FR3016078A1 - ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT WITH MODULAR FORMAT - Google Patents

Abstract

It is a modular electrical device in which at least a portion of an annular armature (20) of an electrical transformer (18) is located in the existing space, in a left-right direction, between a first terminal (12) and a second terminal (12) of one of the lower part and upper part of the apparatus.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to electrical apparatus in modular format. BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY It is known that electrical devices in the modular format are generally parallelepipedal with two main faces and side faces extending from one to the other of the main faces, the width of such a device, that is, that is to say the difference between its two main faces, being equal to an integer of a basic width called "module", which is of the order of 18 mm.

It is also known that the modular devices are provided to belong to a row where they are arranged side by side being fixed by the rear on a support rail disposed horizontally. In general, electrical devices in the modular format which are bipolar comprise an upper part and a lower part each provided with two connection terminals, respectively a first terminal for a first electrical pole and a second terminal for a second electrical pole different from the first pole. electric. Each connection terminal is configured to receive a stripped end portion of an electrical cable or a tooth of a horizontal distribution comb. The lateral face of the upper part (upper face) and the lateral face of the lower part (lower face) generally have each two introduction ports giving access respectively to the first terminal and the second terminal. When the modular electrical device has to fulfill several functions simultaneously, for example both a short-circuit and over-current protection circuit-breaker function and a differential protection function, the number of components to be arranged inside the circuit breaker. The apparatus is relatively high and the apparatus can therefore become relatively bulky, i.e., have a width of a high number of modules.

It has already been proposed, particularly in French patent applications 2 731 837 and 2 77 110, solutions for arranging the components of the apparatus so as to minimize its bulk.

These two documents propose to subdivide the apparatus into compartments each implementing one of the functions of the apparatus, in this case a circuit-breaker function or a differential function, each compartment extending between a terminal of the upper part and the terminal corresponding of the lower part. Other approaches distributing differently within the apparatus the various functions are proposed in particular by PCT applications WO 98/02896, WO 98/53473 and WO 2009/071552. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The invention aims to provide a similar modular format electrical apparatus but simpler, more convenient and more economical. To this end, the invention proposes an electrical apparatus of modular format, generally parallelepipedal in shape with two main faces and side faces extending from one to the other of the main faces, and with a width, that is, that is to say the difference between the two main faces, equal to an integer number of times a predetermined distance, called module, the upper part and the lower part of said apparatus each having two connection terminals, respectively a first terminal for a first pole an electrical terminal and a second terminal for a second electrical pole different from the first electrical pole, each said connection terminal being configured to receive a stripped end section of an electric cable or a tooth of a horizontal distribution comb, said lateral face of the upper part or said lateral face of the lower part each having two introduction orifices giving accessing respectively the first terminal and the second terminal; which electrical apparatus is characterized in that at least a portion of an annular armature of an electrical transformer is located in the existing space, in a left-right direction, between said first terminal and said second terminal of one said lower part and upper part of the apparatus, hereinafter referred to as the first connecting part.

Unlike prior modular apparatuses, and in particular the apparatuses described in the aforementioned documents, the connecting part of the apparatus according to the invention is not occupied exclusively by the first terminal and the second terminal, but also comprises at least one part of the armature or annular magnetic circuit of the electrical transformer. The fact of having this component, generally bulky, in the connection part hitherto entirely reserved for the first terminal and the second terminal certainly implies some constraints on the location and arrangement of the first terminal and the second terminal. terminal, but allows to free up space in other areas of the device. As a result, the electrical apparatus according to the invention can comprise other relatively bulky components.

This has the particular advantage of avoiding having to miniaturize these other components excessively, that is to say, to the point of reducing their performance, and / or that the assembly of the device becomes excessively complex. The electrical apparatus according to the invention is thus particularly simple, convenient and economical. According to advantageous features of implementation: the other of the said lower part and the upper part of the apparatus, hereinafter referred to as the second connection part, has a gap between its two introduction ports which is smaller than the gap between the two orifices 20 for introducing the first connecting portion; said first terminal and said second terminal of said second connection portion are configured to receive a stripped end section of an electrical cable having a larger maximum section than the maximum section for which the first terminal and the second terminal are configured. terminal of the first connecting part; said annular armature has an axial orientation in a rear-to-front direction of said apparatus; said transformer comprises two windings each formed by a conductor whose one end is respectively connected to the first terminal and to the second terminal of said first connection part; said apparatus comprises on the right and left of said annular armature a thermal tripping member, with each coil having a second end connected to a respective one of said thermal tripping members; said electrical transformer is a differential fault detection transformer; the first terminal and the second terminal of the other of said lower part and upper part of the apparatus, hereinafter referred to as the second connection part, are each disposed above an arc extinguishing chamber and a magnetic triggering member; said arc extinction chamber is disposed behind the magnetic triggering member; said apparatus comprises a sensitive relay in the existing space, in a left-right direction, between the magnetic tripping member located under the first terminal of the second connecting part and the magnetic tripping member located under the second terminal. the second connecting part; said apparatus comprises a lock comprising, beneath each said arc extinction chamber, a subassembly for cooperating with a moving contact and, between said subassemblies, another subassembly for cooperating with said sensitive relay; and / or 20 - said apparatus constitutes a bipolar differential circuit breaker with two poles protected by a width of two modules. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The description of the invention will now be continued by the detailed description of exemplary embodiments, given below by way of illustration and without limitation, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. very schematically the electrical circuit of an electrical apparatus according to the invention and the movable contact control mechanism that includes this electrical circuit; FIGS. 2 and 3 are elevational views of this apparatus taken respectively in front and to the right of this apparatus, schematically showing the location of the components of the electrical circuit and the movable contact control mechanism of this apparatus; - Figure 4 is a perspective view showing in detail the front, the top and the right side of an electrical apparatus according to the invention which has removed the left cheek and the right cheek of the housing; - Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but where the housing of the apparatus is not shown; FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the underside, the front and the left side of the apparatus; - Figure 7 is an elevational view showing the left side of the apparatus according to the invention with the left cheek of the housing which has been removed; - Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6, but with the housing of the apparatus which is not shown; - Figure 9 is an elevational view showing the front side of the apparatus, the housing is not shown; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of certain components of the electrical apparatus involved in the flow of current between the terminals of the upper part and the terminals of the lower part; and FIG. 11 is a perspective view of certain components of the apparatus according to the invention, involved in the differential protection provided by this apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS The electrical apparatus 10 shown in the drawings is a bipolar differential circuit breaker with two protected poles, that is to say having a current path circuit for each pole, operating a short-circuit detection. circuit and overcurrent (circuit breaker function) in each of the two circuits (two protected poles) and operating a difference in intensity detection of the current flowing in both circuits (differential function). The electrical apparatus 10 comprises in its upper part two connection terminals 11 and in its lower part two connection terminals 12. Each of the connection terminals 11 and 12 is designed to receive a stripped end section of an electrical cable or a tooth of a comb of horizontal distribution of electricity.

Terminal 11 (upper part) on the left and terminal 12 (lower part) on the left are provided for one of the poles of the electrical installation, usually one of the phases, while the other terminals 11 and 12 (on the right) are provided for the other pole of the electrical installation, usually another phase. The current path circuit between the terminals 11 and 12 on the left comprises in series a magnetic tripping member 13, a fixed contact 14, a movable contact 15, a thermal tripping member 16 and a winding 17 forming part of a transformer 18 differential fault detection. The path circuit between the connection terminals 11 and 12 on the right is identical. The transformer 18 further comprises the winding 17 of the path circuit between the terminals 11 and 12 on the left and the winding 17 of the path circuit between the terminals 11 and 12 on the right, which form the primary windings. , a secondary winding 19, and an armature (magnetic circuit) 20 around which are made the primary windings 17 and the secondary winding 19. Here, as can be seen in Figures 8 to 11, the armature 20 is annular and has at least a portion located in the existing space, in a left-right direction, between the two terminals 12 of the lower part. The secondary winding 19 of the transformer 18 is connected by two electrical conductors to a sensitive relay 21. To control the movable contacts 15, the apparatus 10 comprises a mechanism 22, generally called a lock. A lever 23 located outside the apparatus 10 makes it possible to act manually on the lock 22. The two magnetic tripping members 13, the two thermal tripping members 16 and the sensitive relay 21 are configured to act if necessary on the lock 22. The lock 22 is configured to have two stable positions, respectively a disconnecting position where the two movable contacts 15 are each away from the corresponding fixed contact 14, and an interlocking position where each of the two movable contacts 15 bears on the corresponding fixed contact 14. The lever 23 makes it possible to act manually on the lock 22 to move from the cutting position to the latching position or vice versa. Each of the two magnetic tripping members 13, each of the two thermal tripping members 16 and the sensitive relay 21 are configured to act on the lock 22 to move from the latching position to the disconnecting position when necessary.

The magnetic tripping members 13 act on the lock in the event of a short circuit, the thermal tripping members 16 act in the event of an overcurrent and the sensitive relay 21 acts in the event of a differential defect. In practice, each magnetic tripping member 13 is formed by a coil disposed around a movable core controlling a striker acting on the lock 22 if necessary. Each thermal tripping member 16 is formed by a bimetallic strip deforming in the event of prolonged overcurrent. and acting due to its deformation on the lock 22. The sensitive relay 21 is supplied by the secondary winding 19 of the transformer 18 in case of difference between the current flowing in one of the windings 17 and the intensity flowing in the other winding 17, that is to say in case of differential defect. When the relay 21 is thus powered, it drives a finger that comes into contact with the lock 22 to trigger the transition from the latching position to the cutting position. In practice, the lock 22 is subdivided into three subassemblies, respectively two subassemblies 25 each to cooperate with one of the movable contacts 15 and a subassembly 26 to cooperate with the sensitive relay 21. The subassembly 26 is disposed in a left-right direction between the two subsets 25. In addition, each of the two current path circuits between a terminal 11 and a terminal 12 includes an arc extinguishing chamber 27 (not shown in Figure 1) associated with the fixed contact 14 and the corresponding movable contact 15.

FIGS. 2 and 3 will now describe the shape of the electrical apparatus 10 and the manner in which the various components are arranged inside the apparatus 10. The electrical apparatus 10 has a generally parallelepipedic shape. .

It has two main faces 30 and side faces extending from one to the other of the main faces 30, namely a rear face 31, a lower face 32, a front face 33 and an upper face 34. The face rear 31 has a notch 35 for mounting the apparatus 1 on a standard Q-shaped support rail (not shown).

The front face 33 has, in central position, about half of its length, a nose 36 having the lever 23. Here, the apparatus 10 is of the modular type, that is to say that in addition to its generally parallelepiped shape, its width (distance between the two main faces 30) is a multiple of a normalized value, known as the "module", which is of the order of 18 mm. Here, the apparatus 10 has a width of two modules. As indicated above, at least a part, here the lower half, of the annular armature 20 of the transformer 18 is located in the existing space, in a left-right direction, between the two terminals 12 of the lower part of the On the other hand, there is no component of the apparatus 10 located in the existing space, in a left-right direction, between the two terminals 11 of the upper part of the apparatus 10. space below each terminal 11 are arranged an arc extinguishing chamber 27 and a magnetic tripping member 13, with on each side the arc extinguishing chamber 27 which is behind the triggering member As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, the magnetic tripping members 13 are narrower than the arc extinguishing chambers 27 and are each located near one of the main faces 30. sensitive relay 21 is located in the existing space, su in a left-right direction, between the two magnetic tripping members 13 and in front of the arc extinguishing chambers 27.

In general, the arc extinction chambers 27, the magnetic tripping members 13 and the sensitive relay 21 are arranged in the same stage. The lock 22 is disposed under this stage with each subassembly 25 which is arranged under an arc extinguishing chamber 27 and the subassembly 26 which is arranged under the sensitive relay 21. Each of the thermal trip members 16 is disposed above one of the two terminals 12 and below the lock 22, and more precisely below one of the subassemblies 25 of the lock 22.

In general, as can be seen in FIG. 3, the thermal tripping members 16 are elongated and inclined downwards and rearwards. Each of the thermal tripping members 16 is near a main face 30.

In the existing space, in a left-right direction, between the two thermal release members 16, is located a portion of the annular armature of the transformer 18, here the upper half. In general, here, the space inside the electrical apparatus 10 is subdivided into four stages, namely, from the bottom upwards: a first stage comprising the transformer 18, and on each side thereof , one of the terminals 12 and one of the thermal tripping members 16, with the terminals 12 which are below the thermal tripping members 16; a second stage, situated above the first stage, comprising the lock 22, in which the subassembly 26 is disposed, in a left-right direction, between the two subassemblies 25; a third stage, disposed above the second stage, comprising the two arc extinction chambers 27, the two magnetic tripping members 13 and the sensitive relay 21, with the two arc extinction chambers 27 which are at the rear while the two magnetic tripping members 13 and the sensitive relay 21 are in the front; and a fourth stage comprising the two terminals 11 of the upper part.

We will now describe in more detail the electrical apparatus 10 in support of Figures 4 to 11. As seen in Figure 4, the upper face 34 has two introduction ports 37 each giving access to one of terminals 11.

Above the nose 36 are two orifices 38 each giving access to the screw 39 of one of the terminals 11. Each terminal 11 (see FIG. 5) has a contact area 40 which is fixed and a cage 41 which is mobile under the effect of the screw. The bare end section or the tooth of the comb to be connected is introduced into the housing delimited by the contact area 40 and the cage 41 and the screw 39 is operated to hang the wall of the cage 41 opposite the range 40 to clamp the bare end portion or the tooth. It will be noted here that the distance between the two orifices 37 of the upper face 34 is of the order of one module and that the housing of the terminals 11 delimited by the contact area 40 and by the range 41 is sized to accommodate the conductive core (denuded end section) of a very large section cable or two cables of large section or a comb tooth and the conductive core of a large section cable. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the lower face 32 has two insertion orifices 42 each giving access to one of the terminals 12. Below the nose 36, there are two orifices 43 each giving access to the screw 44 of one of the terminals 12. Each terminal 12 is arranged in a similar manner to the terminals 11, that is to say that each terminal 12 comprises (see FIG. 8) a contact area 45 which is fixed and a cage 46 which is movable under the effect of the screw 44; and the stripped end section of an electric cable or the comb tooth to be connected is introduced into the housing delimited by the contact pad 45 and the cage 46 and the screw 44 is operated to bring the wall of the cage 46 closer together facing the beach 45 to clamp the bare end portion or the tooth.

It will be noted here that the difference between the two insertion orifices 42 of the lower face 32 is of the order of one and a half module and that the housing delimited by the contact pad 45 and by the cage 46 is sized to accommodating the conductive core (stripped end portion) of a cable of large section, but less than the housing of the terminals 12. Here, the terminals 11 are dimensioned to each accommodate a cable whose conductive core has a section such that that it could convey a current of 63 A, while the terminals 12 are sized to each accommodate a cable having a section such that it could convey a current of 40 A. The fact that the terminals 12 are smaller than the terminals 11 and further apart from each other is of course due to the presence of the armature 20 of the transformer 18 between the terminals 12.

The lower capacity of the terminals 12 is in practice not a problem since the terminals 12 remain sufficiently large to accommodate a cable having the nominal intensity of the electrical apparatus 10 (here 40 A). The largest spacing between the terminals 12 does not allow the use of a conventional horizontal distribution comb, whose pitch between two successive teeth is of a module, but in practice it is especially the terminals of the upper part (here terminals 11) which are likely to cooperate with a horizontal distribution comb since in principle in some countries such as France, it is the input terminals which are located in the upper part. As can be seen in FIGS. 8 to 11, the annular armature 20 of the transformer 18 has an axial orientation in a rear-to-front direction of the apparatus 10. The armature 20 has a relatively large axial extension. It will be observed that the winding 17 on the left and the winding 17 on the right are implemented by a relatively large section conductor whose upper end is connected (here by welding) to the corresponding thermal trip member 16 and whose lower end is connected (here by welding) to the corresponding terminal 12 (see more particularly Figure 7). The arrangement of the transformer 18 with, on each of the left and right sides, a terminal 12 and a thermal tripping member 16 is thus particularly convenient. It will be observed that arc extinguishing chambers 27 are relatively large and therefore have a relatively high breaking capacity.

It will be observed that the magnetic tripping members 13, on the other hand, have a relatively small bulk due to their rectangular conformation. For more details on the magnetic tripping members 13, reference may be made to the European patent application EP 1 254 475.

It will be observed that the transformer 18 is relatively remote from the arc extinction chambers 27. As a result, the transformer 18 introduces no or very few magnetic disturbances impeding the operation of the arc extinction chambers. see more particularly in Figures 10 and 11, there exists between the two arc extinguishing chambers 27, in a left-right direction, a space 50 (Figure 10) which allows the passage of the rigid conductor 51 (Figure 11). ) part of a differential function test circuit, triggered manually by the key 52 on the front face 33 of the apparatus 10. In a variant not shown, the transformer such as 18 is arranged not between the terminals 12 of the lower part, but between the terminals 11 of the upper part. In variants not shown, the electrical apparatus is of a different nature, for example a differential switch with thermal tripping members.

In variants not shown, the transformer as configured to feed alone (without the energy of the electrical network) a sensitive relay such as 21 is replaced by a transformer of another nature, for example a transformer to provide a differential fault information to a relay powered by the electrical network or a transformer forming part of a sensor to provide a signal representative of the intensity flowing in the apparatus 10. In variants not shown, the arrangement of the components other that the electrical transformer such as 18, is different, with for example the magnetic triggering members such as 13 which are behind arc extinguishing chambers such as 27; and / or in each tracking circuit, the magnetic tripping member such as 13 and the magnetic tripping member such as 16 are replaced by a magneto-thermal tripping member.

In variants that are not shown, the electrical apparatus has a different width and / or a number of different poles, for example a four-pole four-width device comprising four terminals at the top and four terminals at the bottom, with the armature such as 20 disposed between two terminals. In variants not shown, the connection terminals 11 and 12 are shaped differently, for example with a spring for clamping the bare end section of an electric cable or the tooth of a horizontal distribution comb.

Many other variants are possible depending on the circumstances, and it is recalled in this regard that the invention is not limited to the examples described and shown.

Claims (12)

REVENDICATIONS1. Modular format electrical apparatus, generally parallelepipedic in shape with two main faces (30) and side faces (31-34) extending from one to the other of the main faces (30), and with a width, c that is the distance between the two main faces (30), equal to an integer number of times a predetermined distance, called the module, the upper part and the lower part of said apparatus each comprising two connection terminals (11, 12), respectively a first terminal for a first electrical pole and a second terminal for a second electrical pole different from the first electrical pole, each said connection terminal being configured to receive a stripped end section of an electrical cable or a tooth a horizontal distribution comb, said lateral face (34) of the upper part or said lateral face (32) of the lower part each having two introduction orifices (37, 42) giving access respectively to the first terminal and the second terminal; which electrical apparatus is characterized in that at least a portion of an annular armature (20) of an electrical transformer (18) is located in the existing space, in a left-right direction, between said first terminal (12) ) and said second terminal (12) of one of said lower part and upper part of the apparatus, hereinafter referred to as the first connection part. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the other of said lower part and upper part of the apparatus, hereinafter referred to as second connection part, has a gap between its two introduction ports (37) which is smaller than the gap between the two insertion orifices (42) of the first connection part. An apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said first terminal (11) and said second terminal (11) of said second connection portion are configured to receive a stripped end portion of an electrical cable having a larger maximum section that the maximum section for which are configured the first terminal (12) and the second terminal (12) of the first connecting portion. 4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said annular armature (20) has an axial orientation in a rear-front direction of said apparatus. 5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said transformer (18) comprises two windings (17) each formed by a conductor whose one end is respectively connected to the first terminal (12) and to the second terminal (12) of said first connecting portion. 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises to the right and left of said annular armature (20) a thermal trigger member (16), with each winding (17) having a second end connected to the a respective one of said thermal tripping members (16). Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said electrical transformer (18) is a differential fault detection transformer. 8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the first terminal (11) and the second terminal (11) of the other of said lower part and upper part of the apparatus, hereinafter called second connecting portion, are each disposed above an arc extinguishing chamber (27) and a magnetic triggering member (13). 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that said arc extinguishing chamber (27) is disposed behind the magnetic tripping member (13). 10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that it comprises a sensitive relay (21) in the existing space, in a left-right direction, between the magnetic tripping member (13) located below the first terminal (11) of the second connecting portion and the magnetic tripping member (13) located under the second terminal (12) of the second connecting portion. 11. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises a lock (22) having below each said arc extinguishing chamber (27) a subassembly (22) to cooperate with a movable contact (15) and, between said subassemblies (22) another subassembly (26) for cooperating with said sensitive relay (21). 12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it constitutes a bipolar differential circuit breaker with two poles protected by a width of two modules.