in which the actuating finger 142 of the arm 141 remains however in contact with the bearing surface 154A of the rocker 150 whose control finger 152 is in contact with the push button of the electric switch 110.

When one of the varistors 333 of the protection device 300 exceeds its thermal capacity due to aging, it causes the melting of the fuse link 335 of the associated lightning arrester cassette 330, which causes the actuation of a signaling means (Not shown in the figures) defaults on the front face of the surge arrester cassette, and the tilting of the associated actuator 160 from its lowered connection position to its relieved release position. In its tilting, the actuator 160 drives the lever 145 and the arm 141 of the second mechanical safety element 140 which pivot about the shaft A2 from the rest position lowered to the raised triggered position in which the actuating finger 142 of the arm 141 pushes on the support surface 154A to tilt the rocker 150 around its shaft A3 towards the electrical switch 110 so that the control finger 152 of the rocker 150 pushes a push button of the electric switch 110 (see figure 27 ). In this way, the actuating finger 142 of the arm 141 of the second mechanical safety element 140 actuates the electrical switch 110 of the connector 120 which transmits the fault information of the protection device 300 to a processing device and display not shown. As shown in figure 27 in the triggered position of the second mechanical safety element 140, the stop 143 provided at the free end of the arm 141 is raised and positioned in the path of the first mechanical safety element 130 taken between its triggered and armed positions. In doing so, as shown in figure 27 said first mechanical safety element 130 has not moved and remained in the armed position since the circuit breaker 200 has remained latched (closed electrical circuit).

As shown in figure 28 , in order to be able to replace the defective lightning arrester cassette 330 of the protection device 300 in good safety conditions, the user isolates the electrical assembly 1 from the electrical circuit by opening said electrical circuit by triggering the circuit breaker 200 (this which classically returns to lower the lever 230 and the levers attached). The lowering of the levers by the actuation of the lever 230 causes, via the pin 133, the tilting down of the first mechanical safety element 130 around the shaft A1 from its armed position to its tripped position and the finger actuation 134 of the plate 131 is pressed on the surface 153A of the flip-flop 150 to tilt it around the shaft A3 in the direction of the electric switch 110. The control finger 152 of the flip-flop 150 then depresses the button push button of the electric switch 110 (see figure 28 ). In this way, the actuating finger 134 of the plate 131 of the first mechanical safety element 130 actuates the electrical switch 110 of the connector 120 which transmits the opening or tripping information of the circuit breaker 200 to a processing device and display not shown.

We notice on the figure 28 that the second mechanical safety element 140 placed in the tripped position prevents the closing or re-engagement of the circuit breaker 200 because the free end 143 of the arm 141 of the second mechanical safety element 140 is positioned opposite the return 136 of the arm 135 of the first mechanical safety element 130. If the user attempts then to raise the handle 230 of the circuit breaker 200 to close the electrical circuit, the return 136 of the first mechanical safety element 130 rotated around its shaft A1 by the levers via the pin 133, from its triggered position to its armed position, abuts against said free end 143 of the arm 141 (forming a stop). The abutment of the return 136 of the first mechanical safety element 130 against the free end 143 of the arm 141 of the second mechanical safety element 140 prevents the first mechanical safety element 130 from reaching its armed position, which prevents the closure electrical circuit breaker circuit breaker 200.

Thus, before resetting the circuit breaker 200, the user replaces the defective arrester cassette 330 in the protection device 300. The bar 600 of the new arrester cassette 330 lowers, via the pin 164, the corresponding actuator 160 in the position of connecting the tensile coil spring 170. The actuator 160 returned to the link position releases the lever 145 and the arm 141 of the second mechanical safety element 140 which, under the action of the wire spring 148, tilts from its tripped position towards its rest position where it deviates from the rocker 150 and the first mechanical safety element 130 (see figure 29 ). In this rest position, the second mechanical safety element 140 is spaced from the path traveled by the first mechanical safety element 130 between its triggered position and its armed position. The user can then reset the levers of the circuit breaker 200 by actuating the handle 230 to close the electrical circuit since the first mechanical safety element 130 can freely pivot or tilt around the shaft A1 from its triggered position to its armed position by being driven by the levers of the circuit breaker 200 via the link pin 133. The flip-flop 150 which is no longer pushed in the direction of the electric switch 110, neither by the first nor by the second mechanical safety element, releases the pressure on the push-button of the electric switch 110. Conventionally, this push button then returns to its original stable position under the action of an elastic return means and pushes the lever 150 which pivots around the shaft A3 to its original position shown on the figure 26 .

It is advantageously noted that the movement and action of the second mechanical safety element 140 are distinct and independent of the movement and action of the first mechanical safety element 130. Each element mechanical safety 130, 140 acts independently of the other on the electrical switch 110 so that the connector 120 transmits information relating to the operation of the circuit breaker 200 and the protection device 300, but the action of the second mechanical safety element 140 has no influence on the circuit breaker 200 in that it does not automatically cause the opening or closing of the circuit breaker 200. The first and second mechanical safety elements 130, 140 have as essential function a function of reporting the operating state (normal or faulty) of the electrical assembly 1 (constituting a self-protected surge arrester assembly).

According to a preferred characteristic of the protection device 300 shown in the various figures, the front housing portion 312 of the modular block 310 houses a shaft 190; 190 ', the so-called "cassette locking shaft" provided with at least one locking element 191, 191 ', this shaft 190; 190' being movably mounted in the modular block 310 such that its movement is related to the movement of the opening and closing device 230 of the circuit breaker 200, said cassette locking shaft 190; 190 being able to take two distinct positions, namely, on the one hand, a first position called "safety position" corresponding to the engaged state of the circuit breaker, in which each locking element 191; 191 'cooperates with a complementary part 334; 334 'of a lightning arrester cassette 330 so as to prohibit the removal and / or insertion of said lightning arrester cassette 330, and, secondly, a second position called "access position" corresponding to the tripped state of circuit breaker, in which each locking element 191; 191 'leaves said complementary portion 334; 334' of the lightning arrester cassette 330 free to allow removal and / or insertion of said lightning arrester cassette 330.

Advantageously, there is provided an elastic return means 193; 193 'which tends to place the cassette lock shaft 190; 190' in the safety position.

As shown by Figures 36 to 45 , the cassette locking shaft 190; 190 'comprises as many locking elements 191; 191' as there are lightning arrester cassettes 330 accommodated in said housing 320.

Here, the cassette locking shaft 190; 190 'comprises three locking elements 191; 191' each associated with a lightning arrester cassette 330.

According to a first embodiment shown on the Figures 36 to 41 , the cassette lock shaft 190 has an end 192 which cooperates with a transmission element 180 which is pivotally connected to the first mechanical safety element 130 of the modular interface 100 and which is mounted for free rotation around a shaft A4 axis parallel to the axis X1 of rotation of said first mechanical safety element 130.

• une première position dite « position de sécurité » (voir figures 36 à 38) correspondant à la position armée dudit premier élément mécanique de sécurité 130 (voir figure 38) ; et
• une deuxième position dite « position d'accès » (voir figures 39 à 41) correspondant à la position déclenchée dudit premier élément mécanique de sécurité 130 (voir figure 41).

The cassette locking shaft 190 carries at least one stud 191 (it has as many studs as there are lightning arrester cassettes in the protection apparatus), here it has three studs 191, and it is intended to take two positions distinct angles, namely:

• a first position called "safety position" (see Figures 36 to 38 ) corresponding to the armed position of said first mechanical safety element 130 (see figure 38 ); and
• a second position called "access position" (see Figures 39 to 41 ) corresponding to the triggered position of said first mechanical safety element 130 (see figure 41 ).

In particular, as shown by the figures 18 and 22 , the cassette lock shaft 190 is placed under the bottom wall 315 which defines the housing 320 for receiving the lightning arrester cassettes 330 of the front housing portion 312 of the modular block 310. This shaft 190 is pivotally mounted in notches at the bottom rounded interior arrangements 319B (forming pivot bearings) of a lower housing front portion 319. The shaft 190 is held in these bearings 319B by means of holding tabs 319A from this lower housing portion 319B.

As best shown by the figure 18 , in said bottom wall 315 of the front housing part 312 of the modular block 310, at the bottom of each of the grooves 315A for mounting the lightning arrester cassettes 330, a window 315B located at the right of each stud 191 carried by the shaft. locking cassette 190.

As shown by figures 38 and 41 , the transmission element 180 is in the form of a butterfly with a cylindrical central body which carries on its outer face two wings 181, 182 extending generally in opposite directions. The central cylindrical body is pierced axially and threaded onto the shaft A4 fixed to the housing of the modular block 310 (see FIG. figure 23 ). One of the wings 181 of the transmission element 180 is in permanent support against a wall 137 carried by the inner face of the plate 131 of the first mechanical safety element 130, internal face which also supports the bearing 132 for receiving the shaft A1. The other flange 182 of the transmission element 180 is in permanent abutment against said end 192 of the cassette locking shaft 190. This end 192 is in the form of a plate extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the tree 190.

In this way, when the first mechanical safety element 130 is pivoted about its shaft A1 by the circuit breaker levers 200 actuated by the lever 230, between the armed position and the tripped position, it carries with it the control shaft. latch cassette 190 which pivots between the safety position and the access position.

Furthermore, the elastic return means, which tends to place the cassette locking shaft 190 in its safety position, is a wire spring 193 wound around the cassette locking shaft 190, one end of which is connected to said shaft and whose other end is locked against a fixed part (the lower housing part 319) of the modular block 310.

In the safety position, each stud 191 of the cassette locking shaft 190 protrudes through the window 315B into the mounting groove 315A of the corresponding arrester cassette 330 (see FIG. figure 18 ). In this position, each stud 191 is in abutment against the inclined face 334A of a stud 334 carried by the bottom face 331C of the housing 331 of each lightning cassette 330 engaged in each groove 315A of the modular block 310 (see FIG. Figures 36 and 37 ). The pads 191 in the safety position thus prohibit the removal of the arrester cassettes 330 from the modular block 310 of the protection device 300.

In the access position, each pad 191 of the cassette locking shaft 190 is set back from the outlet of said window 315B inside the housing of the modular block 310 so as to allow withdrawal and / or racking-up. of one or more lightning arresters in the modular block 310 of the protection device 300 (see figures 39 and 40 ).

According to a second embodiment shown on the Figures 42 to 45 , cassette locking shaft 190 'is in the form of a slide mounted movable in translation in a translation direction T in the block Modular.

This strip is provided with at least one notch 191 '(here three notches 191') oriented in the direction of translation T of said strip so that, on the one hand, in said safety position each notch 191 'is engaged on a stud 334 'carried by the lower face 331C of the housing 331 of a lightning arrester cassette 330 to link this lightning arrester cassette 330 to the cassette locking shaft 190' (see FIG. figure 42 ), and, secondly, in said access position each notch 191 'is remote from the stud 334' integral with the corresponding lightning cassette 330 to release the lightning cassette 330 from the cassette locking shaft 190 '(see FIG. figure 44 ).

The strip 190 'comprises successively from the end located on the side of the circuit breaker 200, a first rectangular notch 191' and two L-shaped notches whose shorter length portions extend in the direction of translation T and constitute said notches 191 'of engagement on the studs 334' of the arrester cassettes 330.

According to this second embodiment, the elastic return means, which tends to place the cassette lock shaft 190 'in its safety position, is a compression coil spring 193' interposed between an end portion 192'A of the cassette lock shaft 190 'and a fixed part of the modular block 310.

The cassette locking shaft 190 'is also placed under the bottom wall which delimits the receiving housing of the arrester cassettes 330 of the front housing part of the modular block and the studs 334' which project from the lower faces 331C of the arrester cassettes 330 through the windows provided at the bottom of the mounting grooves of the arrester cassettes 330 to cooperate with said notches 191 'of the cassette lock shaft 190'.

In addition, according to this second embodiment, as shown more particularly by the Figures 44 and 45 , the first mechanical safety element 130 is adapted, when it passes from the armed position to the triggered position, to bear against an edge 192'B of an end 192 'of the cassette lock shaft 190' for the pushing in its access position against the biasing action of the coil spring 193 '.

The cassette locking shaft 190; 190 'advantageously forces the user to open the electrical circuit to which the electrical assembly 1 is connected, by opening or triggering the circuit breaker 200, to intervene on one of the arrester cassettes 330 of the protection device 300. The protection device 300 then advantageously has a secure access for the user.

In normal operation of the electrical assembly 1, the protection device 300 is connected to the electrical network by the circuit breaker 200 which is switched on (the electrical circuit of which is closed) and the first mechanical safety element 130 of the modular interface 100 is placed in an armed position (see figures 38 and 43 ). According to the first embodiment, the wire spring 193 holds the cassette locking shaft 190 in its safety position in which the studs 191 which it bears are in abutment against the inclined faces 334A of the studs 334 of the lightning arrestor cassettes 330 of FIG. protection apparatus 300 so as to prevent the user from extracting one of said lightning arrester cassettes 330 from the modular block 310 (FIG. Figures 36 and 37 ). According to the second embodiment, the coil spring 193 'pushes the cassette lock shaft 190' into its safety position in which the notches 191 'are engaged on the studs 334' of the lightning arrester cassettes 330 of the protection device. in order to prevent the user from extracting one of said lightning arrester cassettes 330 from the modular block ( Figures 42 and 43 ).

When the user must replace one of the arrester cassettes 330 which is malfunctioning because its varistor 333 has aged and exceeded its thermal capacity (the latter having disconnected from the electrical circuit via the disconnection device thermal), it opens the electrical circuit of the circuit breaker 200 by lowering the lever 230 to operate the levers. This has the consequence of tilting the plate 131 of the first mechanical safety element 130 around the shaft A1 from its armed position to its tripped position. According to the first embodiment of the cassette locking shaft, this plate 131 drives in rotation, via the wall 137 which pushes the wing 181, the transmission element 180 whose wing 182 pushes the end 192 of the Cassette locking shaft 190 for swinging said shaft 190 from its safety position to its access position against the action of the tensioning wire spring 193. During the tilting of the cassette locking shaft 190 the pads 190 slide against the inclined faces 334A of the pads 334 carried by the lower faces 331C of the lightning arrestor cassettes 330 to be inserted inside the housing of the modular block 310, below from the bottom wall 315 of the housing 320 in which are inserted the lightning arrester cassettes 330. In the access position, the pads 191 are erased under the studs 334 of the arrester cassettes 330 ( figures 39 and 40 ) and the user can extract the damper cassette 330 damaged from the modular block of the protective device and skew a new one. According to the second embodiment of the cassette locking shaft, this plate 131 bears against the edge 192'B of the end 192 'of the cassette locking shaft 190' to push it in translation in the direction T since its safety position towards its access position against the action of the coil spring 193 'which compresses. During the translation of the cassette locking shaft 190 ', the notches 191' move in the translation direction T away from said pads 334 'of the lightning arrester cassettes 330. In the access position, as shown in FIG. figure 44 the notches 191 'are disengaged from the studs 334' of the arrester cassettes 330 and the user can extract the damaged arrester cassette 330 from the modular block of the protection apparatus and insert a new one.

When all the surge arresters 330 of the protection device 300 are in operating condition, the user can again close the electrical circuit of the circuit breaker 200 by raising the lever 230 which actuates the levers, which has the effect of driving in rotation the plate 131 of the first mechanical security element 130 from its triggered position to its armed position. According to the first embodiment of the cassette locking shaft, said plate 131 then releases the pressure on the transmission element 180 and the wire spring 193 expands by returning the cassette locking shaft 190 to its safety position in which pads 191 it carries, emerge through said windows 315B above the bottom wall 315 of the housing 320 in which are inserted the lightning arrestor cassettes 330, to come into abutment against the inclined faces 334A studs 334 of cassettes SPD 330 ( Figures 36 and 37 ). The cassette locking shaft 190 provided with its pads 191 thus blocks the lightning arrester cassettes 330 in the modular block 310 of the protection device 300. According to the second embodiment of the cassette locking shaft, said plate 131 is erases the edge 192'B of the end 192 'of the cassette lock shaft 190' and thus releases its support thereon. The helical spring 193 'of compression relaxes by bringing the cassette locking shaft 190' back into its safety position in which the notches 191 'that it understands are engaged on the studs 334' of cassettes surge arresters 330 ( figure 42 ). The cassette locking shaft 190 'provided with its notches 191' thus blocks the lightning arrester cassettes 330 in the modular block of the protection device.

Claims (15)

1. A modular interface (100) for providing a mechanical and electrical series connection between a circuit breaker (200) and protective equipment (300) for protecting against temporary voltage surges, in particular of atmospheric origin, which interface comprises:

   • an electrical switch (110) connected to a connector (120) that is capable of transmitting a signal that is representative of the operating state of the circuit breaker (200) and/or of the protective equipment (300); and

   • a first mechanical safety element (130) for connecting to the opening and closing device (230) of the circuit breaker (200), which mechanical safety element is movable between a cocked position that corresponds to the non-tripped state of the opening and closing device (230) of the circuit breaker (200), and a triggered position that corresponds to the tripped state of the opening and closing device (230) of the circuit breaker (200), the first mechanical safety element (130) being suitable, in this triggered position, for actuating the electrical switch (110) so as to transmit a signal that is representative of the tripped state of the circuit breaker (200);

   the modular interface being characterized in that it comprises a second mechanical safety element (140) that is distinct from the first mechanical safety element (130) and that operates independently therefrom, which second mechanical safety element is for connecting to the protective equipment (300) and is movable between a rest position that corresponds to the normal operating state of the protective equipment (300) and a triggered position that corresponds to a surge limiting device (333) of said protective equipment (300) being faulted out, the second mechanical safety element (140) being suitable, in this triggered position, for actuating the electrical switch (110), without affecting the position of said first mechanical safety element (130), so as to transmit a signal that is representative of an operating fault of the protective equipment (300), being placed on the path that the first mechanical safety element (130) takes from its triggered position to its cocked position such that, in this triggered position, said second mechanical safety element (140) forms an abutment for the first mechanical safety element (130), preventing the lattest from reaching its cocked position from its triggered position.
2. A modular interface (100) according to claim 1, wherein resilient return means (148) are provided that tend to position the second mechanical safety element (140) in its rest position.
3. A modular interface (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein said resilient return means are a wire spring (148) that is wound around the body (146) of said second mechanical safety element (140), one end of the wire spring being attached to said body and another end of the wire spring being blocked against a stationary portion of the modular interface.
4. A modular interface (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first and second mechanical safety elements (130, 140) are mounted to rotate freely about, respectively, two parallel stationary shafts (A1, A2).
5. A modular interface (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each of the first and second mechanical safety elements (130, 140) is suitable, independently of the other, for causing a rocker (150) to pivot, causing the electrical switch (110) to close.
6. A modular interface (100) according to claim 5, wherein the rocker (150) comprises:

   • a central portion (151) that is mounted to rotate freely about a stationary shaft (A3) parallel to the rotation shafts (A1, A2) of the first and second mechanical safety elements (130, 140), and that is provided with a control finger (152) for controlling said electrical switch (110); and

   • two branches (153, 154) that extend from the central portion (151), in substantially opposite directions, one branch (153) including a bearing surface (153A) that faces towards the first mechanical safety element (130), and the other branch (154) including a bearing surface (154A) that faces towards the second mechanical safety element (140), said first and second mechanical safety elements (130, 140) respectively bearing against the bearing surfaces (153A, 154A) of the branches (153, 154) of the rocker (150) so as to cause it to pivot towards the electrical switch (110).
7. A modular interface (100) according to any preceding claim, wherein the first mechanical safety element (130) comprises a plate (131) having a face that supports a reception bearing (132) for receiving a stationary rotation shaft (A1), and having an opposite other face that supports a connection peg (133) for connecting to the opening and closing device (230) of the circuit breaker (200), said plate including an actuator finger (134) for controlling the electrical switch (110), and being extended by an arm (135) that extends on the same side as the actuator finger (134) and that presents, at its free end, a tab (136) that is capable of coming into abutment against said abutment (143) of the second mechanical safety element (140) placed in triggered position.
8. A modular interface (100) according to any preceding claim, wherein the second mechanical safety element (140) includes an arm (141) that includes an actuator finger (142) for controlling the electrical switch (110), and that presents, firstly, a free end (143) that forms said abutment for said first mechanical safety element (130), and secondly, opposite from said free end, an end (144) that is mounted to rotate freely on a stationary shaft (A2) that extends in said protective equipment (300), this end being connected to a lever (145, 146) that is slipped over said shaft (A2) and that is adapted to be pivoted about this shaft by at least one actuator (160) of action that is released when a surge limiting device (333) of said protective equipment (300) faults out.
9. A modular interface (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the arm (141) of the second mechanical safety element (140) is formed integrally with said lever (145, 146) so as to form a single piece that is generally L-shaped.
10. Protective equipment (300) for protecting against temporary voltage surges, the protective equipment including a modular block (310) provided with a reception housing (320) for receiving at least one fittable/removable lightning arrester cartridge (330) containing a surge limiting device (333) and a fuse connection (335) that establishes the electrical connection of the surge limiting device (333) to an electrical terminal of the modular block, the protective equipment being characterized in that the modular block comprises a casing (311, 312) that houses a modular interface (100) according to claim 8 or claim 9, each actuator (160) associated with a lightning arrester cartridge (330) firstly being connected to said casing (311) via resilient return means (170) that tend to position said actuator (160) in a release position in which it places said lever (145, 146) in a triggering position that corresponds to the triggered position of the arm (141) of said second mechanical safety element (140), and secondly being held by an element (600) of the lightning arrester cartridge (330) connected to the fuse connection (335), in a connection position in which said resilient return means (170) are under stress.
11. Protective equipment (300) according to claim 10, wherein the casing (311, 312) of the modular block (310) houses a shaft (190; 190') referred to as a "cartridge locking shaft" that is provided with at least one locking element (191; 191') and with an end (192; 192') that cooperate directly or indirectly with the first mechanical safety element (130), said cartridge locking shaft (190; 190') being movably mounted in the modular block (310) and being capable of taking up two distinct positions, namely, firstly, a first position referred to as a "safe position" that corresponds to the cocked position of said first mechanical safety element (130), in which each locking element (191; 191') co-operates with a complementary portion (334; 334') of a lightning arrester cartridge (330) so as to prevent any lightning arrester cartridge (330) from being removed from the modular block (310) and/or from being fitted therein, and secondly, a second positon referred to as an "access position" that corresponds to the triggered position of said first mechanical safety element (130), in which each locking element (191; 191') releases said complementary portion (334; 334') of the lightning arrester cartridge (330), so as to allow any lightning arrester cartridge (330) to be removed from the modular block (310) and/or to be fitted therein.
12. Protective equipment (300) according to the preceding claim, wherein resilient return means (193; 193') are provided that tend to place the cartridge locking shaft (190; 190') in the safe position.
13. Protective equipment (300) according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein said end (192) of the cartridge locking shaft (190) co-operates with a transmission element (180) that is pivotally connected to the first mechanical safety element and that is mounted to rotate freely about a shaft (A4) that is parallel to the rotation shaft (A1) of said first mechanical safety element (130), this cartridge locking shaft (190) carrying at least one lug (191) and being movably mounted in rotation in the modular block (310) so as to take up two distinct angular positions, namely, firstly the safe position in which each lug (191) projects through an opening (315B) of the casing (311, 312) into the housing (320) that receives each lightning arrester cartridge (330), and secondly the access position in which each lug (191) is situated set back from the outlet of said opening (315B) into said casing (311, 312).
14. Protective equipment (300) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the cartridge locking shaft (190') is in the form of a strip that is movably mounted in translation in the modular block (310), and that is provided with at least one notch (191') that is oriented along the direction of movement in translation of said strip so that, firstly in said safe position, each notch (191') is engaged on a lug (334') that is secured to a lightning arrester cartridge (330) so as to connect the lightning arrester cartridge (330) to the cartridge locking shaft (190'), and secondly in said access position, each notch (191') is at a distance from the lug (334') that is secured to the corresponding lightning arrester cartridge (330), so as to release the lightning arrester cartridge (330) from the cartridge locking shaft (190').
15. A self-protected electrical assembly (1) that protects itself against transient voltage surges, the assembly including protective equipment (300) for protecting against temporary voltage surges, in particular of atmospheric origin, and a circuit breaker (200), that are mechanically and electrically connected together via a modular interface (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 having a casing that includes a side main face (313) for joining to the circuit breaker (200) and through which there passes a peg (133) that connects said first mechanical safety element (130) to the opening and closing device (230) of said circuit breaker (200).

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