FR3101194A1 - Fuse electrical switch-off device - Google Patents

Abstract

Fuse electrical switching device Fuse electrical switching device (2), comprising: - a housing comprising a plurality of housings (6a, 6b, 6c) each configured to receive a fuse (8); and- a plurality of electrical connectors (10) associated in pairs with each housing, each electrical connector being configured to connect an end terminal of the fuse when said fuse is inserted into said housing, each pair comprising an upstream connector (10) and a downstream connector (10); - a plurality of contact elements (18a, 18c) each configured to be connected to one end of a cable (14a, 14b), each contact element (18a, 18c) being directly connected to a downstream connector (10) and being placed in the housing near said downstream connector. Figure for abstract: Figure 2

Description

Fuse switchgear

The present invention relates to an electrical fuse switchgear.

In the field of electrical distribution, it is known to use electrical cut-off devices comprising one or more fuses, such as fuse switch-disconnectors, to protect an electrical system against electrical failures.

Such devices generally comprise one or more input and output terminals, and one or more removable fuse cartridges connected between said terminals by means of dedicated electrical connectors.

A common problem with these switchgears is that they require a large amount of metal to make different electrically conductive parts, such as internal electrical conductors. This increases the cost of the device and also requires several manufacturing steps which also increase the manufacturing cost of the device.

There is therefore a need for a fused electrical disconnect device which is less expensive and simpler to manufacture.

In order to at least partially meet one or more of the above needs, one aspect of the invention relates to a fused electrical switchgear, comprising:

- a housing comprising a plurality of housings each configured to receive a fuse; And

- a plurality of electrical connectors associated in pairs with each housing, each electrical connector being configured to connect an end terminal of the fuse when said fuse is inserted into said housing, each pair comprising an upstream connector and a downstream connector;

- a plurality of contact elements each configured to be connected to one end of a cable, each contact element being directly connected to a downstream connector and being placed in the housing close to said downstream connector.

According to advantageous but not mandatory aspects, such a breaking device can incorporate one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in any technically permissible combination:

• The housing includes outer walls and inner walls which extend parallel to each other from a base portion of the housing, the inner walls being positioned between the opposing outer walls, each inner wall defining, with the outermost adjacent outer wall close, an elongated cavity configured to receive one of said cables, each elongated cavity comprising at least one contact element.
• Each connector element comprises a U-shaped or V-shaped part defining a reception area intended to receive one end of a cable.
• One or more connector elements comprise a cage frame mounted on a main part of the connector element, said cage frame defining, with the main part, a space intended to receive a central part of the cable.
• The connector element is made of metal, such as copper.
• The switchgear according to any preceding claim, wherein the upstream connectors are adapted to be connected to busbars of an electrical system connected to an electrical power source.
• The switchgear according to any preceding claim, wherein the cables are connected to an electrical load.

The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the light of the following description of an embodiment of an electrical fuse switchgear given solely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified representation of a front view of a fused electrical disconnect device according to the embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed representation of part of the FIG. 1 switching device;

FIG. 3 is a simplified representation of an electrical connector of the electrical switching device of FIG. 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 illustrates a fused electrical disconnect device 2, such as a fused switch-disconnector, configured to protect an electrical installation against electrical faults.

For example, the device 2 comprises one or more removable fuse cartridges, each configured to interrupt an electric current when the latter is too high.

The fuses are removable and can be disconnected by a user, preferably when no current is flowing, such as by hand or using a suitable mechanism. In some embodiments, the device 2 may also include devices for extinguishing electric arcs, so that users can remove one or more fuses even when an electric current is flowing through the device.

The device 2 comprises a casing 4 made of an electrically insulating material, such as a polymer, preferably of molded plastic.

Housing 4 comprises one or more housings 6a, 6b, 6c each configured to receive a cartridge fuse 8 (referred to simply as "fuse" in the following).

For example, the housings 6a, 6b, 6c are delimited by internal partitions arranged inside the housing 4. These partitions can be formed in one piece with the outer body of the housing 4.

According to exemplary embodiments, the housing 4 has a rectangular shape and the housings 6 are aligned vertically one above the other along the housing 4.

In the example shown, the device 2 is connected with a three-phase electrical system and is adapted to receive three fuses 8, each fuse being associated with a phase of the electrical system.

Alternatively, the device 2 could be modified to operate with an electrical system comprising a different number of phases, such as a single-phase electrical system.

Preferably, each fuse 8 comprises a main body and two upstream and downstream connection terminals 20 extending outside the body.

For example, the main body has a block or cylinder shape.

The terminals 20 each have an elongated shape, such as the shape of a blade or the shape of a rod, and extend on either side of the main body in the same longitudinal direction.

For example, fuses 8 are low voltage fuses as described in standard IEC/EN 60269-2-1.

According to non-limiting examples given by way of illustration, the fuses 8 are blade fuses, such as DIN NH type fuse cartridges.

According to exemplary embodiments, to facilitate the insertion and removal of the cartridge fuses 8, the device 2 may comprise, for each housing 6a, 6b, 6c, a mobile cradle configured to hold a cartridge fuse 8.

The cradles can be connected to a fixing device connected to the housing 4 so as to be pivotally movable relative to the housing 4. These cradles are not illustrated in Figure 1.

For example, each cradle is movable between an open position, allowing the insertion or removal of the fuse 8, and a closed position, in which the fuse 8 is received inside the corresponding housing. The cradles are preferably mechanically linked together by an appropriate link mechanism, such as one or more levers, so that the opening and closing movements are simultaneous between all the cradles of the device 2.

The device 2 also includes a plurality of electrical connectors 10 to connect the fuses 8 to the electrical system. In practice, each housing 6 is associated with a pair of electrical conductors 10 upstream and downstream.

The connectors 10 are used to connect the upstream and downstream terminals of each fuse 8 with a corresponding electrical line of the electrical system when said fuse 8 is installed in the corresponding housing.

Examples of connectors 10 in accordance with aspects of the invention are described in more detail in the following.

In the example given by way of illustration, the electrical system comprises three connection bars 12a, 12b and 12c (also known as bus bars), each associated with an electrical phase.

For example, busbars 12a, 12b and 12c serve to distribute electrical power into the electrical system and are powered by an electrical source.

According to exemplary embodiments, for each pair of connectors 10, one of the connectors 10 (upstream connector) is electrically connected to a corresponding connection bar 12a, 12b and 12c, for example by means of one or more parts electrically conductive mounted in the housing 4.

For example, the connection bars 12a, 12b and 12c are arranged in parallel and superimposed vertically at a distance from each other within an electrical panel.

In the example shown, the device 2 is mounted vertically on the electrical panel by being connected to the connection bars 12a, 12b and 12c on a rear face of the box 4.

A plurality of cables 14a, 14b and 14c is associated with device 2 in order to connect an electrical load to device 2. In other words, device 2 is electrically connected between the electrical load and the electrical source.

For example, said cables 14a, 14b and 14c are inserted into device 2 through a suitable opening provided in a lower zone 16 of casing 4.

Device 2 also includes a plurality of connector elements 18a, 18b and 18c.

Each connector element 18a, 18b and 18c is connected to one of the downstream connectors 10 (that is to say the other connector 10 of each pair of connectors 10). Each cable 14a, 14b and 14c is attached to a corresponding connector element 18a, 18b and 18c. Thus, the electrical connection between each cable 14a, 14b and 14c and each corresponding downstream connector 10 is ensured by means of a connector element 18a, 18b, 18c.

According to preferred embodiments, the connector elements 18a, 18b, 18c are placed in the housing 4 near the corresponding downstream connector 10.

As shown in Figure 2, the housing 4 includes a main base portion 30 on which the conductors 10 are mounted. Two vertical outer side walls 32 extend perpendicular to the side edges of the base portion 30 on both sides of the base part 30.

In the example illustrated, the box 4 is composed of two or more separable parts and only the base part intended to be mounted on the electrical panel is actually illustrated. Additional parts, such as a front cover, are not shown in Figure 2, but may nevertheless be associated with the base part 30. For example, the rear face of the base part 30 is mounted on an electrical panel and made facing the conductor bars 12a, 12b and 12c.

Housing 4 further includes two vertical inner walls 34 located between the opposing outer side walls 32. The vertical walls 34 protrude from the base portion 30 and are parallel to the outer side walls 32.

On each side of the housing 4, the outer wall 32 and the nearest adjacent inner wall 34 define an elongated cavity which extends the length of the housing 4 and which is adapted to receive a cable 14a, 14b or 14c.

According to exemplary embodiments, a first connector element 18a connected to the first downstream connector 10 associated with the first housing 6a is disposed in a first elongated cavity (such as for example on the left side of the housing 4). The cable 14a is received in said elongated cavity and its free end is fixed to the connector element 18a.

In the same way, the second connector element 18b connected to the second downstream connector 10 associated with the second housing 6b is arranged in a second elongated cavity (such as for example on the right side of the housing 4). The second cable 14b is received in said elongated cavity and its free end is fixed to the second connector element 18b.

A third connector element 18c is connected to the third downstream connector 10c and is mounted on a central part which protrudes from the base part 30 between the first and the second elongated cavities. The third conductive element 18c is thus in an elevated position above the first and second elongated cavities. The third cable has its free end fixed to the third conductive element 18c. Due to the raised position of the third conductive element 18c, the third cable 14c is not in contact with the cables 14a and 14c.

Preferably, for each pair of connectors 10, the downstream connector 10 is closer to the lower zone 16 than the upstream connector 10, so as to reduce the length of the cables 14a, 14b and 14c.

Figure 3 illustrates an example of connector element 18a identified by generic reference signal 18. This description of connector element 18a is applicable to other connector elements 18b and 18c.

Each connector element 18 comprises a U-shaped part or a V-shaped part 40 which defines a reception zone 42 intended to receive one end of a cable 14a, 14b or 14c.

The part 40 protrudes horizontally from a main part 44 associated with a connection part 46. The latter is configured to be fixed on the corresponding downstream connector 10, such as for example by means of a suitable fixing element, such as a screw or A bolt.

The shape and orientation of the connection part 46 can be adapted with respect to the part 40 according to the intended location of the connector element 18. For example, the connection part 46 of the connector 18a extends towards the right, since this connector 18a is intended to be inserted into the leftmost elongated cavity.

The connector element 18 is preferably made of metal, such as copper.

As shown in Figure 2, connector elements 18 may further include a cage frame 48 mounted to the main portion 44. The cage frame 48, together with the main portion 44, defines a space for receiving a central part of the cable 14a, 14b, 14c. A screw can be mounted on the top of the cage frame 48 in order to selectively tighten said cable 14a, 14b, 14c.

Thanks to the invention, the cables 14a, 14b and 14c can be connected as close as possible to the downstream connectors 10. It is therefore no longer necessary to provide a dedicated connection zone in the lower zone of the box to fix the cables, and to provide dedicated internal contact bars between said downstream connectors and said connection zone. Thus, the amount of metal needed to make the device 2 is reduced. The cost of Device 2 is also reduced.

The embodiments and the variants envisaged above can be combined together to give rise to new embodiments.

Claims (7)

Electrical fuse switchgear (2), comprising:
- a box (4) comprising a plurality of housings (6a, 6b, 6c) each configured to receive a fuse (8); And
- a plurality of electrical connectors (10) associated in pairs with each housing (6), each electrical connector being configured to connect an end terminal (20) of the fuse (8) when said fuse is inserted in said housing, each pair comprising an upstream connector (10) and a downstream connector (10);
- a plurality of contact elements (18a, 18b, 18c) each configured to be connected to one end of a cable (14a, 14b, 14c), each contact element (18a, 18b, 18c) being directly connected to a downstream connector (10) and being placed in the housing (4) close to said downstream connector. Switchgear according to claim 1, in which the casing comprises outer walls (32) and inner walls (34) which extend parallel to each other from a base part (30) of the casing (4), the inner walls (34) being positioned between opposed outer walls (32), each inner wall defining, with the nearest adjacent outer wall (32), an elongated cavity configured to receive one of said cables (14a, 14b, 14c ), each elongated cavity comprising at least one contact element (18a, 18b). Switchgear according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each connector element (18) comprises a U-shaped or V-shaped part (40) which defines a receiving zone (42) intended to receive one end of a cable (14a, 14b, 14c). Switching apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more connector elements (18) comprise a caged armature (48) mounted on a main part (44) of the connector element, said caged armature defining, with the main part (44), a space intended to receive a central part of the cable (14a, 14b, 14c). A switchgear as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the connector element (18) is made of metal, such as copper. Switchgear according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the upstream connectors (10) are adapted to be connected to bus bars (12a, 12b, 12c) of an electrical system connected to an electrical power source . Switchgear according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the cables (14a, 14b, 14c) are connected to an electrical load.