JP7493482B2 - Circuit Breakers - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a circuit breaker having a configuration for crossover wiring.

A circuit breaker is known that includes a power supply side terminal that is connected to an electric wire extending from a voltage source, and a configuration for crossover wiring of the power supply side terminal. Patent Document 1 discloses a circuit breaker to which a wiring connector having a terminal block with an insertion hole and a conductive member fitted into the terminal block is attached, and an electric wire can be connected to the power supply side terminal by inserting the electric wire into the insertion hole. In the circuit breaker of Patent Document 1, two electric wires can be inserted into one wiring connector, so that crossover wiring using the wiring connector is possible. Patent Document 2 discloses a circuit breaker in which a recess is formed in the casing of the circuit breaker, and a copper bar of a distribution board is inserted into the recess, thereby enabling branch wiring without going through a main breaker. In the circuit breaker of Patent Document 2, a copper bar is inserted into each of two recesses formed in the casing, so that crossover wiring of the circuit breaker is possible.

JP 2018-156885 A Japanese Patent No. 4290827

In the technology of Patent Document 1, when connecting a connected device to a circuit breaker using a jumper wiring, the construction company had to prepare electric wires for the jumper wiring and connect the electric wires to a wiring connector. In the technology of Patent Document 2, when connecting a connected device to a circuit breaker using a jumper wiring, the construction company had to prepare a copper bar designed according to the layout of the circuit breaker and the connected device, and connect the copper bar to the circuit breaker. Therefore, according to the conventional technology of Patent Documents 1 and 2, the circuit breaker has a problem with the ease of connecting connected devices using jumper wiring.

The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a circuit breaker that can improve the ease of connecting connected devices using jumper wiring.

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the objectives, the circuit breaker disclosed herein includes a terminal that can be connected to an electric wire, a connecting part for connecting a connected device to the terminal, and a connecting unit that changes its position between a first state in which the connecting part is electrically insulated from the terminal and a second state in which the connecting part is electrically connected to the terminal, and that allows the connecting part to be electrically connected to the connected device in the second state.

The circuit breaker disclosed herein has the effect of improving the ease of connecting connected devices using jumper wiring.

FIG. 1 is a first perspective view showing an appearance of a circuit breaker according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a second perspective view showing an appearance of the circuit breaker according to the first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a first exploded perspective view of a circuit breaker according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a second exploded perspective view of the circuit breaker according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the configuration within the frame V shown in FIG. An enlarged view of the configuration within the box VI shown in FIG. FIG. 1 is a first exploded perspective view of a connection unit included in a circuit breaker according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a second exploded perspective view of the connection unit of the circuit breaker according to the first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a side view of a circuit breaker according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a first diagram showing a state in which a connected device is connected to a circuit breaker according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which a connected device is connected to the circuit breaker according to the first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a second diagram showing a state in which a connected device is connected to the circuit breaker according to the first embodiment;

The circuit breaker according to the embodiment is described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1.
Fig. 1 is a first perspective view showing the appearance of the circuit breaker 1 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a second perspective view showing the appearance of the circuit breaker 1 according to the first embodiment. The circuit breaker 1 is a breaker that is installed for the purpose of protecting low-voltage distribution equipment from an overcurrent or protecting low-voltage distribution equipment from a short-circuit current. When an overcurrent or a short-circuit current flows through an electric circuit to which the circuit breaker 1 is connected, the circuit breaker 1 opens the electric circuit by operating a switching mechanism. The switching mechanism is not shown.

The circuit breaker 1 has a power supply side terminal 4, which is a terminal that is connected to an electric wire extending from a voltage source such as a transformer. The circuit breaker 1 also has a connection unit 2, which is a configuration for the jumper wiring of the power supply side terminal 4. The connection unit 2 is provided vertically below the power supply side terminal 4. A connected device is connected to the power supply side terminal 4 by a jumper wiring. The connected device is a ground fault circuit interrupter with an additional leakage detection function in the same configuration as the circuit breaker 1, or a switch including a switch.

The circuit breaker 1 also has two side plates 3 which form both sides of the circuit breaker 1. The portions of each side plate 3 where the connecting units 2 are arranged are cut out. In other words, the connecting units 2 are not covered by the side plates 3 and can be seen and touched from outside the circuit breaker 1. Hereinafter, one of the two sides of the circuit breaker 1 which is the near side in FIG. 1 will be referred to as the first side, and the other will be referred to as the second side. Of the two side plates 3 of the circuit breaker 1, one of the near side in FIG. 1 will be referred to as the first side, and the other will be referred to as the second side.

The connection unit 2 has a cover 10, a base 11, and a cover 12. Each of the cover 10, the base 11, and the cover 12 constitutes an insulating housing of the connection unit 2. When the connection unit 2 is in the state shown in FIG. 1, the cover 10 and the cover 12, together with the first side plate, constitute the first side of the circuit breaker 1. The base 11 and the cover 12, together with the second side plate, constitute the second side of the circuit breaker 1. The state of the connection unit 2 shown in FIG. 1 is referred to as the first state.

Figure 2 shows the connection unit 2 rotated 90 degrees in a horizontal plane from the first state shown in Figure 1. The state of the connection unit 2 shown in Figure 2 is referred to as the second state. When the connection unit 2 is in the second state, the cover 10 can be removed from the circuit breaker 1 as shown in Figure 2. In the second state, the socket 13 of the base 11 is exposed to the outside of the circuit breaker 1 on the first side. This makes it possible to insert a connected part of the connected device into the socket 13.

The connecting unit 2 has a connecting bar 14, which is a connecting part for connecting the connected device to the power supply side terminal 4. The connecting bar 14 is made of a conductive metal material. When the cover 10 is removed, the end of the connecting bar 14 is exposed to the outside of the circuit breaker 1 on the second side. This makes it possible for the connecting bar 14 to be inserted into the connected socket of the connected device. The socket 13 and the connecting bar 14 are oriented in opposite directions to each other in the second state.

Figure 3 is a first exploded perspective view of the circuit breaker 1 according to the first embodiment. Figure 4 is a second exploded perspective view of the circuit breaker 1 according to the first embodiment. Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the configuration within frame V shown in Figure 3. Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the configuration within frame VI shown in Figure 4. Figure 3 shows the configuration of the circuit breaker 1 shown in Figure 1 without the first side plate. Figure 4 shows the configuration of the circuit breaker 1 shown in Figure 2 without the first side plate.

The circuit breaker 1 has a spring 5 electrically connected to the power supply side terminal 4. The spring 5 is made of a conductive metal material. The circuit breaker 1 also has a pin 6 that is passed through the connection unit 2. The pin 6 is arranged in a vertical direction. The connection unit 2 rotates in a horizontal plane by rotating around the pin 6.

When the connection unit 2 is in the first state shown in Figures 3 and 5, the connection bar 14 is separated from the spring 5. In the first state, the connection bar 14 is separated from the spring 5, and thus the connection bar 14 is electrically insulated from the power supply terminal 4.

When the connecting unit 2 is in the second state shown in Figs. 4 and 6, a part of the connecting bar 14 is sandwiched between the spring 5. In the second state, the connecting bar 14 comes into contact with the spring 5, and is thereby electrically connected to the power supply terminal 4. Figs. 4 and 6 show the state in which the cover 10 is attached to the circuit breaker 1.

Next, the configuration of the connection unit 2 will be described in detail. Fig. 7 is a first exploded perspective view of the connection unit 2 included in the circuit breaker 1 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 8 is a second exploded perspective view of the connection unit 2 included in the circuit breaker 1 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 8 shows the connection unit 2 as viewed from the direction of the arrow VIII shown in Fig. 7.

The connecting unit 2 has a cover 10, a base 11, a cover 12, a connecting bar 14, and a spring 15. A hole 17 through which a pin 6 is passed is formed in the base 11. The connecting unit 2 rotates around the pin 6 passed through the hole 17. The rotation of the connecting unit 2 changes the posture of the connecting unit 2 between a first state and a second state. That is, the posture of the connecting unit 2 is changed between a first state in which the connecting bar 14 is electrically insulated from the power supply side terminal 4, and a second state in which the connecting bar 14 is electrically connected to the power supply side terminal 4.

The base 11 is formed with a groove 18 in which the spring 15 is housed, and slits 19 and 20 that lead to the groove 18. A portion of the connecting bar 14 is disposed in the groove 18 together with the spring 15. The insertion port 13 is formed to lead to the groove 18.

The connecting bar 14 is bent at right angles at two points. The connecting bar 14 is made up of a connector portion 21 that is exposed on the second side surface in the second state, a connection portion 23 that is the end opposite the connector portion 21 and is sandwiched between the spring 5, and a wall portion 22 that is erected vertically and is between the connector portion 21 and the connection portion 23. The connector portion 21 and the connection portion 23 extend in the same direction from the wall portion 22. In that direction, the connector portion 21 is longer than the connection portion 23.

The connecting bar 14 is assembled to the base 11 with the connector portion 21 passing through the slit 19 and the wall portion 22 passing through the slit 20. The connection portion 23 and the end of the connector portion 21 of the connecting bar 14 are positioned outside the groove 18. The remaining portion of the connecting bar 14 is positioned in the groove 18.

The spring 15 is made of a conductive metal material. The spring 15 is arranged in the groove 18 so that it can clamp the connected part inserted into the insertion port 13. In addition, the part of the spring 15 opposite the insertion port 13 is in contact with the wall portion 22. In other words, the spring 15 is electrically connected to the connecting bar 14.

A hole 16 is formed on the surface of the base 11 facing the cover 12. A protrusion 24 is formed on the surface of the cover 12 facing the base 11. The protrusion 24 is fitted into the hole 16, thereby fixing the cover 12 to the base 11.

A groove 27 is formed in the portion of the cover 10 facing the slit 19. In the first state, the end of the connector portion 21 is inserted into the groove 27. A claw 25 is formed in the portion of the base 11 that is exposed on the second side surface in the first state. A fitting portion 26 into which the claw 25 can fit is formed in the cover 10. The claw 25 is fitted into the fitting portion 26, thereby fixing the cover 10 to the base 11. The cover 10 is thus held by the circuit breaker 1. The claw 25 is released from the fitting portion 26, and the cover 10 is pulled away from the base 11, thereby removing the cover 10 from the circuit breaker 1.

In the first state, the connection portion 23 is separated from the spring 5, so that the connecting bar 14 is electrically insulated from the power supply side terminal 4. Also, in the first state, the socket 13 is disposed inside the circuit breaker 1. In the first state, the connector portion 21 is disposed in the groove 18 and the groove 27. Thus, in the first state, the socket 13 and the connector portion 21 are housed inside the circuit breaker 1. Thus, when the connecting unit 2 is in the first state, the circuit breaker 1 is in a state in which it is not possible to connect a connected device to the power supply side terminal 4. In the first state, the connecting unit 2 can protect the socket 13 and the connector portion 21 by preventing the socket 13 and the connector portion 21 from being exposed to the outside of the circuit breaker 1.

In the second state, the socket 13 is exposed to the outside of the circuit breaker 1 at the first side. This makes it possible to insert the connected part of the connected device installed opposite the first side into the socket 13. Also, in the second state, the end of the connector part 21 inserted into the groove 27 protrudes outside the circuit breaker 1 at the second side. This makes it possible to insert the connector part 21 into the connected socket of the connected device installed opposite the second side. Also, in the second state, the connecting part 23 is sandwiched between the spring 5, so that the connecting bar 14 is electrically connected to the power supply side terminal 4. This makes it possible for the power supply side terminal 4 to be electrically connected to the connected device via the connecting unit 2. In the second state, the connecting unit 2 makes it possible to connect the connected device to the power supply side terminal 4. The circuit breaker 1 can connect one connected device via the socket 13 and one connecting device via the connector part 21. The circuit breaker 1 can connect two connected devices to the power supply terminal 4 using the connection unit 2.

Next, an example of connecting a connected device to the circuit breaker 1 by a jumper wiring will be described. Fig. 9 is a side view of the circuit breaker 1 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 10 is a first diagram showing how a connected device is connected to the circuit breaker 1 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 11 is a diagram showing the state in which the connected device is connected to the circuit breaker 1 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 9 shows a first side of the circuit breaker 1.

Figures 10 and 11 show a cross section of the circuit breaker 1 taken along line X-X in Figure 9. The circuit breaker 1a shown in Figures 10 and 11 is the first connected device that is installed facing the first side of the circuit breaker 1. In Figures 10 and 11, the circuit breaker 1a is shown in the same cross section as the circuit breaker 1.

The circuit breaker 1a has a connection unit 2a having the same configuration as the connection unit 2. The circuit breaker 1 is placed in the second state, with the socket 13 facing towards the circuit breaker 1a. The circuit breaker 1a is placed in a state in which the connector portion 21a protrudes towards the circuit breaker 1. The circuit breaker 1 and the circuit breaker 1a placed in this state are brought closer to each other. The hollow arrow in FIG. 10 indicates that the circuit breaker 1a is brought closer to the circuit breaker 1.

Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the connector portion 21a, which is the connected part, is inserted into the socket 13 of the circuit breaker 1. When the connector portion 21a comes into contact with the spring 15 of the circuit breaker 1, the power supply side terminal 4 of the circuit breaker 1 is electrically connected to the connector portion 21a via the spring 5 and the connecting bar 14. This allows the connecting unit 2 to connect the circuit breaker 1a to the power supply side terminal 4 by the jumper wiring. Note that the cover 10 of the circuit breaker 1 is left unremoved from the circuit breaker 1. This allows the connecting unit 2 to protect the connector portion 21 that is not used for connecting to the circuit breaker 1a with the cover 10.

Figure 12 is a second diagram showing how a connected device is connected to the circuit breaker 1 according to the first embodiment. Like Figure 10, Figure 12 shows a cross section of the circuit breaker 1 taken along line X-X in Figure 9. Circuit breaker 1b shown in Figure 12 is a second connected device that is installed opposite the second side of circuit breaker 1. In Figure 12, circuit breaker 1b is shown in the same cross section as circuit breaker 1.

Circuit breaker 1b has a connection unit 2b of the same configuration as connection unit 2. Circuit breaker 1 is placed in the second state, and cover 10 is removed, placing the connector portion 21 protruding toward circuit breaker 1b. Circuit breaker 1b is placed in a state in which socket 13b is directed toward circuit breaker 1. Circuit breaker 1 and circuit breaker 1b placed in this state are brought closer to each other. The outline arrow in FIG. 12 indicates that circuit breaker 1b is brought closer to circuit breaker 1.

Then, as in the case shown in FIG. 11, the connector portion 21 is inserted into the connected receptacle, that is, the receptacle 13b. When the spring 15b of the circuit breaker 1b comes into contact with the connector portion 21, the power supply side terminal 4 of the circuit breaker 1 is electrically connected to the spring 15b via the spring 5 and the connecting bar 14. As a result, the connecting unit 2 connects the circuit breaker 1b to the power supply side terminal 4 by the jumper wiring.

In the second state, the socket 13 is exposed to the outside of the circuit breaker 1 at the first side. Furthermore, by removing the cover 10, the connecting bar 14 protrudes to the outside of the circuit breaker 1 at the second side. The socket 13 and the connecting bar 14 are exposed to the outside of the circuit breaker 1 facing in opposite directions. This allows the circuit breaker 1 to be connected to the circuit breaker 1 with the circuit breaker 1a facing the first side of the circuit breaker 1 and the circuit breaker 1b facing the second side of the circuit breaker 1. In this way, the circuit breaker 1 can connect two connected devices to the power supply side terminal 4 using the connecting unit 2.

According to the first embodiment, the circuit breaker 1 can change the posture of the connecting unit 2 between a first state in which the connecting bar 14 is electrically insulated from the power supply side terminal 4 and a second state in which the connecting bar 14 is electrically connected to the power supply side terminal 4, and in the second state, the connecting bar 14 can be electrically connected to the connected device. The circuit breaker 1 can use the connecting unit 2 to connect the connected device to the power supply side terminal 4 via a jumper wiring.

The connecting unit 2 can realize jumper wiring without having to separately prepare wires or copper bars for jumper wiring because the connecting bar 14 can be connected to the connected equipment. In addition, since there is no need to connect wires or copper bars to the circuit breaker 1, the connected equipment can be connected to the circuit breaker 1 with simple work that does not require the help of a construction worker. As a result, the circuit breaker 1 has the effect of improving the ease of connecting connected equipment with jumper wiring.

The configurations shown in the above embodiments are examples of the contents of this disclosure. The configurations of the embodiments can be combined with other known technologies. Part of the configurations of the embodiments can be omitted or modified without departing from the gist of this disclosure.

1, 1a, 1b circuit breaker, 2, 2a, 2b connection unit, 3 side plate, 4 power supply terminal, 5, 15, 15b spring, 6 pin, 10, 12 cover, 11 base, 13, 13b socket, 14 connection bar, 16, 17 hole, 18, 27 groove, 19, 20 slit, 21, 21a connector part, 22 wall part, 23 connection part, 24 projection, 25 claw, 26 fitting part.

Claims (6)

a terminal connectable to an electric wire;
a connection unit having a connection part for connecting a connected device to the terminal, the connection part being capable of being changed in position between a first state in which the connection part is electrically insulated from the terminal and a second state in which the connection part is electrically connected to the terminal, and capable of electrically connecting the connection part to the connected device in the second state;
A circuit breaker comprising: the connecting unit has a socket into which a connected part of a first connected device that is the connected device can be inserted, and electrically connects the connected part inserted into the socket to the connecting part;
2. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the socket is housed inside the circuit breaker in the first state and exposed to the outside of the circuit breaker in the second state. the connecting part has a connector portion that can be inserted into a connecting socket of a second connected device that is the connected device,
3. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the connector portion is accommodated inside the circuit breaker in the first state, and protrudes outside the circuit breaker in the second state. The connection unit is capable of connecting two of the connected devices, a first connected device and a second connected device, to the terminal,
the connecting unit has a socket into which a connected part of the first connected device is inserted, and electrically connects the connected part inserted into the socket to the connecting part;
the connecting part has a connector portion that can be inserted into a connecting socket of the second connected device,
The circuit breaker according to claim 1 , wherein the receptacle and the connector portion are oriented in opposite directions from each other in the second state. the coupling unit has a cover that is removable in the second state;
5. The circuit breaker according to claim 3, wherein the cover has a groove into which the connector portion is inserted. The circuit breaker according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the orientation of the connecting unit is changed between the first state and the second state by rotating the connecting unit.

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