JP4323820B2

JP4323820B2 - Circuit breaker

Info

Publication number: JP4323820B2
Application number: JP2003019514A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 敏宏大井戸; 孝信田中
Original assignee: Panasonic Corp; Matsushita Electric Works Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Corp; Panasonic Electric Works Co Ltd
Priority date: 2003-01-28
Filing date: 2003-01-28
Publication date: 2009-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 2023-01-28
Also published as: JP2004234920A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、回路遮断器に関し、特に手動操作により引き外し動作を行わせる機能を有する回路遮断器に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
近年、従来の１極型と同サイズのケース内に２極の主回路を収納した２極型の回路遮断器が提供されている。この種の回路遮断器には、過負荷電流や短絡電流のような過電流に対して引き外し動作を行わせる過電流引き外し装置を備えた回路遮断器（配線用遮断器）と、過電流引き外し装置だけでなく漏洩電流（地絡電流）に対して引き外し動作を行わせる漏電引き外し装置を備えた回路遮断器（漏電遮断器）とがある。
【０００３】
これら２種の回路遮断器にあっては、共通のケースに漏電引き外し装置や零相変流器、漏電表示釦や漏電テスト釦といった漏電遮断器のみで必要となる部品を収納するスペースが設けられており、これらの部品をケースに収納することで漏電遮断器が構成され、これらの部品をケースに収納しないことで配線用遮断器が構成される（特許文献１及び特許文献２参照）。但し、漏電遮断器のケースは漏電表示釦や漏電テスト釦を露出させるための窓孔が前面に形成される点では配線用遮断器のケースと相違している。
【０００４】
【特許文献１】
特開平１１−１６４７９号公報（段落００１０−段落００１７、第１図）
【特許文献２】
特開平１１−２５８４１号公報（段落０００９−段落００１８、第１図）
【０００５】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
ところで上記従来の回路遮断器では、特許文献２に記載されているように漏電遮断器として構成される場合、ケース前面において操作ハンドルの回動方向であって開放状態の操作位置（オフ位置）の側に漏電表示釦と漏電テスト釦がそれぞれ配設されている。したがって、手動で引き外し動作を行わせるための操作釦（トリップ釦）を同じ位置に配設することが困難であったり、漏電表示釦及び漏電テスト釦と同じ位置に操作釦を配設できたとしても漏電表示釦並びに漏電テスト釦と操作釦との区別がつきにくいという問題があった。
【０００６】
なお、配線用遮断器には漏電表示釦や漏電テスト釦が不要であるからケース前面の上記位置に操作釦を配設することが可能ではあるが、上述のように配線用遮断器と漏電遮断器でケースを共通に利用する場合にあっては相対的に部品点数の多い漏電遮断器を考慮して操作釦の位置を検討する必要がある。
【０００７】
本発明は上記事情に鑑みて為されたものであり、その目的は、操作ハンドルの回動方向のスペースを用いずに操作釦をケースの前面に配設できる回路遮断器を提供することにある。
【０００８】
【課題を解決するための手段】
請求項１の発明は、上記目的を達成するために、外部配線が接続される端子部と、端子部と電気的に接続される接点部と、接点部を開閉する開閉機構と、過電流を検出して開閉機構を釈放する引き外し手段と、絶縁性材料で形成され、内部に端子部、接点部、開閉機構並びに引き外し手段が収納されるケースと、ケース前面の開口から一部を突出させてケースの長手方向に沿って回動自在に配設され、手動操作により開閉機構を駆動する操作ハンドルと、ケース内に配設され、手動操作により引き外し手段に引き外し動作を行わせる手動引き外し手段とを備え、手動引き外し手段は、ケース前面に露出し且つケースの前後方向に移動自在に配設される操作釦と、操作釦が押操作されたときに引き外し手段を駆動して開閉機構を釈放させる駆動部とを具備し、ケース前面を前方から見たときにケースの長手方向に直交する幅方向において操作ハンドルと重ならない位置であり、且つ操作ハンドルの投入状態における操作位置と開放状態における操作位置の中間位置から投入状態の操作位置までの範囲に少なくとも一部が重なる位置であり且つ投入状態の操作位置に近い側に操作釦を配設し、ケースは、幅方向で結合される第１側ケース及び第２側ケースと、一方の側面を第１側ケースの内側面に対向させ、他方の側面を第２側ケースの内側面と対向させてケース内を長手方向に沿って仕切るとともに前面に前記開口が設けられた中間ケースとからなり、操作ハンドルの幅寸法を中間ケースの幅寸法と略同一とし、中間ケースと第２側ケースの間にできる空間に手動引き外し手段を収納するとともに第２側ケースの前面に操作釦を露出させたことを特徴とする。
【０００９】
請求項２の発明は、請求項１の発明において、操作釦は、ケースの前後方向に直交する断面形状が略四角形に形成されたことを特徴とする。
【００１１】
請求項３の発明は、請求項１の発明において、第２側ケース前面において操作釦が挿通される挿通孔を前記開口と連通しない位置に形成したことを特徴とする。
【００１２】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、図１〜図１４を参照して本発明の一実施形態について詳細に説明する。
【００１３】
本実施形態は、図２及び図３に示すように外部配線が接続される第１及び第２の端子部７，８と、第１及び第２の端子部７，８と各々電気的に接続される第１並びに第２の接点部１１，１３と、第１及び第２の接点部１１，１３を開閉する開閉機構と、過電流を検出して開閉機構を釈放する引き外し手段と、絶縁性材料で形成され、内部に第１及び第２の端子部７，８、第１及び第２の接点部１１，１３、開閉機構並びに引き外し手段等が収納されるケース１とを備える。
【００１４】
ケース１は、長手方向に直交する幅方向で結合される第１側ケース２及び第２側ケース４と、一方の側面を第１側ケース２の内側面に対向させ、他方の側面を第２側ケース４の内側面と対向させてケース１内を長手方向に沿って仕切る中間ケース３とからなり、第１側ケース２の長手方向に対向する一方の端面に第１の端子部７を配設するとともに第２側ケース４の長手方向に対向する一方の端面に第２の端子部８を配設している。
【００１５】
第１及び第２の側ケース２，４の後端縁（図２及び図３における下端縁）には相互に直接当接する当接部２ａ，４ａが設けてある。また、当接部２ａ，４ａとこの当接部２ａ，４ａに対向する中間ケース３の後端部との間に、後述するように漏電遮断器として構成する場合に零相変流器等を収容するための収容スペース１４ａが形成してあり、中間ケース３には漏電表示機構及び漏電テスト機構を収容するための収容スペース１４ｂ，１４ｃが形成してある。なお、図２における２９は中間ケース３に取り付けられるＬ字形カバーである。
【００１６】
第１側ケース２は、当接部２ａの長手方向両端にケース１を分電盤に取り付けるための取付凹部１５が形成され、その前方（図３における上方）の位置に第１の端子部７が配設される。第１側ケース２の内側面側から第１の固定側主回路部１６、第１の可動側主回路部１７および第１の可動側主回路部１７の第１の可動接触子１８を支持するクロスバー２０が組み込み込まれて位置決め支持される。
【００１７】
第１の固定側主回路部１６は、固定接点１９を有する固定接触子２１と、固定接触子２１の端部に設けた速結端子構造の第３の端子部９からなり、第１側ケース２のほぼ中央に設けられた位置決め支持部６８に位置決め支持して組み込まれる。上記速結端子構造については特許文献１にも開示されているように従来周知であるから詳細な説明は省略する。なお、図２及び図３における２４は速結端子の解除レバーである。
【００１８】
第１の可動側主回路部１７は先端に可動接点２５が固着された第１の可動接触子１８と、第１の可動接触子１８の後端に一端が接続された可撓電線２２と、可撓電線２２の他端に一端（自由端）が接続されたバイメタル２３と、バイメタル２３をその他端で連結したねじ止め型の第１の端子部７と、第１の端子部７に設けられてバイメタル２３を囲む短絡検出用の磁性板２６とからなり、第１の端子部７が第１側ケース２の端部に設けられた位置決め支持部６９に組み込まれて位置決め支持され、第１の可動接触子１８はクロスバー２０に保持される（図８参照）。第１の端子部７並びに第３の端子部９は第１の固定側主回路部１６および第１の可動側主回路部１７の互いに離れた端部に設けられ、ケース１の長手方向の両端にそれぞれ露出させて配設される。
【００１９】
中間ケース３は、第１側ケース２の内側面側に重ねられて第１の固定側主回路部１６および第１の可動側主回路部１７を隣接する他極（第２の固定側主回路部３０および第２の可動側主回路部３２）に対して絶縁する。中間ケース３は主回路部やその他の必要部品を第１側ケース２に対して位置決めし押える役目も果たし、また操作ハンドル６を逃げる凹部２７およびクロスバー２０を逃げる孔部２８が形成されている。既に説明したように中間ケース３の後端部（図２における下端部）と第１側ケース２の当接部２ａとの間に収容スペース１４ａを形成するために中間ケース３の前後方向（図２における上下方向）の寸法を第１側ケース２の寸法よりも短くしている。この中間ケース３の一面側に、第２の固定側主回路部３０と、クロスバー２０に支持される第２の可動接触子３１を有する第２の可動側主回路部３２が組み込まれて支持される。第２の固定側主回路部３０および第２の可動側主回路部３２は互いに離れた端部に第１側ケース２、中間ケース３および第２側ケース４から露出する第２の端子部８及び第４の端子部１０を有する。
【００２０】
第２の固定側主回路部３０は、固定接点５０を有する固定接触子５１と解除レバー２４付きの速結端子構造の第４の端子部１０からなり、中間ケース３の位置決め支持部６６に組み込まれて位置決め支持される。第２の可動側主回路部３２は先端に可動接点５２が固着された第２の可動接触子３１と、第２の可動接触子３１の後端に一端が接続された可撓電線５３と、可撓電線５３の他端に先端（自由端）が接続されたバイメタル５４と、バイメタル５４をその他端で連結したねじ止め型の第２の端子部８と、第２の端子部８に設けられてバイメタル５４を囲む短絡検出用の磁性板５５とからなり、第２の端子部８が中間ケース３の位置決め支持部６７に組み込まれて位置決め支持され、第２の可動接触子３１はクロスバー２０に保持される（図９参照）。
【００２１】
クロスバー２０は絶縁性を有する合成樹脂成形品からなり、第１及び第２側ケース２，４に対向する両側面には、第１の可動接触子１８を嵌め込む凹部３７と第２の可動接触子３１を嵌め込む凹部３８とが設けられ、圧縮コイルばねからなる接点圧付与ばね４１，４２により第１及び第２の可動接触子１８，３１がそれぞれ凹部３７，３８内に嵌め込まれて保持される（図８及び図９参照）。またクロスバー２０の両側面における凹部３７，３８の前方（図３における上方）にはそれぞれ円筒形の軸３９が突設されており、第１側ケース２並びに第２側ケース４の長手方向及び前後方向の略中央に設けられた軸孔４０にそれぞれ軸３９が軸支されることにより、中間ケース３の孔部２８を通して第１側ケース２と第２側ケース４の間にクロスバー２０が回動自在に枢着される。なお、図８に示すようにクロスバー２０の後端部には突起４６が設けられており、引張コイルばねからなる付勢ばね４４の両端をクロスバー２０の突起４６と、第１側ケース２の位置決め支持部６８近傍から突設された突起４７とに引っ掛け係止することにより、第１及び第２の可動接触子１８，３１を駆動して可動接点２５，５２を固定接点１９，５０から開離させる向きにクロスバー２０を弾性付勢している。
【００２２】
固定接点１９と可動接点２５からなる第１の接点部１１と、固定接点５０と可動接点５２からなる第２の接点部１３とを開閉する開閉機構は、クロスバー２０と、略コ字型に形成されて一端が操作ハンドル６に回動自在に取り付けられたリンク３３と、リンク３３の他端に回動自在に取り付けられ、クロスバー２０の前面に突設された駆動突片３７ａを一端部で押駆動するラッチ部材３４とで構成される。操作ハンドル６は略中央部に軸５８を有しており、第１側ケース２の内側面における長手方向中央の前端部に形成される軸受孔５に中間ケース３の嵌合孔１２を通して一方の軸５８が軸支され、他方の軸５８が第２側ケース４の内側面における長手方向中央の前端部に形成される軸受孔５９に軸支される。操作ハンドル６はその軸５８を挟んで互いに反対側にハンドル部６ａおよびリンク連結部６ｂが設けてあり、リンク３３の一端がリンク連結部６ｂに嵌合し、他端がラッチ部材３４の中間部に設けた軸孔３４ａに嵌合させてある。
【００２３】
引き外し部材３５は、第１側ケース２および第２側ケース４の内側面より突設された円筒形の軸受部６０に形成した軸孔６０ａに各々軸支される一対の軸３５ａと、それぞれバイメタル２３，５４の先端部と対向する一対のバイメタル受け部３５ｂ，３５ｂと、投入状態でラッチ部材３４の他端部（被係止部３４ｂ）が係止するラッチ係止部３５ｃとを有し、クロスバー２０とともに中間ケース３の孔部２８を通して第１側ケース２と第２側ケース４の間に回動自在に配設される。また引き外し部材３５にはバイメタル２３，５４を囲む磁性板２６，５５とそれぞれ対向する一対の磁性板６１，６１が設けられている。すなわち、引き外し部材３５、バイメタル２３，５４、磁性板２６，５５，６１により、過電流（過負荷電流並びに短絡電流）に対して開閉機構を釈放する引き外し手段が構成される。
【００２４】
ところで本実施形態では、引き外し手段による引き外し動作が行われた場合に外部に警報信号を出力するための警報スイッチ１００と、第１及び第２の接点部１１，１３の状態（開極状態又は閉極状態）を表す状態信号を出力するための補助スイッチ１１０とがケース１内に収納されている。
【００２５】
補助スイッチ１１０は、ハウジング１１１の前面に突出する押釦１１３を一端がハウジング１１１に支持された板材からなるアクチュエータ１１４を介して押操作するようにしたマイクロスイッチからなり、ハウジング１１１には一対の取付孔１１２が貫設されている。第１側ケース２の内側面における収納スペース１４ａ内には前後方向（図３における上下方向）に向かって延出する一対の縦壁９０が設けられ、この縦壁９０間に一対の取付突起９１が突設されており、これら一対の取付突起９１をハウジング１１１の取付孔１１２に挿通することにより、補助スイッチ１１０が縦壁９０間に配設される。補助スイッチ１１０はアクチュエータ１１４をケース１前方に向けて配設され、後述するようにクロスバー２０によってアクチュエータ１１４が駆動される。
【００２６】
警報スイッチ１００は、補助スイッチ１１０と同様にハウジング１００の前面に押釦１０３が突出するとともにハウジング１０１に一対の取付孔１０２が貫設されたマイクロスイッチからなり、第１の端子部７の後方（図３における下方）における第１側ケース２と中間ケース３の間の空間に設けられる警報スイッチ収納部９２に収納される。ここで、図５に示すようにケース１の長手方向に対向する一端面においては、ケース１の前後方向（図５における上下方向）に対して第１の端子部７が第２の端子部８よりも前方（上方）に配置されて段違いとされているから、ケース１内における第１の端子部７の後方の空間がデッドスペースとなってしまう。そこで本実施形態においては、第１側ケース２の内側面の一端部において第１の端子部７を支持する位置決め支持部６９の後方（図３における下方）に鈎形の隔壁９３を設け、位置決め支持部６９と隔壁９３及び中間ケース３で囲まれる空間を警報スイッチ収納部９２とし、本来デッドスペースであった空間を有効活用している。また、第１の端子部７の後方における第１側ケース２と中間ケース３の間の空間に警報スイッチ１００を配設しても、開閉機構や引き外し手段の動作の妨げにはなり難い。
【００２７】
警報スイッチ収納部９２内には一対の取付突起９４が突設されており、これら一対の取付突起９４をハウジング１０１の取付孔１０２に挿通することにより、警報スイッチ１００が警報スイッチ収納部９２内で位置決めして固定される。なお、警報スイッチ１００は押釦１０３が設けられているハウジング１０１の前面を第１側ケース２と中間ケース３の間の空間であって第１の端子部７を配設している端面と反対側の端面（第３の端子部９が配設されている端面）に向けて配設されおり、後述するようにスライド部材７１で押釦１０３を操作するためのスペースが採りやすく、スライド部材７１との連係が容易になっている。
【００２８】
ここで、警報スイッチ１００並びに補助スイッチ１１０はハウジング１０１，１１１の底面から一列に突出する３つの端子１０４，１１５を備えており、これらの端子１０４，１１５に外部出力線１２０の一端がそれぞれ接続される。警報スイッチ１００の端子１０４に接続された外部出力線１２０は隔壁９３に形成された挿通溝９３ａに挿通されて警報スイッチ収納部９２の外に引き出され、補助スイッチ１１０の端子１１５に接続された外部出力線１２０とともに収容スペース１４ａを通り、第１側ケース２の長手方向の他端側における取付凹部１５の近傍に設けられた貫通溝２ｂからケース１の外に引き出される。
【００２９】
ところで警報スイッチ収納部９２には、警報スイッチ１００の操作部である押釦１０３を押操作するためのスライド部材７１がハウジング１０１の前面に密着させた状態で収納される。スライド部材７１は、図３及び図８に示すように絶縁性を有する合成樹脂により全体が矩形板状に形成され、ハウジング１０１との密着面には押釦１０３を押操作する操作面７２と、スライド方向において操作面７２に隣接する位置に設けられた凹所７３とを具備しており、操作面７２で押釦１０３を押操作する位置と、押釦１０３を凹所７３に逃がすことで押操作しない位置との間でスライド移動自在に配設される。すなわち、スライド部材７１はハウジング１０１の前面と平行にスライド移動して押釦１０３を操作するため、押釦１０３に対するスライド部材７１の位置ずれが少なくなって押釦１０３の操作が安定するものである。
【００３０】
上述のように構成されるスライド部材７１は移動部材８０によって上記２つの位置の間でスライド移動させられる。この移動部材８０はリング状の回動軸部８１と、回動軸部８１の外周面から径方向に突出する脚部８２と、同じく回動軸部８１の外周面から脚部８２と反対方向へ突出する規制部８３と、規制部８３の側面から回動軸部８１の軸方向に突出する受け部８４とが合成樹脂により一体に形成されたものである。回動軸部８１は、第１側ケース２の内側面に突設された軸受部６０に外挿されて軸受部６０の外側に軸支される。脚部８２は、第１側ケース２の位置決め支持部６９と隔壁９３との間に設けられた挿通孔９５を通して先端部が警報スイッチ収納部９２内に進入し、スライド部材７１を厚み方向に貫通する貫通孔７４に挿通されるとともに操作面７２と反対側の表面に突設された突片７５と係合する（図８参照）。規制部８３は、図８に示すように第１及び第２の接点部１１，１３が投入状態にあるときにクロスバー２０の前方端部に当接し、軸受部６０を支点とする移動部材８０の回動を規制する。また受け部８４は、中間カバー３の孔部２８に挿通され、図９に示すようにケース１の前後方向（図９における上下方向）においてラッチ部材３４の被係止部３４ｂと対向する位置に配置される。さらに規制部８３の受け部８４が突出する側面にはリセットリンク９６の一方の端部９６ａを係止する係止孔８５が設けてある。
【００３１】
上述のように引き外し部材３５の軸３５ａが軸支される軸孔６０ａを有する軸受部６０の外側に移動部材８０の回動軸部８１を軸支するため、引き外し部材３５と移動部材８０が軸受部６０において互いに回動の妨げとなり難くなって各々の回動動作を安定させることができる。また、移動部材８０の回動支点を引き外し部材３５の回動支点に一致させているから、後述するように引き外し部材３５のラッチ係止部３５ｃに係止するラッチ部材３４の被係止部３４ｂで移動部材８０を回動させることが可能であり、ラッチ部材３４を引き外し部材３５から移動部材８０へ容易に連係させることができる。また、規制部８３によって投入状態における移動部材８０の回動が規制されるため、投入状態において移動手段８０によりスライド部材７１がスライド移動させられて警報スイッチ１００から警報信号が誤って出力されるのを防ぐことができる。
【００３２】
リセットリンク９６は棒状の金属材を折り曲げて鈎形に形成されており、上述のように一方の端部９６ａが係止孔８５に係止され、他方の端部９６ｂが操作ハンドル６に設けた長孔（図示せず）に係止される。
【００３３】
次に本実施形態の動作を説明する。図１０及び図１１はそれぞれ開放状態を示しており、図１０は第１側ケース２を外した側面図、図１１は第２側ケース４を外した側面図である。開放状態においてはケース１前面に露出する操作ハンドル６のハンドル部６ａがケース１の端部のうちで第３及び第４の端子部９，１０が配設されている方の端部側に傾いた位置（以下、「開放操作位置」と呼ぶ）にあり（図６参照）、リンク３３を介して操作ハンドル６と連結されているラッチ部材３４がケース１の前方（図１０及び図１１における上方）へ移動させられている。このため、クロスバー２０の駆動突片３７ａからラッチ部材３４の端部が離れ、開極ばね４４のばね力によってクロスバー２０が回動して第１及び第２の可動接触子１８，３１を駆動し、第１及び第２の接点部１１，１３が開放（オフ）される。開放状態においては、補助スイッチ１１０のアクチュエータ１１４がクロスバー２０によって駆動されず、押釦１１３も押操作されない。またリセットリンク９６の端部９６ｂが操作ハンドル６の長孔（図示せず）の後端に係止されており、リセットリンク９６の端部９６ａで連結されている移動部材８０は図１０に示す位置にあって、脚部８２により、操作面７２で警報スイッチ１００の押釦１０３を押操作する位置にスライド部材７１を保持している。つまり、警報スイッチ１００を構成するマイクロスイッチには常開接点と常閉接点が内蔵されており、開放状態においては常開接点がオン、常閉接点がオフとなる。
【００３４】
そして、図１に示すようにハンドル部６ａが開放操作位置からそれと反対側の位置（以下、「投入操作位置」と呼ぶ）にくるまで操作ハンドル６を回動させると、リンク３３を介してラッチ部材３４がケース１の後方に移動させられ、やがてラッチ部材３４の被係止部３４ｂが引き外し部材３５のラッチ係止部３５ｃに係止し、被係止部３４ｂを支点としてラッチ部材３４が回動することによってその端部で駆動突片３７ａが押され、開極ばね４４のばね力に抗してクロスバー２０が図１０における反時計回り（図１１における時計回り）に回動し、第１及び第２の可動接触子１８，３１を駆動して第１及び第２の接点部１１，１３が投入（オン）される。なお、操作ハンドル６は操作途中で反転死点を超えて中間ケース３の凹部２７の開口縁に形成された係止部２７ｂに係止される。図８及び図９はそれぞれ投入状態を示しており、図８は第１側ケース２を外した側面図、図９は第２側ケース４を外した側面図である。
【００３５】
一方、投入状態においては、補助スイッチ１１０のアクチュエータ１１４がクロスバー２０によって駆動されるために押釦１１３が押操作される。なお、操作ハンドル６が回動してもリセットリンク９６の端部９６ｂは長孔に対する相対的な位置が変わるだけであり、リセットリンク９６の端部９６ａで連結されている移動部材８０の位置は変化しない。このため、スライド部材７１は操作面７２で警報スイッチ１００の押釦１０３を押操作する位置に保持されたままとなる。
【００３６】
投入状態において過負荷電流が流れた場合、バイメタル２３，５４が自己発熱により湾曲して先端部が変位し、バイメタル２３，５４の先端部で引き外し部材３５のバイメタル受け部３５ｂが押され、引き外し部材３５が図８における時計回り（図９における反時計回り）に回動するためにラッチ係止部３５ｃと被係止部３４ｂとの係止が外れる。これにより、クロスバー２０の駆動突片３７ａがラッチ部材３４によって押されなくなるから、開極ばね４４のばね力によってクロスバー２０が図１２における時計回り（図１３における反時計回り）に回動して第１及び第２の可動接触子１８，３１を駆動し、第１及び第２の接点部１１，１３が引き外される（トリップされる）。また、ラッチ部材３４はクロスバー２０の駆動突起３７ａによって端部が押され、軸孔３４ａに挿通されたリンク３３の端部を支点として図１２における時計回り（図１３における反時計回り）に回動し、後述するように被係止部３４ｂが移動部材８０の受け部８４に当接して移動部材８０を図１２における反時計回りに回動させ、移動部材８０の回動が止まった時点で操作ハンドル６が中立姿勢となる（図７参照）。なお、図１２及び図１３はそれぞれ引き外し動作中の状態を示しており、図１２は第１側ケース２を外した側面図、図１３は第２側ケース４を外した側面図である。
【００３７】
また投入状態において短絡電流が流れた場合、バイメタル２３，５４が自己発熱で湾曲する前に磁性板２６，５５に生じる磁気吸引力で磁性板６１が引き寄せられ、引き外し部材３５が図８における時計回りに回動して上述の引き外し動作が行われる。
【００３８】
一方、上述の引き外し動作時においては、補助スイッチ１１０のアクチュエータ１１４がクロスバー２０によって駆動されなくなるために押釦１１３も押操作されない。また移動部材８０は、上述のようにラッチ部材３４の被係止部３４ｂで受け部８４が押され、図１２における反時計回りに回動し、脚部８２を介してスライド部材７１をケース１の前方（図１２における上方）へスライド移動させる。スライド部材７１がケース１の前方へ移動することで警報スイッチ１００の押釦１０３がスライド部材７１の凹所７３に嵌り、押釦１０３が押操作されなくなる。したがって、引き外し状態においては警報スイッチ１００の常開接点がオフ、常閉接点がオンとなり、外部出力線１２０を通して警報信号が出力される。
【００３９】
バイメタル２６，５４が元の状態に復帰した後、開放操作位置と投入操作位置の中間位置にあるハンドル部６ａを開放操作位置にくるまで操作ハンドル６を回動させるリセット操作を行うと、リンク３３を介してラッチ部材３４がケース１の前方に移動させられて引き外し部材３５のラッチ係止部３５ｃに被係止部３４ｂが係止される。このとき、操作ハンドル６の長孔の端部にリセットリンク９６の端部９６ｂが係止され、リセットリンク９６を介して移動部材８０が図１２における時計回りに回動し、脚部８２でスライド部材７１をケース１の後方へ移動させる。そのため、押釦１０３がスライド部材７１の凹所７３から出て操作面７２により押操作されるから、リセット操作によって警報スイッチ１００の常開接点がオン、常閉接点がオフとなり、外部出力線１２０を通して警報信号が出力されなくなる。すなわち本実施形態においては、操作ハンドル６によるリセット操作時にリセットリンク９６によって移動部材８０を正常時の位置に復帰させるため、リセット操作と警報スイッチ１００による警報信号のリセットが同時に行えるという利点がある。また、スライド部材７１に設けた操作面７２と凹所７３で押釦１０３の操作状態を切り換える構造としているから、スライド部材７１を警報スイッチ１００のハウジング１０１前面に密着させた状態で配設することができ、スライド部材７１を移動自在に配設するのに必要なスペースを減らすことができるという利点がある。
【００４０】
次に本発明の要旨であり、手動操作により引き外し部材３５を駆動して引き外し動作を行わせる手動引き外し部材１３０について説明する。この手動引き外し部材１３０は、図２及び図４に示すように矩形の胴部１３１と、胴部１３１の一端側前面から前方及び側方へ突出した操作釦１３２と、胴部１３１の上記一端側後面から後方へ突出した脚片１３３と、脚片１３３の先端より側方へ突出する駆動部１３４とが合成樹脂により一体に形成されている。操作釦１３２は前後方向（図４における上下方向）に直交する断面形状が四角形となる角柱状に形成されている。
【００４１】
第２側ケース４には前面（図４における上面）に開口して操作釦１３２が進退自在に挿通する矩形の挿通孔１４０が設けられ、この挿通孔１４０の近傍における内側面には前後方向（図４における上下方向）に延出する縦壁１４１が設けられるとともに、縦壁１４１の後端には後述する復帰ばね１３５を受けるばね受け部１４２が設けられている。そして、挿通孔１４０に操作釦１３２を挿通し且つ胴部１３１を縦壁１４１に沿わせ、胴部１３１とばね受け部１４２との間に圧縮コイルばねからなる復帰ばね１３５を嵌め込むことによって、ケース１の前後方向に移動自在且つ復帰ばね１３５により前方へ弾性付勢された状態で手動引き外し部材１３０が第２側ケース４に組み付けられる（図４参照）。ここで、図９に示すようにケース１内において駆動部１３４が引き外し部材３５と対向しており、引き外し部材３５と対向する駆動部１３４の端面は後方に向かって引き外し部材３５から徐々に離れる向きに傾斜する傾斜面（以下、「駆動面」と呼ぶ）１３４ａとしてある。そして、図９に示すように投入状態においては駆動部１３４の駆動面１３４ａが引き外し部材３５の前端部３５ｄとの間に僅かな距離をおいて対向している。
【００４２】
而して、挿通孔１４０から露出する操作釦１３２を指（あるいはドライバなどの治具）で押操作すると、復帰ばね１３５のばね力に抗して手動引き外し部材１３０がケース１の後方へ移動し、駆動部１３４の駆動面１３４ａが引き外し部材３５の前端部３５ｄに摺接し、駆動面１３４ａが傾斜面であることから前端部３５ｄに外向き（図９における左向き）の力が働いて引き外し部材３５が図９における反時計回りに回動する。そのため、図１４に示すようにラッチ係止部３５ｃと被係止部３４ｂとの係止が外れ、過負荷電流や短絡電流が流れた場合と同様にクロスバー２０の駆動突片３７ａがラッチ部材３４によって押されなくなって開極ばね４４のばね力によりクロスバー２０が回動して第１及び第２の可動接触子１８，３１を駆動し、第１及び第２の接点部１１，１３が引き外される（図１４参照）。
【００４３】
ところで、本実施形態は配線用遮断器として構成されるものであるが、従来技術でも説明したように収容スペース１４ａ〜１４ｃに零相変流器や漏電検出回路、漏電表示機構並びに漏電テスト釦などを収容することでケース１を共通に利用して漏電遮断器として構成可能となっている。そして漏電遮断器として構成する場合、ケース１前面に収容スペース１４ｂ，１４ｃに連通して漏電表示釦及び漏電テスト釦を露出させるための孔が設けられる。これらの孔の位置は、図１に示すようにケース１前面を前方から見た場合に操作ハンドル６のハンドル部６ａが突出するケース１の開口２７ａに対してケース１の長手方向でハンドル部６ａの開放操作位置に隣り合う位置（図１において点線イ、ロで示した位置）となる。したがって、配線用遮断器と漏電遮断器でケース１を共通に利用する場合にあっては、漏電表示機構及び漏電テスト釦の配置場所を考慮して手動引き外し部材１３０をケース１に配設しなければならない。
【００４４】
そのために本実施形態では、ケース１の前面を前方から見たときにケース１の長手方向に直交する幅方向（図１における左右方向）において操作ハンドル６と重ならない位置であり、且つ操作ハンドル６の投入操作位置と開放操作位置（図６参照）の中間位置（図７参照）から投入操作位置までの範囲に少なくとも一部が重なる位置に挿通孔１４０を設けて操作釦１３２を配設しており、操作ハンドル６の回動方向であるケース１の長手方向（図１、図６及び図７における上下方向）のスペースを用いずに操作釦１３２をケース１の前面に配設することができる。したがって、同一のケース１を配線用遮断器と漏電遮断器に共通で用いる場合にあっても、従来通り操作ハンドル６の回動方向のスペース（点線イ、ロの位置）に漏電表示釦や漏電テスト釦を配設することができる。また、操作釦１３２を漏電表示釦や漏電テスト釦の近傍に配設する場合に比較して区別がつきやすくなるという利点もある。さらに、操作ハンドル６の投入操作位置と開放操作位置の中間位置から投入操作位置までの範囲に少なくとも一部が重なる位置に操作釦１３２を配設することにより、ケース１前面の開口２７ａから操作ハンドル６のハンドル部６ａ先端までのスペースを有効に利用することができる。なお、操作釦１３２を操作ハンドル６の中間位置よりも開放操作位置に近い側に配設した場合、操作釦１３２を押操作して引き外し動作を行ったときに投入操作位置から中間位置に移動する操作ハンドル６のハンドル部６ａが指などに当たる可能性があり、本実施形態のように中間位置よりも投入操作位置に近い側に配設することでハンドル部６ａが指などに当たるのを防ぐことができる。
【００４５】
ここで本実施形態では、操作釦１３２を前後方向に直交する断面形状が四角形となる角柱状に形成しているため、断面形状を円形とする円柱状に形成する場合に比較して操作釦１３２の操作面（挿通孔１４０を通してケース１の前面に露出する面）を十分に大きく採ることができるとともに、手動引き外し部材１３０が組み込まれる第２側ケース４の幅寸法に対しても操作釦１３２の操作面を十分に大きく採ることができて操作釦１３２の操作性向上が図れる。また、操作釦１３２が挿通される挿通孔１４０をハンドル部６ａを突出させる開口２７ａと連通しない位置に形成しているから、操作ハンドル６の動きと操作釦１３２の動きが互いに影響を及ぼし合う虞が無く、操作ハンドル６及び手動引き外し部材１３０のケース１への組み込み作業も容易になるという利点がある。
【００４６】
【発明の効果】
請求項１の発明は、外部配線が接続される端子部と、端子部と電気的に接続される接点部と、接点部を開閉する開閉機構と、過電流を検出して開閉機構を釈放する引き外し手段と、絶縁性材料で形成され、内部に端子部、接点部、開閉機構並びに引き外し手段が収納されるケースと、ケース前面の開口から一部を突出させてケースの長手方向に沿って回動自在に配設され、手動操作により開閉機構を駆動する操作ハンドルと、ケース内に配設され、手動操作により引き外し手段に引き外し動作を行わせる手動引き外し手段とを備え、手動引き外し手段は、ケース前面に露出し且つケースの前後方向に移動自在に配設される操作釦と、操作釦が押操作されたときに引き外し手段を駆動して開閉機構を釈放させる駆動部とを具備し、ケース前面を前方から見たときにケースの長手方向に直交する幅方向において操作ハンドルと重ならない位置であり、且つ操作ハンドルの投入状態における操作位置と開放状態における操作位置の中間位置から投入状態の操作位置までの範囲に少なくとも一部が重なる位置であり且つ投入状態の操作位置に近い側に操作釦を配設し、ケースは、幅方向で結合される第１側ケース及び第２側ケースと、一方の側面を第１側ケースの内側面に対向させ、他方の側面を第２側ケースの内側面と対向させてケース内を長手方向に沿って仕切るとともに前面に前記開口が設けられた中間ケースとからなり、操作ハンドルの幅寸法を中間ケースの幅寸法と略同一とし、中間ケースと第２側ケースの間にできる空間に手動引き外し手段を収納するとともに第２側ケースの前面に操作釦を露出させたことを特徴とし、操作ハンドルの回動方向のスペースを用いずに操作釦をケースの前面に配設することができる。したがって、同一のケースを配線用遮断器と漏電遮断器に共通で用いる場合にあっても、従来通り操作ハンドルの回動方向のスペースに漏電表示釦や漏電テスト釦を配設することができる。また、操作ハンドルの投入状態における操作位置と開放状態における操作位置の中間位置から投入状態の操作位置までの範囲に少なくとも一部が重なる位置であり且つ投入状態の操作位置に近い側に操作釦を配設しているから、ケース前面の開口から操作ハンドルの操作部位先端までのスペースを有効に利用することができ、しかも、第２側ケースの幅寸法に対して操作釦の操作面を充分に大きく採ることができる。
【００４７】
請求項２の発明は、請求項１の発明において、操作釦は、ケースの前後方向に直交する断面形状が略四角形に形成されたことを特徴とし、断面形状を円形とする場合に比較して操作釦の操作面を十分に大きくすることができて操作性の向上が図れる。
【００４９】
請求項３の発明は、請求項１の発明において、第２側ケース前面において操作釦が挿通される挿通孔を前記開口と連通しない位置に形成したことを特徴とし、操作ハンドルの動きと操作釦の動きが互いに影響を及ぼし合う虞が無く、操作ハンドル及び手動引き外し手段のケースへの組み込み作業も容易になる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の実施形態を示し、投入状態における正面図である。
【図２】同上における中間ケース及び第２側ケースとその間に収納される部品の分解斜視図である。
【図３】同上における第１側ケースと第１側ケースに組み込まれる部品の分解斜視図である。
【図４】同上における手動引き外し部材を組み込んだ状態の第２側ケースの側面図である。
【図５】同上を長手方向の一方から見た側面図である。
【図６】同上の開放状態における正面図である。
【図７】同上のリセット前の状態における正面図である。
【図８】同上の投入状態における中間ケース及び第２側ケースの側面図である。
【図９】同上の投入状態における中間ケース及び第１側ケースの側面図である。
【図１０】同上の開放状態における中間ケース及び第２側ケースの側面図である。
【図１１】同上の開放状態における中間ケース及び第１側ケースの側面図である。
【図１２】同上の引き外し動作時における中間ケース及び第２側ケースの側面図である。
【図１３】同上の引き外し動作時における中間ケース及び第１側ケースの側面図である。
【図１４】同上の手動引き外し動作時における破断した側面図である。
【符号の説明】
１ケース
６操作ハンドル
６ａハンドル部
１３０手動引き外し部材
１３２操作釦[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a circuit breaker, and more particularly to a circuit breaker having a function of performing a tripping operation by manual operation.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, a two-pole type circuit breaker has been provided in which a two-pole main circuit is housed in a case of the same size as a conventional one-pole type. This type of circuit breaker includes a circuit breaker (wiring breaker) with an overcurrent trip device that performs a trip operation against overcurrent such as overload current and short circuit current, There is a circuit breaker (leakage circuit breaker) provided with an earth leakage trip device that performs a tripping operation on leakage current (ground fault current) as well as a trip device.
[0003]
In these two types of circuit breakers, there is a space in the common case for storing components that are required only by the earth leakage breaker, such as the earth leakage trip device, zero-phase current transformer, earth leakage display button, and earth leakage test button. An earth leakage circuit breaker is configured by housing these components in the case, and a circuit breaker is configured by not storing these components in the case (see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). However, the case of the earth leakage breaker is different from the case of the circuit breaker for wiring in that a window hole for exposing the earth leakage display button and the earth leakage test button is formed on the front surface.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-16479 (paragraph 0010-paragraph 0017, FIG. 1)
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-11-25841 (paragraph 0009-paragraph 0018, FIG. 1)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional circuit breaker, when it is configured as an earth leakage breaker as described in Patent Literature 2, the operation position (off position) in the open state is the rotation direction of the operation handle on the front surface of the case. On the side, an earth leakage display button and an earth leakage test button are provided. Therefore, it is difficult to arrange the operation button (trip button) for manually performing the tripping operation at the same position, or the operation button can be arranged at the same position as the electric leakage display button and the electric leakage test button. However, there is a problem that it is difficult to distinguish between the earth leakage display button and the earth leakage test button and the operation button.
[0006]
In addition, since the earth leakage display button and the earth leakage test button are not necessary for the circuit breaker for wiring, it is possible to arrange an operation button at the above position on the front surface of the case. When the case is used in common with the case, it is necessary to consider the position of the operation button in consideration of the leakage breaker having a relatively large number of parts.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a circuit breaker in which an operation button can be disposed on the front surface of a case without using a space in a rotation direction of an operation handle. .
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a terminal portion to which external wiring is connected, a contact portion electrically connected to the terminal portion, an opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the contact portion, and an overcurrent. Tripping means for detecting and releasing the opening / closing mechanism, a case made of an insulating material, containing a terminal part, a contact part, an opening / closing mechanism and a releasing means inside, and a part protruding from the opening on the front of the case And an operation handle that is rotatably disposed along the longitudinal direction of the case and that drives the opening / closing mechanism by manual operation, and a manual operation that is disposed in the case and causes the pulling means to perform the pulling operation by manual operation. The manual tripping means includes an operation button that is exposed on the front surface of the case and is movably disposed in the front-rear direction of the case, and drives the tripping means when the operation button is pressed. Drive to release the opening and closing mechanism When the front of the case is viewed from the front, it is a position that does not overlap the operation handle in the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the case, and is intermediate between the operation position in the opened state of the operation handle and the operation position in the opened state An operation button is provided on the side that is at least partially overlapping the range from the position to the operation position in the input state and close to the operation position in the input state. The case has a first side case and a second side case coupled in the width direction, with one side surface facing the inner side surface of the first side case and the other side surface facing the inner side surface of the second side case. And the intermediate case having the opening on the front surface and partitioning the inside of the case along the longitudinal direction, the width dimension of the operation handle is substantially the same as the width dimension of the intermediate case, and between the intermediate case and the second side case The manual trip means is stored in the space that can be made and the operation button is exposed on the front surface of the second case It is characterized by that.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the operation button is characterized in that a cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the front-rear direction of the case is formed in a substantially rectangular shape.
[0011]
Claim 3 The invention of claim 1 The invention is characterized in that an insertion hole through which the operation button is inserted is formed at a position not communicating with the opening on the front surface of the second side case.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
[0013]
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first and second terminal portions 7 and 8 to which the external wiring is connected are electrically connected to the first and second terminal portions 7 and 8, respectively. First and second contact parts 11 and 13, an opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing the first and second contact parts 11 and 13, a tripping means for detecting an overcurrent and releasing the opening and closing mechanism, and insulation And a case 1 in which first and second terminal portions 7 and 8, first and second contact portions 11 and 13, an opening / closing mechanism, a tripping means, and the like are housed.
[0014]
The case 1 has a first side case 2 and a second side case 4 coupled in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, one side surface facing the inner side surface of the first side case 2, and the other side surface second. The intermediate case 3 is formed so as to face the inner surface of the side case 4 and partition the inside of the case 1 along the longitudinal direction. The first terminal portion 7 is arranged on one end face of the first side case 2 facing the longitudinal direction. The second terminal portion 8 is disposed on one end face of the second side case 4 facing the longitudinal direction of the second side case 4.
[0015]
Abutting portions 2a and 4a that abut directly on each other are provided at rear end edges (lower end edges in FIGS. 2 and 3) of the first and second side cases 2 and 4. In addition, a zero-phase current transformer or the like is provided between the abutting portions 2a and 4a and the rear end portion of the intermediate case 3 facing the abutting portions 2a and 4a, as will be described later. An accommodation space 14a for accommodation is formed, and accommodation spaces 14b and 14c for accommodating an earth leakage display mechanism and an earth leakage test mechanism are formed in the intermediate case 3. 2 is an L-shaped cover attached to the intermediate case 3.
[0016]
The first side case 2 has attachment recesses 15 for attaching the case 1 to the distribution board at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the contact portion 2a, and the first terminal portion 7 is located in front (upward in FIG. 3). Is disposed. The first fixed side main circuit portion 16, the first movable side main circuit portion 17, and the first movable contact 18 of the first movable side main circuit portion 17 are supported from the inner surface side of the first side case 2. The cross bar 20 is incorporated and supported for positioning.
[0017]
The first fixed-side main circuit portion 16 includes a fixed contact 21 having a fixed contact 19 and a third terminal portion 9 having a quick-connection terminal structure provided at an end of the fixed contact 21. 2 is positioned and supported by a positioning support portion 68 provided substantially at the center. Since the quick connection terminal structure is well known in the art as disclosed in Patent Document 1, detailed description thereof is omitted. 2 and 3, reference numeral 24 denotes a quick connection terminal release lever.
[0018]
The first movable side main circuit unit 17 includes a first movable contact 18 having a movable contact 25 fixed to the tip thereof, a flexible electric wire 22 having one end connected to the rear end of the first movable contact 18, and A bimetal 23 having one end (free end) connected to the other end of the flexible wire 22, a screw-type first terminal portion 7 in which the bimetal 23 is connected at the other end, and the first terminal portion 7. The first terminal portion 7 is incorporated in a positioning support portion 69 provided at the end portion of the first side case 2 and is positioned and supported. The movable contact 18 is held by the cross bar 20 (see FIG. 8). The first terminal portion 7 and the third terminal portion 9 are provided at the end portions of the first fixed side main circuit portion 16 and the first movable side main circuit portion 17 that are separated from each other, and both ends of the case 1 in the longitudinal direction. Are respectively exposed.
[0019]
The intermediate case 3 is overlapped on the inner surface side of the first side case 2 and is adjacent to the first fixed-side main circuit portion 16 and the first movable-side main circuit portion 17. Insulating the unit 30 and the second movable side main circuit unit 32). The intermediate case 3 also serves to position and hold the main circuit portion and other necessary parts with respect to the first side case 2, and is formed with a recess 27 for escaping the operation handle 6 and a hole 28 for escaping the cross bar 20. . As described above, in order to form the accommodating space 14a between the rear end portion (lower end portion in FIG. 2) of the intermediate case 3 and the contact portion 2a of the first side case 2, the front and rear direction of the intermediate case 3 (see FIG. The vertical dimension in FIG. 2 is shorter than the dimension of the first case 2. A second movable side main circuit portion 32 having a second fixed side main circuit portion 30 and a second movable contact 31 supported by the crossbar 20 is incorporated and supported on one surface side of the intermediate case 3. Is done. The second fixed-side main circuit portion 30 and the second movable-side main circuit portion 32 are exposed from the first side case 2, the intermediate case 3, and the second side case 4 at end portions separated from each other. And a fourth terminal portion 10.
[0020]
The second fixed-side main circuit unit 30 includes a fixed contact 51 having a fixed contact 50 and a fourth terminal unit 10 having a quick connection terminal structure with a release lever 24 and is incorporated in the positioning support unit 66 of the intermediate case 3. And is supported by positioning. The second movable side main circuit section 32 includes a second movable contact 31 having a movable contact 52 fixed to the tip, a flexible electric wire 53 having one end connected to the rear end of the second movable contact 31, A bimetal 54 having a distal end (free end) connected to the other end of the flexible wire 53, a screw-type second terminal portion 8 in which the bimetal 54 is connected at the other end, and the second terminal portion 8. The second terminal portion 8 is incorporated into the positioning support portion 67 of the intermediate case 3 and is positioned and supported, and the second movable contact 31 is formed by the crossbar 20. (See FIG. 9).
[0021]
The cross bar 20 is made of a synthetic resin molded product having insulating properties, and a concave portion 37 into which the first movable contactor 18 is fitted and a second movable member are formed on both side surfaces facing the first and second side cases 2 and 4. A concave portion 38 for fitting the contact 31 is provided, and the first and second movable contacts 18 and 31 are fitted and held in the concave portions 37 and 38 by contact pressure applying springs 41 and 42 formed of compression coil springs, respectively. (See FIGS. 8 and 9). In addition, cylindrical shafts 39 are respectively provided in front of the recesses 37 and 38 on both side surfaces of the crossbar 20 (upward in FIG. 3), and the longitudinal direction of the first side case 2 and the second side case 4 and The shafts 39 are pivotally supported in the shaft holes 40 provided in the approximate center in the front-rear direction, so that the crossbar 20 is interposed between the first side case 2 and the second side case 4 through the holes 28 of the intermediate case 3. It is pivotally mounted so that it can rotate freely. As shown in FIG. 8, a protrusion 46 is provided at the rear end portion of the cross bar 20, and both ends of the biasing spring 44 made of a tension coil spring are connected to the protrusion 46 of the cross bar 20 and the first side case 2. The first and second movable contactors 18 and 31 are driven by hooking and engaging with the projection 47 projecting from the vicinity of the positioning support portion 68, and the movable contacts 25 and 52 are moved from the fixed contacts 19 and 50. The crossbar 20 is elastically biased in the direction to be separated.
[0022]
The open / close mechanism that opens and closes the first contact portion 11 composed of the fixed contact 19 and the movable contact 25 and the second contact portion 13 composed of the fixed contact 50 and the movable contact 52 has a cross bar 20 and a substantially U-shape. A link 33 that is formed and has one end rotatably attached to the operation handle 6 and a drive protrusion 37a that is rotatably attached to the other end of the link 33 and protrudes from the front surface of the crossbar 20 is provided at one end. And a latch member 34 that is pushed and driven. The operation handle 6 has a shaft 58 at a substantially central portion, and one of the operation handles 6 passes through the fitting hole 12 of the intermediate case 3 into the bearing hole 5 formed at the front end portion in the longitudinal center of the inner surface of the first side case 2. The shaft 58 is pivotally supported, and the other shaft 58 is pivotally supported by a bearing hole 59 formed at the front end portion at the center in the longitudinal direction on the inner side surface of the second side case 4. The operation handle 6 is provided with a handle portion 6a and a link connecting portion 6b on opposite sides of the shaft 58, one end of the link 33 is fitted to the link connecting portion 6b, and the other end is an intermediate portion of the latch member 34. Is fitted in a shaft hole 34a provided in
[0023]
The tripping member 35 includes a pair of shafts 35a that are respectively supported by shaft holes 60a formed in cylindrical bearing portions 60 protruding from the inner surfaces of the first side case 2 and the second side case 4, respectively. It has a pair of bimetal receiving portions 35b and 35b facing the tip portions of the bimetals 23 and 54, and a latch locking portion 35c to which the other end portion (latched portion 34b) of the latch member 34 is locked in the inserted state. Along with the cross bar 20, the first case 2 and the second case 4 are rotatably disposed through the hole 28 of the intermediate case 3. The tripping member 35 is provided with a pair of magnetic plates 61 and 61 that face the magnetic plates 26 and 55 surrounding the bimetals 23 and 54, respectively. That is, the tripping member 35, the bimetals 23 and 54, and the magnetic plates 26, 55, and 61 constitute tripping means for releasing the opening / closing mechanism against overcurrent (overload current and short circuit current).
[0024]
By the way, in this embodiment, when the tripping operation by the tripping means is performed, the alarm switch 100 for outputting an alarm signal to the outside and the state of the first and second contact portions 11 and 13 (opening state) Or an auxiliary switch 110 for outputting a state signal indicating a closed state) is housed in the case 1.
[0025]
The auxiliary switch 110 is a micro switch in which a push button 113 protruding from the front surface of the housing 111 is pressed via an actuator 114 made of a plate material supported at one end by the housing 111. The housing 111 has a pair of mounting holes. 112 is penetrated. A pair of vertical walls 90 extending in the front-rear direction (vertical direction in FIG. 3) are provided in the storage space 14 a on the inner side surface of the first side case 2, and a pair of mounting protrusions 91 are provided between the vertical walls 90. The auxiliary switch 110 is disposed between the vertical walls 90 by inserting the pair of attachment protrusions 91 into the attachment holes 112 of the housing 111. The auxiliary switch 110 is arranged with the actuator 114 facing the front of the case 1, and the actuator 114 is driven by the crossbar 20 as will be described later.
[0026]
Like the auxiliary switch 110, the alarm switch 100 is a micro switch in which a push button 103 protrudes from the front surface of the housing 100 and a pair of mounting holes 102 penetrates the housing 101. 3) (in the lower part of FIG. 3) is stored in an alarm switch storage unit 92 provided in a space between the first side case 2 and the intermediate case 3. Here, as shown in FIG. 5, at one end face facing the longitudinal direction of the case 1, the first terminal portion 7 is the second terminal portion 8 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the case 1 (vertical direction in FIG. 5). In this case, the space behind the first terminal portion 7 in the case 1 becomes a dead space. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a hook-shaped partition wall 93 is provided behind the positioning support portion 69 that supports the first terminal portion 7 at one end portion of the inner side surface of the first side case 2 (downward in FIG. 3). The space surrounded by the support portion 69, the partition wall 93, and the intermediate case 3 is used as an alarm switch storage portion 92, and the space that was originally a dead space is effectively utilized. Further, even if the alarm switch 100 is provided in the space between the first side case 2 and the intermediate case 3 behind the first terminal portion 7, the operation of the opening / closing mechanism and the tripping means is unlikely to be hindered.
[0027]
A pair of mounting protrusions 94 project from the alarm switch storage portion 92, and the alarm switch 100 is inserted in the alarm switch storage portion 92 by inserting the pair of mounting protrusions 94 into the mounting holes 102 of the housing 101. Positioned and fixed. The alarm switch 100 is a space between the first case 2 and the intermediate case 3 on the front surface of the housing 101 where the push button 103 is provided, and is opposite to the end surface on which the first terminal portion 7 is disposed. Is arranged toward the end surface (the end surface on which the third terminal portion 9 is disposed), and a space for operating the push button 103 with the slide member 71 can be easily taken as described later. Coordination has become easier.
[0028]
Here, the alarm switch 100 and the auxiliary switch 110 include three terminals 104 and 115 protruding in a row from the bottom surfaces of the housings 101 and 111, and one end of the external output line 120 is connected to each of the terminals 104 and 115. The The external output line 120 connected to the terminal 104 of the alarm switch 100 is inserted into an insertion groove 93a formed in the partition wall 93, drawn out of the alarm switch storage portion 92, and external connected to the terminal 115 of the auxiliary switch 110. It passes through the accommodating space 14 a together with the output line 120 and is drawn out of the case 1 from a through groove 2 b provided near the mounting recess 15 on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the first side case 2.
[0029]
By the way, in the alarm switch storage portion 92, a slide member 71 for pressing the push button 103, which is an operation portion of the alarm switch 100, is stored in a state of being in close contact with the front surface of the housing 101. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the slide member 71 is entirely formed in a rectangular plate shape from an insulating synthetic resin, and an operation surface 72 for pressing the push button 103 on the contact surface with the housing 101, and a slide A depression 73 provided at a position adjacent to the operation surface 72 in the direction, and a position where the push button 103 is pushed on the operation surface 72 and a position where the push button 103 is not pushed by releasing the depression 73 into the depression 73. Between them. That is, since the slide member 71 slides in parallel with the front surface of the housing 101 to operate the push button 103, the displacement of the slide member 71 with respect to the push button 103 is reduced, and the operation of the push button 103 is stabilized.
[0030]
The slide member 71 configured as described above is slid between the two positions by the moving member 80. The moving member 80 includes a ring-shaped rotation shaft portion 81, a leg portion 82 projecting radially from the outer peripheral surface of the rotation shaft portion 81, and a direction opposite to the leg portion 82 from the outer peripheral surface of the rotation shaft portion 81. The restricting portion 83 protruding inward and the receiving portion 84 protruding in the axial direction of the rotating shaft portion 81 from the side surface of the restricting portion 83 are integrally formed of synthetic resin. The rotating shaft portion 81 is externally inserted into a bearing portion 60 projecting from the inner side surface of the first side case 2 and is pivotally supported outside the bearing portion 60. The leg portion 82 enters the alarm switch housing portion 92 through the insertion hole 95 provided between the positioning support portion 69 and the partition wall 93 of the first side case 2 and penetrates the slide member 71 in the thickness direction. And is engaged with a projecting piece 75 projecting on the surface opposite to the operation surface 72 (see FIG. 8). As shown in FIG. 8, the restricting portion 83 abuts against the front end portion of the crossbar 20 when the first and second contact portions 11 and 13 are in the engaged state, and the moving member 80 having the bearing portion 60 as a fulcrum. Is restricted. Further, the receiving portion 84 is inserted through the hole portion 28 of the intermediate cover 3, and at a position facing the locked portion 34b of the latch member 34 in the front-rear direction (vertical direction in FIG. 9) of the case 1 as shown in FIG. Be placed. Further, a locking hole 85 for locking one end portion 96a of the reset link 96 is provided on a side surface of the restricting portion 83 from which the receiving portion 84 protrudes.
[0031]
As described above, the tripping member 35 and the moving member 80 are supported in order to pivotally support the rotating shaft portion 81 of the moving member 80 outside the bearing portion 60 having the shaft hole 60a on which the shaft 35a of the tripping member 35 is pivotally supported. However, it becomes difficult for the bearing portions 60 to interfere with each other, and each rotation operation can be stabilized. Further, since the rotation fulcrum of the moving member 80 coincides with the rotation fulcrum of the tripping member 35, the latch member 34 to be locked to the latch locking portion 35c of the tripping member 35 is locked as will be described later. The moving member 80 can be rotated by the portion 34b, and the latch member 34 can be easily linked from the removing member 35 to the moving member 80. Further, since the rotation of the moving member 80 in the closing state is restricted by the restricting portion 83, the slide member 71 is slid by the moving means 80 in the closing state, and an alarm signal is erroneously output from the alarm switch 100. Can be prevented.
[0032]
The reset link 96 is formed in a bowl shape by bending a rod-shaped metal material. As described above, one end portion 96a is locked in the locking hole 85 and the other end portion 96b is provided in the operation handle 6. Locked in a long hole (not shown).
[0033]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. 10 and 11 each show an open state. FIG. 10 is a side view with the first side case 2 removed, and FIG. 11 is a side view with the second side case 4 removed. In the open state, the handle portion 6a of the operation handle 6 exposed on the front surface of the case 1 is inclined toward the end portion of the end portion of the case 1 where the third and fourth terminal portions 9 and 10 are disposed. (Refer to FIG. 6), the latch member 34 connected to the operation handle 6 via the link 33 is located in front of the case 1 (upward in FIGS. 10 and 11). ). For this reason, the end of the latch member 34 is separated from the drive protrusion 37a of the cross bar 20, and the cross bar 20 is rotated by the spring force of the opening spring 44, so that the first and second movable contacts 18, 31 are moved. When driven, the first and second contact portions 11 and 13 are opened (turned off). In the open state, the actuator 114 of the auxiliary switch 110 is not driven by the crossbar 20, and the push button 113 is not pushed. Further, the end portion 96b of the reset link 96 is locked to the rear end of a long hole (not shown) of the operation handle 6, and the moving member 80 connected by the end portion 96a of the reset link 96 is shown in FIG. The slide member 71 is held at a position where the leg portion 82 pushes the push button 103 of the alarm switch 100 on the operation surface 72 by the leg portion 82. That is, the microswitch constituting the alarm switch 100 has a normally open contact and a normally closed contact built therein, and in the open state, the normally open contact is on and the normally closed contact is off.
[0034]
Then, as shown in FIG. 1, when the operation handle 6 is rotated from the opening operation position to the position opposite to the opening operation position (hereinafter referred to as “loading operation position”), it is latched via the link 33. The member 34 is moved to the rear of the case 1, and eventually the locked portion 34b of the latch member 34 is locked to the latch locking portion 35c of the tripping member 35, and the latch member 34 is set with the locked portion 34b as a fulcrum. By rotating, the driving protrusion 37a is pushed at its end, and the cross bar 20 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 10 (clockwise in FIG. 11) against the spring force of the opening spring 44, The first and second movable contacts 18 and 31 are driven, and the first and second contact portions 11 and 13 are turned on. The operation handle 6 is locked to a locking portion 27b formed at the opening edge of the concave portion 27 of the intermediate case 3 beyond the reversing dead point during the operation. FIGS. 8 and 9 each show a loaded state. FIG. 8 is a side view with the first side case 2 removed, and FIG. 9 is a side view with the second side case 4 removed.
[0035]
On the other hand, in the closed state, the actuator 114 of the auxiliary switch 110 is driven by the crossbar 20, so that the push button 113 is pushed. Even if the operation handle 6 is rotated, the end portion 96b of the reset link 96 only changes its position relative to the long hole, and the position of the moving member 80 connected by the end portion 96a of the reset link 96 is as follows. It does not change. For this reason, the slide member 71 remains held at a position where the push button 103 of the alarm switch 100 is pushed on the operation surface 72.
[0036]
When an overload current flows in the applied state, the bimetals 23 and 54 are bent due to self-heating and the tip ends are displaced, the bimetal receiving portion 35b of the tripping member 35 is pushed at the tips of the bimetals 23 and 54, and pulled. Since the removing member 35 rotates clockwise in FIG. 8 (counterclockwise in FIG. 9), the latch locking portion 35c and the locked portion 34b are unlocked. As a result, the drive protrusion 37a of the crossbar 20 is not pushed by the latch member 34, and the crossbar 20 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 12 (counterclockwise in FIG. 13) by the spring force of the opening spring 44. Then, the first and second movable contacts 18 and 31 are driven, and the first and second contact portions 11 and 13 are pulled off (tripped). Further, the end of the latch member 34 is pushed by the driving protrusion 37a of the cross bar 20, and the latch member 34 rotates clockwise in FIG. 12 (counterclockwise in FIG. 13) with the end of the link 33 inserted through the shaft hole 34a as a fulcrum. When the locked portion 34b comes into contact with the receiving portion 84 of the moving member 80 to rotate the moving member 80 counterclockwise in FIG. 12, and the moving member 80 stops rotating as will be described later. The operation handle 6 is in a neutral posture (see FIG. 7). 12 and 13 each show a state during the tripping operation. FIG. 12 is a side view with the first side case 2 removed, and FIG. 13 is a side view with the second side case 4 removed.
[0037]
When a short-circuit current flows in the on state, the magnetic plate 61 is attracted by the magnetic attractive force generated in the magnetic plates 26 and 55 before the bimetals 23 and 54 are bent by self-heating, and the tripping member 35 is moved to the timepiece in FIG. The above-described tripping operation is performed by rotating around.
[0038]
On the other hand, during the above-described tripping operation, the actuator 114 of the auxiliary switch 110 is not driven by the crossbar 20, so that the push button 113 is not pushed. Further, as described above, the receiving member 84 is pushed by the locked portion 34b of the latch member 34 and the moving member 80 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. Slide forward (upward in FIG. 12). As the slide member 71 moves to the front of the case 1, the push button 103 of the alarm switch 100 fits into the recess 73 of the slide member 71 and the push button 103 is not pushed. Therefore, in the tripped state, the normally open contact of the alarm switch 100 is off and the normally closed contact is on, and an alarm signal is output through the external output line 120.
[0039]
After the bimetals 26 and 54 are restored to the original state, when the reset operation is performed to rotate the operation handle 6 until the handle portion 6a located at the intermediate position between the opening operation position and the closing operation position reaches the opening operation position, the link 33 Then, the latch member 34 is moved to the front of the case 1, and the locked portion 34 b is locked to the latch locking portion 35 c of the tripping member 35. At this time, the end 96 b of the reset link 96 is locked to the end of the long hole of the operation handle 6, and the moving member 80 rotates clockwise in FIG. 12 via the reset link 96 and slides on the leg 82. The member 71 is moved to the rear of the case 1. Therefore, since the push button 103 comes out of the recess 73 of the slide member 71 and is pushed by the operation surface 72, the normally open contact of the alarm switch 100 is turned on and the normally closed contact is turned off by the reset operation. Alarm signal is not output. That is, in this embodiment, since the moving member 80 is returned to the normal position by the reset link 96 during the reset operation by the operation handle 6, there is an advantage that the reset operation and the reset of the alarm signal by the alarm switch 100 can be performed at the same time. In addition, since the operation state of the push button 103 is switched between the operation surface 72 provided on the slide member 71 and the recess 73, the slide member 71 may be disposed in close contact with the front surface of the housing 101 of the alarm switch 100. In addition, there is an advantage that a space necessary for disposing the slide member 71 in a movable manner can be reduced.
[0040]
Next, the manual tripping member 130 which is the gist of the present invention and drives the tripping member 35 by manual operation to perform the tripping operation will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the manual tripping member 130 includes a rectangular body 131, an operation button 132 that protrudes forward and laterally from the front surface of one end of the body 131, and the one end of the body 131. A leg piece 133 protruding rearward from the side rear surface and a drive part 134 protruding sideward from the tip of the leg piece 133 are integrally formed of synthetic resin. The operation button 132 is formed in a prismatic shape having a quadrangular cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the front-rear direction (vertical direction in FIG. 4).
[0041]
The second side case 4 is provided with a rectangular insertion hole 140 that opens to the front surface (upper surface in FIG. 4) and through which the operation button 132 can be moved forward and backward. The inner side surface in the vicinity of the insertion hole 140 has a front-rear direction ( A vertical wall 141 extending in the vertical direction in FIG. 4 is provided, and a spring receiving portion 142 for receiving a return spring 135 described later is provided at the rear end of the vertical wall 141. Then, the operation button 132 is inserted into the insertion hole 140, the body part 131 is along the vertical wall 141, and a return spring 135 made of a compression coil spring is fitted between the body part 131 and the spring receiving part 142. The manual trip member 130 is assembled to the second case 4 while being movable in the front-rear direction of the case 1 and elastically biased forward by the return spring 135 (see FIG. 4). Here, as shown in FIG. 9, the drive unit 134 faces the tripping member 35 in the case 1, and the end surface of the drive unit 134 that faces the tripping member 35 gradually moves backward from the tripping member 35. An inclined surface (hereinafter referred to as “driving surface”) 134a that is inclined in a direction away from the center. As shown in FIG. 9, the driving surface 134 a of the driving unit 134 faces the front end 35 d of the tripping member 35 with a slight distance in the closed state.
[0042]
Thus, when the operation button 132 exposed from the insertion hole 140 is pressed with a finger (or a jig such as a driver), the manual tripping member 130 moves to the rear of the case 1 against the spring force of the return spring 135. Then, since the drive surface 134a of the drive unit 134 is in sliding contact with the front end portion 35d of the tripping member 35 and the drive surface 134a is an inclined surface, an outward force (leftward in FIG. 9) acts on the front end portion 35d. The removal member 35 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, the latching portion 35 c and the latched portion 34 b are unlocked, and the driving protrusion 37 a of the crossbar 20 is latched in the same manner as when an overload current or a short-circuit current flows. 34, the cross bar 20 is rotated by the spring force of the opening spring 44 and the first and second movable contacts 18 and 31 are driven, and the first and second contact portions 11 and 13 are moved. It is pulled off (see FIG. 14).
[0043]
By the way, although this embodiment is configured as a circuit breaker for wiring, as described in the prior art, a zero-phase current transformer, a leakage detection circuit, a leakage display mechanism, a leakage test button, and the like are provided in the accommodation spaces 14a to 14c. Can be configured as an earth leakage circuit breaker using the case 1 in common. When configured as an earth leakage breaker, a hole for exposing the earth leakage display button and the earth leakage test button is provided in front of the case 1 so as to communicate with the housing spaces 14b and 14c. As shown in FIG. 1, these holes are positioned in the longitudinal direction of the case 1 with respect to the opening 27 a of the case 1 from which the handle portion 6 a of the operation handle 6 projects when the front surface of the case 1 is viewed from the front. Is a position adjacent to the opening operation position (positions indicated by dotted lines A and B in FIG. 1). Therefore, when the case 1 is used in common by the circuit breaker for wiring and the earth leakage breaker, the manual tripping member 130 is arranged in the case 1 in consideration of the location of the earth leakage display mechanism and the earth leakage test button. There must be.
[0044]
Therefore, in this embodiment, when the front surface of the case 1 is viewed from the front, it is a position that does not overlap with the operation handle 6 in the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the case 1 (left and right direction in FIG. 1). An insertion hole 140 is provided at a position at least partially overlapping the range from the intermediate position (see FIG. 7) between the closing operation position and the opening operation position (see FIG. 6) to the closing operation position, and the operation button 132 is provided. Thus, the operation button 132 can be disposed on the front surface of the case 1 without using a space in the longitudinal direction of the case 1 (vertical direction in FIGS. 1, 6, and 7) that is the rotation direction of the operation handle 6. . Therefore, even when the same case 1 is commonly used for the circuit breaker and the earth leakage breaker, the earth leakage display button and the earth leakage are provided in the space in the rotation direction of the operation handle 6 (dotted line a and b) as usual. A test button can be provided. In addition, there is an advantage that the operation buttons 132 can be easily distinguished as compared with the case where the operation buttons 132 are disposed in the vicinity of the leakage indicator button or the leakage test button. Further, by disposing the operation button 132 at a position at least partially overlapping the range from the intermediate position between the closing operation position and the opening operation position of the operation handle 6 to the closing operation position, the operation handle is opened from the opening 27a on the front surface of the case 1. The space up to the tip of the handle portion 6a can be used effectively. When the operation button 132 is disposed closer to the opening operation position than the intermediate position of the operation handle 6, the operation button 132 is moved from the closing operation position to the intermediate position when the operation button 132 is pushed to perform the releasing operation. The handle portion 6a of the operation handle 6 to be touched may hit a finger or the like, and the handle portion 6a is prevented from hitting the finger or the like by being disposed closer to the closing operation position than the intermediate position as in the present embodiment. Can do.
[0045]
Here, in the present embodiment, since the operation button 132 is formed in a prismatic shape in which the cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the front-rear direction is a quadrangular shape, the operation button 132 is compared to a case where the operation button 132 is formed in a circular column shape. The operation surface (the surface exposed to the front surface of the case 1 through the insertion hole 140) can be made sufficiently large, and the operation button 132 is also used for the width dimension of the second side case 4 in which the manual tripping member 130 is incorporated. The operation surface can be made sufficiently large, and the operability of the operation button 132 can be improved. In addition, since the insertion hole 140 through which the operation button 132 is inserted is formed at a position that does not communicate with the opening 27a from which the handle portion 6a protrudes, the movement of the operation handle 6 and the movement of the operation button 132 may affect each other. There is an advantage that the operation handle 6 and the manual tripping member 130 can be easily assembled into the case 1.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a terminal part to which an external wiring is connected, a contact part electrically connected to the terminal part, an opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing the contact part, an overcurrent is detected, and the opening / closing mechanism is released. Tripping means, a case made of an insulating material, containing a terminal part, a contact part, an opening / closing mechanism and a tripping means inside, a part projecting from the opening on the front of the case and extending along the longitudinal direction of the case An operation handle that is pivotably disposed and drives the opening / closing mechanism by manual operation, and a manual tripping means that is disposed in the case and that causes the tripping means to perform a pulling operation by manual operation. The tripping means includes an operation button that is exposed on the front surface of the case and is movably disposed in the front-rear direction of the case, and a drive unit that drives the tripping means to release the opening / closing mechanism when the operation button is pressed. And the front of the case When viewed from the side, it is a position that does not overlap with the operation handle in the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the case, and from an intermediate position between the operation position in the closing state of the operation handle and the operation position in the open state to the operation position in the closing state An operation button is arranged on the side that is at least partially overlapping the range of the The case has a first side case and a second side case coupled in the width direction, with one side surface facing the inner side surface of the first side case and the other side surface facing the inner side surface of the second side case. And the intermediate case having the opening on the front surface and partitioning the inside of the case along the longitudinal direction, the width dimension of the operation handle is substantially the same as the width dimension of the intermediate case, and between the intermediate case and the second side case The manual trip means is stored in the space that can be made and the operation button is exposed on the front surface of the second case The operation button can be disposed on the front surface of the case without using a space in the rotation direction of the operation handle. Therefore, even when the same case is used in common for the circuit breaker and the earth leakage breaker, the earth leakage display button and the earth leakage test button can be arranged in the space in the rotation direction of the operation handle as in the past. In addition, an operation button is provided on a side that is at least partially overlapped with a range from an intermediate position between the operation position in the closing state of the operation handle and the operation position in the open state to the operation position in the closing state and close to the operation position in the closing state. Because it is arranged, the space from the opening on the front of the case to the tip of the operation part of the operation handle can be used effectively. In addition, the operation surface of the operation button can be made sufficiently large with respect to the width dimension of the second side case. The
[0047]
The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, the operation button is characterized in that the cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the front-rear direction of the case is formed in a substantially square shape, as compared with a case where the cross-sectional shape is circular. The operation surface of the operation button can be made sufficiently large, and the operability can be improved.
[0049]
Claim 3 The invention of claim 1 In the invention, the insertion hole through which the operation button is inserted is formed on the front surface of the second side case at a position not communicating with the opening, and the movement of the operation handle and the movement of the operation button may affect each other. In addition, the operation of assembling the operation handle and manual tripping means into the case is facilitated.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is a front view in a loaded state.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the intermediate case and the second side case and the components housed therebetween in the same case.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first side case and components incorporated in the first side case in the same as above.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the second case in a state where the manual tripping member is incorporated.
FIG. 5 is a side view of the above viewed from one side in the longitudinal direction.
FIG. 6 is a front view in the opened state of the above.
FIG. 7 is a front view showing a state before resetting.
FIG. 8 is a side view of the intermediate case and the second side case in the closing state.
FIG. 9 is a side view of the intermediate case and the first side case in the closing state.
FIG. 10 is a side view of the intermediate case and the second side case in the opened state.
FIG. 11 is a side view of the intermediate case and the first side case in the opened state.
FIG. 12 is a side view of the intermediate case and the second side case during the tripping operation of the above.
FIG. 13 is a side view of the intermediate case and the first side case during the above-described tripping operation.
FIG. 14 is a side view broken away during the manual tripping operation of the above.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 case
6 Operation handle
6a Handle part
130 Manual tripping member
132 Operation buttons

Claims

A terminal part to which external wiring is connected; a contact part electrically connected to the terminal part; an opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing the contact part; a tripping means for detecting an overcurrent to release the opening / closing mechanism; A case made of material and containing a terminal part, contact part, opening / closing mechanism and tripping means inside, and a part projecting from the opening on the front of the case so as to be rotatable along the longitudinal direction of the case An operation handle for driving the opening / closing mechanism by manual operation, and manual trip means disposed in the case for causing the trip means to perform a tripping operation by manual operation. An operation button that is exposed to the front and is movable in the front-rear direction of the case, and a drive unit that drives the tripping means to release the opening / closing mechanism when the operation button is pressed, When viewed from the front In the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the case, and at least one in the range from the intermediate position between the operating position in the throwing state and the operating position in the open state to the operating position in the throwing state. The operation buttons are arranged on the side where the parts overlap and close to the operation position in the thrown-in state, and the case has a first side case and a second side case coupled in the width direction, and one side faces the first side. An intermediate case having an opening provided on the front surface and the inside of the case being partitioned along the longitudinal direction with the other side facing the inner side of the second side case and facing the inner side of the second side case. The width dimension is approximately the same as the width dimension of the intermediate case, the manual trip means is stored in the space formed between the intermediate case and the second case, and the operation buttons are exposed on the front surface of the second case. Circuit breaker, characterized in that it allowed.

2. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the operation button has a substantially quadrangular cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the case.

Circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein a through hole which the operation button is inserted is formed at a position not said opening communicating with the second side casing front.