FR3051593B1 - DEVICE FOR SIGNALING AN ELECTRICAL FAULT IN AN ELECTRICAL PROTECTION APPARATUS, AND ELECTRICAL PROTECTION APPARATUS COMPRISING SUCH A DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for signaling the triggering of an electrical protection device comprising a movable contact (4) operable either manually by a handle (6) mechanically connected to a support device (3) of the movable contact (4). ), or automatically via a triggering mechanism comprising a movable core magnetic trigger (13) and a thermal actuator, said movable contact carrier (3) being rotatably mounted between a position opening of the contacts (4,5) and a closing position of the contacts and connected to the handle (6) by a transmission means so as to form a breakable mechanical connection, the activation of one of the triggers causing the breaking of the mechanical link resulting in the separation of the contacts (4,5), and so-called first signaling means S able to trigger only on a short-circuit fault. This device is characterized in that the said first signaling means S comprise means for locking the aforesaid lever (6) in an intermediate position between the two positions of the lever respectively corresponding to an open position and to a closed position of the contacts (4,5), at the occurrence of a magnetic fault, these means being controlled by the movable core (29) of the magnetic trigger (13).

Description

DEVICE FOR SIGNALING AN ELECTRICAL FAULT IN AN ELECTRICAL PROTECTION APPARATUS, AND ELECTRICAL PROTECTION APPARATUS COMPRISING SUCH A DEVICE

DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a device for signaling the triggering of an electrical protection device such as a circuit-breaker housed in an insulating casing enclosing a pair of fixed and movable contacts, said movable contact being able to be actuated either manually by a lever mechanically connected to a device for supporting the movable contact, said handle being pivotally mounted between a closed position and an open position of the contacts, either automatically via a triggering mechanism comprising a magnetic trigger capable of being activated at the occurrence a short-circuit fault and a thermal trip unit that can be activated when an overload fault occurs, said mobile contact support being rotatably mounted between an open position of the contacts and a closed position of the contacts; contacts and connected to the controller by a transmission means so as to fo rmer between the support and the lever a breakable mechanical connection, the activation of one of the triggers causing the breakage of the mechanical link causing the separation of the contacts, and so-called first signaling means able to trigger only on a defect of short circuit, and an electrical protection device comprising such a device.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

Document EP 2 975 628 describes a device as described above. In this document, this device comprises two signaling means respectively two indicators in the form of two lights, one of the lights being intended to indicate the presence of a magnetic fault, the other of the lights being intended to indicate any type of defect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for signaling an electrical fault in an electrical protection device, of simplified design, and an electrical protection device comprising such a device. For this purpose, the subject of the present invention is a signaling device of the kind mentioned above, this device being characterized in that the said first signaling means comprise means for locking the aforementioned joystick in an intermediate position situated between the two positions of the handle respectively corresponding to an open position and to a closed position of the apparatus, when a magnetic fault occurs, these means being controlled by the movable core of the magnetic trigger.

According to a particular characteristic, these means comprise a so-called first lever, referred to as a return lever, mounted articulated around a fixed axis relative to the housing of the apparatus, this return lever comprising a first end portion intended to cooperate with the mobile core and a second end portion for cooperating with the base of the joystick.

According to a particular characteristic, the aforementioned return lever cooperates with the mobile core via a so-called second lever articulated relative to the housing of the apparatus, said second lever having a first end portion rotatably mounted around an axis integral with the movable core and a second end portion comprising a hooking element adapted to cooperate with a complementary shaped fastening element belonging to the aforementioned first end portion of the return lever, in such a way that the hooking position of the two levers relative to each other corresponds to a closed position of the contacts during normal operation of the device, and that when an original defect appears magnetic movement of the movable core causes the disengagement of the two fastening elements relative to each other, this disengagement allowing returning the return lever in a locking position of the handle in the aforementioned intermediate position.

According to another characteristic, the aforementioned return lever comprises a so-called third end portion adapted to cooperate with an indicator so as to indicate the presence or absence of a defect of magnetic origin.

According to another characteristic, this indicator comprises a reset means adapted to be operated by a user so as to return the return lever in a hooking position with the said second lever, after the locking of the lever in the intermediate position, this to release the joystick and allow the continued movement to the open position.

This prevents the device from reclosing if the reset has not been performed.

According to another characteristic, this indicator is rotatably mounted relative to the housing of the apparatus, said indicator cooperating with said so-called third end portion of the return lever and having a surface visible to a user through an opening of the housing of the apparatus, said visible surface having means for indicating the presence or absence of a magnetic defect as a function of the rotating position of said indicator.

According to another characteristic, this indicator comprises at least a colored surface portion on its visible surface, the appearance of this color through the opening of the housing indicating the occurrence of a magnetic fault.

According to a particular characteristic, this third end portion comprises a rod comprising an axis, this axis being able to cooperate with a groove provided in the aforementioned indicator, so that the rotation drive of the return lever in one direction causes rotation in an opposite direction of the indicator.

Advantageously, this reset means comprises a finger element projecting from said aforementioned surface of the indicator.

According to another characteristic, this third end portion comprises an arm comprising an axis, this axis being able to cooperate with a groove provided in the aforementioned indicator, in such a way that the drive in rotation of the return lever in one direction causes a rotation in the opposite direction of the indicator.

The present invention also relates to an electrical protection apparatus comprising a signaling device comprising the aforementioned characteristics taken alone or in combination.

According to another characteristic, this apparatus comprises a signaling device comprising the aforementioned features taken alone or in combination, and a so-called second signaling means, able to signal the triggered state of the device whatever the type of defect. , the activation of the two signaling means signaling a magnetic type fault, while the activation of a single signaling means signaling an overload fault.

In a particular embodiment, this device is a circuit breaker.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

But other advantages and features of the invention will appear better in the detailed description which follows and refers to the accompanying drawings given by way of example only and in which: FIG. 1 is a partial plan view, illustrating a device electrical protection device comprising a device for signaling an electrical fault according to the invention, in the open position of the contacts of the apparatus, FIG. 2 is a view similar to the previous one, in the closed position of the contacts of the apparatus, FIG. 3 is a view similar to the previous one, when a defect of magnetic origin appears, the apparatus still being in closed position, FIG. 4 is a view similar to the previous one, after the opening of the mechanism of the apparatus, FIG. 5 is a view similar to the previous one, in the signaling position of the defect; and FIG. 6 is a view similar to the preceding ones, intended for FIG. use the maneuver intended to suppress the signaling of the defect.

In the figures, there is shown a multipolar miniature electrical circuit breaker with molded insulating casing 1 known in particular from patent EP 1 975 971 and comprising, by pole, a device 2 for controlling the contacts of the apparatus, this control device comprising a signaling a defect according to the invention. In a manner known per se, this control device comprises a support device 3 of the mobile contact 4 of the device, this mobile contact 4 cooperating with a fixed contact 5.

An opening 7 is provided in the front face 8 of the housing for the passage of a lever 6 mounted pivotally limited on an axis 11 of the housing between a closed position in which the contacts 4,5 are closed, and a position of opening corresponding to the separation of the contacts. The lever 6 is equipped with an internal base 9 coupled to a transmission rod 10 to form a toggle device whose articulation 12 is eccentric with respect to the fixed axis 11 of the lever 6.

The lever 6 is biased in the trigonometric direction towards the position of opening of the contacts by a return spring (not shown). The fixed contact 5 is secured to the casing of the electromagnetic release 13. The movable contact 4 is fixed to the support device 3 of the movable contact 4, said support 3 being articulated on a pivot 14, the rotating plate 15 being rotatably mounted around the same pivot 14.

A triggering lever 16 controlled by the striker 18 of the electromagnetic trip unit 13 and the bimetallic strip of the thermal trip unit (not shown) or of an external auxiliary, is pivotally mounted on an axis 17 carried by the plate 15 with a predetermined offset from to the aforementioned pivot 14.

A breakable mechanical connection is provided between the transmission link 10 and the drive plate of the contact support device 3 4.

In the locked position, the connection allows the manual control of the mechanism by the lever 6. The displacement of the trigger lever 16 to the triggered position under the action of the triggers, causes the momentary rupture of the mechanical link, causing the automatic trigger mechanism , independently of the handle 6. The trigger lever 16 is associated with a return spring for ensuring the automatic restoration of the mechanical link when the handle 6 is actuated to the open position, following a triggering of the fault mechanism .

The breakable mechanical link comprises a hook 19 pivotally mounted on an axis 20 of the plate 15. Opposite this axis, the spout 21 of the hook 19 cooperates in the locked position of the connection with a retaining catch 22 (Fig. 4) located on the arm of the trigger lever 16. The transmission rod 10 is coupled to the hook 19 and the plate 15 at a hinge point 23 that can move when triggered in two openings 24 and 26 consecutive of the platinum 15. This hinge point 23 is located between the hinge axis 20 (fig.3) of the hook 19 on the plate and the spout 21 (fig.4) of the hook hook. The link constitutes a reduction stage in the kinematic chain of the mechanism, allowing a reduction of the triggering force from the magnetothermal release.

The hook 19 also has a bean-shaped opening or V 25 which, with the openings 24 and 26 of the plate, are intended to allow the rotation of the contact holder plate 15, during a trip, while the link 10 is blocked by the handle 6, itself held in the closed position of the contacts. The opening 26 provided in the plate 15 also guides the stroke of the link when the handle returns to the open position of the contacts after a trip. The two openings 24,26 of the plate 15 extend relative to each other so as to form a V.

The device for signaling a fault according to the invention comprises a set of two levers respectively a so-called first or return lever 27 intended to cooperate with the lever 6, and a second said lever 28 intended to cooperate with the movable core 29. This so-called second lever 28 is mounted articulated about a fixed axis 30 relative to the housing of the apparatus, said lever having two end portions 28a, 28b located on either side of said axis 30. One of end portions, said first 28a, of this lever, is articulated around an end portion 29a of the movable core 29 of the electromagnetic release 13, this end portion of the movable core being located opposite the part of the striker 18 cooperating with the release lever 16, while the other end portion 28b of this lever, said second end portion 28b, comprises a fastening element 33. This element ac Pitching 33 is intended to cooperate with a complementary shaped fastening element 34 belonging to said first lever or return lever 27, which return lever 27 is mounted articulated about an axis 35 of the housing of the device, such that so that, in the latching position between the two levers 27,28, the rotation of the second lever 28 in the clockwise direction causes the rotation of the return lever 27 in the counterclockwise direction. Thus (FIG. 4), this return lever 27 comprises three end portions, namely respectively a first part 27a comprising the aforementioned attachment element 33, a second part 27b intended to cooperate with a signaling means 39. a defect of magnetic origin, and a third portion 27c for cooperating with the lever 6 as will be explained in the following. This second portion 27b comprises a rod 37 having at its free end an axis 37a adapted to cooperate with a groove 39a belonging to an indicator element 39, which indicator 39 is rotatably mounted relative to another fixed axis 39b of the housing, such that way that the rotation of the return lever 27 causes a corresponding rotation in the opposite direction of the indicator 39.

This indicator 39 (FIG. 5) comprises a tubular portion 39c, from which extend, on either side of the aforementioned axis 39b, a U-shaped portion 39d and a finger element 39e.

The third part 27c of the return lever 27 comprises a branch 38a having at its free end a substantially flat surface 38b able to cooperate with a part of the base 9 of the lever 6.

The operation of the signaling device according to the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the figures.

In FIG. 1, the control device 2 is in an open position of the contacts 4,5, the lever 6 being in the open position.

In this position, the striker 18 is retracted inside the coil and the movable core 29 is in a position at most away from said coil. The hooking system is activated between the two levers 27,28, the hooking element 34 of the said second lever 28 being engaged with the corresponding fastening element 33 belonging to the return lever 27, so that the 39 signaling means does not report any magnetic fault. When the lever 6 is actuated to effect the closing of the contacts 4,5 (FIG. 2), the latter moves the link 10 which bears on the plate 15 and on the hook 19. The hook 19 is locked on the bar (or lever) trigger. The rod 10 bears on the plate 15 and the hook 19, rotates the plate about its axis 14 until the contacts 4,5 close.

The rod continues to travel until the dead center of the toggle formed by the handle 6 and the link 10 is crossed. Then, the mechanism takes the equilibrium position which keeps the contacts closed. The passage of the apparatus from the open position (FIG. 1) to the closed position (FIG. 2) does not cause any change in the position of the signaling means 39, since the striker 18, and therefore the moving core, has not been set in motion.

To open the contacts 4.5 manually, the handle 6 is actuated from the closed position shown in Figure 2 until it crosses the dead center of the toggle in the opposite direction. The mechanism then reaches the equilibrium position, the contacts being open when the handle reaches the end of its stroke, the position shown in FIG.

When the contacts are closed and under the effect of the appearance of a magnetic fault, the trigger bar 16 is actuated by the striker 18, as shown in Figure 3, the hook 19 is unlocked, but the lever 6 does not return immediately to its open position.

At the same time, the mobile core 29 unlocks the hooking between the two levers 27,28. The balance of forces exerted by the rod 10 on the mechanism is broken. The plate 15 rotates about its axis 14 and opens the contacts, position shown in Figure 4. The opening 25 provided inside the hook 19, allows the rotation of the hook about the axis 20 and this opening 25 the hook and the openings 24,26 of the plate 15, allow the rotation of the plate, the handle is still maintained in the closed contacts position.

Unlocking the hooking between the two levers 27,28 causes the rotation of the return lever 27 in the clockwise direction under the effect of a not shown spring recalling the return lever 27 in the direction of the lever 6, this movement the return lever driving the indicator 39 to a position in which it indicates the presence of a magnetic fault.

Then at the same time, as shown in Figure 5, the spring of the handle 6 returns the latter to the open position of the contacts and the link 10 returns the hook 19 to the initial position. The polarization spring of the hook 19 and resetting of the bar 16 places them in a position that does not allow the hook to be locked on the bar when the lever is actuated to close the contacts. The openings 24,26 provided in the plate 15 participate in the guide of the rod 10 so as to bring it back into position on the platen.

When it returns, the handle 6 clings via its base 9 to the second fastening element 34 forming a pawl, which is released from its engagement with the second lever 28.

The signaling means constituted by the indicator 39 then signals the presence of a defect of magnetic origin by a color change occurring on the outer surface portion 39f of the tubular portion 39c, this outer surface portion 39f being located at right of the aforementioned finger 39th, looking from the front at figure 5.

Note that in the case of a multipole circuit breaker, the signaling will only appear on the pole in default.

The deletion of the signaling of the magnetic origin fault will be done by resetting the so-called secondary lever 39, formed by the aforementioned indicator, this resetting being effected by a driving action in rotation of said secondary lever by the The rotation of the secondary lever 39 in the clockwise direction will cause the counterclockwise rotation of the deflection lever 27 to be turned counterclockwise, which will result in the release of the interlocking between the return lever 27 and the main handle 6. This release of this attachment will allow the return of the main handle of the circuit breaker in the open position. The invention applies to any electrical appliance comprising a mechanism of the type mentioned above, such as a circuit breaker, a switch, a differential switch, a disconnector, auxiliary contacts etc .....

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and illustrated which has been given by way of example.

On the contrary, the invention comprises all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations if they are carried out according to its spirit.

Claims (9)

1. Apparatus for signaling the triggering of an electrical protection device such as a circuit-breaker housed in an insulating casing enclosing a pair of fixed and movable contacts, said movable contact being able to be actuated either manually by a handle mechanically connected to a support device of the mobile contact, said lever being pivotally mounted between a closed position and an open position of the contacts, or automatically via a triggering mechanism comprising a movable core magnetic trigger adapted to be activated at the onset a short-circuit fault and a thermal trip unit that can be activated when an overload fault has occurred, said mobile contact support being rotatably mounted between a position for opening the contacts and a position for closing the contacts; contacts and connected to the handle by a transmission means so as to form between the Pport and the lever a breakable mechanical connection, the activation of one of the triggers causing the breaking of the mechanical connection causing the separation of the contacts, and so-called first signaling means able to trigger only on a short-circuit fault , characterized in that the said first signaling means S comprise means for locking the aforesaid lever (6) in an intermediate position between the two positions of the lever respectively corresponding to an open position and to a closed position of the apparatus at the occurrence of a magnetic defect, these means being controlled by the movable core (29) of the magnetic release (13), -in that these means comprise a so-called first lever (27), said reference, mounted hinged about an axis (35) fixed relative to the housing (1) of the apparatus, the return lever (27) having a first end portion (27a) destined to cooperate with the movable core (29) and a second end portion (27b) for cooperating with the base (9) of the lever (6), and in that the aforesaid return lever (27) cooperates with the movable core (29) via a second said lever (28) articulated relative to the housing (1) of the apparatus, said second lever (28) having a first end portion (28a) ) rotatably mounted about an axis integral with the movable core (29) and a second end portion (28b) having a hooking element (34) adapted to cooperate with a complementary form of fastening element (33). belonging to the aforesaid first end portion (27a) of the return lever (27), so that the hooking position of the two levers (27..28) relative to each other corresponds to a closed position of the contacts (4,5) during normal operation of the device, and that during the appearance of a magnetic origin defect, the displacement of the movable core (29) causes the two engaging elements (33, 34) to disengage with respect to each other, this disengagement enabling the return lever to be raised (27) in a locking position of the handle (6) in the aforementioned intermediate position, characterized in that the aforesaid return lever (27) has a so-called third end portion (27c) adapted to cooperate with an indicator ( 39) so as to indicate the presence or absence of a magnetic defect. 2. A signaling device according to claim 1, characterized in that this indicator (39) comprises a reset means (39e) adapted to be operated by a user so as to recall the return lever (27) in a position of hooking with the second lever (28), after locking the lever in an intermediate position, in order to release the handle (6) and allow the further movement to the open position. 3. Signaling device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that this indicator (39) is rotatably mounted relative to the housing (1) of the device, said indicator cooperating with said third end portion (27c ) of the return lever (27) and having a visible surface (39f) for a user through an opening (7) of the housing (1) of the apparatus, said visible surface (39f) including means for indicating the presence or the absence of a magnetic origin fault as a function of the rotational position of this indicator (39). 4. A signaling device according to claim 3, characterized in that this indicator (39) comprises at least a colored surface portion on its visible surface (39f), the appearance of this color through the opening (7) of the housing (1) indicating the occurrence of a magnetic defect. 5. A signaling device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that this third end portion (27c) comprises a rod (37) having an axis (37a), said axis being adapted to cooperate with a groove (39a) provided in the aforesaid indicator (39), such that rotation of the return lever (27) in one direction causes rotation in a direction opposite to the indicator (39), 6. A signaling device according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that said reset means comprises a finger member (39e) projecting on the surface (39f) above the indicator (39). 7. Electrical protection apparatus comprising a signaling device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 8. Electrical protection device according to claim 7, characterized in that it further comprises said secondary signaling means T., able to signal the triggered state of the device regardless of the type of fault, the activation two signaling means S, T signaling a magnetic type fault, while the activation of a single signaling means signaling an overload fault. 9. Electrical protection device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it is a circuit breaker.