FR2587829A1 - ELASTIC SWING PROTECTION SWITCH - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Protection switch for an electric installation comprising, in an insulating case (11) : - at least one fixed contact (C2) and a mobile contact (C1) which cooperate and form a current path which can be interrupted in response : - either to the actuation of a magnetic (DM) and/or thermal (DT) automatic tripping member, - or to the actuation of a manuel tripping and resetting control member (M), - a lock comprising : - a hook (12) which can be moved by the automatic tripping member (DM, DT), - a tripping lever (18) having at a first end a nose-piece (22) cooperating with the hook (12) and connected to the manuel control member (M) so as to pivot, either by bearing on the hook (12) so as to cause voluntary opening of the contacts or on a mowable shaft (19) connected to the manual control member (M) for causing automatic tripping ; this tripping lever (18) being connected to a contact piece (32) mounted for pivoting on a pin (30a) belonging to a rigid conducting piece (30) fixed with respect to the case (11) and fast with a terminal (B1) of the switch, by means of a spring (R) forming a resilient transmission link between the lever (18) and the contact piece (32) and contributing to sudden opening of the contact piece (32) characterized in that the resilient link (R) consists of a hairpin spring in the shape of a V, a first leg (28) of which is applied to a second end of the tripping lever (18) and the other leg (29) of which cooperates with two rests situated on each side of the pin (30a), namely an opening rest (36) and a closure rest (31).

Description

- 1 -

  PROTECTIVE SWITCH WITH ELASTIC CONNECTION.

  The present invention relates to a protection switch for electrical installation, comprising in an insulating housing: - at least one fixed contact and a cooperating mobile contact

  to form an interruptible current path in response to

  it is either on the actuation of a magnetic and / or thermal device for automatic triggering on a fault, or on the actuation of a manual triggering and resetting control device, a lock comprising: a movable hook by the deflection triggering member, a release lever provided at a first end with a spoiler cooperating with the hook and connected to the manual control member, so as to pivot, or by bearing on the hook to perform a voluntary opening of the contacts, either on a displaceable axis connected to the manual control device for

  perform an automatic trigger.

  Such a protection switch is described in patent DE-3 034 790. This switch has a spring of

  traction anchored, on the one hand, on the manual control

  the at an eccentric point thereof and, secondly, on a contact piece itself articulated relative to the trigger lever. The device in question requires a carefully calibrated and positioned spring, as well as a triangular kinematic connection manual organ, manual body-contact piece and lever-contact piece; anchoring and guiding must, in addition, be provided for the spring in the manual control member and require

  an oversizing of the latter.

  The present invention is intended in particular to give a protection switch of the type mentioned above a great simplicity of design and assembly, while

  keeping a small footprint to the lockset-

manual control device.

  Its other purpose is to make a protection switch

  tion with high trigger sensitivity.

  For this purpose, the invention relates to a protection switch

  of the above type, in which the trigger lever

  is connected to a separate contact piece by means of a spring constituting, on the one hand, an elastic transmission link between the lever and the contact piece and contributing, on the other hand, to the sudden opening of the piece

of contact.

  An additional spring may be provided to contribute to the opening of the contact piece, but this opening

  is preferably produced by the single elastic link

than mentioned above.

  The contact piece is advantageously pivotally mounted on

  a fixed journal relative to the housing, the elastic link

  cooperating with at least one support provided on the contact piece to maintain it applied to the fixed spigot. As soon as the fixed support is part of a rigid and electrically conductive part integral with one of the terminals of the switch, the spring makes it possible to ensure a satisfactory electrical connection between the terminal and the workpiece.

  without the need for a braid or other conductive means.

flexible driver.

  The elastic link is, for example, a leaf spring

  or in the form of a V-shaped or U-shaped hairpin.

  V-shaped pin, the spring presents a first branch

  V-cheek applied to a second end of the release lever and a second leg of the V applicable to a closing support and an opening support of the part

of contact.

  The hook may advantageously constitute a rudder interposed between the core of the magnetic release and the bimetal of the thermal release and arranged so that a beginning of deflection of the bimetal results in a slight pivoting of the hook and a slight dive of the core. In addition, a spring

  recall associated with the core of the magnetic trigger

  kills, preferably, a means for returning the hook towards its

pinning position of the spoiler.

  Other advantages and characteristics of the invention

  will appear on reading the description which follows in

  annexed drawings and which is an example of a reali-

non-limiting

  Figure 1 shows schematically in elevation with partial tearing of the housing the protective switch in the closed position of the contacts; FIG. 2 similarly shows the switch in the end position of automatic triggering on the fault or respectively in the manual open position;

2587829-

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  Figures 3 and 4 show the trigger lever

  and the contact part of the switch of FIGS. 1 and 2; Figure 5 shows in perspective a mounting detail

  the contact piece and the elastic link.

  Figures 6 to 8 show the hooking end

  the release lever respectively in the latching positions (armed position), the start of automatic magnetic tripping and the end of

automatic triggering.

  The protective switch 10 shown in the figures is a circuit breaker having a housing 11 electrically

  insulation, which can be fixed by means of suitable

  provided to snap on a support such as a perforated plate or a standard rail and provided with terminals B1, B2 respectively connected to a movable contact C1 and a fixed contact C2. We could of course provide bridges

Cl and C2.

  The switch 10 comprises a manual control member M consisting of a rotary knob of axis 01 and a control member.

  automatic triggering D equipped with a magnetic trigger

  only DM and DT thermal trigger; the members M and D are mounted in the casing and are capable of separating the contact C1 from the contact C2 and thus opening the path of

  current B1, B2 by means of a lock in response to the detection

  an electrical fault via the DM or DT triggers or respectively in response to a manual command. A

  interrupting chamber A is adjacent to the contacts C1, C2.

  The output member of the trigger member D is a hook 12 rotatably mounted about a fixed axis 02 relative to the housing and cooperating with a fork 13 which has two fingers 13a and 13b with a butt 14 having respective surfaces of 14a and 14b. The butt 14 is located at the end of a plunger core 15 of the magnetic trigger DM. The hook 12 cooperates further by means of a finger 16 with a

  deformable lever with bimetallic strip 17 of the thermal release DT.

  The lock comprises a trigger lever 18 in the form of a balance made of insulating material. The lever 18 is directly mounted on a pin 19 of the manual member M and has, for this purpose, a slender 20 slightly inclined (Figure 1), or parallel (Figure 2), vis-à-vis the front face 21 circuit breaker, and cooperating with said tenon. The pin 19 is movable from a position X1 to a position X2 and vice versa, while the slider 20 is curved at 20a at its right end (Figure 3). The lever 18 comprises, at a first end, a spoiler 22 resting on a support 23 of the hook (FIG. 6), this support being erasable as a result of the pivoting of the hook to allow the lever 18 to tilt in response to an electrical fault detected by

the trigger DM or DT.

  The lever 18 comprises, toward its second bloomed end

  or head 24, a substantially perpendicular guiding groove 25

  21 on the face 21 and cooperating with a guide pin 26 formed in the casing. Near the upper end of the head 24 of the lever 18, there is provided a fulcrum or anchor 27 for a spring R pin V-shaped. The first branch 28 of the spring R is thus applied to

  the movable anchor point 27 to tend to

  clockwise lever 18; the second branch 29 of the spring R is rotatably attached to a pin 30a formed on a rigid conductive part 30 which is fixed relative to

  to the boot and which is secured to the terminal B1. The bran-

  che 29 is firstly applied at its end to a closing support 31 of a contact piece 32 separate from the lever 18 and constituting or carrying the contact C1, second

  place applicable near the tip of the V on a support of opening

  36 of the piece 32, the supports 31 and 36 being located on either side of the fixed pin 30a. The application of the branch 29 on the closing support 31 makes it possible to ensure the closure of the contact C1 and its pressure on the contact C2; the application of the branch 29 on the opening support 36 allowing the opening of the contact Cl. The direction of rotation of the contact piece Cl depends on the application of the differential force of the branch 29 on the one or the other support 31, 36, this being a function of the position of the anchor point 27

of branch 28.

  The manual control button M has a manual socket 33, the pin 19 is located substantially opposite the socket 33 relative to the axis 01 and at a distance from this axis for a boost of effort. A return spring 34 is associated with the button M to assist it during a manual opening command and to return it to the

  stop position during a fault trip.

  It should be noted that the trigger MD-DM comprises a spring 35 urging the core 15 so that the butt 14 thereof pushes the finger 13a of the hook 12 to remind it in the armed position of the figures

1 and 3.

  The hook 12 advantageously constitutes a cross-bar

  placed between the magnetic core 15 and the bimetallic strip 17, so that a beginning of bimetal deflection causes a very slight counterclockwise rotation of the hook and thus a slight dive of the core. In this way, the tripping intensity threshold of the trigger DM is lowered; an overload detected by the bimetal of the thermal release causes

  therefore a greater sensitivity of the magnetic trigger.

  The finger 16 of the hook has an extension 37 located behind the bimetallic strip and provided with markers 16a which facilitate the

adjustment of the bimetallic strip.

  The operation of the device described is as follows: In the latching position (FIG. 1), the movable contact C1 is applied against the fixed contact C2 as a result of the force applied counterclockwise by the spring R on FIG. support 31 of the contact piece 32. The circuit B1, C1, C2, B2 is closed. In this position, the manual control button M abuts on the housing occupies a position such that its tenon 19 is in the position marked X1 at the right end 20a of the slide 20. The spoiler 22 of the lever 18 is hooked on

  the support 23 of the hook 12, which is kept in the position

  indicated in FIG. 1 by the spring 35 of the release

magnetic DM.

  The spring R biases the lever 18 to tilt it clockwise around the articulation pin 19, but

  is prevented by the aforementioned hooking. The upper extremity

  groove 25 of the lever 18 is against the guide pin 16

26.

  Following a fault trigger detected by the magnetic trigger DM or thermal DT, the hook 12

  rotates counterclockwise and its bearing surface 23 disengages

  spoiler 22 by releasing the lever 18 (Figure 7). Celui-

  It pivots clockwise about the pin 19 occupying the position Xl at the time under the effect of the upward bias exerted by the spring R on its anchor point 27. The

  branch 28 of the spring rises; branch 29 which is

  daire is driven and comes to apply on the drive support 36 provided on the contact piece 32 and rotates it abruptly clockwise to open the

contact Cl.

  At the end of firing (Figure 2), the lower end of the groove 25 abuts against the pin 26; due

  circuit break, the core of the magnetic trip unit

  The tick returns to the up position and recalls the hook 12 in the armed position (FIG. 8). It should also be observed that during the triggering process, the movement of the lever 18 allows the button M to move from the on position to the off position under the effect of its spring 34 and this,

  thanks to the overcoming of the obstacle constituted by the transi-

  20b of the slide 20 by the pin 19. In addition, at the end of triggering, the lever 18 is brought into position

  illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 8 where the existence is

  this of a small game between the spoiler 22 of the lever 18 and

the support 23 of the hook 12.

  To make a voluntary opening of contacts,

  the user manually controls the button M for the soul

  by rotating clockwise around 01 from its position in Figure 1 to the position of Figure 2, that is to say for

  carry post 19 from position X1 to position X2.

  The hook 12 remains stationary and the spoiler located at the end

  right of the lever 18 remains attached to the support 22, the latter thus serving as a tipping point for the

the sink.

  The slide being slightly curved, the beginning of rotation

  The action of the button M determines a counterclockwise tilting of the lever 18 which reinforces the compression of the V of the spring R and thus increases the elastic energy of the latter. then after exceeding the transition 20b of the slide 20 by the pin 19, the rotation of the button M causes a tilting

  abrupt schedule of the lever 18, so that the anchoring point

  age 27 of the spring R rises; the branch 28 thereof mounts and drives the branch 29 which causes a decrease in the contact pressure C1 on C2, then applying on the support 36 causes the piece 32 and causes a separation

  from C1 to C2 to the open position.

illustrated in Figure 2.

  At the end of voluntary opening, the lower end of the groove 25 abuts against the pin 26. Another stop could, - 9 -

  of course, be provided in the case to limit the movement

the lever 18.

  The rearming of the hook is carried out automatically under the effect of the return of the magnetic core to its high position. To reset the switch, turn the manual control knob counterclockwise around axis 01 from the "off" position (figure 2) to the "on" position (figure 1); thus lowering the lever 18 and the branch 28 of the spring, so that the branch 29 urges the closing support 31 of the contact piece 32 until the application of C1 on C2; the detachment of the branch 29 from the drive support 36 allows the pressure overtravel of the contact. The spoiler 22 is hooked on its support 23. At the end of rearming, the pin 19 is housed in the curved end 20a of the slide 20, so that the

  M button is forced to stay in the on position.

  A trigger display element may be provided on the head 24 of the lever 18 so that its displacement facing a window formed in the recess of the face

  before 21 of the housing signals the trip.

  Marks 16a are advantageously provided on the finger 16

  bimetail 17 in order to assist an operator during the trial

over setting bimetallic.

  It goes without saying that we can bring to the embodiment

  describes modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

  tion. The manual control member M, represented in the form of a pivoting knob, could be designed as a pusher. The actuation of the member M can be carried out

  from a polar apparatus or additive near the

  protection switch considered. The elastic link described is the only means of mechanical interaction between the pivoting trigger lever and the contact piece.

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Claims (11)

Patent claims   1. Protective switch for electrical installation   trunk, comprising in an insulating casing: at least one fixed contact and a movable contact cooperating and forming an interruptible current path in response:   To either actuating a magnetic and / or thermal   automatic triggering mechanism, or at the actuation of a manual triggering and resetting control member, - a lock comprising: a hook movable by the automatic triggering member, a release lever provided at a first end of a spoiler cooperating with the hook and connected to the manual control member, so as to pivot, either by bearing on the hook to make a voluntary opening of the contacts, or on a movable axis connected to the manual control member for perform an automatic release, characterized in that the release lever (18) is connected to a separate contact piece (32) by means of a spring (R) constituting, on the one hand, an elastic transmission link between the lever and the contact piece and contributing, on the other hand, to the sudden opening of the piece of contact.   2. Protective switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic link (R) is the sole means of opening the contact piece (32). - 11 -   3. Protective switch according to one of the   1 and 2, characterized in that the contact-carrying part (32) is pivotally mounted on a pin (30a) fixed with respect to the housing, the elastic link (R) co-operating with at least   a support provided on the contact piece to maintain that   it is applied on the fixed spigot.   4. Protective switch according to claim 3, characterized in that the pin (30a) belongs to a rigid conductive part (30) integral with a terminal (B1). of the switch.   5. Protective switch according to one of the   dications 1 to 4, characterized in that the elastic link (R) cooperates, on the one hand, with an opening support (36) and, on the other hand, with a closing support (31), the supports (31, 36) being provided on the contact piece (32) and located on either side of the pivot pin (30a) of said room.   6. Protective switch according to claim 5, characterized in that the elastic link (R) is the pressure means of the movable contact (C1) on the fixed contact (C2).   7. Protective switch according to one of the   5 and 6, characterized in that the elastic link (R) is a V-shaped pin spring having a first leg of the V (28) applied to a second end (24) of the trip lever (18) and a second branch of the V   (29) applicable on closing supports (31) and opening   ture (36) of the contact piece (32). - 12 -   8. Protective switch for electrical installation   comprising, in an insulating casing: at least one fixed contact and a movable contact cooperating and forming an interruptible current path in response: either to the actuation of a magnetic and / or thermal device for automatic triggering, or actuating a manual triggering and resetting control member, a lock comprising: a hook movable by the fault triggering member, a release lever provided at one end with a spoiler cooperating with the hook, and connected to the manual control member, so as to pivot, or by bearing on the hook to make a voluntary opening of the contacts, or on a movable axis connected to the manual control member to perform an automatic trigger, characterized by the fact that the hook (12) is interposed between a core (14) of the magnetic release (DM) and a bimetallic strip (17) of the thermal release (DT) and is arranged In this way, an early deflection of the bimetallic strip (17)   slight dive of the core via the pivoting of the hook.   9. Switch according to claim 8, characterized in that the release lever (18) is connected to a contact piece (32) by means of a connecting rod elastic (R).   10. Protective switch according to claim 8, characterized in that the magnetic release (DM) comprises a spring (35) for returning the magnetic core (15),   this spring constituting a return means of the hook (12). - 13 -   11. Protective switch according to one of the   dications 8 to 10, characterized in that the hook has a finger (16) intended to cooperate with the bimetallic strip (17), the finger (16) bearing pins (16a) for assistance in adjusting the bimetallic strip.