JPH11297179A - Circuit breaker and its main circuit terminal adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a main circuit terminal adapter capable of connecting a circuit breaker to a main circuit wiring in a smoothly connecting manner without suffering restrictions of the terminal array pitch of the circuit breaker and the wire size and array pitch of the main circuit wiring in distribution facilities. SOLUTION: When a small and compact circuit breaker 1 is connected to a main circuit wiring in distribution facilities, a terminal adapter 2 is mounted on the circuit breaker 1 to be connected thereto in a junction manner. The terminal adapter 2 includes a unit assembly consisting of a resin molded terminal board 2a and a terminal conductor member 2b corresponding to poles assembled in parallel to the terminal board 2a, wherein the array pitch p1 of the terminal conductor member is made to coincide with the phase-to-phase pitch of the main circuit terminal 1b of the circuit breaker 1 on the side of the connection end to the circuit breaker 1 to fix the shape of a connection conductor member to be enlarged to the array pitch p2 of the terminal connection conductor on the side of the connection end to the other main circuit wiring and a screw hole corresponding to the size of a terminal screw of the main circuit terminal 1b is made in one end of the terminal connection conductor for every pole to be connected to the main circuit terminal 1b of the circuit breaker 1 and a terminal screw 2c is provided at the other end to be connected to the main circuit wiring.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a circuit breaker for wiring,
The present invention relates to a circuit breaker intended for an earth leakage breaker and the like, and a main circuit terminal adapter as an external accessory used externally to the circuit breaker.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Wiring breakers and earth leakage breakers, which are applied to protective breakers for low-voltage distribution equipment, have undergone major changes in their outer shape and function due to the progress of technological development. The size and size have been drastically reduced. Also, the structures of the circuit breaker and the earth leakage breaker are well known, and main parts such as fixed / movable contacts, contact opening / closing mechanisms, and a trip device are incorporated in a main body case (resin case). The main circuit terminals (screw terminals) on the power supply side and the load side are arranged at both ends.
For product specifications, use single-phase (2-pole) and three-phase (3
Pole), and products with a frame size from about 30 A frames to about 800 A frames are being classified.

[0003]

By the way, with the miniaturization and downsizing of the circuit breaker, the circuit breaker and the distribution equipment (including the distribution board, distribution board, control board, etc.) are wired as described below. A new problem arises in the connectivity with the main circuit wiring on the power supply side and the load side (rectangular conductors (bars) used for main circuits and branch circuits in the panel, electric wires such as cables).

In other words, if the circuit breaker is made smaller and more compact, the main circuit terminals on the power supply side and the load side and the arrangement pitch of the terminals must be reduced in accordance with the reduction in the outer size of the main body case. On the other hand, the main circuit wiring on the power distribution equipment side should be based on the size of the wires (bar conductor width, crimp terminals connected to the cable) and the arrangement pitch between the phases in terms of ensuring the necessary current carrying capacity and inter-phase insulation distance. In practice, it is difficult to reduce or change the circuit breaker to meet the specifications of the main circuit terminals.

[0005] For this reason, no matter how small and compact the circuit breaker is advanced, the connection between the circuit breaker and the main circuit wiring on the power distribution equipment side becomes difficult without any change. Wiring is time-consuming, such as replacing the bundled wire with a different shape, or deforming the tip of the wiring conductor and forcibly inserting it into the main circuit terminal of the circuit breaker to connect it. Problems also arise.

[0006] Also, when replacing an old circuit breaker used in a power distribution system in operation with a new product with a smaller and more compact size, the connection between the circuit breaker and the main circuit wiring is described above. A problem has arisen, and for this reason the power distribution equipment has to undergo major changes in the main circuit wiring. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a circuit breaker which has been reduced in size and size, by providing an arrangement pitch of its main circuit terminals, a wire size of main circuit wiring of power distribution equipment, and the like.
To provide a main circuit terminal adapter of a circuit breaker, which is capable of securely connecting the circuit breaker and the main circuit wiring without being restricted by an arrangement pitch, a wiring direction, and the like. A second object is to provide a voltage trip device, an undervoltage trip device,
An object of the present invention is to provide a circuit breaker equipped with a dedicated auxiliary device such as an auxiliary switch or an alarm switch so that the device can be retrofitted.

[0007]

In order to achieve the first object, according to the present invention, a fixed / movable contact,
Prepared as an external accessory (optional) for a multi-pole circuit breaker with the main circuit terminals on the power supply side and load side pulled out and placed at both ends of the main body case incorporating the contact opening / closing mechanism, trip device, etc. The main circuit terminal adapter shall be retrofitted so that the circuit breaker and the external wiring of the main circuit will be connected internally.The main circuit terminal adapter shall be provided with a resin molded terminal block and a terminal block on the terminal block. It becomes an assembly with the terminal connection conductors corresponding to the respective poles mounted side by side, and on the connection end side with the circuit breaker, the arrangement pitch of the terminal connection conductors is adjusted to the inter-phase pitch of the main circuit terminals, and On the main circuit wiring connection end side, while increasing the arrangement pitch of the terminal connection conductor, a screw hole corresponding to the terminal screw size of the main circuit terminal is drilled at one end of the terminal connection conductor for each pole, and at the other end Main circuit wiring Configured to having a connection device (claim 1).

When the circuit breaker is mounted on distribution equipment such as a distribution board or a distribution board and connected to a main circuit wiring in the board, a main circuit terminal adapter (optional) is attached to the circuit breaker.
Externally, the circuit breaker and the main circuit wiring can be easily connected via the terminal adapter without being restricted by the terminal arrangement pitch of the circuit breaker, the size of the main circuit wiring on the distribution equipment side, and the arrangement pitch. In addition, the relay connection can be reliably performed.

Further, according to the present invention, the terminal adapter can be specifically configured in the following form. (1) An insulating partition for isolating the terminal connection conductors from each other is integrally formed on the terminal block so as to secure necessary insulation between the phases of the terminal connection conductors. (2) Of the terminal connection conductors of each pole juxtaposed on the terminal block, the shape of the terminal connection conductors arranged in the center is linear, and the shape of the terminal connection conductors arranged outside is the crank shape bent outward. A predetermined inter-phase pitch is secured between each other (claim 3).

(3) A step is set between the respective poles at the other end of the terminal connection conductor to match the arrangement of the main circuit wiring,
The connection work is simplified (claim 4). (4) For each pole, the other end of the terminal connection conductor is bent into an L-shape, and the tip is pulled out to the back side of the terminal block to be connected to the external wiring of the main circuit. Claim 5).

According to another aspect of the present invention, a voltage trip device and an undervoltage trip device are provided on a side surface of a main body case of a circuit breaker to which the terminal adapter is attached. Attached units such as auxiliary switches and the like can be retrofitted so as to easily respond to changes in specifications on the user side.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. Embodiment 1 FIGS. 1 (a) to 1 (c) show an embodiment corresponding to claims 1 to 3. FIG. In the figure, 1 is a three-phase (3 poles) circuit breaker (wiring breaker or earth leakage breaker), and 2 is a circuit breaker 1 attached to a power supply side and a load side terminal of the circuit breaker. This is the main circuit terminal adapter connected.

Here, the circuit breaker 1 has main components such as a fixed / movable contact, a contact opening / closing mechanism, and a trip device (not shown) incorporated in a main body case 1a made of a resin molded product. Further, main circuit terminals 1b on a power supply side and a load side which are connected to and pulled out from fixed / movable contacts corresponding to the respective poles (R, S, T phases) are provided at both left and right ends of the main body case 1a. The terminal screw 1c is screwed. In addition, 1d is an opening / closing operation handle of the circuit breaker.

On the other hand, the main circuit terminal adapter 2 includes a terminal block 2a made of a resin molded product, and three terminals (R, S, and T phases) corresponding to the respective poles (R, S, and T phases) juxtaposed and assembled on the terminal block 2a. And the terminal connection conductor 2b are integrally assembled. Here, the outer size of the terminal block 2a is set to be larger than the lateral width of the main body case 1a of the circuit breaker 1. The terminal connection conductor 2b has a linear terminal connection conductor (S-phase) in the center and a crank-shaped terminal connection conductor (R-phase, T-phase) on both sides. At the connection end side with the circuit breaker 1, the arrangement pitch p1 of the terminal connection conductors 2b is set in accordance with the inter-phase pitch of the main circuit terminals 1b, and the arrangement at the other end side (the connection end side with the main circuit wiring). The pitch p2 is set so as to be enlarged in accordance with the arrangement of the external wiring (not shown). A terminal screw 1c of the circuit breaker 1 is attached to one end of the terminal connection conductor 2b for each pole.
And a terminal screw 2c connected to the main circuit wiring is screwed on the other end side. In addition,
The terminal screw 2c has the same size as the terminal screw 1c of the circuit breaker 1, or a large-diameter terminal screw adapted to the main circuit wiring (bus bar, cable crimp terminal, etc.) as shown in the figure. It shall be provided selectively. Further, an insulating partition wall 2d that functions as an insulating barrier is formed integrally on the upper surface side of the terminal block 2a so as to rise upward from the installation surface of the terminal connecting conductor and to isolate the terminal connecting conductors 2b from each other.

When the circuit breaker 1 is incorporated into distribution equipment (distribution board, distribution board, etc.), the terminal adapter 2 is previously connected to the circuit breaker 1 in the following procedure.
After the circuit breaker 1 is mounted in the panel, the connection between the circuit breaker 1 and the main circuit wiring on the power distribution equipment side is made via the terminal adapter 2. That is, to attach the terminal adapter 2 to the circuit breaker 1, first, the end face of the terminal block 2a is butted against the end face of the main body case 1a, and in this state, the terminal connection conductor 2b and the main circuit terminal 1b are connected for each pole. With the terminal screw 1c. The terminal block 2a of the terminal adapter 2 and the main body case 1a of the circuit breaker 1 are engaged with each other or connected with another fixing screw (not shown).

After the circuit breaker 1 is attached to the power distribution equipment, the terminal connection conductor 2b of the terminal adapter 2 and the main circuit wiring conductor on the power supply side and the load side are connected and fixed by the terminal screw 2c. The terminal adapter 2 is used on both the power supply side and the load side as shown in the example shown, and should be adopted only on one of the power supply side and the load side in accordance with the situation of the main circuit wiring on the power distribution equipment side. Can also.

Next, an applied embodiment of the present invention based on the configuration of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. [Embodiment 2] FIGS. 2A to 2C show an embodiment according to claim 4 of the present invention. This embodiment is based on the configuration of the first embodiment described above, and is one of the terminal connection conductors 2b corresponding to the R, S, and T phases incorporated in the terminal adapter 2, and the right and left R-phase and T-phase terminal connection conductors. Is drawn out by bending the middle of the conductor upward in the shape of a crank, and the S-phase terminal connection conductors arranged in the center are drawn straight out as they are, and a height difference h is set between the conductors.

Contrary to the example shown in the figure, it is also possible to set the height difference such that the R and T phase terminal connection conductors arranged at both ends are at a lower position and the S phase terminal connection conductors arranged at the center are at an upper position. As described above, by adopting the terminal adapter in which the height difference h is formed between the terminal connection conductors 2b drawn from the terminal block 2a to the main circuit side, the main circuit (three-phase) laid in the panel of the power distribution equipment is installed. If there is a height difference in the arrangement of each phase wiring (bar conductor), the terminal adapter 2 should be adjusted to this arrangement.
Connection work with can be performed easily.

Embodiment 3 FIGS. 3A to 3C show an embodiment according to claim 5 of the present invention. This embodiment is based on the configuration of the first embodiment described above, and the other end (main circuit) of the terminal connection conductor 2b is connected to one or both (one in the illustrated example) of the power supply side and the load side. The connection end with the wiring) is extended and bent downward into an L-shape.
The tip is pulled out to the back side of the terminal block 2a to form a configuration.

By using the terminal adapter having such a configuration, the wiring work can be easily performed when the main circuit wiring on the power supply side and the main circuit wiring on the load side laid in the panel of the power distribution equipment have different directions. Note that the external wiring connector provided at the distal end of the terminal connection conductor 2b is not limited to the terminal screw 2c in the illustrated example, and the distal end of the terminal connection conductor 2b may have a threaded stud shape in accordance with the external wiring conductor to be connected. It can also be implemented by processing.

[Embodiment 4] FIGS. 4A and 4B show an embodiment according to claim 6 of the present invention. In this embodiment, with the terminal adapter 2 described in each of the above embodiments attached to the circuit breaker 1, the main body case is mounted so as to fit within the space occupied by the circuit breaker 1 including the terminal adapter 2. A dedicated accessory unit 3 of the circuit breaker 1 is mounted on both left and right side surfaces of the circuit breaker 1 so as to be retrofittable. This accessory unit 3
Has a structure in which accessory parts are accommodated in a case and is made into a cassette, and is attached to a side wall of the main body case 1a, for example, in a plug-in manner. Then, in the mounted state, the accessory parts and the circuit breaker main body are electrically or mechanically linked. The types of the special accessory unit for the circuit breaker include a voltage trip device (a device that trips the circuit breaker with an external signal) and an undervoltage trip device (a circuit breaker when the power supply voltage of the circuit drops. ), An auxiliary switch, an alarm switch (a switch for displaying the ON / OFF of the circuit breaker and the trip state to the outside by an electric signal), and the like.

According to this configuration, even when a plurality of circuit breakers are arranged side by side in close contact with each other in the panel of the power distribution equipment, the above-mentioned various dedicated accessory units 3 are connected to the circuit breakers including the terminal adapter 2. 1 can be mounted so as not to protrude from the occupied space, and can respond quickly and flexibly to changes in specifications after the operation of the power distribution equipment.

[0023]

As described above, when a circuit breaker such as a wiring breaker or an earth leakage breaker, which has been made smaller and more compact, is incorporated in a power distribution facility and connected to a main circuit wiring, the terminal according to the present invention is used. By combining the adapter with the circuit breaker main body, the terminal adapter is relayed to the circuit breaker without being restricted by the terminal arrangement pitch of the circuit breaker, the wire size of the main circuit wiring on the power distribution equipment side, the arrangement pitch, etc. It is possible to easily and reliably connect the relay to the main circuit wiring, thereby improving serviceability to the user.

Moreover, the terminal adapter according to the present invention
Since the terminal block and the terminal connection conductor corresponding to the number of poles of the circuit breaker are integrated into a unit structure, it can be easily handled and detached from the circuit breaker. In addition, various types of main circuit wiring can be handled by selectively adopting the terminal adapter having the configuration according to claims 4 and 5 according to the type and arrangement of the main circuit wiring laid on the power distribution equipment side. Thus, flexibility with respect to wiring properties can be realized.

Further, according to the configuration of the sixth aspect, it is possible to retrofit a dedicated accessory required for the circuit breaker, so that it is flexible and quick with respect to a specification change occurring after the operation of the power distribution equipment. Advantages such as the ability to respond to

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram corresponding to a first embodiment of the present invention;
(a) is a plan view with the terminal adapter attached to the circuit breaker, (b) is a side view, and (c) is an end view.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram corresponding to a second embodiment of the present invention;
(a) is a plan view with the terminal adapter attached to the circuit breaker, (b) is a side view, and (c) is an end view.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram corresponding to a third embodiment of the present invention;
(a) is a plan view with the terminal adapter attached to the circuit breaker, (b) is a side view, and (c) is an end view.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram corresponding to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
(a) is a plan view of the circuit breaker with the terminal adapter and attached unit attached, (b) is a side view of the circuit breaker

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Circuit breaker 1a Main unit case 1b Main circuit terminal 1c Terminal screw 2 Terminal adapter 2a Terminal block 2b Terminal connection conductor 2c Terminal screw 3 Attached unit (Exclusive device for circuit breaker)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A multi-pole circuit breaker in which main circuit terminals on a power supply side and a load side are drawn out and arranged at both ends of a main body case incorporating a fixed / movable contact, a contact opening / closing mechanism, a tripping device and the like. On the other hand, it is a main circuit terminal adapter externally attached to the main case of the circuit breaker to connect the main circuit wiring to the main circuit wiring, wherein the terminal adapter is provided on a terminal block of a resin molded product and on the terminal block. It becomes an assembly with the terminal conductor pieces corresponding to the respective poles mounted side by side, and at the connection end side with the circuit breaker, the arrangement pitch of the terminal conductor pieces is adjusted to the inter-phase pitch of the main circuit terminals, and the other On the main circuit wiring connection end side, while increasing the arrangement pitch of the terminal connection conductor, a screw hole corresponding to the terminal screw size of the main circuit terminal is drilled at one end of the terminal connection conductor for each pole, and at the other end Provision of connection with main circuit wiring The main circuit terminal adapter of a circuit breaker according to claim. 2. The main circuit terminal adapter for a circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the terminal block has an insulating partition for isolating the terminal connection conductors from each other. 3. The main circuit terminal adapter according to claim 1, wherein, of the terminal connection conductors of the respective poles juxtaposed on the terminal block, the shape of the terminal connection conductor lined up at the center is linear, and the terminal connection conductors lined up outside. A main circuit terminal adapter for a circuit breaker, characterized in that the shape of the main circuit terminal adapter is a crank shape bent outward to ensure a predetermined inter-phase pitch between the poles. 4. A main circuit terminal adapter for a circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein a height difference is set between the respective poles at the other end of the terminal connection conductor. 5. The main circuit terminal adapter according to claim 1, wherein the other end of the terminal connection conductor is bent into an L-shape for each pole, and the tip is drawn out to the back side of the terminal block. Main circuit terminal adapter for circuit breaker. 6. A circuit breaker to which the terminal adapter according to claim 1 is attached can be retrofitted with an attached unit such as a voltage trip device, an undervoltage trip device, an auxiliary switch, and an alarm switch on a side surface of the main body case. A circuit breaker mounted on a circuit breaker.