FR3087575A1 - CIRCUIT BREAKER AND UNIT FOR MANAGING AN ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION NETWORK EQUIPPED WITH THIS CIRCUIT BREAKER - Google Patents

Abstract

This circuit breaker includes: - a diode (74) connected in series with a slave switch (72), this diode and the slave switch being connected between first and second auxiliary contacts (40, 42), - a modulator (86) connected between the auxiliary contacts, this modulator also being connected in parallel with the diode (74) and the slave switch (72), this modulator also being connected to an electronic diagnostic circuit (84) for receive additional information collected to be transmitted, this modulator being able to: • modulating the electrical resistance between the auxiliary contacts (40, 42) as a function of the additional information received so as to transmit this additional information collected via the auxiliary contacts, and • to prevent, even in the absence of power, the passage of an electric current which passes through it in the direction which goes from the second auxiliary contact (42) to the first auxiliary contact (40).

Description

CIRCUIT BREAKER AND MANAGEMENT UNIT OF AN ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION NETWORK EQUIPPED WITH THIS CIRCUIT BREAKER

[1] The invention relates to a circuit breaker and a management unit of an electricity distribution network equipped with this circuit breaker.

The invention also relates to an aircraft comprising this circuit breaker and this management unit.

[2] Known circuit breakers include: - a first terminal intended to be connected to a first electrical wire of an electricity distribution network, 10 - a second terminal intended to be connected to a second electrical wire of the distribution network. 'electricity, - a power switch reversibly movable between - a closed state in which it electrically connects the first and second terminals, and - an open state in which it electrically isolates the first terminal from the second terminal, - a module for tripping the opening of the circuit breaker capable, in response to the detection of a fault in the electric current flowing between the first and second terminals, to trigger the displacement of the power switch towards its open state, - a first and second auxiliary electrical contacts each intended to be electrically connected to respective connection wires with a remote distribution network management unit n of electricity, - a switch mechanically slaved to the state of the power switch, this slaved switch being electrically connected between the first and second auxiliary contacts and electrically isolated from the first and second terminals, this slaved switch being movable by reversibly, in response to the movement of the power switch, between: - a closed state in which it electrically connects the first and second auxiliary contacts together to indicate that the power switch is in a first state chosen from the group consisting of the closed state and the open state of the power switch, and - an open state in which it electrically isolates the first auxiliary contact from the second auxiliary contact to indicate that the power switch 35 is in a second state, different from the first state, chosen from the same group consisting of the closed state and the open state of the power switch e.

In particular, for safety reasons, in particular when the circuit breaker is installed in an aircraft, it is necessary to be able to read the state of the power switch 40 whether or not the circuit breaker is supplied by the network of 2 electricity distribution.

This is the reason why we use a switch mechanically slaved to the state of the power switch to vary the resistance between the auxiliary contacts.

[004] For example, such circuit breakers are known from application US4757416A.

[005] In addition, some of these known circuit breakers additionally include an electronic diagnostic circuit capable of collecting additional information on the operation of the circuit breaker, this collected additional information being intended to be transmitted to the remote management unit.

[6] The additional information collected by the diagnostic circuit is communicated to the management unit or to other equipment.

For this, the diagnostic circuit must use means of communication other than the auxiliary contacts.

Indeed, the auxiliary contacts are already used to transmit the state of the power switch.

These other means of communication are generally complex to produce, to implement and generally do not allow real-time monitoring of the diagnosis of circuit breakers.

[7] The invention therefore aims to provide a circuit breaker which has the same functionalities and the same level of safety as the known circuit breakers while being simpler to produce and to use.

[8] It therefore relates to such a circuit breaker in which the circuit breaker comprises: - a diode connected in series with the slave switch, this diode and the slave switch being connected between the first and second auxiliary contacts, the cathode of this diode being directed towards the first auxiliary contact, - a modulator connected between the first and second auxiliary contacts, this modulator also being connected in parallel with the diode and the slave switch, this modulator also being connected to the electronic diagnostic circuit to receive the additional information collected to be transmitted, this modulator being able - to modulate the electrical resistance between the first and second auxiliary contacts according to the additional information received so as to transmit this additional information collected on the connecting wires connected to the first and second auxiliary contacts, and - to prevent, even in the absence of power, the step wise of an electric current which crosses it in the direction which goes from the second auxiliary contact towards the first auxiliary contact, where the direction of the current is defined with the convention “receiver”.

[009] The embodiments of this circuit breaker may include one or more of the following characteristics: the circuit breaker comprises a mechanical link between the power switch and the slave switch, this mechanical link being suitable, even in the absence of power supply of the circuit breaker: 3 - to switch the slave switch from its open state to its closed state in response to moving the power switch to its first state, and - to switch the slave switch from its closed state to its open state 5 in response to the movement of the power switch to its second state ^ the modulator comprises an optocoupler, this optocoupler comprising: - a light-emitting diode through which a current passes the intensity of which depends on the additional information received, and 10 - a photosensitive switch connected between the first and second auxiliary contacts in parallel with the diode and the slave switch, this interr Photosensitive switch being reversibly movable between: - a closed state when it is illuminated by the light-emitting diode, and - an open state in the absence of illumination of the light-emitting diode; The photosensitive switch is selected from the group consisting of a photodiode and a phototransistor.

[0010] The subject of the invention is also a unit for managing an electricity distribution network, this electricity distribution network being equipped with at least the above circuit breaker, this management unit comprising: - a first input terminal intended to be electrically connected to one end of a first connecting wire, the other end of which is electrically connected to the first auxiliary contact of the circuit breaker, - a second input terminal intended to be electrically connected to one end a second connecting wire, the other end of which is electrically connected to the second auxiliary contact of the circuit breaker, - a ground, - a direct voltage source generating a positive potential, - an electronic computer connected to the first input terminal and capable of acquiring the state of the power switch of the circuit breaker and, alternately, the additional information collected on the operation of this circuit breaker from the signal received between the first and second input terminals, - a reversibly displaceable switch, in response to a command from the electronic computer, between: - a first configuration for reading the state of the power switch 35 in which it electrically connects the first terminal to ground and the second terminal to the positive potential generated by the voltage source, and - a second configuration for reading the additional information collected in which it electrically connects the first input terminal to the positive potential generated by the voltage source and the second input terminal 40 to ground. 4

Finally, the invention also relates to an aircraft comprising: - an electricity distribution network equipped with the above circuit breaker having first and second auxiliary contacts, - the above unit for managing the network of electricity distribution, 5 - two connecting wires connecting the management unit, respectively, to the first and second auxiliary contacts of the circuit breaker.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic and partial illustration of an aircraft equipped with an electricity distribution network and a management unit for this electricity distribution network; - Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of a circuit breaker used in the electricity distribution network of Figure 1; 15 - Figures 3 and 4 are schematic illustrations of the management unit of Figure 1.

In these figures, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same elements.

In the remainder of this description, the characteristics and functions that are well known to those skilled in the art are not described in detail. 20

[0014] Chapter I: Examples of embodiment

Figure 1 shows an aircraft 2 such as an airplane.

The aircraft 2 comprises - electrical devices which need to be powered in order to operate, - an electricity distribution network 4 to supply these various electrical devices, and - a unit 6 for managing the network 4.

To simplify Figure 1, only two electrical devices 10 and 12 have been shown.

These devices can correspond to any electrical device on board inside an airplane such as, for example, a screen, a lighting system, a heater, an aircraft piloting unit or the like. 30

The network 4 is a continuous or alternating electricity distribution network.

In this exemplary embodiment, the network 4 distributes an alternating voltage of between 45 Vac and 185 Vac.

For example, the alternating voltage is equal to 115 Vac.

For this purpose, the network 4 comprises a source 14 of alternating voltage 35 connected to the various electrical devices to be supplied by means of a wired link.

In this application, in the absence of an indication to the contrary, the term “connect” means “connect electrically”.

To simplify the figures and the description which follows, only the wires connected to the same phase are shown and described.

The wires connected to neutral or to another phase are not shown and 40 are not described. 5

The network 4 also includes circuit breakers for automatically cutting off the power supply to an electrical device in the event of an incident in the powered electrical device or in the network 4.

Typically, an incident is the appearance of an abnormally high current.

Such a current can appear following the creation of a short circuit with a ground of the aircraft 2 or because of a malfunction of one of the electrical devices.

To simplify Figure 1, only two circuit breakers 16 and 18 are shown.

The circuit breaker 16 makes it possible to electrically isolate the device 10 from the network 4.

The circuit breaker 18 makes it possible to electrically isolate the device 12 from the network 4. 10

By way of illustrations, the circuit breakers 16 and 18 are structurally identical.

Thus, hereinafter, only the circuit breaker 16 is described in more detail.

The circuit breaker 16 is mounted in series between the source 14 and a terminal 20 for supplying the device 10.

To this end, it comprises: - a terminal 22 connected, via an electric wire 24, to a terminal 26 of the source 14, and - a terminal 30, connected, via a wire electrical 32, to terminal 20 of the device 10.

The terminals 22 and 30 are for example equipped with connectors, such as screw or spring connectors, to facilitate the connection of these terminals to the ends, respectively, of the wires 24 and 32.

The circuit breaker 16 also includes two auxiliary contacts 40 and 42 through which the state of the power switch of the circuit breaker 16 can be read.

In this embodiment, these same contacts 40 and 42 also make it possible to read additional information collected on the operation of the circuit breaker 16.

The contacts 40 and 42 are connected by means, respectively, of connecting wires 44 and 46 to, respectively, terminals 48 and 50 of the management unit 6.

[0025] The unit 6 is capable, from the information acquired through the intermediary of the contacts 40 and 42 of all the circuit breakers of the network 4 of managing and / or of assisting the pilot or the maintenance service in the management. network 4.

For example, here, the unit 6 is able to control a man-machine interface 52 to signal the state of the circuit breakers of the network 4, a fault of a circuit breaker and / or precursor signs of a failure of the network 4.

The man-machine interface 52 may for this purpose include a screen, indicator lights or the like.

Unit 6 has an output terminal 54 for connecting the man-machine interface 52 to this unit 6.

[0026] The unit 6 is here also capable of controlling one or more electric actuators to modify the operation of the aircraft 2 and, typically, of the network 4.

For example, unit 6 can automatically turn off or electrically isolate from network 4 one or more electrical loads such as devices 10 and 12 in order to reduce electricity consumption.

The unit 6 can also automatically control 6 the connection to the network 4 of one or more additional voltage sources to provide the required electrical power.

In Figure 1, a single copy of such an actuator 56 is shown.

Unit 6 has an output terminal 58 connected to actuator 56.

The actuator 56 is separate from the circuit breakers 16 and 5 18.

FIG. 2 shows in more detail an example of the architecture of the circuit breaker 16.

Here, circuit breaker 16 is an electromechanical circuit breaker.

The circuit breaker 16 comprises a power switch 60 reversibly movable between a closed state, shown in FIG. 2, and an open state.

In the closed state 10, switch 60 connects terminal 22 to terminal 30.

The device 10 is therefore supplied by the network 4 when the switch 60 is in its closed state.

In the open state, switch 60 electrically isolates terminals 22 and 30 from each other.

Thus, in the open state of the switch 60, the device 10 is electrically isolated from the network 4 and is no longer powered. 15

The circuit breaker 16 comprises a module 62 for automatically triggering the opening of the circuit breaker 16 in response to a fault in the current flowing between the terminals 22 and 30.

More precisely, this module 62 triggers the movement of the switch 60 to its open state as soon as a fault in the current is detected.

Such trigger modules are well known to those skilled in the art and there are many known ways of achieving this.

In Figure 2, the architecture of the module 62 is only shown schematically.

For example, the module 62 combines magnetic detection and thermal detection of a fault in the current.

By way of illustration, the magnetic detection of a fault in the current is carried out using a movable magnetic core 64 placed inside a coil 66.

The current which circulates between terminals 22 and 30 also circulates in the coil 66.

Consequently, an increase in the intensity of the current which circulates between the terminals 22 and 30 causes a displacement of the core 64.

This displacement of the core 64 moves the switch 60 to its open state.

The thermal detection of a fault in the current is for example carried out using a bimetallic strip 68 through which the current which circulates between the terminals 22 and 30 passes.

When the intensity of the current increases, the bimetallic strip 68 heats up and deforms.

This deformation moves the switch 60 to its open state.

The switch 60 is mechanically connected, via a mechanical link 70, to a slave switch 72.

Switch 72 is connected in series 35 with a diode 74.

The assembly formed by the switch 72 and the diode 74 is connected in parallel between the contacts 40 and 42.

The cathode of diode 74 is directly connected to contact 40.

In this application, the term “directly connected” denotes the fact that the connection is made by means of an electrical track without passing through other active electronic components such as a switch or a diode.

The anode of diode 74 is directly connected to a first side of switch 72.

A second opposite side of switch 72 is directly connected to contact 42.

The switch 72 is reversibly movable between a closed state, shown in Figure 2, and an open state.

The movements of switch 72 between its open and closed states are actuated mechanically by the movements of switch 60 between its own open and closed states.

More precisely, the link 70 transforms a displacement of the switch 60 from its closed state to its open state into a displacement of the switch 72 from its own closed state to its own open state and vice versa.

Thus, switch 72 is moved between its open and closed states without consuming electrical energy.

In addition, the state of the switch 72 is permanently and systematically slaved to the state of the switch 60 thanks to the link 70.

Thus the switch 72 is always in the same state as the switch 60 and this even in the absence of power supply to the circuit breaker 16 as, for example, in the case where the terminals 22 and 30 are electrically isolated from the network 4.

As explained below, it is therefore possible to read the state of the switch 72, and therefore the state of the switch 60, even when the circuit breaker 16 is not powered.

More precisely, the switch 72 varies the resistance between the contacts 40 and 42 depending on the state of the switch 60.

For example, the connection 70 is made in a conventional manner. 20

The circuit breaker 16 also comprises a handle 80 mechanically connected to the switch 60 by means of a mechanical link 82.

The joystick 80 in combination with the link 82 allows a human being to move, by hand, the switch 60 between its open and closed states.

The circuit breaker 16 is also equipped with an electronic circuit 84 for diagnosis.

25 This circuit 84 collects one or more additional information on the operation of the circuit breaker 16.

The additional information is different and complementary information of the state of the switch 60.

Indeed, the state of the switch 60 is already coded between the contacts 40 and 42 by the switch 72.

A lot of additional information is possible and can be collected by the circuit 30 84.

For example, the circuit 84 collects here: - additional information on what caused the displacement of the switch 60 to its open state, and / or - additional information useful for the maintenance of the circuit breaker 16.

[0035] The additional information on the cause of the displacement of the switch 60 towards its open state can be and in a non-exhaustive way: the detection of an electric arc caused by an insulation fault between the ground of the aircraft and one of the wires 24 and 32, - detection of an electric arc caused for example by a badly locked connector of terminals 22 and 30, and / or 40 - detection of a current leak to ground. 8

Typically, to detect these faults which may be the cause of the movement of the switch 60 to its open state, the circuit 84 measures and analyzes the waveform of the current and the voltage between the terminals 22 and 30.

The circuit 84 is here also capable of triggering a test of the correct operation of certain components of the circuit breaker 16.

This feature is known by the English term “built-in-self-test”.

The additional information useful for the maintenance of the circuit breaker 16 is then the result of these tests.

The circuit 84 generates a frame of baseband information which encodes the detected faults and the results of the operational tests triggered.

Typically, this information frame is formed from a succession of bits.

For example, the value 0 of a bit corresponds to a potential of 0 volts and the value of 1 of a bit corresponds to a non-zero positive potential.

This information frame is generated and transmitted at regular intervals to a modulator 86.

For example, the regular interval is less than 5 min or 1 min and, most often, less than 30 s or 10 s or 5 s. 15

In this embodiment, the circuit 84 is typically supplied from the electric current which circulates between the terminals 22 and 30.

Thus, in the absence of current between these terminals 22 and 30, the collection of additional information and the generation of information frames are interrupted.

The modulator 86 transforms the frame of digital information received into an analog signal transmitted to the management unit 6.

Here, the modulator 86 is arranged to transmit the digital information frame via the same auxiliary contacts 40 and 42 as those used to transmit the state of the switch 60.

To this end, in this embodiment, the modulator 86 comprises an optocoupler 88 for varying the electrical resistance between the auxiliary contacts 40 and 42 as a function of the information frame to be transmitted.

For example, the optocoupler 88 comprises a light emitting diode 90 connected to the circuit 84 in such a way that: - the diode 90 generates light when the information bit of the frame to be transmitted is equal to 1, and 30 - the diode 90 does not generate light when the bit of the frame to be transmitted is equal to 0.

The optocoupler 88 also includes a photosensitive switch 92 connected in parallel with the switch 72 and the diode 74.

Here, switch 92 is typically a photodiode or a phototransistor.

In this example, switch 92 is an NPN phototransistor whose collector and emitter are directly connected, respectively, to contacts 40 and 42.

When the base of the switch 92 is not illuminated by the diode 90, the switch 92 is in an open state in which its resistance is very high so that it is not crossed by a current.

Conversely, when the base of switch 92 is illuminated by diode 90, switch 92 is in a closed state.

In the closed state, the switch 92 can only be crossed 9 by a current which flows in the direction going from the contact 40 towards the contact 42.

In this application, the direction of the current is that defined with the “receiver” convention.

In the closed state, the switch 92 prevents the flow of current in the opposite direction, that is to say from the contact 42 to the contact 40.

Thus, even in the absence of power supply 5 to the circuit breaker 16, the switch 92 prevents the passage of current from the contact 42 to the contact 40.

FIG. 3 shows in more detail an embodiment of the management unit 6.

To simplify Figure 3, only the arrangement of the components of the unit 6 necessary to acquire the state of the switch 60 and the additional information of the circuit breaker 16 have been shown.

The arrangements of the components of the unit 6 for acquiring the same information from other circuit breakers of the network 4 are, for example, identical.

Unit 6 comprises an electronic computer 100.

The computer 100 is able: 15 - to acquire, by means of the contacts 40, 42, the state of the switch 60 and, alternately, the additional information collected by the circuit 84, and - to control as a function of the information acquired from external equipment such as the man-machine interface 52 and the actuator 56.

For example, the computer 100 is produced from an FPGA component 20 (“Field-Programmable Gate Array”).

For this purpose, for example, the computer 100 has an input 102 connected to the terminal 48 via an analog-to-digital converter 104.

Converter 104 is directly connected to terminal 48.

The computer 100 is also able to control a switch 110 to switch, reversibly, between a first configuration for reading the state of the switch 60 and a second configuration for reading the additional information collected by the circuit. 84.

For this purpose, the computer 100 is connected to the switch 110, for example, via a control bus 112. 30

The switch 110 comprises - an input 114 connected to terminal 48 via a resistor 116, - an input 118 directly connected to terminal 50, - an input 120 connected to a positive potential V1 generated by a source 122 of direct voltage, and 35 - an input 124 connected to ground, that is to say here to a potential denoted VO.

The switch 110 also includes two controllable switches 128 and 130.

In response to a command to read additional information transmitted by the computer 100: the switch 128 is moved to a first state in which it connects the input 114 to the input 120 and electrically isolates the input 114 from the ground VO, and 10 - switch 130 is moved to a first state in which it connects input 118 to input 124 and electrically isolates input 118 from potential V1.

[0050] Thus, in response to the command to read additional information, the switch 110 switches to the first configuration shown in FIG. 3.

In this first configuration: - a positive potential is applied to terminal 48 and to auxiliary contact 40, and - terminal 50 and auxiliary contact 42 are connected to ground.

Therefore, in this first configuration, the current can flow only through the switch 92.

Indeed, the diode 74 prevents the passage of current through the switch 72 even if the latter is in its closed state.

In this first configuration, the resistance between the auxiliary contacts 40 and 42 depends only on the state of the switch 92 and does not vary according to the state of the switch 72.

More precisely, when the switch 92 is in the open state, the potential on the terminal 48 is equal or substantially equal to the potential V1.

When the switch 92 is in the closed state, the potential on terminal 48 is equal to a potential V2 smaller than the potential V1 and greater than the potential VO.

Thus, in the first configuration, by reading the successive voltages on terminal 48, the computer 100 is capable of deducing therefrom the successive states of the switch 92 and therefore of acquiring the additional information collected by the circuit 84.

To this end, as long as the circuit 84 is powered, it continuously transmits the frames encoding the additional information collected.

On the other hand, the additional information cannot be acquired if the circuit 84 is not powered.

In response to a read command of the state of the switch 60 transmitted by the computer 100: 25 - the switch 128 is moved to a second state in which it connects the input 114 to the input 124 and electrically isolates input 114 from potential V1, and - switch 130 is moved to a second state in which it connects input ns to input 120 and electrically isolates input 118 from ground VO.

[0053] Thus, in response to the command to read the state of the switch 60, the switch 110 switches to the second configuration shown in FIG. 4.

In this second configuration: - a positive voltage is applied to the terminal 50 and to the auxiliary contact 42, and - the terminal 48 and the auxiliary contact 40 are connected to the potential VO.

[0055] Therefore, in this second configuration, current can flow only through switch 72 and diode 74.

Indeed, the switch 92 prevents the passage of current in a direction going from the auxiliary contact 42 to the auxiliary contact 40, whatever its state.

In the second configuration, the resistance between the contacts 40 and 42 therefore depends only on the state of the switch 72 and does not vary as a function of the state of the switch 92.

More precisely, when the switch 72 is in the open state, the potential on the terminal 11 48 is equal to the potential VO.

When switch 72 is in the closed state, the potential on terminal 48 is positive and greater than potential VO.

Thus, in the second configuration, the computer 100 acquires the state of the switch 72 and therefore the state of the switch 60.

The state of the switch 60 can be read even if the circuit breaker 16 is electrically isolated from the network 4.

To monitor in real time the state of the circuit breaker 16, the computer 100 sends at regular intervals read commands additional information and read commands of the state of the switch 60.

The regular interval here is typically less than 1 hour or 15 minutes and, preferably, less than 1 minute or 10 seconds or 5 seconds.

[0057] Chapter II: Variants

The network 4 can also be a direct voltage distribution network.

In this case, the direct voltage is typically equal to +28 Vdc or +270 Vdc.

In the latter case, the circuit breakers are direct current circuit breakers, that is to say circuit breakers whose function is to interrupt a direct current if its intensity exceeds a predetermined threshold.

In another embodiment, the circuit breaker is a differential circuit breaker.

Alternatively, the switch 72 is in its open state when the switch 60 is in its closed state and vice versa. 20

A resistor can be connected in series with the switch 72 and the diode 74 between the auxiliary contacts 40 and 42.

For example, such a resistor is connected between the cathode of diode 74 and contact 40.

The addition of such a resistance does not in any way modify the operating principle described here.

In another variant, the lever 80 and the link 82 are omitted. 25

Many other embodiments of modulator 86 are possible.

For example, switch 92 is made by connecting in series a bipolar transistor and a diode.

Switch 92 can also be a photo-Darlington transistor.

In another embodiment, the optocoupler 88 is omitted and replaced by a switch connected by an electrical track to the diagnostic circuit 84 without passing through an optical link such as that of an optocoupler. .

Such an embodiment is for example desirable when the circuit 84 is already electrically isolated from the terminals 22 and 30.

The additional information collected by the circuit 84 can be simple all or nothing information.

In this case, this information can be coded using a single information bit and the information frame then comprises only this information bit.

In the trigger module 62, the magnetic detection or the thermal fault detection in the current can be omitted.

Magnetic detection and thermal detection can also, as variants, be supplemented or replaced by other means for detecting a fault in the current. 12

Chapter III: Advantages of the embodiments described:

In the various embodiments described, the additional information collected by the circuit 84 is transmitted to the management unit 6 via the same electrical contacts as those used to transmit the state of the switch 60. power.

Thus, it is not necessary to provide additional electrical contacts for the transmission of additional information.

The additional information is transmitted to unit 6 via the same connection wires as those used to transmit the state of switch 60.

This therefore also simplifies the installation and use of the circuit breaker 16 in the network 4.

In addition, since during normal use, the circuit breaker is permanently connected by wires 44 and 46 to the management unit 6, it is now possible to frequently collect additional information.

Real-time monitoring of circuit breaker diagnostics therefore becomes possible.

Thanks to the mechanical connection between the switch 60 and the switch 72, it is possible to read the state of the circuit breaker even if this circuit breaker is electrically isolated and devoid of any power source.

In particular, it is possible to read the state of the circuit breaker even if the diagnostic circuit 84 is no longer supplied.

The use of an optocoupler in the modulator makes it possible to electrically isolate the contacts 40 and 42 of the circuit 84. 20

The use of a photodiode or of a phototransistor for the realization of the photosensitive switch allows, using the same component, both to obtain an electrical insulation with respect to the circuit 84 and to to prevent

Claims (6)

CLAIMS 1. Circuit breaker capable of automatically interrupting an electric current, this circuit breaker comprising: - a first terminal (22) intended to be connected to a first electric wire (24) of an electricity distribution network (4), - a second terminal ( 30) intended to be connected to a second electric wire (32) of the electricity distribution network, - a power switch (60) movable reversibly between: - a closed state in which it electrically connects the first and second terminals , and - an open state in which it electrically isolates the first terminal from the second terminal, - a module (62) for triggering the opening of the suitable circuit breaker, in response to the detection of a fault in the electric current which circulates between the first and second terminals, to trigger the movement of the power switch to its open state, - a first and a second auxiliary electrical contacts (40, 42) each intended to be electrically connected ent to respective wires (44, 46) for connection with a remote unit 20 for managing the electricity distribution network, - a switch (72) mechanically slaved to the state of the power switch (60), this slave switch being electrically connected between the first and second auxiliary contacts and electrically isolated from the first and second terminals (22, 30), this slave switch being reversibly movable, in response to the displacement of the power switch, between: - a closed state in which it electrically connects the first and second auxiliary contacts together to indicate that the power switch is in a first state chosen from the group consisting of the closed state and the open state of the power switch , and 30 - an open state in which it electrically isolates the first auxiliary contact from the second auxiliary contact to indicate that the power switch is in a second state, differed rent of the first state, chosen from the same group consisting of the closed state and the open state of the power switch, 35 - a diagnostic electric circuit (84) capable of collecting additional information on the operation of the circuit breaker , this additional information collected being intended to be transmitted to the remote management unit, characterized in that the circuit breaker comprises: - a diode (74) connected in series with the slave switch (72), this diode and 40 the slave switch being connected between the first and second auxiliary contacts 14 (40, 42), the cathode of this diode being directed towards the first auxiliary contact (40), - a modulator (86) connected between the first and second auxiliary contacts, this modulator being also connected in parallel with the diode and the slave switch, this modulator also being connected to the electronic diagnostic circuit to receive the additional information collected at trans put, this modulator being able - to modulate the electrical resistance between the first and second auxiliary contacts as a function of the additional information received so as to transmit this additional information collected on the connecting wires connected to the first and second auxiliary contacts, and - to prevent, even in the absence of power, the passage of an electric current which passes through it in the direction which goes from the second auxiliary contact (42) to the first auxiliary contact (40), where the direction of the current is defined with the “receiver” convention. 2. Circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the circuit breaker comprises a mechanical link (70) between the power switch and the slave switch, this mechanical link being suitable, even in the absence of power to the circuit breaker: - to switch the slave switch from its open state to its closed state in response to the displacement of the power switch to its first state, and - to switch the slave switch from its closed state to its open state in response to the displacement of the power switch to its second state. 3. Circuit breaker according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the modulator comprises an optocoupler (88), this optocoupler comprising - a light-emitting diode (90) through which a current passes the intensity of which depends on the additional information received, and - a photosensitive switch (92) connected between the first and second auxiliary contacts in parallel with the diode and the slave switch, this photosensitive switch being reversibly movable between: - a closed state when it is illuminated by the light-emitting diode, and - an open state in the absence of illumination of the light-emitting diode. 35 4. Circuit breaker according to claim 3, wherein the photosensitive switch (92) is selected from the group consisting of a photodiode and a phototransistor. 5. Unit (6) for managing an electricity distribution network, this electricity distribution network being equipped with at least one circuit breaker according to any one of the preceding claims, this management unit comprising: 15 - a first input terminal (48) intended to be electrically connected to one end of a first connecting wire, the other end of which is electrically connected to the first auxiliary contact of the circuit breaker, - a second terminal (50) of input intended to be electrically connected to one end of a second connecting wire, the other end of which is electrically connected to the second auxiliary contact of the circuit breaker, - a ground, - a source (122) of direct voltage generating a positive potential, - an electronic computer (100) connected to the first input terminal and able to acquire the state of the power switch of the circuit breaker and, alternately, the additional information collected on the operation of this circuit breaker from the electrical signal received between the first and second input terminals, - a switch (110) movable in a reversible manner, in response to a command from the electronic computer, between: - a first reading configuration of the 'state of the power switch in which it electrically connects the first terminal to ground and the second terminal to the positive potential generated by the voltage source, and - a second configuration for reading the additional information collected in which it connects electrically the first input terminal 20 to the positive potential generated by the voltage source and the second input terminal to ground. 6. Aircraft (2) comprising: - an electricity distribution network (4) equipped with a circuit breaker (16, 18) having first and second auxiliary contacts (40, 42), - a unit (6) of management of the electricity distribution network, - two connecting wires (44, 46) connecting the management unit, respectively, to the first and second auxiliary contacts of the circuit breaker, characterized in that: - the circuit breaker conforms to any one of claims 1 to 4, and - the management unit according to claim 5.