GB2036437A

GB2036437A - Improvements in and Relating to Circuit Breakers

Info

Publication number: GB2036437A
Application number: GB7936225A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SIMPLEX Ltd
Current assignee: SIMPLEX Ltd
Priority date: 1978-10-20
Filing date: 1979-10-18
Publication date: 1980-06-25

Abstract

A power supply control unit incorporating at least one removable circuit breaker 30 comprises; a connection box 10 having a pair of terminals 13 by means of which it may be connected to a main power supply circuit and having at least one pair of sockets 20; said circuit breaker 30 being provided with a pair of pins 31 arranged to engage in said sockets 20, whereby it may be connected to the main power supply, and a pair of sockets or terminal 32 to which a subsidiary circuit may be connected. Preferably the connection box is provided with several pairs of sockets 20, so that it may accommodate a plurality of circuit breakers, and the sockets 20 are integral with bus bars 17, 18 connected to respective main supply terminals 13. Clips 34 and latch means 36 engageable with respective formations 33 and 38 releasably retain the circuit breakers 30 in position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and Relating to Circuit Breakers This invention relates to circuit breakers and in particular to power supply control means including at least one circuit breaker.

Hitherto where circuit breakers have been provided between a main power supply circuit and a subsidiary circuit, the breakers have been connected to the main power supply circuit by a pair of terminals and to the subsidiary circuit by a further pair of terminals, each terminal of one pair being connected to one of the terminals of the other pair via switch means. Using this arrangment, if it is required to remove the circuit break for maintenance or other purposes, it has been necessary first to break the mains circuit, so that the circuit breaker may be disconnected safely therefrom.

According to one aspect of the present invention a power supply control unit incorporating at least one circuit breaker comprises; a connection box having a pair of terminals by means of which it may be connected to a main power supply circuit and having at least one pair of sockets; said circuit breaker being provided with a pair of pins arranged to engage in said sockets, whereby it may be connected to the main power supply, and a pair of contacts to which a subsidiary circuit may be connected.

Preferably the connection box has several pairs of sockets, one series of sockets, comprising one socket from each pair, being connected together and to one of the main circuit connection terminals by a first busbar and a second series of sockets, comprising the other sockets of each pair, being connected together and to the other main circuit connection terminal by a second busbar. The sockets may be attached to the first and second busbars by any convenient means, for example welding or riveting, however, it is found more convenient to form the sockets integrally with the busbars.

The main circuit connection terminals are conveniently of the type which may be used to tap a ring mains line, i.e. a terminal which may be used to engage a conductor at any point along its length.

One embodiment of the present invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows an exploded view of a power supply control unit according to the present invention.

The power supply control unit shown in the accompanying drawing may include one or two circuit breakers (only one shown in drawing). The control unit comprises a connecting box 10 having a base portion 11 moulded from insulating material and being secured upon a steel mounting plate 12. A pair of terminals 13 are mounted upon the base portion 1 these terminals 13 being formed from brass blocks having slots 14 formed therein, portions of a screw thread 1 5 being cut in opposed sides of the slots 14, so that a conductor may be laid in slot 14 and a grub screw 16, which engages the threaded portions 15, may be screwed down upon the conductor to clamp it into slot 14.

One of the terminals 13 is connected to a first busbar 1 7 and the other terminal 13 is connected to a second busbar 18. The busbars 1 7 and 1 8 are mounted parallel to one another upon the base portion 11. Each of the busbars 1 7 and 18 is provided with two socket portions 20, these socket portions being positioned along the busbars 1 7, 1 8 and offset therefrom to form two pairs of sockets, one socket portion 20 from each pair being connected to each of the busbars 1 7 and 1 8. The socket portions 20 are formed integrally with the busbars 1 7 and 18, the busbar 1 7, 1 8 and formations which may subsequently be bent to form a socket portion 20, being cut from a strip of conductive material.

Separate lid portions 22, 23 are provided to cover the terminals 1 3 and sockets 20 respectively. The cover 22 is provided with apertures 24 in opposed sides thereof, the apertures together with complementary apertures 25 in the base portion 11 allow the main power supply line to be connected to the connecting box 10. Lid portion 23 is provided with slots 26 which correspond to the socket portions 20.

Each pair of socket portions 20 is arranged to engage a pair of pins 31 of a circuit breaker 30.

The circuit break 30 comprises a pair of parallel switches, the pins 31 connected to one side of the switches and a second pair of terminals 32, to which a subsidiary circuit may be connected, being connected to the other side of the switches.

The circuit breaker 30 is provided with formations 33, each of which, when the circuit breaker 30 is plugged into the connecting box 10, are engaged by one of the series of clips 34. These clips 34 are provided on a flange portion 35 which projects from the mounting plate 12. Latch means 36 which are provided on an upstanding flange 37 at the opposite side of the connecting box 10 to the flange 35, are adapted to engage further formations 38, on the circuit breaker 30 and may be clamped in position by screws 39, to lock the circuit breaker in position.

The power supply control unit described above provides means by which up to two subsidiary circuits may be tapped off a main power supply circuit. The circuit breaker 30 of the unit may be removed for maintenance or other purposes simply by retracting the latch means 36 and unplugging the circuit breaker 30, thus avoiding the need to break the main power circuit.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example, the connecting box may be provided with any number of pairs of sockets. Also in place of the latch means 36, resilient clips may be provided on the flange 37 in order to engage the formations 38 on the circuit breaker 30. An interlocking mechanism may also be provided, so that the circuit breakers 30, cannot be disconnected from the control unit 10 unless it is first switched off. Furthermore, in place of the terminals 32 the circuit breaker 30 may be provided with sockets into which the subsidiary circuit may be plugged.

Claims

1. A power supply control unit incorporating at least one circuit breaker comprising, a connection box having a pair of terminals by means of which it may be connected to a main power supply circuit and having at least one pair of sockets, said circuit breaker being provided with a pair of pins arranged to engage in said sockets, whereby it may be connected to the main power supply circuit, and a pair of contacts to which a subsidiary circuit may be connected.

2. A power supply control unit according to claim 1 in which the connection box has several pairs of sockets, one series of sockets, comprising one socket from each pair, being connected together and to one of the main circuit connection terminals by a first busbar and a second series of sockets, comprising the other sockets of each pair, being connected together and to the other main circuit connection terminal by a second busbar.

3. A power supply control unit according to claim 2 in which the sockets attached to each busbar are formed integrally with the busbar.

4. A power supply control unit according to any preceding claim in which the main circuit connection terminals are of the type which may be used to tap a ring mains line.

5. A power supply control unit according to any preceding claim in which interengaging formations are provided on the connection box and/or the circuit breaker, so that the circuit ' breaker may be positively located with respect to the connection box.

6. A power supply control unit according to claim 5 in which said interengaging formation includes latch means, by means of which the circuit breaker may be locked in position with respect to the connecting box.

7. A power supply control unit substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.