WO2013114044A1

WO2013114044A1 - Offset-lock electrical apparatus for line protection

Info

Publication number: WO2013114044A1
Application number: PCT/FR2013/050198
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thierry Sitz; Loïc Meyer; Francis Deckert
Original assignee: Hager-Electro Sas
Priority date: 2012-01-31
Filing date: 2013-01-31
Publication date: 2013-08-08
Also published as: FR2986366A1; JP2015505638A; EP2810294A1; JP6169617B2; EP2810294B1; FR2986366B1

Abstract

Apparatus for line protection comprising: a cutoff device (1) controlled by a handle (4) for controlling a moving contact (5) fixed to a rotary contact-holder bar (6) driving said moving contact (5) away from or towards a fixed contact (7), said handle (4) being linked to the bar (6) by way of a mechanical lock able to toggle thereby opening/closing the contacts (5, 7) following a manual action on the handle (4); a tripping device (2) comprising at least one actuator able to carry over to the lock of the cutoff device (1) an electrical fault on a line so as to make it toggle; said bar (6) being mobile in rotation about an axis X offset with respect to the median transverse plane of the casing of the apparatus, whereas said handle (4), projecting from the front facade (8) of the apparatus, is mobile according to a travel, the mid-point of which is centred with respect to the median transverse plane of the apparatus, the latter also comprising means for transforming the translational motion of the handle (4) into a rotational motion of the bar (6). This apparatus is characterized in that said transforming means consist of means of translational guidance of the handle (4) combined with means of rotational driving of an intermediate part (18) constituting, with a lever (21) mounted pivotably in the bar (6) and with restoring means (20) linking the intermediate part (18) spring to the lever (21), a knuckle-type mechanism forming the lock.

Description

ELECTRICAL LINE PROTECTION APPARATUS

A DECAL LOCK

The present invention relates to an electrical line protection apparatus, of the circuit breaker type, whose mechanical lock is shifted relative to the transverse median plane of the apparatus on either side of which develops substantially symmetrically the path of the joystick operable by a user.

The apparatus comprises, in a conventional manner:

a cut-off device controlled by a control lever of a movable contact fixed to a rotary contact bar driving said movable contact at a distance or to a fixed contact, said handle being connected to the bar by means of a lock mechanical able to switch by causing the opening / closing of the contacts following a manual action on the joystick;

a triggering device comprising at least one actuator adapted to pass on to the lock of the cut-off device an electrical fault on a line to switch it.

In a conventional electrical line protection apparatus, the axis of rotation of the bar and that of the handle are substantially aligned, and located in the same transverse plane of the device. The rotational movement of the handle is in this case transmitted directly to the bar via the lock.

Typically, the cutoff device composes the upper part of the apparatus, while the triggering device composes the lower part of the apparatus when the latter is in the position of use in a distribution box.

The front of the device has a shoulder centered on the height of the device and a width generally between 40mm and 90mm, from which the handle moves which moves in an opening itself substantially centered in the shoulder. Depending on the technologies used to trigger the device, the size of the trigger device varies and is likely to move the moving contact assembly / bar / lock towards the top of the device, thereby off-centering the device. together relative to the shoulder.

In a conventional mechanical actuation structure, as mentioned earlier, this would also result in off-centering of the joystick, which is not possible by keeping a conventional casing with a standard center-shoulder facade.

The centering of the handle and the shoulder being required, it was necessary to provide, in the event of a shift of the aforementioned assembly, mechanisms for connecting the joystick centered off-center bar. Thus there is for example a lock combined with a mechanism of the pantograph type which compensates for the offset. However, this type of mechanism, which is not compatible with all internal configurations of this type of device, has a size that can cause an increase in the depth of the device. However, in the current perspective of rationalization of the space in the electrical boxes, the trend is rather against the increase of the volumes of the apparatuses.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple mechanism of implementation, able to postpone the rotational movement of the lever to the bar, cooperating with the lock, while compensating for the difference between the handle and the bar at within the device, so that the lever protrudes from the shoulder of the front panel of the device centrally. In addition, this mechanism must be compact enough to fit into a standard line protection device box.

In the line protection device considered, the bar is rotatable about an X axis offset from the median transverse plane (P) of the housing of the apparatus, while said lever protruding from the front facade of the device, is mobile according to a race whose halfway is centered by relative to the median transverse plane of the apparatus, the latter also comprising means for transforming the translational movement of the handle in rotational movement of the bar.

The controller thus no longer has a rotary movement as is customary in conventional devices, but a translational movement. The fact that the movable handle no longer needs an axis of rotation within the housing allows considerable space saving in the direction of the depth of the housing.

The main feature of the invention is that said transformation means consist of guide means in translation of the joystick combined with means for driving in rotation an intermediate piece constituting, with a lever pivotally mounted in the bar and with spring means connecting the intermediate piece to the lever, a knee-type mechanism forming the lock.

This knee-type mechanism is movable between two stable positions, corresponding to the positions of closing and manual opening of the contacts.

Specifically, the intermediate piece is pivotally mounted relative to fixed elements in the housing, the lever is pivotally mounted at the periphery of the bar, and the spring means are mounted between:

the free end of the lever located in the vicinity of the axis of rotation of the intermediate piece, and;

the free end of the intermediate piece distant from its axis of rotation;

the means for rotating the intermediate piece passing the spring means on either side of its axis of rotation.

More precisely, said guide means of the joystick consist of a mobile carriage on which is fixed the lever, and guided in translation in slides made in two symmetrical flanges mounted fixed in the housing and delimiting the size of the lock, said joystick being movable between two extreme positions abutting against a first end of the slideways corresponding to a closed position of the contacts and against a second end of the slideways corresponding to an open position of the contacts.

The trolley is positioned almost flush with the front of the device so as to free up all the space in depth. The sliding movement of the carriage in the slideways corresponds to the translational movement of the lever since it is secured to the carriage.

According to a possible configuration, the carriage is guided in said slides by means of shafts connecting the two flanges and inserted in holes of the carriage provided for this purpose. The carriage could also be guided in the slides by means of projections protruding from the carriage for example.

According to a first possibility, the slides are rectilinear, giving the carriage a rectilinear translational movement.

According to a second possibility, said slides are curved, giving the carriage a curvilinear translational movement with a very large radius of curvature. The advantage is that the theoretical center associated with such a radius of curvature does not interfere in the operation of the lock, unlike the center of rotation of a traditional joystick that is part of the lock mechanism, and that it must therefore be contained in the volume of the housing of the apparatus.

According to one possible configuration, the rotary drive means consist of arms extending from the carriage in the direction of the bar and coming into slots in the intermediate piece which is pivotally mounted relative to the flanges, the respective forms edges of the ends of the arms and cuts allowing on the one hand a relative angular movement between the carriage and the intermediate piece and on the other hand supports providing a mutual drive in two substantially opposite directions.

According to another possible configuration, the rotary drive means consist of: edges of the lateral sides of the carriage which come into contact with edges of the lateral sides of the intermediate piece;

a hook extending from the intermediate piece and being inserted into an orifice made in the carriage so as to achieve mechanical attachment;

the respective shapes of said edges and the mechanical attachment allowing on the one hand a relative angular displacement between the carriage and the intermediate piece and on the other hand supports providing a mutual drive in two substantially opposite directions.

The mechanical connection between the handle and the bar is thus carried out respectively by the carriage, the intermediate piece pivotally mounted in the flanges, the spring means and the pivotally mounted lever in the bar.

When a user actuates the joystick to open or close the contacts, the carriage is translated with the handle and causes the pivoting of the intermediate piece relative to the flanges. Due to this pivoting, the spring means fixed to the intermediate piece pass on either side of the axis of rotation of the intermediate piece, driving the bar via the lever. In the case of manual opening and closing of the contacts, the lever remains almost fixed relative to the bar, although it is pivotally mounted on the bar.

Other advantages and features will emerge more clearly from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example, and represented in the accompanying drawings in which:

- Figures 1, 2 and 3 show a switching device according to the invention, with the handle respectively in the ON position, OFF and TRIP;

Figure 4 shows the switchgear without its front panel;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cut-off device;

- Figure 6 is an exploded view of the various parts of the cut-off device according to a first possible configuration; FIGS. 7a and 7b, 8a and 8b, 9a and 9b illustrate the switching device with the handle respectively in ON, OFF and TRIP position according to the first possible configuration;

Figures 10a and 10b show the cut-off device according to a second possible configuration.

Figure 1 shows a line breaking device according to the invention, as it would be positioned in a distribution box for example.

The front panel (8) of the device housing has a shoulder (26) centered in the height (h) of the device. The thickness (e) of the device is defined as being the distance between the rear plate fixing the device in the distribution box and the front panel (8) at the shoulder (26). This thickness (e) is in principle standard.

A joystick (4) is located in the center of the shoulder (26), and protrudes from the front panel (8). It is intended to control a mechanism for actuating the electrical contacts.

In Figure 1, the handle (4) is raised to the ON position, that is to say that the contacts are closed. In FIG. 2, the handle (4) is lowered to the OFF position with the contacts open following a manual action on the handle (4), unlike FIG. 3 where the handle (4) is in the median transverse plane (P). of the device in the TRIP position with the contacts open following a tripping of the circuit-breaker.

The handle (4) is thus movable on a race defined by a window (27) in the shoulder (26), the mid-race being centered with respect to the median transverse plane (P) of the apparatus.

Figure 4 shows the inside of the protection device, which consists of a three-pole circuit breaker in this example. It comprises three cutoff blocks (3) aligned in a row inside the housing delimiting the apparatus, a cut-off device (1) housed in the center of the apparatus and able to close / open simultaneously the contacts of the three blocks of cutoff (3), and a triggering device (2) located at the bottom of the apparatus. The breaking blocks (3) and the tripping device (2) have upstream (28) and downstream (29) connection terminals on the line.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate more precisely the cut-off device (1) according to the invention.

A contact bar (6) is rotatable about an axis of rotation (X) located above the median transverse plane (P) of the apparatus, and carries, for each cutoff block (3), two contacts movable (5) preferably arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis of rotation (X). The bar (6) is rotatable between an open position of the contacts where the movable contacts (5) are away from fixed contacts (7), and a closed position of the contacts where the movable contacts (5) bear against each other. the fixed contacts (7).

This rotational movement of the bar (6), symbolized by the arrow R, is transformed within the cut-off device (1) into a translational movement of the handle (4), symbolized by the arrow T, by means of a mechanical lock whose size is delimited by two side flanges (1 1) fixed relative to the housing.

The handle (4) consists of a handle lever and a base on which the ON and OFF positions are written. The handle (4) is fixed to a carriage (9) by clipping a lug (14) (visible in Figures 7b, 8b and 9b) in a hole (15) provided for this purpose in the carriage (9).

This carriage (9) has a base almost flush with the base of the handle (4) and two lateral sides perpendicular to the base and extending towards the bar (6). Two orifices (13) are formed in each lateral side, at the front and rear ends of the carriage (9), in which two shafts (12) are inserted. Each shaft (12) thus traverses the carriage (9) from one lateral side to the other, and is inserted into slides (10) made in the flanges (1 1). The carriage (9) can slide in the slides (10) by means of the shafts (12). This sliding of the carriage (9) finally corresponds to the translational movement of the handle (4) according to the arrow T. In the example chosen, the slides (10) have a slightly curved shape, giving the handle (4) a curvilinear translation movement. However, the slides (10) could very well be rectilinear.

The ends (10a and 10b) of the slides (10) form the stops limiting the displacement of the carriage (9).

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the travel of the handle (4) along the slides (10) is not located in front of the bar (6), but is shifted downwards from the apparatus with respect to the axis (X) of rotation of the bar (6), so that it is centered in the shoulder (26) of the front panel (8) of the device. When the handle (4) is in the middle of its stroke, it is in the transverse median plane of the device, unlike the bar (6) whose axis (X) of rotation is in a transverse plane above the transverse median plane of the device.

This shift complicates the transformation of the movement of the bar (6) into movement of the lever (4). It is made by means of a mechanical lock, having a functioning similar to that of a knee, and mainly composed of:

a lever (21) pivotally mounted in the bar (6);

an intermediate piece (18) pivotally mounted in the flanges (1 1) and driven in rotation by the carriage (9) for guiding the handle (4);

two springs (20) placed between the intermediate piece (18) and the lever (21).

The carriage (9) can rotate the intermediate piece (18), and the intermediate piece (18) can translate the carriage (9) in translation, the drive being made by contact between edges located on lateral sides of the carriage (9) and corresponding edges of the intermediate piece (18).

According to a first possible configuration, the lateral sides of the carriage (9) consist of arms (16) which fit into cutouts (17) formed in the intermediate piece (18). The respective forms of ends of the arms (16) and cutouts (17) allow a relative angular movement between the carriage (9) and the intermediate piece (18), but also supports providing a mutual drive in certain relative positions of the carriage (9) and the intermediate piece (18).

The intermediate piece (18) has an inverted U shape, with a base and two branches, the cuts (17) being made in the two branches. The ends of the two branches have cylindrical lugs (33) adapted to fit in the orifices (34) of the flanges (1 1) for the pivot connection of the intermediate piece (18). The springs (20) are attached to the base of the intermediate piece (18) at their first end, and to the lever (21) at their second end. The lever (21) remains fixed relative to the bar (6) between the open position of the contacts (5, 7) by manual action on the handle (4) (OFF position) and the closed position of the contacts (5, 7) (ON position). The lever (21) consequently follows the rotational movement of the bar (6).

The springs (20) are brought into stable equilibrium points when the handle (4) is in the ON / OFF position, that is to say at the closing positions of the contacts (5, 7) and manual opening contacts (5, 7).

Figures 7a and 7b show the handle (4) in the ON position, the contacts (5, 7) closed. In this position, the handle (4) is at the very beginning of the race, the carriage (9) being in abutment against the ends (10a) of the slides (10). The arms (16) are inserted throughout their length into the cutouts (17), and the springs (20) are in a first equilibrium position between the intermediate piece (18) and the lever (21).

When manually opening the contacts (5, 7), the user pulls the handle (4) downwards until it reaches the end of the stroke with the carriage (9) abutting against the ends ( 10b) slides (10), as can be seen in FIGS. 8a and 8b.

During this translational movement, the arms (16) of the carriage (9) abut against the first side edges of the cutouts (17) and thus drive the intermediate piece (18). The latter then pivots in clockwise. When the carriage (9) comes into abutment, only the free ends of the arms (16) are still inserted into the cutouts (17). Pivoting of the intermediate piece (18) causes the movement of the springs (20) which pull on the lever (21) to the pivoting of the bar (6) in the clockwise direction causing the opening of the contacts (5, 7). The springs (20) are then found in a second equilibrium position between the intermediate piece (19) and the lever (21).

When manually resetting the handle (4) from the OFF position to the ON position, the user pushes up on the handle (4) until it reaches the end of the stroke with the carriage ( 9) in abutment against the ends (10a) of the slides (10). We come back to Figures 7a and 7b.

During this translational movement, the arms (16) of the carriage (9) abut against second side edges opposite the first side edges of the cutouts (17) and thus drive the intermediate piece (18). The latter then pivots counterclockwise, and causes the springs (20) to move, which exert a force on the lever (21) until the bar (6) is pivoted counterclockwise causing the contacts (5, 7) to close. ). The springs (20) are then again in their first equilibrium position between the intermediate piece (19) and the lever (21).

According to a second possible configuration, the lateral sides of the carriage (9) each consist of two tabs (30) whose edges come into contact with the edges of the intermediate piece (18), as illustrated in FIG. mutual training between the two pieces. In addition, the intermediate piece (18) is provided with a hook (31) configured to fit into a hole (32) provided for this purpose in the base of the carriage (9), as shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b, in order to achieve a mechanical coupling between the carriage (9) and the intermediate piece (18). The clearance between the hook (31) and the orifice (32) and the shape of the edges allow a relative angular movement between the carriage (9) and the intermediate piece (18). Figures 9a and 9b illustrate the cut-off device during an automatic opening of the contacts (5, 7) following a trip. In this case, the lock switches, not by a manual action on the handle (4), but by an automatic action of an actuator (not shown).

More specifically, said actuator switches the lock during a trigger by means of a mechanical system connecting the actuator to the lock, said mechanical system being composed (see also Figure 6):

a pawl (22) adapted to be moved by the actuator and movable between a first neutral position (Figures 7b, 8b) and a release position (Figure 9b);

a bar (19) abutting against the pawl (22) in a neutral position and free to rotate about a pivot shaft (25) when the pawl (22) is in the release position;

- A rocker (24) connecting the bar (19) to the lever (21) of the bar (6) by pivotal connections.

More specifically, in ON and OFF positions, the pawl (22) is always in neutral position and the bar (19) abuts. The rocker (24) for its part moves between the ON position and OFF position because it is driven by the rotation of the lever (21) following the tilting of the toggle lever by actuating the handle (4). In the OFF position, the rocker (24) is remote from the bar (19), while in the ON position, the rocker (24) pivots until it comes to a stop (23) with the bar (19), thus limiting the movement of the lever (21). The rocker (24) therefore exerts a force on the bar (19) able to rotate it when it is no longer in abutment against the pawl (22) following a tripping TRIP. The rocker (24) follows this pivoting remaining in abutment (23) against the bar (19), and takes with it the lever (21) for opening the contacts (5, 7). Following this trigger TRIP, the springs (20) are led by the lever (21) on the other side of the axis of rotation of the intermediate piece (18), thereby causing a tilting of the toggle joint. After such a triggering, the handle (4) is in a TRIP position with the carriage (9) halfway in the slides (10), the contacts (5, 7) are open, and the lever (21) has pivoted relative to the bar (6) following the movement of the rocker (24), the bar (19) and the intermediate piece (18).

Of course, the above example should not be considered exhaustive of the invention, which instead comprises all the variations of shape and configurations that are within the reach of those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. Line protection apparatus comprising:

- a cut-off device (1) controlled by a control lever (4) for controlling a movable contact (5) fixed to a rotating contact-bar (6) driving said moving contact (5) remotely or towards a fixed contact (7), said handle (4) being connected to the bar (6) via a mechanical lock adapted to tilt by causing the opening / closing of the contacts (5, 7) following a manual action on the joystick (4);

- A trigger device (2) comprising at least one actuator adapted to pass to the lock of the cut-off device (1) an electrical fault on a line to switch it;

said bar (6) being rotatable about an X axis offset from the median transverse plane of the housing of the apparatus, while said handle (4) protruding from the front panel (8) of the apparatus, is movable along a path whose mid-way is centered with respect to the median transverse plane of the apparatus, the latter also comprising means for transforming the translational movement of the lever (4) into rotational movement of the bar (6) ,

characterized in that said converting means consist of guide means in translation of the handle (4) combined with means for driving in rotation an intermediate piece (18) constituting, with a lever (21) pivotally mounted in the bar (6) and with spring means (20) connecting the intermediate piece (18) to the lever (21), a knee-type mechanism forming the lock.

2. line protection device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the intermediate piece (18) is pivotally mounted relative to fixed elements in the housing, the lever (21) is pivotally mounted at the periphery of the bar (6). , and the spring means (20) are mounted between:

- The free end of the lever (21) located in the vicinity of the axis of rotation of the intermediate piece (18), and; the free end of the intermediate piece (18) distant from its axis of rotation;

the means for rotating the intermediate piece (18) passing the spring means (20) on either side of its axis of rotation.

3. line protection device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said guide means of the handle (4) consist of a carriage (9) movable on which is fixed the handle (4), and guided in translation in slides (10) made in two symmetrical flanges (1 1) fixedly mounted in the housing and delimiting the size of the lock, said lever (4) being movable between two extreme positions in abutment against a first end (10a) of the corresponding slides at a closed position of the contacts (5, 7) and against a second end (10b) of the slides corresponding to an open position of the contacts (5, 7).

4. Line protection device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said carriage (9) is guided in said slides (10) by means of shafts (12) connecting the two flanges (1 1) and inserted into holes (13) of the carriage (9) provided for this purpose.

5. Line protection device according to one of claims 3 to 4, characterized in that said slides (10) are straight, giving the carriage a rectilinear translational movement.

6. A line protection device according to one of claims 3 to 4, characterized in that said slides (10) are curved, giving the carriage (9) a curvilinear translational movement with a very large radius of curvature.

Line protection device according to one of Claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the said rotary drive means consist of arms (16) extending from the carriage (9) in the direction of the bar (6). and being inserted into cutouts (17) made in the intermediate piece (18) which is pivotally mounted relative to the flanges (1 1), the respective shapes of the edges of the ends of the arms (16) and cutouts (17). allowing on the one hand a relative angular displacement between the carriage (9) and the intermediate piece (18) and secondly supports providing a mutual drive in two substantially opposite directions.

8. line protection device according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that said rotary drive means consist of:

- chants of the lateral sides of the carriage (9) which come into contact with edges of the lateral sides of the intermediate piece (18);

- A hook (31) extending from the intermediate piece (18) and being inserted into a hole (32) formed in the carriage (9) so as to achieve a mechanical attachment;

the respective shapes of said edges and the mechanical attachment allowing on the one hand a relative angular displacement between the carriage (9) and the intermediate piece (18), and on the other hand supports providing a mutual drive in two substantially opposite directions.