Classifications

• • 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
  • H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
  • H01H71/50—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release
  • H01H71/52—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release actuated by lever
  • H01H71/526—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release actuated by lever the lever forming a toggle linkage with a second lever, the free end of which is directly and releasably engageable with a contact structure
• • 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
  • H01H71/04—Means for indicating condition of the switching device

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the signaling of an electrical fault on a circuit-breaker type electrical protection device equipped with a mechanism for abrupt closing of the contacts. This kind of device will be described a little further.
• the invention essentially relates to an indicator means which signals a fault and which must also memorize the information until the device is reset. More specifically, the invention consists in indicating to a user whether the device in question has been opened manually or whether it has been opened due to an electrical fault on the line, whether overload or overload. 'A short-circuit.
• the signaling system of the invention is mechanical, not electrical and operating in dependence on a power source of the electrical installation that the circuit breaker protects.
• the object of the present invention is therefore to set up a fault indicator within the apparatus as described below, without inducing a substantial change in the mechanism of the device.
• the installation of this indicator inside the device must be easy and must fit easily into the current manufacturing process of the product.
• the solution must be economically advantageous.
• the type of apparatus in question comprises at least one movable contact intended to cooperate with at least one fixed contact, the movable contact being pivotally arranged relative to a contact holder (s) of a mechanical lock, their positioning relative to the rest being ensured by the action of a said contact spring to ensure a correct pressure to the closing contacts.
• This contact carrier (s) is itself driven by a rotational movement to position the movable contact alternately against and away from the fixed contact, in particular by manual action on a control lever pivoting between two stable positions (ON position closing the contacts and OFF contact opening position), and causing the rotation of the contact carrier (s) by a conventional toggle mechanical system.
• the contact carrier can also be rotated due to a mechanical action of an actuator echoing an electrical fault on the line.
• the contact carrier first positions the moving contact at a distance from the fixed contact, and secondly causes the rotation of the control lever to the OFF position.
• Such a sudden closing mechanism for example disclosed in EP 1 170 769, mainly comprises two members respectively pivoting with the control handle and the movable contact, with trajectories that interfere during a fraction of their combined rotation. These members are provided for cooperating in order to block the moving contact at a distance from the fixed contact during said rotation fraction, before sudden release at the end of the cooperation phase, and subsequent closing of the contacts at a speed independent of the speed exerted. on the controller.
• the members of the invention participating in the abrupt closure function consist of a cam driven by the control lever, in which it is arranged free to rotate at an angular displacement between two indexing positions, and a finger integral with the lock, the positioning of which with respect to the cam and the movable contact is such that the finger and the cam come into contact when the fixed and movable contacts are spaced apart by a predetermined residual distance, the cam having an external surface along which the finger slides when the rotation of the joystick continues, of length and shape such that said finger remains locked in rotation during a fraction of rotation of the joystick less than its residual travel to reach its stable position of closure of the contacts.
• the contact carrier (s) continues its course, while the contact spring accumulates energy that releases suddenly when the contact cam / finger stops, in the last portion of the travel of the joystick.
• the cam can then continue to rotate relative to the joystick.
• the cam is:
• the invention essentially comprises indicator means signaling the appearance of an electrical fault and storing this information until the reset of the joystick in the ON position.
• Said indicator means consist of a portion of said cam visible through a window made in the drum in the OFF position of the joystick following an electrical fault, and not visible in the ON / OFF positions of the joystick following a manual action.
• said window of the drum is positioned radially in front of said portion when the cam is in the second indexing position in the handle in the OFF position following an electrical fault.
• the window is made in the outer face of the drum visible by a user when the handle is in the OFF position.
• the surface of the portion of the cam visible from the outside through the window carries a signaling marking of a defect.
• said signaling marking of a defect may consist of a distinct color or surface condition (e) of the color or surface condition of the inner walls of the drum.
• the portion may be colored red while the drum is generally gray as the circuit breaker case.
• said portion of the cam constituting the indicator means consist of an angular sector of the cam.
• the portion of the cam constituting the indicator means consist of a lug secured to said cam in rotation inside the drum of the joystick.
• the cam comprises:
• An elastic element consisting of a tongue attached to the outer surface of the barrel and developing substantially parallel to the barrel while gradually moving away towards its free end, the latter being directed towards the radial protuberance and placed on the side of the protrusion first coming into contact with said finger during closure of the contacts;
• the drum of the lever meanwhile has an opening disposed substantially opposite the lever and allowing the passage of the radial protrusion and the free end of the tongue, the radial edges of the opening defining the angular space where the cam is free to rotate. According to a possible configuration of indexing, these radial edges constitute abutments between which the cam is free in rotation, the cam being in first (respectively second) indexing position in contact with the stop.
• the free end of the tongue is adapted to come into contact with one of the stops of the opening of the drum, while the edge of the protrusion not facing with the tongue is adapted to come into contact with the other stop of the opening of the drum during a reverse rotation.
• the fault indication portion is located opposite the window when the free end of the tongue is in contact with one of the stops in the OFF position of the joystick following an electrical fault.
• a lug protruding from the tongue also cooperates with the stop so as to maintain the cam in the second indexing position during an automatic opening following a fault.
• said lug is then either at an end ramp of the abutment when the protrusion is in contact with the stop or in contact with an inner wall of the handle drum when the free end tongue comes into contact with said ramp.
• each indexing position is then characterized by the existence of a rotational abutment and a holding means in said abutment, which consists of the ramp / lug cooperation in one case and the friction lug / inner wall. drum in the other case.
• the indexing can be performed via the fault indicator portion, when it corresponds to a tab.
• the inner wall of the handle is provided with a protruding spur near the window and adapted to fit into one of the two notches made in the inner face of the fault indication tab, the cam being in first or second indexing position following the notch in which the spur is housed.
• the fault indication tab is located opposite the window when the spur is housed in the proximal notch of the radial protrusion of the cam in the OFF position of the joystick following an electrical fault.
• FIG. 1a shows a circuit breaker that triggered manually
• FIG. 1b shows a circuit breaker that tripped due to an electrical fault
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a control lever according to the invention.
• FIG. 3 illustrates a cam according to the invention
• FIGS. 4a to 4c show a manual opening cycle that does not induce a fault indication
• FIGS. 5a to 5c show an automatic opening cycle leading to the signaling of an electrical fault
• FIGS. 6a to 6d illustrate a closing cycle of the contacts following a manual opening
• FIGS. 7a to 7c show a closing cycle of the contacts following an automatic opening
• FIGS. 8a and 8b illustrate another drum and cam configuration according to the invention.
• the circuit-breaker (1) comprises a molded plastic casing (2) from which a control lever (3) protrudes, the two stable positions of which ON and OFF respectively correspond to the closure and the opening contacts.
• the handle (3) is in the OFF position in Figures 1a and 1b.
• a window (4) located under the lever (5) of the handle (3) cooperates with the signaling means of the invention. More specifically, in Figure 1a, the signaling means are not visible through the window (4), meaning that the circuit breaker (1) has triggered following a manual action on the control lever (3). On the contrary, in Figure 1b, a signal of color (6) appears through the window (4), signifying that the circuit breaker (1) has tripped due to an electrical fault on the line.
• the window (4) is made in the handle (3) and is clearly visible on the front panel of the circuit breaker (1).
• the handle (3) consists mainly of a drum (7) and a control lever (5) extending radially from the drum (7).
• the latter is composed of two coaxial walls, namely an inner wall (9) and an outer wall (8).
• the window (4) is formed in said outer wall (8), and located under the lever (5).
• a central pin (10) equips the center of the drum (7) delimited by the inner wall (9).
• the cam (1 1) comprises a barrel (12) of hollow cylindrical shape adapted to rotate around the central pin (10) of the drum (7).
• a radial projection (13) extends from the shank (12) and has a free end (14) constituting a relatively large protuberant angular sector coaxial with the cylindrical surface of the shank (12).
• An elastic member consisting of a tongue (15) is attached to the outer surface of the barrel (12). This tongue (15) develops substantially parallel to the shaft (12), however gradually moving away towards its free end (16), the latter being directed towards the protuberance (13) radial.
• a lug (27) protrudes from the tongue (15) near its middle.
• a defect lug (17) is attached to the outer surface of the shank (12) and located substantially opposite the tongue (15) relative to the central axis of symmetry of the shank (12).
• the outer surface (6) of the tab (17) is preferably colored red, symbolic color of a fault signal.
• this lug (17) is able to circulate inside the hollow space defined between the two walls (8, 9) of the drum (7) when the cam (1 1) pivots around the trunnion (10). Depending on its position, the tab (17) is visible through the window (4), or hidden under the outer wall (8) of the drum (7). So that the cam (1 1) can pivot around the pin (10), an opening (18) is formed in the walls (8, 9) of the drum (7). This opening (18) is disposed substantially opposite the lever (5) and allows the passage of the radial protrusion (13) and the free end (16) of the tongue (15), the radial edges (19). 20) of the opening (18) constituting the stops between which the cam (1 1) is free to rotate.
• Figures 4a to 7c show all the relative positions of the cam (1 1), and fortiori the tab (17), relative to the drum (7) during the opening and closing phases of the contacts.
• control mechanism of the circuit breaker (1) consists of a handle (3) (as described above) connected to a contact carrier (21) by a rod (22). It is therefore a conventional toggle lock system for tilting the contact carrier (21) following the pivoting of the handle (3) by a manual action on the lever (5).
• the contact carrier (21) further supports a trigger (31) adapted to switch it in case of detection of an electrical fault on the line.
• a torsion spring (not shown) is placed between the movable contact (23) and the contact carrier (21). This spring is used to store energy to make a sudden closure of the contacts when the movable contacts are immobilized by the abrupt closure mechanism, then to maintain the pressure between the fixed contacts (24) and movable (23).
• a finger (25) integral with the contact carrier (21) extends outwardly thereof in the direction of the protrusion (13) of the cam (1 1) inserted into the control handle (3).
• the free end (26) of the finger (25) is provided to cooperate with the outer surface (14) of the protrusion (13) of the cam (1 1).
• the finger (25) and the protrusion (13) have trajectories that interfere during manual opening of the contacts as shown in Figures 4a to 4d.
• the tongue (15) is then slightly deformed toward the shaft (12), the lug (27) moving in contact with the stop (20), which consists of a lug whose free end constitutes a ramp, until coming into frictional contact on the coaxial inner wall (9) of the handle (3).
• the cam (1 1) therefore changes its relative position inside the handle (3), between Figure 4b and Figure 4c, and passes from the second to the first indexing position thanks to the flexibility of the tongue (15) combined with the locations of the different stops (19, 20).
• the handle (3) ends its residual stroke to reach its OFF position, causing on the one hand with it the cam (1 1) in rotation, and on the other hand causing the tilting of the contact carrier (21) by the mechanism to knee joint, separating the finger (25) from the protuberance (13) and the movable contact (23) from the fixed contact (24).
• Figure 4d shows the final state of opening of the contacts.
• the knob (3) With the knob (3) in the OFF position, the window (4) is visible from the outside of the circuit breaker (1).
• the cam (1 1) being in the first indexing position in the handle (3), the signaling lug (17) is hidden behind the outer wall (8) of the drum (7), and not in front of the window (4). There is no fault indication, the opening of the contacts having been caused by a manual action on the joystick (3) control.
• FIG. 5a to 5c show the case of an automatic opening of the contacts.
• Figure 5a is identical to Figure 4a since it is the same starting position.
• FIG. 5b differs from FIG. 4b in that the handle (3) is not manipulated, but the contact carrier (21) has tilted by an action of the actuator (magnetic or thermal) on the release (31) following the detection of a fault, immediately causing the toggle switch to open and the contacts to open. Due to the release of the rod (22), the rotation of the contact-carrier assembly (21) / trigger (31) is independent of the rotation of the joystick, and is carried out quickly - under the effect of means specific reminder - at first.
• the actuator magnetic or thermal
• Figures 6a to 6d show the resetting of the circuit breaker (1) following a manual opening of the contacts.
• FIG. 6a identical to FIG. 4d, the lever (3) is represented in its OFF position following a manual opening, with the cam (1 1) in the first indexing position, and the signaling tab (17) no visible at through the window (4). In this position, the finger (25) is located at a distance from the protrusion (13) of the cam (1 1).
• the cam (1 1) is rotated again by the handle (3) from the moment when the stop (19) of the drum (7) comes into contact with the protuberance (13) of the cam (1 1 ), as shown in Figure 6c.
• the cam (1 1) is therefore passed from the first to the second indexing position in the handle (3).
• FIG. 6d thus illustrates the ON position of the handle (3) with the contacts closed and the cam (1 1) in the second indexing position in the handle (3).
• FIGS. 7a to 7c show, for their part, the different phases of a reset of the circuit breaker (1) following an automatic opening of the contacts (23, 24) caused by an electrical fault.
• the closing cycle of the contacts is almost identical to that described above.
• the main difference with resetting after a manual opening lies in the initial position of the cam (1 1) in the joystick (3), which is already in the second indexing position. Therefore, when the finger (25) collides with the protrusion (13), the cam (1 1) is not immobilized but continues its rotational movement led by the handle (3), and the relative sliding s operates between the finger (25) and the protrusion (13).
• the abrupt closing takes place in the same way.
• the final position of the cam (1 1) in the handle (3) after closing the contacts is always the same, and is found in Figures 4a, 5a, 6d and 7c. In this position, the handle (3) is in the ON position and the window (4) is not visible to the user.
• FIGs 8a and 8b illustrate another indexing solution of the cam (1 1) within the handle (3).
• the rotation of the cam (1 1) is no longer limited by the radial edges (19, 20) of the opening (18) of the handle (3) but by the interlocking of a spur ( 30) of the handle (3) in two notches (28, 29) of the cam (1 1).
• the spur (30) protrudes from the inner coaxial wall (9) of the drum (7) of the handle (3), in the vicinity of the window (4).
• two notches (28, 29) are formed in the inner surface of the defect index tab (17) forming part of the cam (3). These two notches (28, 29) are distal to an arc corresponding to the angular displacement of the cam (1 1) in the handle (3) between its two indexing portions.
• the cam (1 1) is in its first (respectively second) indexing position.
• the notches (28, 29) have chamfered edges to facilitate passage of the spur (30) from one notch to the other. This passage is allowed by the force exerted by the finger (25) on the cam (1 1) during collisions.
• the invention has been described by means of a particular example of configuration, in particular as regards the fault indication means characterized by a tab (17) on the cam (1 1) and as to the indexing means of the cam ( 1 1) in the handle (3), which are however in no way limiting.
• the invention encompasses all variants of shape and configuration that are within the reach of those skilled in the art.

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• Breakers (AREA)
• Rotary Switch, Piano Key Switch, And Lever Switch (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=47022982

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (1)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (2)

• 2011
  • 2011-09-22 FR FR1158434A patent/FR2980635B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2012
  • 2012-09-17 WO PCT/FR2012/052074 patent/WO2013041801A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2012-09-17 AU AU2012311345A patent/AU2012311345B2/en active Active
  • 2012-09-17 EP EP12773048.9A patent/EP2758977B1/fr active Active
  • 2012-09-17 CN CN201280057546.XA patent/CN103946948B/zh active Active

Patent Citations (4)

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