EP2937882B1 - Switch, in particular circuit breaker - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a switch, in particular a switch-disconnector, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Switches in the form of Lastrennschaltern are modular today and consist of Polkassetten, which are usually composed of two plastic shells. Connection elements are connected to each other when closing the switch via a switching contact having a fixed and a movable formed from current-carrying copper parts contact element with a flat contact surface, wherein the movable contact element pivots in the course of closing from an open position to a closed position.

The mutually facing and parallel aligned contact surfaces thereby slide e.g. lying against each other in the closed position. The copper parts of the connection elements are clamped in provided between the plastic shells grooves.

Due to the component tolerances, this design leads to a system with multiple overdeterminations, which on the one hand lead to position inaccuracies of the components relative to one another, and on the other hand make the installation expensive in terms of power. This has a negative influence on the opening and closing behavior of the switch, for example, an asymmetrical ignition of the arc, which can then lead to a strong welding of the contact elements in the event of a short circuit. In addition, the specified in their dimensions at a switch size grooves in the plastic shells each require an equal thickness of the copper parts and thus always the same amount of copper, even if the switch is designed for different rated currents, which has a direct effect on the manufacturing costs Copper costs account for a large part of the component costs. The problem of position inaccuracies can be solved by high-precision geometries and dimensions of the components including housing parts, with the disadvantage that higher production costs must be taken into account, especially for designed for small currents switches.

From the CH 644 224 A5 a load-break switch with switching contacts is known, which have a double switching blade, which is embraced by a terminal contact part (contact piece) in the contact region forked. Its intended for engagement with the switch blade free end is rotated with respect to the connection end by 90 degrees (twisted) and is thus in the switch blade level. The terminal contact parts are mounted on insulators (insulating supports) in the housing.

Next is from the EP 1085542 A2 a switch known which has fixed and pivotable about an axis contact elements with flat contact surfaces. Each contact element has bends (bends) with a bending angle of 90 degrees and is attached via these bends by means of a screw in the housing.

Also from the FR 2891395 A1 a switch with fixed and pivotal contact elements is known, which are arranged in a housing.

From the WO 2012/168553 A1 Another switch is known, which has fixed and movable contact elements with flat contact surfaces, wherein the fixed contact elements lie at the same surface height and are kept floating via frame clamps and the two housing shells.

From the DE 10 2011 078846 Another switch is known with a housing, with connection elements, which are connectable via a switching contact having a fixed and a movable planar contact surface, of which the movable contact surface is formed on a movable contact element, which in the course of closing from an open position moved into a closed position, wherein the two contact surfaces each facing each other and are aligned parallel to each other, transverse to the contact surfaces increasingly overlap in the course of closing and abut each other in the closed position, wherein the two connection elements and the movable contact element each having a flat flat side and all flat sides lie in a common plane, wherein the connection elements are arranged on one side of the common plane and the movable contact element on the other side, a partial surface of the flat side of the one connection element fixed contact surface and a partial surface of the flat side of the other connecting element forms a planar bearing surface, on which the contact element is mounted pivotably about the axis, wherein the movable contact element bears with its flat side movable on this bearing surface.

The object of the invention is to reduce position inaccuracies of the components to each other, without using components with lower tolerances.

The object is solved by the features of claim 1; the dependent claims represent advantageous embodiments.

The solution provides that the two connection elements and the movable contact element each have a flat flat side and all flat sides lie in a common plane, wherein the connection elements are arranged on one side of the common plane and the movably mounted contact element on the other side a partial surface of the flat side of the one connecting element forms the fixed contact surface, that a partial surface of the flat side of the other connecting element forms a flat bearing surface on which the contact element is pivotally mounted about the axis, wherein the movable contact element lies with its flat side movable on this bearing surface, that On the side of the movable contact element support elements are arranged, which have support surfaces which rest against the flat sides of the connection elements, and that in a single housing shell, the support elements are integrally formed on the housing wall and the connection elements and the movable contact element are arranged, wherein the connection elements and the contact element are fastened to the support elements, so that attachment of the flat side of the contact element and the flat bearing surface takes place in the common plane.

In a simple embodiment, the movable contact element is formed from a flat body, at one end of the movable contact surface is arranged and abuts the bearing surface at the other end.

It is technically simple when the movable contact element is designed in the form of a pivot lever and pivotally mounted.

The production is further simplified if the two connection elements are plate-shaped and have the same thickness.

The current load can be increased if the two connection elements on both sides facing away from each other flat sides which extend parallel to each other, that the movable contact element another movable contact element with a flat side opposite, the two movable contact elements synchronously pivot and their flat sides facing each other and accordingly the thickness of the connection elements are spaced apart from each other, so that they form a slot which receives the connection element when closing the switch contact, wherein the movable contact surfaces of the two contact elements contact on both sides with fixed contact surfaces of the connection element.

Advantageously, the two flat sides of the two movable contact elements are then in each case in a common plane with the corresponding flat sides of the two connection elements, wherein the two common planes are spaced apart from each other according to the thickness of the connection elements.

Low contact resistance is obtained when the two connection elements are each formed in one piece from a flat material with the appropriate thickness by bending.

All live parts including the contact and connection elements are thus fastened in a single shell, e.g. by screwing, not by plugging and clamping in grooves that run through both shell walls. In this case, the attachment of the flat sides of the contact and connection elements takes place in a common plane, resulting in minimum position inaccuracies of the current-carrying parts to one another. These can be more flexibly adapted to the rated current, i. the rated current determines the thickness of the contact and connection elements and their thickness needs only to be as large as absolutely necessary. The current-carrying parts are thus also within a size (housing size) easily adaptable to the nominal currents. A switch of a size can thus be equipped for 32A simply with 1.5mm thickness of the contact and terminal elements as live parts, for 80A with 2mm and so on. This without the positional accuracy to change and thus deteriorate and without having to change all the other components of the switch in particular with regard to tolerances, which allows a very flexible switch kit.

Larger positional accuracies also improve the switching behavior, especially in the case of short circuits (arc no longer ignites asymmetrically). At the same time, the requirements for component tolerances are reduced. Thus, the housing shell can be tolerated less accurate because it is no longer overdetermined by the connection of the copper parts. Furthermore, the assembly is facilitated because overdeterminations are no longer available.

Fig. 1

einen Schalter mit abgenommener vorderer Gehäuseschale und geschlossenen Schaltkontakten,

Fig. 2

den Schalter gemäß Fig. 1 mit geöffneten Schaltkontakten,

Fig. 3

die leere hintere Gehäuseschale des Schalters gemäß Fig. 1 und Fig. 2,

Fig. 4

einen geschlossenen Schaltkontakt gemäß Fig. 1 mit Anschlusselementen und einem Kontaktelement,

Fig. 5

den geschlossenen Schaltkontakt gemäß Fig. 4 von hinten gesehen,

Fig. 6

den geschlossenen Schaltkontakt gemäß Fig. 4 von der Seite gesehen,

Fig. 7

den geschlossenen Schaltkontakt gemäß Fig. 4 mit einem doppelten Kontaktelement und

Fig. 8

den geschlossenen Schaltkontakt gemäß Fig. 7 von der Seite gesehen.

The invention will be described below with reference to a drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

a switch with removed front housing shell and closed switch contacts,

Fig. 2

the switch according to Fig. 1 with opened switch contacts,

Fig. 3

the empty rear housing shell of the switch according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 .

Fig. 4

a closed switch contact according to Fig. 1 with connection elements and a contact element,

Fig. 5

the closed switching contact according to Fig. 4 seen from the back,

Fig. 6

the closed switching contact according to Fig. 4 seen from the side,

Fig. 7

the closed switching contact according to Fig. 4 with a double contact element and

Fig. 8

the closed switching contact according to Fig. 7 seen from the side.

Fig. 1 shows a switch 1 in the form of a circuit breaker having a housing 2 as a Polkassette, which is produced for example by injection molding. From the open housing 2 is in Fig. 1 to see only the rear shell 2a (housing shell); the removed front shell is not shown.

Two connection elements 3, 4 with led through the housing 2 to the outside lugs 3a, 4a are integrally made of plate-shaped copper sheet (copper plates) made by bending and are used to connect the switch 1 at corresponding power supply. Further connecting elements 5, 6 also made of plate-shaped copper flat material (copper plates) are located in Fig. 1 each of the two connection elements 3, 5 and 4, 6 via an elongated contact element 7, 8 are electrically connected to each other, which is also made of copper sheet and in the manner of a pivot lever each about an axis 7a and a Axis 8a is pivotable. Next connects a fuse 9, the overhead connection elements 5, 6 with each other (s. Fig. 5 . 7 ), which are bent at both upper ends to U-shaped fuse holders 11, wherein two contact blades 10 of the fuse 9 are inserted into the fuse holder 11 and clamped.

The current flows in the closed switch 1 from left to right, ie from the connection element 3 via the contact element 7 to the connection element 5 and from there via the fuse 9 to the connection element 6 and from there via the contact element 8 to the connection element 4, or vice versa from the right to the left.

The connecting elements 3, 5 are connected via a switching contact 12 and the connecting elements 4, 6 can be connected via a switching contact 13, which in Fig. 1 both are closed. Both switch contacts 12, 13 are arranged mirror-symmetrically to each other and constructed the same.

The description is therefore below essentially based on the in Fig. 1 left arranged switching contact 12; the explanations also apply accordingly to the switching contact 13. The corresponding reference numerals are listed at the end of the description.

In the region of the upper end of the contact element 7 quenching plates 14 are arranged to extinguish 12 arcs when opening or closing the switch contact. A switching shaft 15 is centrally located approximately in the middle of Shell 2a and is articulated via connecting rods 16 and axes 17, 19 connected to the movable contact element 7.

The connecting elements 3, 5 (including terminal lug 3a) have the same thickness D, ie their two parallel planar flat sides 21, 22, 23, 24 (s. Fig. 4, 5 ) are spaced according to the material thickness D from each other.

The pivotally mounted contact element 7 also has in each case a flat flat side 25, which on the opposite flat flat sides 21, 22 (s. Fig. 4, 5 ) of the connection elements 3, 5 is present.

The flat sides 21, 22, 25 are here in a common plane E (s. Fig. 6 , 9), wherein the connection elements 3, 5 lie on one side of the common plane E and the pivotally mounted contact element 7 on the other side.

A partial surface of the flat side 21 of the connecting element 3 forms a flat bearing surface, on which the contact element 7 is pivotally mounted about the axis 7a, wherein it rests with its flat side 25 on this bearing surface.

A partial surface of the flat side 25 forms a movable contact surface 27 and a partial surface of the flat side 22 of the connecting element 5 forms a fixed contact surface 28 (in FIG Fig. 1 hidden and therefore shown with dashed lines, s. also Fig. 4, 6 . 8th ).

Both contact surfaces 27, 28 are - like the corresponding flat flat sides 22, 25 - facing each other and aligned parallel to each other and lie in Fig. 1 - In which the closed position is shown - to each other.

The connecting elements 3, 5 are fastened by means of screws 29, 30 on the half-shell 2a (single-shell screw connection), wherein the flat sides 21, 22 on support surfaces 33, 34 (s. Fig. 3 ) lie, which are just formed here and also in the common level E lie. In principle, it is advantageous to design the support surfaces 33, 34 in the shell 2a as flat surfaces, but instead of support surfaces 33, 34, support points lying in the common plane E (in the shell 2a) could also be used for support. The support surfaces 33, 34 are thus to be understood as an example.

Fig. 2 shows the switch 1 after rotation of the switching shaft 15 in the clockwise direction with inwardly pivoted to the switching shaft 15 toward contact element 7. In this switching position of the switching contact 12 and thus the switch 1 is opened. In the course of opening, the contact surfaces 27, 28 overlap - seen transversely to the contact surfaces 27, 28 - decreasing (in the course of closing they overlap correspondingly increasingly), ie the intersection of the contact surfaces 27, 28 decreases during opening.

In Fig. 3 only the shell 2a (the lower part of the housing 2) is shown, so that one well recognizes the lying in the common plane E support surfaces 33, 34, which are formed on the inside of the housing wall integrally formed support members 35, 36. Tolerancing takes place via the common plane E, which is also the reference plane for the dimensions of the shell 2a. The support elements 35, 36 are in this case manifestations in the plastic shell 2a. To prevent twisting of the connection elements 3, 5, contact projections 37, 38 are provided, against which the connection elements 3, 5 rest laterally.

Fig. 4 shows only the closed switch contact 12 according to Fig. 1 with the connection elements 3, 5 and the contact element 7.

In Fig. 5 is the switching contact 12 according to Fig. 4 to be seen from behind.

Fig. 6 shows the switching contact 12 according to Fig. 4 in addition also from the side. Here are in Fig. 6 for better understanding the support elements 35, 36 with the support surfaces 33, 34 very schematically (and therefore dashed) drawn with.

The support elements are in FIG. 6 drawn on the right side, but they should be according to claim 1 on the left side.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the closed switch contact 12 according to Fig. 1 with the connection elements 3, 5 and a further contact element 39, which is arranged parallel to the contact element 7, has a flat side 40 and a contact surface 41 and moves synchronously with the movable contact element 7. The contact surface 41 is opposite to a contact element 5 formed on the contact surface 42, which is a partial surface of the flat side 24. The flat sides 25, 40 of the two identically formed movable contact elements 7, 39 are according to the thickness D of the connection elements 3, 5 spaced from each other and facing each other, forming a slot, the plate-shaped connection element 5 when closing the switch contact 12 with a positive fit sliding contact surfaces 27, 28 and 41, 42 (not yet introduced) receives. The flat sides 23, 24, 40 of the connection elements 3, 5 and the contact element 39 lie in a common, the plane F, which runs parallel to the common plane E with the distance of the thickness D. A center plane M lying centrally between the planes E and F forms the plane of symmetry of the switching contact 12 in this embodiment with two contact elements 7, 39.

Basically, the common plane E of the left switch contact 12 and the common plane E of the right switch contact 13 need not necessarily be in a common plane. The common plane E of the left switch contact 12 and the common plane E of the right switch contact 13 may differ in their position, for example, be moved parallel to each other. Advantageously, the common plane E of the left switch contact 12 and the common plane E of the right switch contact 13 lie in a common plane E. The same applies in this exemplary embodiment also for the planes M and F.

As can be seen, the following reference numerals of the left switch contact 12 and the right switch contact 13 correspond to each other: the connection elements 3, 4, 5, 6 (including terminal lugs 3a, 4a), the contact elements 7, 8, the axes 17, 18, 19, 20, 12, the flat sides 25, 26, the screws 29, 30, 31, 32, support surfaces 33, 34, 33a, 34a, the support elements 35, 36, 35a, 36a and the abutment projections 37, 38, 37a, 38a.

Claims (7)

1. Switch (1),
   comprising a housing (2) with two housing shells (2a), comprising connection elements (3, 5), which are connectable via a switching contact (12), which has a stationary and a movable flat contact area (27, 28), of which the movable contact area (27) is formed on a movable contact element (7) which moves, over the course of closing, from an open position into a closed position, wherein the two contact areas (27, 28) each face one another and are oriented parallel to one another, intersect one another increasingly over the course of the closing process, when viewed transversely with respect to the contact areas (27, 28), and bear against one another in the closed position,
   wherein
   the two connection elements (3, 5) and the movable contact element (7) each have a planar flat side (21, 22, 25) and all of the flat sides (21, 22, 25) lie in a common plane (E), wherein the connection elements (3, 5) are arranged on one side of the common plane (E) and the movable contact element (7) is arranged on the other side, a subarea of the flat side (22) of one connection element (5) forms the stationary contact area (28) and a subarea of the flat side (21) of the other connection element (3) forms a planar bearing area, against which the contact element (7) is mounted pivotably about an axis (7a), wherein the movable contact element (7) with its flat side (25) bears movably against this bearing area, supporting elements (35, 36) are arranged on the side of the movable contact element (7), said supporting elements have supporting areas (33, 34), which bear against the flat sides (21, 22) of the connection elements (3, 5), and in a single housing shell (2a), the supporting elements (35, 36) are integrally formed internally on the housing wall and the connection elements (3, 5) and also the movable contact element (7) are arranged, wherein the connection elements (3, 5) and the contact element (7) are secured to the supporting elements (35, 36), with securing of the flat side (25) of the contact element (7) and the planar bearing area thus being effected in the common plane (E).
2. Switch (1) according to Claim 1,
   characterized
   in that the movable contact element (7) is formed from a flat body, with the movable contact area (27) being arranged on one end thereof and the bearing area bearing against the other end thereof.
3. Switch (1) according to either of Claims 1 and 2,
   characterized
   in that the movable contact element (7) is in the form of a pivoting lever and is mounted pivotably.
4. Switch (1) according to one of Claims 1-3,
   characterized
   in that the two connection elements (3, 5) are plate-shaped and have the same thickness (D).
5. Switch (1) according to one of Claims 1-4,
   characterized
   in that the two connection elements (3, 5) have flat sides (21, 22, 23, 24) which are remote from one another on both sides and which run parallel to one another, in that a further movable contact element (39) with a flat side (40) is opposite the movable contact element (7), wherein the two movable contact elements (7, 39) pivot in synchronism and the flat sides (25, 40) thereof face one another and are spaced apart from one another corresponding to the thickness (D) of the connection elements (3, 5) so that they form a slot, which receives the connection element (5) when the switching contact (12) closes, wherein the movable contact areas (27, 41) of the two contact elements (7, 39) make contact on both sides with stationary contact areas (28) of the connection element (5).
6. Switch (1) according to Claim 5,
   characterized
   in that the two flat sides (25, 40) of the two movable contact elements (7, 39) each lie in a common plane (E, F) with the corresponding flat sides (21, 22, 23, 24) of the two connection elements (3, 5), and the two common planes (E, F) are spaced apart from one another corresponding to the thickness (D) of the connection elements (3, 5).
7. Switch (1) according to one of Claims 1-6,
   characterized
   in that the two connection elements (3, 5) are each formed integrally from a flat material with the corresponding thickness (D) by means of bending.

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