ES2624436T3 - Electrical switching device for low voltage circuits - Google Patents

Abstract

Electrical switching device (1) for low voltage circuits including a housing (2) having a front wall (3), a rear wall (4), a first side wall (5), a second side wall (6) , a lower wall (7) and an upper wall (8) defining a volume to contain the elements of said switching device, wherein said housing (2) comprises: - a first section (21) defining a first housing space for a switching unit (20) comprising one or more electric poles (20A, 20B, 20C), each of said electric poles comprising at least one fixed contact and one mobile contact, mutually attachable / detachable; - a second section (22) defining a second housing space for a control mechanism (98) of the mobile contacts of said electric poles; - a third section (23) defining a third housing space for one or more accessory devices (91A, 91B, 91C, 91D) of said switching device; characterized in that said front wall (3) comprises a first shaped part (31) and a second shaped part (32) adapted to respectively close the housing spaces defined by said second and third section (22, 23), in said front wall (3), wherein said first and second shaped part (31, 32) are mechanically separable from one another and are mechanically coupled to each other so that said first shaped part (31) is removable from said front wall (3) only 20 after having removed said second shaped part (32).

Description

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Electrical switching device for low voltage circuits

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical switching device, for example a switch, a disconnector or a contactor, preferably for use in low voltage circuits.

[0002] As is known, electrical switching devices (briefly "switching devices") used in low voltage electrical systems (ie for applications with operating voltage up to 1000V AC / 1500V DC), are devices designed to allow correct operation of specific parts of electrical systems and of the loads operatively associated with them.

[0003] A switching device generally comprises a switching unit provided with one or more electric poles.

[0004] Each electric pole comprises at least one fixed contact and a respective mobile contact, electrically connected to corresponding terminals to connect to the line conductors of an electric line.

[0005] Suitable control means allow moving the mobile contacts to couple / separate them to / from the corresponding fixed contacts.

[0006] In a switching device, the movement of the mobile contacts can be determined by manually operating the operator or by operating a protection and control unit (ie an electronic relay), operatively associated with the unit of commutation, when there is one.

[0007] A switching device may have auxiliary devices, such as the mentioned protection and control unit, whose main function is to regulate the operation of the switching unit, according to functions that can be predefined or configured by the operator through user interface media.

[0008] In addition, a switching device may also be provided with several accessory devices, operatively associated with the switching unit to perform predetermined functions, for example auxiliary contacts, contacts for signaling the status of the switching device (open, closed ) spring loaded actuators, solenoid release devices, sensors and the like.

[0009] The state of the art switching devices have some problems.

[0010] As is known, these comprise an interior housing within which several sections are defined to house the switching unit, the control mechanism, any control and protection unit and any accessory device.

[0011] In general, the front wall of the housing is configured to have a unique closing panel of the spaces of the housing intended to house the control mechanism and the accessory devices.

[0012] Therefore, it is necessary to remove this closing panel to perform any operation that requires access to the accommodation spaces of the control mechanism or of the accessory devices. The control mechanism of the switching unit, therefore, is accessible each time this closing panel is removed for each reason and, therefore, also while maintenance operations are carried out (in general, performed by personnel unqualified), for example the installation of an accessory device in the relative housing space.

[0013] It is clear that this causes considerable problems with respect to the operation and safety of the switching device.

[0014] An example of prior art housing is described in US-B-6518866.

[0015] The objective of the present invention is to provide an electrical switching device for low voltage electrical circuits having improved characteristics with respect to the devices of the prior art.

[0016] In particular, the present invention is intended to provide an electrical switching device that is easy to handle and ensures relatively high levels of safety.

[0017] Another objective of the present invention is to provide an electrical switching device that is easy to produce with relatively competitive costs.

[0018] These objectives are achieved by an electrical switching device according to the claims.

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annexes and the description that follows.

[0019] Other features and advantages of the electrical switching device according to the present invention will be more apparent from the description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of a switching device according to the present invention, shown by means of examples in the attached drawings, where:

- Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of an electrical switching device according to the present invention;

- Figures 2-6 are partially exploded views in perspective of the electrical switching device of Figure 1.

[0020] Referring to the aforementioned figures, the electrical switching device 1 (hereinafter referred to as "switching device 1") comprises a housing 2, substantially prismatic and provided with a front wall 3, a rear wall 4, a first side wall 5, a side wall 6, a bottom wall 7 and an upper wall 8.

[0021] The walls 3, 4 are in mutually opposite positions with respect to the switching device 1, as are the pair of side walls 4, 6 and the pair of lower and upper walls 7, 8.

[0022] The walls 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 of the housing 2 define a volume to contain the elements of the switching device 1.

[0023] Switching device 1 may be of the fixed or detachable type.

[0024] In the first case, the housing 2 is fixed to a support structure (for example, a distribution frame) in the rear wall 4 and / or the side walls 5, 6.

[0025] In the second case, the housing 2 is operatively connected, on the side walls 5, 6, to another support housing, successively fixed to a support structure (for example, a distribution board).

Due to the action of manual or motorized actuating elements, the switching device 1 can be moved between an "inserted" position in said other housing, where it is electrically connected to an electric line, and an "extracted" position of said other housing , where it is electrically disconnected from the mentioned electrical line.

[0026] Naturally, in both configurations considered, the switching device 1 is positioned so that the rear wall 4 faces the support structure and the free front wall 3, easily accessible by an operator.

[0027] The housing 2 of the switching device 1 comprises a first section 21 defining a first housing space for a switching unit 20.

[0028] The switching unit 20 comprises one or more electric poles 20A, 20B, 20C each of which comprises at least one fixed contact and one mobile contact (not shown), mutually attachable / detachable, within an extinguishing chamber of the corresponding arc (not shown).

[0029] The movement of the mobile contacts of the switching unit 20 advantageously takes place due to a control mechanism 98, operatively associated with the latter.

[0030] Advantageously, the switching unit 20 has electrical terminals 250 for the electrical connection with the line conductors of an electrical line. Preferably, the electrical terminals 250 protrude from the rear wall 4 of the housing 2.

[0031] Preferably, section 21 of the housing 2 comprises one or more isolation partitions (not shown) adapted to define the housings for the electrical poles 20A, 20B, 20C and ensure optimum electrical isolation between them.

[0032] The housing 2 comprises a second section 22 defining a second housing space for the control mechanism 98, operatively associated with the mobile contacts of the electric poles 20A, 20B, 20C.

[0033] The housing 2 also comprises a third section 23 defining a third housing space for one or more accessory devices 91A, 91B, 91C, 91D, operatively connectable to the elements of the switching device 1.

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[0034] Preferably, the housing 2 also comprises a fourth section 24 defining a fourth housing space for a protection and control unit 99 of the switching device 1.

[0035] The presence of the protection and control unit 99 depends substantially on the method of use of the switching device 1.

[0036] When the latter is used as an electrical line disconnector, the protection and control unit 99 will be absent and the housing space defined by section 24 of the housing 2 will remain substantially empty.

[0037] Preferably, the housing 2 also comprises a fifth section 25 defining a fifth housing space for a manual control lever 97 (spring loaded lever) operatively associated with the control mechanism 98.

[0038] With respect to the normal vertical assembly of the switching device 1, the section 21 of the housing 2 is operatively located in the vicinity of the rear wall 4, between the lower walls 7 and upper 8, while the sections 22, 23, 24, 25 are located in the vicinity of the front wall 3.

Preferably, sections 22, 23 are located in a distal position of the upper wall 8 of the housing 2, while section 24 is located in proximity to the latter, over sections 21, 22, 23, 25.

[0039] Preferably, section 22 of housing 2 is located in a central area of the front wall 3, while section 23 is located in the vicinity of at least one of the side walls 5, 6.

Preferably, section 23 is divided into two different compartments, each positioned in the vicinity of a side wall 5, 6.

[0040] In a first compartment, section 23 advantageously comprises first spaces 231A, 231B located in the vicinity of the side wall 5. The first spaces 231A, 231B define a first plurality of third housing spaces for some accessory devices, for example for a spring loaded motor 91A and one or more auxiliary contacts 91B.

[0041] In a second compartment, section 23 advantageously comprises second spaces 232A, 232B located in the vicinity of the side wall 6. The second spaces 232A, 232B define a second plurality of third housing spaces for other accessory devices, for example for a plurality of 91C signaling contacts or a plurality of 91D release devices.

[0042] The described operational configuration of sections 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 of the housing 2 allows the optimization of the housing space destined for the elements of the switching device 1, in particular the accommodation space destined for the accessory devices 91A, 91B, 91C, 91D and the protection and control unit 99.

[0043] Switching device 1, therefore, has a compact structure, with particularly limited overall dimensions.

[0044] According to the present invention, the front wall 3 comprises a first shaped part 31 and a second shaped part 32 adapted to close, in the same front wall, respectively, the housing spaces defined by sections 22, 23 of the housing 2 .

[0045] According to the present invention, the shaped parts 31, 32 of the front wall 3 are mechanically separable from each other.

[0046] Advantageously, the shaped parts 31, 32 are removable from the front wall 3 to allow access to the housing spaces defined by sections 22, 23 of the housing 2.

Preferably, the shaped part 32 is detachable from the front wall 3 separately with respect to the shaped part 31.

[0047] Preferably, the shaped parts 31, 32 are mechanically coupled to each other so that they can be removed separately from the front wall 3, according to a predefined sequence.

In particular, the shaped parts 31, 32 are mechanically coupled to each other so that said shaped part 31 can be removed from the front wall 3 only after having removed said shaped part 32.

[0048] Preferably, the shaped part 31 is constituted by a cover that can be detachably connected to a structural component of the control mechanism 98 (for example, a square bracket), by means of known type, for example by screws or snap or mechanical connections of closing by pressure or similar.

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[0049] Preferably, the cover 31 comprises a first opening 51 adapted to allow direct access to the housing space defined by the fifth section 25 of the housing 2.

[0050] The operator can, therefore, handle the control lever 97 easily with ease, without the need to remove parts of the front wall 3.

[0051] Preferably, the cover 31 comprises second openings 52 adapted to accommodate control buttons 55 that advantageously protrude from the front wall 3. The control buttons 55 are operatively associated, for example, with the control mechanism 98, and allow the operator check its operation, without removing parts of the front wall 3.

[0052] The second openings 52 can also be adapted to accommodate signaling indicators 56 that allow the operator to easily acquire information on the operating status of the switching device, without removing parts of the front wall 3.

[0053] Preferably, the shaped part 32 comprises a shaped frame 325 that defines, at least partially, the edges of the same front wall.

[0054] Preferably, the shaped part 32 comprises a first and second closure panel 321, 322, integrally connected to the shaped frame 325.

[0055] The closing panels 321, 322 are advantageously configured to close the accommodation spaces (intended to accommodate the accessory devices 91A, 92B, 91C, 91D) defined respectively by the spaces 231A, 231B, 232A, 232B of section 23 of accommodation 2.

[0056] From the foregoing, it is evident that the shaped part 32 is advantageously constituted by a closing structure, comprising at least the shaped frame 325 and the closing panels 321, 322, which can be detachably connected to the front wall 3, by means of fixing means of known type, for example by means of screws or socket or mechanical connections of closing by pressure or the like.

[0057] As shown above, the shaped part 32 is detachable from the front wall 3 independently with respect to the shaped part 31.

[0058] For this purpose, the shaped frame 325 and the closing panels 321, 322 are configured to define an opening 324 within which the cover 31 of the front wall 3 is located, when the latter is in its normal operating position .

[0059] Preferably, a lower length 325 of the shaped frame 325 is mechanically coupled to corresponding lower ribs 310 of the cover 31 so that the latter is removable from the front wall 3 only after the shaped frame 325 has been removed.

[0060] Preferably, the second shaped part 32 of the front wall 3 comprises a third closure panel 323, detachably connectable to the shaped frame 325, by means of fixing means of known type, for example by screws or socket or mechanical connections of closing by pressure or similar.

The closing panel 323 is advantageously configured to close the housing space (intended to house the protection and control unit 99) defined by section 24 of the housing 2.

[0061] As shown in Fig. 2, when the protection and control unit 99 is housed in the housing space defined by section 24 of the housing 2, it is accessible through an opening 326 defined by the cover 31, by the closing panels 321, 322 and by the shaped frame 25.

[0062] The opening 326 is occluded by the closing panel 323 when the latter is operatively connected to the shaped frame 325.

[0063] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the closure panel 323 may be configured to carry electronic user interface means (not shown), operably connectable, detachably, to the protection and control unit 99.

[0064] Preferably, these electronic means may comprise a screen adapted to allow easy viewing and selection of the input or output data of the protection and control unit, another control unit and one or more communication ports, for example USB type connectors ("Universal Serial Bus").

[0065] Preferably, the upper wall 8 has a shape so that it has a space 81 for an electrical terminal block 80, positioned between the switching unit 20 and the protection and control unit 99 and electrically connectable to the latter.

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[0066] Due to the terminal block 80, the switching unit 20 and / or the protection and control unit 99 can exchange data signals and / or control signals with devices external to the switching device 1 and / or receive a supply of autonomous energy.

[0067] Other interesting aspects of the switching device according to the present invention are related to the operating position of the accessory devices 91A, 91B, 91C, 91D in the corresponding housing spaces 231A, 231B, 232A, 232B of section 23 of the housing 2.

[0068] Preferably, the accessory devices 91A, 91B, 91C, 91D are operatively positionable according to "plug-and-play" or "click-on" installation modes in the corresponding spaces 231A, 231B, 232A, 232B.

[0069] This definition refers to the fact that accessory devices 91A, 91B, 91C, 91D can be installed simply by inserting them into the spaces mentioned 231A, 231B, 232A, 232B, without the need for other electrical or mechanical connections .

[0070] For this purpose, the release devices 91D preferably comprise first shaped edges 901, intended to be mechanically coupled (by snap or snap closure) to corresponding second shaped edges 2321 produced on the walls of the corresponding housing spaces 232B, and first electrical contacts 902, intended to be electrically coupled, according to a male / female plug type mode or vice versa, with corresponding second electrical contacts 2322, located in the corresponding housing spaces 232B.

[0071] Similarly, auxiliary contacts 91B may advantageously comprise third shaped edges 903, intended to be mechanically coupled (by snap or snap closure) to corresponding fourth shaped edges 2311 produced in the walls of the corresponding housing space 231B, and electrical connectors 904 intended to be part of the terminal block 80.

[0072] To facilitate its installation in the relative housing space 321A, the spring loaded motor 91A can advantageously comprise a coupling pin 905 intended to be mechanically coupled (by means of snap or snap closure) to a centering bracket 2313 located in the corresponding housing space 231A and a shaped connection part 906 intended to be mechanically coupled, by suitable fixing means (such as a screw), to the support wall 2312 that delimits the housing space of the motor 91A.

[0073] Preferably, a drive shaft 980 of the control mechanism 98 protrudes into the housing space 231A of the engine 91A to engage the latter, in a shaped wall thereof 907.

[0074] Preferably, one or more retention covers 96 may be operatively associated with housing spaces 231A, 231B, 232A, 232B to maintain one or more of the accessory devices 91A, 91B, 91C, 91D in their operative position.

[0075] For example, one or more retention covers 96 may be operatively associated with spaces 232B intended to house the release devices 91D.

[0076] Advantageously, these retention covers are reversibly movable between a lock position and a release position of said release devices.

[0077] The switching device 1 according to the present invention has considerable advantages in terms of efficiency and ease of use with respect to the devices of the prior art.

[0078] The front wall 3 of the housing 2 advantageously has a substantially modular structure that greatly simplifies access to each of the housing spaces defined by sections 22, 23, 24 of the housing 2.

[0079] To access the housing space intended to house the protection and control unit 99 (section 24 of the housing 2), the operator can simply remove the closing panel 323 from the shaped frame 325, without removing the remaining parts of the wall front 3, in particular the cover 31.

[0080] To access the accommodation space intended to accommodate the accessory devices 91A, 91B, 91C, 91D (section 23 of the housing 2), the operator can remove the closing structure constituted by the frame formed 325, by the closing panels 321, 322 and optionally 323, again without removing cover 31.

[0081] To access the accommodation space intended to house the control mechanism 98 (section 22 of the housing 2), the operator can remove the cover 31 from the front wall 3, advantageously after having

also removed the closing panels 321, 322, 323.

[0082] It is evident that this modular structure of the front wall 3 allows to keep segregated the accommodation spaces that the operator does not intend or should not access.

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[0083] Access to the different accommodation spaces, therefore, can be selectively regulated depending on the type of operation to be performed, with a considerable increase in safety standards.

10 [0084] Both qualified and unskilled personnel may be allowed access to the spaces of

housing intended to accommodate accessory devices 91A, 91B, 91C, 91D and protection and control unit 99 (sections 23, 24 of housing 2) for carrying out ordinary maintenance operations.

[0085] On the other hand, expert personnel can only be allowed access to the accommodation space intended to house the control mechanism 98 (section 22 of the housing 2), to carry out

extraordinary maintenance.

[0086] Based on the foregoing, it is clear that switching device 1 is easy to handle and ensures relatively high levels of security.

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[0087] Switching device 1 has a relatively simple structure and is relatively easy and economical to produce at the industrial level.

Claims (14)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 Four. Five fifty 55 60 65 1. Electrical switching device (1) for low voltage circuits including a housing (2) having a front wall (3), a rear wall (4), a first side wall (5), a second side wall ( 6), a lower wall (7) and an upper wall (8) defining a volume to contain the elements of said switching device, wherein said housing (2) comprises: - a first section (21) defining a first housing space for a switching unit (20) comprising one or more electric poles (20A, 20B, 20C), each of said electric poles comprising at least one fixed contact and a mobile contact, mutually attachable / detachable; - a second section (22) defining a second housing space for a control mechanism (98) of the mobile contacts of said electric poles; - a third section (23) defining a third housing space for one or more accessory devices (91A, 91B, 91C, 91D) of said switching device; characterized in that said front wall (3) comprises a first shaped part (31) and a second shaped part (32) adapted to respectively close the housing spaces defined by said second and third section (22, 23), in said front wall (3), wherein said first and second shaped part (31, 32) are mechanically separable from each other and mechanically coupled to each other so that said first shaped part (31) is removable from said front wall (3) only after having removed said second shaped part (32). 2. Electrical switching device according to claim 1, characterized in that said third section (23) comprises first spaces (231A, 231B) and second spaces (232A, 232B) respectively defining a first and second plurality of third parties accommodation spaces for said accessory devices (91A, 91B, 91C, 91D), wherein said second shaped part (32) comprises a shaped frame (325) that defines, at least partially, the edges of said front wall (3) and a first and a second closing panel (321, 322), integrally connected with said shaped frame (325) and adapted to close the housing spaces defined respectively by said first and second spaces (231A, 231B, 232A, 232B). 3. Electrical switching device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said housing (2) comprises a fourth section (24) defining a fourth housing space for a protection and control unit (99) of said switching device, wherein said second shaped part (32) is adapted to close the housing space defined by said fourth section (24) in said front wall (3). 4. Electrical switching device according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that said second shaped part (32) comprises a third closing panel (323) detachably connectable to said shaped frame (325) and adapted to close the accommodation space defined by said fourth section (24). 5. Electrical switching device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first shaped part (31) comprises a cover detachably connectable to said control mechanism (98). 6. Electrical switching device according to claims 2 and 5, characterized in that said cover (31) is mechanically coupled to said shaped frame (325), to be removable from said front wall (3) only after having been removed said shaped frame (325). 7. Electrical switching device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said housing (2) comprises a fifth section (25) defining a fifth housing space for a manual control lever (97), operatively associated with said control mechanism (98). 8. Electrical switching device according to claims 5 and 7, characterized in that said cover (31) comprises a first opening (51) adapted to allow direct access to the housing space defined by said fifth section (25). 9. Electrical switching device according to claims 5 or 8, characterized in that said cover (31) comprises second openings (52) adapted to accommodate control buttons (55) or signaling indicators (56) of said device commutation. 10. Electrical switching device according to claim 2, characterized in that one or more of said accessory devices (91A, 91B, 91C, 91D) are operatively positioned in said first spaces (231A, 231B) and / or in said second spaces (232A, 232B) according to installation modes of type "plug-and-play" or "click-on". 11. Electrical switching device according to claims 2 or 10, characterized in that one or more retention covers (96) are operatively associated with one or more of said first spaces 5 (231A, 231B) and / or one or more of said second spaces (232A, 232B) to keep in position one or more more of said accessory devices (91A, 91B, 91C, 91D). 12. Electrical switching device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is of a fixed type. 10 13. Electrical switching device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is removable. 14. Electrical switching device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a switch or a disconnector or a contactor.