IL190854A

IL190854A - Switchgear

Info

Publication number: IL190854A
Application number: IL190854A
Authority: IL
Original assignee: Moeller Gebaudeautomation Gmbh
Priority date: 2005-11-10
Filing date: 2008-04-14
Publication date: 2012-10-31
Also published as: SI1949501T1; EP1949501B1; WO2007053872A1; DE502006008893D1; RS51748B; EP1949501A1; PL1949501T3; AT504455A1; IL190854A0; NO20082565L; ES2360520T3; CN101305497B; CN101305497A; BRPI0618494A2; ATE498215T1; HK1126039A1; KR20080093973A

Abstract

The invention relates to a switchgear (1), preferably a circuit breaker, especially a fault-current circuit breaker and/or a line safety switch. Said switchgear comprises a housing (19) with at least one clamping opening (20) and/or at least one clamping screw opening (21). The aim of the invention is to reduce the costs of manufacture and storage of such a switchgear. For this purpose, a locking element (22), preferably comprising an insulating material, is arranged in the clamping screw opening (21) and at least partially fills the clamping screw opening.

Description

SWITCHGEAR Moeller Gebaudeautomation GmbH 190854/2 The invention relates to a switchgear, preferably a circuit breaker, especially a residual-current circuit breaker and/or a miniature circuit breaker, comprising a housing with at least one clamping opening and/or at least one clamping screw opening, and at least one connecting terminal with a clamping region for receiving at least one terminal lead, preferably with a rectangular cross section, especially a contact of a busbar, with a locking element, preferably comprising insulating material, being arranged in the clamping screw opening, which locking element fills the clamping screw opening at least in part and is secured against twisting and/or is fixed against displacement in the direction of the closed position of the clamping region.

It is known to provide different connecting terminals in switchgears such as miniature circuit breakers and/or residual -current circuit breakers which in all other respects are functionally completely identical. They can concern screw terminals or spring-loaded terminals. Such switchgears which have identical switching functions have differently arranged housings as a result of the differently arranged connecting terminals, leading to high costs by producing and storing different housings for switchgears with identical switching functions for example.

US 4 928 080 A describes locking elements for locking clamping screw openings, with the outlets for the arc gases which are formed during the switching processes being arranged in the region of the clamping screw openings.

FR 2 579 016 A describes an electromagnetically controlled interrupter, with the openings of the clamping screws being closed off by a terminal cover plate.

DE 19 32 284 U describes a switch with connecting terminals arranged in open chambers, with covers made of insulating material being provided in order to protect the clamping screws from access.

DE 31 41 362 C 1 describes a spring-actuated connecting terminal with a busbar fixed to the housing and a movable frame.

EP 1 213 792 A describes a bistable electric connecting terminal, with a movable cage being pressed by a spring against a plate fixed to the housing.

US 3 304 392 A describes a switchgear with a connecting terminal which comprises both a clamping screw as well as a spring coil. The connecting terminal comprises a C-shaped frame fixed to the housing and a movable yoke.

US 5 739 467 A shows a lifting terminal with a clamping screw.

DE 71 27 086 U describes a receiving and fastening apparatus for cartridge fuses.

EP 0 978 914 A describes a sealing strip for circuit breakers and flush-type circuit breakers in rows.

DE 81 28 037 Ul describes a switchgear with connecting terminals and clamping screw openings which comprises means for sealing a cover.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a switchgear of the kind mentioned above with which the mentioned disadvantages can be avoided and in which the production and storage costs for switchgears with different connecting terminals can be kept low, especially for the production and storage costs caused by the housings.

This is achieved in accordance with the invention in such a way that the locking element comprises a clamping projection which acts upon at least one region of the connecting terminal, with a clamping region which is free from a terminal lead being open at least in part by the effect of the clamping projection on the connecting terminal.

In this way, switchgears with housings provided for screw terminals can also be used with other terminals which do not require a part of the available openings such as the clamping screw openings for its functioning. These openings can be closed off by a locking element in accordance with the invention and thus securely and permanently prevent unauthorized access as well as the penetration of foreign bodies such as pieces of leads, insects and/or dirt. In this way, already existing housings can be used irrespective of the installed terminal, thus saving costs for a new housing which in the case of an injection-molded housing can be considerable as a result of the injection mold. Moreover, flexibility is thus increased, since it is merely necessary to provide only one housing which can be provided, produced and stored for different terminals and thus different applications.

It can thus also be ensured that the clamping region is opened to a certain extent, thus considerably simplifying the insertion of a terminal lead, especially the contacts of a busbar, and the pressures necessary for this can be reduced.

It can be provided in a further development of the invention that the locking element comprises at least one clamping opening projection which at least partly fills the at least one clamping opening. The use of housings is thus enabled which are provided for the use with screw terminals, with a region or the region of the clamping opening no longer required being covered and thus being secured against unauthorized access. As a result, a clamping region can be completely closed off in housings which were provided for terminals having more than one clamping region, whereas a further clamping region remains open or is partly closed off.

It can be provided in a further development of the invention that the connecting terminal comprises at least one spring for exerting a contact pressure acting in the direction of the closed position of the clamping region. In this way, terminal leads, and especially busbars and their contacts, can be arranged in a reliable manner with secure contacts in the connecting terminals of the switchgear without using any tools. This enables a rapid and easy installation especially of switchgears which are arranged on a busbar.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention it can be provided that the spring is arranged as a spring coil. This enables an especially simple and cost-effective production because spring coils can be produced as a mass product and no special treatment or special production is necessary.

In another embodiment of the invention, it can be provided in a switchgear in which the connecting terminal comprises a clamping element fixed in the switchgear and a substantially rectangular box and the clamping element is arranged between a first box area and a second box area of the box and the clamping region is delimited by a first box region and a first clamping element side that the spring is arranged between the second box area and a second clamping element side which is arranged opposite of the first clamping element side. As a result, a conventional screw terminal which is also known as a lifting terminal can be inserted without any reconfiguration work or changed construction, thus keeping both the production work for the switchgear at a low level because the same housing and the same injection molds can be used as in switchgears with screw terminals and also the terminals can be identical with the screw terminals apart from the used springs. This saves parts and production costs and allows building up flexible production which can respond rapidly and easily to changed customer requirements.

A variant of the invention can be that in the area of the first box area a lug averted from the clamping region is arranged on the box, especially integrally formed on the same. This prevents the insertion of a lead into the space behind the connecting terminal.

In a further development of the invention it can be provided that the clamping element is arranged as a substantially rectangular frame and the second box region is arranged between a first frame area comprising the first and second clamping element side and a second frame area which is substantially parallel to the same. The spring can thus be protected and damage to the connecting terminal can be prevented, especially in the area of production. In this way, a connecting terminal which is also already used as a screw terminal can be used with the advantages as already described above, such as the use of identical housings and injection molds and identical connecting terminals, apart from the springs. This increases flexibility and reduces production and storage costs.

Another possible embodiment can be that the second frame area comprises at least one recess. Such a recess can also be present in a connecting terminal which can also be used as screw terminal and be used for interaction with the locking element.

In this context it can be provided in a further development of the invention that the locking element has a clamping projection which presses through the recess on the second box area which is free from a recess at least in the area of the clamping projection, with the clamping region being pressed open. It can thus be ensured that the clamping region is open to a certain amount, which thus considerably simplifies the insertion of a connecting terminal and reduces the pressures necessary for this purpose.

The invention is now explained in closer detail by reference to the enclosed drawings which show especially preferred embodiments of the invention in an exemplary manner, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a connecting terminal for a switchgear; Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of a connecting terminal for a switchgear; Fig. 3 shows the embodiments according to Figs. 1 and 2 with two busbars; 190854/2 Fig. 4 shows the embodiments according to Figs. 1 and 2 with the terminal leads in the clamping regions; Fig. 5 shows a part of a switchgear in accordance with the invention with a second embodiment of a connecting terminal in a partly sectional view; Fig. 6 shows a part of a switchgear in accordance with the invention with a first embodiment of a connecting terminal in a partly sectional view; Fig. 7 shows a part of a switchgear in accordance with the invention in a plan view; Fig. 8 shows a part of a switchgear according to Fig. 7 in a profile with a partly sectional view; Fig. 9 shows a switchgear according to Fig. 7 in a front view; Fig. 10 shows a switchgear according to Fig. 7 in an axonometric view with a partly lifted upper housing half; Fig. 1 1 shows the upper housing half of a switchgear according to Fig. 10, and Fig. 12 shows two axonometric views of a locking element.

Figs. 5 to 1 1 show a switchgear 1 and parts of such a switchgear 1 , preferably a circuit breaker, especially a residual-current circuit breaker and/or miniature circuit breaker, comprising a housing 19 with at least one clamping opening 20 and/or at least one clamping screw opening 21, with a locking element 22, preferably comprising insulating material and filling the clamping screw opening 21 at least in part, being arranged in the clamping screw opening 21.

In order to ensure the continued use of already existing housing 19 in switchgears 1 in accordance with the invention which are provided for screw terminals, it is provided in such switchgears 1 with housings 19 which comprise clamping screw openings 21 and clamping openings 20, especially additional clamping openings 20 for clamping so-called cable lugs, that a locking element 22, preferably comprising insulating material, is arranged in the clamping screw opening 21. As a result, the same housing 19 can be continued to be used as before without giving rise to any likelihood of any unauthorized access by a clamping screw opening 21 which is no longer required. Substantial costs can thus be saved because no new injection mold is required for a new housing 19.

The switchgears 1 in accordance with the invention can concern any kind of switchgear 1.

Preferred are circuit breakers, especially residual-current circuit breakers and/or miniature circuit breakers. 190854/2 Figs. 5 to 8 show switchgears 1 with a preferred embodiment of a locking element 22. Figs. 10 and 1 1 show axonometric views of a switchgear 1 or a housing part 19 of a switchgear 1 with the preferred embodiment of the locking element 22. Fig. 12 shows two axonometric views of the preferred embodiment of the locking element 22. It can preferably be provided that the locking element 22 is formed in such a way that it is capable of filling up the free space or cavity vacated by the clamping screw.

It can especially be provided that the locking element 22 has a clamping opening projection 23 which fills the clamping opening 20 at least in part. As a result, unnecessary clamping openings 20 which were provided for cable lugs to be clamped between the head of a clamping screw and the clamping element 9 can be closed completely, thus preventing any access or the penetration of foreign bodies and dirt. This helps improve the security against contacting live components, prevent or make difficult the penetration of dirt, fluids or small animals into the switchgear, and increase the air or leakage current gaps between adjacent switchgears 1. A switchgear 1 thus arranged therefore offers an especially high operational reliability and long service life.

Especially in the area of the USA it is not common practice to provide special fuse boxes for arranging circuit breakers. A respective circuit breaker is therefore subjected in such an arrangement to a large number of environmental stresses. It is not unusual in the USA to paint over the circuit breaker when the surrounding wall is painted, which as a result of the penetrating paint may lead to a complete inoperativeness of the circuit breaker. This can be prevented effectively at low cost by providing a respective locking element 22 with a clamping opening projection 23, thus ensuring the security of a respective electrical installation over a long period of time even under adverse environmental conditions.

Figs. 1 to 9 shows different embodiments, details and parts of a switchgear 1 , preferably circuit breakers, especially residual-current circuit breakers and/or miniature circuit breakers, comprising at least one connecting terminal 2 with a clamping region 3 for receiving at least one terminal lead 4, preferably with a rectangular cross section, especially a contact 5 of a busbar 6, with the connecting terminal 2 comprising at least one spring 7 for applying a contact pressure acting in the direction of a closing position of the clamping region 3.

As a result of such a connecting terminal, terminal leads 4, especially busbars 6 or their contacts 5, can be arranged or fixed in a reliable manner and with secure contact in the connecting 190854/2 terminals 2 of the switchgear 1 without the use of tools. This ensures a rapid and easy installation especially of switchgears 1 which are arranged on a carrier rail.

Springs 7 for applying the contact pressure can concern any kind of spring 7 such as leaf springs, disk springs and/or spring coils 8, in any arrangement or combination with each other, both as tension springs as well as pressure springs. Especially preferable is the use of so-called pressure spring coils.

Switchgears 1 in accordance with the invention can be provided for use with any kind of terminal leads 4, e.g. round wires, flat wires and/or plugs. The use is provided especially in combination with so-called busbars 6. Said busbars 6, as shown exemplary in Fig. 3, have terminal leads 4 at a predetermined distance, with the distances being chosen in such a way that they correspond with the distances of the clamping openings 20 clamping region 3 of adjacently arranged switchgears 1 , so that a predeterminable number of adjacently arranged switchgears 1 can be connected rapidly and easily. The terminal leads 4 of the busbars 6 usually have a rectangular cross section and can be beveled or chamfered in the region which is provided for insertion into the connecting terminal 2.

Switchgears 1 in accordance with the invention comprise at least one connecting terminal 2 which has at least one clamping region 3. Two connecting terminals 2 are provided especially for each breaker gap to be switched by the switchgear 1 , which terminals need not necessarily be arranged identically. It can be provided especially that different connecting terminals 2 can be provided, e.g. such with clamping screws and such with springs 7 for applying the holding forces required for clamping. It can especially be provided that the adjacently arranged connecting terminals 2 of a switchgear of the breaker gaps arranged adjacently in the switchgear 1 can be arranged in a substantially identical manner.

The clamping region 3 of the connecting terminal 2 can comprise at least one section of the spring 7 or be formed by at least one section of the spring 7. It can be provided that the connecting terminal 2 has a substantially Ω-shaped bent leaf spring, with the clamping section 3 being formed by the narrow opening of the Ω-shaped bent leaf spring.

In order to simplify the insertion of the terminal lead 4 it can be provided that a clamping region 3 which is free from any terminal leads is open at least in part. The insertion of the terminal lead 190854/2 4 is thus simplified and the forces required for the insertion are reduced. It can especially be provided that the clamping region 3 is open by 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm. It can preferably be provided that the cross section of the opening formed by leaving open the clamping region 3 is approximately 10% to 60% of the cross section of the terminal lead 4 which is provided for use with the respective switchgear 1. As a result of the information available for each switchgear 1 concerning the currents to be switched, a relationship to the cross section of the lead can be made which is necessary for the respective currents.

It is preferably provided that the spring 7 merely exerts the contact pressure acting in the direction of a closed position of the clamping region 3. In the first and second especially preferred embodiment of a connecting terminal 2, 26, 27 as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, a clamping element 9 and a movable box 10 are provided which form the clamping region 3. Both the first preferred embodiment of a connecting terminal 2, 26 according to Fig. 1 as well as the second preferred embodiment of a connecting terminal 2, 27 according to Fig. 2 have conventional screw terminals as a base, which are also known as terminal clips or lifting terminals. In the preferred first and second preferred embodiment of connecting terminal 2, 26, 27, spring 7 merely assumes the task of providing the necessary contact pressure, which is a task which is normally fulfilled by a clamping screw.

The preferred first and second embodiment of a connecting terminal 2, 26, 27 has a clamping element 9 which is fixed in the switchgear 1 and a substantially rectangular box 10, with the clamping element 9 being arranged between a first box area 1 1 and a second box area 12 of the box 10, and with the clamping region 3 being delimited by a first box area 1 1 and a first clamping element side 13, with the spring 7 being arranged between a second box area 12 and a second clamping element side 14 which is arranged opposite of the first clamping element side 13.

The clamping element 9 is arranged in the first preferred embodiment of a connecting terminal 2, 26 as a substantially straight strip of sheet metal, especially comprising steel, copper and/or copper alloys, and especially brass, which element is arranged in the switchgear 1 in an immobile manner, especially in the area of a terminal tunnel, e.g. by clamping between formed sections against the inside wall of the terminal tunnel. 190854/2 Box 10 is preferably a substantially rectangular component, as shown, which preferably consists of a metal strip bent four times by approximately 90°, especially a strip comprising steel, copper and/or copper alloys such as brass. Preferably, box 10 has an overlapping region. It can be provided that the box 10 is connected and especially welded or riveted for forming a unit that is torsionally stiff, especially in the overlapping region.

It can be provided, as in the second preferred embodiment of a connecting terminal 2, 27, that the clamping element 9 is arranged as a substantially rectangular frame 16 and the second box region 12 is arranged between a first frame area 17 comprising the first and second clamping element side 13, 14 and a second frame area 18 which is substantially parallel to the same. As can be seen in Figs. 2 to 4, and especially in Figs. 5 and 8, frame 16 concerns a strip which is preferably bent by substantially 90°. The clamping element 9 is extended and wraps around the movable box 10, with a preferably closed frame 16 being formed with a substantially rectangular cross section. Frame 16 is turned relative to box 10 by 90° and is hooked into the same. As in the first embodiment of a connecting terminal 2, 26, the clamping region 3 is delimited or edged by a first box area 1 1 and first clamping terminal side 13 in this embodiment too, with the first clamping element side 13 being part of the first frame area 17.

In order to prevent any insertion of terminal leads 4 and/or tools into a space behind the connecting terminal 2, it can be provided that in the region of the first box area 1 1 a lug 15 averted from the connecting terminal 2 is arranged on the box 10, and is especially formed on the same in an integral manner.

As already explained, it can be advantageous when the clamping region 3 of the connecting terminal 2 is not completely closed, thus simplifying the insertion of a terminal lead 4.

It can therefore be provided that the locking element 22 has a clamping projection 25 which acts on at least one area of the connecting terminal 2, with a clamping region 3 which is free from any terminal lead is open at least in part by the action of the clamping projection 25 on the connecting terminal 2.

In the case of switchgears 1 which have a connecting terminal 2 in which the second frame area 18 has at least one recess 24, it can be provided that the locking element 22 has a clamping projection 25 which presses through the recess 24 on the second box area 12 which is free from a 190854/2 recess at least in the area of the clamping projection 25, with the clamping region 3 being pressed open. Fig. 8 shows such an arrangement, in which the clamping projection 25 presses through the recess 24 against the box 10 and thus opens the clamping region 3, thus simplifying the insertion of a connecting lead 4.

Further embodiments in accordance with the invention merely have a part of the described features. Any kind of combination of features can be provided however, especially also of different embodiments as described above.

Claims

I I 190854/2 CLAIMS:

1. A switchgear, comprising a housing with at least one clamping opening and/or at least one clamping screw opening, and at least one connecting terminal with a clamping region for receiving at least one terminal lead, with a locking element, being arranged in the clamping screw opening, which locking element fills the clamping screw opening at least in part and is secured against twisting and/or is fixed against displacement in the direction of the closed position of the clamping region, characterized in that the locking element comprises a clamping projection which acts upon at least one region of the connecting terminal, with a clamping region which is free from a terminal lead being open at least in part by the effect of the clamping projection on the connecting terminal.

2. A switchgear according to claim 1 , characterized in that the locking element comprises at least one clamping opening projection which at least partly fills the at least one clamping opening.

3. A switchgear according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting terminal comprises at least one spring for exerting a contact pressure acting in the direction of the closed position of the clamping region.

4. A switchgear according to claim 3, characterized in that the spring is arranged as a spring coil.

5. A switchgear according to one of the claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the connecting terminal comprises a clamping element fixed in the switchgear and a substantially rectangular box, with the clamping element being arranged between a first box area and a second box area of the box , and with the clamping region being delimited by a first box region and a first clamping element side, with the.spring is arranged between the second box area and a second clamping element side which is arranged opposite of the first clamping element side.

6. A switchgear according to claim 5, characterized in that in the region of the first box area a lug averted from the clamping region is arranged on the box. 190854/2

7. A switchgear according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the clamping element is arranged as a substantially rectangular frame and the second box region is arranged between a first frame area comprising the first and second clamping element side and a second frame area which is substantially parallel to the same.

8. A switchgear according to claim 7, characterized in that the second frame area comprises at least one recess.

9. A switchgear according to claim 8, characterized in that the locking element comprises a clamping projection which presses through the recess on the second box area which is free from a recess at least in the area of the clamping projection, with the clamping region being pressed open.

10. A switchgear according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the switchgear is a circuit breaker.

11. 1 1. A switchgear according to one of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the switchgear is a residual-current circuit breaker and/or a miniature circuit breaker.

12. A switchgear according to one of the claims 1 to 1 1 , characterized in that the clamping region is embodied for receiving at least one terminal lead with a rectangular cross section.

13. A switchgear according to one of the claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the clamping region is embodied for receiving at least one contact of a busbar.

14. A switchgear according to one of the claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the locking element comprises insulating material.

15. A switchgear according to one of the claims 6 to 14, characterized in that the lug is integrally formed on the box . For the Applicant Dr. Yitzhak Hess & Partners By: