JP2002025412A - Molded-case circuit breaker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a molded-case circuit breaker which can increase the number of load circuits by twice or more, while utilizing existing boards, trunk bars and branching connection bars as they are, at power source side just as in the case of conventional models. SOLUTION: The molded-case circuit breaker has a pair of power source terminals 11, a plurality of pull-out mechanisms 13a, 13b each having a handle 14a, 14b and a plurality of sets of load terminals 12a, 12b corresponding to the pull-out mechanisms built into a single case 10. In the case of two handles, it is desirable if the two handles are arranged adjacent at the center of the case 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a circuit breaker used in a distribution board or a control board.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A circuit breaker for branching usually includes a set of power terminals and a set of load terminals. For example, as shown in the upper part of FIG. A power supply terminal 3 is connected to a main bar 2 extending from the power supply terminal via a branch connection bar 4, and a load is connected to a load terminal 5, respectively. In general, the width of branch circuit breakers incorporated in residential distribution boards is almost constant for all manufacturers,
Considerations have been made to ensure compatibility.

In order to increase the number of load circuits in an existing residential power distribution panel, it is necessary to increase the number of circuit breakers, but there is no space in the panel for the expansion. In such a case, it is necessary to replace the distribution board with a large one, resulting in high costs.

[0004] Therefore, a method of increasing the number of circuits by replacing only the internal circuit breaker with a slim type having a small width while keeping the existing panel body as it is is conceivable. However, in this case, the interval (pitch) between the power supply terminals 3 of the wiring breaker naturally becomes narrower, and the pitch with the branch connection bar 4 connected to the existing main bar 2 does not match. Installation becomes impossible. For this reason, the branch connection bar 4 has to be replaced, but even in this case, there is a problem that the insulation distance between the branch connection bars is reduced. In addition, if the number of circuits is doubled,
And the number of connection terminals for connecting the main bar 2 to
Inevitably, the increase in the number of parts and the mounting cost are inevitable. In addition, with the recent demand for downsizing of distribution boards for houses, there is a tendency to downsize the distribution boards for houses by using slim type circuit breakers. However, since the pitch between the branch connection bar 4 and the power terminal of the slim type circuit breaker is different in the existing residential distribution panel, a new residential distribution panel dedicated to incorporating the slim type circuit breaker is newly designed. And there is a problem that development costs are required.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems and increases the number of load circuits without changing the size of the current panel body and the main bar and branch connection bar. The present invention has been made to provide a novel circuit breaker for wiring that can be increased and can suppress increases in the number of connection terminals, mounting costs, and development costs.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a wiring breaker of the present invention is provided in a single case with a set of power supply terminals and a plurality of pulling terminals each having a handle. The present invention is characterized in that a detaching mechanism and a load terminal corresponding to each of the detaching mechanisms are incorporated. It should be noted that the number of tripping mechanisms is two, and two handles can be arranged adjacent to the center of the case. Further, a structure in which trip mechanisms having different rated currents are incorporated in a single case may be adopted. Further, it is preferable to provide a structure having a mounting portion protruding outside on the load side of the case.

The wiring circuit breaker of the present invention incorporates a plurality of tripping mechanisms and corresponding load terminals in a single case, but also includes a set of power supply terminals. For this reason, the power supply side is the same as the conventional circuit breaker for wiring, and the number of load circuits can be doubled or more while using the existing board and its main bar and branch connection bar as they are. . In other words, if the number of branch circuits is the same, the installation space for the branch circuit breaker can be reduced to half or less while using the existing residential distribution board, and the residential distribution board can be downsized. it can.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the circuit breaker of the present invention. Reference numeral 10 denotes a single case having the same width (for example, 32 mm) as a conventional circuit breaker;
0, one set of power terminals, 12a, 12b
Are two sets of load terminals provided on the opposite side of the case 10. In this embodiment, two independent tripping mechanisms 13a and 13b are housed inside the case 10,
Each of the tripping mechanisms 13a and 13b is
a and 14b.

[0009] As shown in FIG.
a and 13b are connected in parallel to the power supply terminal 11, and when the power supply terminal 11 is connected to the branch connection bar 4 as shown in the lower side of FIG. 1, power is supplied to both the tripping mechanisms 13a and 13b. It has become. Also, the load terminal 12a,
12b is connected to the tripping mechanisms 13a and 13b, respectively. Thus, in the single case 10, two trip mechanisms 13a, 13b and two sets of load terminals 12a,
Although 12b is incorporated, only one set of power supply terminals 11 is provided. Reference numeral 15 denotes a mounting screw hole provided between the power terminals of the case 10.

When this configuration is compared with the configuration in which two slim-type circuit breakers shown in FIG. 3 are arranged in parallel, the overall width is almost the same, but only the power supply terminal 11 is one set. are doing. The circuit breaker of the present invention thus configured has a power terminal 11 as shown in the lower part of FIG.
Is connected to the branch connection bar 4 for use.
Since the power supply side is the same as the conventional type shown in the upper part, connection is possible in the same manner as the conventional wiring breaker. Moreover, two sets of load terminals 12a and 12b are provided, so that the number of load circuits can be doubled. Therefore, even in the existing distribution board, there is an advantage that the number of circuits can be easily increased by replacing the conventional circuit breaker with the circuit breaker of the present invention. In other words, if the number of branch circuits is the same, the space for mounting the circuit breaker for branch is half, and the distribution board for house can be reduced in size.

In the circuit breaker of the present invention, the power supply terminal 11
Is larger than the current capacities of the load terminals 12a and 12b. The tripping mechanisms 13a and 13b incorporated in the single case 10 may have the same rated current, but may have different rated currents such as a rated current of 10A and a rated current of 20A.

Power supply terminal 11 and load terminals 12a, 12b
Is not particularly limited, and any terminal such as a screw terminal or a quick connection terminal can be adopted. In particular, when the load terminals 12a and 12b are screw terminals, the pitch becomes narrow, and therefore, the terminals may be arranged with a step in the height direction (perpendicular to the paper surface).

In many cases, a cover for covering the main body of the circuit breaker is provided on the distribution board for housing, and only the handle protrudes from a hole formed in the cover in many cases. When the wiring breaker of the present invention as shown in FIG. 2 is incorporated in an existing distribution board, the positions of the handles 14a and 14b are different from those of the conventional type, so that it is necessary to make holes in the cover again. Occurs.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
If the handles 14a, 14b of the 3a, 13b are arranged adjacent to the center of the case 10, the handle position can be matched with that of the conventional type, so that the hole width only needs to be slightly widened and the appearance is improved. It also has the advantage of being better. Further, as shown in FIG.
If the width of the handle is made half and the width of the entire handle is made the same as that of the conventional handle, there is an advantage that the cover does not need to be changed at all even when incorporated in an existing distribution board.

As described above, the mounting screw hole 15 similar to the conventional one can be provided on the power supply side of the case 10, but the pitch of the load terminals 12a and 12b becomes narrow on the load side. It is not easy to form such mounting screw holes. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, it is preferable that an attachment portion 16 protruding outside is provided on the load side of the case 10 so that the case 10 can be attached to a substrate outside the case 10. As shown in FIG. 7, the mounting portion 16 is of a sliding type and can be pulled out during use.

In the embodiment described above, two sets of the load terminals 12a and 12b are used. However, it is also possible to use three sets or more of the tripping mechanism and the load terminals while keeping the power terminal 11 as one set. .

[0017]

As described above, if the circuit breaker of the present invention is used for a distribution board or the like, the load circuit can be changed without changing the size of the current board body, the main trunk bar and the branch connection bar. There is an advantage that the number can be increased as compared with the conventional case. Moreover, it is not necessary to increase the number of connection terminals with the branch connection bar, and it is possible to suppress an increase in cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a use state of the present invention and a conventional circuit breaker for wiring.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a circuit breaker of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which two conventional slim type wiring breakers are arranged.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example in which handles are arranged in the center.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example in which the width of a handle is reduced.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an example in which a mounting portion protruding from a case is provided.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a slide type mounting portion.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 main breaker 2 main bar 3 power supply terminal 4 branch connection bar 5 load terminal 10 case 11 power supply terminal 12a, 12b load terminal 13a, 13b release mechanism 14a, 14b handle 15 mounting screw hole 16 mounting portion

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A single case includes a set of power terminals,
A circuit breaker for wiring, comprising a plurality of trip mechanisms each having a handle, and a load terminal corresponding to each trip mechanism. 2. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the number of trip mechanisms is two, and two handles are arranged adjacent to a center of the case. 3. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein a tripping mechanism having a different rated current is incorporated. 4. The circuit breaker for wiring according to claim 1, further comprising a mounting portion protruding outside on a load side of the case.