ES2585257T3 - Control device of an electrical protection device and electrical protection device that includes it - Google Patents

Abstract

Control device of an electrical protection apparatus housed in an insulating housing that encloses at least one pair that includes a fixed contact (20, 21) and a mobile contact (7, 8), said mobile contact (s) being able (s) operated either manually by means of a handle (6) or automatically, comprising: - a transmission link (14) coupled to the handle, - a support device for the mobile contact (s) (s) mounted in rotation around a fixed axis (X) called first of the housing and a plate (11) mounted in rotation around an axis (Y) called second coinciding with the axis called first, said plate having a mechanical connection breakable with the transmission link and being suitable to drag the mobile contact (s) towards the closed position and to keep the mobile contact (s) in the closed position, and - a trigger lever (13) controlled by a trigger (E, T) to cause in case of failure the breakage of the mechanical connection, which draws the automatic trip of the mechanism independently of the handle and the separation of the contacts, including the support device (9) of contacts mentioned above an oblong hole (16) by means of which said device of support (9) is mounted articulated around the articulation axis (X) called first, characterized in that the aforementioned support device (9) is mechanically connected to the aforementioned plate (11) by means of a connection R of the ball joint type, of the that the center of rotation is offset with respect to the axis (X) of rotation called first or (Y) second, the position of this center of rotation and the orientation of said oblong hole (16) being such that, during pressure setting of contact between the contact (s) (7, 8, 20, 21) fixed (s) and mobile (s), this oblong hole (16) allows the relative displacement between the axis called first and the di contact support device by displacement of the shaft inside the oblong hole (16) and, consequently, the rotation of the support device (9) around the center of rotation of the kneecap, this in order to allow the rotation of the support device (9) around the first (s) contact point (s) created between the fixed contact (s) (20, 21) and (7, 8) mobile (s) ), during contact pressure setting, the latter rotation having the effect of balancing the different stresses between the mobile contact (s) and the fixed contact (s).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Control device of an electrical protection device and electrical protection device that includes it Technical field

The present invention relates to a control device of an electrical protection apparatus housed in an insulating housing that encloses at least one pair that includes a fixed contact and a mobile contact, said mobile contact (s) being able to be ) be operated either manually by means of a handle or automatically, said device comprising a transmission link coupled to the handle, a support device of the mobile contact (s) mounted in rotation about an axis fixed called first of the housing and a plate mounted in rotation around an axis called second coinciding with the axis called first, said plate having a breakable mechanical connection with the transmission link and being suitable for dragging the contact (s) ) mobile (s) towards the closing position and to keep the mobile contact (s) in the closed position, and a trigger lever controlled by a trigger to cause breakage of the breakage d e the mechanical connection, which draws the automatic firing of the mechanism independently of the handle and the separation of the contacts, as well as an electrical protection device that includes such a device.

15 State of the prior art

European documents EP 1 975 971 and FR 2 956 922 are described, for example, which describe a control device of a miniature circuit breaker that includes the aforementioned features.

However, these devices cannot be used to cut continuous currents, and the performances of these devices are limited in the case where the voltages of the circuits to be protected are very high.

20 European document FR 2 495 826 is also known which describes a circuit breaker with double contacts that allows continuous currents to be cut and that can be used for high voltages.

Finally, European document EP 0 403 329 A1 is known which describes a circuit breaker according to the preamble of claim 1.

Exhibition of the invention

The present invention aims at proposing a control device of an electrical design apparatus of simple design, which allows to increase the performances of the apparatus. Another object of the invention is to propose a simple design control device that allows the devices to be used in the presence of a higher voltage or for cutting continuous currents.

Exhibition of the invention

For this purpose, the present invention has as its object a control device of an electrical protection apparatus of the aforementioned gender, this device being characterized in that the aforementioned contact support device includes an oblong hole through which said support device It is mounted articulated around the axis of articulation called first, and because the aforementioned support device is mechanically connected to the aforementioned plate by means of a connection of the head type, of which the center of rotation is offset with respect to the axis of rotation called first or second, being the position of this center of rotation and the orientation of said oblong hole such that, during the contact pressing between the fixed and mobile contact (s), this oblong hole allows relative displacement between the first called axis and the contact support device, med by displacement of the shaft inside the oblong hole and, consequently, the rotation of the support device around the center of rotation of the label, this in order to allow the rotation of the support device around the first of the (s) contact point (s) created between the fixed (s) and mobile (s) contact (s) during contact pressure, having the latter rotation as an effect to balance the different efforts between the ( the) mobile contact (s) and the fixed contact (s).

In this way, the invention allows a balanced effort between the mobile contacts and the fixed contacts, regardless of the number of mobile contacts and fixed contacts, even when the contact support only supports a single mobile contact that has in order to cooperate with a single fixed contact, then balancing between different contact points established successively on the same contact.

According to a particular feature, the previously mentioned label connection between the contact support device and the plate is a point type connection.

50 According to another feature, the aforementioned plate is integral with a shaft, called a rotating mounted needle with respect to the housing of the apparatus, and around which the contact support device is articulated, said needle passing through said oblong hole.

According to another feature, the contact support device supports two contacts called mobiles

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mechanically solidary and electrically connected, said mobile contacts having the purpose of cooperating with two fixed contacts.

According to another characteristic, when a single point of contact is established between one of the mobile contacts and one of the fixed contacts, the support device rotates around said contact point, moving the needle of the plate inside the hole, until placing the needle on the support device, on the side opposite to the point of contact made, in order to reach an equilibrium position of the assembly, then when a second point of contact is established between a second mobile contact and a second fixed contact, the contact support device detaches from the needle until the needle is no longer in contact with the contact support device, a position in which the balancing between the contact pressures is performed.

According to another characteristic, the mechanical connection between the aforementioned contact support device and the plate is a slightly sliding point connection, to allow a slight movement of the support device with respect to the plate, and the orientation of the oblong hole and The direction of the aforementioned degree of freedom in translation of the support device is such that during the pressurization of the contacts during the closing, or during the decompression of the contacts during the opening of the contacts, the drag in rotation from the plate around the axis called second drag the rotation of the support device with respect to the axis called first, to a position in which this displacement of the support device is no longer possible, and after which a relative displacement occurs in rotation of the plate with respect to the support device around the center of rotation d and the label, dragging this rotation of the support device a relative translation displacement between the plate and the support device by means of cooperation between the tree that materializes the first called axis and the walls of the device that delimit said hole, allowing this displacement to obtain a contact cleaning by friction between the mobile contacts and the fixed contacts.

The present invention also aims at an electrical protection apparatus that includes a control device that includes the aforementioned features taken alone or in combination.

According to a particular feature, this apparatus is a circuit breaker or a switch.

According to another feature, this apparatus is intended to be used for cutting the direct current or high voltage alternating current.

Brief description of the figures

But other advantages and features of the invention will be better shown in the detailed description that follows and refers to the attached drawings given only by way of example and in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view, illustrating the inside of a circuit breaker according to the invention after opening its housing, said circuit breaker being in open position of the contacts,

- Figure 2 is an identical view to the previous figure, said circuit breaker being in a closed position of the contacts,

- Figure 3 is a perspective view, illustrating a part of the control device according to the invention associated with the mobile contacts,

- Figure 4 is a perspective view, illustrating the same part of the control device as in Figure

above, in a balanced position of the contact pressure forces exerted by the mobile contacts on the fixed contacts, but seen from the opposite side with respect to the previous figure,

- Figure 5 is a side view of this same part of the control device, after balancing

of the efforts, and at the beginning of the stage that consists in performing the self-cleaning of the contacts,

- Figure 6 is a partial plan view, illustrating the control device put into operation in the apparatus,

having done the cleaning of the contacts, and

- Figure 7 is a partial plan view, the control device being set in motion in the apparatus, in the closed position of the contacts, and illustrating in a more particular way the multiplication by two of the contact pressure spring effort.

Detailed exposition of an embodiment of the invention

As this is visible in Figures 1 and 2, a circuit breaker D according to a particular embodiment of the invention comprises an insulating housing 1 essentially formed by two half-shells 2, the upper half-shell having been removed to allow visualization of the interior of said circuit breaker. The housing 1 has a general parallelepipedic shape that corresponds to a modular system. This housing 1 has a rear fixing face 3 on a rail and a front face 4 having a passage light 5 of a control handle 6.

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This circuit breaker comprises, in a known way, a cutting circuit.

Traditionally, the cutting circuit includes a mobile contact, two 7, 8 in this particular embodiment of the invention, which is carried by a first end of a contact support 9. The contact supports 9 are made of an insulating material and are pivotally mounted around an X axis called first materialized by a pivot 10.

This circuit breaker includes a control mechanism housed in the upper part of the housing.

This pivot 10 of articulation of the contact support 9 is carried by a plate 11, a plate which is pivotally mounted with respect to the housing around a Y axis called second coinciding with the X axis of articulation called first of the aforementioned pivot, by means of two bearings enabled in the semi-shells of the housing that respectively receive the two ends of the pivot.

The pivot axis of the plate 11 and the axis 10 of articulation of the contact supports 9 are materialized by the shaft or pivot 10 integral with the plate 11.

The pivotal mounting of the plate 11 with respect to the housing 1 allows the movement of the contact support 9 between an opening position of the mobile contacts 7, 8 and a closing position of said mobile contacts.

For this, the plate 11 has stops that can cooperate with the contact support device 9 to drag it in rotation around the pivot 10 towards the closed position of the mobile contacts. A spring mounted between the housing and the plate allows the plate to be rotated around the tree towards the opening position of the mobile contacts.

A mounting with limited pivoting of the contact support 9 with respect to the plate 11 allows, on the other hand, an oscillation of said contact support 9, in particular after the plate 11 has been dragged into the contact closing position 7, 8 mobiles.

The control device also includes contact pressure means (not shown) that act on the contact support to exert a pressure force on said support and to build said support in the closed position of the mobile contacts. These contact pressure means include two torsion springs 22, 23 that act on the corresponding contact support. Each torsion spring is provided with a rotation axis around which it exerts a torsion force.

The sizing of the torsion springs is done only with respect to the contact pressure effort to be exerted.

In the embodiment shown, the control mechanism comprises transmission means arranged between the handle 6 and the contact support 9, or more precisely between the handle 6 and the plate 11. These means allow the plate 11 to move between the opening position and the closing position of the contacts 7, 8 mobile.

As this is known from sf and as this is visible in Figures 1 and 2, a trigger lever 13 (to be represented) coupled to a trigger means, allows to detect the presence of an electrical failure and act on the mechanism control to open circuit breaker contacts. These firing means include an electromagnetic E trigger and a thermal T trigger, in this case a bimetal. The trigger lever is pivotally mounted around an axis carried by the plate, with a predetermined deflection of this axis with respect to the pivot. The trigger lever is designed to drag the displacement of the contact support to the opening position causing the breakage of a breakable mechanical connection C of the transmission means.

These transmission means include a transmission link 14 coupled to an internal base of the handle 6 to form an elbow of which the joint is eccentric with respect to the pivot Z axis of said handle 6. The breakable mechanical connection is enabled between the transmission link 14 and plate 11. In the locked position, the mechanical break-up connection C allows manual control of the control mechanism with the help of the handle 6. The movement of the firing lever 13 towards a position triggered by the action of the trigger, causes momentary breakage of the mechanical connection C, which draws the automatic trigger of the control mechanism independently of the handle 6. The trigger lever 13 is associated with a return spring which is intended to guarantee the automatic restoration of the connection mechanics when the handle is operated towards the opening position, as a result of a trip of the mechanism by failure.

According to a particular embodiment of these transmission means, the breakable mechanical connection C includes a hook 15 pivotally mounted on an axis of the plate 11. On the opposite side of this axis, the hook tip cooperates in the locked position of the connection with a retention notch located on the upper arm of the trigger lever 13.

This breakable mechanical connection that specialists know well will not be described in more detail. For more

For information, please refer to European documents FR 2 956 922 or EP 1 975 971 of the applicant.

As this is not represented but it is well known by itself, the bimetal of the thermal trigger cooperates with the trigger lever by means of a distributor.

According to the invention, and as this is more particularly visible in Figures 3 to 7, the hole 16 provided in the contact support 9 and which allows the passage of the pivot 10 integral with the plate 11, is oblong and It has a width that substantially corresponds to the diameter of the pivot 10. On the other hand, the contact support 9 is mechanically connected to the plate 11 by means of a connection R point label by means of an arm 17 of the contact support 9 which includes in its free end a ball 18, the arm assembly 17 and ball 18 being designed to be introduced into a cavity 19 of an elongated shape provided on the plate 11, the support 9 of 10 being able to rotate with respect to the plate 11 about a point P contact between this label 18 and the plate 11, the point type connection being with a label, which allows said contact support 9 to oscillate around the contact point P on both sides of a U axis. During this rotation ion, the pivot 10 integral with the aforementioned plate 11 can be displaced in the opening 16 obliquely of the contact support 9, the amplitude of this rotational movement being determined by the length of this opening oblong, the orientation being 15 of this oblong part such that during this rotation, the needle 10 constituting the aforementioned pivot can move from one end to the other of this opening 16, because this oblong opening is substantially concentric to the center of rotation associated with the connection R labels point, center of rotation that is constituted by the point P of contact between the contact support 9 and the plate 11. This connection R labels punctually in combination with the degree of freedom created by the oblong shape of the opening 16 that receives the pivot 20 10 of articulation of the contact support 9, allow balancing of the efforts exerted by the

mobile contacts 7, 8 on the fixed contacts 20, 21, during the contact pressing of the contacts, as this will be explained in the following.

According to the invention, this control device is intended to be used in an electrical protection apparatus called double cutting, that is, it includes two mobile contacts. To this end, the contact support supports two 25 contacts 7, 8 mobile phones that are intended to cooperate with two fixed contacts 20, 21 respectively. In this case, the balancing of the contact pressure efforts will be carried out between the two contact points created at the height of each set consisting of a fixed contact 20, 21 and a mobile contact 7, 8.

According to another feature of the invention, the connection R of the punctual label type between the contact support 9 and the plate 11 is of the sliding type to allow a slight displacement in translation of the arm 17 that supports the label 30 in the interior of the plate 11 at the height of the point connection P, in a cavity 19 of an elongated shape provided for this on the plate 11. On the other hand, the orientation of the oblong hole 16 is such that the longitudinal symmetry axis of this oblong hole is inclined with with respect to the circular path t of the contact support 9, so that when the contact support 9 rotates with respect to the plate 11 around the center of rotation P, the pivot 10 cooperates with the wall that delimits the oblong hole 16, to cause the displacement of the contact support 9 in translation according to the degree of freedom in translation permitted from this with respect to the plate 11, that is, substantially parallel to the direction longitudinal of the fixed and mobile contacts, as illustrated in figures 5 and 6.

In the following, the operation of the control device according to the invention will be described with reference to the figures.

40 In Figure 1, the control device is in a position of the open contacts 7, 8, 20, 21, the handle 6 being in the open position.

When the handle 6 is operated to close the contacts, it moves the link 14, which comes to rest on the plate 11 and on the hook 15. The hook 15 is locked on the trigger bar (or lever) 13.

The connecting rod 14 resting on the plate 11 and on the hook 15, swings the plate 11 around its axis until the contacts close.

The link 14 continues its path until the dead center of the elbow formed by the handle 6 and the link 14 is crossed.

Then, the mechanism takes the equilibrium position that keeps the contacts 7, 8, 20, 21 closed as shown in Figure 2.

50 To open the contacts manually, the handle 6 is operated until it passes the neutral point of the elbow in the other direction. Then, the mechanism finds the equilibrium position, the contacts being open, when the handle 6 reaches the end of its travel, position represented in figure 1.

When the contacts 7, 8, 20, 21 are closed and the firing bar 13 is activated, the hook 15 is unlocked, but the handle 6 does not return immediately to its opening position.

55 The balance of the forces exerted by the link 14 on the mechanism is broken. Plate 11 revolves around

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its axis and opens contacts 7, 8, 20, 21.

Then, the spring of the handle 6 takes the latter to open contacts position, the link 14 carries the hook 15 to the initial position, and a spring of polarization of the hook and rearming of the bar repositions them in a position that allows the interlocking of the hook 15 on the bar 13 when the handle 6 is operated to close the contacts.

According to the invention, during the passage from the open position to the closed position, and during the contact pressing of the mobile contacts on the fixed contacts, the contact support 9 rotates in rotation and the needle moves in the opening 16 oblong. The contact support 9 is supported on the needle 10 on the opposite side of the first contact point created between one of the mobile contacts 7, 8 and one of the fixed contacts 20, 21, to establish a certain balance.

Then, when the second contact is established between the other of the mobile contacts and the other of the fixed contacts, the contact support 9 detaches from the needle 10, then being in the vicinity of a central position in the oblong opening 16 , a position representing the balance of contact pressures, position illustrated in Figure 4.

After this position called equilibrium of the contact pressures, the handle 6 is still rotated in the direction of closing. Now, since the mobile contacts 7, 8 are already supported against the fixed contacts 20, 21, the rotating drive of the contact support 9 around the needle 10 is no longer possible, and it is the contact support 9 that then rotates with respect to the plate 11 thanks to the connection R head provided for it.

During this effort on the contact support 9, it presses on the needle 10 (fig. 5), a needle which, due to the orientation of the opening 16 obliquely, presses on the wall of the oblong opening 16, which causes a downward movement, that is, towards the rear face of the apparatus, of the contact support 9, at a distance that substantially corresponds to the distance d between the circle t passing through the upper part of the pivot 10 and the highest point of the oblong opening 16, this being illustrated in particular in Figure 5. This movement is allowed by the degree of additional freedom in translation allowed at the height of the connection R point label between the contact support 9 and the label 18 in the inside the elongated opening 19 provided therein on the plate 11.

This downward movement (e) is followed by an upward movement of the mobile contacts 7, 8 when the contact pressure is released, this alternating movement creating a self-cleaning effect of the mobile contacts 7, 8 with respect to the contacts 20 , 21, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

It will be noted that the same effects in the opposite direction of balancing and self-cleaning occur during the opening of the contacts, during the decompression phase of the mobile contacts with respect to the fixed contacts.

Therefore, thanks to the invention, a control device for an electrical protection device has been carried out, which makes it possible to balance the efforts on the contact pads to recover the wear and tear, by means of the installation of a point type connection between the contact support and the plate, completed by a degree of additional freedom of the needle of the plate, according to a circular path, in the opening provided in the contact support.

The invention also allows self-cleaning of the contacts, which allows stabilizing the contact resistors, by means of an orientation of the oblong opening of the contact support that cooperates with a sliding point connection between the contact support and the plate, this in order to create a sliding of the mobile contacts during the pressure setting of the contacts.

The invention also allows a reduction in the volume of the contact pressure springs to be obtained by transferring the rotation point of the contact support during contact pressure setting, as seen in Figure 7, which shows that the arm ( a) Lever of the application of the force of the contact pressure spring is multiplied by more than two (2Xa).

A faster opening speed is obtained (multiplied by two) thanks to the double contact, as well as a doubling of the opening distance due to the presence of the double contact, each sliding contact having an opening distance, making the arrival of the current through the first contact and leaving through the second.

Therefore, it is obtained thanks to the invention, an improvement in the performances of the devices equipped with a control device according to the invention, which allows said devices to be used for continuous currents or high voltages.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and illustrated that has been given only by way of example.

The invention is applied to any electrical apparatus in which at least one mobile contact and at least one fixed contact is contacted.

Claims (9)

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Control device of an electrical protection apparatus housed in an insulating housing that encloses at least one pair that includes a fixed contact (20, 21) and a mobile contact (7, 8), said contact (s) being able ) mobile (s) operated either manually by means of a handle (6) or automatically, comprising: - a transmission link (14) coupled to the handle, - a support device of the mobile contact (s) mounted in rotation around a fixed axis (X) called first of the housing and a plate (11) mounted in rotation around an axis (Y) called second coincident with the axis called first, said plate having a breakable mechanical connection with the transmission link and being suitable to drag the mobile contact (s) towards the closing position and to maintain the mobile contact (s) in closing position, and - a trigger lever (13) controlled by a trigger (E, T) to cause a break in the mechanical connection in the event of failure, which draws the automatic trigger of the mechanism independently of the handle and the separation of the contacts, the support device (9) of the aforementioned contacts including an oblong hole (16) by means of which said support device (9) is mounted articulated around the articulation axis (X) called first, characterized in that the support device ( 9) cited above is mechanically connected to the plate (11) mentioned above by means of a connection R of the type label, of which the center of rotation is offset with respect to the axis (X) of rotation called first or (Y) second, being the position of this center of rotation and the orientation of said oblong hole (16) such that, during contact pressing between the fixed contact (s) (7, 8, 20, 21) and mobile (s), this oblong hole (16) allows the relative displacement between the first called axis and the contact support device by displacement of the shaft inside the oblong hole (16) and, consequently, the rotation of the device support (9) around the center of rotation of the label, this in order to allow the rotation of the support device (9) around the first (s) contact point (s) created between the contact (s) (20, 21) fixed (s) and (7, 8) mobile (s), during the contact pressure setting, with the latter rotation having the effect of balancing the different efforts between the mobile contact (s) ) and the fixed contact (s). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection R labeled above mentioned between the support device (9) of the contacts and the plate (11) is a connection type of the point type. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the aforementioned plate (11) is integral with a shaft (10), called a needle, mounted rotatably with respect to the housing (1) of the apparatus and around which it is mounted articulated the contact support device (9), said needle (10) passing said oblong hole (16). Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the contact support device (9) (7, 8) supports two contacts (7, 8) called mechanically solidary and electrically connected mobiles, said mobile contacts having said mobile contacts in order to cooperate with two fixed contacts (20, 21). 5. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that when a single point of contact is established between one of the mobile contacts (7, 8) and one of the fixed contacts (20, 21), the support device (9) rotates around said contact point, moving the needle (10) from the plate (11) into the hole (16), until the needle (10) is placed on the support device (9) on the side opposite the contact point made, in order to reach an equilibrium position of the assembly, then when a second contact point is established between a second mobile contact (8) and a second fixed contact (21), the support device (9) The contact is detached from the needle (10) until the needle is no longer in contact with the contact support device (9), a position in which balancing between the contact pressures is performed. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mechanical connection between the aforementioned contact support device (9) and the plate (11) is a slightly sliding point connection, to allow a slight movement of the device of support (9) with respect to the plate (11), and because the orientation of the oblong hole (16) and the direction of the aforementioned degree of freedom in translation of the support device (9) are such that during pressing of the contacts during the closing, or during the decompression of the contacts during the opening of the contacts, the rotating drag of the plate (11) around the axis (Y) called second drag the rotation of the support device ( 9) with respect to the axis (X) called first, to a position in which this displacement of the support device is no longer possible, and after which a displacement occurs relative rotation in plate rotation (11) with respect to the support device (9) around the center of rotation of the label, this rotation of the support device (9) dragging a relative translation displacement between the plate (11) and the support device (9) by cooperation between the tree that materializes the axis (X) called first and the walls of the device that delimit said hole (16), allowing this displacement to obtain a cleaning of the contacts by friction between the contacts (7 , 8) mobile and fixed contacts (20, 21). 7. Electrical protection apparatus including a control device according to any one of the preceding claims. 8. Electrical protection apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that it is a circuit breaker or a switch. 9. Electrical protection apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it is intended to be used for cutting the direct current or the alternating current of high voltage.