FR2751125A1 - DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION ELECTRICAL APPARATUS - Google Patents

Abstract

The output terminals (14P, 14N) of the phase and neutral supply circuits (12P, 12N) are on the same exterior surface (22) of the insulating case (11) as their input terminals (13P, 13N). Between the inputs and the insulating partition (15) is the cut-off section (18) which has a space (58) for an electromagnetic circuit breaker (59) with or without a thermal circuit breaker (60). A hole in the side wall (22) at right angles to the cut-off section allows access to the terminals. The transformer core (41) is part of a subassembly comprising an insulating body which is flush with the side face (22) of the case and which has a fork piece to hold output terminal on the primary turns.

Description

"Differential Protection Electrical Appliance" The present invention

  generally relates to differential protection electrical devices of the type comprising, in an insulating housing, a phase circuit and a neutral circuit which each extend between two terminals, one input, the other of outlet, with, each arranged respectively on either side of an insulating partition through which the phase and neutral circuits each pass through a crossing, on the one hand, a breaking part, in which, on each phase and neutral circuits, there is interposed a switch comprising at least one movable contact, and which, for controlling this movable contact, includes a circuit breaker mechanism, and, on the other hand, a protective part differential in which a differential transformer intervenes comprising a toroid on which passed at least two primary windings and a secondary winding, said primary windings being formed one by the phase circuit , the other by the neutral circuit, and said differential transformer controlling, by its secondary winding, a trigger mechanism mechanically coupled with the circuit breaker mechanism of the part

cutoff.

  An electric device with differential protection of this type is notably described in the French patent application which, filed on February 2, 1994 under No 94 01134,

  was published under No. 2,715,767.

  In this French patent application, the differential protection electrical device in question is more specifically a differential circuit breaker, its breaking part comprising, in association with the phase circuit, two trip devices, namely a trip device of thermal type, with bimetallic strip , and an electromagnetic type trip device, with excitation coil, which both control the circuit breaker mechanism. Furthermore, in this French patent application, the input and output terminals of the phase and neutral circuits extend on two opposite faces of the insulating housing, being

  in practice all arranged on the side of the cutting part.

  More specifically, in the case in point, a modular electrical device, that is to say an electrical device whose insulating housing is in a generally parallelepiped shape, with two main parallel faces, and , on the wafer, a rear face, two lateral faces, and a front face, the input terminals operate on one of the lateral faces of this insulating housing and the

  output terminals on the other of these.

  However, it turns out that, at least for certain installations, it may be advantageous, in particular to facilitate wiring, that the input and output terminals

  operate on the same side face of the insulating housing.

  The present invention generally relates to a provision which, while allowing, for the benefit of a certain standardization, and therefore a reduction in costs, to keep the general organization of the electrical apparatus at differential protection described in the French patent application No 94 01134 mentioned above, also allows the output terminals of the phase and neutral circuits to be on the same face of the insulating housing and conduit

in addition to other advantages.

  More specifically, it relates to a device

  differential protection electric of the kind described above

  above and characterized in that the output terminals of the phase and neutral circuits intervene in the differential protection part, on the other side of the toroid of the differential transformer with respect to the bushings through which these phase and neutral circuits pass through

through the insulating wall.

  In other words, the toroid of the differential transformer

  extends between these crossings and the output terminals.

  Thanks to such an arrangement, the output terminals of the phase and neutral circuits can advantageously lead to the outside on the same lateral face of the insulating housing. In addition, instead of four when these output terminals are on the cut-off side, only two bushings are needed for the passage of the phase and neutral circuits through the insulating partition, for the benefit of '' a simplification of the construction, and therefore of a

cost reduction.

  Finally, and due, in particular, to the elimination of two of these crossings, the breaking part comprises, between the input terminals of the phase and neutral circuits and the remaining crossings, sufficient space for there to be be installed, if desired, in association with the

  phase, at least one electromagnetic type trigger.

  The electrical device according to the invention is then a

Differential Switch.

  However, the space in the cut-out part is also sufficient for it to be installed there, if desired, a

  another trigger, thermal type.

  The electrical device according to the invention is then a

differential circuit breaker.

  Thus, the arrangement according to the invention advantageously makes it possible to produce, as desired, with the same basic organization, and therefore with common components, either a differential switch or a differential circuit breaker. When it is a differential switch, this differential switch can moreover very simply result from a differential circuit breaker whose thermal type trip device has been eliminated or deactivated, its deactivation being able for example to result from a simple sectioning of

the active end of its bimetallic strip.

  In all cases, among the common components, there is in particular the cover of the insulating housing, this cover possibly advantageously having the same dimensions each time, only the holes being placed correspondingly giving access to the cable entries of the input terminals and output of the phase and neutral circuits and those giving access to the head

of their clamping screws.

  Preferably, these input and output terminals intervening on the same lateral face of the insulating boot, there is provided, in the vicinity of the holes giving access to the head of their clamping screws, a mark making it possible to distinguish those of these terminals which are the input terminals and those that are

the output terminals.

  Preferably, also, the toroid of the differential transformer belongs to a sub-assembly to which also belong, on the one hand, the primary windings of the phase and neutral circuits passed over this toroid, and, on the other hand, a terminal block comprising , in an insulating body which is flush with the corresponding side face of the insulating housing, the output terminals of the phase and neutral circuits, already connected, each respectively, to the

primary windings of these.

  By the prior concretization of such a sub-assembly, the assembly of the assembly is

advantageously simplified.

  The characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will emerge from the description which follows,

  by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: FIG. 1 is, with a local cutaway, a perspective view of an electrical appliance with differential protection according to the invention; Figure 2 is, also with a local cutaway, and schematically, a plan view, along arrow II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is, on a larger scale, and according to the

  arrow III of FIG. 1, an elevation view of the sub-

  assembly involving the toroid of the differential transformer that this electrical device comprises, represented in isolation; Figure 4 is a top view of this sub-assembly, along arrow IV of Figure 3; Figure 5 is another elevational view, along

arrow V in Figure 4.

  In Figures 1 and 2, we recognize an electrical device of the type described in the patent application

French No 94 01 134.

  It is an electrical device 10 with differential protection. This electrical appliance 10 comprises, overall, in an insulating housing 11, a phase circuit 12P and a neutral circuit 12N which each extend between two terminals, one of input 13P, 13N, the other of output 14P , 14N, with, each disposed respectively on either side of an insulating partition 15 through which the phase 12P and neutral 12N circuits each pass through a bushing 16P, 16N, a breaking part 18 and a part protection

  differential 19, which will be detailed later.

  The electrical device 10 falling, in practice, modular electrical devices, its insulating housing 11 has a generally parallelepiped shape, with two main faces parallel to each other, and, perpendicular to these main faces 20, on the edge of the assembly, a rear face 21, two lateral faces 22 parallel to each other, and a front face 23 which, in its median zone, forms a front extension 24, with, on either side of this one,

  two shoulders 25 parallel to the rear face 21.

  Overall, the insulating housing 11 comprises a base 26, which forms one of its main faces 20, and a cover 27, which forms the other of its main faces 20 and the face

before 23.

  In a manner known per se, the rear face 21 has a notch 28, by which the electrical appliance 10 is adapted to be engaged on any support rail, not shown, and in which hooking means, also not shown, intervene. , specific to his

  securing to this support rail.

  In a manner also known per se, the insulating partition 15 extends parallel to the main faces 20, from one to the other of the side faces 22, but over only a fraction of the height of these from the face

rear 21.

  In practice, in the embodiment shown, the insulating partition 15 extends to the shoulders 25 of the

front 23.

  The bushings 16P, 16N which pass through the insulating partition 15 are for example constituted by metal parts bent at an angle, these metal pieces each comprising a leg 30, by which they pass through the insulating partition 15 substantially perpendicularly to the latter, and a wing 31, which extends parallel to this insulating partition 15 in the differential protection part 19. The input terminals 13P, 13N of the phase 12P and neutral 12N circuits intervene in the breaking part 18, leading to the on one of the side faces 22

of the insulating housing 11.

  On the side of this cutting part 18, the insulating housing 11 comprises, on the one hand, on its lateral face 22 concerned, two holes 32P, 32N, which each give respectively access to the cable entries of the input terminals 13P, 13N , and, on the other hand, on the corresponding shoulder 25 of the front face 23, two holes 33P, 33N, which, each, respectively give access to the head of the tightening screw 34P,

  34N of these input terminals 13P, 13N.

  In the cut-off part 18, the phase 12P and neutral 12N circuits consist of conductive elements, which extend, overall, from the input terminals 13P, 13N to the crossings 16P, 16N, and which, of conventional construction , born

will not be detailed here.

  However, in this breaking part 18, there is interposed, on each of these phase circuits 12P, 12N, a switch 35P, 35N comprising at least one movable contact 36P, 36N, and, for controlling this movable contact 36P, 36N, the cutting part 18 comprises, as shown diagrammatically in broken lines by its outline in FIG. 2, a mechanism for

circuit breaker 38.

  In practice, this circuit breaker mechanism 38 is under the control, in particular, of an interlocking and tripping lever 39, which, projecting from the front extension 24 of the front face 23 of the insulating housing 11, is available to the user. At the same time, there is a differential transformer in the differential protection part 19 comprising a toroid 41 over which, on the one hand, two primary windings 42P, 42N, one formed by the phase circuit 12P, the other by the neutral circuit 12N, and, on the other hand, as partially visible in Figure 1 and as shown schematically in broken lines in Figure 2, a

secondary winding 43.

  By this secondary winding 43, the differential transformer 40 controls a triggering mechanism 44, which is mechanically coupled to the circuit breaker mechanism 38 of the breaking part 18, through the insulating partition 15, and which, like this one, was only diagrammed in lines

  interrupted by its outline in Figure 2.

  Overall, in the differential protection part 19, the phase 12P and neutral 12N circuits are reduced to the primary windings 42P, 42N which they form. The foregoing provisions are well known in themselves, in particular by French patent application No 94 01134, and they will therefore not be described further.

detail here.

  According to the invention, the output terminals 14P, 14N of the phase 12P and neutral 12N circuits operate in the differential protection part 19, on the other side of the toroid 41 of the differential transformer 40 with respect to the bushings 16P, 16N by which these 12P phase and neutral circuits

  12N pass through the insulating partition 15.

  In other words, according to the invention, the toroid 41 of the differential transformer 40 extends between the bushings

  16P, 16N and the output terminals 14P, 14N.

  Thus, and as shown, the output terminals 14P, 14N of the phase 12P and neutral 12N circuits can advantageously lead to the same lateral face 22 of the

  insulating housing 11 as their input terminals 13P, 13N.

  The insulating housing 11 therefore comprises, as previously, but on the side of the differential protection part 19, on the one hand, on its side face 22 concerned, two holes 45P, 45N, which each give respectively access to the cable entries of the terminals outlet 14P, 14N, and, on the other hand, on the corresponding shoulder 25 of the front face 23, two holes 46P, 46N which, in turn, give access to the head of the clamping screw 47P, 47N of these terminals of

exit 14P, 14N.

  In the embodiment shown, the holes 32P, 45P extend at the same level, and, similarly, the holes 32N, 45N, which are offset from the previous ones in the direction of the rear face 21, also extend on the same level. Preferably, and this is the case in the embodiment shown, the insulating housing 11 includes marks 48E, 48S making it possible to distinguish the input terminals

  13P, 13N of the output terminals 14P, 14N.

  In practice, in the embodiment shown, these references 48E, 48S are constituted by arrows, which are carried by the shoulder 25 of the front face 23 on which

  open holes 33P, 33N and 46P, 46N.

  These arrows, which are for example in relief, extend parallel to the main faces 20, being oriented inward, for that which constitutes the reference 48E, and outward for that which constitutes the reference 48S. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown, the insulating housing 11 has, externally, projecting on its lateral face 22 concerned, between the input terminals 13P, 13N and the output terminals 14P, 14N, and therefore between the corresponding holes 32P, 32N and 45P, 45N, a partition wall 49. For example, and as shown, this wall of

  partition 49 is in one piece with the insulating partition 15.

  Anyway, it extends substantially parallel to the main faces 20 of the insulating housing 11, and it is therefore substantially perpendicular to the lateral face 22 of this insulating housing 11 on which it projects. In practice, and as shown, the partition wall 49 extends only over a fraction of the height of this lateral face 22, limited to the portion of the latter.

  with holes 32P, 32N and 45P, 45N.

  Preferably, and this is the case in the embodiment shown, the toroid 41 of the differential transformer 40 belongs to a sub-assembly 50 to which also belong, on the one hand, the primary windings 42P, 42N of the phase circuits 12P and neutral 12N passed on this toroid 41, and, on the other hand, a terminal block 51 comprising, in an insulating body 52 which is flush with the relevant side face 22 of the insulating housing 11, the output terminals 14P, 14N of these circuits phase 12P and neutral 12N, already each connected to these windings respectively

primary 42P, 42N.

  Of course, the secondary winding 43 of the differential transformer 40, not visible in Figures 3

  to 5, can also be part of this subset 50.

  The insulating body 52 of the terminal block 51 is sandwiched between, on the one hand, the insulating partition 15, and, on the other hand, the cover 27 of the insulating housing 11, and it therefore has two main faces 53, which , generally parallel to each other, are parallel to the main faces 20 of the housing

insulator 11.

  Its realization falling within the skill of the art, this body

  insulator 52 will not be described in full detail here.

  It will suffice to indicate that, in the embodiment shown, it forms, for half, the hole 45P, the other half of this hole 45P being jointly formed by the cover 27, and, for half, the hole 45N, l other half of this hole 45N being formed by the insulating partition 15, and that, to receive the output terminals 14P, 14N, it has, recessed, back to back, on its main faces 53, housings

54P, 54N.

  Like the input terminals 13P, 13N, the output terminals 14P, 14N are of conventional constitution, and they do not

  will therefore not be described in detail here.

  It will suffice to indicate that they each comprise a fixed contact piece 55P, 55N against which, when connected, the electrical conductor concerned, not shown, is clamped by a movable contact piece 56P, 56N controlled by

  displacement by the corresponding tightening screw 47P, 47N.

  In the embodiment shown, for at least one of the output terminals 14P, 14N, and, preferably, for each of these, the fixed contact part 55P forms, at its internal end, that is to say - Say on the side of the toroid 41 of the differential transformer 40, a fork 57P, 57N by which it is clamped on the corresponding end, suitably stripped, of the primary winding 42P, 42N

  concerned of this differential transformer 40.

  At their other end, also suitably stripped, the primary windings 42P, 42N are simply

  welded on bushings 16P, 16N.

  By construction, the breaking part 18 comprises, between the input terminal 13P of the phase circuit 12P and the bushing 16P by which this phase circuit 12P passes through the insulating partition 15, a space 58 sufficient for it to be able to be installed there, if desired, in association with the phase circuit 12P, and as shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, at least one trigger 59, of electromagnetic type, which, as shown diagrammatically in broken lines in FIG. 2 , is able to intervene on the circuit breaker mechanism 38, for a control thereof

  leading to the opening of switches 35P, 35N.

  Such a trigger 59 being well known in itself,

it will not be described here.

  It will suffice to indicate that, as shown on the

  Figure 2, it essentially comprises an excitation coil.

  When the electrical device 10 according to the invention is thus equipped with a trip device 59 of the electromagnetic type, or even when it is not provided with it, it constitutes a simple

Differential Switch.

  However, in practice, the space 58 in the cut-off part 18 of the electrical apparatus 10 according to the invention is sufficient so that, between the input terminal 13P of the phase circuit 12P and the corresponding crossing 16P thereof. ci, can also be installed, if desired, in association with this phase circuit 12P, another trigger 60, of thermal type, which, parallel to trigger 59 of type

  electromagnetic, also controls the cut-off mechanism

  circuit 38 for a command thereof leading to

  the opening of switches 35P, 35N.

  This thermal type trigger 60 is also

  well known by itself, it will therefore not be described here.

  It will suffice to indicate that it essentially comprises

a bimetallic strip.

  When the electrical device 10 according to the invention is thus equipped with a trip device 59 of the electromagnetic type and a trip device 60 of the thermal type, it constitutes a

differential circuit breaker.

  But when, as before, it constitutes a differential switch, this differential switch can result from a differential circuit breaker whose trigger 60

  thermal type has been removed or disabled.

  It suffices, for example, to deactivate this thermal type trigger 60, to section accordingly

the active end of its bimetallic strip.

  As will be noted, the insulating housing 11 of the electrical appliance 10 according to the invention can advantageously be devoid of, on its lateral face 22 opposite that on which the input terminals 13P, 13N and output 14P, 14N of the phase 12P and neutral 12N circuits, and at least in line with the cut-off part 18, from any hole capable of providing any access to any terminal. Of course the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but encompasses any variant.

Claims (11)

  1. An electrical apparatus with differential protection of the kind comprising, in an insulating housing (11), a phase circuit (12P) and a neutral circuit (12N) which each extend between two terminals, one of input ( 13P, 13N), the other outlet (14P, 14N), with, each arranged respectively on either side of an insulating partition (15) through which the phase (12P) and neutral circuits ( 12N) each pass through a crossing (16P, 16N), on the one hand, a breaking part (18), in which, on each of the phase (12P) and neutral (12N) circuits, there is interposed a switch (35P, 35N) comprising at least one movable contact (36P, 36N), and which, for controlling this movable contact (36P, 36N), includes a circuit breaker mechanism (38), and on the other hand, a differential protection part (19), in which a differential transformer (40) operates comprising a toroid (41) over which two primary windings (42P, 42N) have passed and a secondary winding (43), said primary windings (42P, 42N) being formed, one by the phase circuit (12P), the other by the neutral circuit (12N), and said differential transformer (40 ) controlling, by its secondary winding (43), a tripping mechanism (44) mechanically coupled with the circuit breaker mechanism (38) of the breaking part (18), characterized in that the output terminals (14P, 14N) phase (12P) and neutral (12N) circuits operate in the differential protection part (19), on the other side of the toroid (40) of the differential transformer (41) with respect to the bushings (16P, 16N ) by which the phase (12P) and neutral (12N) circuits   pass through the insulating partition (15).   2. Electrical device according to claim 1, characterized in that the output terminals (14P, 14N) of the phase (12P) and neutral (12N) circuits open out on the same side face (22) of the shoemaker insulating   (11) than their input terminals (13P, 13N).   3. Electrical apparatus according to any one of   Claims 1, 2, characterized in that between the terminals   input (13P, 13N) of the phase (12P) and neutral (12N) circuits and the bushings (16P, 16N) by which these phase (12P) and neutral (12N) circuits pass through the bulkhead insulating (15), the cut-off part (18) has sufficient space (58) so that it can be installed there, if desired, in association with the phase circuit (12P), at least   an electromagnetic trigger (59).   4. An electrical device according to claim 3, characterized in that said space (58) is sufficient for it to be implanted there, if desired, another trigger (60), thermal type.   5. Electrical device according to claim 1, characterized in that, being a differential switch, it results from a differential circuit breaker whose   thermal release (60) has been removed or disabled.   6. An electrical appliance according to claim 2, characterized in that, on its lateral face (22) opposite to that on which open the outside the input (13P, 13N) and output (14P, 14N) terminals of the phase (12P) and neutral (12N) circuits, the insulating box (11) is, at least in line with the cut-off part (18), devoid of any hole capable of providing any access to any terminal. 7. Electrical apparatus according to any one of   Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the torus (41) of the   differential transformer (40) belongs to a sub-assembly (50) to which also belong, on the one hand, the primary windings (42P, 42N) of the phase (12P) and neutral (12N) circuits passed over this toroid ( 41), and, on the other hand, a terminal block (51) comprising, in an insulating body (52) which is flush with the relevant side face (22) of the insulating housing (11), the output terminals (14P, 14N) of these phase (12P) and neutral (12N) circuits, each already connected   respectively to said primary windings (42P, 42N).   8. An electrical device according to claim 7, characterized in that, the output terminals (14P, 14N) comprising a fixed contact piece (55P, 55N), this fixed contact piece (55P, 55N) forms, at its end internal, for at least one of these output terminals (14P, 14N), a fork (57P, 57N) by which it is clamped on the corresponding end of the primary winding (42P, 42N) concerned. 9. Electrical apparatus according to any one of   Claims i to 8, characterized in that between the terminals   input (13P, 13N) of the phase (12P) and neutral (12N) circuits and their output terminals (14P, 14N), the insulating housing (11) has, projecting from its side face (22) concerned , a partition wall (49).   10. Electrical apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the partition wall (49) is in one   holding with the insulating wall (15).   11. Electrical appliance according to any one of   Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the insulating housing   (11) includes marks (48E, 48S) making it possible to distinguish   the input terminals (13P, 13N) of the output terminals (14P, 14N).