EP3248204B1 - Automatic cut-out - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a circuit breaker with two parallel current paths, each with a contact point, which are connected as a main and Nebenstrompfad via a contact device with a coil of a magnetic release in each case in series.

From the DE 10 2011 016 933 A1 is already such a circuit breaker known in which the armature of a magnetic release in case of failure via a plunger or striker opens the contact point of the main current path, so that the current flows now only on the secondary current path and its contact point. The opening of the contact point in the main current path takes place without the formation of an arc, since the contact point is short-circuited by the secondary circuit. When a short-circuit current occurs, the contact point of the secondary current path, which is formed as Abbrennkontakt abruptly opened by the plunger or striker, which is for this purpose driven by a second anchor. The arc occurring at the opening of the contact point is brought to extinction in a known manner in one of the contact point associated Deionkammer. Since the Abbrennkontakt and a thermal trigger for the Überstromstörfall lie in the secondary current path through which no current flows in trouble-free, the energy losses in the circuit breaker can be minimized in normal continuous operation. Due to the burnup at the burn-off contact, however, the tripping characteristic in the event of an overcurrent accident can change.

Further known as overcurrent protection devices are fuse-link systems in which a replaceable fuse link is interposed between a fuse block via which contact is made with a first terminal and a screw cap via which electrical contact is made with a second terminal. When an overcurrent or short circuit occurs, a fuse element of the fuse link melts to break the current path between the terminals. To indicate that the fuse has responded, that is, that the fusible conductor has interrupted the current path between the terminals, an indicator or indicator pin is provided, which is pushed out of a contact head of the fusible link by a spring when the fusible conductor and a holding wire holding the detector melted are.

For grid connection, house connection protection is prescribed as a connection device in buildings in accordance with the "TAB technical connection conditions", the size of which the grid operator prescribes. Since domestic connection fuses must not be used as a separator for the customer system, a selective overcurrent protection device must also be provided to enable the system as required. Such overcurrent protection device usually has a selective circuit breaker, as shown for example in the DE 10 2011 016 933 A1 is described, and arranged in the same line in accordance with regulations fuse. In normal operation, this arrangement consumes approximately 0.5 ‰ of the electrical power transported and protected by it. This leads to heat generation in the overcurrent protection devices, connection devices and circuit distributors, the temperature increases has the consequence, which must be considered in the design of the overcurrent protection devices to prevent malfunction by the mutual influence of the protection devices in the system.

The DE 10 2007 039 943 A1 shows a circuit breaker with two parallel current paths. However, these are coupled by two separate contact devices.

The US 3 553 038 A Although shows the use of a removable fuse in a circuit breaker. However, the fuse does not serve as a trigger unit for a switching mechanism.

The US 2,939,936 A shows the use of a fuse with a striker as a trigger in a three-phase circuit breaker. The striker acts on a pivot lever so that it releases a trigger pin of the circuit breaker to release a latch of a switch latch. The fuse is connected in series with a bimetal and a magnetic release of the circuit breaker.

The EP 2 690 642 A1 shows an electromagnetic relay contactor and the like with a triangular contact plate.

The invention has for its object to provide a circuit breaker, the minimized in normal continuous operation energy losses the formation of an arc when interrupting the circuit in case of failure and thus also a burning of contacts largely prevented.

This object is achieved by the circuit breaker according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are described in the subclaims.

According to the invention, therefore, in a circuit breaker with two parallel current paths, each with a contact point, which are connected as a main and Nebenstrompfad via a contact device with a coil of a magnetic release in series, a breaker and tripping insert is provided in Nebenstrompfad, which interrupts the bypass circuit in the event of a short circuit and triggers a switching mechanism for opening and fixing the open contact device. According to the invention, therefore, the functions of a house connection fuse with the separator are combined in a compact circuit breaker.

According to the invention is thus achieved by the arrangement of a breaker and tripping insert that even in case of short circuit, the contact point of the main current path, which carries the operating current as a so-called empty contact, without interruption of the short-circuit current is opened to this on the Nebenstrom path and thus by the breaker and tripping insert to lead. No arc occurs. The breaker and trip insert then interrupts the bypass path, without causing the subsequent contacts to open the contact point of the secondary current path at the corresponding contacts to an arc.

It is particularly advantageous if the breaker and tripping insert is arranged interchangeable in the secondary flow path between two contact elements, in particular terminal contact elements. This allows easy replacement of the breaker and trip unit.

It is particularly advantageous if the breaker and tripping insert is a fuse link whose fusible wire and / or retaining wire, which melts together with the fusible wire in the event of a short circuit, holds a striking pin in its ready position against the force of a spring. This not only ensures that a short-circuit current is reliably interrupted, but also that the switch lock is triggered to bring the contact device in its OFF position and to fix it. The opening of the contact point of the secondary current path takes place without current, ie without the risk of the formation of an arc.

By integrating the prescribed fuse according to the invention as a fuse in the bypass path, in which preferably also serving as overcurrent release thermal release, it is possible to avoid the power losses of the overcurrent release and the fuse in normal operation, since the overcurrent release and the fuse only in case of failure for Electric lines are protected by current but not during normal operation.

To exclude electrical accidents, it is envisaged that a housing cap covering the breaker and tripping insert in the secondary current path will only be activated when the housing is switched off Circuit breaker, in particular for replacing the breaker and release insert or the fuse is removable.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the contact device has a contact plate, which can be brought into engagement with three contacts, of which the first contact with a terminal, the second contact with another terminal and the third contact with the breaker - And tripping insert is connected in the secondary flow path, wherein the third contact is preferably connected via a thermal release, which is in particular designed as a bimetal element, with the breaker and tripping insert in the secondary flow path.

By using a simple, substantially triangular contact plate, which can be brought into engagement with three contacts which also form a triangle, the contact device can be made extremely simple and uncomplicated in order to simultaneously form the contact point of the main current path and the contact point of the secondary current path. Furthermore, the triangular contact plate allows the circuit breaker litzenfrei with only a few parts and thus inexpensive to manufacture.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the contact plate is arranged on a shaft of a contact plate carrier and is pressed by a spring against the contacts when the contact plate carrier assumes its ON position, wherein the contact plate for opening the contact point of the main current path from the armature of the magnetic release against the force of the spring about a pivot axis formed by the first and third contact away from the second contact is. In this way, in particular, the contact point of the main current path can be reliably interrupted in a simple manner without an arc occurring, since the contact point in the secondary current path remains reliably closed, that is, reliably held in its ON position. Here, the closing force of the force acting on the contact plate spring for the contact point in the secondary flow path is not affected, but increased by the pivotal movement of the contact plate against the force of the spring.

Advantageously, it is provided in a development of the invention that the contact plate is separable under the action of a switching spring of the contacts, wherein the contact plate carrier and thus also the contact plate of the attacking on the contact plate carrier switching spring to open the contact points from his / its closed or ON position in his / her open or OFF position is movable.

Appropriately, it is provided that the contact plate carrier is fixed by a pawl of the switching mechanism in its closed or ON position, the thermal release and the striker of the breaker and release insert each acting in the event of triggering on the pawl of the switching mechanism to the fixation of the Releasing contact plate carrier to open the contact points, so that the switching spring causes the sudden movement of the contact plate carrier and the contact plate from the ON to the OFF position.

In another advantageous development of the circuit breaker according to the invention it is provided that the contact device has a contact plate which is engageable with three contacts which form a triangle and of which the first contact with the coil of the magnetic release, the second contact with the main current path and the third contact is connected to the secondary current path, that the contact plate is pressed by a spring against the contacts, which acts within the triangle formed by the contacts on the contact plate, and that the armature of the magnetic release in case of failure via a pivot lever, a force on the contact plate which acts in the same direction on the contact plate as the force of the spring to pivot the contact plate about a pivot axis formed by the first and third contact against the force of the spring and so the contact plate for opening the contact point of the main current path from the second contact a bzuheben.

Here, the striker of the magnetic release, which interrupts the main current path in case of overcurrent and short circuit, so according to the invention indirectly via a pivot lever so on the contact plate, so that the force generated by the magnetic release force to open the contact from the same side acts on the contact plate, as the spring to close the contacts. However, the force is applied to two sides of a pivot axis about which the contact plate is pivotable like a rocker. In this way it is achieved that when opening the second contact for interrupting the main current path, the other two contacts can be reliably kept closed, so that a small arc, even if the opening of the second contact on the first or third Contact could occur reliably prevented, since when opening the second contact to interrupt the main current path no force acts in the opening direction of the contacts on the contact plate.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the contact plate has an extending from the first and third contact formed pivot axis and the region of the triangular arrangement of the contacts away extending extension on which the pivot lever engages. In this way, the opening behavior of the contact plate can be optimized particularly well, since the closing force generated by the spring and the tripping or opening force generated by the magnetic release can be adjusted to each other via the adjustment of the lever ratios to obtain a desired fast opening behavior.

Appropriately, the contact plate is provided with three mating contacts, with which it can be brought into engagement with the first to third contacts.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the pivot lever is pivotable about a pivot axis which is substantially parallel to the pivot axis of the contact plate formed by the first and third contact, and that it has a first lever arm on which the striker of the magnetic release engages, and has a second lever arm, is engageable with the pivot lever with the extension of the contact plate to open the second contact. As a result, the opening behavior can be further optimized.

In another embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the breaker and release insert has a striking pin with which it acts on the switching mechanism via a lever, the lever having a first lever arm, on which the striking pin of the trigger insert engages, and a second lever arm , via which he acts on the latch of the switch lock.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the lever acting on the switch lock is arranged relative to the pivot lever acting on the contact plate so that it fixes the pivot lever in its release position, when it is pivoted from its rest position to its release position, wherein the second lever arm of the pivot lever has an extension which extends in the direction transverse to the pivot axis thereof, and the second lever arm of the lever and the extension of the pivot lever are formed so that second lever arm engages with its free end on the extension.

Although it is basically possible to match the drop of the armature of the magnetic release after interrupting the Nebenstrompfads in the event of short circuit and the response of the sound lock for moving the contact plate to its final OFF position to each other so that a re-closing of the main current path is prevented, is achieved in that in a simple manner the contact plate can be fixed by the lever acting on the switch lock via the pivoting lever acting on the contact plate in its opening or release position. Thus, the magnetic release and the switch lock can be optimized independently of each other for their respective switching tasks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• Figur 1A eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines Leitungsschutzschalters gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung im eingeschalteten Zustand,
• Figur 1B das Schaltbild des Leitungsschutzschalters nach Figur 1A, wobei die Stromführung im eingeschalteten Zustand fett hervorgehoben ist,
• Figur 2A den erfindungsgemäßen Leitungsschutzschalter bei Überstrom,
• Figur 2B das Schaltbild des Leitungsschutzschalters, wobei die Stromführung bei Überstrom fett hervorgehoben ist,
• Figur 3 den Leitungsschutzschalter beim Auftreten eines Kurzschlusses,
• Figur 4A den Leitungsschutzschalter gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung im ausgeschalteten Zustand,
• Figur 4B das Schaltbild des ausgeschalteten Leitungsschutzschalters,
• Figur 5A eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines Leitungsschutzschalters gemäß einem anderen Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung im eingeschalteten Zustand,
• Figur 5B eine schematische vergrößerte Schnittdarstellung des Auslösemechnismus des Leitungsschutzschalters nach Figur 5A
• Figur 5C das Schaltbild des Leitungsschutzschalters nach Figur 5A, wobei die Stromführung im eingeschalteten Zustand fett hervorgehoben ist,
• Figur 6A den erfindungsgemäßen Leitungsschutzschalter bei Überstrom,
• Figur 6B das Schaltbild des erfindungsgemäßen Leitungsschutzschalters bei Überstrom,
• Figur 7A den erfindungsgemäßen Leitungsschutzschalter im ausgeschalteten Zustand nach Überstrom,
• Figur 7B das Schaltbild des erfindungsgemäßen Leitungsschutzschalters im ausgeschalteten Zustand nach Überstrom,
• Figur 8A den erfindungsgemäßen Leitungsschutzschalter beim Auftreten eines Kurzschlusses,
• Figur 8B das Schaltbild des erfindungsgemäßen Leitungsschutzschalters bei Kurzschluss,
• Figur 9A den Leitungsschutzschalter gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung im ausgeschalteten Zustand nach Kurzschluss, und
• Figur 9B das Schaltbild des nach Kurzschluss ausgeschalteten erfindungsgemäßen Leitungsschutzschalters.

The invention will be explained in more detail below, for example, with reference to the drawing. Show it:

• Figure 1A 1 is a schematic sectional view of a circuit breaker according to a first embodiment of the present invention in the switched-on state,
• FIG. 1B the circuit diagram of the circuit breaker after Figure 1A , wherein the power supply in the on state is highlighted in bold,
• FIG. 2A the circuit breaker according to the invention in case of overcurrent,
• FIG. 2B the circuit diagram of the circuit breaker, wherein the current control is highlighted in case of overcurrent,
• FIG. 3 the circuit breaker when a short circuit occurs,
• FIG. 4A the circuit breaker according to the present invention in the off state,
• FIG. 4B the circuit diagram of the switched off circuit breaker,
• FIG. 5A FIG. 2 a schematic sectional illustration of a circuit breaker according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention in the switched-on state, FIG.
• FIG. 5B a schematic enlarged sectional view of the triggering mechanism of the circuit breaker according to FIG. 5A
• FIG. 5C the circuit diagram of the circuit breaker after FIG. 5A , wherein the power supply in the on state is highlighted in bold,
• FIG. 6A the circuit breaker according to the invention in case of overcurrent,
• FIG. 6B the circuit diagram of the circuit breaker according to the invention in case of overcurrent,
• FIG. 7A the circuit breaker according to the invention in the off state after overcurrent,
• FIG. 7B the circuit diagram of the circuit breaker according to the invention in the off state after overcurrent,
• Figure 8A the circuit breaker according to the invention in the event of a short circuit,
• FIG. 8B the circuit diagram of the circuit breaker according to the invention in case of short circuit,
• Figure 9A the circuit breaker according to the present invention in the off state after short circuit, and
• FIG. 9B the circuit diagram of the circuit breaker according to the invention switched off after short circuit.

In the various figures of the drawing corresponding components are provided with the same reference numerals.

As in FIGS. 1A and 1B is shown, the circuit breaker according to a first embodiment of the invention, a magnetic release 10 with a coil 11 and an armature 12 which acts via a striker 14 on a contact plate 15. The coil 11 is connected at one end to a terminal 16 and at its other end to a first contact 17. When switched on, the contact 17 is connected via the contact plate 15, on which the mating contact to the first contact 17 is formed, to a second contact 18, which is connected via an electrical line element, which forms a main current path 19, to a further connection terminal 20. The main current path 19 is in the on state with the coil 11 of the magnetic release 10 in series and thus connects together with the coil 11, the two terminals 16 and 20 of the circuit breaker according to the invention. In trouble-free operation, therefore, the connection terminals 16 and 20 are connected exclusively by the series connection of the coil 11, the first contact 17, the contact plate 15, the second contact 18 and the electrical line element of the main current path 19.

Parallel to the main current path 19, a secondary current path 21 is connected between a third contact 22 and the further connection terminal 20. The third contact 22, in the Figure 1A as well as in the other sectional views of the circuit breaker is covered by the first contact 17, also cooperates with the contact plate 15. The third contact 22 is electrically connected to a thermal release 23, preferably formed by a bimetallic element, which is connected in series with a thermal breaker and tripping insert 24. The breaker and trip insert 24 is interchangeable between two non-switching contact elements 25, 26, which may be formed as terminal contacts, used, of which the first contact element 25 via a line member 27 with the thermal release 23 and the second contact element 26 via another line element 28 is connected to the other terminal 20. However, it is also possible to reverse the order of thermal trip 23 and breaker and trip insert 24 depending on the installation conditions in the circuit breaker, so that the breaker and trip insert 24 directly with the third contact 22nd is connected while the thermal release 23 between the breaker and trip insert 24 and the other terminal 20 is arranged.

The breaker and tripping insert 24 has a striking pin 29, with which it acts on a switching mechanism 30, as indicated by the dashed line 31 in FIG FIG. 1B is indicated. The bimetal element of the thermal release 23 also acts on the switch lock 30, as indicated by the dashed line 32.

The switch latch 30, which will be further described below as necessary, is also operable by a manual switch 33 and in turn also acts on the switch 33, as shown by the dashed double arrow 34, to move it to its OFF position the circuit breaker in case of failure interrupts the faulty area of the power supply, so if the circuit breaker due to an overcurrent or a short circuit both the main and the secondary current path between the terminals 16, 20 interrupts.

The preferably substantially triangular or V-shaped contact plate 15 has a non-illustrated passage opening or passage area between the legs of the V and is, as particularly well in FIG. 4A can be seen, mounted on a shaft 35 of a contact plate carrier 36 which extends through the passage opening or the passage region of the contact plate 15 therethrough. The contact plate carrier 36 and its shaft 35 are slidably mounted parallel to the direction of impact of the striker 14 of the magnetic release 10 in a housing 37 of the circuit breaker. Together with the contact plate 15, a spring 38 is mounted on the shaft 35, which is supported with its one end to a shoulder 39 of the contact plate carrier 36 and with its other end on the contact plate 15 to these as in Figure 1A is shown, with the first to third contacts 17, 18, 22 or as in FIG. 4A shown with a retaining shoulder 40 on the shaft 35 of the contact plate carrier 36 to be engaged.

As in Figure 1A is shown, the contact plate carrier 36 is held by a pawl 41 against the force of a switching spring 42 in its ON position in which the contact plate 15 is lifted from the retaining shoulder 40 and under the pressure of the spring 38 on the contacts 17, 18, 22nd rests to keep the circuit breaker in its ON state.

In trouble-free normal operation of the circuit breaker according to the invention, the current flows from the terminal 16 via the coil 11 of the magnetic release 10 to the first contact 17, via the contact plate 15 to the second contact 18 and via the electrical line element of the main current path 19 to the other terminal 20. Although the contact 22 is closed flows over the Nebenstrompfad with the thermal release 23 and the breaker and trip insert 24 virtually no electricity, since the Nebenstrompfad 21 is short-circuited by the main current path 19.

If an overcurrent occurs due to a fault on the load side of the power supply, the magnetic release 10 responds and the armature 12 strikes the striking pin 14 against the contact plate 15, as in FIG FIG. 2A shown and in FIG. 2B is shown by the dashed line of action 43. The contact plate 15 is thereby pivoted against the force of the spring 38 about an axis formed by the contacts 17, 22 pivot axis, so that the contact plate 15 is lifted with its corresponding mating contact from the contact 18 and the contact 18 is thus opened, while the first and third Contact 17, 22 stay closed. In the case shown, a compression spring is shown as spring 38, which is further compressed by the pivotal movement of the contact plate 15, whereby the contact plate 15 is held with increased force with the contacts 17 and 22 in engagement. The overcurrent continues to flow through the coil 11 of the magnetic release 10, the contact plate 15 and now via the secondary current path 21 and thus by the bimetallic element of the thermal release 23 and the breaker and trip insert 24. The overcurrent heats the bimetallic element, but does not bring the breaker and trigger insert 24 for response. Since the overcurrent when opening the first contact 17, that is not interrupted when interrupting the main flow path 19, but only to the secondary flow path 21 is passed when opening the first contact 17 no arc.

Due to the overcurrent, the bimetallic element of the thermal release 23 in the direction of FIG. 2A Bent arrow A and occurs with a first contact lug 41 'on the pawl 41 in contact and pivots it clockwise about its axis of rotation 44 against the force of a pawl spring, not shown, so that the pawl 41 releases a retaining pin 45 on the contact plate carrier 36. The switching spring 42 moves after the release of the retaining pin 45 of the contact plate carrier 36 this in his in FIG. 4A illustrated OFF position. At the same time, the switching spring 42 pivots on a rotatably mounted Shift lever 46 of the switch 33 is supported, the shift lever 46 in his in FIG. 4A shown, the OFF state of the circuit breaker indicating position.

If the switch 33 is manually returned to its ON position after the fault has been rectified in the power supply, then the shift lever 46 is switched off from the in FIG. 4A shown position in the clockwise direction in the Figure 1A moved back position shown, so by this movement, the pawl 41 from its in FIG. 4A OFF position shown again in the in Figure 1A shown ON position, wherein it again comes into engagement with the pawl spring which pivots the pawl 41 in the counterclockwise direction so that it is brought or held with the retaining pin 45 on the contact plate carrier 36. During further movement of the shift lever 46 and the pawl 41, the contact plate carrier 36, which is engaged with its retaining pin 45 with the pawl 41, moved by the hinged on the rotary lever 46 pawl 41 back into its closed or ON position. In this case, the switching spring 42 is tensioned.

If the circuit breaker according to the invention has been switched to its OFF state due to an overcurrent by the thermal release 23, it can be switched on again immediately after the fault has been eliminated without further measures. Even in the event that the overcurrent only briefly applied to the circuit breaker, for example, has responded to a downstream circuit breaker and has turned off the troubled area of the mains, the armature 12 falls back and the spring 38, the contact plate back into the in Figure 1A bring shown ON position.

However, if a short circuit occurs, so speaks as in the case of an overcurrent first of the magnetic release 10 and interrupts the main current path 19, so that the short-circuit current flows through the bypass path. Unlike the overcurrent now speaks of the breaker and release insert 24, which interrupts the Nebenstrompfad virtually simultaneously and pivoted by means of its striker 29 a pivotally mounted lever 48 of the switch latch 30 counterclockwise, as in FIG. 3A shown. The lever 48 has at its bearing part 49 a cam 50 which engages with a second contact nose 51 of the pawl 41 during the pivoting movement and pivots this against the force of the pawl spring in a clockwise direction, so that it releases the retaining pin 45 of the contact plate carrier 36, whereupon the contact plate carrier 36 as in the case of an overcurrent from the shift spring 42 in his in FIG. 4A drawn OFF position is pulled. In this case, due to the interruption of the main and Nebenstrompfads de-energized contacts 17, 22 are opened without it can come to an arc.

The breaker and release insert 24 is suitably formed by a fuse link, the fuse wire and / or retaining wire in a manner not shown, the contact pin 29 against the force of a release spring in his in the Figures 1A . 2A and 4A holding position shown holds. Once the fuse wire and possibly the retaining wire of the fuse element melts due to a high short-circuit current, the striker pin 29 is abruptly moved by the release insert provided in the fuse insert into its release position, whereby it actuates the switch lock 30 as described above.

After triggering the circuit breaker in the event of a short circuit, the breaker and trip unit 24 must be replaced. For this purpose, as indicated by dashed lines in the drawing, provided on the housing 37 of the circuit breaker a removable cap 52 or the like. In particular, the cap 52 is provided with a rod-shaped extension 53 which has at its free end a hook 54 which engages under or behind the breaker and release insert 24. If the cap 52, optionally after the release of suitable fasteners (not shown), removed in the drawing upwards, so the breaker and release insert 24 is taken simultaneously with the top and pulled out between the terminal contact elements 25, 26. The breaker and tripping insert 24 can thus be removed without tools from the circuit breaker according to the invention and replaced by a new one. Since the switching lever 46 secures the cap 52 in the switched-on state with its operating section against removal, the circuit breaker must be turned off before replacing the breaker and trip insert 24. However, if this is not done beforehand, the circuit breaker is forcibly turned off since not only the operating portion of the shift lever 46 of the manual switch 33 blocks the removal of the cap 52 and is thus forcibly operated upon the removal of the cap 52, but also the lever 48, which cooperates with the striker 29 of the breaker and trip insert 24 is actuated. It can thus be ensured that the region of the circuit breaker opened after the removal of the cap 52 has been de-energized. The the breaker and release insert (24) covering the cap (52) is thus removable only in the off state of the circuit breaker.

As in FIG. 5A and 5B is shown, a circuit breaker according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a magnetic release 10 with a coil 11 and an armature 12 which acts on a contact plate 15 via a striker 14 and a pivot lever 114 which will be described in more detail below. The coil 11 is connected at one end to a terminal 16 and at its other end to a first contact 17. When switched on, the contact 17 via the contact plate 15, on which a mating contact 17 '(see FIG. 5B ) is connected to the first contact 17, connected to a second contact 18, which is connected via an electrical conduction element, which forms a main current path 19, with a further connection terminal 20. The main current path 19 is in the on state with the coil 11 of the magnetic release 10 in series and thus connects together with the coil 11, the two terminals 16 and 20 of the circuit breaker according to the invention. In trouble-free operation, therefore, the connection terminals 16 and 20 are connected exclusively by the series connection of the coil 11, the first contact 17, the contact plate 15, the second contact 18 and the electrical line element of the main current path 19.

Parallel to the main current path 19, a secondary current path 21 is connected between a third contact 22 and the further connection terminal 20. The third contact 22, in the FIG. 5A as well as in the other sectional views of the circuit breaker is covered by the first contact 17, also cooperates with the contact plate 15. The third contact 22 is electrically connected to a thermal release 23, preferably formed by a bimetallic element, which is connected in series with a thermal breaker and tripping insert 24. The breaker and trip insert 24 is interchangeable inserted between two non-switching contact elements, of which a first contact element 25 via a line member 27 with the thermal release 23 and a second contact element via another line element (not shown) to the other terminal 20 is connected. However, it is also possible to reverse the order of thermal trip 23 and breaker and trip insert 24 depending on the installation conditions in the circuit breaker, so that the breaker and trip insert 24 is directly connected to the third contact 22, during the thermal Trigger 23 is disposed between the breaker and trip insert 24 and the other terminal 20.

The breaker and tripping insert 24 has a striker 29, with which it acts via a lever 148 on a switching mechanism 30, as indicated by the dashed line 31 in FIG FIG. 5C is indicated. The bimetal element of the thermal release 23 also acts on the switch lock 30, as indicated by the dashed line 32.

The switch latch 30, which will be further described below as necessary, is also operable by a manual switch 33 and in turn also acts on the switch 33, as shown by the dashed double arrow 34, to move it to its OFF position the circuit breaker in case of failure interrupts the faulty area of the power supply, so if the circuit breaker due to an overcurrent or a short circuit both the main and the secondary current path 19, 21 between the terminals 16, 20 interrupts.

The contact plate 15 is slidably mounted and pivotally mounted on a contact plate carrier 36, which in turn is mounted parallel to the direction of impact of the striker 14 of the magnetic release 10 in a housing 37 of the circuit breaker slidably. Together with the contact plate 15, a spring 38 is mounted on the contact plate carrier 36, which is supported with its one end to the contact plate carrier 36 and with its other end on the contact plate 15 to these as in FIG. 5A is shown, with the first to third contacts 17, 18, 22 or as for example in FIG. 7A shown to be engaged with a retaining shoulder 40 on the contact plate carrier 36.

The contact plate 15 has (see FIG. 5B ) three mating contacts 17 ', 18' and 22 'on (of which the third mating contact 22' corresponding to the third contact 22 in the drawing by the first mating contact 17 'is covered), with which they with the first to third contacts 17, 18th and 22 are engageable and form a triangle corresponding to the triangular arrangement of the first to third contacts 17, 18 and 22. The contact plate 15 further includes a pivot axis formed by one of the first and third contacts 17, 22 and the portion 15 "of the triangle arrangement of the mating contacts 17 ', 18', 22 'extending extension 15' (see FIG. 5B ) on. The spring 38, which the Contact plate 15 in engagement with the first to third contacts 17, 18 and 22 holds, engages within the triangle formed by the contacts 17, 18, 22, ie in the region 15 "of the triangular arrangement of the mating contacts 17 ', 18', 22 'on the Contact plate 15 on.

The pivoting lever 114 is pivotable about a pivot axis 114 ', which runs substantially parallel to the pivot axis of the contact plate 15 formed by the first and the third mating contact 17', 22 ', and has a first lever arm 115, on which the striker pin 14 in case of failure of the magnetic release 10 engages, and a second lever arm 116 with a contact lug 116 ', with the pivot lever 114 in case of failure on the extension 15' of the contact plate 15 acts to these to their from the first and third mating contact 17 ', 22' Swivel pivot axis. Instead of the contact nose 116 ', the pivot lever 114 may also have another suitably designed contact area for engagement with the contact plate 15. Further, an extension 117 is provided on the second lever arm 116 of the pivot lever 114, which extends in the direction transverse to the pivot axis 115 of this away.

As in FIG. 5A and 5B is shown, the contact plate carrier 36 is held by a pawl 41 against the force of a switching spring 42 and the spring 38 in its ON position in which the contact plate 15 is lifted from the retaining shoulder 40 and under the pressure of the spring 38 on the contacts 17th , 18, 22 rests in order to hold the circuit breaker in its ON state.

In trouble-free normal operation of the circuit breaker according to the invention, the current flows from the terminal 16 via the coil 11 of the magnetic release 10 to the first contact 17, via the contact plate 15 to the second contact 18 and via the electrical line element of the main current path 19 to the other terminal 20. Although the contact 22 is closed flows via the Nebenstrompfad 21 with the thermal release 23 and the breaker and trip insert 24 virtually no electricity, since the Nebenstrompfad 21 is short-circuited by the main current path 19.

Occurs due to a fault on the consumer side of the circuit breaker on an overcurrent, so speaks of the magnetic release 10 and the armature 12 strikes the striker 14 against the first lever arm 115 about the pivot lever 114 about its pivot axis 14 'in illustrated embodiment to pivot in a clockwise direction, so that it acts with the provided on the second lever arm 116 contact nose 116 'on the extension 15' of the contact plate 15, as in FIG. 6A shown and in FIG. 6B is shown by the dashed line of action 43. The contact plate 15 is thereby pivoted against the force of the spring 38 about the pivotal axis formed by the mating contacts 17 ', 22, so that the contact plate 15 with its corresponding mating contact 18' from the contact 18 is lifted and the contact 18 is thus opened, while the first and third contacts 17, 22 remain closed. In the case shown, a compression spring is shown as spring 38, which is further compressed by the pivotal movement of the contact plate 15, whereby the contact plate 15 is held with increased force with the contacts 17 and 22 in engagement. Furthermore, the magnetic release 10 also generates a force which acts on the contact plate 15 from its striker 14 via the pivot lever 114 in the same direction as the force of the spring 38, but on the other side of the pivot axis. The contact plate 15 is thereby pressed in the manner of a rocker with its mating contacts 17 ', 22' against the contacts 17, 22, so that when opening the second contact 18 opening of the first and third contact 17, 22 is reliably prevented because the at Opening the second contact 18 forces acting on the contact plate 15 from the same side and not act as previously from two sides on this. The opposite effect of the closing and opening forces is achieved by the design of the contact plate 15 as a pivot plate or rocker.

The duration of the interruption of the main current path 19, ie the duration of the opening of the second contact 18 can be minimized by a suitable coordination of the forces of the spring 38 and the magnetic release 10 on the mass and structure of the contact plate 15.

After opening the second contact 18 and the interruption of the main current path 19 of the overcurrent continues to flow through the coil 11 of the magnetic release 10, the contact plate 15 and now on the Nebenstrom path 21 and thus by the bimetallic element of the thermal release 23 and by the breaker and trip insert 24. The overcurrent heats the bimetallic element, but does not cause the breaker and trip insert 24 to respond. Since the overcurrent when opening the second contact 18, ie at Interrupting the main flow path 19 is not interrupted, but only passed to the secondary flow path 21, occurs when opening the second contact 18 no arc.

Due to the overcurrent, the bimetallic element of the thermal release 23 in the direction of FIG. 6A Bent arrow A and occurs with a contact arm 143 on the pawl 41 into contact and pivots it clockwise about its axis of rotation 44 against the force of a pawl spring, not shown, so that the pawl 41 releases a retaining pin 45 on the contact plate carrier 36. The switching spring 42 moves after the release of the retaining pin 45 of the contact plate carrier 36 this in his in FIG. 7A illustrated OFF position. At the same time pivots the switching spring 42 which is supported on a rotatably mounted shift lever 46 of the switch 33, the shift lever 46 in his in FIG. 7A shown, the OFF state of the circuit breaker indicating position.

If the switch 33 is manually returned to its ON position after the fault has been rectified in the power supply, then the shift lever 46 is switched off from the in FIG. 7A shown position in the clockwise direction in the FIG. 5A or 6A moved back position shown, so by this movement, the pawl 41 from its in FIG. 7A OFF position shown again in the in FIG. 5A or 6A shown ON position, wherein it again comes into engagement with the pawl spring which pivots the pawl 41 in the counterclockwise direction so that it is brought or held with the retaining pin 45 on the contact plate carrier 36. In the further movement of the shift lever 46 and the pawl 41 of the contact plate carrier 36, which is about its retaining pin 45 with the pawl 41 engages moved from the hinged on the rotary lever 46 pawl 41 back into its closed or ON position. In this case, the switching spring 42 is tensioned and the shift lever 46 held in the over-center position.

If the circuit breaker according to the invention has been switched to its OFF state due to an overcurrent by the thermal release 23, it can be switched on again immediately after the fault has been eliminated without further measures. Even in the event that the overcurrent only briefly applied to the circuit breaker, for example, has responded to a downstream circuit breaker and has turned off the troubled portion of the mains, the armature 12 falls back and the spring 38, the contact plate 15 back into the in FIG. 5A or 6A bring shown ON position.

However, if a short circuit occurs, then, as in the case of an overcurrent, the magnetic release 10 initially trips and interrupts the main current path 19, as in FIG FIG. 8B is shown by the dashed line of action 43, so that the short-circuit current flows only through the secondary flow path 21. Unlike the overcurrent, however, now speaks of the breaker and tripping insert 24, which virtually simultaneously interrupts the secondary flow path 21 and by means of its striker 29, the lever 148 pivots clockwise, as in Figure 8A shown.

The lever 148, which is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis 149, has a first lever arm 150, on which the striker pin 29 of the breaker and release insert 24 engages, and a second lever arm 151, on which an extension 152 is formed, which on the Contact arm 143 of the pawl 41 of the switching mechanism 30 acts to release the contact plate carrier 36, so that it can be brought by the switching spring 42 in the OFF position.

If the lever 148 from its in FIG. 5A shown rest position by the striker 29 of the breaker and release insert 24 in the in Figure 8A Pivoting pivoted position shown so he presses with the free tip of the extension 152 on the first contact arm 143 of the pawl 41 and pivots against the force of the pawl spring clockwise so that it releases the retaining pin 45 of the contact plate carrier 36, whereupon the contact plate carrier 36 as in Case of an overcurrent of the switching spring 42 in his in Figure 9A drawn OFF position is pulled. In this case, due to the interruption of the main and Nebenstrompfads de-energized contacts 17, 22 are opened without it can come to an arc.

To prevent after the interruption of the secondary current path, the contact plate 15, which is no longer from the magnetic release 10 in their in Figure 8A shown, falls back into its closed position, which would cause the short-circuit current would flow through the main current path 19 and that when opening the first and second contacts 17 and 18, an undesirable arc occurred, the second Hebelann 151 of the lever 148th and the extension 117 of the pivoting lever 114 is formed so that the second lever arm 151 engages with its free end 151 'on a side surface 117' of the extension 117, so that the one located in its release position Swing lever 114 is prevented from returning to its rest position as soon as the striker pin 14 of the magnetic release 10 no longer holds this in its opening or release position. The second lifting arm 151 of the lever 148 pivoted by the striking pin 29 of the breaking and triggering insert 24 thus holds the pivot lever 114 and thus the contact plate 15 in the position in which the second contact 18 is opened and the main current path 19 is interrupted, so that both the main - Are reliably kept de-energized as well as Nebenstrompfad until the contact plate 15 and the contact plate carrier 36 carrying them from the switching spring 42 of the switching mechanism 30 in the in Figure 9A drawn OFF position was pulled.

The breaker and release insert 24 is suitably formed by a fuse link, the fuse wire and / or retaining wire in a manner not shown, the contact pin 29 against the force of a release spring in his in the Figures 5A . 5B and 6A holding position shown holds. Once the fuse wire and the holding wire of the fuse link melts due to a high short-circuit current, the striker pin 29 is abruptly moved by the release insert provided in the fuse insert into its release position, whereby it actuates the switching mechanism 30 via the lever 148 as described above.

After triggering the circuit breaker in the event of a short circuit, the breaker and trip unit 24 must be replaced as described above.

Claims (15)

1. Circuit breaker with two current paths routed in parallel, each with one contact point (15, 18; 15, 22), which as a main and secondary current path (19, 21) are connected via a contact device (15, 17, 18, 22) in series with a coil (11) as a magnetic trip device (10), the armature (12) of which opens the contact point (15, 18) of the main current path (19), which is formed exclusively by the series connection of the contact device (15, 17, 18) to the coil (11), in the event of a fault characterized in that in the secondary current path (21) an interruption and triggering element (24) is arranged, which in the event of a short-circuit interrupts the secondary current path and triggers a latching mechanism (30) for opening and fixing the contact device (15, 17, 18, 22) .
2. Circuit breaker according to Claim 1, characterized in that the interruption and triggering element (24) is arranged in the secondary current path (21) in a replaceable manner between two contact elements (25, 26), in particular terminal contact elements.
3. Circuit breaker according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that the interruption and triggering element (24) is a fuse element, the fusible wire of which holds a striker pin (29) in its standby position against the force of a spring.
4. Circuit breaker according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that a housing cover (52) which covers the interruption and triggering element (24) in the secondary current path (21) is only removable in the deactivated state of the circuit breaker, in particular to replace the interruption and triggering element (24).
5. Circuit breaker according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact device has a contact plate (15), which can be brought into engagement with three contacts (17, 18, 22), of which the first contact (17) is connected to a connection terminal (16), the second contact (18) is connected to a further connection terminal (20) and the third contact (22) is connected to the interruption and triggering element (24) in the secondary current path (21) .
6. Circuit breaker according to Claim 5, characterized in that the third contact (22) is connected via a thermal trip device (23), which is configured in particular as a bimetallic element, to the interruption and triggering element (24) in the secondary current path (21), and/or that the contact plate (15) is arranged on a shaft (35) of a contact plate carrier (36) and is pressed by a spring (38) against the contacts (17, 18, 22) when the contact plate carrier (36) occupies its ON-position.
7. Circuit breaker according to Claim 6, characterized in that in order to open the contact point of the main current path (19), the contact plate (15) can be pivoted by the armature (12) of the magnetic trip device (10) away from the second contact (18) about a pivot axis formed by the first and third contact (17, 22) against the force of the spring (38), and/or that the contact plate (15) can be disconnected from the contacts (17, 18, 22) under the action of a switching spring (42).
8. Circuit breaker according to Claim 7, characterized in that in order to open the contact points, the contact plate carrier (36) and therefore also the contact plate (15) can be moved from its/their closed or ON-position into its/their open or OFF-position by the switching spring (42), which engages with the contact plate carrier (36), and/or that the contact plate carrier (36) can be fixed in its closed or ON-position by a latch (41) of the latching mechanism (30).
9. Circuit breaker according to Claim 8, characterized in that the thermal trip device (23) and the striker pin (29) of the interruption and triggering element (24) each act upon the latch (41) of the latching mechanism (30) in the event of a trip, in order to release the fixing of the contact plate carrier (36) to open the contact points.
10. Circuit breaker according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact device has a contact plate (15), which can be brought into engagement with three contacts (17, 18, 22) which form a triangle, and the first contact (17) of which is connected to the coil (11) of the magnetic trip device (10), the second contact (18) is connected to the main current path (19) and the third contact (22) to the secondary current path (21), that the contact plate (15) is pressed by a spring (38) against the contacts (17, 18, 22), which spring engages with the contact plate (15) inside the triangle formed by the contacts (17, 18, 22), and that in the event of a fault the armature (12) of the magnetic trip device (10) exerts a force on the contact plate (15) via a pivot lever (114), which acts on the contact plate (15) in the same direction as the force of the spring (38), in order to pivot the contact plate (15) about a pivot axis formed by the first and third contact (17, 22) against the force of the spring (38) and thus to lift the contact plate (15) off the second contact (18) to open the contact point of the main current path (19).
11. Circuit breaker according to Claim 10, characterized in that the contact plate (15) has a pivot axis formed by the first and third contact (17, 22) and an extension (15'), which extends away from the region of the triangular arrangement of the contacts (17, 18, 22) and with which the pivot lever (114) engages, and/or that the contact plate (15) has three mating contacts (17', 18', 22'), with which it can be brought into engagement with the first to third contacts (17, 18, 22).
12. Circuit breaker according to Claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the pivot lever (114) can be pivoted about a pivot axis (114'), which runs substantially parallel to the pivot axis of the contact plate (15) formed by the first and third contact (17, 22), and that it has a first lever arm (115) with which the striker pin (14) of the magnetic trip device (10) engages, and a second lever arm (116), with which the pivot lever (114) can be brought into engagement with the extension (15') of the contact plate (15) in order to open the second contact (18, 18').
13. Circuit breaker according to any one of Claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the interruption and triggering element (24) has a striker pin (29) with which it acts on the latching mechanism (30) via a lever (148).
14. Circuit breaker according to Claim 13, characterized in that the lever (148) has a first lever arm (150) with which the striker pin (29) of the interruption and triggering element (24) engages, and a second lever arm (151), via which it acts on the latch (41) of the latching mechanism (30), wherein on the second lever arm (151) a continuation (152) is formed which acts on the latch (41) of the latching mechanism (30).
15. Circuit breaker according to Claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the lever (148) acting on the latching mechanism (30) is arranged relative to the pivot lever (114) acting on the contact plate (15) such that said lever fixes the pivot lever (114) in the trip position thereof when it is pivoted out of its rest position into its trip position, wherein the second lever arm (116) of the pivot lever (114) has an extension (117) which extends away from the pivot axis (114') in the direction perpendicular thereto, and the second lever arm (151) of the lever (148) and the extension (117) of the pivot lever (114) are configured such that the second lever arm (151) engages with its free end (151') on the extension (117) .

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