EP3168850A1 - Isolation device and electromechanical protection switching device - Google Patents

Abstract

The insulation device (100) according to the invention is provided to cover a conductive contact element of an electro-mechanical protection device (1), in particular a circuit breaker, a residual current circuit breaker or a circuit breaker, wherein the conductive contact element behind a housing opening of the protective switching device (1) is arranged. For this purpose, the insulating device (100) has a main body which can be fastened to a housing (2) of the protective switching device (1) and has an opening (105) for passing at least one electrical connecting line in order to connect it to the contact element of the protective switching device (1) to contact. The insulation device (100) further has an insulation element (110), which in the region of the opening (105) is firmly but detachably connected to the base body. The opening (105), in turn, has an opening cross-section which can be adapted to a line cross-section of the electrical connection line with the aid of the insulation element (110) so that a manual contact of the contact element is excluded in the mounted state of the insulation device (100) on the protection switching device (1) , In this case, the opening (105) of the insulation device (100) is reduced by the insulation element (110) such that a manual contact of the behind the housing opening of the protection device (1) arranged contact element is effectively prevented. In this way, a secure protection against electric shock - and thus a simple and cost-effective protection against contact of the degree of protection IP20 - can be realized.

Description

The invention relates to an insulation device for covering a conductive contact element of an electro-mechanical protection switching device, in particular a circuit breaker, a residual current circuit breaker or a circuit breaker. Furthermore, the invention relates to an electromechanical protective switching device, which is designed in particular as a circuit breaker, as a residual current circuit breaker or as a circuit breaker and having at least one such isolation device.

Protective switching devices, such as circuit breakers or circuit breakers are used in particular as switching and safety elements in electrical energy supply networks. Circuit breakers are specially designed for high currents. A circuit breaker is an overcurrent protection device in the electrical installation and is used in particular in the field of low-voltage networks. Circuit breakers and miniature circuit breakers guarantee a safe shutdown in the event of a short circuit and protect consumers and systems from overload. They also protect cables from damage due to excessive heating as a result of excessive electrical current.

A residual current circuit breaker is a protective device to ensure protection against a dangerous fault current in an electrical system. Such a fault current, which is also referred to as differential current, occurs when a live line part has an electrical contact with earth. This is for example the case when a person touches a live part of an electrical system: in this case, the current flows as a fault current through the body of the person concerned against the ground. To protect against such body currents of the residual current circuit breaker must occur when such a fault current, the electrical system quickly and safely disconnect all poles from the mains. In general parlance, the terms residual current circuit breaker (RCD) or RCD (Residual Current Protective Device) are also used equivalently.

Circuit-breakers such as circuit breakers, miniature circuit breakers or residual current circuit breakers are designed to switch off the circuit automatically in the event of a short circuit, overload or fault current, thus disconnecting it from the mains. For this purpose, they have a switching contact pair with a stationary switching contact and a switching contact which can be moved relative thereto, which is opened when necessary in order to interrupt the flow of current. For electrical contacting with one or more external connection conductors, these devices have one or more connection terminals, in which the connection conductor can be inserted. By pressing a corresponding clamping screw, the connection conductor can be securely clamped, so that the protective switching device is securely connected to the electrical connection conductor.

In the electrical equipment of buildings usually a variety of protection devices is needed, which in a so-called electrical distribution manifold, also referred to as distribution box or short as a distributor, summarized and arranged side by side. When equipping such a distribution box, sometimes different national safety regulations must be observed and adhered to. In order to meet the requirements with regard to the clearances and creepage distances to be complied with, in some countries it is necessary to partition off the protective switching devices arranged side by side in a distribution box in the region of their electrical connections, ie electrically from one another to isolate. This is the case in particular with narrow housing designs of the protective switching devices, since here the electrical connections of the individual protective switching devices are close to each other. The publication JP2010027334A discloses an electrical switching device having a plurality of juxtaposed electrical connections, which can be isolated by means of attachable to a housing of the switching device partitions against each other.

On electrical protective switching devices, cables are fixed by terminals, usually by screw terminals. For this purpose, the insulating material of the protective device on openings, behind which are the terminals. In order to clamp even conductors larger cross-section, it is unavoidable to dimension the terminal and thus the opening of the circuit breaker so large that internal metal parts can be touched with the finger, causing the person concerned can suffer an electric shock. This danger is particularly present when conductors are clamped with a much smaller cross-section than the maximum possible cross-section of the circuit breaker: in this case, a large part of the terminal cross-section by a conductive element, such as a clamping screw or a clamping pressure piece, closed. This clamping screw or the clamping pressure piece lies directly behind the housing opening and can be touched by a plumber or user with his finger, if this example. other devices are mounted in the distribution, dismantled or connected or disconnected.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an insulation device for a protective switching device, in particular for a circuit breaker, a residual current circuit breaker or a circuit breaker, for electrical isolation of the protective device in the region of its electrical terminal, and a protective switching device with such an isolation device, which a ensure safe protection against electrical shock and at the same time allow easy operation when connecting an electrical connection conductor.

This object is achieved by the isolation device and the electro-mechanical protection device according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The insulation device according to the invention is provided to cover a conductive contact element of an electro-mechanical protection device, in particular a circuit breaker, a residual current circuit breaker or a circuit breaker, wherein the conductive contact element is arranged behind a housing opening of the protective device. For this purpose, the insulation device has a main body, which can be fastened to a housing of the protective switching device and has an opening for passing at least one electrical connection line in order to contact the latter with the contact element of the protective switching device. The insulation device furthermore has an insulation element which is firmly but detachably connected to the base body in the region of the opening. The opening in turn has an opening cross-section which can be adapted to a line cross section of the electrical connection line with the aid of the insulation element such that a manual contact of the contact element is excluded in the mounted state of the insulation device on the protection device.

The insulation device, if national safety requirements - for example, with regard to the creepage distances and creepage distances to be complied with - require this, be attached to a protective switching device in the region of the electrical connection terminal. In this case, the opening of the insulation device, through which the electrical connection line must be passed, in order to be electrically conductively connected to the contact element of the protective switching device, reduced by the isolation element such that a manual contact of the behind arranged contact element is no longer possible. The term "contact element" encompasses all electrically conductive components in the connection region of the protective switching device, for example, the clamping frame or the pressure piece of the terminal, but also the contact itself. Under the term "manual contact" is a touch of the electrically conductive contact element by a person with understood their fingers through the opening of the insulating member. Unintentional contact with a contact element, for example, the terminal, the pressure piece or the contact, is thus effectively prevented, so that with the help of the isolation device, a secure protection against electric shock can be realized.

The adaptation of the opening cross section to the cross section of the connecting line by means of the insulating element is achieved in that the insulating element partially covers the opening cross section. The adjustment of the opening cross-section can be done both by an assembly and by disassembly of the insulation element: In the case of mounting the insulation element on the main body of the insulation device, the opening cross-section is reduced, whereby an adaptation to a connecting line with a small cross-section can be realized. In case of disassembly, i. a removal of the insulating element from the base body of the opening cross-section is increased accordingly, whereby an adaptation to a connecting line is achieved with a large cross-section. In this way, in the field of terminals of the protective switching device with the help of the insulation device, a simple and cost-effective protection against contact of the degree of protection IP20 can also be realized for different cable cross-sections.

In an advantageous development of the isolation device, differently dimensioned insulation elements can be combined with the base body, whereby the opening cross-section is adaptable to different cable cross sections. By using different sized insulation elements, which are different in size, but are mounted in the same way on the main body of the insulation device, a high flexibility in terms of adaptation of the cross-sectional opening to differently sized connecting lines, and thus to different cable cross-sections, achieved.

In a further advantageous development of the isolation device, the insulation element can be connected to the base body by inserting or clipping. Both the insertion and the clipping of the insulation element on the base body of the insulation device is a simple and inexpensive way to mount the insulation element to the base body.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the isolation device, the insulation element is integrally but detachably connected to the base body. Due to the one-piece embodiment, a time-consuming installation of the insulating element on the main body is unnecessary, which is why the isolation device is relatively inexpensive to produce.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the isolation device is designed plugged or pushed onto the protective switching device. A plugging or pushing the isolation device on the circuit breaker allows easy to perform mounting the insulation device, especially when retrofitting existing electrical installations. The assembly effort is significantly reduced.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the isolation device, the main body is substantially U-shaped, wherein a first leg of the U-shaped main body of a first partition and a second leg of the U-shaped base body formed by a second partition are. The first and the second leg serve to electrically isolate the protective switching device in the region of its electrical terminal against a neighboring arranged protective switching device, for example in a distribution box. When arranged in a distribution box, the electrical connections of adjacent protection devices can be close to each other, so that the prescribed clearances and creepage distances can not be met without additional insulation of the connections. The first and the second partition wall, which are arranged between the electrical terminals adjacent to each other arranged protective switching devices, represents such insulation. About a base of the U-shaped body, which connects the two legs together, the insulation device to the protection device can be fastened.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the isolation device, the outer distance of the first partition to the second partition substantially corresponds to a width of the protective switching device. Thus, the insulation device is substantially flush with the broad sides, which define the width of the protective device, from. In this way, several equipped with an isolation device protection devices without additional space in a row next to each other can be arranged, for example in a distribution box.

In a further advantageous development, the isolation device can be produced by plastic injection molding. In the field of mass production, plastic injection molding represents an extremely cost-effective production method. In the present case, it is also possible for the insulating element to be injection-molded onto the main body of the insulation device via one or more sprue webs. The insulation element then already covers part of the opening cross-section. To adapt to a connecting cable with a large cable cross section, the insulating element is separated by separating the sprue webs, whereby the opening cross-section is increased accordingly.

The electromechanical protective switching device according to the invention, which is designed in particular as a circuit breaker, as a residual current circuit breaker or as a circuit breaker, has at least one insulation device of the type described above. With regard to the advantages of the electromechanical protective switching device, reference is made to the above statements on the advantages of the insulation device according to the invention.

In an advantageous development, the protective switching device is arranged in a busbar network, wherein the insulation device for electrically insulating the protective switching device against at least one adjacent arranged protective switching device is used. Especially with an arrangement in the busbar assembly, in which a plurality of protective switching devices are arranged side by side, a simple way to implement retrofitting the individual protective switching devices with the insulation devices according to the invention is particularly advantageous.

Figuren 1A und 1B

schematische Darstellungen eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Isolationsvorrichtung;

Figuren 2A und 2B

schematische Darstellungen einer Variante des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Isolationsvorrichtung;

Figuren 3A und 3B

schematische Darstellungen eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Isolationsvorrichtung;

Figuren 4A bis 4C

schematische Darstellungen möglicher Varianten des zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Isolationsvorrichtung.

Figuren 5A und 5B

schematisierte, perspektivische Darstellungen des erfindungsgemäßen elektromechanischen Schutzschaltgerätes mit daran befestigter Isolationsvorrichtung;

In the following, several embodiments of the isolation device and the protective switching device will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures are:

Figures 1A and 1B

schematic representations of a first embodiment of the insulation device according to the invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B

schematic representations of a variant of the first embodiment of the insulation device according to the invention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B

schematic representations of a second embodiment of the insulation device according to the invention;

FIGS. 4A to 4C

schematic representations of possible variants of the second embodiment of the insulation device according to the invention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B

schematic, perspective views of the inventive electro-mechanical protection device with attached insulation device;

In the various figures of the drawing, like parts are always provided with the same reference numerals. The description applies to all drawing figures in which the corresponding part can also be recognized.

In the Figures 1A and 1B a first embodiment of the isolation device 100 according to the invention is shown schematically. The insulation device 100 has a base body with a U-shaped cross section, wherein a connection region 103 of the U-shaped base body connects a first partition 101 formed as a first leg to a second partition wall 102 designed as a second leg. In the connection region 103, an opening 105 for passing an electrical connection line (not shown) is formed in order in the assembled state of the insulation device 100 to a protective switching device 1 (see FIGS. 5A and 5B ) electrically conductively connected to a contact element of the protective switching device 1. As a contact element, for example, the clamping frame or the pressure piece of the terminal, but also the contact itself, come into consideration. The attachment of the isolation device 100 to a protective device 1 can be done for example by pushing, but also by plugging or locking. For this purpose, the insulation device 100 has a plurality of fastening elements 104, which are formed in the region of the connection region 103 on the base body of the insulation device 100. For stiffening the U-shaped main body, the insulating device 100 has a plurality of stiffening ribs 108, which extend from the first partition wall 101 and the second partition wall 102 toward the connection region 103 in order to give the main body of the insulation device 100 a higher rigidity.

Furthermore, the insulation device 100 has an insulation element 110 in the form of a small plate, which in this first exemplary embodiment is connected to the main body of the insulation device 100 via two sprue webs 111 such that it covers a part of the opening 105. In the illustrated state, the insulation device 100 is thus provided for passing an electrical connection line with a small line cross-section. In the event that an electrical connection line with a large cross-section is to be passed through the opening 105 in order to be electrically conductively connected to the contact element of the protective switching device 1, the insulation element 110 can be rotated about an axis defined by the sprue webs 111 from the main body be separated to increase the opening cross section of the opening 105 accordingly. The insulating element 110 is thus integrally connected - and thus fixed - but releasably connected to the main body of the insulation device 100. In this way, the isolation device 100 can be quickly and easily adapted to different electrical connection lines with different conductor cross-section.

The FIGS. 2A and 2B schematically show a variant of the first embodiment of the insulation device 100 according to the invention. In this case, the isolation device 100 Further, a web 107 which extends from the first partition wall 101 to the second partition wall 102 and thereby divides the opening 105 into a first partial opening 105-1 and a second partial opening 105-2. The two partial openings 105-1 and 105-2 are each dimensioned too small for themselves to be able to pass through with their fingers. A contact of a mounted behind the mounted insulation device 100 contact element is thus effectively prevented.

The lower, first partial opening 105-1 is provided for passing a busbar or a feed element, while the upper, second partial opening 105-2 is used for passing the electrical connection line. The opening cross section of the upper, second partial opening 105-2 is in turn partially covered by the insulation element 110. The insulation element 110 is in turn connected via two sprue webs 111 to the base body. To adapt the second partial opening 105-2 to the line cross section of the electrical connection line, the opening cross section of the second partial opening 105-2 can be increased by separating out the insulation element 110.

In the FIGS. 3A and 3B a second embodiment of the isolation device 100 according to the invention is shown schematically. In this second exemplary embodiment, the insulation element 110, which again has the shape of a small plate, is not formed on the main body of the insulation device 100, but represents an independent component which can be fastened to the base body of the insulation device 100 by means of a corresponding holding device. For this purpose, the base body has a plurality of retaining elements 109 on the inner sides of the two partition walls 101 and 102 oriented toward one another. The insulation element 110 can be inserted from above into the main body of the insulation device 100 in order to be fixed in this position by means of the retaining elements 109, for example by latching by means of a suitable latching connection. However, it would also be possible to fasten the insulation element 110 by means of a clip connection by pressing in from the front on the main body of the insulation device 100. In both cases, the insulation element 110 is firmly but detachably connected to the main body of the insulation device 100.

Through the web 107, the opening 105 is again divided into the first partial opening 105-1 and the second partial opening 105-2. As already in the in the FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrated embodiment, the second partial opening 105-2 is again partially covered by the insulating member 110, whereby the opening cross section of the second partial opening 105-2 can be adjusted by insertion or removal of the insulating member 110 to the respective line cross section of the electrical connection line.

The FIGS. 4A to 4C show schematic representations of possible variants of the second embodiment of the insulation device 100 according to the invention. These variants all have the same base body, in which the insulation element 110 in turn by means of the holding elements 109 on the main body of the insulation device 100 can be fastened. This attachment can be realized both via a plug-in connection by inserting "from above" as well as a clip connection by pressing "from the front". However, the insulation devices 100 shown differ in terms of the insulation elements 110 used: these are dimensioned differently, so that by a suitable choice of the corresponding insulation element 110, a simple adaptation to the line cross section of each electrical connection conductor used can be realized. In this way, a simple and extremely cost variant formation can be realized.

Regarding the in FIG. 4C illustrated variant, it should be noted that these in principle also a web 107th which, in the illustration of the FIG. 4C is covered by the insulation element 110. However, it is also possible in principle, the main body in the FIGS. 4A to 4C shown variants without a corresponding web run - similar to the main body of the in the Figures 1A and 1B illustrated first embodiment.

It should also be noted that the insulation device 100 and the insulation element 110 are by definition made of an insulating material, preferably of a thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic. In particular, thermoplastics are - especially in large quantities, as occurring in industrial mass production - produced extremely inexpensively by means of the plastic injection molding process, in particular when also the web 107 and / or the insulating member 110 to the main body of the insulating device 100th be formed.

The FIGS. 5A and 5B show schematic, perspective views of the inventive electro-mechanical protection device 1 with an attached isolation device 100. The protective switching device 1 has a housing 2. On a front side 4 of the housing 2, an actuating element 3 for manual actuation of the protective switching device 1 is arranged. The front side 4 opposite is a mounting side 5, are provided on the fastening means 9 for fixing the housing 2 to a so-called support or DIN rail (not shown). In addition to the front side 4 and the fastening side 5, the housing 2 of the protective switching device 1 still the front and the mounting side 4 and 5 interconnecting narrow and broad sides 6 and 7. At its narrow sides 6, the housing 2 in each case has a housing opening 8 for insertion of an electrical connecting line (not shown), in order to electrically connect these to the inner contact element of the protective switching device 1.

In the region of the two narrow sides 6, an insulating device 100 is attached to the housing 2 of the protective switching device 1 respectively. In the illustrated, assembled state of the insulation device 100 on the housing 2, the first partial opening 105-1 and the second partial opening 105-2 are in the region of the housing opening 8, so that an electrical connection line through the first partial opening 105-1 or the second partial opening 105-2 can be inserted through into the housing opening 8 in order to be contacted there with the electrically conductive contact element of the protective switching device 1. The term "contact element" not only designates the actual contact of the protective switching device 1, but includes all arranged in the housing opening 8, electrically conductive components, including the clamping frame and the pressure piece of the terminal of the protection device. 1

FIG. 5A shows the protection device 1 with the from the Figures 1A and 1B known insulation device 100, in which the insulation element 110 is integrally formed on the main body of the insulation device 100 and can be broken if necessary. In contrast to this is in FIG. 5B the protection device 1 with the off FIG. 4C known insulation device 100, in which the insulation element 110 is subsequently mounted on the main body of the insulation device 100, combines. In both cases, the housing opening 8 is covered so far with the aid of the insulating device 100 that a contact element arranged behind it can no longer be touched with the bare finger. In this way, effective protection against electric shock by manual contact of the live parts is feasible.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Protection device

2

casing

3

actuator

4

front

5

mounting side

6

narrow side

7

broadside

8th

housing opening

9

fastener

100

isolation device

101

first partition

102

second partition

103

connecting area

104

fastener

105

opening
105-1 first partial opening
105-2 second partial opening

107

web

108

stiffening rib

109

retaining element

110

insulation element

111

Sprue webs

Claims (10)

Insulating device (100) for covering a conductive contact element of an electromechanical protective switching device (1), in particular a circuit breaker, residual current circuit breaker or circuit breaker, wherein the conductive contact element behind a housing opening (8) of the protective switching device (1) is arranged, - With a base body, which is attachable to a housing (2) of the protective switching device (1) and having an opening for passing at least one electrical connection line for contacting with the contact element, characterized, - that the insulation device (100) has an insulation element (110), which in the region of the opening is fixedly but detachably connected to the base body, - That the opening has an opening cross-section, which with the aid of the insulating member (110) to a line cross-section of the electrical connection line is adapted such that in the assembled state of the insulation device (100) on the protective switching device (1) is excluded manual contact of the contact element. Isolation device (100) according to claim 1,
characterized,
that differently dimensioned insulation elements (110) can be combined with the base body, so that the opening cross section can be adapted to different line cross sections. Isolation device (100) according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the insulating element (110) is connectable by plugging or clipping with the base body. Isolation device (100) according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the insulating element (110) is integrally but removably connected to the basic body. Isolation device (100) according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the insulating device (100) is formed on the protective switching device (1) be plugged or pushed. Isolation device (100) according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
in that the main body is substantially U-shaped, wherein a first leg of the U-shaped main body is formed by a first partition wall (101) and a second leg of the U-shaped main body is formed by a second partition wall (102). Isolation device (100) according to claim 6,
characterized,
that the outer spacing of the first partition wall (101) to the second partition wall (102) substantially corresponds to a width of the protective switching device (1). Isolation device (100) according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the insulating device (100) is produced by means of plastic injection molding. Electromechanical circuit breaker (1), in particular circuit breaker, residual current device or Circuit breaker, which has at least one insulation device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8. Protective switching device (1) according to claim 7,
characterized,
in that the protective switching device (1) is arranged in a busbar connection, wherein the insulation device (100) serves to electrically isolate the protective switching device (1) from at least one adjacent protective switching device.

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