JP2735384B2 - Circuit breaker - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a circuit breaker, and more particularly to a circuit breaker of the type having both overcurrent and earth leakage protection devices, commonly referred to as residual current circuit breakers (RCCBs). Things.

2. Description of the Related Art Overcurrent protection devices have limitations, such as delays in operation in the presence of relatively high ground closure impedance. Furthermore, overcurrent protection devices do not detect ground fault currents below their operating current, which in some circumstances may constitute a fire hazard. Accordingly, there is an increasing demand for protective devices that provide both overcurrent and earth leakage protection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to prevent magnetic interference between a tripping mechanism due to movement of an armature core in the event of an overcurrent fault and movement of a plunger device in the case of a residual overcurrent fault to prevent a magnetic interference between the two. It is an object of the present invention to provide a residual current circuit breaker capable of eliminating the magnetic interference of the present invention, detecting and tripping the presence of both an overcurrent and an earth leakage condition, reliably operating, and relatively easy to manufacture.

That is, a circuit breaker according to the present invention is used in a system having live neutral and ground conductors, and in a circuit breaker having both overcurrent and earth leakage prevention devices; a housing; a movable contact and a fixed contact. A circuit breaker assembly within the housing for making and breaking electrical connections therebetween; an operating handle for the circuit breaker assembly; a coil and an armature core within the coil and having an axial bore. An overcurrent detection device for tripping the circuit breaker assembly; a residual current detection circuit, a plunger device provided in an axial inner cavity of the armature core, and the plunger device from a non-trip position to a trip position. An additional tripping mechanism for an earth leakage arrestor having an actuating device for controlling the movement of the motor; and The actuating device is provided with a movable drive rod to engage and drive the changer device from the non-trip position to the trip position through the axial bore, and when moving between the non-trip position and the trip position, It is characterized in that the plunger device is independently movable through an axial cavity in the armature core and is provided with a device for returning the plunger device to a non-trip position.

In one embodiment of the present invention, upon detection of a residual current fault, a movement between a non-trip position and a trip position wherein the drive rod engages the plunger device and drives the plunger device to the trip position. The actuating device includes a drive rod that can be driven, a biasing device that pushes the drive rod to a trip position, and a holding device that holds the drive rod in a non-trip position.

Preferably, the holding device includes a permanent magnet for holding the drive rod in the non-tripping position and an electromagnet for neutralizing the effect of the permanent magnet on the drive rod in detecting a residual current fault. .

In one configuration, the biasing device includes a spring device that moves the drive rod to a trip position for plunger engagement.

Preferably, the return device includes a return lever inserted between the drive rod and the plunger, and a return actuator that moves the lever to return the drive rod to a non-tripped position against the action of the biasing device. Is desirable.

A preferred configuration of the return actuator includes a circuit breaker operating handle, which is a return lever when the handle is moved from a closed or non-trip position with the contacts closed to an open or trip position with the contacts open. Engage with.

The return lever is preferably pivotally mounted to the housing, halfway between its two ends, and a second lever inserted between the drive rod and the plunger device and a first lever arm for engagement by an operating handle. Preferably, a lever arm is included. This return lever is generally substantially L-shaped in plan view.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plunger device comprises:
Included is a single plunger rod extending through the interior of the armature core. Preferably, the plunger rod is non-ferrous, preferably a plastic, material.

In one embodiment of the present invention, from the non-trip position where the armature core is held by the spring bias, the current flowing through the coil in the event of an overcurrent fault is passed through the coil against the bias of the spring device. The armature core is pulled and engaged with the plunger rod to trip the breaker assembly. In the event of an overcurrent fault to the trip position, the armature core engages when the armature core moves in the event of an overcurrent fault. -An engagement device is provided in the middle of both ends of the rod. Preferably, the engagement device is provided substantially centrally along the longitudinal axis of the plunger rod such that the rod is substantially symmetrical.

In one configuration, the engagement device includes a radially outwardly extending collar that can engage a complementary shaped recess in the armature core.

Preferably, the plunger rod is slidably mounted into a bushing provided at the end of the coil remote from the armature core.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the actuator includes a solenoid.

In another embodiment of the invention, the actuator is operated from a remote location.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a position detecting device is provided to detect the position of the plunger device.

Preferably, the position detecting device includes a switch device operated by a plunger device when moving between the non-tripping position and the tripping position.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

1 is a plan view of a circuit breaker according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partial sectional plan view of the circuit breaker of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a tripped position of the circuit breaker in a closed position, 4 to 7 are plan views of the trip position in various states.

This will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show a circuit breaker, in this case a residual current circuit breaker (RCCB), generally designated by the reference numeral 1, according to the present invention. The RCCB 1 includes a housing 2 having a base and a cover forming a partition wall 3 that isolates the overcurrent protection device 4 from an additional trip device, which in this case contains a residual current detection circuit 5. RCCB1 has line and neutral power supply terminals
6, 7, neutral line load terminals 8, 9 and a ground terminal 10 are included. In this case, the line feed connection terminal 6 is formed by a metal clip for both mechanical and electrical connection with the feed line. The line and the neutral load terminals 8, 9 are of the screw type and are in parallel relation on the side wall of the housing 2. Neutral power supply terminal 7 and ground terminal 10 are conventional cable types.

The RCCB1 is in this case a single type and has a fixed contact 1
Circuit breaker assembly 1 with movable contact 16 for engagement with 7
5 are included. The circuit breaker assembly 15 also includes an operating handle 18 of conventional construction. The overcurrent protection device 4 includes a bimetal element 19 that contacts the circuit breaker assembly 15.
And the conventional structure of the arc stack 27. Device 4
Also has an armature 21 and
Included is a coil 20 having an armature core 22 that is biased by a coil spring 26 to a non-trip position shown.
An axial bore 23 extends through the core 22.

In this case, the additional tripping device, which operates in response to the occurrence of a residual current fault, has to penetrate the partition wall 3 in order to move the contact 16 away from the contact 17 and trip the circuit breaker. A plunger device is included that extends through 23 and through a plunger bushing 25 and includes a single plunger rod 24 that abuts a trip lever 28 of the circuit breaker assembly 15. This additional tripping device comprises a residual current detection circuit 5
And a plunger rod between a non-tripped position and a tripped position when a residual current fault is detected by the detection circuit.
And an actuator 30 for controlling the movement of 24. Actuator
30 includes a drive rod 31 which engages with the plunger rod 24 passing through the inner cavity 23 and can move to trip the circuit breaker upon detection of a residual current fault. The drive rod 31 is biased to the forward or trip position by a coil spring 32 wound around the rod 31.
The holding device that holds the driving rod 31 in the non-tripped position, that is, the permanent magnet for holding the driving rod 31 in the non-tripped position, and the driving device that is connected to the driving rod when the circuit 5 detects a residual current failure. And an electromagnet for neutralizing the influence of the permanent magnets of the present invention.

The plunger rod 24 is in this case made of a non-ferrous, preferably plastic, material. This rod 24
Included is an engagement device in the form of a radially outwardly extending collar 50 that is capable of engaging a complementary shaped recess in the armature core 22. Collar 50 is provided substantially centrally along the longitudinal axis of plunger rod 24 such that rod 24 is substantially symmetrical. Therefore, when assembling,
The rod 24 can be inserted into the inner cavity 23 in any direction.

The return device for returning the plunger rod 24 to the non-trip position includes the drive rod 31 and the plunger rod 24.
And a return actuator that moves the return lever 40 to return the drive rod 31 to the non-tripped position against the action of the spring 32. in this case,
The return actuator includes a circuit breaker operating handle 18 which includes contacts 16, 17 from a closed or non-tripped position with contacts 16, 17 closed.
An engaging surface 45 is included which engages the return lever 40 when the handle 18 is moved to the open or tripped position with the 17 open.

The return lever 40 is attached to the housing 2 so as to pivot about halfway between both ends thereof, has a substantially L-shape in plan view, and has a first arm 46 for engagement by an engagement surface 45 of the operation handle 18. It includes a second arm 47 inserted between the drive rod 31 and the plunger rod 24.

The test mechanism for checking the operation of the residual current trip device includes:
A test button 60 is included that is engageable with a lever 61 pivotally mounted to the housing 2 with a pivot pin 62. The lever 61 is biased by the spring 63 to the non-test position shown in FIGS. The spring 63 has a coil 20 at one end.
Lever 61 connects the other end of spring 63 between a non-test position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a test position which connects to a push button to test terminal 64. It is arranged to move.

In use, especially with respect to FIGS. 3 to 7, in the normal non-tripping position shown in FIG. 3, the handle 18 is in the closed position, the drive rod 31 is retracted, and the return lever 40 is At right angles to 31, armature core 22 is retracted, plunger rod 24 is retracted, and contacts 16, 17 are closed. If a residual current fault is detected by the circuit 5, the electromagnet of the magnetic assembly 35 is activated to neutralize the effect of the permanent magnet that restrains the drive rod 31 and the rod 31 is acted upon by the spring 32. The lever arm 47 of the return lever 40 extends outwardly around the pivot and strikes the plunger rod 24, which moves independently via the inner arm 23 of the armature core 22 to move the lever arm
Makes it possible to hit 28. This configuration is shown in FIG. Striking lever 28 releases the spring that moves contact 16 away from contact 17, causing handle 18 to swing toward the open position, as shown in FIG.

When the handle 18 moves to the open position, the engagement surface 45 of the handle 18 strikes the arm 46 of the return lever 40 to pivot the lever 40 counterclockwise, as shown in FIG. Against the plunger rod 31 and strike it back into the magnetic assembly housing against the bias of the spring 32. Next, the plunger rod 24 moves to the sixth position.
It is possible to freely return to the return position shown in FIG. When the handle 18 is swung back to the closed position, the additional trip device is in the non-trip position, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 will be described. In the event of an overcurrent fault, the armature core 22 resists the coil 20 against the bias of the spring 26.
Pulled in, the recess 51 of the core 22 engages the collar 50 of the plunger rod 24, drives the plunger rod 24 forward through the coil 20, and trips the breaker by hitting the lever 28 .

One advantage of the circuit breaker of the present invention is that the function of tripping the circuit breaker independently of the armature core is thereby performed, since the plunger device can move independently through the armature core. There is no magnetic interference between the tripping mechanism due to the movement of the armature core in the case of an overcurrent fault and the movement of the plunger device in the case of a residual overcurrent fault. Further, the plunger device can be used in combination with a position detecting device such as an auxiliary switch for indicating the closed state of the circuit breaker or a remote indication of the closed state. The position detecting device can directly or indirectly detect the position of the contact by detecting the position of the plunger.

Auxiliary and command devices that are operated locally or remotely can also be used as an alternative to the residual current detection circuit to provide a trip signal in the event of a fault or test condition.

It will be appreciated that the present invention provides a relatively simple and reliable RCCB. The use of separate drive rods 31 and plunger rods 24 allows the selection of appropriate materials, in this case plastic plunger rods and iron drive rods. Furthermore, the return operation is relatively simple, because the lever which is manually adjusted can be used easily.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Short, James County, Ireland Dublin, Malahide, Coast Road, Biscayne 75 (72) Inventor Healy, Martin, Frances County County Galway, Barinaslow, Deer Park (Address: Ireland) None) (72) Inventors Bosk, Hendrick, Affov Nuel, Netherlands — 7557 Etienne Henggro, Sloetosveg 32 (72) Inventors Dalmohoetmo, Soeduiemat, Nuel, Francesco — 7025 Ciex Harle, Hovermansdiyuk 21 (72) Inventor Burke, Raymond 6014 Western Australia, Joymon Australia , Ransuda down Estee. Unit 2-24 (56) References Japanese Utility Model Sho 63-33546 (JP, U)

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A circuit breaker for use in a system having live neutral and ground conductors and having both overcurrent and earth leakage protection devices; a housing; an electrical connection between the movable contact and the fixed contact. A circuit breaker assembly within the housing for raising and blocking; an operating handle for the circuit breaker assembly; a coil and an armature core within the coil and having an axial bore, the circuit breaker set; Overcurrent detection device for tripping three-dimensional object; Residual current detection circuit, plunger device provided in an axial cavity of armature core, and operation for controlling movement of plunger device from non-tripping position to tripping position Additional tripping mechanism for an earth leakage prevention device having a device; and, when a residual current fault is detected by the residual current detection circuit, the plunger device is not tripped. The actuating device provides a movable drive rod for engaging and driving through an axial cavity from a position to a trip position, and when the plunger device is moved between the non-trip position and the trip position, the plunger device is moved into the armature core. A circuit breaker which is independently movable through an inner space in an axial direction of the plunger and is provided with a return device of the plunger device to a non-trip position. 2. A circuit breaker according to claim 1, further comprising: a biasing device for pushing said drive rod to said trip position; and a holding device for holding said drive rod at said non-trip position. A circuit breaker included in the actuator. 3. The circuit breaker according to claim 2, wherein a permanent magnet for holding said drive rod at said non-trip position and a permanent magnet for said drive rod upon detection of a residual current fault. And an electromagnet for neutralizing the effect of the circuit breaker. 4. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein a solenoid is included in said operating device. 5. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein said operating device is operated from a remote location. 6. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein a position detecting device is provided for detecting a position of said plunger device. 7. A circuit breaker according to claim 6, wherein a switch device operated by said plunger device when moving between a non-tripping position and a tripping position is included in said position detecting device. Circuit breaker.