Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H1/00—Contacts
  • H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
  • H01H1/14—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting
  • H01H1/22—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with rigid pivoted member carrying the moving contact
  • H01H1/221—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with rigid pivoted member carrying the moving contact and a contact pressure spring acting between the pivoted member and a supporting member
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H73/00—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism
  • H01H73/02—Details
  • H01H73/04—Contacts
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H1/00—Contacts
  • H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
  • H01H1/14—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting
  • H01H1/22—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with rigid pivoted member carrying the moving contact
  • H01H1/221—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with rigid pivoted member carrying the moving contact and a contact pressure spring acting between the pivoted member and a supporting member
  • H01H2001/223—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with rigid pivoted member carrying the moving contact and a contact pressure spring acting between the pivoted member and a supporting member using a torsion spring

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device with at least one moving contact for line protection device, for example of the type circuit breaker and / or differential device, etc. It is therefore in the field of devices conventionally interposed on at least one power line and ensuring the protection of downstream installations of said device.
• these protection devices comprise a fixed contact and a movable contact disposed between connection means of the line.
• the movable contact which must have a certain amplitude of displacement, generally takes the form of a rotating arm at the free end of which is fixed a contact pad, said arm being able to pivot between a closed position resting on a pad of the fixed contact, and an open position at a distance therefrom.
• the function of the protection device is to very quickly separate the moving contact from the fixed contact and open the door. line so as not to damage the devices and devices constituting the circuit to be protected.
• these protective devices comprise a contact carrier (s) movable (s) connected to a control lever of the position of each movable contact via a mechanical lock that echoes the positions of the joystick in contact and vice versa lock which can also be actuated by means of detecting short circuits or current overloads in the direction of an opening of the contacts. The lock then actuates the contact carrier (s) and the movable contact (s) to proceed with the opening.
• These protective devices can be monopolar or multipolar, and in particular three-phase.
• the contact holder manages the movement of all the mobile contacts on the protection device, the number of which corresponds in practice to that of the protected lines.
• the movable contacts are not attached to the contact carrier (s) in a blocking manner, since there must be a controlled rotational movement of one relative to the other to provide the contact force to the closing contacts.
• Each movable contact is therefore connected to the contact carrier (s) by means of a hinge mechanism comprising at least one torsion spring.
• This mechanism must also ensure the pivoting of the assembly contact-contact (s) / contact (s) mobile (s) for the opening of the line and the double electrical and mechanical link, permanent, each mobile contact to a device connection to the circuit to be protected. It is thus necessary to manage the double constraint of this permanent link which implies a mechanical contact for the passage of the electrical current and to keep the mobile character of the contact.
• these contact carriers comprise a number of slots equal to the number of mobile contacts.
• Each housing contains the various components to fulfill the above functions, the housing / components together forming a mechanism of articulation. Said components can in practice be organized into a hinge subassembly to facilitate assembly.
• dwellings contain, for example:
• At least one spiral torsion spring substantially coaxial with said shaft and allowing the exercise of the contact force
• this latter link is upstream or at the level of short circuit detection means or current overload, and it must therefore take a form for cooperation with these means.
• said connection is not made by means of a flexible conductive braiding according to a possibility commonly used in the prior art, but via a solid connection to a degree of freedom (rotation) comprising a fixed support relative to the housing of the device which allows on the one hand the pivoting of each movable contact arm in a connection for the passage of current, and secondly the connection to the protected line.
• the contact carrier (s) to have a geometry of circular shape which exceeds the parts of the components organizing the connection with the rest of the line.
• the housing of the contact holder are of cylindrical shape, having an opening allowing the introduction of the articulation mechanism, comprising the movable contact, the rotation shaft or equivalent, the spiral spring or springs and the support of pivoting arms.
• the housings which have been shown to allow the relative rotation of the various components to be implemented, must therefore also allow correct supports for the springs, so that they can exercise their twofold function of torsion and compression.
• the difficulty in this type of configuration, is to ensure easy assembly, and then maintaining in position the hinge subassemblies in the housing without detriment to the pivoting arms or the operation of the springs.
• the device of the invention comprises, in an insulating housing, - a contact carrier (s) connected to a control lever of the position of the contact (s) via a mechanical lock also actuated by short-circuit detection means or current overload and repercussing the displacement of the lock with each moving contact,
• said contact carrier (s) comprising a number of housings equal to the number of moving contacts, each housing housing the following components:
• said housings being of cylindrical shape and having an opening allowing said assembled components to be introduced into a hinge subassembly of symmetrical shape with respect to a longitudinal median plane of the movable contact arm, each housing also having a symmetry in relation to that plan.
• each housing has rectilinear grooves made in side walls of the housing substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis and opening into the opening, for housing and guiding the ends of the shaft with a functional clearance
• the springs have a substantially rectilinear end intended to bear against an inner face of the housing, constituting the sole bearing zone of the springs on the contact carrier ( s), and a bent end provided to catch on a lug protruding towards a side wall of the end of the movable contact disposed in the housing, said lug being located on the side opposite to that of the arm relative to the pivot axis.
• the balance of the torsion springs is always ensured by three point supports which are distributed as follows: a support on each of their end legs, and a third support at the interior of the body spring, for example on a central axis.
• the third support can be performed on the outside of the spring body, in practice in the housing in which it is inserted.
• the central part constituting the body of the spring is never in contact with either the central shaft or the bottom of the housing of the contact carrier (s).
• the double contact at the tab protruding from the arm of the movable contact is such that the support is no longer strictly punctual, but in practice is analyzed as a connection type pivot.
• the movable contact and its shaft remain well in position at the bottom of the two rectilinear grooves, because this double contact exerts an action substantially in the direction of the axis of the groove, the stable positioning of the subassembly articulation also resulting from the opposite actions exerted on both ends of the spring by said tab on the one hand and an opposite surface in the housing on the other hand.
• the movable contact consists of two symmetrical elements, each element comprising a first extended portion contiguous to the symmetrical portion of the other element to form the arm and a second portion formed of a ear offset outwardly creating with the symmetrical ear of the other element an interior space of predetermined width, said second portion being pierced with an orifice for the passage of the shaft and having the lugs provided to cooperate with the springs .
• the electrical connection with the fixed support is carried out by a contact pad whose geometry makes it possible both to ensure the relative rotational movement and the passage of a certain current density.
• the caliper design is a good solution that makes it possible to respect both constraints, and can be optimized by means of adjustments made to the different parts of the components.
• the first portion may comprise a longitudinally stiffening stiffening rib, knowing that it undergoes flexural stresses, especially at the moment of pressing against the fixed contact.
• the second portion can also take a circular geometry naturally conducive to rotation and offers a constant connection range despite the relative movement of the arm and the support.
• the movable arm can move in a window formed in a wall of the housing, particularly at the moment of relative rotation ensuring the contact pressure.
• a fraction of it can be opened, giving access to the components of the hinge subassembly placed inside the housing.
• the opening of the contacts causes an electric arc whose displacement can affect this part, and potentially destroy or damage the electromechanical link.
• the first portion of the arm of the movable contact may further comprise at least one stud for fixing a protective shield of said components.
• the support of the movable contact is constituted of a part comprising a first section of planar shape provided with a through hole of the shaft, of width substantially equal to the predetermined width of the internal space of the moving contact. and of geometry forming a contact pad with the facing faces of the interior space, said first section being transformed outside the housing into a second section configured to form an interface with the detection means.
• the portion of the first section of said support forming this contact area with the movable contact is of circular shape.
• the interface with the detection means may consist of a conductive rod extending said first section, intended to pass into a toroid-type current sensor and whose free end at the output of the toroid is provided with a range of connection to an electric cable of the protected line.
• This case corresponds to the electronic detection means which comprise a toroid operating as a current sensor sending to a processing electronic circuit a signal proportional to the current which passes in the line.
• the electronic circuit can activate an actuator of the mechanical trigger lock.
• said first section may be extended into a flat sheet having a thickness substantially equal to that of said first section and pierced with a passage opening of a connecting screw to the detection means.
• This version is intended to operate with magnetothermic detection means, essentially a magnetic coil and for example a bimetallic strip, positioned in the housing of the device so as to trigger the mechanical lock.
• magnetothermic detection means essentially a magnetic coil and for example a bimetallic strip
• this support provided for cooperating with magnetothermic detection means is formed by two symmetrical parts relative to the longitudinal median plane of the arm of the movable contact at least in the first section, each part being extended by a portion of symmetrical appearance to that of the other party with free ends overlapping at the location of the piercing.
• FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a circuit breaker provided with a movable contact device according to the present invention
• FIG. 2 shows, in perspective view, a fixed contact assembly / movable contact device according to the invention for a line;
• FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the mobile contact device of the invention
• - Figure 4 is a sectional side view of such a fixed contact assembly / movable contact device according to the invention, the proximal side wall of the housing being cut;
• FIG. 5 illustrates in perspective view the insertion of the subassembly in the contact carrier (s);
• FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the subassembly inserted into the contact carrier (s);
• FIG. 7 shows in partially cut-away perspective view the subassembly inserted in the contact holder (s), during the arming phase of the springs symbolized by the arrow, the proximal lateral wall of the contact holder) being cut as in FIG. Figure 4;
• FIGS. 9a and 9b illustrate a variant with electronic detection means for short circuits or overloads.
• the circuit breaker 1 shown therein in this case a molded insulating housing B, conventionally comprises a control lever 2 connected via a mechanical lock 3, which is not described in detail because not constituting the invention, a contact holder (s) 4 supporting a movable contact 5 provided to cooperate with a fixed contact 6.
• Means of connection to the line 7, 8 to be protected are arranged on either side of the fixed contact torque 6 / movable contact 5.
• the mechanical lock 3 echoes the movements of the control lever 2.
• this control handle 2 can be tilted at both ends of the rotary path it can travel in the housing, corresponding to two stable positions each reflecting a state of the contacts, either open and at a distance from one another, or closed and supported one on the other.
• the mechanical lock 3 comprises in particular a toggle-type mechanism which makes it possible to transmit the printed displacement to the control lever 2 to the contact carrier (s) 4 and to the moving contact 5.
• detection means 9 thermo for example in the form of a bimetallic and magnetic for example in the form of a coil and a magnetic circuit with movable blade
• the fixed contact which is generally designated by the reference 6 including the chip 17 'and the terminal on which this pad is welded with its free end intended to cooperate with the connecting device 7 , is located near the base of the molded case B.
• the movable contact 5 comprises an arm 16 issuing from a contact holder 4 which, on the other hand, also projects beyond a support 10 which can be fixed to the base of the housing B.
• the invention focuses more particularly on the moving contact. 5, its contact carrier (s) 4 and the mechanism ensuring its rotation.
• the rotation is twofold: the contact holder assembly 4 / movable contact 5 is on the one hand mobile in rotation between the closed position for example appearing in FIG. 2 and an open position as shown in FIG. 4, and there is on the other hand a relative rotation of the contact carrier (s) 4 and the movable contact 5 to ensure the contact force in the closed position shown in FIG.
• FIG. 3 shows the shaft 1 1 of rotation inserted into an orifice 12 of the support 10 on the one hand, and into coaxial orifices 13 made in the two homologous and symmetrical lugs 14, 14 ' of the second portion 15 of the movable contact 5 on the other hand.
• the latter further comprises, at the end of the arm 16 forming the first portion of the movable contact 5, a contact pad 17 intended to bear against a counterpart contact pad 17 'provided on the fixed contact 6.
• the arm 16 mobile contact 5 further comprises a stiffening rib 18, and a stud 19 which serves to fix a shield 20 of protection appearing in Figure 2.
• This shield 20 is provided to isolate the hinge mechanism and in particular the springs located inside the contact carrier (s) 4 in case of occurrence of an electric arc after a short circuit.
• the first portion of the movable contact 5 therefore comprises the elongated arm 16, one end of which comprises the contact pad 17, the other end developing into a second portion 15 formed by the two lugs 14, 14 'provided with the piercing 13
• These lugs 14, 14 ' which implement the rotating contact area with the free end of the support 10 provided with the bore 12, also comprise tabs 21, 21'. located opposite the arm 16 relative to the orifices 13 housing the rotation shaft 1 January.
• the section 22 of the support 10 has a width substantially equal to distance between the two ears 14, 14 '.
• Two springs 23, 23 ' also play a preponderant role in the correct operation of the rotary contact pad.
• These spiral springs 23, 23 ' are first torsion springs for applying the contact force, as will be seen in more detail later, but the turns apart from each other also allow them to play a role compression spring, exerting an action on the outer surface of the lugs 14, 14 'to press them against the rounded end of the section 22 of the support 10 forming the rotating contact.
• This compression action appears in particular more clearly with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.
• the movable contact 5, the support 10, the rotation shaft 1 1 and the springs 23, 23 'are assembled into a subset called articulation it is inserted into a housing 24 provided inside the contact holder (s) 4.
• This housing 24 of cylindrical shape has radial openings for the passage of the arm 16 of the movable contact 5 on the one hand , and of the section 22 of the support 10 on the other hand. It is limited, in the direction of the axis of rotation materialized by the shaft 1 1, by two side walls 25, 25 '.
• This compression is also to be made at the time of insertion of the hinge subassembly in the housing 24 of the contact carrier (s) 4, as shown by the two arrows arranged on either side of said sub-assembly. together.
• the direction of insertion of the subset is represented by the third arrow, looking perpendicular to the other two.
• FIG. 4 shows a view side of the movable contact device of the invention which is cut so that the side wall 25 of the contact carrier (s) 4 is removed.
• the spring 23, visible in this figure, is positioned when the hinge subassembly is inserted into the housing 24 so that its rectilinear end 26 bears against a face 28 provided and oriented for this purpose in the part of the contact carrier (s) 4 in which is the opening for the passage of the arm 16 of the movable contact 5.
• the housing 24 in fact has a symmetry with respect to a longitudinal median plane, as well as the movable contact 5 consists of two sheets shaped crank: each sheet has in fact a first portion forming the elongated arm 16 and a second portion at the of the ear 14, 14 'which are parallel in shape and separated by a section normal to their orientation which provides half the width of the space separating said lugs 14, 14', in which the section 22 of the support 10 just fit.
• the moving contact 5 is composed of two symmetrical parts allows the passage to take advantage of the electrodynamic effect of attraction in the event of a short-circuit: the short-circuit current equilibrates in the two symmetrical parts, which it travels in the same direction, which tends to tighten said parts on the contact area of the fixed support 10.
• the curved end 27, 27 'of the springs 23, 23' is left free at the moment of insertion of the hinge subassembly into the housing 24 of the contact carrier (s) 4 as illustrated in FIG. 5, to achieve a result as shown in Figure 7.
• the hinge subassembly has been inserted inside the contact holder (s) 4, the curved ends 27, 27 'do not however resting on nothing at this stage.
• the last operation of the assembly consists in passing them behind the tabs 21, 21 'projecting from the lugs 14, 14', so as to give the spring, in its torsion function, a second and a third bearing point on both sides. other said tabs 21, 21 ', in addition to the first point of support given by the surfaces 28, 28' at the ends 26, 26 '.
• FIG. 7 illustrates the direction of the stress to be applied to the bent end 27, 27 'of the spring for cocking said spring 23, 23', by passing said end 27, 27 'behind the paw 21, 21 '.
• FIG. 4 shows the curved end 27 housed behind the tab 21.
• each side wall 25, 25 ' has a rectilinear groove 29 which in practice guides the ends of the rotation shaft 11, said ends being able to move with a functional clearance.
• the ends of the shaft 1 1 protruding from the outer turn of the springs 23, 23 '(see Figure 5) are thus guided to the vicinity of the bottom in the two homologous grooves 29 formed in the two side walls 25, 25 '.
• the assembly of the hinge subassembly facilitating its mounting in the housing 24 of the contact carrier (s) 4 is carried out as follows: the movable contact 5 is preassembled on the fixed support 10, then introduced the shaft 1 1 in the pre-drilled orifices 12, 13 respectively of the support 10 and the lugs 14, 14 'of the movable contact 5.
• the springs 23, 23' are then prepositioned on the two portions of the shaft 1 1 which protrude on each side of the lugs 14, 14 ', said springs 23, 23' being then compressed in the direction of the axis of this shaft 1 1.
• the assembly is then engaged in the housing 24 of the contact carrier (s) 4 via the widened portion of the opening 30. This comprises an upper portion of smaller width 31 allowing the passage of the portion 22 of the support 10 to the opening of the contacts, for example in the position shown in Figure 4.
• this support 10 is made from two substantially symmetrical plates, those constituting the portion 22 being strictly symmetrical, while those forming the base, pierced with an orifice 32 allowing its attachment to a terminal resulting from one of the connecting devices 7, 8, are two similar quasi-symmetrical sheets folded against each other so that the orifices 32 of each half-piece are superimposed.
• a support 10 'different' replaces in fact the section 22 and the base of the support 10 by a rod 22 'intended to pass through a ring current sensor 33, when the detection means are electronic and use the signal from the current sensor.

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• Breakers (AREA)
• Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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ID=51483565

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• 2014
  • 2014-04-24 FR FR1453706A patent/FR3020498B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2015
  • 2015-04-21 JP JP2016564079A patent/JP6986840B2/ja active Active
  • 2015-04-21 CN CN201580034267.5A patent/CN106663552B/zh active Active
  • 2015-04-21 EP EP15725767.6A patent/EP3134910B1/de active Active
  • 2015-04-21 WO PCT/FR2015/051072 patent/WO2015162369A1/fr active Application Filing

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