FR2639760A1 - MODULAR CIRCUIT BREAKER EQUIPPED WITH AN AUXILIARY TRIP UNIT WITH INDEPENDENT OR AUTOMATIC RESET - Google Patents

Abstract

A modular circuit breaker is formed by assembling an auxiliary unit 10 for tripping to a multi-pole circuit breaker unit 12 having a first handle 20. The auxiliary unit 10 comprises an operating mechanism 22 associated with a second handle 24 for resetting and with a trip relay 26, which cooperates with a first mechanical link 28 for tripping of the circuit breaker unit 12. A slide-shaped control selector 32 is movable in an opening of the second handle 24 between an active position and an inactive position, to establish or interrupt a second mechanical reset link 30 between the first and second handles 20, 24. Applications: modular circuit breakers with differential units, with MN undervoltage, and with MX emission, or any other auxiliary function such as CAOF / SD contacts.

Description

MODULAR CIRCUIT BREAKER EQUIPPED WITH AN AUXILIARY BLOCK OF

  INDEPENDENT OR AUTOMATIC RESET TRIGGER.

  The invention relates to a modular circuit breaker formed by the assembly of an auxiliary trip block to a circuit breaker block, in particular multipolar, the latter having a switching mechanism associated with a first manual control lever with two stable positions O d opening, and closing F, the auxiliary unit comprising: - a control mechanism cooperating with a second reset lever and an electromechanical relay with release coil, - said second handle being movable between a first armed position R and a second position disarmed D - a first mechanical tripping link transmitting the tripping order from the relay to the circuit breaker block switching mechanism, - and a second mechanical resetting link which derives from a closing movement of the circuit breaker

  automatic reset of the auxiliary unit.

  In document FR-2.437.692 relating to a modular differential circuit breaker, the control mechanism of the differential trip unit is permanently coupled to the handle of the circuit breaker unit. This results in a second bidirectional mechanical connection between the levers of the two blocks. The second lever of the differential trip unit always follows the opening and closing pivoting movement of the first lever associated with the circuit breaker unit. When a trip is made, resumption of service is effected by closing the circuit breaker block without any special reset operation for the differential trip block. The auxiliary unit must be equipped with a trip indicator on differential fault allowing the user to distinguish the cause of the trip. The establishment of the first and second mechanical trip and reset connections is made

  automatically during the shoulder of the two blocks.

  In another type of modular differential circuit breaker described in document FR-2,430,660, the resetting of the differential trip unit is independent of the state of the circuit breaker unit, and takes place manually by pressing a reset button provided on the trigger block. After a differential trip, it is necessary to manually reset the differential trip unit before attempting to close the circuit breaker unit. Manual reset of the differential circuit breaker unit can also take place by means of a non-linked pivoting lever.

  mechanically at the handle of the circuit breaker block.

  The choice between automatic reset or manual reset

  of the auxiliary unit depends on the uses in the different countries.

  It is therefore necessary to provide two different ranges of equipment at the factory to cover the needs of the world market. In addition to the complexity of manufacturing management, such a system generates an increase in stocks at the

distributor or user.

  The object of the invention is to standardize modular circuit breakers with auxiliary tripping blocks by authorizing the choice of independent reset mode or

automatic by the customer.

  The modular circuit breaker according to the invention is characterized in that the auxiliary unit is equipped with a control selector capable of occupying an active position and an inactive position, respectively to establish and interrupt said second mechanical reset link between the first and the

second controller.

  The selector is formed by a coul: bucket housed in a! Ulcer I the second lever. When the slide remains fully inserted in the inactive position in the light, the two levers are independent of each other, and the rearming of the auxiliary unit must take place manually before closing the circuit breaker unit. When the slide is out of the light, the second mechanical reset link is automatically established when the

two blocks.

  According to a first embodiment, the selector in the active position is arranged so that said second mechanical reset link is unidirectional in the closing direction

of the first controller.

  The selector comprises a branch projecting in the active position to cooperate with a step of the first lever when resetting the auxiliary unit, said second one-way mechanical link being put out of service during the opposite maneuver of manual or automatic opening of the circuit breaker unit . The advantage of the unidirectional reset link is the absence of a special trip indicator, since the armed or disarmed state of the auxiliary unit is signaled directly by the position of the

second controller.

  According to a second embodiment, the selector in the active position is arranged so that said second mechanical reset link is bidirectional, permanently linking the two levers during the closing and opening of the circuit breaker block. Other advantages and features will emerge folds

  clearly from the following description of two modes of

  embodiments given by way of nonlimiting examples, and represented in the appended drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic elevation view of a modular circuit breaker with auxiliary tripping unit with manual reset, the selector being in the inactive position; - Figure 2 shows a partial perspective view of the two levers in Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a view identical to Figure 1, the selector being positioned in the active position for automatic resetting of the auxiliary unit; - Figure 4 shows a partial perspective view of the two levers of Figure 3; - Figure 5 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, along the

line V-V in Figure 2.

  - Figure 6 is a view identical to Figure 5 of an alternative embodiment. In FIGS. 1 to 5, an auxiliary tripping block 10, in particular with differential protection, is attached and coupled laterally to a two-pole circuit breaker block 12 with molded housing

  of conjugate form to form a modular circuit breaker.

  Each pole 14 of the circuit breaker block 12 includes a switching mechanism (not shown) associated with separable contacts to ensure the interruption or the closing of the electrical circuit arranged between connection terminals 16, 18. A first common pivoting lever 20 for manual operation of the mechanism of the circuit breaker block 12 can occupy two stable positions corresponding to the opening and closing of the

pole contacts.

  Instead of being bipolar, the circuit breaker block 12 could be tripolar or tetiapolar with separate modules or in one-piece housing. The intensity of the current passing through each blade is monitored by a main trip device (not shown), in particular a magnetothermal one, which causes the automatic switching trip in the event of an overload or a short circuit. The auxiliary trigger block 10 contains a control mechanism 22 controlled by a second reset lever 24, and an electromechanical relay 26 with trigger coil. The control mechanism 22 transmits the trip order from the relay 26 to the circuit breaker block 12, via a first mechanical trip link 28. This first connection is formed by a lug of the mechanism 22 passing through an opening in the case of the auxiliary block 10 to cooperate with the automatic trigger bar of the switching mechanism of the neighboring pole 14. The second reset lever 24 is capable of pivoting between two stable positions, in particular a first armed position R and a second

  disarmed position D representing the status of the auxiliary unit 10.

  The auxiliary unit 10 can be arranged either as a differential trip device with summing transformer for detecting a leakage current, or as an undervoltage trip device MN, or as an emission trip device MX. Relay 26 of the mechanism of

  command 22 must be adapted to each type of release.

  The triggering of the control mechanism 22 by the relay 26 of the auxiliary block 12 causes the circuit breaker block 12 to trip in cascade by means of the first mechanical connection 28. This results in separation of the contacts, and displacement of the first lever 20 towards the open position. The other lever 24 of the control mechanism 22 is then in

disarmed position.

  The auxiliary unit 10 is rearranged by rotating the second lever 24 from the disarmed position to the armed position. This rearming maneuver can be either independent by manual movement of the second lever 24 towards the armed position, or automatic by the maneuver of

closing of the circuit breaker block 12.

  In the first reset mode, the two levers 20, 24 are

independent of each other.

  In the second mode of resetting the auxiliary unit 10, the two levers 20, 24 are connected together by a second mechanical resetting link 30 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), which derives from the closing movement of the circuit breaker unit 12 a

  automatic reset movement of the auxiliary unit 10.

  According to the invention, the choice between one of these two reset modes can be fixed at the factory or by the operator himself when adapting the auxiliary unit 10 to the circuit breaker unit 12. This voluntary setting is adjusted by means of a selector 32 of control in the form of a U-shaped slide capable of occupying a stable inactive position (FIGS. 1 and 2), and a stable active position (FIGS. 3 and 4) interrupting and establishing respectively the second mechanical connection 30

between the two levers 20.24.

  In FIG. 5, it can be seen that the U-shaped selector 32 is housed in an internal lumen 34 of the second lever 24, and has two

  parallel branches, one of which 36 is longer than the other 38.

  The passage of the selector 32 from the inactive position (in solid lines in FIG. 5) to the active position (shown in dotted lines) causes the branch 36 to protrude, which cooperates with a step 40 of the first lever 20 to establish the second mechanical link 30 for resetting. The shortest branch 38 of the selector 32 remains recessed inside the light 34. The second mechanical connection 30 is unidirectional in the direction of closing of the circuit breaker block 12. It is automatically interrupted during

opening of the circuit breaker block 12.

  The operation of the modular circuit breaker according to figure 'a is as follows:

  CONTROL SELECTOR 32 IN ACTIVE POSITION.

  Referring to Figures 3,4 and 5 (dotted line), the auxiliary unit 10 being in the armed position, manual or automatic opening by the main thermomagnetic release of the circuit breaker unit 12, causes the displacement of the first lever 20 towards the position opening in the direction of arrow 0. The second lever 24 does not follow the movement of the first

  lever 20 and remains stationary in the first armed position.

  In the event of tripping by the auxiliary unit 10, the circuit breaker unit 12 opens, and the second lever 24 comes into the second disarmed position D, indicating the tripped state of the auxiliary unit 10. This movement towards the disarmed position (see arrow D) of the second lever 24 is not due to the second mechanical link 30 which is not operational, but to the action of a return spring and of the energy accumulator integrated in the control mechanism 22, and released on

  auxiliary block tripping 10.

  The auxiliary block 10 is reset during the closing operation of the circuit breaker block 12, by displacement of the first lever 20 in the direction of the arrow F. The second mechanical connection 30 is then operational, and drives in the same direction branch 36 of selector 32. The second lever 24 is thus actuated in the rearming direction (see arrow R) as far as the first armed position, indicating the rearming

of the auxiliary unit 10.

  CONTROL SWITCH 32 IN INACTIVE POSITION.

  Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 (in strong lines), it is noted that the selector 32 is pushed back completely into the slot 34. A free transverse space "d" of small thickness is permanently provided between the two levers 20, 24 which are independent of each other. The absence of the second mechanical link 30 requires that the rearming of the auxiliary unit 10 must be operated manually by the second lever 24 before the circuit breaker unit 12 can be closed by the first lever 20. The signaling of the armed state or disarmed from auxiliary block 10 is reflected by one of the R and D positions

of the second lever 24.

  FIG. 6 shows a variant of control selector 132 shaped as a sliding jumper with two branches 136, 138 of identical lengths. In the inactive position of the selector 132 (shown in strong lines), the two levers 20, 24 remain independent of one another, and the operation is identical to that mentioned above with the selector 32 inactive. The passage of the selector 132 towards the active position creates a second bidirectional mechanical connection 130 between the two

lever 20.24.

  The second lever 24 is then permanently linked to the first

  lever 20 whatever the direction of pivoting of the latter.

  The reset of the auxiliary unit 10 occurs automatically by the closing operation of the circuit breaker, that is to say when the first handle 20 is moved by pivoting towards the closed position F. The return of the second handle 24 to the second position D disarming is ensured by the link 130 and the first lever 20 of the circuit breaker block 12. A fault indicator is provided on the auxiliary block 10 to signal the tripping of the latter, and not that of the automatic tripping or the opening

manual circuit breaker block 12.

Claims (8)

  1. Modular circuit breaker formed by assembling an auxiliary trip unit (10) to a circuit breaker block (12), in particular multipole, the latter having a switching mechanism associated with a first handle (20) for manual control with two stable positions O open, and F closed, the auxiliary unit (10) comprising: - a control mechanism (22) cooperating with a second reset lever (24) and an electromechanical relay (26) with trip coil, - said second lever (24) being movable between a first armed position R and a second disarmed position D - a first mechanical trigger link (28) transmitting the trigger order from the relay (26) to the block switching mechanism circuit breaker (12), - and a second mechanical reset link (30,130) which derives from the closing movement of the circuit breaker block (12) an automatic reset movement of the auxiliary block (10) characterized in that the auxiliary unit (10) is equipped with a control selector (32,132) capable of occupying an active position, and an inactive position, respectively to establish and interrupt said second mechanical connection (30,130) for resetting between first and second controller (20.24).   2. Modular circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that the control selector (32,132) comprises a   slide carried by the second lever (24).   3. Modular circuit breaker according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the selector (32,132) is housed in a   internal light (34) of said second lever (24).   4. Modular circuit breaker according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the selector (32) in the active position is arranged so that said second mechanical reset link (30) is unidirectional in the closing direction of the first lever (20).   5. Modular circuit breaker according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the selector (132) in the active position is arranged so that said second mechanical reset link (130) is bidirectional permanently connecting the two levers (20,24) during closing and opening the block circuit breaker (12).   6. Modular circuit breaker according to claim 4, characterized in that the selector (32) comprises a branch (36) projecting in the active position to cooperate with a step (40) of the first lever (20) during the rearming of the block auxiliary, said second one-way mechanical link (30) being put out of service during the opposite opening maneuver   manual or automatic circuit breaker block (12).   7. Modular circuit breaker according to one of claims 1 to 6,   characterized in that the auxiliary trigger block (10) comprises a differential trigger having a transformer   summation device for detecting a leakage current.   8. Modular circuit breaker according to one of claims 1 to 6,   characterized in that the auxiliary trigger block (10) is formed by an undervoltage release MN or an MX release.