US3691489A - Electrical distributing apparatus protective devices therefor - Google Patents

Electrical distributing apparatus protective devices therefor Download PDF

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Publication number
US3691489A
US3691489A US181728A US18172871A US3691489A US 3691489 A US3691489 A US 3691489A US 181728 A US181728 A US 181728A US 18172871 A US18172871 A US 18172871A US 3691489 A US3691489 A US 3691489A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
lever
passage
chamber
housing
transverse
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US181728A
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English (en)
Inventor
Gunther Knirsch
Herrmann Schmitt
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BBC Brown Boveri AG Germany
BBC Brown Boveri France SA
Original Assignee
BBC Brown Boveri France SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BBC Brown Boveri France SA filed Critical BBC Brown Boveri France SA
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3691489A publication Critical patent/US3691489A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H73/00—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism
    • H01H73/48—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism having both electrothermal and electromagnetic automatic release
    • H01H73/56—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism having both electrothermal and electromagnetic automatic release reset by push-button, pull-knob or slide
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/02—Housings; Casings; Bases; Mountings
    • H01H71/0264—Mountings or coverplates for complete assembled circuit breakers, e.g. snap mounting in panel
    • H01H71/0271—Mounting several complete assembled circuit breakers together

Definitions

  • a current-responsive release mechanism disengages the lever from the contact in response to short-circuit currents.
  • the chamber is located in one arm of a U-shaped housing and the release mechanism in the other arm.
  • the lever extends between the arm through the narrow central portion joining the arms.
  • Plugs adapted to receive current extend from the housing into the space between the arms. The plugs engage jacks in the distribution panel while ,the U-shaped housing fits around the jacks.
  • the release mechanism includes a spring that pushes the lever against the contact while the noncontacting end of the lever is held by a catch.
  • a release magnet or a bimetallic member, responding to the excess current displaces the catch and releases the lever.
  • This invention relates to distributing apparatuses for wiring and protective devices therefor, and particularly to distributing apparatuses and automatic circuit breakers therefor.
  • a release magnet backed up by a bimetallic release, disengages a movable contact member from a stationary contact in response to excessive currents.
  • An arc quenching chamber extinguishes the are produced by disengagement of the contact member from its stationary contact.
  • plugs may emerge from the automatic circuit breakers to engage suitable sockets.
  • An object of this invention is to overcome these difficulties.
  • Another object of the invention is to improve distributing apparatuses. Still another object of the invention is to improve protective switches such as circuit breakers.
  • Still another object of the invention is to furnish automatic circuit breakers of the above mentioned type capable of handling high short-circuit switching power within a small height or depth.
  • Still another object of the invention is to furnish a distributing apparatus which forms an integral unit with such circuit breakers and offers the possibility of manufacturing complete wiring distributing apparatuses.
  • the automatic circuit breaker comprises movable contact means, stationary contact means, control means responsive to one condition for moving the movable contact means into engagement with the stationary contact means and responsive to another condition for moving the movable contact means out of engagement with the stationary contact means, a U-shaped housing surrounding the movable contact means and the stationary contact means as well as the control means and having two side portions connected by a narrow central portion, a quenching chamber in one of the side portions, the control means being located in the other of the side portions, the stationary contact means being located in the first side portion, the movable contact means extending through the central portion from the other of the side portions.
  • plug means extend from in the housing out of the housing into the space between the arms.
  • a U-shaped housing has a quenching or extinguishing chamber arranged in one arm and a release magnet with a catch or retainer in the other arm.
  • a contact lever and a bimetallic member which acts as a release. Plug connections extend from inside the housing into the free space between the arms.
  • quenching plates in the quenching chamber are arranged parallel to each other and to the release magnet.
  • the distance between the center of the quenching chamber and the center of the release magnet is more than 1.5 times the length of the quenching chamber.
  • the contact lever and the bimetallic member that serves as a release are arranged substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axes of the release magnet and the quenching chamber.
  • a catch or retainer near the release magnet holds the contacting lever closed in engagement with the stationary contact until the release magnet displaces the catch.
  • a bent off part of the catch is arranged between a pin actuated by the armature of the release magnet and the end of the contact lever.
  • a distributing apparatus is formed from a plurality of such disconnect switch means or automatic circuit breaker means which are arranged side-by-side with the arms aligned to form a conduction channel in the space outside the housing between the arms.
  • the cross section of the conduction channel corresponds to the cross section of the recesses formed by the U-shapes of the housings.
  • the channel then forms a passage for conductors that terminate in suitable sockets for the plugs projecting from the housings.
  • the housings forming the conduction channel are mounted rigidly on a junction box carrying terminals which are electrically connected with the sockets.
  • These electrical connections are preferably of the non-detachable type, for example of the type produced by welding, soldering or riveting.
  • the cross sections of the junction box is made equal to the dimension of the housings along the lengths of the arms.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of an automatic circuit breaker embodying features of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the device in FIG. 1 with the contacts closed;
  • FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the device in FIG. 1 with the contacts open;
  • FIG. 4 is a partly cut away perspective illustration of a distributing apparatus embodying features of the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the apparatus in FIG. 4 taken between two switches or circuit breakers of FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a junction box utilizing the arrangement of FIG. 4 and taken between two housings, and showing the box in a buried or recessed installation.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating an automatic circuit breaker or automatic disconnect switch embodying features of the invention.
  • switch is used interchangeably with circuit breaker.
  • U-shaped housing 1 is formed of two sides or arms 2a and 2b connected by a central portion 3.
  • the free space or indentation 4 formed between the arms 2a and 2b contains two plug connections or plugs 5a and 5b.
  • the arm or side 20 forms an arc quenching chamber or are extinguishing chamber 6.
  • Arranged in the chamber 6 are quenching plates or extinguishing plates 7 and a fixed electrical contact 8 which is connected to the plug connection 5a.
  • the length of the chamber 6 is equal to the inside dimension of the housing at the side 2a. The distance between the centers of the arms 2a and 2b exceeds 1.5 times the length of the chamber 6.
  • a release magnet 9 Arranged in the other arm 2b in a release magnet 9 having a coil 10, an armature 11, and a pin 12.
  • a control latch, catch orretainer 13 is articulated about an extension in the yoke of the magnet 9 and is biased toward the right by a catch spring or a retainer spring 14, all within the arm 2b.
  • One end of the coil 10 connects to the plug 5a.
  • a contact lever 15 mounted in the central portion 3 is a contact lever 15.
  • the latter is articulated about and movable within the vertical slot 17a of a guide element 17 by means of bearing pins 15a.
  • a bimetallic element 16 cantilevered on the right in the central portion 3 extends longitudinally through the central portion 3 toward a bracket 16a projecting to the right from the catch 13.
  • the contact lever 15 projects into the sides 20 and 2b and, at a contact point near its right end, engages the fixed contact 8. In this electrically closed position the lever 15 projects into the opening 15b of the catch 13 and bears upwardly against the catch.
  • the guide element 17, aside from forming the oblong slot 17a includes a horizontal portion 17b from which the support 170 for the bimetallic element projects upwardly, and which forms the fastening means for the release magnet
  • a reset button or closing button 18 rides vertically with contact lever 15.
  • a disconnect button or opening button 19 when depressed, displaces the retainer 13 to the left against the force of the spring 14.
  • the bracket 16 terminates in a bent portion 21 in the path of the pin 12.
  • the circuit breaker, designated 22, in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 operates as follows.
  • the reset button 18 projects upwardly from the housing 1.
  • the contact lever 15 is moved counterclockwise, about its right end which performs the function of a fulcrum, and against the force of a spring 20.
  • the reset button 18 keeps the lever moving until its left end locks behind the upper edge of the opening 15b in the catch 13. During this time the bearings 15a of the lever 15 may slide downwardly within the slot 17a of the guide element 17.
  • the spring 20 moves the contact lever upwardly and counterclockwise about the point of contact of its left end with the top edge of the opening 15bin the catch 13 which now acts as a fulcrum. This continues until the right end of the contact lever establishes contact with the fixed contact 8.
  • the spring 20 provides the contact pressure.
  • the automatic circuit breaker 22 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is released by the release magnet 9, or the bimetallic element 16, responding to excessive current. It can, of course, also be released by the release button 19.
  • the bimetallic element 16 When it is released by the bimetallic element 16 the left end of the latter pushes the bracket 16a upwardly.
  • the pin 12 When it is released by the release magnet 9, the pin 12 pushes the bracket 16a upwardly. The upward movement of the bracket 16a moves the catch 13 to the left or counterclockwise. This releases the left end of the contact lever 15.
  • the spring now turns the contact lever 15 upwardly at its left end about the fulcrum point which is formed by its engagement with the contact 8.
  • the lever 15 moves clockwise about the contact 8.
  • the bearing pins 15a of the contact lever 15 within the vertical slot 17a of the guide element 17 strike against the end of this vertical oblong slot 17a.
  • the bearing pins 15a and the upper end of the slot 17a become the fulcrum about which the lever 15 is moved clockwise by the spring 20. This causes the contact point at the right end of the lever 15 to disengage from the contact 8 so as to open the circuit.
  • the contact lever 15 then moves into the position shown in FIG. 3.
  • the breaker responds to excessive current such as that exhibited during a short circuit.
  • the armature 11 moves upward and displaces the pin 12.
  • This pin strikes against the bracket 16a at the bent portion 21.
  • this causes the catch 13 to move counterclockwise.
  • the contact lever 15 moves out of the opening 15b.
  • the bent portion 21 now strikes against the end of the contact lever 15 and transmits the blow of the armature 11 to the lever 15. This helps to accelerate the contact lever 15 in its upward movement. It breaks up any welding that may have taken place at the contact point.
  • the height or depth of the automatic circuit breaker is equal to the length of the quenching chamber 6 including the housing walls. This advantageous embodiment permits an automatic circuit breaker capable of handling high short-circuit switching currents to retain a shallow depth.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a distributing apparatus.
  • several automatic switches 22 are arranged side by side.
  • Each of the automatic switches 22 corresponds to that illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.
  • the free spaces or indentations 4 between the arms 2a and 2b of the automatic switches 22 form a conduction channel 23 with an insulating base 24.
  • the latter carries plug-in sockets 25. Continuous transverse openings for receiving the lines to the sockets are provided as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.
  • a base plate 27 which forms part of a junction box is rigidly connected with the base of the conduction channel 23.
  • the junction box contains a cover 28.
  • the junction box also contains terminals 29 for lines passing to the load circuits as well as for lead wires and terminals 30 for connection to neutral conductors.
  • the sockets 25 can include screw terminals as shown so that it is possible to form a direct connection of the lines to the load circuits.
  • connecting lines between the sockets and the terminals 29 can also be preassembled during the manufacture and be connected in other ways, for example, by welding to the terminals 29 and the sockets 25.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates an apparatus for concealed installation or recessed installation with an additional insulating box 31 and cover 32.
  • FIGS. 5 or 6 illustrate an apparatus for concealed installation or recessed installation with an additional insulating box 31 and cover 32.
  • FIGS. 5 or 6 illustrate an apparatus for concealed installation or recessed installation with an additional insulating box 31 and cover 32.
  • Other possibilities for installation in the wall 33 of a house are made obvious by the embodiments of FIGS. 5 or 6.
  • the height of the distributing apparatus is either identical to or slightly greater than the depth of the circuit breakers. The difference is the small wall thickness of an additional box and cover.
  • the invention provides an integral unit of switches and wiring distributor. Moreover, it is possible to produce complete distributing apparatus economically by mass production and still permit replacement of automatic cut-offs by means of plug connections.
  • A. circuit breaking apparatus comprising movable contact means, stationary contact means, control means responsive to one current condition for moving said movable contact means into engagement with said stationary contact means and responsive to another current condition for moving said movable contact means out of engagement with said stationary contact means, housing means surrounding said movable contact means and said stationary contact means as well as said control means; said housing means forming a first chamber, a second chamber, and an elongated passage connecting said first chamber and said second chamber; said passage having a cross sectional area transverse to its length less than the cross sectional area of said chambers transverse to the length of said passage, said first chamber including said stationary contact means and forming a quenching chamber, said control means being located in said second chamber, said movable contact means extending through said passage from said control means to said second contact means.
  • said housing means has a U-shape with two arm portions and a central portion, said central portion forming said passage and said arm portions forming said chambers, said arm portions forming between them with said central portion an indent space.
  • An apparatus as in claim 2 further comprising plug means projecting from said housing means into said space for carrying current to said control means when said contact means are engaged with each other.
  • said movable contact means includes a contact lever having one end projecting toward said control means and a second end for contacting said stationary contact means.
  • control means includes a bimetallic element mounted in said passage and extending into said second chamber.
  • control means includes a release magnet connected to one of said plugs and having a magnetic axis transverse to said passage.
  • said first chamber includes quenching plates extending transverse to the direction of said passage.
  • said release magnet includes armature means for moving said catch means to release said lever.
  • said catch means includes a flat portion in the path of said armature means to be moved by said armature means and cause said catch means to release said lever, said flat portion being arranged so as to strike said lever as said catch means moves to release said lever and add momentum to said lever so as to break contact of said lever from said stationary contact means.
  • a distributing apparatus comprising flat panel means, a plurality of circuit breakers; each of said circuit breakers comprising movable contact means, stationary contact means, control means responsive to one condition for moving said movable contact means into engagement with said stationary contact means and responsive to another condition for moving said movable contact means out of engagement with said stationary contact means, housing means surrounding said movable contact means and stationary contact means as well as said control means, said housing means forming a pair of chambers and an elongated passage connecting said chambers to each other, said passage having a cross sectional area transverse to its length less than the area of said chambers to their lengths, the first chamber including said stationary contact means and fprmin a penchin cha her said control means being loc ated in said s econri chainber,
  • said movable contact means extending through said passage from said control means to said contact means, plug means extending from said housing; and a plurality of sockets for receiving said plug means extending from said housing, and wiring means connecting said plug means, each of said housing means forming an indentation into which said plug means extend, said housing means being arranged so that siad indentations are aligned to form a channel, said panel means covering said channel, said wiring means passing through said channel, said socket means being arranged in said channel.
  • each of said housing means has a U-shape with two arm portions and a central portion, said central portion forming said passage and said arm portions forming said chambers, said arm portions forming between them and said central portion the indentation of each of said housing means.
  • said contact means in each of said housing means includes a contact lever having one end projecting toward said control means and a second end for contacting said stationary contact means.
  • each of said housing means said control means includes a release magnet connected to one of said plugs and having a magnetic axis transverse to said passage, wherein the distance between the center of'one of said chambers and the center of the other chamber is more than 1.5 times the length of said quenching chamber transverse to said passage, wherein said control means in each of said housing means includes catch means and spring means for holding the end of said lever at said control means so that the other end is out of contact with said stationary contact means, said catch means holding said lever so that it contacts said stationary contact means against the force of said spring means, said release magnet releasing said catch means from said control means in response to current therethrough, said magnetic release means including armature means for moving said catch means to release said lever, said catch means including a flat portion in the path of said armature means and said lever and arranged in the path of movement of said armature means so as to strike said lever as said catch means releases said lever and thereby break the contact of said lever from said stationary contact means.
  • An apparatus as in claim 16 further comprising a junction box, connection means in said junction box for connecting said wiring with a source of power.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Breakers (AREA)
  • Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
US181728A 1970-09-26 1971-09-20 Electrical distributing apparatus protective devices therefor Expired - Lifetime US3691489A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE2047521A DE2047521C3 (de) 1970-09-26 1970-09-26 Installations-Selbstschalter

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3691489A true US3691489A (en) 1972-09-12

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ID=5783524

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US181728A Expired - Lifetime US3691489A (en) 1970-09-26 1971-09-20 Electrical distributing apparatus protective devices therefor

Country Status (6)

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US (1) US3691489A (fr)
BE (1) BE773082A (fr)
DE (1) DE2047521C3 (fr)
FR (1) FR2108011B1 (fr)
GB (1) GB1315610A (fr)
IT (1) IT940942B (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4001743A (en) * 1974-05-14 1977-01-04 Firma Heinrich Kopp, Inhaber Theodor Simoneit Heavy duty automatic circuit breaker

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2755567C2 (de) * 1977-12-09 1983-11-10 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Niederspannungs-Leistungsschalter mit einem aus Oberteil und Unterteil bestehenden Isolierstoffgehäuse

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2908782A (en) * 1957-04-04 1959-10-13 Gen Electric Circuit breaker
US3088055A (en) * 1959-04-20 1963-04-30 Allan H Schwing Panel board chassis and wiring channel
US3328553A (en) * 1966-07-28 1967-06-27 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Vented mounting block for circuit breaker
US3394329A (en) * 1966-11-25 1968-07-23 Gen Electric Current-limiting electric circuit breaker
US3398249A (en) * 1967-02-13 1968-08-20 Square D Co Molded case circuit breaker and mounting means therefor
US3422235A (en) * 1966-01-28 1969-01-14 Heinemann Electric Co Arcing grid case support means
US3492539A (en) * 1968-08-21 1970-01-27 Ite Imperial Corp Mounting arrangement for an electrical switching device
US3522564A (en) * 1968-02-27 1970-08-04 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd Reed relay

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2908782A (en) * 1957-04-04 1959-10-13 Gen Electric Circuit breaker
US3088055A (en) * 1959-04-20 1963-04-30 Allan H Schwing Panel board chassis and wiring channel
US3422235A (en) * 1966-01-28 1969-01-14 Heinemann Electric Co Arcing grid case support means
US3328553A (en) * 1966-07-28 1967-06-27 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Vented mounting block for circuit breaker
US3394329A (en) * 1966-11-25 1968-07-23 Gen Electric Current-limiting electric circuit breaker
US3398249A (en) * 1967-02-13 1968-08-20 Square D Co Molded case circuit breaker and mounting means therefor
US3522564A (en) * 1968-02-27 1970-08-04 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd Reed relay
US3492539A (en) * 1968-08-21 1970-01-27 Ite Imperial Corp Mounting arrangement for an electrical switching device

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4001743A (en) * 1974-05-14 1977-01-04 Firma Heinrich Kopp, Inhaber Theodor Simoneit Heavy duty automatic circuit breaker

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT940942B (it) 1973-02-20
GB1315610A (en) 1973-05-02
BE773082A (fr) 1972-01-17
DE2047521B2 (de) 1978-01-26
FR2108011B1 (fr) 1975-07-18
DE2047521A1 (de) 1972-03-30
DE2047521C3 (de) 1978-09-28
FR2108011A1 (fr) 1972-05-12

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