JP3387375B2 - Circuit breaker - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a circuit breaker for detecting an overcurrent with a bimetal and forcibly opening contacts.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional circuit breaker is shown in FIG. That is, in this circuit breaker, the movable contact 9 is handled by the handle 90.
The input / output terminals 99, 99 are electrically connected by driving the movable contact 98 by contacting the fixed contact 96 of the fixed contactor 94 with the movable contact 98.

When an overcurrent flows in this circuit breaker, the bimetal 102 arranged in the vertical direction of the body 100 is self-heated and bent by the overcurrent, and the tripping which is locked to the bimetal 102 is taken out. The locking of the member 103 is released, and the movable contact 92 is forcibly opened by the spring force of the opening spring 104.

The amount of current that the bimetal 102 bends to release the locking of the tripping member 103 is determined by the adjusting screw 105 provided on the side surface of the body 100. That is, the bimetal 10 together with the terminal board 106.
The fixed end of No. 2 is pressed by the adjusting screw 105 to adjust the relative positional relationship between the free end of the bimetal 102 and the trip member 103. After the adjustment, a closing cover (not shown) is placed on the adjustment screw 105 to prevent the user from accidentally touching the adjustment screw 105.

[0005]

However, in the circuit breaker configured as described above, since the adjusting screw 105 is provided on the side surface of the body 100, it is provided on the upper surface side of the body 100. When the adjustment screw 105 is adjusted by bringing the electrodes for the overcurrent characteristic test into contact with the input / output terminals 99, 99 and applying a current, the electrodes are from the upper surface side of the body, and the adjusting tool is from the side surface of the body. They must come into contact with each other, and the direction in which the electrode and the adjustment tool intersect with each other. Therefore, there is a problem that the test cannot be easily performed in order to prevent the electrode and the adjustment tool from coming into contact with each other, and the test equipment becomes large in size.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a circuit breaker capable of downsizing equipment used for an overcurrent characteristic test. is there.

[0007]

The invention according to claim 1 is
I / O terminals provided on both sides of the body, contacts interposed between the I / O terminals, and one end of a latch member connected to a handle protruding from the upper surface of the body via a link are detached. An opening / closing mechanism that locks the member and drives the contacts to open and close at the other end side, and is arranged in the up-down direction of the body with one end side as a fixed end and the other end side as a free end, and an excessive current flows. Sometimes, the free end presses the tripping member to release the locked state between the latch member and the tripping member to forcibly open the contact, and the free end of the bimetal and the tripping member. A circuit breaker provided with an adjusting screw for adjusting a relative positional relationship with a conductor connection for connecting a conductor to one of the input / output terminals.
And a piece connected to the conductor connecting piece in parallel with the bimetal.
And the vertical piece that is erected on the
A pair of double-sided horizontal pieces and the front of the pair of double-sided horizontal pieces
From the end face not connected to the vertical piece to the upper surface side of the body
And are connected in parallel to the pair of both horizontal pieces.
And the folding portion to which the adjusting screw is attached,
The adjusting part is continuously provided between the return part and the pair of both horizontal pieces.
With a horizontal plate member that is pressed and displaced by the tip of the adjusting screw
Becomes, the bimetal connected to the horizontal plate member, the upper surface of the device body, fitted with a closure cover for closing the front Symbol operation hole to <br/> together with providing the operation hole for operating the adjustment screw further Previous
It is arranged between the folding part and the horizontal pieces on both sides, and
From both sides of the folded-back part, insert the nut with which the adjusting screw is screwed.
It is characterized in that it is sandwiched by sandwiching pieces that hang down in one horizontal direction on both sides .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the circuit breaker according to the first aspect, the handle is projected from the body.
The handle protrusion is provided on the body, and the handle protrusion is
The operation hole is continuously formed from the end face of the
Insert one side of the open / close cover into the handle protrusion
Form a groove and insert one side of the open / close cover into the insertion groove.
Place the other end of the open / close cover in abutting contact with it inserted
The mounting portion is formed along the opening edge of the operation hole .

[0009]

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A circuit breaker according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a state in which a breaking element of a circuit breaker is opened. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a state in which the breaking element of the circuit breaker is closed. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the entire circuit breaker. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing an overcurrent trip state of the circuit breaker. FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the circuit breaker. FIG. 6 is a side view showing the relationship between the trip member of the circuit breaker and the bimetal. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the adjusting screw and the terminal of the circuit breaker and the bimetal. FIG. 8 is a side view showing the relationship between the bimetal and the bimetal receiving portion when the adjusting screw of the circuit breaker is screwed in.

The body 1 is composed of a pair of side cases 2 and 3 and an intermediate case 4 provided between the pair of side cases 2 and 3, and an overcurrent or a short circuit current is generated in the body 1. It contains a shut-off element that is forcibly opened when an abnormal current flows. This blocking element is composed of a movable side electric path and a fixed side electric path.

The fixed contactor 5 constituting the fixed-side electric circuit is provided in a fixed state on the body 1, and has a fixed contact 5a at one end.
Is provided. The other end of the fixed contact 5 is electrically connected to the terminal plate 7 provided at the end of the container 1.

The locking spring 8 is arranged so as to face the terminal plate 7, and by biasing the conductor portion of the electric wire inserted through the electric wire conducting hole 9 toward the terminal plate 7 by the spring force of the locking spring 8. It constitutes a quick-connect terminal device to be connected. Reference numeral 10 denotes a release lever for releasing the lock spring 8, and in FIG. 1, when the release lever 10 is rotated clockwise, the lock spring 8 is released.
Can be canceled.

The movable contactor 11 constituting the movable side electric circuit is
It has a movable contact 11a at one end that contacts the fixed contact 5a. The movable contact 11 is supported by the driving member 12 and is electrically connected to the terminal 13 exposed from the body 1 at the end portion.

The movable electric path of the breaking element includes the movable contact 11 and the flexible electric wire 14 connected to the movable contact 11.
It comprises a bimetal 15 connected to the flexible wire 14 and a magnetic plate 16 surrounding the bimetal 15 for detecting a short circuit.

The means for opening and closing the movable contact 11 is the body 1
Part of the body 1 protruding from the handle protrusion 17 provided on the body 1
A handle 18 rotatably pivoted therein, and a drive member 12 pivotally pivoted to the body 1 and driving the movable contact 11 in a direction in which the movable contact 11a comes in contact with and separates from the fixed contact 5a. An opening spring 19 for urging the movable member 11a in a direction in which the movable contact 11a is separated from the fixed contact 5a, and a tripping member for tripping when an abnormal current such as an overcurrent or a short circuit current is detected. 20 and the drive member 12 in a state of being interlocked with the handle 18 and being locked to the tripping member 20, the movable contact 11a is in contact with the fixed contact 5a.
And a latch member 21 for releasing the drive member 12 by releasing the engagement with the tripping member 20 by the tripping operation of the tripping member 20 by pressing against the opening spring 19.

The tripping member 20 locks the other end of the latch member 21 in a normal state, and unlocks the latch member 21 when an abnormal current is detected to move the movable contact 1.
1a is forcibly opened. This tripping member 20
Has a shaft 20a, a bimetal receiving portion 20b, and a latch locking portion 20c, and is pivotally supported by the body 1 together with the drive member 12. Further, a magnetic body 20d is provided at a position facing the magnetic plate 15 surrounding the bimetal 15.

The adjusting screw 22 is a free end of the bimetal 15 and the bimetal receiving portion 20 provided on the tripping member 20.
The relative positional relationship with b is adjusted. The adjustment screw 22 can be adjusted from an operation hole 23 provided on the upper surface of the body. The horizontal plate member 24 having one end fixed to the body 1 has an operation hole 23 provided on the upper surface of the body 1.
When the position of the horizontal plate member 24 is pressed and displaced by the tip of the adjusting screw 22, the position of the free end of the bimetal 15 connected to the horizontal plate member 24 is displaced. . A closing cover 25 closes the operation hole 23 when the adjusting screw 22 is not adjusted.

One end of the link 26 has a link connecting portion 18
The other end is fitted and connected to a shaft hole 21a provided in an intermediate portion of the latch member 21.

Next, the operation of this circuit breaker will be described. 1 is in the off state, and the movable contact 11 is opened by the opening spring 19. 2 is in the ON state, and when the handle 18 is operated, the latch member 21 is pushed through the link 26, and one end of the latch member 21 is pulled off.
The driving member 12 is rotated at the other end while being locked to the latch locking portion 20c of 0, and the movable contact 11 is closed while pulling the opening spring 19. As a result, the input and output terminals 7 and 13 are electrically connected and a current flows.

FIG. 4 shows a case where an overcurrent flows, the bimetal 15 bends by itself and pushes the tripping member 20, the tripping member 20 rotates, and the latch member 21 is unlocked. Therefore, the restoring force of the opening spring 19 causes the driving member 12 to
And the movable contactor 11 is opened. The driving member 12 pushes up the latch member 21, and the latch member 21 brings the handle 18 into a neutral posture.

When the bimetal 15 is restored and the accident is recovered, the link 18 is turned off by turning off the handle 18.
At 6, the latch member 21 is pulled up and locked to the release member 20.

Now, when the operation hole 23 is closed by the closing cover 24, the adjusting screw 22 cannot be operated, and the adjusting screw 22 is protected.

On the other hand, when it is necessary to perform an overcurrent characteristic test before shipping, the closing cover 24 is removed and the operation hole 23 is opened. Then, when the adjusting screw 22 for adjusting the overcurrent characteristic is tightened by using the adjusting tool while operating the handle 18, the tip of the adjusting screw 22 presses and displaces the free end of the horizontal plate member 24 as shown in FIG. As a result, the position of the free end of the bimetal 15 connected to the horizontal plate member 24 approaches the bimetal receiving portion 20b. Note that the closer the bimetal 15 and the bimetal receiving portion 20b are, the more forcibly the contacts are opened due to the slight bending of the bimetal 15.

According to the present embodiment, both the adjusting tool for adjusting the adjusting screw 22 and the electrode connected to the terminal 13 during the overcurrent characteristic test are adjusted or connected from the upper surface of the body 1. Therefore, it becomes possible to easily adjust the overcurrent characteristic of the circuit breaker. Also,
After the adjustment is completed, since the operation hole 23 is closed by the closing cover 24, it is possible to prevent the user from inadvertently changing the overcurrent characteristic of the circuit breaker by operating the adjustment screw.

The conductor connecting piece 27 to which the terminal 13 is screwed is
It is connected to one end of a vertical piece 28 that stands upright in parallel with the bimetal 15. The other end of the vertical piece 28 is connected to the horizontal plate member 24. At that time, as shown in FIG. 7, a pair of both side horizontal pieces 29, 29 are provided on both sides of the horizontal plate member 24.
The horizontal pieces 29 on both sides are connected to the vertical pieces 28 of 29.
Not from the end face to the upper face side of the body 1 and a pair of water on both sides
Folding portion 3 which is continuously provided parallel to the flat pieces 29, 29.
The horizontal plate member 24 is connected via 0. As a result, the terminal 13 and the bimetal 15 can be electrically connected without disturbing the pressing displacement of the horizontal plate member 24 by the adjusting screw 22, and the terminal 13 and the bimetal 1 can be connected.
The constituent members up to 5 can be integrated into the body 1.

At the other end of the connecting end of the vertical piece 28 and the horizontal pieces 29 on both sides, the horizontal plate member 24 and the pair of horizontal pieces 2 on both sides are connected.
9 is folded back toward the upper surface side of the body 1, and a folding back portion 30 is provided so as to be parallel to the horizontal plate member 24 and the pair of both side horizontal pieces 29, and the adjusting screw 22 is provided in the folding back portion 30.
Since it is attached, the constituent members from the terminal 13 including the adjusting screw 22 to the bimetal 15 can be integrally incorporated in the body 1.

As shown in FIG. 7, a sandwiching piece 31 is provided so as to hang down from both sides of the folded-back portion 30 toward both horizontal pieces 29.
If the nut 32 of the adjusting screw 22 arranged between the both side horizontal pieces 29 and the folded-back portion 30 is held by the holding piece 31, the adjusting screw 22 and the nut 32 can be firmly screwed together. . Further, since it is not necessary to screw / fix the adjusting screw 22 to the folded-back portion 30, it is possible to prevent the folded-back portion 30 from being damaged due to the screwing of the adjusting screw 22.

Further, a handle projection 17 for projecting the handle 18 from the body 1 is provided, and an insertion groove 33 into which one side of the closing cover 25 can be inserted is provided in the handle projection 17 at the opening edge of the operation hole 23, and the remaining opening is provided. If the mounting portion 34 that can rest the remaining side of the closing cover 25 on the edge is provided, when the closing cover 25 is attached to the body 1, the insertion groove 33 prevents the closing cover 25 from shifting in the vertical direction. In addition, the mounting portion 34 can prevent the horizontal displacement.

[0032]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the input / output terminals arranged on both sides of the body, the contacts interposed between the input / output terminals, and the top surface of the body An opening / closing mechanism that locks one end of the latch member connected to the protruding handle through a link to the tripping member and drives the contact to open and close at the other end, and uses the one end as the fixed end and the other end as the fixed end. It is arranged as a free end in the vertical direction of the body, and when an excessive current flows, the free end presses the tripping member to release the latched state between the latch member and the tripping member and forcibly open the contact. One of the input / output terminals of a circuit breaker equipped with a bimetal that is polarized and an adjusting screw that adjusts the relative positional relationship between the free end of the bimetal and the trip member.
Is connected to the conductor connecting piece that connects the conductor and the conductor connecting piece.
Vertical piece standing parallel to the bimetal and the tip of the vertical piece
A pair of both horizontal pieces that are connected from both sides in the width direction of the
Both sides of the horizontal piece from the end face that is not connected to the vertical piece
Parallel to the pair of horizontal strips on the top side of the
And the fold-back part with the adjustment screw attached
The adjustment screw is installed between the horizontal part and a pair of horizontal pieces on both sides.
A horizontal plate member that is pressed and displaced by the end,
Connect the metal to the horizontal plate member, the upper surface of the device body, since wearing the casing cover for closing the operation hole to together when providing the operation hole to operate the adjusting screw, the position adjustment of the bimetal handle of the device body projecting This can be done from the top side, and since it is possible to prevent the electrode that abuts the terminal and the bimetal adjustment tool from crossing over each other, compared to the conventional configuration in which adjustment can only be performed from the side of the body, the overcurrent characteristic Easily,
Further, there is an effect that the adjustment can be changed without requiring complicated equipment. Also, push the horizontal plate member with the adjusting screw.
Electrically connects terminals and bimetals without disturbing pressure displacement
It is possible to connect to the terminal including the adjustment screw.
From the bimetal to the component parts are integrated into the body
The effect is that it can be removed. Further, by mounting the closing cover after adjusting the position of the bimetal, it is possible to prevent the user from inadvertently changing the overcurrent characteristic by operating the adjusting screw. In addition, wrap
It is arranged between the hinge and the horizontal pieces on both sides, and the adjustment screw is screwed.
Hang the nut from both sides of the folded part
Since it was sandwiched by the sandwiching pieces, the adjustment screw was
There is no need to be screwed, fixed to, screwing of the adjusting screw
It is possible to prevent damage to the folded part that occurs due to
Has the effect.

According to the invention of claim 2, claim 1
In the circuit breaker described, project the handle from the body.
Provide a handle protrusion that can be
Operation holes are continuously formed from the
Create a slot to insert one side of the open / close cover,
Open and close with one side of the open / close cover inserted in the groove
Place the mounting part on which the other end of the cover is placed in contact with the operation hole.
Since it is formed along the opening edge, the closure cover is attached to the body
When it is opened, the cover will be displaced vertically due to the insertion groove.
It is possible to prevent
The effect that it is possible to prevent the deviation of the direction is obtained.

[0034]

[0035]

[0036]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a state in which a breaking element of a circuit breaker is opened.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a state in which a breaking element of the circuit breaker is closed.

FIG. 3 is an overall exploded perspective view of a circuit breaker.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing an overcurrent trip state of the circuit breaker.

FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of a circuit breaker.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the relationship between the trip member of the circuit breaker and the bimetal.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a relationship between an adjusting screw and a terminal of a circuit breaker and a bimetal.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing the relationship between the bimetal and the bimetal receiving portion when the adjustment screw of the circuit breaker is screwed in.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 body 5 Fixed contact 11 Moving contact 12 Drive member 15 Bimetal 18 handles 19 Opening spring 20 Tripping member 21 Latch member 22 Adjustment screw 23 Operation hole 24 Horizontal plate member 25 Blocking cover 26 links 27 Conductor connection piece 28 vertical pieces 29 Horizontal pieces on both sides 30 Folding part 31 Clip 32 nuts 33 slot 34 Placement part 7 13 I / O terminal

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Yoshiya Nakamichi 1048, Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture, Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. (72) Takanobu Tanaka, 1048, Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture, Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. (72) ) Inventor Yasushi Matsui, 1048 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture, Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd. (72) Isao Tanaka, 1048, Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture (56) Reference: JP-A-5-225886 JP, A) JP 8-171846 (JP, A) JP 7-254342 (JP, A) JP 6-139899 (JP, A) JP 9-7489 (JP, A) JP Showa 57-92732 (JP, A) Showa 52-51074 (JP, U) Showa 6-21158 (JP, Y2) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01H 73 / 22 H01H 71/74

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. Input / output terminals disposed on both sides of the body,
One end of a contact member interposed between the input / output terminals and a latch member connected to a handle protruding from the upper surface of the body via a link is pulled out and locked to a member, and the other end side is opened and closed. And an opening / closing mechanism that has one end side as a fixed end and the other end side as a free end and is arranged in the up-and-down direction of the body, and the free end presses the tripping member when an excessive current flows. A bimetal that releases the contact between the latch member and the tripping member to forcibly open the contact; and an adjusting screw that adjusts the relative positional relationship between the free end of the bimetal and the tripping member. In a circuit breaker provided, one of the input / output terminals is a conductor connecting piece for connecting a conductor.
And is connected to the conductor connecting piece in parallel with the bimetal.
Vertical pieces to be erected and continuous from both ends of the vertical pieces in the width direction
A pair of both side horizontal pieces and the pair of both side horizontal pieces
On the top side of the body from the end face not connected to the vertical piece
There are a pair of horizontal pieces parallel to each other.
A folded-back portion to which the adjusting screw is attached, and the folded-back portion
The adjustment is made by connecting the horizontal portion between the pair of horizontal pieces from both sides.
A horizontal plate member that is pressed and displaced by the tip of the screw.
The bimetal is connected to the horizontal plate member, and an operation hole for operating the adjustment screw is provided on the upper surface of the body.
The casing cover fitted to close the front Symbol operation hole, the folding further the
The adjusting screw is disposed between the barb and the horizontal pieces on both sides.
Screw the nut that is screwed in from both sides of the folded
A circuit breaker characterized by being sandwiched by a sandwiching piece hanging down in the direction of a flat piece . 2. A handle protrusion for projecting the handle from the body is provided on the body, the operation hole is formed continuously from an end surface of the handle protrusion, and an opening / closing cover is formed on the handle protrusion. One end is formed along the opening edge of the operation hole by forming an insertion groove into which one side is inserted, and placing one end of the opening / closing cover in contact with the other end of the opening / closing cover in a state where one side of the opening / closing cover is inserted into the insertion groove. The circuit breaker according to claim 1 , wherein the circuit breaker is formed.