SI9300534A - Switching apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Switcher with two in the on state pins pressed against each other (14,16) and a separation element (28) with an insulating separation wall (32) which, when the separation element (28) is moved in the off position the position enters between both contacts (14, 16) and them pushed apart, characterized in that at the punctuation the element (28) is provided with a pressure member (34) which is on secures the position of the separation element (28) contact pressure between contacts (14, 16) and at moving to the off position releases the contact pressure, before entering the separation wall (32) between the contacts (14, 16).

Description

SWITCHING APPARATUS

The object of the invention is a switchgear, preferably an installation circuit breaker, which is used to automatically interrupt an electrical circuit if the current flowing in it exceeds a certain value, e.g. when overloaded or in short circuit.

The invention belongs to the international patent classification in classes H 01 H 9/32 and H 01 H 73/18.

The technical problem of the invention is how to construct a protective device with automatic disconnection and the possibility of remote disconnection using a separating insulating wall, with the minimum number of components, the minimum number of moving components and without moving wire connections between contacts and other current components and without welded or solder joints.

EP 350 828 A0 is known for this type of switch apparatus, in which a special spring presses a moving contact to a fixed contact. The circular section-shaped separation lever has a cylindrically arched separation wall at its free end, and the center point of its curvature coincides with the axis of rotation of the separation lever. The release lever is mechanically coupled to a trigger, e.g. electromechanical and / or thermoelectric and, in the event of a shutdown, rotates so as to push the separation wall into the gap between the two contacts and push the moving contact away from the fixed one. As a result, it pushes the moving contact over the dead end of the corresponding spring, so that the spring rotates away from the fixed contact due to the spring. The separation wall moves forward in the circumferential direction and isolates the fixed contact against the moving one. The electric arc that is established between the two contacts must therefore make a relatively longer bend around the free end of the separation wall, so that its electrical resistance increases substantially, and finally the electric arc forcibly enters the firebox and exits there.

The disadvantage of this construction is that when entering the intermediate space between the two contacts, the separation wall must overcome the high friction force, which is significantly increased due to the contact pressure. As a result, the shutdown process slows down and malfunctions easily.

FR 2 563 939 A2 and EP 244 276 AO describes a switch apparatus which also extends and extinguishes an electric arc with a separation wall. In this apparatus, not only the separation lever, but also the movable contact is triggered by a trigger, and the switching functions are sequentially arranged so that, before the separation wall enters the intermediate space between the contacts, the contact pressure between the movable and fixed contacts is released. This allows the entrance wall to enter the intermediate space freely. However, even with such appliances, the switch-off delay occurs because the dividing wall is activated only after a certain delay. In addition, such appliances also have a relatively complex composition with a large number of components, and therefore errors can occur more quickly and the production cost is higher.

The object of the invention is therefore to construct a switching apparatus of yarn of the aforementioned type, which will have a simplified composition and will nevertheless provide unobstructed entry of the separation wall into the space between two contacts and high reliability of operation.

This task is accomplished by the implementation of a switch apparatus according to the first claim.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the release lever has a special pressure member which, when switched on, directly or indirectly presses on the moving contact, thus providing the necessary contact pressure. When the disconnect lever is turned off, the pressure linkage is released in such a way that the contact pressure is released. Release of the contact pressure follows the movement of the separation lever directly and occurs at the moment when the separation wall reaches the intermediate space between the two contacts, so that the separation wall does not have to overcome the contact pressure.

Further advantages of the construction and form of the invention are given in the following claims.

The pivot of the movable contact is made in the form of an electrically conductive articulated element which, under pressure, touches the movable contact. Thus, no moving conduits that interfere with the movement need to be brought into contact with the flexible conduit, and, as a result of changing mechanical stresses, they are often loosened or broken. The flexible contact and the hinge element are elastically pressed together to ensure good electrical contact. As this pressure is exerted directly on the pivot point, the movable contact is freely movable between the closed and open positions.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, the release lever is contacted during opening by a switch lever which is tensioned in the direction of shut-off by a large spring force and is mechanically locked in the on position until the shut-off itself. The release lever is movable independently of the switch lever and is elastically tensioned against the switch lever in the direction of the on position. This gives the possibility to operate the remote controlled actuator directly on the release lever. In the case of remote disconnection, the release lever is rotated to the off position with a relatively small force of the spring while the switch lever remains in the ready-to-open position. Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the invention is described and explained by means of drawings.

The drawings show:

FIG. 1: Schematic view of the essential mechanical components of the on-state switch

FIG. 2: state of switch after switching off due to overload

FIG. 3: switch apparatus in off state

In FIG. 1 shows a switch apparatus 10 consisting of a housing 12, which is typically attached to a carrier rail in a manifold or the like. In the housing 12 there is a fixed contact 14 which is electrically connected to the switch terminal of the switch. The leaf spring movable contact 16 protrudes through the window 18 of the inner wall of the housing 20 and is pressurized by the contact of the fixed contact 14. The pivot of the movable contact 16 is made by means of a pin 22 which is firmly fixed in the housing and the electrically conductive articulated element 24 such that the contact 16 is elastically pressed against the stud 22. The conductive hinge element 24 is connected in a non-illustrated manner via the coil of the overcurrent trigger 26 to the terminal block of the switch apparatus, which is also not shown.

The separating lever 28 is rotatable about an axis 30 which is firmly clamped in the housing 12 and carries a cylindrically curved, concentrically relative to the axis 30 at the free end, a separation wall 32 located between the inner wall of the housing 20 and a fixed contact 14. At the separation lever 28, there is a special tab 34 which, in the position of the separation lever 28 shown in Fig. 1, rests on the movable contact 16 and serves as a pressure member to provide the contact pressure between the movable contact 16 and the fixed contact 14. In the vicinity of the pivot (22, 24) mounted spring 36 which provides sufficient pressure between the moving contact and the conductive articulation element 24. The spring 36 tends to rotate the moving contact 16 counter-clockwise, thus slightly reducing the contact pressure between contacts 14 and 16. In the position shown in FIG. 1, however, is overcome by the force of the pressure member 34, which increases the contact pressure.

The switch lever 38 is connected to the axis 30, which is connected via the tensile spring 40 to the detachment lever attachment 42 28. The separating lever 28 is therefore pre-tensioned clockwise so that the tab 34 presses the moving contact 1 6 to a fixed contact 14. Contact pressure between contacts 14 and 1 6 is thus determined primarily by the tensile force 40.

The switch lever 38 is biased counter-clockwise with a relatively strong torsion spring 44, which is locked to the puller 46, but is fixed in the position shown in FIG. 1 by means of an elongated knee lever 48. The first lever 50 of the knee lever 48 is pivotally mounted on one end to a hand operated lever 52 and rests with its opposite end on the back 54 of the second lever 56 of that knee lever. With the help of a relatively weak tensile spring, which is not shown in more detail, the knee lever 48 remains in the extended position. The spring 58 tends to rotate the manual control lever clockwise. In the position shown in FIG. 1 overcomes the spring force 58 of the torsion spring force 44 which acts on the manual control lever 52 via the switch lever 38 and the knee lever 48.

When the current flowing through the contacts 14, 16 and the coil of the overcurrent trigger 26 exceeds a certain value, it switches off the device via the overcurrent trigger 26. The impact needle 60 views the impact from the overcurrent trigger 26 and hits the knee lever 48 and moves it. Due to the powerful torsion spring 44, the knee lever 48 is knocked down and the switch lever 38 is rotated to the position shown in FIG. 2, with the catch 46 also pulling behind the release lever 28. When the release lever 28 is rotated, the pressure member 34 releases the moving contact 16 so that the contact pressure between the contacts 14 and 16 is released and the spring 36 moves the moving contact 16 away from the fixed contact 14. At almost the same instant, the separation wall 32 enters the intermediate space between the two contacts 14 and 16 and partitions them. In the further rotation process, the separation wall 32 is pushed forward between contacts 14 and 16 so that the electric arc that is formed between the contacts forces the separation wall 32 into an arc channel 62 between the inner wall of the housing 20 and the outer wall of the housing, where it finally goes out.

By means of the hand operated lever 52, the closed electrical circuit through the contacts 14 and 16 can be interrupted independently of the operation of the overcurrent trigger 26. The lever 52 is rotated to the position shown in FIG. 3 and pulls the switch lever 38 out of the elongated knee lever 48 and rotates it counter-clockwise. As in the shutdown described above, the switch lever 38 pulls the separating lever 28 so that its separation wall 32 separates the moving contact 16 from the fixed contact 14. The rotation of the switch lever 38 and the separating lever 28 in the off position supports the torsion spring 44 immediately. when the lever 52 crosses the blind spot with its knee-lower lever 48.

In the case of overcurrent disconnection by means of overcurrent actuator 26, the knob, due to spring 58, is switched off to the off position shown in FIG. 3, as soon as the knee lever 48 is clicked and the torsion spring force 44 no longer acts on the button 52 via the switch lever 38. When the lever 52 is reversed from the off position shown in FIG. 3 into the position of FIG. 1, depresses elongated knee lever 48 of switch lever 38 against torsion spring force 44 to the position shown in FIG. 1, so that the knee lever 48 passes the dead end and the lever 52 is stationary under the influence of the torsion spring 44 in the position shown in FIG. 1. Turning the switch lever 38 to the position shown in FIG. 1 pulls the separation lever 28 along with the action of the spring 40.

In addition, switch 10 also has the possibility of remote operation.

In this case, the housing 12 must also have a remote electromagnetic actuator 64 which acts directly on the separating lever 28 via the pull rod 66. The remote actuator 64 is connected to the on / off switch located outside the housing 12 via a non-displayed conductor and a terminal block, it can also be at a relatively long distance from the switch 10. When the on / off switch switches to off position, it activates the coil of the remote circuit breaker 64, which pulls the release lever 28 to the off position via the pull rod 66 and separates contacts 14 and 16 from one another.

In this case, the switch lever 38 does not rotate to the off position. The remote actuator 64 must overcome only a small force of the tensile spring 40. When the excitation current through the remote actuator 64 ceases to flow, the separation lever 28 returns to the position shown in FIG. 1.

Claims (8)

Patent claims 1. A switching device with two switched-on contacts together (14, 16) and a separating element (28) with an insulating separating wall (32) which moves between the two contacts (14, when the separating element (28) is moved to the off position. 16) and spacing them, characterized in that the separating element (28) has a pressure member (34) which, in the on-off position of the separating element, provides contact pressure between the contacts (14, 16) and releases the contact pressure when moved to the off position, further before the separation wall (32) arrives between the contacts (14, 16). Switching apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the separating element (28) is a rotatable lever, which at the free end in the direction of rotation passes into the separation wall (32), so that one of the two contacts (16) is inclined obliquely to the separation path wall (32) and that the pressure member (34) is a tab located on the separation element (28), within and adjacent to the separation wall (32) and presses this contact (16) in the on-state state of the separation element. Switching apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one of the two contacts (16) is rotatably mounted on the folding place (22, 24) and that the electrical contact of this contact is achieved via the electrically conductive folding member (24) to press the contact in the folding position. Switching apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the spring (36) which presses the contact (16) on the pivoting element (24) exerts a torque on the contact (16), which is weaker than the torque provided by the pressed member (34) exerts the on-state state and opposes it. Switching appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the separating element (28) is elastically prestressed in the off state and can be locked in the on mode and the locking mechanism can be released by means of a switching mechanism. Switching apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a cut-off mechanism, a knee lever (48), which in the extended state holds the separation element (28) in the on state. Switching apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the spring (44) which prestresses the separating element (28) in the off state and the shut-off mechanism (26, 48, 52) act on a switch lever (38) which it has a running clip (46) in the direction of disengagement and is further connected to the separating element (28) via a spring (40) that strains the separating element (28) towards the interceptor (46). The switching apparatus of claim 7, characterized in that it has an electrically controlled remote element (64) by means of which the separating element (28) is rotated to the off position, independently of the switch lever (38).