FR2609838A1 - Triggering device with accumulation of potential energy, usable in a switching device - Google Patents

Abstract

The device according to the invention comprises a mobile rig 4 able to move, with respect to a fixed structure 1, along a first path, between a rest position in which it abuts against a first end-of-path stop 9 of the fixed structure, and an arming position, a restoring spring 6 arranged between the mobile rig 4 and the structure 1, a striker 10 guided by the mobile rig and mobile between an armed position -C- and a triggered position, a spring 14 arranged between the mobile rig 4 and the striker 10, and controllable interlock means 18 to 23 able to lock the striker 10 and the mobile rig 4 together, when the striker 10 is in the triggered position and the mobile rig 4 is in the arming position. This triggering device can be incorporated in small-sized switching devices.

Description

POTEN ENERGY TRIGGERING DEVICE
TIELLE, FOR USE IN A SWITCHING DEVICE.

The present invention relates to a trip device with potential energy accumulation, usable in a switching device such as, for example, a contactor-limiter.

Generally, we know that in a contactor limiter, the controllable switch device can be actuated - either on closing and on opening, by an electro
control magnet (contactor function), - either at opening only, by a mechanism which ensures
rapid opening, associated with at least one
overload (limiter function).

In this type of device, the limiter function has priority over the contactor function, that is to say that in the event of closing on a short circuit, the opening process of the switch device must be carried out as quickly as possible. quickly possible.

However, it turns out that most of the overload detectors usually used within the framework of this function do not issue a command order fast enough and / or having sufficient energy to ensure, directly or via a passive mechanical connection, correct switching of the switch device.

This is the reason why, to carry out this switching, a triggering device is commonly used which is capable of accumulating, in the form of potential energy, a fraction of the energy applied by the user to the device during a phase of arming and then releasing this potential energy to activate the switch device, following a control order issued by the detector (s) or even by another control device.

The invention relates more particularly to a device of the kind which is functionally described in French patent application No. 84 14826, filed on September 27, 1984, in the name of the Applicant, and which comprises - an actuator or striker , mobile between two
stable positions, namely: an armed position authorized
the closing of the switch device and a
triggered position following a trigger phase
in which the striker exerts a rapid action
on the switch device to cause its opening
re - an arming device comprising at least one part
mobile to which an effort can be applied during
of the arming phase, this part being associated with a
arming mechanism capable of bringing the striker of the
triggered position to the armed position during this
arming phase - means of accumulating potential energy specific to
store a fraction of
the energy exerted on said moving part during the phase
- a trigger on which an action can be applied
command to generate the trigger phase at
during which the striker suddenly passes from the
armed position to the position triggered under the effect of
release of potential energy stored by
aforementioned means of accumulation, during the weapon phase
is lying.

The object of the invention is more particularly to produce a device of this kind which has a structure as simple as possible, a small footprint, a reduced cost price and which can be integrated into switching devices of small dimensions.

To this end, it offers a triggering device of the aforementioned type which comprises - a mobile assembly which can move, relative to the
fixed structure, according to a first stroke, between a posi
tion of rest in which it comes to bear on a
first end stop of the fixed structure, and a
arming position - first elastic means arranged between said equi
mobile page and said fixed structure, so as to exercise
antagonistic to the arming effort and to bring back
the moving part in the rest position as soon as it has stopped
said effort - a striker carried by said mobile assembly and capable of
move, relative to it, parallel to said
race, between an armed position and a triggered position
in which it comes to bear on a second stop
end of travel of the fixed structure - second elastic means serving as an accumulator
of potential energy, arranged between said crew
mobile and said striker, so as to exert an action
antagonist to the arming effort - locking means capable of automatically joining
only the striker and the moving part when the
striker is in the triggered position and the crew
mobile is in the cocking position, this joining
ensuring the conservation of the potential energy acquired
by the second elastic means when passing from
the moving part in the cocking position; and - a trigger mounted on the fixed structure and arranged to
so as to cause the unlocking of said means of
locking when, as a result of the above solidarisa
tion, the moving part, moved by the first spring, is
returned to the rest position, this unlocking
the passage of the device from the armed position to the posi
triggered.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention - the above fixed structure consists of a part which can
be partially tubular with a bottom provided with a
hole through which can slide the aforesaid percue
tor - the aforementioned mobile assembly consists of a mobile stirrup with
the interior of the part can be tubular according to a
axis of movement parallel to the axis of movement of said
striker, this stirrup comprising a stop surface which
cooperates with a corresponding abutment surface of the
fixed structure to limit its travel, opposite to said
bottom in the aforesaid rest position - the aforesaid first elastic means consist of a
first pressure spring disposed between said bottom and
a surface of the stirrup opposite said bottom - the above striker consists of a rod mounted coulissan
te in said bracket (for example in two holes
respectively provided in two opposite parts of said
bracket), this rod comprising, projecting, a piece of
stop coming to bear against said bottom, in triggered position
chée - the aforesaid second elastic means consist of a
pressure spring whose two ends come
bear on bearing surfaces respectively provided on
said striker and on said stirrup - the above locking means involve a
circular groove formed in the above-mentioned rod as well as a
controllable lock mounted on said stirrup and intended for
come and engage in the throat.

 It should be noted that in the previously defined embodiment, the shapes of the fixed structure and of the movable equipment may be any, the guide of the stirrup then being only ensured by its sliding mounting on the striker.

Of course, these parts could possibly be cylindrical and be slidably mounted one inside the other.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the above locking means involve - on the one hand, at least one pin intended to cooperate with
throat of the striker, this pin being movable in trans
lation perpendicular to the axis of movement of the
striker and passing through two recesses respec
tively provided on two opposite faces of the stirrup
located on either side of the striker; and - on the other hand, a grout-mounted release yoke
health on the stirrup, coaxially with the striker, and compre
two opposing parallel wings which extend against
the two opposite faces of said stirrup, these two wings
also having two respective recesses by
which pass said pin.

In this case, the above-mentioned recesses are shaped so that a relative movement of said stirrup and of said yoke causes, in its direction, a translational movement of the spindle, either to cause the engagement of the spindle in the groove of the striker when the stirrup is in the cocking position and the striker is in the released position, or to remove the pin from the groove to cause the triggering, when the stirrup is in the rest position and the striker is in the armed position .

Advantageously, the arming effort can be exerted on the unlocking yoke, the latter then being connected to the stirrup by means of a compression spring, then of the aforesaid pin.

In this case, the device may also comprise a movable stop with controllable erasure acting as a trigger and on which protective devices can act, this movable stop serving to block the unlocking yoke at a determined point in its return stroke, when the stirrup returns to the rest position after cocking, and then to release this yoke when triggered.

The recesses are then shaped so that the relative yoke / stirrup movement which occurs when an arming force is applied to the release yoke exerts on the spindle a force capable of causing its engagement in the groove, this force is now then when the stirrup returns to the rest position thanks to the blocking of the unlocking yoke in its return phase by the movable stop.

Of course, the invention is not limited to a particular device making it possible to exert an arming effort on the unlocking yoke. It is clear that such a device could consist of a pusher. However, a more advantageous solution may consist in using a rotary button driving a cam surface on which a bearing surface may come integral with the unlocking yoke.

Embodiments of the invention will be described below, by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Figures 1 to 3 are ~ axial half-sections diagram
ticks to illustrate the principle of a dispo
simplified triggering device according to the invention,
armed state (Figure 1), triggered state (Figure 2)
and in a transient arming position (figure
3)
Figures 4 and 5 are schematic axial sections
ques of a triggering device according to a mode
preferred embodiment of the invention, in the armed state
(figure 4) and in the triggered state (figure 5)
Figures 6 and 7 are two mechanical diagrams
equivalents to illustrate the principle of
trigger device of Figures 4 and 5, this
device being in the armed state (figure 6) and in the state
triggered (Figure 7) ;;
Figures 8, 9 and 10 show, by representa
similar to those of Figures 6 and 7, the
three phases of rearming the device of FIGS. 4
and 5.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the triggering device comprises a fixed tubular structure 1 open on one side and partially closed, on the other side, by a bottom 2 provided with a coaxial bore 3.

Inside this fixed structure 1 is slidably mounted a movable element 4, of tubular shape, one end 5 of which emerges from the structure 1 can act as a pusher. This moving element 4 is subjected to the action of a spring 6 interposed between the bottom 2 and its end 7 opposite said bottom 2. The travel of this moving element 4 towards the outside is limited by the action of a collar 8 coming to bear on a stop 9 integral with the fixed structure 1.

Inside this movable assembly 4 is slidably mounted a striker 10 consisting of a cylindrical rod, one end of which 11 which is used for actuating a switching device shown diagrammatically by a switch 12, passes through the bore 3 of the background 2.

The stroke of this striker relative to the fixed structure 1 is limited by a stop element 13 secured to the rod 10 which comes to bear on the bottom 2, in the triggered position of the device.

Furthermore, the striker is biased by a compression spring 14 disposed between its end 15 and a wall 16 constituting the bottom of the movable assembly 4, this spring 14 constituting the means for accumulating potential energy of the device.

In this example, the means for securing the moving assembly 4 and the striker 10 have been shown diagrammatically.

They involve a circular groove 17 formed in the striker 10 and a retractable finger 18 radially guided in the movable assembly 4 and intended to come to engage in the groove 17 during the arming phase.

The movements of this finger 18 are then controlled by a pusher 19 radially guided in the movable assembly and returned by spring 20, this pusher 19 being intended to cooperate with a pusher 21 mounted in a bore 22 provided in the fixed structure 1.

The connection between the pusher 19 and the finger 18 is represented diagrammatically by a lever 23 mounted pivoting about a central axis.

The operation of the previously described triggering device is then as follows.

In the armed position (FIG. 1), the moving assembly 4, urged by the spring 6, is in the rear end-of-travel position, the collar 8 being retained by the stop 9. The striker 10 is secured to the moving assembly 4 thanks finger 18 which engages in groove 17, compresses spring 14.

From this position, the trigger is obtained by exerting a force F on the pusher 21. Under the effect of this force, the pusher 21 sinks radially by driving the pusher 19 against the action of the spring 20 This movement causes the lever 23 to tip over and, consequently, the finger 18 to be extracted from the groove 17.

Under the effect of the spring 14, the striker 10 suddenly moves to the right causing the opening of the contact 12. Its travel is then limited by the arrival of the stop 13 against the bottom 2. The triggering device is located then in the triggered position shown in FIG. 2.

The rearming is then obtained by exerting on the bottom 16 of the movable element 4, a thrust P. Under the effect of this thrust P, the movable element 4 moves towards the bottom 2 by compressing the springs 6 and 14 until the finger 18 reaches the right of the groove 17 and engages therein, thus securing the mobile assembly 4 and the striker 10.

When the thrust P then stops, the mobile assembly 4 / striker 10 assembly returns back, under the effect of the spring 6, until the flange 8 comes to bear on the stop 9.

The device is then in the armed position shown in FIG. 1.

In the device shown in Figures 4 and 5, the fixed structure 30-32 does not necessarily have a tubular structure. It nevertheless comprises two parallel side walls 30, 31 joined at one of their ends, by a bottom 32 provided with a central bore 33 through which the striker 34 passes.

The movable assembly then consists of a stirrup 35 comprising a front face 36 and a rear face 37 which extend parallel to the bottom 32, these two faces 36, 37 being connected to each other by two lateral faces 38, 39 perpendicular to said bottom 32.

The front 36 and rear 37 faces comprise two respective coaxial bores 40, 41 through which the striker 34 passes.

The movable assembly is subjected to the action of a pressure spring 42 disposed between the front face 36 and the bottom 32; its stroke is limited, in the direction of the action of the spring 42, by a stop 43 secured to the fixed structure on which abuts an edge 44 of the front face 36.

In its part between the front face 36 and the bottom 32, the striker 34 comprises a flange 45 on which bears a pressure spring 46 retained by the front face 36. I1 further comprises, in its part located between the face front 36 and rear face 37, a circular groove 47 intended to cooperate with at least one spindle 48 radially movable and mounted in two coaxial slots 49, 49 'respectively provided in the lateral faces 38 and 39.

This structure operates in a similar manner to that previously described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the springs 42 and 46 playing the same roles as the springs 6 and 14 and the pin 48 having the same function as the finger 18.

However, in this example, the arming maneuver is not obtained by exerting a direct action on the moving element as in the previous example, but by means of an unlocking yoke 50 of substantially shaped section of U, the two wings 51, 52 of which are slidably mounted on the two lateral faces 38, 39 of the stirrup 35 and include respective slots 53, 54 through which the pin or pins 48 pass.

The coupling between the yoke 50 and the stirrup 35 is then ensured by a pressure spring 56 disposed between the core 55 of the yoke 50 and the rear face 37 of the stirrup 35. An elastic coupling is therefore obtained allowing movement relative of the stirrup 35 with respect to the yoke 50.

The core 55 of the yoke 50 also carries a bar 57 which cooperates with a cam surface 58 carried by a button 59 rotatably mounted on the ends of the side walls 30, 31 of the fixed structure 30-32 opposite the bottom 32.

Thanks to this arrangement, the arming operation is obtained by rotating the button 59 which causes a displacement towards the bottom 32 of the yoke 50 and, by means of the spring 56 then of the pin or pins 48, a moving the stirrup 35.

An important characteristic of this embodiment consists in that it uses this relative displacement in one direction and in the other to respectively ensure the engagement of the pin or pins 48 in the groove 47, during the maneuver of arming and then its extraction, when triggered manually.

 It should be noted on this subject that in this embodiment, an automatic triggering is obtained by means of a controllable erasure stop 60 actuated by protective devices such as a thermal bimetal strip or a magnetic trigger, this stop cooperating with a lug 61 of the unlocking yoke 50. In FIG. 5 corresponding to a triggering state, this stop has no action on the lug 61.

The respective positions of this stop 60 and this lug 61 are then provided so as to ensure a limitation of the return stroke in direction F of the yoke 50 at the end of the arming phase (Figure 4).

The actuation of the pin or pins 48 is then effected by means of particular conformations of the lights 49, 49′-53, 54 provided in the yoke 50 and in the stirrup 35 which are visible in FIGS. 8 to 10, on which have been shown in a schematic dissociated form the different elements involved in the device illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 and which, therefore, have the same reference numbers.

It will be noted, in particular, that in these figures, the unlocking yoke 50 and the stirrup 35 have been offset, so that the lights 49, 49'-53, 54 produced on these two elements are no longer in coincidence. This is the reason why, instead of a simple pin 48, three parallel pins 48a, 48b, 48c are shown joined by a connecting piece 62, movable perpendicular to the axis of the striker 34, the pin 48a passing through through lights 53, 54 of the yoke 50, the pin 48b passing through the lights 49, 49 'of the stirrup 35 and the pin 48c being intended to cooperate with the groove 47 of the striker 34.

In this example, the lights 53, 54 produced in the unlocking yoke 50 are formed by two oblong recesses 63, 64 which extend parallel to the axis of the striker 34 and are offset with respect to each other in a plane perpendicular to said axis. These two recesses 63, 64 communicate with each other at a central transition zone, the lower edge of which forms an inclined ramp 65 so as to cause the spindle 48a to tend to remove the spindle 48c from the groove 47, during a relative movement of the yoke 50 towards the rear (button side 59).

The lights made in the stirrup 35 have, for their part, substantially the shape of a right triangle whose hypotenuse forms a ramp 66 inclined in the opposite direction to the ramp 65, so as to exert a tensile force on the spindle 48c to engage it in the groove 47 during a relative movement of the stirrup 35 towards the rear.

Thus, in the armed position (FIG. 6) of the device, the stirrup 35, pushed back by the spring, comes into abutment on the fixed structure 30, 32, the striker 34 is secured to the stirrup 35 thanks to the engagement of the spindle 48c in the groove 47 under the effect of the ramp 66 on the spindle; the spring 46 is compressed. The yoke 50, pushed backwards by the spring 56, is retained by the controllable erasure stop 60 controlled by a bimetal strip 70 or a magnetic trigger or striker 71 mounted in series with the switch 72, these two elements then being at rest. Because of this retention, the spindle 48a is not biased by the ramp 65 and is engaged in the lower oblong recess 63 of the slots 53, 54. The operating button 59 is then in the rest position, so that the cam 58 does not cooperate with the bar 57 integral with the yoke 50 (these two parts being separated from one another).

The device is triggered by an action of the bimetallic strip 70 or of the magnetic trigger or striker 71 causing in direction H the erasure of the stop 60 which releases the unlocking yoke 50. Thanks to the action of the spring 56, this yoke 50 will be suddenly moved backwards, displacement during which the ramp 65 of the lights 53, 54 will exert a force causing an uplift of the spindle 48a and, consequently, of the spindle 48c.

The latter escapes from the groove 67 and the striker 35, moved by the spring 46, therefore abruptly opens the switch 72.

The device is then in the position shown in FIG. 7, a position in which, thanks to its backward movement, the yoke 50 comes to bear on the cam 58, the button 59 being always in the rest position.

The resetting operation is then carried out by turning the button 59 in a direction R so that, thanks to the action of the cam 58 on the bar 57, the cocking yoke 50 is pushed forward in meaning G.

During this action, the stirrup 35 is also pushed forward by the spring 56 and then by the pins 48a, 48b and compresses the springs 42 and 46 (Figure 8).

Due to the rearward movement of the yoke 50, the ramp 65 ′ tends to move the connecting piece 62 and the stirrup 35 downwards and downwards via the spindle 48b. Therefore, when the pin 48c arrives at the right of the groove 47 of the striker 34, it is pushed back there. This secures the striker 34 and the stirrup 35 (Figure 9).

Then returning the button to its original position, it causes the return of the caliper 35 / striker 34 assembly and the yoke 50 in the rest position (Figure 10). During this return, the unlocking yoke 50 is retained by the erasable stop 60 which is no longer stressed by the bimetallic strip and / or by the magnetic trigger.

The device is then again in the armed position shown in FIG. 6.

An important advantage of this embodiment consists in that, during triggering, the pin 48 does not exert on the striker 34 a significant friction force, capable of causing a switching delay.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the switch 72 uses a movable contact bridge 73 which is biased by a compression spring 74 in the direction of two fixed contacts 75, 76. The choice of such a switch allows, so nonlimiting, the use of a pusher 85 which is placed parallel to the end 11 of the striker 34 and whose displacements in direction G or F are communicated by a remote-controlled electromagnet 86 shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6; the terminals 87, 88 represent the means for supplying the coil 89 of this electromagnet for the execution of the contactor function.

As a variant, the rake 80 and / or the button 59 can operate, see FIG. 7, a forced opening of an auxiliary switch 90 placed in series with the coil 89 so as to establish a confirmation of the automatic opening, respectively a command opening hours.

Each of the phase circuits such as 77 going from an input terminal 78 to an output terminal 79 comprises a bimetallic strip and a magnetic striker when the device is applied to a polyphase apparatus; in the latter case, a common drawer 80 carrying the erasable stop 60 is associated with the various bimetallic strips and magnetic strikers and finds its position of rest on a support 81 using elastic means 82.

Claims (7)

Claims  1. Triggering device with potential energy accumulation usable in a switching device, this device comprising - a striker movable between two stable positions,  know: an armed position authorizing the device of  switching to go into a first state, and a position  triggered after a trigger phase, in  which the striker exerts a rapid action on the  switching device to force it to go through a  second state; - an arming device comprising at least one part  mobile to which an effort can be applied during  an arming phase, this part being associated with a  arming mechanism capable of bringing the striker of the  triggered position to the armed position, during this  arming phase; - means of accumulating potential energy specific to  store, as potential energy, a fraction of  the energy exerted on the moving part, during the phase  weapons; - a trigger on which an action can be applied  command to generate the trigger phase at  during which the striker suddenly passes from the  armed position to the position triggered under the effect of  the energy stored by the above means of accumulating  tion, characterized in that it comprises: - a mobile assembly (4) which can move, relative to  the fixed structure (1), according to a first stroke, between  a rest position -B- in which it comes to bear  on a first end of travel stop (9) of the structure  fixed, and an arming position -A-; - first elastic means (6) disposed between said  mobile assembly (4) and said fixed structure (1),  so as to exert an antagonistic action to the effort  of arming and bringing the mobile assembly (4) into position  rest -B- as soon as said effort has ceased - a striker (10) carried by said mobile assembly (4) and  able to move, relative to it, parallel  at said race, between an armed position -C- and a posi  triggered tion -D- in which it presses on  a second end of travel stop (2) of the fixed structure (1) - second elastic means (14) serving as an accumulator  of potential energy, arranged between said crew  mobile (4) and said striker (10), so as to exert  an action antagonistic to the arming effort and an action  of direction G oriented towards the direction of percussion - locking means (17, 18, 19, 20) suitable for soli  automatically dimming the striker (10) and the crew  movable (4) when the striker (10) is in position  triggered and the moving assembly (4) is in position  of armament, this joining ensuring the conservation  potential energy acquired by the second means  elastics (14) during the passage of the moving assembly to the  arming position; and - a trigger (21) mounted on the fixed structure and arranged  so as to cause the unlocking of said means of  locking (17, 18, 19, 20) when, following the  said joining, the mobile assembly (4), moved by the  first spring (6), has returned to the rest position, this  unlocking causing the device to pass from the  armed position to the triggered position.  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that - the above fixed structure consists of at least one part  partially tubular (1) having a bottom (2) provided  a hole (3) through which can slide the  aforementioned striker (10) t - the aforementioned mobile assembly (4) consists of a mobile stirrup  inside the fixed structure along an axis of displacement  cement parallel to the axis of movement of said striker  (10), this stirrup comprising a stop surface (8) which  cooperates with a corresponding abutment surface (9) of the  fixed structure (1) to limit its travel, opposite  of said bottom (2) in the aforesaid rest position - the aforesaid first elastic means consist of a  first pressure spring (6) disposed between said bottom  (2) and a surface of the stirrup (4) facing said bottom  (2) - the above striker (10) consists of a mounted rod  sliding in said stirrup (4), this rod comprising,  projecting, a stop piece (13) coming to bear against  said bottom (2), in the triggered position - the above second elastic means consist of a  second pressure spring (14) with both ends  come to bear on bearing surfaces respectively  provided on said striker (10) and on said stirrup (4) - the above locking means involve a  circular groove (17) formed in the said rod thus  a controllable lock (18) mounted on said stirrup (4)  and intended to come to engage in the groove (17).  3. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the above locking means involve - on the one hand, at least one pin (48) intended to cooperate  with the groove (47) of the striker (34), this pin (48)  being movable in translation perpendicular to the axis of  displacement of the striker (34) and passing through  two recesses (49, 49 ') respectively provided on two  opposite faces (38, 39) of the stirrup (35) located opposite  and other of the striker (34); and - on the other hand, a release yoke (50) mounted  sliding on the stirrup (35), coaxially with the striker  (34), and comprising two opposite parallel wings (51,  52) which extend against the two opposite faces (38, 39)  of said stirrup, these two wings also having two  respective recesses (53, 54) through which said  pin (48) ;; and in that, in this case, the aforesaid recesses (49, 49'-53, 54) are shaped so that a relative movement of said stirrup (35) and said yoke (50) causes, according to its direction , a translational movement of the spindle (48), either to cause the engagement of the spindle (48) in the groove (47) of the striker (34), when the stirrup (35) is in the cocking position and that the striker (34) is in the tripped position, either to remove the pin (48) from the groove (47) to cause tripping, when the stirrup (35) is in the rest position and the striker (34) is in armed position.  4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the arming force is exerted on the unlocking yoke (50), and in that this unlocking yoke is connected to the stirrup by means of a third pressure spring (56).  5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a movable stop with controllable erasure (60) acting as a trigger and on which protective devices (70, 71) can act, this movable stop serving to block the unlocking yoke (50) at a determined point in its return stroke, when the stirrup (35) returns to the rest position after arming, and then releasing this yoke (50) upon triggering.  6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the aforesaid recesses (49, 49'-53, 54) are shaped so that the relative movement of the yoke (50) / stirrup (35) which occurs when an effort arming is applied to the unlocking yoke (50) exerts on the spindle (48) a force capable of causing its engagement in the groove (47), this force is then maintained when the caliper (35) returns rest position by blocking the unlocking yoke (50) in its return phase by the movable stop (60).  7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the arming force is applied to the unlocking yoke (50) by means of a rotary button (59) driving a cam surface (58) on which can come a bearing surface (57) integral with the yoke (50).