WO1997011474A1

WO1997011474A1 - Control device for power line cut-off means

Info

Publication number: WO1997011474A1
Application number: PCT/FR1996/001452
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pascal Dudon
Original assignee: Pascal Dudon
Priority date: 1995-09-22
Filing date: 1996-09-18
Publication date: 1997-03-27
Also published as: FR2739220B1; FR2739220A1; AU7088596A; EP0871968A1

Abstract

A device for controlling cut-off means on a power line (3), including contact means (12, 13) connected to two respective power line portions (3a, 3b), at least one (12) of said contact means being movable, and retaining means (10) for resiliently retaining the contact means in mutual contact. In the event of an overcurrent in said power line, said contact means repel one another and move apart counter to said resilient retaining means. The device further includes control means (2) electrically connected to said contact means and responsive to the electrical energy generated between said contact means (12, 13), whereby they actuate the cut-off means (14) when said electrical energy reaches a predetermined value, and thus cut off said power line.

Description

Device for controlling electrical line cut-off means

The present invention relates to a device for controlling electrical line cut-off means. In order to protect the power lines and the equipment connected to these lines, it is common to provide safety devices which cut the power lines if there is an overcurrent compared to the nominal current. This cut is generally ensured by the triggering of an electric line closing / opening member such as an electric circuit breaker or an electrical contactor or switch.

A known solution consists in providing magneto-thermal protection relays subjected to the magnetic field generated by the electric line, in which magnetic vanes ensure the triggering of the line closing / opening member. This solution has the drawback of being imprecise, in particular for high intensity currents.

Another known solution consists in providing electronic protection relays which are subjected to the secondary current of transformers of the electric current of the electric line, with magnetic circuit, the latter however having a reduced measurement range of the over-currents.

Another known solution consists in using a Rogowski torus, which constitutes a current transformer, which has the advantage of not using a magnetic circuit but which does not generate control energy. This solution has the drawback of requiring processing electronics and a specific electrical supply supplied by magnetic circuit current transformers or by an auxiliary electrical source. The last two solutions above, which use current transformers, have the disadvantage of not being applicable to power lines carrying direct current.

Another known solution consists in providing optical or thermal sensors which detect the light manifestation or radiating from the arc likely to appear between the contacts of a closing / opening member of the power line. This solution has the drawback of requiring current transformers when the power line carries an alternating current or an auxiliary source of electrical energy in the case where the power line carries a direct current. In addition, this solution does not allow a distinction as regards the origin of the arc.

Another solution consists in causing the dynamic pressure generated by the thermal effect of the electric arc appearing between the contacts of an electric line closing / opening member to act on a trigger piston. However, this solution requires the provision of cut-off chambers of reduced volumes in order to obtain a pressure response time compatible with the desired opening speed and cannot be used to cut under vacuum.

The object of the present invention is to propose a device for controlling means for cutting off the power line which does not have at least some of the drawbacks of the technical solutions known to date. An object of the present invention to provide a device independent of the nominal intensity of the electric current carried by the power line and the voltage applied there.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device applicable to an electric line carrying both alternating current and direct current.

Another object of the present invention to provide a device applicable to at least one power line constituting a phase of a set of power lines to be protected for the transport of single-phase, two-phase, three-phase or other currents. Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which generally does not require an auxiliary source of electrical energy.

Another object of the present invention to provide a device whose effects are almost independent of the aging or deterioration of the means which it implements or to which it applies.

Another object of the present invention consists in proposing a device which can be applied whatever the operation and the mode of the means for breaking the power line, whether they are in air, in vacuum or in another breaking medium such as in sulfur hexafluoride or in oil.

Another object of the present invention consists in proposing a selective device capable of acting only in the presence of an effective operating fault on the electric line, independently in particular of the closings and voluntary openings of this line.

Another object of the present invention consists in proposing an adjustable or easily adaptable device to a determined triggering threshold.

The device for controlling electrical line cutting means comprises, according to the invention, contact means connected respectively to two portions of said electrical line and at least one of which is movable, holding means for resiliently holding said means contact in contact, said contact means repelling and moving apart under the effect of an overcurrent in said power line, against said elastic holding means, control means electrically connected to said contact means , sensitive to the electrical energy appearing between said contact means and acting on said switching means when this electrical energy reaches a determined value, to cause the cutting of said electrical line.

According to the invention, the means for connecting said control means to said mobile contact means preferably comprises support means which are in contact with this mobile contact means when the distance of the latter from the other is less than a determined value and which is separated from it when this difference is greater than this value.

According to a variant of the invention, at least one of said contact means is connected to actuation means making it possible to move it relative to the other in order to cut or establish said electrical line.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, timing means make it possible to electrically connect one of said contact means to said control means after said contact means have been brought into contact by said actuation means.

According to the invention, said timing means can advantageously be subjected to said actuation means.

According to the invention, said timing means can advantageously comprise auxiliary means movable to a final position and elastic retaining means disposed between said movable contact means and these auxiliary means so that said contact means come to bear one on the other before said auxiliary means have reached their final position against said holding means, the connecting means of one of said contact means to said control means comprising support means displaceable by said auxiliary means and coming into contact with the associated contact means after said contact means have been brought into contact with each other.

According to a variant of the invention, said contact means constitute said cutting means, at least one of said contact means being connected to actuation means making it possible to move it relative to the other in order to cut or establish said power line.

According to a variant of the invention, said cutting means comprise secondary contact means placed at another location on said power line and means for actuating these contact means, said control means acting on these actuating means to make said cut in the power line.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, said control means comprise an electromagnet connected electrically to said contact means and acting on a member for holding these contact means in contact to release the latter under the effect of the aforementioned electrical energy and produce said cut in the electrical line. According to a variant of the invention, said control means can advantageously include means for treating, adapting or transforming the above-mentioned electrical energy before acting on said switching means.

In one embodiment of the invention, said contact means comprise on the one hand a fixed contact means and on the other hand an articulated contact means.

In another embodiment of the invention, said contact means comprise on the one hand at least one fixed contact means connected to one of the portions of the power line and on the other hand at least one movable contact means in translation connected to the other portion of this power line.

In another embodiment of the invention, said contact means comprise on the one hand a first and a second fixed contact means connected respectively to said portions of the power line and on the other hand a contact means movable in translation and coming in contact on the one hand with said first contact means and on the other hand with said second contact means.

The device according to the invention may also comprise means forming a stop to limit the travel of said mobile contact means, these means forming a stop being adjustable.

The device according to the invention may further comprise means for adjusting said holding means.

In particular applications, the device according to the invention can constitute an independent component mounted in a box or be integrated into an electrical circuit breaker, an electrical contactor or switch or any other means of opening or closing / opening a line. electric.

The present invention will be better understood from the study of devices for controlling electrical line cut-off means, described by way of nonlimiting examples and illustrated by the drawing in which:

- Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of a circuit breaker equipped with a breaking device, in the open position; - Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section of the circuit breaker of Figure 1, in an intermediate closed position;

- Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section of the circuit breaker of Figure 1, in the closed position; - Figure 4 shows a longitudinal section of the circuit breaker of Figure 1, in a detection position;

- Figure 5 shows a longitudinal section of the circuit breaker of Figure 1, in another tripped position;

- Figure 6 shows a longitudinal section of a contactor equipped with a switching device, in the open position;

- Figure 7 shows a longitudinal section of the contactor of Figure 6, in an intermediate closed position;

- Figure 8 shows a longitudinal section of the contactor of Figure 6, in the closed position; - Figure 9 shows a longitudinal section of the contactor of Figure 6, in a detection position;

- Figure 10 shows a longitudinal section of an assembly of a contactor and a circuit breaker;

- Figure 1 1 shows a longitudinal section of another assembly of a contactor and a circuit breaker;

- And Figure 12 shows a longitudinal section of a component constituting a cut-off order device.

Referring to Figures 1 to 5, we see that there is shown an electric circuit breaker, generally identified by the reference 1, mounted in an insulating housing and which comprises a control device, identified in a way general by reference 2, likely to cause tripping or opening of this circuit breaker when an overcurrent appears in the electrical line, generally identified by reference 3, on which the circuit breaker electrical 1 is mounted, this electrical line 3 comprising two portions having two end portions 3a and 3b formed by longitudinal plates, opposite and spaced, and integral with the housing 1a.

On one side of the plates 3a and 3b, the circuit breaker 1 comprises a timing lever 4 articulated at one of its ends on a transverse axis 5 mounted in the housing 1a. This lever 4 carries, on the side of the plates 3a and 3b, an electrical contact arm 6 via a transverse axis 7. The lever 4 has flanks 8 between which extends a cross member 9, the arm 6 s extending along and at a distance from the lever 4 and between the latter and the cross member 9. A retaining or return spring 10 is disposed between the lever 4 and the arm 6 in the direction which tends to apply the arm 6 to the cross member 9.

The end of the arm 6 located on the side of the transverse axis 7 is connected to the terminal part 3a of the electrical line 3 by means of a flexible electrical conductor 1 1 and its other end carries, laterally and on its face opposite the lever 4, a contact pad 12.

The other end part 3b of the electrical line 3, constituted by a plate secured to the housing 1a, carries a contact pad 13.

The circuit breaker 1 further comprises an actuating member, generally identified by the reference 14, which makes it possible to pivot the lever 4 between two extreme positions including an open position of the electrical line 3, visible on the Figures 1 and 5, including a closed position of the power line 3, visible in Figures 3 and 4.

In the open position, the lever 4 is raised and is in abutment against a face 15 of the housing 1a, the arm 6 is in abutment against the cross member 9 under the effect of the spring 10 and the contact pad 12 which it carries is at a great distance from the contact pad 13 carried by the terminal part 3b of the power line 3 so that the two portions 3a and 3b of this power line 3 are not connected.

In the closed position, the lever 4 is lowered and extends substantially parallel to the plates 3a and 3b, the contact pads 12 and 13 are supported one on the other and the arm 6 is spaced from the cross member 9, against the spring 10, the portions 3a and 3b of the power line 3 thus being electrically connected.

In the example shown, the actuating member 14 is disposed on the side opposite the plates 3a and 3b relative to the lever 4 and comprises a button 16 in the form of a triangular yoke whose sides are respectively articulated on the housing by virtue of two opposite transverse axes 17, a hook 18 of triangular shape, a corner of which is articulated on the housing 1a by means of a transverse axis 19, two levers 20 and 21 articulated together by a transverse axis 22 and respectively articulated on a another corner of the hook 18 via a transverse axis 23 and on the lever 4 via a transverse axis 24.

The actuating member 14 also comprises a tension spring 25 which connects the transverse axis 22 to the button 16, as well as a lock 26 made of a magnetic material, one of the ends of which is articulated on the housing 1a by the 'through a transverse axis 27 and the other end of which has a projecting part 28 capable of being engaged with a projecting part 29 of the third corner of the hook 18, this lock 26 being subjected to a spring 30 in the sense which applies it to a surface 31 of the housing 1a.

In the normal operating position visible in FIGS. 1 to 4, the hook 18 is held in a locked position thanks to the lock 26, the projecting parts 28 and 29 being engaged, and under the effect of the spring 25. In this position normal locked, the plane of the axis 19 and the projecting parts 28 and 29 is substantially parallel to the terminal parts 3a and 3b and, the axis 23 and the axis 24 are on either side of this plane, l axis 24 being on the side of the plates 3a and 3b.

In the above locked position of the hook 18, if the button 16 is pivoted so as to pass the spring 25 on one side or the other of the transverse axis 23, this spring 25 produces an effect of traction on one side or the other such that it deforms the angle formed by the levers 20 and 21 between two extreme positions by moving the lever 4 between its two aforementioned extreme opening positions respectively and closing the power line 3.

In the example shown, the control device 2 comprises an electromagnet 32 disposed laterally to the magnetic lock 26 and capable of attracting the latter against the spring 30 in order to release the hook 18.

The coil of the electromagnet 32 is connected by electric wires 32a and 32b on the one hand to a conductive link blade 33 and on the other hand to a conductive link blade 34, which are carried by the housing 1a and which are elastically deformable. In the aforementioned closed position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the connecting blade 33 is in abutment against the contact arm 6 and kept in abutment under the effect of its elasticity and the connecting blade 34 is in contact with the end portion 3b of the electrical line 3 under the effect, against its elasticity, of a first arm 35 of a lever 36 with two arms articulated on the housing 1a via a transverse axis 37 , the second arm 38 of which is held by the cross member 9 of the lever 4. Thus, the coil of the electromagnet is subjected to the electrical energy manifested between the pellets 12 and 13. In the above-mentioned open position, the connecting blade 33 is at a distance from the contact arm 6 and the connecting blade 34 is at a distance from the terminal part 3b of the power line 3, the lever with two arms 36 being pivoted under the effect of the elasticity of this connecting blade 34.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, during the upward or return movement of the lever 4, the connecting blade 33 remains in abutment against the contact arm 6 as long as the distance between the pads 12 and 13 does not exceed not a determined value and, when the pads 12 and 13 are in contact but the contact arm 6 has not deviated sufficiently from a determined value of the cross member 9 of the lever 4, the connecting blade 34 remains at a distance of the end part 3b of the power line 3, so that the lever 4 must have made an over-stroke relative to the contact arm 6 so that the connecting blade 34 and the end part 3b of the power line 3 are in touch. Thus, when the circuit breaker 1 is closed, the coil of the electromagnet 32 does not is connected to the terminal part 3b of the power line 3 only after the portions 3a and 3b of the power line 3 have been connected by the pads 12 and 13. This time shift makes it possible to activate the device control 2 only after possible rebounds of the pad 12 on the pad 13.

In the normal operating position shown in FIG. 3, the electric line 3 is established and can be traversed by an electric current, for example by a determined nominal current.

When the electric line 3 is traversed by a current greater than the nominal current, the resulting over-currents generate electromagnetic forces of repulsion of the pads 12 and 13. As shown in Figure 4, these repulsion forces tend to spread the pads 12 and 13 against the retaining spring 10 and, as a result, an electrical energy is delivered to the electromagnet 32 by the connecting blades 33 and 34 and the wires 32a and 32b.

When the electrical energy passing through the electromagnet 32 increases until it reaches a determined tripping threshold, this electromagnet 32 attracts the latch 26 and the projecting part 28 of the latter releases the projecting part 29 from the hook 18 as shown in FIG. 4. Under the effect of the spring 25, the hook 18 pivots about its transverse axis 19 and the arms 20 and 21 pivot by driving the lever 4 from its aforementioned closed position to its aforementioned position d opening, cutting the electrical line 3 by spacing the pads 12 and 13, the connecting blade 33 and the connecting blade 34 being at the same time released. This final position after tripping by overcurrent in the electrical line 3 is shown in FIG. 5.

It follows from the above that the trigger control device 2 makes it possible to detect the overcurrents and it is these overcurrents which supply the energy for carrying out the triggering. To reset the hook 18, it suffices to pivot the button 16 towards its open position, this button 16 having a stop 39 coming back from the top of the hook 18 having the transverse axis 23 to drive it towards its locked position .

It can be seen from the above that the threshold of aforementioned tripping ensuring the interruption of the electric line 3 by acting on the actuating member 14 of the contact pad 12 relative to the pad 13, subjected to the holding spring 10, is adjustable or adaptable by the choice in particular of the spring 10, characteristics of the electromagnet 32 and of the magnetic coupling between this electromagnet and the latch 26.

Furthermore, it can be observed that the aforementioned triggering threshold hardly changes if the pellets deteriorate and that, thanks to the over-travel of the lever 4 relative to the contact arm 6, the electrical energy which can appear between the contact pads 12 and 13 during the voluntary closing of the circuit breaker 1, because of possible rebounds of these pads, is ignored by the trip control device 2 because it is not connected to these contact pads 12 and 13 until after. Furthermore, the separation of the contact blades 33 and 34 provides additional galvanic decoupling of the trip control device 2 relative to the electrical line 3.

Referring now to Figures 6 to 9, we see that there is shown a contactor or switch generally identified by the reference 40, mounted in an insulating housing 40a, which comprises a control device 41, capable of causing tripping or opening of this contactor when an overcurrent appears in the electrical line 42 on which the contactor 40 is mounted, this electrical line 42 comprising two portions having two end portions 42a and 42b constituted by opposite and spaced apart longitudinal plates , and secured to the housing 40a.

The contactor 40 comprises a slide 43 made of an insulating material which extends between the parts 42a and 42b of the electrical line 42 and which is mounted on the housing 40a and movable perpendicularly to these end parts.

This slide has a longitudinal passage 44 which is crossed by a longitudinal contact bar 45 conducting electricity, which carries, on either side of the space 44, contact pads 46 and 47 which are facing each other. with contact pads 48 and 49 worn by the terminal parts 42a and 42b of the power line 42.

Two retaining or return springs 50 and 51 are arranged in the space 44 and act on the contact bar 45 in the direction which tends to apply the latter against a surface 52 of this space 44 situated on the side of the end parts 42a and 42b.

The contactor 40 further comprises an electromagnet 53 whose coil is connected to a source of electrical energy 54 by two electrical wires 55 and 56 on one of which is provided a switch 57 subjected to a reset button 58. The slide 43 carries, opposite the contact bar 45, a magnetic plate 59 associated with the electromagnet 53.

Furthermore, a return spring 60 acts on the slide 43 in the direction which tends to bring it into abutment against a surface 61 of the housing 40a. In the open position shown in FIG. 6 in which the electrical line 42 is cut, the slide 43 is in abutment against the surface 61 of the housing 40a, the magnetic plate 59 is at a distance from the electromagnet 53, the bar contact 45 is in abutment against the surface 52 of the slide 43, the contact pads 46 and 47 being at a distance from the contact pads 48 and 49.

By acting on the button 58, the switch 57 is actuated so that the coil of the electromagnet 53 is supplied by the source of electrical energy 54. The electromagnet 53 attracts the magnetic plate 59 which drives the slide 43 to a closed position.

In this closed position shown in FIG. 8 in which the electrical line 42 is established, the magnetic plate 59 is in abutment against the electromagnet 53, the pads 46 and 47 are in contact with the pads 48 and 49, the contact bar 45 having moved against the springs 50 and 51 and being at a distance from its abutment surface 52 of the slide 43. Thus, the slide 43 performs an overtravel towards its closed position relative to the contact bar 45.

The control device 41 comprises two blades connecting conductors 62 and 63 which are carried by the housing 40a on either side of the slide 43 and in the vicinity of the end portions 42a and 42b, and which are in the form of elastically deformable pins. In the abovementioned open position shown in FIG. 6, the connecting blades 62 and 63 are not in contact with the end parts 42a and 42b of the electrical line 42.

In the aforementioned closed position shown in FIG. 8, the connecting blades 62 and 63 are in abutment against surfaces 43a and 43b of the slide and are deformed under the effect of this slide

43 to be respectively in contact with the terminal parts 42a and 42b of the electric line 42.

As can be seen in FIG. 7, the slider 43 deforms the connecting blades 62 and 63 towards their aforementioned contact position only during its aforementioned overtravel, that is to say after the pads 46 and 47 are come into contact with the pads 48 and 49.

Thus, the connecting blades 62 and 63 come into contact with the terminal parts 42a and 42b of the electric line 42 late with respect to the approaching of the pads 46 and 47 on the pads 48 and 49. The control device 41 comprises furthermore a relay

64 which is connected to the connecting blades 62 and 63 by electrical wires 65 and 66, this trigger relay 64 being capable of acting on the switch 57 in the direction which causes it to open.

In the normal operating position shown in FIG. 8, the electric line 42 is established and can be traversed by an electric current, for example by a determined nominal current.

When the electric line 42 is traversed by a current greater than the nominal current, the resulting over-currents generate electromagnetic forces for repelling the pads 46 and 47 relative to the pads 48 and 49.

As shown in FIG. 9, these repulsive forces tend to separate the contact pads 46 and 47 from the contact pads 48 and 49 against the retaining springs 50 and 51 and, consequently, an electrical energy appears. between these pellets of contact, the value of this electrical energy increasing with the difference between these pellets. This electrical energy is delivered to the trigger relay 64 by the connecting blades 62 and 63.

When the electrical energy thus generated passing through the trigger relay 64 increases until it reaches a determined trigger threshold, this trigger relay 64 controls the opening of the switch 57. The opening of this switch 57 causes the breaking of supplying the coil of the electromagnet 53. This cut-out releases the magnetic plate 59 and consequently the slide 53 which, under the effect of the return spring 60, moves to its aforementioned open position shown in Figure 6.

As in the previous example, it is the trigger control device 41 which makes it possible to detect the overcurrents and it is these overcurrents which supply the energy for carrying out the triggering.

To reset the contactor 40, simply press button 58 again.

The contactor 40 equipped with its tripping control device 41 has the same advantages as the circuit breaker 1 of the previous example equipped with its tripping control device 2.

It can indeed be observed that the aforementioned triggering threshold is adjustable or adaptable by the choice in particular of the springs 50 and 51 and of the characteristics of the relay 64 and of the switch 57, that this triggering threshold is almost independent of the state of the contact pads 46, 47, 48 and 49 since it is the electrical energy generated when they deviate which acts on the trip relay 64, and that the electrical energy that can generate any rebounds of the pads contact 46 and 47 on the contact pads 48 and 49 when the contactor 40 is voluntarily closed is ignored by the trip control device 41 because the latter is only connected to the end parts 42a and 42b of the power line 42 only 'after the slide 43 has engaged its above-mentioned overtravel.

Referring to Figure 10, we see that a mounting generally identified by the reference 67 which includes the circuit breaker 1 and the contactor 40 described above, mounted in series on a common electrical line 68.

In this arrangement, the contactor 40 includes its trip control device 41 described above, while in the trip control device 2 of the circuit breaker 1, only the electromagnet 32 associated with the latch 26 is kept.

In this example, the connecting blades 62 and 63 of the trip control device 41 of the contactor 40 are also connected to the coil of the electromagnet 32 of the circuit breaker 1 by means of electrical wires 69 and 70.

Thus, the trip control device 41 associated with the contactor 40 can cause tripping of the circuit breaker 1 placed at another location on the power line 68 to cut the latter at another location.

Referring now to Figure 1 1, we see that there is shown an assembly generally identified by the reference 71, which includes the circuit breaker 1 equipped with its trip control device 2 and the contactor 40 not equipped of its trip control device 41, the circuit breaker 1 and the contactor 40 being connected in series on common electrical line 72.

In this arrangement, the coil of the electromagnet 53 of the contactor 40 is connected by electrical wires to its source of electrical energy 54 by means of a switch 73 with two contact blades 74 and 75, this switch 73 being carried by the housing 1a of the circuit breaker 1.

The blade 75 of the switch 73 is subjected to a pusher 76 slidably mounted on the housing 1a and making it possible to separate the blade 75 from the blade 74 in order to cut the power supply to the coil of the electromagnet 53, under the effect of moving the lock 26 of the circuit breaker 1 when the latter is moved by the electromagnet 32, in the direction of release of the hook 18 from the actuating member 14 of the circuit breaker 1.

Thus, the trip control device 2 of the circuit breaker 1 also constitutes a means for tripping the contactor 40 and thus cut the electrical line 72 at a location other than that of circuit breaker 1.

In addition, it can be seen in FIG. 11 that the casing 1a of the circuit breaker 1 carries a finger 77 which ensures the locking of the pusher 76 in its position for holding the switch 73 in the open position of the supply circuit of the electromagnet 53 of contactor 40. This pusher 76 can be released by manual action on the locking finger 77 against a return spring 78.

Referring now to FIG. 12, it can be seen that a tripping control device has been shown generally identified by the reference 79, which comprises a detection component 80 placed on an electrical line 82 and an electronic circuit adapter 81, with a view to triggering an opening and possibly closing member 81a placed elsewhere in this electrical line 82.

Component 80 comprises a hollow housing 83 made of an insulating material, the wall of which is crossed by two opposite, spaced apart longitudinal contact plates 84 and 85, the ends of which are outside the housing 83 and are connected to the end portions of two portions 82a and 82b of the electrical line 82 and the ends of which inside this box carry contact pads 86 and 87.

In the housing 83 is disposed a longitudinal contact bar 88 which carries contact pads 89 and 90 located opposite the pads 86 and 87, this contact bar 88 being slidably mounted perpendicular to the plates 84 and 85 between a contact position in which the pads 89 and 90 are in contact with the pads 86 and 87 and a raised position in which the ends of the bar 88 are in abutment against the race limiting shoulders 91 and 92 of the housing 83. The pads 89 and 90 are held elastically in contact with the pads 86 and 87 by longitudinally spaced springs 93 and 94 whose pressure force is adjustable by means of a longitudinal slide 95 movable in the housing 83 perpendicular to the plates 84 and 85 and adjustable by a screw of pressure 96 which has an adjustment head 97 external to the housing 83.

In the normal operating position shown in FIG. 12, the electric line 82 is established and can be traversed by a determined nominal electric current. When the electrical line 82 is traversed by a current greater than the nominal current, the resulting over-currents generate electromagnetic repulsion forces which tend to separate the contact pads 89 and 90 from the contact pads 86 and 87 and therefore of the bar 88 against the retaining springs 93 and 94. There therefore appears electrical energy between these contact pads, the value of this electrical energy being adjustable by acting on the position of the slide 95 by the pressure screw 96 and the stroke of the contact bar 88 being limited by the shoulders 91 and 92. This electrical energy is supplied to the processing circuit

81 by connection wires 98 and 99 connected to lugs 100 and 101 which pass through the wall of the housing 83 and which are welded to the contact plates 84 and 85 in this housing.

In a particular embodiment, the processing circuit 81 can be adapted to compare the value of the electric energy thus generated with a determined trigger threshold possibly adjustable, and, when this threshold is reached, the processing circuit 81 provides the line opening member 81 has a command signal such that the latter opens the electrical line 82. The electrical line 82 being cut, the component 80 resumes and keeps its normal operating position.

Thus, the component 80 constitutes a means of protection which does not destroy itself and which can have great sensitivity.

The present invention is not limited to the examples described above. Many variant embodiments are indeed possible, in particular as regards the line cutting means which could be different from the circuit breaker and the contactor described, in particular being disconnectors, the structure of the trip control devices which could naturally be adapted. the structure of the switching means and their operating mode. In addition, different embodiments of the means for connecting the trip control devices to the contact means and treatments or transformations of the electrical energy delivered by the different repeating contacts could be carried out.

Claims

1. Control device for means of cutting the power line, characterized in that it comprises

contact means (12, 13) respectively connected to two portions (3a, 3b) of said electrical line and of which at least one (12) is mobile,

- holding means (10) for resiliently keeping said contact means in contact, said contact means repelling and spreading under the effect of an overcurrent in said power line, against said elastic means holding,

- control means (2) electrically connected to said contact means, sensitive to the electrical energy appearing between said contact means (12, 13) and acting on said switching means (14) when this electrical energy reaches a determined value , to cause the interruption of said power line,

- The means for connecting said control means to said mobile contact means (6) comprising support means (33) which are in contact with this mobile contact means when the distance of the latter from the other is less than a determined value and which is separated from it when this difference is greater than this value.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises timing means (4, 36) for electrically connecting one of said contact means (12) to said control means (32) after said means contact (12, 13) have been brought into contact by actuating means (14).

3. Control device for means of cutting the power line, characterized in that it comprises

- holding means (10) for resiliently keeping said contact means in contact, said contact means repelling and spreading under the effect of an overcurrent in said power line, against said elastic means holding, - control means (2) electrically connected to said contact means, sensitive to the electrical energy appearing between said contact means (12, 13) and acting on said switching means (14) when this electrical energy reaches a determined value , to cause the interruption of said power line,

- as well as timing means (4, 36) making it possible to electrically connect one of said contact means (12) to said control means (32) after said contact means (12, 13) have been brought into contact by actuating means (14).

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the means for connecting said control means to said mobile contact means (6) comprises support means (33) which are in contact with this mobile contact means when the 'deviation of the latter from the other is less than a determined value and which is separated from it when this deviation is greater than this value.

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said delay means (4, 36) are subjected to the said actuating means (14).

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said delay means comprise auxiliary means (4) movable to a final position and elastic retaining means (10) disposed between the said movable contact means (6) and these auxiliary means (4) so that said contact means (12, 13) come to bear on one another before said auxiliary means (4) have reached their final position against from said holding means (10), the means for connecting one of said contact means to said control means comprising support means (34) movable by said auxiliary means (4) and coming into contact with the contact means associated (3b) after said contact means (12, 13) have been brought into contact with each other.

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said contact means (12, 13) constitute the said cutting means, at least one of the said means contact being connected to actuating means (14) for moving it relative to the other in order to cut or establish said power line (3).

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said cut-off means comprise secondary contact means (12, 13) placed at another location on the said electric line (68) and actuation means of these contact means, said control means (40) acting on these actuation means to effect said cut in the electrical line.

9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said control means comprise an electromagnet (32) electrically connected to the said contact means (12, 13) and acting on a holding member (26) of these contact means in contact to release the latter under the effect of the aforementioned electrical energy and make said cut in the power line.

10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said control means comprise means (81) for treating, adapting or transforming the above-mentioned electrical energy before acting on the said breaking means.

11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said contact means comprise on the one hand a fixed contact means (13) and on the other hand an articulated contact means (12).

12. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said contact means comprise on the one hand at least one fixed contact means (48) connected to one of the portions of the power line and on the other hand at least one movable contact means in translation (46) connected to the other portion of this power line.

13. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said contact means comprise firstly a first and a second fixed contact means (48, 49) connected respectively to said portions of the power line and on the other hand a movable contact means (45, 46, 47) in translation and coming into contact on the one hand with said first contact means and on the other share with said second contact means.

14. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means forming a stop (91, 92) for limiting the stroke of said movable contact means.

15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that said stop means (91, 92) are adjustable.

16. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises adjustment means (95) of said holding means (93, 94).

17. Electric circuit breaker characterized in that it comprises the device according to any one of the preceding claims.

18. Contactor or electrical switch characterized in that it comprises the device according to any one of claims 1 to 16.