EP4404232B1 - Electrical protection device and method for resetting such a device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical protection device and a method of resetting such a device.

An electrical installation generally includes various electrical protection devices. Among the electrical protection devices, we know in particular a circuit breaker, which aims to protect the electrical installation or a person, against an electrical fault in an electrical circuit of the installation, by opening this electrical circuit. For example, the circuit breaker is triggered by an overload, a short circuit or a differential electrical fault within this circuit. Several different devices can be used to protect from different types of electrical faults, for example a first device to protect from overloads and short circuits, and another device to protect from a differential electrical fault. However, this increases the overall size of a protection system including these different devices.

It is also known to use a single device protecting against these three types of electrical faults. FR3121270A1 describes a protective device for protecting against overloads, short circuits and differential electrical faults. This device, which is generally satisfactory, comprises a stirrup spring and a drawer which is configured to switch from an initial armed position to a free position, when an electrical fault occurs, then automatically return to its initial armed position under the action of the stirrup spring. However, the mechanical power developed by the stirrup spring is not always sufficient to allow the drawer to return to its initial armed position.

The aim of the present invention is to remedy the aforementioned drawback by proposing a new electrical protection device in which the return of the drawer to its initial armed position is made more reliable.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is an electrical protection device, comprising a housing, a first conduction path, which comprises a first movable contact housed in the housing and movable between a conduction position and an isolation position, a switching mechanism, which is housed in the housing and which is configured to switch between an armed configuration, in which the switching mechanism puts the movable contact in the conduction position, and a triggered configuration, in which the switching mechanism puts the movable contact in the isolation position. The electrical protection device also comprises a first trigger, which is housed in the housing and which is configured to trigger a switching of the switching mechanism from the armed configuration to the triggered configuration when the first trigger is energized by an electrical fault, and a switching handle movable in rotation about a handle axis, actuable by a user between an open position, to put the switching mechanism in the triggered configuration, and a closed position, to put the switching mechanism in the armed configuration, and actuable by the switching mechanism from its closed position to its open position, when the switching mechanism is switched into the triggered configuration under the effect of the first trigger. The electrical protection device also comprises a drawer, which comprises a locking relief and which is movable relative to the housing, between an armed position and a free position, a drawer spring, which applies an actuating force to the drawer, tending to move the drawer from the armed position to the free position, a latch, which comprises a blocking relief configured to block the drawer in the armed position, the latch being movable between a holding position, in which the latch holds the drawer in the armed position by means of the blocking relief which cooperates with the locking relief, when the drawer is in the armed position, and an unlocked position, in which the blocking relief and the locking relief are offset relative to each other and the latch allows the drawer to be moved from its armed position to its free position, the first trigger being configured to move the latch from the holding position to the unlocked position when the first trigger is energized.

According to the invention, the electrical protection device further comprises a reset hook, kinematically linked to the switching handle, such that it moves with the switching handle during a rotation of the switching handle around the handle axis between its open position and its closed position, while the drawer carries a drawer hook. Furthermore, when the drawer is in the free position, the reset hook and the drawer hook are opposite each other and ready to be engaged under the effect of the rotation of the switching handle between its open position and its closed position and the lock is held in the unlocked position by the drawer. When the drawer is in the armed position, the drawer hook and the reset hook are distant from each other. Finally, the movement of the switching handle from its open position to its closed position causes the drawer hook and the reset hook to engage and the drawer to be moved by the switching handle until the electrical protection device is reset, with the drawer moving from its free position to its armed position and with the switching mechanism switching to the armed configuration.

By virtue of the invention, a force developed by the switching handle, actuated by a user, is used to move the drawer from the free position to the armed position, rather than using only a force developed by a yoke spring. Thus, the force provided is always sufficient to move the drawer to its armed position after a trip of the electrical protection device. Furthermore, the tripping and resetting of the protection device are not modified. The first trigger is made operational before the switching mechanism switches to the armed configuration, i.e. the resetting of the switching mechanism, allowing the protection of the person or the electrical installation as soon as the device is reset, i.e. as soon as the circuit is closed and the electric current flows in the circuit.

• Le boîtier comprend une rampe de guidage du crochet de réarmement configurée pour désengager le crochet de réarmement et le crochet de tiroir au cours du passage de la manette de commutation de sa position d'ouverture à sa position de fermeture.
• Le dispositif de protection électrique comprend en outre un voyant qui est logé dans le boîtier et qui est mobile par rapport au boîtier, entre une position visible et une position non visible de l'extérieur du boîtier, et dans lequel le tiroir est adapté pour mettre le voyant en position visible lorsqu'il est en position libre, et pour mettre le voyant en position non visible lorsque le tiroir est en position armée.
• Le verrou est mobile en rotation entre sa position de maintien et sa position déverrouillée, autour d'un axe de verrou ; le verrou est soumis à l'action d'un ressort de rappel qui le renvoie vers sa position de maintien ; le relief de blocage est un ergot qui s'étend radialement par rapport à l'axe de verrou ; et le relief de verrouillage est une encoche du tiroir configurée pour accueillir le relief de blocage en position de maintien du verrou.
• Le dispositif de protection électrique comprend, en outre, un deuxième chemin de conduction, qui est électriquement isolé du premier chemin de conduction et qui comprend un deuxième contact mobile logé dans le boîtier et mobile entre une position de conduction et une position d'isolement ; et le premier déclencheur est un déclencheur différentiel, qui comprend un capteur différentiel, configuré pour être excité lorsqu'un courant différentiel dépasse un seuil prédéterminé et un relais, configuré pour entraîner le verrou depuis la position de maintien jusqu'à la position déverrouillée, sous la seule action d'une énergie électrique issue du capteur différentiel, et générée sous l'effet du courant différentiel, alors que le courant différentiel dépasse le seuil prédéterminé.
• Le premier chemin de conduction est un chemin de conduction de neutre, le deuxième chemin de conduction est un chemin de conduction de phase et le passage de la manette de commutation de sa position d'ouverture à sa position de fermeture entraîne le passage du premier contact mobile dans sa position de conduction avant le passage du deuxième contact mobile dans sa position de conduction.
• Le dispositif comprend en outre un cliquet de fermeture brusque, configuré pour maintenir le deuxième contact mobile dans sa position d'isolement sur une première portion d'une course de déplacement de la manette de commutation entre sa position d'ouverture et sa position de fermeture et pour libérer le deuxième contact mobile au passage d'un point prédéterminé de la course de déplacement de la manette de commutation.
• Le dispositif comprend un deuxième et un troisième déclencheur et dans lequel le premier déclencheur est un déclencheur différentiel, le deuxième déclencheur est un déclencheur de surcharge électrique et le troisième déclencheur est un déclencheur de court-circuit.
• Le boîtier a une largeur inférieure à 25 mm, de préférence inférieure à 20 mm, de préférence égale à 18 mm.

According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the device comprises the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in any technically possible combination:

• The housing includes a reset hook guide ramp configured to disengage the reset hook and the drawer hook during movement of the switching handle from its open position to its closed position.
• The electrical protection device further comprises an indicator light which is housed in the housing and which is movable relative to the housing, between a position visible and a position not visible from outside the housing, and in which the drawer is adapted to put the indicator light in the visible position when it is in the free position, and to put the indicator light in the non-visible position when the drawer is in the armed position.
• The lock is rotatable between its holding position and its unlocked position, around a lock axis; the lock is subjected to the action of a return spring which returns it to its holding position; the locking relief is a lug which extends radially relative to the lock axis; and the locking relief is a notch in the drawer configured to accommodate the locking relief in the holding position of the lock.
• The electrical protection device further comprises a second conduction path, which is electrically isolated from the first conduction path and which comprises a second movable contact housed in the housing and movable between a conduction position and an isolation position; and the first trigger is a differential trigger, which comprises a differential sensor, configured to be excited when a differential current exceeds a predetermined threshold and a relay, configured to drive the lock from the holding position to the unlocked position, under the sole action of electrical energy from the differential sensor, and generated under the effect of the differential current, while the differential current exceeds the predetermined threshold.
• The first conduction path is a neutral conduction path, the second conduction path is a phase conduction path, and moving the switching handle from its open position to its closed position causes the first moving contact to move into its conduction position before the second moving contact moves into its conduction position.
• The device further comprises a snap-closing pawl, configured to hold the second movable contact in its insulating position over a first portion of a movement stroke of the switching handle between its open position and its closed position and to release the second movable contact upon passing a predetermined point of the movement stroke of the switching handle.
• The device comprises a second and a third trigger and wherein the first trigger is a differential trigger, the second trigger is an electrical overload trigger and the third trigger is a short circuit trigger.
• The case has a width less than 25 mm, preferably less than 20 mm, preferably equal to 18 mm.

1. a) une première étape de mise en prise entre le crochet de réarmement et le crochet de tiroir ;
2. b) une deuxième étape de translation du tiroir de la position libre à la position armée sous l'action du crochet de réarmement, jusqu'à relâcher le verrou de sa position déverrouillée ;
3. c) une troisième étape de déplacement du verrou de sa position déverrouillée vers sa position de maintien ;
4. d) une quatrième étape de désengagement du crochet de réarmement et du crochet de tiroir ; et
5. e) une cinquième étape de basculement en configuration armée du mécanisme de commutation.

The present invention also relates to a method for resetting the electrical protection device as mentioned above, by actuating the switching handle in rotation around the handle axis, this method comprising at least the following steps which take place successively when the switching handle is actuated by the user:

1. a) a first engagement step between the resetting hook and the drawer hook;
2. b) a second step of translation of the drawer from the free position to the armed position under the action of the re-arming hook, until the lock is released from its unlocked position;
3. (c) a third step of moving the lock from its unlocked position to its holding position;
4. (d) a fourth step of disengagement of the resetting hook and the drawer hook; and
5. e) a fifth step of switching to the armed configuration of the switching mechanism.

• [Fig 1] la figure 1 est une vue éclatée des mécanismes d'un dispositif de protection électrique conforme à l'invention ;
• [Fig 2] la figure 2 est une vue de côté du dispositif de protection électrique de la figure 1, dans une première configuration ;
• [Fig 3] la figure 3 est une vue à plus grande échelle du détail III à la figure 2, certains éléments constitutifs du dispositif de protection électrique étant omis ;
• [Fig 4] la figure 4 est une vue similaire à la figure 3, le dispositif de protection électrique étant dans une deuxième configuration ;
• [Fig 5] la figure 5 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 3, le dispositif de protection électrique étant dans une troisième configuration ;
• [Fig 6] la figure 6 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 3, le dispositif de protection électrique étant dans une quatrième configuration ;
• [Fig 7] la figure 7 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 3, le dispositif de protection électrique étant dans une cinquième configuration ;
• [Fig 8] la figure 8 est une vue en perspective partielle montrant certains éléments du dispositif de protection électrique, dans la deuxième configuration ;
• [Fig 9] la figure 9 est une vue de côté d'une partie du dispositif de protection électrique dans la deuxième configuration, vu sous un angle opposé à celui de la figure 4.

The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely as a non-limiting example and with reference to the drawings in which:

• [ Fig 1 ] there Figure 1 is an exploded view of the mechanisms of an electrical protection device according to the invention;
• [ Fig 2 ] there Figure 2 is a side view of the electrical protection device of the Figure 1 , in a first configuration;
• [ Fig 3 ] there Figure 3 is a larger scale view of detail III at the Figure 2 , certain constituent elements of the electrical protection device being omitted;
• [ Fig 4 ] there Figure 4 is a view similar to the Figure 3 , the electrical protection device being in a second configuration;
• [ Fig 5 ] there Figure 5 is a view similar to that of the Figure 3 , the electrical protection device being in a third configuration;
• [ Fig 6 ] there Figure 6 is a view similar to that of the Figure 3 , the electrical protection device being in a fourth configuration;
• [ Fig 7 ] there Figure 7 is a view similar to that of the Figure 3 , the electrical protection device being in a fifth configuration;
• [ Fig 8 ] there figure 8 is a partial perspective view showing certain elements of the electrical protection device, in the second configuration;
• [ Fig 9 ] there Figure 9 is a side view of a portion of the electrical protection device in the second configuration, seen from an angle opposite that of the Figure 4 .

There Figure 1 shows an exploded view of an electrical protection device 1 according to the invention. This electrical protection device 1 may be a circuit breaker, as shown in the Figure 1 , and protects electrical installations against abnormal conditions, such as short circuits, overcurrents or current leaks to earth.

We define a width direction X, a depth direction Y and a height direction Z, which are perpendicular to each other and which are fixed relative to the device 1. By hypothesis, we consider the direction X as horizontal and normal to the plane of the figures 2 to 7 And 9 .

The electrical protection device 1 comprises a housing 2, essentially closed and containing the majority of the other elements of the electrical protection device 1. The housing 2 is formed of an electrically insulating material. The directions X, Y and Z are fixed relative to the housing 2.

On the figures 1 to 7 , only a part of the housing 2 is visible, namely a half-shell. The housing 2 comprises another half-shell not visible in the figures and generally symmetrical to that which is shown, with respect to a plane P2 which delimits the half-shell on its side visible to the Figure 1 .

The electrical protection device 1 comprises a first conduction path 3, which comprises a first movable contact 11 and a first fixed contact 12. The first conduction path 3, visible in particular at figures 1 And 2 , is sometimes called neutral. The contact 12 is fixed relative to the housing 2 and located opposite the movable contact 11, in the Z direction. The movable contact 11 preferably comprises a conductive end 13, ensuring the electrical contact function. The movable contact 11 preferably comprises a contact holder 15, which carries the end 13. The movable contact 11 is pivotable, relative to the housing 2, by means of the contact holder 15, around a movable contact axis X11, parallel to the X direction. This pivoting is carried out between a conduction position, shown on the Figure 2 , and an isolation position, shown figure 9 In the conduction position of the movable contact 11, the conductive end 13 is in electrical contact with, and resting against, the fixed contact 12. In the isolation position, the end 13 of the movable contact 11 is spaced from the fixed contact 12, so as to be electrically isolated therefrom.

The electrical protection device 1 advantageously comprises a second conduction path 4, comprising a second movable contact 21 and a second fixed contact 22. The conduction path 4, visible in particular at figure 9 , is sometimes called phase. The second movable contact 21 preferably comprises a conductive end 23 and a contact holder 25. The second movable contact 21 is pivotable, relative to the housing 2, by means of the contact holder 25, around the axis X11, that is to say around the same axis as that of the movable contact 11. It could nevertheless be provided, as a variant, that the pivoting of the contacts 11 and 21 takes place around two distinct axes, preferably parallel to each other. The pivoting of the second movable contact 21 is carried out between a conduction position, not shown, and an isolation position, shown on the figure 9 In the conduction position of the movable contact 21, the conductive end 23 is in electrical contact with, and bearing against, the fixed contact 22. In the isolation position, the conductive end 23 of the movable contact 21 is spaced from the fixed contact 22, so as to be electrically isolated therefrom.

The movable contacts 11 and 21 are advantageously pivotable relative to the housing 2 independently. When they move from their respective insulating positions to their respective conduction positions, the movable contacts 11 and 21 advantageously rotate in the same direction. In particular, the conductive ends 13 and 23 are then moved essentially in the Z direction.

The electrical protection device 1 further comprises at least one trigger. In the illustrated example, only one trigger 30 is illustrated. In practice, the electrical protection device 1 advantageously comprises several triggers, typically three triggers, each configured to be excited by an electrical fault of a respective distinct predetermined type. Each trigger is designed to individually triggering a switching to the isolation position of contacts 11 and 21, when one of the triggers is energized. Typically one of the triggers is designed to be energized by a predetermined electrical fault, such as an electrical overload, and another trigger is designed to be energized by a short circuit, these two triggers generally being combined to form a miniature circuit breaker, or MCB, from the English "Miniature Circuit Breaker".

Advantageously, the trigger 30 is configured to be excited by another electrical fault of a predetermined type, namely a differential type electrical fault, which is likely to occur between the conduction paths 3 and 4 and the earth. The trigger 30 is therefore a differential trigger excited in particular by a current leakage to the earth, which is likely to occur downstream of the electrical protection device 1, then causing a difference between the value of the intensity of the current flowing within the first conduction path 3 and the value of the intensity of the current flowing within the second conduction path 4. More precisely, the differential trigger 30 is excited when a differential current exceeds a predetermined value, for example 30 mA (milliamperes), this differential current being equal to the difference between the current flowing in the conduction path 4 and the current flowing in the conduction path 3.

In the case where only the differential trip device 30 is present in the electrical protection device 1, the electrical protection device 1 is called a differential switch, or RCCB, from the English "Residual Current Circuit Breaker". In the case where the three trip devices exist simultaneously in the same electrical protection device 1, the latter is called a RCBO, from the English "Residual Current Breaker with Over-Current" or differential circuit breaker.

Preferably, the trigger 30 comprises a differential current sensor, not shown, and a relay 31. The relay 31 here comprises a movable rod 32, which is moved relative to the housing 2 between an armed position, shown in the Figure 2 , and a triggered position not shown, when the trigger 30 is energized. Here, the movement of the rod 32 from the armed position to the triggered position is carried out in the Z direction. The operation of the trigger 30 is in accordance with the technical teaching of FR3121270A1 .

The differential sensor comprises, for example, a ferromagnetic torus, not shown, and carrying two electromagnetic windings, one advantageously formed by a part of the conduction path 3 and the other advantageously formed by a part of the conduction path 4.

The toroid of the differential sensor advantageously carries a third winding, connected to the relay 31. Since the three windings of the trigger 30 are wound around the same toroid, an electric current is induced within the winding connected to the relay 31 when the differential current of the paths 4 and 3 is non-zero. The third winding then electrically supplies the relay 31 with the induced current. Preferably, the movement of the rod 32 from the armed position to the triggered position is actuated by the relay 31 solely on the basis of the electric current induced by the differential sensor. Then, no other source of energy is provided for the trigger 30. More generally, the relay 31 is preferably configured to actuate the movement of the rod 32 to the triggered position under the sole action of the electrical energy from the differential sensor, when the differential current exceeds the predetermined threshold.

Once the movable rod 32 has reached the triggered position, it should be returned to the armed position to reset the relay 31 and thus allow the relay 31 to actuate the rod 32 again in the event of a differential fault.

The electrical protection device 1 also comprises a switching mechanism 40.

The switching mechanism 40 is housed in the housing 2. The switching mechanism 40 is configured to switch between an armed configuration, shown in Figure 2 , in which the switching mechanism 40 places the first and second movable contacts 11 and 21 in the conduction position, and a triggered configuration, partially shown in the Figure 4 , in which the switching mechanism 40 places the first and second movable contacts 11 and 21 in the isolated position. This switching is enabled by a spring 93, which tends to switch the switching mechanism 40 into its triggered configuration.

A first contact spring 45 bears against the first movable contact 11, in particular against the contact carrier 15, and against the switching mechanism 40. A second contact spring 46 bears against the second movable contact 21, in particular against the contact carrier 25 and against the switching mechanism 40. The contact springs 45 and 46 are helical torsion springs. It is expected that the first and second contact springs 45 and 46 apply, respectively to the first and second movable contacts 11 and 21, a torque around the axis X11 which tends to put the first and second movable contacts 11 and 21 in abutment against the first and second fixed contacts 12 and 22.

The electrical protection device 1 also comprises a switching handle 50. The switching handle 50 is designed to be operated by a user, between an open position and a closed position and vice versa. The switching lever 50 is pivotable relative to the housing 2, around a lever axis X50, parallel to the X axis, between a closed position, shown in the figures 2 And 3 , and an opening position, shown on the Figure 4 .

The switching lever 50 here comprises a base 51, by means of which the lever is pivotally mounted on the housing 2. The switching lever 50 comprises a crank pin 52, carried by the base 51, and by means of which the user can actuate the control 50 in rotation, by exerting a torque around the lever axis X50. To be accessible to the user, the crank pin 52 is arranged at least partly outside the housing 2.

The switching mechanism 40 advantageously comprises a spring 53, called a “control spring”, visible on the figures 1 , 2 And 9 . The control spring 53 applies, to the switching lever 50 and by bearing on the housing 2, a torque around the lever axis X50 which tends to return the switching lever 50 from its closed position to its open position. For example, the control spring 53 is a helical torsion spring, housed inside the base 51 around the lever axis X50, and one branch of which bears on the switching lever 50 and another branch of which bears on the inside of the housing 2.

The position of the switching handle 50, visible from outside the housing 2, visually indicates to the user the current configuration commanded for the electrical protection device 1, namely a placing in the isolation position of the first and second movable contacts 11 and 21 when the switching handle 50 is in the open position, and a placing in the conduction position of the first and second movable contacts 11 and 21, when the switching handle 50 is in the closed position.

The switching mechanism 40 advantageously comprises a connecting rod 42, visible on the figures 1 And 2 . The connecting rod 42 comprises an end 43 attached to the control 50, in particular to the base 51. By means of this end 43, the connecting rod 42 can pivot relative to the switching lever 50, around an axis X43 which is parallel and not coincident with the lever axis X50. Thus, the rotation of the switching lever 50 is linked to a crank movement, that is to say an arc of a circle around the axis X50, of the end 43. The connecting rod 42 also comprises another end 44, connected to the rest of the switching mechanism 40. Thus, when the switching mechanism 40 is in the triggered position, the switching lever 50 is in the open position, and when the switching mechanism 40 is in the armed position, the switching lever 50 is in the closed position.

To change the switching mechanism 40 from its armed configuration shown in the Figure 2 in its triggered configuration, the differential trigger 30 actuates a force amplifier 60, as shown in detail in the figures 3 to 9 The force amplifier 60 is entirely separate from the switching mechanism 40, and essentially comprises a drawer 61, a lock 62, a drawer spring 63, but also preferably a return spring 64 and a reset blade 65.

THE figures 3 to 7 show a detail of the electrical protection device 1, where certain parts of the electrical protection device 1 are not visible in order to improve the visibility of certain parts of the force amplifier 60.

The drawer 61 is movable in translation, relative to the housing 2, between an armed position, shown in the Figure 3 , and a free position, shown on the figures 4 , 5 And 8 . For this, the drawer 61 slides relative to the housing 2 along an axis A61, which is fixed relative to the housing 2. The axis A61 is preferably included in a plane parallel to the directions Y and Z. Here, the axis A61 is oblique relative to the directions Y and Z. The drawer 61 is preferably moved in a direction which has a horizontal component in the direction of the direction Z to be moved to the free position. To be guided in translation, the drawer 61 comprises for example two oblong slots 612 and 614, the long length of which is parallel to the axis A61, and by means of which the drawer 61 slides on two respective rods 212 and 214 belonging to the housing 2, parallel to the direction X.

The drawer spring 63 applies a force called "actuating force" to the drawer 61, tending to move the drawer 61 from its armed position to its free position. For this, the drawer spring 63 advantageously bears on the housing 2, more particularly in a housing 216 provided on the housing. The drawer spring 63 is here a compression spring oriented parallel to the axis A61, which is interposed between a wall of the housing 2, which forms the bottom of the housing 216, and a support portion 616 of the drawer 61. The spring 63 pushes the drawer 61 back by default to its free position.

When the drawer 61 is moved from the armed position to the free position, the drawer 61 drives the switching mechanism 40 from its armed configuration to its triggered configuration, causing the first and second movable contacts 11 and 21 to move to their respective isolated positions.

The lock 62 is movable between a holding position, shown in the figures 2 , 3 And 7 , wherein the lock 62 holds the drawer 61 in the armed position if the drawer is in the armed position, and an unlocked position, shown in the figures 4 , 5 And 8 , in which the lock 62 allows the drawer 61 to be moved from its armed position to its free position. The lock 62 is advantageously carried by the housing 2. To be thus mobile, the lock 62 is preferably pivoting relative to the housing 2, around an axis X62 fixed by relative to the housing, called “lock axis” here parallel to the X direction. Preferably, for reasons of compactness, a part of the lock 62 passes through one of the oblong slots of the drawer 61, used to guide the drawer 61, in the example the slot 614.

The return spring 64 exerts on the lock 62 a force called “polarization force”, tending to return the lock 62 from the unlocked position to the holding position.

In order for the latch 62 to be able to hold the drawer 61 in the armed position, it is advantageously provided that the drawer 61 comprises a locking relief 66, which cooperates mechanically with a blocking relief 67 belonging to the latch 62, when the latch 62 is in the holding position and when the drawer 61 is in the armed position, against the actuating force produced by the drawer spring 63. In this situation, the latch 62 bears against the drawer 61, in the opposite direction to its movement towards the free position, here in the opposite direction to the Z direction. For this bearing, it is provided here that the blocking relief 67 cooperates mechanically with the locking relief 66. Advantageously, it is provided that the locking relief 66 is a concave surface, for example a notch in the drawer 61, and that the blocking relief 67 is a projecting part, for example a lug on the latch 62, which extends radially. relative to the X62 rotation axis.

On the contrary, when the lock 62 is in the unlocked position, and whatever the position of the drawer 61, the lock 62 no longer has any hold on the drawer 61, the blocking relief 67 being offset from the locking relief 66, as explained below. Then, the lock 62 allows the movement of the drawer 61, in particular under the action of the drawer spring 63.

Advantageously, it is provided that, when the drawer 61 is in the free position, the drawer holds the lock 62 in the unlocked position thanks to a projecting element of the drawer 61. Typically, the projecting element may be a part of the surface delimiting the notch, or more generally the locking relief 66 and extending transversely to the axis A61.

After trigger 30 has been triggered and when the detected fault is no longer present, it is necessary to return drawer 61 from the free position to the armed position, i.e. to rearm drawer 61.

For this purpose, the drawer 61 comprises a drawer hook 68. The drawer hook 68 preferably extends in a plane parallel to the directions Y and Z, in a direction inclined relative to the axis A61.

A resetting hook 70 is articulated on the base 51. It preferably extends in a plane parallel to the Y and Z directions and generally in a radial direction relative to the X50 axis. The resetting hook 70 is kinematically linked to the base 51. Thus, the rotation of the handle 50 induces an arcuate movement of the resetting hook 70 around the X50 axis. The resetting hook 70 can also pivot around an X70 axis, parallel to, and distinct from, the X50 axis.

The resetting hook 70 and the drawer hook 68 have their respective ends adapted to be engaged, when in contact, by being curved complementary to each other.

When the drawer 61 is in the armed position and the switching handle 50 is in the closed position, the drawer hook 68 is at a distance from the resetting hook 70 in a direction which has a component in the Z direction, as seen in the Figure 3 . On the other hand, when the drawer 61 is in the free position, that is to say translated with a movement which has a component in the direction of the Z direction along the axis A61, the switching mechanism 40 is in the triggered configuration and the switching handle 50 is in the open position. The resetting hook 70 has made an arc-shaped movement along the axis X50 with a movement which has a horizontal component in the direction of the Z direction; it is then opposite the drawer hook 68 in a direction parallel to the axis A61, as visible in figures 4 And 8 .

The repositioning of the drawer 61, from the free position to the armed position, is carried out by the cooperation of the drawer hook 68 and the resetting hook 70. In fact, the actuation of the switching lever 50 by a user causes the switching lever 50 to pivot around the axis X50 in the direction of the arrow A1 at figures 5 to 7 , and pivots the resetting hook 70 in the same direction, in an arc-shaped movement around the axis X50. The resetting hook 70 therefore has a movement with a horizontal component opposite to the direction Z. The end 702 of the resetting hook 70 then comes to bear against the end 682 of the drawer hook 68, as seen in the Figure 5 . Thus, the resetting hooks 70 and drawer hook 68 are engaged and can cooperate mechanically.

The pivoting of the switching lever 50 around the axis X50, between the configuration of the Figure 5 and the configuration of the Figure 6 , drives the resetting hook 70, which drives the drawer hook 68 due to the engagement achieved by the cooperation of the ends 682 and 702. This thus translates the drawer 61 along the axis A61 in the direction which has a horizontal component opposite to the direction Z, i.e. towards its armed position, against the elastic force exerted by the drawer spring 63.

Preferably, the resetting hook 70 returns the drawer 61 to its armed position, and even beyond its armed position. This ensures that the lock 62 returns to its holding position. Indeed, when the drawer reaches or exceeds its armed position, the bocage relief 67 no longer opposes the passage of the lock 62 from its unlocked position to its holding position, under the elastic force exerted by the spring 64. The lock thus automatically returns to its holding position.

Advantageously, a ramp 80 is provided on the housing 2, adjacent to the drawer 61 in the X direction. The resetting hook 70 is in sliding support against the ramp 80 and crosses the ramp 80 when the switching lever 50 moves from the open position to the closed position.

When the resetting hook 70 reaches the ramp 80, it continues to bring the drawer 61 back to its armed position, or even beyond, and the lock 62 moves into the holding position. However, the drawer 61 is not resting on the lock 62 because the drawer 61 is held beyond its armed position by the resetting hook 70. The arc-shaped movement of the resetting hook 70 has the effect of keeping it resting against the ramp 80 and allows the resetting hook 70 to cross the ramp 80. This crossing of the ramp 80 is facilitated by the pivoting of the resetting hook 70 relative to the handle 50, more precisely relative to the base 51, around the axis X70, which also allows the resetting hook 70 to disengage from the drawer hook 68, as seen Figure 6 . When the resetting hook 70 and the drawer hook 68 are disengaged, the drawer 61 moves into the armed position by being pushed back by the drawer spring 63, while the latch 62 has returned to the holding position. The drawer 61 is therefore again held in its armed position by the latch 62, as seen Figure 7 . When switching the controller from the configuration of the Figure 7 to that of the figures 2 And 3 , the resetting hook 70 continues its arcuate movement around the X50 axis and the distance between the resetting hook 70 and the drawer hook 68 increases in the direction opposite to the Z direction.

The drawer 61 is thus returned to the armed position, using the switching lever 50 operated by the user.

The resetting blade 65 is attached to the housing 2, being movable between a first position, shown in the Figure 2 , and a second position not shown, where the resetting blade 65 has pivoted from the first position, clockwise on the Figure 2 . To be thus movable, the reset blade 65 is advantageously pivotable relative to the housing 2 around an axis X65 parallel to the direction X. When a differential fault occurs, the movable rod 32 is actuated to its triggered position, here in the direction Z, so as to drive the reset blade 65 from its first position to its second position. Under the action of the movement of the movable rod 32 by the relay 31, the reset blade 65 drives the lock 62 from its holding position to its unlocked position, against the action of the spring 64. More precisely, the reset blade 65 drives the lock 62 by means of an actuating leg belonging to the lock 62. The lock 62 being in the unlocked position, the drawer 61 is authorized to be moved from the armed position to the free position, under the action of the spring of drawer 63. In doing so, the drawer 61 switches the switching mechanism 40 from the armed configuration to the triggered configuration, which in turn switches the first and second movable contacts 11 and 21 from the conduction position to the isolation position. Thus, the protection device 1 is triggered.

During its pivoting towards the isolation position, the movable contact 11 drives the reset blade 65 into its first position. For this, the contact holder 15 comprises an arm 152 which comes to bear against the reset blade 65, in the opposite direction to the Z direction. The reset blade 65 is thus moved into its first position, or even beyond its first position, pushing the movable rod 32 in the direction opposite to the Z direction, thus resetting the trigger 30.

In any event, the force amplifier 60 allows the trigger 30 to cause the switching mechanism 40 to be put into the triggered configuration, in particular by using the force produced by the slide spring 63, even if the actuating force of the rod 32 produced by the relay 31 is low. In particular, it is by authorizing the slide 61 to be actuated by the spring 63 that the trigger 30 triggers the switching mechanism 40 to switch to the triggered configuration, the slide 61 switching the switching mechanism 40 to the triggered configuration when the slide 61 reaches the free position, being authorized to do so by the latch 62 placed in the unlocked position by the reset blade 65. This principle applies to the particular trigger 30 described here, but could apply to any other type of trigger producing a low force.

Alternatively, the trigger 30 may be replaced by a trigger of another type, configured to be excited by an electrical fault of another predetermined type, to cause the switching mechanism 40 to be set into triggered configuration.

In the case where the electrical protection device 1 comprises several triggers which actuate the same switching device 40 and the same switching handle 50, the passage of the switching handle 40 into the open position, caused by a trigger other than the trigger 30 has no influence on the force amplifier device 60. The resetting blade 65 is not moved, the drawer 61 and the latch 62 remain respectively in the armed and holding positions. When the switching handle 50 passes into the closed position, the resetting hook 70 is possibly engaged with the drawer hook 68, but is, if necessary, disengaged when passing the ramp 80. The drawer 61 is possibly pulled beyond its armed position, and when the resetting hook 70 is disengaged when passing the ramp 80, returns to its armed position, the latch 62 still being in the holding position.

Advantageously, the passage of the drawer 61 from the free position to the armed position takes place at the start of the handle travel, typically for an angular travel of the handle between 0° and 30°, the total travel of the handle to move from the open position to the closed position being, for example, approximately 80°. Thus, the remainder of the angular travel of the handle is dedicated to closing the first and second movable contacts 11 and 21, which move from their isolation position to their conduction position. The switching mechanism 40 moves from its triggered configuration to its armed configuration, in order to move the first and second movable contacts 11 and 21 to the conduction position. The switching mechanism 40 is thus rearmed.

The switching lever 50 comprises a snap-close pawl 54, pivoting relative to the housing 2 around the lever axis X50 and more particularly visible at the figure 9 . During the transition of the switching handle 50 from the open position to the closed position, the first and second movable contacts 11 and 21 respectively approach the fixed contacts 12 and 22 in the direction Z, pivoting around the axis X11 under the action of the switching mechanism 40. The pivoting of the movable contact 21 is interrupted halfway by the sudden closing pawl 54, which comes to bear on a leg 26 of the contact holder 25, which prevents further pivoting of the movable contact 21 in the direction of the fixed contact 22. The movable contact 11 continues to pivot until it comes into contact with the fixed contact 12. The movable contact 11 therefore passes into the conduction position, while the movable contact 21 is still in the isolation position. This transition of the movable contact 11 into the conduction position takes place, for example, when the angular travel of the switching handle is 70°. The user continues to actuate the switching lever 50, slightly deforming the contact spring 46. The snap-close pawl 54 continues its pivoting movement around the axis X50, sliding via an end surface 542 on a cam 262 formed by a slice of the leg 26, then passes a step 264 in the leg 26 of the contact holder 25. After passing the step 264, the contact holder 25 is no longer pressing against the snap-close pawl 54, and the contact 21 suddenly switches into its conduction position under the effect of the contact spring 46 which suddenly returns to its initial position.

In summary, the snap-closing pawl 54 cooperates with the leg 26 so as to hold the second movable contact 21 in its insulating position over a first portion of the closing stroke of the switching handle 50 and to release the second movable contact 21 upon passing a predetermined point of the movement stroke of the switching handle 50, after the movable contact 11 has already reached its conduction position. This ensures that, when closing the electrical protection device 1, the neutral conduction path 3 is closed before the phase conduction path 4. This makes it possible to avoid the formation of an electric arc during the passage of the second movable contact 21 in the conduction position, in particular in the case where the actuation of the switching lever 50 by the user is very slow.

The electrical protection device 1 also comprises an indicator light 90, housed in the housing 2. The indicator light 90 is a mechanical indicator light, i.e. a moving part, as shown, or several moving parts. The indicator light 90 is movable relative to the housing 2, between a primary signaling position, shown figures 4 , 5 , 8 And 9 and a secondary reporting position, represented figures 2 , 3 , 6 And 7 . To be mobile, the indicator 90 is advantageously articulated on the housing 2 by being pivotable relative to the housing 2, around an axis X90, which is parallel to the direction X. The indicator 90 advantageously carries a witness 91.

Case 2 carries a window 100, shown in the figures 2 to 9 The window 100 is arranged in the Z direction relative to the switching lever 50. The window 100 is preferably made of transparent material.

When the indicator 90 is in a secondary signaling position, the indicator 91 is offset relative to the window 100, so as not to be visible, or to be only partially visible, through the window 100. The indicator 90 is therefore in a so-called non-visible position. This is the case on the figures 2 , 3 , 6 And 7 . When the indicator 90 is in a primary signaling position, the indicator 91 is aligned so as to be visible through the window 100, or at least to be more visible than in the primary signaling position, as is the case on the figures 4 , 5 , 8 And 9 , and is thus in the so-called visible position. Thus, by observing the window 100 from outside the housing 2, the user is informed of the current position of the indicator light 90, and therefore of the current configuration of the electrical protection device 1.

The indicator light 90 is in a visible position to indicate to the user that the first and second moving contacts 11 and 21 have been put in the isolation position by the trigger 30. Thus, in the case where several triggers coexist in the same electrical protection device 1, the indicator light 90 allows the user to distinguish the type of fault which led to the first and second moving contacts 11 and 21 being put in the isolation position by the electrical protection device 1, here a differential fault. The indicator light 90 is therefore a so-called “specific fault” indicator light. The indicator light 90 is in a non-visible position when the contacts 11 and 21 are in the conduction position and when the contacts 11 and 21 are in the isolation position, having been put in the isolation position by putting the switching handle 50 in the open position, while the trigger 30 has not been energized. When the switching lever 50 is moved from the open position to the closed position by the user, the indicator light 90 is set or maintained in the non-visible position.

To obtain this operation of the indicator 90, it is advantageously provided that the drawer 61 is configured to put the indicator 90 in the visible position, when the drawer 61 is put in the free position from the armed position, and in the non-visible position when it is in the armed position. For this, the drawer 61 comprises a notch 69, in which an arm 92 belonging to the indicator 90 is inserted, the arm 92 extending generally in the direction opposite to the direction Y. The drawer 61 thus pivots the indicator 90 around the axis X90, to the visible position. Conversely, when the drawer 61 is put in the armed position from the free position, the indicator 90 pivots around the axis X90 while being moved by the drawer 61, to the non-visible position. The position of the indicator 90 is thus directly linked to the position of the drawer 61.

Thus, a method of resetting the electrical protection device 1, from a configuration where the first and second movable contacts 11 and 21 are in the isolated position, is defined as follows:
The user operates the switching lever 50 by successively passing through the configurations of the figures 4 to 7 then 3. A first step consists of engaging the resetting hook 70 and the drawer hook 68 by bringing their ends 682 and 702 together and pressing against each other. A second step consists of translating the drawer 61 from the free position to the armed position, or even beyond the armed position, resulting in the release of the lock 62, i.e. the fact that the lock 62 is released from its unlocked position. During this second step, the indicator 90 also pivots from the visible position to the non-visible position. A third step is the pivoting of the lock 62 from the unlocked position to the holding position. The release of the lock 62 in the second step and its transition to the holding position in the third step take place successively in a rapid manner. A fourth step is the disengagement of the resetting hook 70 and the drawer hook 68, facilitated by the pivoting of the resetting hook 70 around the axis X70, as well as by the ramp 80. A fifth step consists of the switching mechanism 40 being switched into the armed configuration, that is to say the resetting of the switching mechanism 40, with the first and second movable contacts 11 and 12 passing into the conduction position. As mentioned previously, this passage is advantageously offset in time so that the second movable contact 21 passes into the conduction position after the first movable contact 11.

Thus, the electrical protection device 1 is reliably reset, using the switching handle 50 which drives the resetting hook 70, resetting the force amplifier 60 when the switching handle moves from the open position to the closed position. Resetting the electrical protection device 1 is such that the differential trip device 30 is reset before the flow of current is restored. Therefore, if the differential fault persists, the electrical protection device 1 cuts off the current again, as soon as it is reset. The correct operation of the electrical protection device 1 is thus guaranteed, without making any changes in use for the user, who does not have to carry out any additional operations to reset the electrical protection device 1, compared to what he knows from known equipment.

The device of the invention has good compactness, in particular in the width direction X, while it makes it possible to react effectively to one or more electrical faults. In particular, the structure of the force amplifier 60 and the lever 50 is compact, to the point that the housing 2 can have a width of less than 25 mm, preferably less than 20 mm, more preferably equal to 18 mm, including when it contains three triggers including the trigger 30.

Claims (10)

1. An electrical protection device (1), comprising:

   - a casing (2);

   - a first conduction path (3), which comprises a first movable contact (11) housed in the casing (2) and movable between a conduction position and an insulation position;

   - a switching mechanism (40), which is housed in the casing (2) and configured to change over between:

   • a set configuration, in which the switching mechanism (40) places the movable contact (11) in the conducting position, and

   • a tripped configuration, in which the switching mechanism (40) places the movable contact (11) in the insulating position, and

   - a first trip device (30), which is housed in the casing (2) and which is configured to trigger a changeover of the switching mechanism (40) from the set configuration to the tripped configuration when the first trip device (30) is energised by an electrical fault of a first type;

   - a switching lever (50):

   • rotatable about a lever axis (X50);

   • operable by a user between an open position, to place the switching mechanism (40) in the tripped configuration, and a closed position, to place the switching mechanism (40) in the set configuration; and

   • actuated by the switching mechanism (40) from its closed position to its open position, when the switching mechanism (40) is changed over to the tripped configuration under the effect of the first trip device (30);

   - a spool (61), which comprises a locking relief (66) and which is movable relative to the casing (2) between a set position and a free position;

   - a spool spring (63), which applies an actuating force to the spool (61), tending to move the spool (61) from the set position to the free position;

   - a latch (62), which comprises a blocking relief (67) configured to block the spool (61) in the set position, the latch being movable between a holding position, in which the latch (62) holds the drawer in the set position by means of the blocking relief (67) which cooperates with the locking relief (66), when the spool (62) is in the set position, and an unlocked position in which the blocking relief (67) and the locking relief (66) are offset with respect to each other and the latch (62) allows the spool (61) to be moved from its set position to its free position, the first trip device (30) being configured to move the latch (62) from the holding position to the unlocked position when the first trip device (30) is energised;

   characterised in that

   - the electrical protection device (1) further comprises a reset hook (70), kinematically linked to the switching lever (50), so that it moves with the switching lever (50) when the switching lever (50) is rotated about the lever axis (X50) between its open position and its closed position;

   - the spool (61) carries a spool hook (68);

   - when the spool (61) is in the free position:

   • the reset hook (70) and the spool hook (68) face each other and are ready to be engaged by rotating the switching lever (50) between its open and closed positions;

   • the latch (62) is held in the unlocked position by the spool (61);

   - when the spool (61) is in the set position, the spool hook (68) and the reset hook (70) are spaced apart; and

   - when the switching lever (50) is moved from its open position to its closed position, the spool hook (68) and the reset hook (70) are engaged and the spool (61) is moved by the switching lever until the electrical protection device (1) is reset, with the spool (61) being moved from its free position to its set position and the switching mechanism (40) being switched to the set configuration.
2. The electrical protection device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the casing (2) comprises a reset hook (70) guide ramp (80) configured to disengage the reset hook (70) and the spool hook (68) when the switching lever (50) moves from its open position to its closed position.
3. The electrical protection device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical protection device (1) further comprises an indicator (90) which is housed in the casing (2) and which is movable relative to the casing (2), between a visible position and a position not visible from outside the casing (2), and wherein the spool (61) is adapted to put the indicator (90) in the visible position when it is in the free position, and to put the indicator (90) in the non-visible position when the spool (61) is in the set position.
4. The electrical protection device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein:

   - the latch (62) can be rotated between its holding position and its unlocked position, about a latch axis (X62);

   - the latch (62) is subjected to the action of a return spring (64) which returns it to its holding position;

   - the blocking relief (67) is a lug which extends radially with respect to the latch axis (X62); and

   - the locking relief (66) is a notch in the spool (61) configured to receive the blocking relief (67) in the holding position of the latch (62).
5. The electrical protection device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein:

   - the electrical protection device (1) further comprises a second conduction path (4), which is electrically insulated from the first conduction path (3) and which comprises a second movable contact (21) housed in the casing (2) and movable between a conduction position and an insulation position; and

   - the first trip device (30) is a differential trip device, which comprises:

   • a differential sensor, configured to be energised when a differential current exceeds a predetermined threshold; and

   • a relay (31), configured to drive the latch (62) from the holding position to the unlocked position, under the sole action of electrical energy from the differential sensor, and generated under the effect of the differential current, when the differential current exceeds the predetermined threshold.
6. The electrical protection device (1) according to claim 5, in which the first conduction path (3) is a neutral conduction path, the second conduction path (4) is a phase conduction path and the passage of the switching lever (50) from its open position to its closed position causes the first movable contact (11) to pass into its conduction position before the second movable contact (21) passes into its conduction position.
7. The electrical protection device (1) according to claim 6, further comprising a snap-closing pawl (54), configured to hold the second movable contact (21) in its isolated position over a first portion of a movement stroke of the switching lever (50) between its open position and its closed position and to release the second movable contact (21) on passing a predetermined point (264) of the movement stroke of the switching lever (50).
8. The electrical protection device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a second and a third trip unit and in which the first trip unit (30) is a differential trip unit, the second trip unit is an electrical overload trip unit and the third trip unit is a short-circuit trip unit.
9. The electrical protection device (1) according to claim 8, in which the casing (2) has a width of less than 25 mm, preferably less than 20 mm, most preferably equal to 18 mm.
10. A method for resetting the electrical protection device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims by actuating the switching lever (50) in rotation about the lever axis (X50), the method comprising at least the following steps which take place successively when the switching lever is actuated by the user:

    a) a first engagement step between the reset hook (70) and the spool hook (68);

    b) a second step of translating the spool (61) from the free position to the set position under the action of the reset hook (70), until the latch (62) is released from its unlocked position;

    c) a third step of moving the latch (62) from its unlocked position to its holding position;

    d) a fourth step of disengaging the reset hook (70) and the spool hook (68); and

    e) a fifth step of switching the switching mechanism (40) to the set configuration.