FR2863101A1 - Auxiliary switch attachments for circuit breaker structure having switching mechanism microswitches formed with unit having sub units placed one side/second attachment holding further units - Google Patents

Abstract

The switching mechanism (100) has microswitches, an engagement lever (1) and units holding the microswitches. Each unit (3) has two sub units placed on the side and a second attachment for two further sub units.

Description

2863101 1

  The present invention relates to a switching device attached to an air circuit breaker and is more particularly applicable to a structure for securing an auxiliary switch consisting of a plurality of micro-switches.

  In most traditional type switching devices attached to a circuit breaker, so as to provide space for the setting up of micro-switches and the like, several micro-switches are arranged in parallel on a base, and the micro-switches -switches are drilled using a clamping screw to be held and secured between two side plates. Japanese Patent Publication (unexamined) No. 1993-62585 shows an example of this type of device.

  Since traditional switching devices fixed to a circuit breaker are made as described above, at the time of assembly of all microswitches on the base, if the number of micro-switches that must necessarily be accommodated is smaller than the maximum number of microswitches that can be, there is a spacer suitable for filling the space then produced and then the microswitches are drilled and fixed by the clamping screw mentioned previously.

  Since all microswitches are held and fixed by piercing them from their side surfaces with a clamping screw, there is a problem in that it is necessary before assembly , passing the clamping screw through holes through the micro-switches. In addition, in the case where it is necessary to disassemble the switching device once assembled for the purpose of a modification or a design change, there is another problem in that it is essential to remove the tightening screw, remove the entire micro-switches out of the base, and reassemble the 2863101 2 switching device. Such disassembly and reassembly somewhat troublesome switching device is not desirable from the point of view of work efficiency.

  The present invention has been realized to solve the above problems and aims at obtaining a switching device attached to a circuit breaker which is capable of improving the assembly efficiency by not using any spacer, even if the number of microswitches that must necessarily be housed is smaller than the maximum number of microswitches that can be.

  A switching device fixed to a circuit breaker according to the present invention comprises a plurality of microswitches which are switched on and off in engagement with an operating lever of the circuit breaker, housings in which said microswitches are respectively housed, and a base for maintaining these housings in a state of connection of the housings with each other. This switching device attached to a circuit breaker is provided with a first housing engagement means which is disposed on one side of said housings and is engaged with another housing, and a second housing engagement means which is disposed on the other side of said housings and is engaged with another housing.

  According to other advantageous features of the invention: said housing comprises a positioning projection provided on a face joined to the base and a retaining projection for securely adapting said housing to the base when the projection of implementation place is fitted on the base, said base having a positioning recess in which is inserted said positioning projection and a retaining recess in which said retaining protrusion is inserted; Each of said housings comprises a first face, as well as second and third faces respectively extending perpendicularly to both ends of said first face, a first housing engagement means being provided on said first face and being engaged with a first end of another housing to be connected, and second housing engagement means provided on said second and third faces and engaged with the other end of said other housing - said first housing engagement means is provided with a first rail which is a protruding rail provided at one end of the first face of said housing in the direction of insertion of the housing into the base and a second rail which is a protruding rail provided at another end of said first face opposite to the first rail in the direction of insertion of the housing into the base; said second housing engagement means is provided with a first rail groove which is a rail formed at one end of the second face of said housing in the direction of insertion of the housing into the base and a second groove of rail which is a rail formed at one end of the third face of said housing in the direction of insertion of the housing into the base; said casing is provided with a pressing part for pressing another adjacent casing in the insertion direction of the casing into the base and a pressure receiving part engaging with the pressing part of the other casing; adjacent and attached thereto; a cover is provided to cover an end face of the assembled boxes; said housing is provided with means for holding the microswitch; each of said switches is provided with a first switch engagement means for engagement with another micro-switch coupled to a first end of said micro-switch, a second switch engaging means for engagement with another micro-switch; a switch connected at the other end of said microswitch, a positioning projection provided on a face joined to said base and a retaining projection for securely adapting the microswitch to said base when said protruding projection; place is fitted on said base, this base having a positioning recess in which is inserted said installation projection and a retaining recess in which is inserted said retaining protrusion; said first switch engaging means is provided with a first rail which is a protruding rail provided in the insertion direction of the microswitch in the base and a second rail which is a protruding rail provided on a face opposite to the face where said first rail is disposed, said second switch engagement means having a first rail groove which is a recessed rail provided in the insertion direction of the micro-switch in the base and a second rail groove which is a recessed rail provided on a face opposite to the face where is disposed said first rail.

  In the switching device of the embodiment according to the invention, it is possible to assemble a switching device fixed to a circuit breaker without using any spacer even though the number of micro-switches which must necessarily be accommodated is smaller than the maximum number of microswitches that can be and further improves the assembly efficiency. As a result, this invention is advantageous in that the switching device attached to a circuit breaker can be easily dismantled and reassembled even when a modification or a design change of the switching device once assembled becomes necessary.

  The invention will be better understood, and other objects, features, details and advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the following explanatory description made with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings given solely by way of example. illustrating two embodiments of the invention and in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view partially in section of a switching device attached to a circuit breaker according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an essential part of FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view on a larger scale of a housing shown in FIG.

  - Figure 4 is a perspective view partially in section of a switching device attached to a circuit breaker according to a second embodiment of the invention.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view on a larger scale of a microswitch shown in FIG. 4.

  First Embodiment For this embodiment, FIG. 1 is a perspective view partially in section of an auxiliary switching device for a circuit breaker according to this first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view. exploded from an essential part of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a perspective view on a larger scale of a housing.

  In the drawings, a switching device 100 fixed to a circuit breaker is composed of several microswitches 2 which are switched on and off in engagement with an operating lever 1 of the circuit breaker (not shown), housings 3 in which are respectively placed these microswitches 2, a base 2863101 6 4 to maintain these housings 3 in a state of connection of the housings with each other, and an actuator 5 to transmit the operation of said actuating lever 1 to said micro-switches 2.

  The actuating member 5 comprises a shaft 5b rotated by a shaft hole 4c of the base 4, a leaf spring 5c made of an elastic material such as a stainless steel plate and which is fixed to the shaft 5b using rivets 5d, and an actuating plate 5a rotating in the direction of the arrow B of Figure 1 due to said actuating lever 1. The actuating member 5 is disposed of way to freely rotate around the shaft 5b. The base 4 has retaining recesses 4a and positioning recesses 4b for fixing the housings 3.

  As seen in Figure 3, each of the housings 3 comprises a first face 31, second and third faces 32 and 33 extending perpendicularly to the first face 31 and directed towards one another, and a fourth face 34 which connects the second and third faces 32 and 33 to one another. Said first face 31 has a first rail on the upper part of one of its ends and a second rail 3b on the lower part of its other end. Said second face 32 further has a first rail groove 3c on the upper part of one of its ends, and said third face 33 is provided with a second rail groove 3d on its other end.

  The first rail 3a and the second rail 3b constitute a first housing engagement means for engagement with a first end of another housing 3, and the first rail groove 3c and the second rail groove 3d form a second means. for engaging with the other end of another housing 3. The first rail 3a and the second rail 3b are provided to each form a rail projecting in the direction of insertion of the housing 3 into the base 4 (from bottom 2863101 7 at the top to the drawings). Similarly, the first rail groove 3c and the second rail groove 3d are each provided to form a recessed rail in the direction of insertion of said housing 3 into the base 4.

  Said fourth face 34 is further provided with a positioning projection 3e on a face joining to the base 4, and a retaining projection 3d is provided to securely fit the housing 3 in the recess. retaining 4a of the base 4 when the positioning projection 3e is adapted in the positioning recess 4b of the base 4 described above. A first pin 3g and a second pin 3h each serving as holding means are disposed on the inner face of the housing 3 in order to maintain and fix the micro-switch 2 precisely.

  We will now explain the assembly process and the operation of the switching device 100 fixed to a circuit breaker produced as described above. The assembly process begins with the mounting of the actuating member 5 on the base 4. After that, the first pin 3g and the second pin 3h, which are arranged on the housing 3 and act as a holding means, are inserted into a first insertion hole 2a and into a second insertion hole 2b of the micro-switch. 2.

  The positioning projection 3e of the housing 3 where the microswitch 2 is held is inserted into the positioning recess 4b of the base 4, and the retaining projection 3f is inserted into the holding recess 4a of the base 4.

  In the same way, another housing 3 which holds inside another microswitch 2 is inserted in the base 4. In this process, the first rail 3a and the second rail 3b of the housing 3 before this time to be mounted are respectively adapted in the first rail groove 3c and in the second 3d rail groove 2863101 8 of the housing 3 which has already been mounted while the first and second rails slide from above.

  In this way, the pressure-receiving part 3j of the previously mounted casing 3 is pushed and held by a pressing part 3i of the subsequently affixed casing 3 and, at the same time, the retaining projection 3f is engaged with the casing 3. This results from the foregoing that the housing 3 which holds the microswitch 2 is held on the base 4 in the state where the housing 3 is connected to the base 4.

  When the number of microswitches 2 which must necessarily be accommodated is satisfied after repeating the above operation, the housings 3 are maintained on the base 4 in the state where the connection of the boxes is completed. Finally, a projection 6a of a cover 6 shown in Figure 2 is inserted into a recess 3k of the housing, and an adapter portion 6b is adapted to a discharge portion 31. It follows from the foregoing that a terminal 2c serving as load part of the micro-switch is protected by the cover 6 so that security is ensured.

  In the switching device 100 attached to a circuit breaker assembled as described above, when the operating lever 1, which acts on the basis of the switching operation of the circuit breaker, moves in the direction of the arrow A, the actuating plate 5a of the actuating member 5 rotates in the direction of the arrow B about the pivot shaft 5b, the leaf spring 5c rotates in the direction of the arrow C and acts on the push 2d (see Figure 2) microswitches 2, which operates them.

  In the switching device attached to a circuit breaker according to the first embodiment described above, the housings 3 adjacent to each other can be connected without fail, the switching device can be assembled without any member 2863101 9 d even if the number of microswitches which must necessarily be accommodated is smaller than the maximum number of microswitches that can be, and it is possible to perfectly mount several microswitches 2 on the base 4. In in addition, in the case where it is necessary to disassemble the switching device once assembled for the purpose of a modification or because of a bad assembly, it is possible to remove from the base 4 only a required number of 3 housings that hold the microswitches 2, which makes disassembly and reassembly easy after modification.

  Second Embodiment For this embodiment, FIG. 4 is a perspective view partially in section of a switching device attached to a circuit breaker according to this second embodiment of the invention, and FIG. perspective on a larger scale of a micro-switch.

  The switching device 101 attached to a circuit breaker according to this second embodiment is a type of switching device whose micro-switches are molded in one piece by a resin molding or the like.

  In the drawings, the auxiliary switching device 101 for a circuit breaker comprises a plurality of microswitches 20 which are switched on and off in engagement with an operating lever 1 of the circuit breaker (not shown), a base 4 for holding the microswitches 20 in the state of connection of the microswitches with each other, and an actuator 5 for transmitting the operation of said actuating lever 1 to the microswitches 20.

  Each of the mutually connected microswitches 20 has at one end a first rail 20a and a second rail 20b, the first rail 20a and the second rail 20b acting as a first switch engaging means for engagement with a another microswitch 20 to connect. Each of the mutually connected microswitches 20 is also provided, at its other end, with a first rail groove 20c and a second rail groove 20d, the first rail groove 20c and the second rail groove 20d acting as a guide. as second means for engagement with another microswitch 20.

  The first rail 20a is a protruding rail provided in the insertion direction of the microswitch 20 in the base 4, and the second rail 20b is a protruding rail provided on a face opposite to the face on which is disposed the first rail 20a. The first rail groove 20c is a recessed rail provided in the direction of insertion of the microswitch into the base 4, and the second rail groove 20d is a recessed rail provided on a face opposite to the face on which is arranged the first rail groove 20c.

  The microswitch 20 is further provided with a mounting projection 20e on a face joined to the base 4, and it is also provided with a retaining projection 20f in order to safely adapt the microswitch 20 in the retaining recess 4a provided on the base 4 when the positioning projection 20e is fitted into the positioning recess 4b of the base 4.

  The actuating member 5 comprises: a shaft 5b rotated by a shaft hole 4c of the base 4, a leaf spring 5c made of an elastic material such as a stainless steel plate and which is fixed to the shaft 5b using rivets 5d, and an actuating plate 5a rotating in the direction of the arrow E of Figure 4 due to said actuating lever 1. The actuating member 5 is disposed of way to freely rotate around the shaft 5b.

  2863101 11 We will now describe the assembly process and the operation of the switching device 100 attached to a circuit breaker made as described above.

  The assembly process begins with the mounting of the actuating member 5 on the base 4. Next, the positioning projection 20e (see FIG. 5) of the microswitch 20 is inserted into the setting recess. place 4b (see Figure 4) of the base 4 and the retaining projection 20f is inserted into the retaining recess 4a of the base 4.

  In the same way, another adjacent microswitch 20 is inserted in the base 4. In this process, the first rail 20a and the second rail 20b of the microswitch 20 to be mounted this time are respectively adapted in the first groove of rail 20c and in the second rail groove 20d of the micro-switch 20 which has already been mounted while the first and second rails slide from above. The retaining projection 20f is thus engaged with the retaining recess 4a of the base 4, and the microswitch 20 is held on the base 4 in the state where the microswitch 20 is connected to the base 4.

  When the number of microswitches 20 which must necessarily be accommodated has been satisfied after repeating the above operation, the housings 3 are maintained on the base 4 in the state where the connection of the boxes is completed.

  In the switching device 101 attached to a circuit breaker assembled as described above, when the operating lever 1, which acts on the basis of the switching operation of the circuit breaker, moves in the direction of the arrow D, the actuating plate 5a of the actuating member 5 rotates in the direction of the arrow E about the pivot shaft 5b, the leaf spring 5c rotates in the direction of the arrow F and acts on the plates of 2863101 12 thrust 20d microswitches 20, which comes operate them.

  As described above, in the switching device attached to a circuit breaker according to the second embodiment described above, the microswitches 20 adjacent to each other are connected without fail, and the switching device does not requires no parts such as a housing, a clamping screw, a spacer, an insulating plate, etc., to mount the microswitches 20. This switching device attached to a circuit breaker has the advantage of being not only simple in production but also easy to assemble.

  In addition, in the case where it is necessary to disassemble the switching device once assembled for the purpose of a modification or due to a bad assembly, it is possible to remove from the base 4 only a required number The result is that the switching device attached to a circuit breaker is easily dismantled and reassembled after the modification.

  The invention is however not limited to the embodiments shown and described in detail because various modifications can be made without departing from its scope.

Claims (1)

13 Claims   Switching device (100) attached to a circuit breaker comprising a plurality of microswitches (2) which are switched on and off in engagement with an operating lever (1) of the circuit breaker; ; housings (3) in which said microswitches (2) are respectively housed; and a base (4) for maintaining these housings (3) in a state of connection of the housings with each other; characterized in that each of the housings (3) is provided with a first housing engagement means (3a, 3b) which is disposed on one side of said housing (3) and is engaged with another housing, and a second housing engagement means (3c, 3d) which is disposed on the other side of said housing (3) and is engaged with another housing.   Switching device fixed to a circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that said housing (3) comprises a positioning projection (3e) provided on a face joined to the base (4) and a retaining projection ( 3f) for securely adapting said housing (3) to the base (4) when the positioning projection (3e) is fitted to the base (4); and in that said base (4) has a positioning recess (4b) into which said positioning projection (3e) is inserted and a retaining recess (4a) into which said retaining projection (3f) is inserted. ).   Switching device fixed to a circuit breaker comprising a plurality of microswitches (2) which are switched on and off in engagement with an operating lever (1) of the circuit breaker; housings (3) in which are respectively housed said microswitches (2); and a base (4) for holding said housings (3) in a state of connecting the housings with each other; characterized in that each of said housings (3) comprises a first face (31), as well as second and third faces (32, 33) respectively extending perpendicularly to both ends of said first face (31), in that a first housing engagement means (3a, 3b) is provided on said first face (31) and is engaged with a first end of another housing (3) to be connected; and a second housing engagement means (3c, 3d) is provided on said second (32) and third (33) faces and is engaged with the other end of said other housing (3).   Switching device attached to a circuit breaker according to claim 3, characterized in that the first housing engaging means (3a, 3b) is provided with a first rail (3a) which is a protruding rail provided at a end of the first face (31) of said housing (3) in the direction of insertion of the housing (3) into the base (4) and of a second rail (3b) which is a protruding rail provided at another end of said first face (31) opposite to the first rail (3a) in the insertion direction of the housing (3) in the base (4), and in that said second housing engagement means (3c, 3d) is provided with a first rail groove (3c) which is a rail formed at one end of the second face (32) of said housing (3) in the direction of insertion of the housing into the base (4) and a second rail groove (3d) which is a rail formed at one end of the third face (33) of said housing (3) in the direction of insertion of the housing into the base (4).   Switching device attached to a circuit breaker according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that said housing (3) is provided with a pressing part (3i) for pressing another adjacent housing (3). in the insertion direction of the housing (3) into the base (4); and b) a pressure receiving portion (3j) engaging with the pressing portion (3i) of the other adjacent housing (3) and attached thereto.   6. Switching device fixed to a circuit breaker according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that a cover (6) is provided to cover an end face of the housings (3) together.   7. Switching device attached to a circuit breaker according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that said housing (3) is provided with holding means (4) of the microswitch (2).   8. A switching device (101) attached to a circuit breaker comprising a plurality of switches (20) which are turned on and off in engagement with an operating lever (1) of the circuit breaker; and a base (4) for holding said microswitches (20) in a state of connection of the housings (3) with each other; characterized in that each of said microswitches (20) is provided with first switch engaging means (20a, 20b) for engagement with another microswitch (20) connected to a first end of said microswitch, a second switch engagement means (20c, 20d) for engagement with another micro-switch (20) connected to the other end of said micro-switch, a delivery projection (20e) provided on a face joined to said base (4) and a retaining projection (20f) for securely adapting the microswitch (20) to said base (4) when said locating projection (20e) is fitted to said base (4), and in that said base (4) has a locating recess (4b) into which said insertion protrusion (20c) is inserted and a retaining recess (4a) into which said retaining protrusion is inserted (20f).   Switching device attached to a circuit breaker according to claim 8, characterized in that said first switch engaging means (20a, 20b) is provided with a first rail (20a) which is a protruding rail provided in the insertion direction of the microswitch (20) in the base (4) and a second rail (20b) which is a protruding rail provided on a face opposite to the face where said first rail (20a) is disposed, and in that said second switch engaging means (20c, 20d) has a first rail groove (20c) which is a recessed rail provided in the direction of insertion of the microswitch (20) into the base ( 4) and a second rail groove (20d) which is a recessed rail provided on a face opposite to the face where said first rail (20a) is disposed.