Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
  • H01H13/50—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member
  • H01H13/56—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member the contact returning to its original state upon the next application of operating force
  • H01H13/60—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a single operating member the contact returning to its original state upon the next application of operating force with contact-driving member moved alternately in opposite directions
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H1/00—Contacts
  • H01H1/58—Electric connections to or between contacts; Terminals
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H11/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H23/00—Tumbler or rocker switches, i.e. switches characterised by being operated by rocking an operating member in the form of a rocker button
  • H01H23/02—Details
  • H01H23/12—Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon
  • H01H23/16—Driving mechanisms
  • H01H23/162—Driving mechanisms incorporating links interconnecting tumbler and contact arm
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H1/00—Contacts
  • H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
  • H01H1/14—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting
  • H01H1/20—Bridging contacts
  • H01H1/2041—Rotating bridge
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H11/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches
  • H01H11/0006—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches for converting electric switches

Definitions

• the present disclosure refers to the technical field of electrical installations, and more particularly, it refers to a four ways circuit breaker also referred to as inverter circuit breaker.
• modular circuit breakers there are the so-called four ways circuit breakers, referred to also as inverter circuit breakers.
• This type of modular circuit breakers is generally employed to implement electrical wiring circuits for room lighting, for example in order to control a same device or lighting assembly from spatially different positions, i.e. from different lighting control points.
• FIG. 1 An inverter circuit breaker 1 of the known state of the art is represented in figure 1, showing a side view of the inverter circuit breaker 1, and in figure 2, showing an exploded axonometric view of the inverter circuit breaker 1.
• the inverter circuit breaker 1 comprises a support structure 2 made of electrically insulating material, or case 2, having the shape of a box and defining an inner room for housing and supporting the electro-mechanical components being part of the inverter circuit breaker 1.
• the inverter circuit breaker 1 further comprises a sliding button 3 that is covered by a corresponding cover element 4 mechanically coupled, for example snap-fitted, with the sliding button 3 such that it slides therewith along a sliding axis Z-Z .
• the inverter circuit breaker 1 further comprises an anti-dust protective cap 7, for example made according to the teachings of the patent application W02010006867 A1 titled "Push button switch with anti-jamming protection device".
• the anti-dust protective cap 7 covers a button 16 that is slidably engaged with a guide frame 18 and that is slidable along with the button 3.
• the inverter circuit breaker 1 comprises a first pair of connecting terminals 11, 12 and a second pair of connecting terminals 13, 14.
• the inverter circuit breaker 1 comprises two rocking switching members 6 that are simultaneously moved such that the inverter circuit breaker 1 selectively assumes one or the other of the following configurations:
• first connecting terminal 11 of the first pair of terminals 11, 12 is electrically connected only to a first connecting terminal 13 of the second pair of terminals 13, 14 and wherein the second connecting terminal 12 of the first pair of terminals is electrically connected only to the second connecting terminal 14 of the second pair of terminals 13, 14;
• first connecting terminal 11 of the first pair of terminals 11, 12 is electrically connected only to the second connecting terminal 14 of the second pair of terminals 13, 14 and wherein the second connecting terminal 12 of the first pair of terminals is electrically connected only to the first connecting terminal 13 of the second pair of terminals 13, 14.
• rocking control member 5 is such that it simultaneously rotates both the rocking switching members 6, by means of two sprung rungs 8.
• a pressure-transmitting rotatable element 15 is operatively interposed between the button 3 and the rocking control member 6.
• the pressure-transmitting rotatable element 15, the rocking control member 5 and the pair of rocking switching members 6 are adapted and configured to rotate about three corresponding axis that are parallel between them and perpendicular to the sliding axis Z-Z .
• An inverter circuit breaker 1 of the above described type has been so far widely employed in electrical systems of residential or commercial buildings in order to control lighting devices or assemblies.
• a first drawback is that the inverter circuit breaker 1 has a relatively big axial occupancy.
• a second drawback is given by the overall inertia of the mechanism and by the noise the user perceives when the inverter circuit breaker is manually operated.
• a third drawback is given by the relatively long stroke required to the sliding of the button 3 to take the inverter circuit breaker 1 from the first operative configuration to the second operative configuration and vice versa.
• the object of the present invention is to make available an inverter circuit breaker that is such as to fulfil the above described need.
• Figure 1 is a plan side view of an inverter circuit breaker of the known art .
• Figure 2 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the inverter circuit breaker of Figure 1.
• Figure 3 is a plan side view of a non-limiting embodiment of an inverter circuit breaker comprising a case, a button and a cover and operating element.
• Figure 4 is a three-dimensional view of the inverter circuit breaker of Figure 3 from which the cover and operating element has been removed.
• Figure 5 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the part of the inverter circuit breaker shown in Figure 4.
• Figure 6 is a three-dimensional view of the inverter circuit breaker of Figure 4 from which the button has been removed .
• Figure 7 is a three-dimensional view of the inverter circuit breaker of Figure 4 from which the button and a part of the case have been removed and wherein a rotor is visible .
• Figure 8 is a three-dimensional view of the inverter circuit breaker of Figure 3 from which the case has been removed .
• Figure 9 is a three-dimensional view of the part of the inverter circuit breaker of Figure 8 from which the button has been removed.
• Figure 10 is a three-dimensional view of a part of the inverter circuit breaker shown in Figure 9.
• Figure 11 is a plan view of an additional part of the circuit breaker shown in Figure 9.
• Figure 12 is a three-dimensional view of an additional part of the circuit breaker shown in Figure 9, wherein the rotor is shown with some parts in transparency.
• Figure 13 is a three-dimensional view of an additional part of the circuit breaker shown in Figure 9.
• modular electrical device means an electrical device intended to be installed in a wall mounting frame placed next to other electrical devices of the same type or generally to other modular electrical devices, such as for example power outlets or other control electrical devices for controlling and distributing power energy .
• the inverter circuit breaker 100 can be manually operated by a user and can for example be employed, with no limitation whatsoever, for controlling a lighting device or assembly.
• the inverter circuit breaker 100 comprises a case 20,21 preferably made of electrically insulating material, for example plastic, and a button 30 mechanically coupled with the case 20 such that it can be moved with respect to the latter.
• the button 30 is engaged, directly or indirectly, with the case 20, 21 such that it can slide with respect thereto along a sliding axis Z-Z between an initial backward position and a final advanced position.
• final advanced position means an end-of-stroke position in the approaching movement of the button 30 towards the case 20, 21
• final backward position means an end-of-stroke position in the distancing movement of the button 30 from the case 20, 21.
• the button 30 could be a rocking button instead of a sliding button with respect to the case 20, 21.
• the button 30 is a button slidably engaged with the case 20, 21 with no limitation whatsoever on the possibility to make the button 30 as a button of the rocking-type rather than of the sliding-type.
• the inverter circuit breaker 100 comprises at least a return elastic element 33, configured for pushing the button 30 in the initial backward position.
• such initial backward position is the only stable position of the button 30.
• the inverter circuit breaker 100 comprises in particular two helical springs 33 each of which pushes the button 30 in the final backward position .
• the button 30 is preferably made of electrically insulating material, for example plastic.
• buttons 30 comprises a hollow body of button 31 having an open side and it further comprises a button cap 32 fixed to the hollow body of button 31 such as to close said open side.
• the button cap 32 is fixed to the hollow body of the button
• interlocking coupling elements preferably snap-fitting coupling elements.
• the case 20, 21 of the inverter circuit breaker 1 preferably comprises a first part 20 and a second part 21 that are mechanically coupled between them, for example snap-fitted .
• the first part 20 of the case 20, 21 preferably comprises a tubular side wall 20a and a bottom wall 20b joined to the tubular side wall 20a.
• the first part 20 of the case 20, 21 comprises an open side 20c opposite to the bottom wall 20b.
• the tubular side wall 20a and the button wall 20b delimit an inner room within which the button 30 slides .
• the second part 21 of the case 20, 21 preferably comprises a tubular side wall 21a and a bottom wall 21b joined to the tubular side wall 21a.
• the second part 21 of the case 20, 21 comprises an open side 21c opposite to the bottom wall 21b.
• the open side 21c is closed at the first side of the case 20 when the two parts of the case 20, 21 are coupled between them.
• the tubular side wall 21a and the bottom wall 21d delimit an inner room adapted to house four electrical connecting terminals 81, 82, 83, 84 in addition to some electro-mechanical components of the inverter circuit breaker 100 that will be disclosed in the following .
• the electrical connecting terminals 81, 82, 83, 84 are for example terminals with screw clamps.
• connecting terminals could be quick-wiring terminals, for example terminals equal or similar to terminals disclosed in patent application W02010006867 A1.
• the inverter circuit breaker 100 comprises snap-fitting elements 29, 39 adapted to engage the button 30 to the case 21, 21, preferably to the first part 20 of the case 20, 21.
• such snap-fitting elements 29, 39 comprise snap-fitting complementary elements arranged on the button 30 and on the case 20, 21.
• the aforesaid snap fitting complementary elements 29, 39 are shaped such as to ease a forced insertion of the button 30 into the case 20, 21 in the assembly step of the button-case assembly and, once a snap position is overcome, to carry out an interlocking coupling between the button 30 and the case 20, 21 according to which the button 30 is slidably engaged to the case 20, 21.
• the aforesaid snap-fitting complementary elements 29, 39 comprise a plurality of teeth 39 protruding from the button 30 towards the case 20 and a plurality of protrusions 29 defined in the case 20, 21 in particular on the inner part of the tubular wall 20c of the first part 20.
• the inverter circuit breaker 1 preferably comprises a system of spatially distributed guides adapted to guide the button 30 sliding with respect to the case 20, 21 along the sliding axis Z-Z .
• the spatially distributed guide system is made according to the teachings of patent application W02017141089 Al, titled "A push button operated switch with anti-jamming guiding system".
• Such system of spatially distributed guides comprises first guide elements operatively interposed between the side walls of the button 30 and the tubular side wall 20a of the case 20, 21 and second guide elements deployed with respect to first guide elements and placed at a smaller distance from the bottom wall 20b compared to the first guide elements.
• the second guide elements comprise a guiding seat 20d and a guide pin 30d sliding in the guiding seat 20d.
• the guiding pin 30d protrudes from the button 30 towards the case 20, 21, and preferably, passes through the guiding seat 20d defined in the bottom part 20b of the first part 20 of the case 20, 21.
• the inverter circuit breaker 100 further comprises a rocking control member 50 adapted to be rotated about a first rotation axis al in two opposite directions by means of the button 30.
• the rocking control member 50 is preferably rotatably hinged to the case 20, 21 and preferably to the first part 20p of the case 20, 21, more preferably at the bottom wall 20b.
• the bottom wall 20b comprises a pass-through opening 23 within which the rocking control member 50 is inserted.
• the rocking control member 50 comprises two opposed coupling elements that enable to rotatably couple the rocking control member 50 with the case 20, preferably to the first part 20 of the case.
• the aforesaid opposed coupling elements comprise two opposed pins 59 protruding from the central body 55 in opposite directions.
• opposed pins 59 are inserted in corresponding pass-through holes or recesses defined in two opposite walls of the first part 20 of the case 20, 21, for example two walls that delimit the pass through opening 23.
• the inverter circuit breaker 100 further comprises:
• a rotor 60 adapted to be rotated in two opposite directions by the rocking control member 50 about a second rotation axis a2 perpendicular to the first rotation axis al of the rocking control member 50;
• rocking switching members 72,73 adapted to be rotated simultaneously by the rotor 60 for establishing and interrupting bridges, i.e. electrical connections, between connecting terminal pairs 81-84.
• the two rocking switching members 72,73 are adapted to be rotated simultaneously by the rotor 60 for establishing and interrupting bridges between connecting terminals 81, 82, 83, 84 such that the inverter circuit breaker 100 selectively assumes one or the other of the following configurations :
• first connecting terminal 81 is electrically connected only to a second connecting terminal 82 and wherein a third connecting terminal 83 is electrically connected only to a fourth connecting terminal 84;
• the button 30 in the initial backward position the button 30 does not interfere in abutment with the rocking control member 50, being said button 30 configured for interacting with the rocking control member 50 from a certain point onward along its sliding from the initial backward position to the final advanced position.
• the button 30 comprises a pressure-transmitting element 35 adapted to abut with the rocking control member 50 from a certain point onward along the sliding of the button 30 from the initial backward position to the final advanced position.
• the pressure-transmitting element 35 allows to transmit a manual pressure applied to the button 30 to the rocking control member 50 in order to determine a rotation thereof about the first rotation axis al .
• the rocking control member 50 preferably has two stable angular positions.
• the pressure-transmitting member 35 is preferably adapted to rotate about a third rotation axis a3 in two opposite directions starting from a rest angular position (or central position) .
• the pressure-transmitting member 35 is rotatably hinged to the button 30 and in particular to the hollow body of the button 32.
• the button 30 comprises at least an elastic element 36 adapted to bring back the pressure- transmitting member 35 into the rest angular position after a rotation thereof about the third rotation axis a3.
• the aforementioned elastic element is, or comprises, a wire spring 36 and preferably a rectilinear wire spring.
• the aforesaid wire spring 36 is for example, a steel wire spring.
• the pressure-transmitting member 35 and the elastic element 36 are made according to the general or particular teachings of patent application N. W02017141091, titled “A button operated circuit breaker with rocking control member” .
• the pressure-transmitting member 35 comprises a central portion 37 and two contact appendages 38 that separate from the central portion 37.
• the aforesaid pressure-transmitting member 35 is such that it contacts from a certain point onward during the sliding of the button 30 from the backward position to the advanced position the rocking control member 50, for example by means of contact appendages 38. After such contact, the pressure-transmitting member 35 starts rotating with respect to the rest angular position, and during one further advancement of the button 30 it is such that it determines a rotation of the rocking control member 50 about the first rotation axis al starting from one first operative position until it reaches a second operative position.
• the rocking control member 70 will preferably remain in the second operative position, if this is a stable position.
• the rocking control member 50 can return in the first operative position and remain there despite the button 30 has been released and until a subsequent pressure of the button 30.
• the rocking control member 50 preferably comprises a first contact portion having two shaped surfaces 58 intended to be contacted and pushed by the pressure- transmitting member 36 and in particular by the two appendages 38 respectively.
• the aforesaid shaped surfaces 58 are two stepped surfaces.
• the rocking control member 50 further comprises at least a rotation transmitting element adapted and configured for rotating the rotor 60 about the second rotation axis a2 when the rocking control member 50 rotates about the first rotation axis al .
• the rotation transmitting element comprises two teeth 57 that protrude from a central part 55 of the rocking control member 50 between which a recess 56 is defined.
• the rotor 60 comprises a protruding appendage 66 inserted within the recess 56.
• the rotor 60 is preferably rotatably hinged to the case 20, 21, more preferably it is inserted inside the second case 21.
• the rotor 60 comprises two opposed hinge elements 64, 65 adapted to engage respectively with the first part of the case 20 and with the second part of the case 21.
• the two opposed hinge elements 64, 65 comprise respectively a pin 64 inserted inside a defined seat in the bottom wall 20b of the first part 20 of the case and a recess 55 inside which a pin is inserted that protrudes from the bottom wall 21b of the second part of the case 21 towards the rotor 60.
• the rotor 60 comprises two rotation transmitting elements 62,63 each of which is engaged with a respective rocking switching element 72, 73 and is adapted and configured to rotate the rocking switching elements 72,73 when the rotor 60 rotates about the second rotation axis a2.
• each of the rocking switching members 72, 73 rotate about a respective rotation axis a4 a5 that is parallel to the second rotation axis a2.
• Each of the two rocking switching members 72, 73 preferably comprises a plate-shaped main body made of electrically conductive material, for example copper.
• the rocking switching members 72, 73 are for example made of cut metal sheet .
• each of the rocking switching members 72, 73 comprises a pair of movable contacts opposed between them.
• the rocking switching member 72 comprises two opposed movable contacts ml, m2 and the rocking switching member 73 comprises two opposed movable contacts m3, m4.
• Rocking switching members 72, 73 are thus contact- holder movable supports, in particular contact-holder rotatable supports.
• the inverter circuit breaker 100 preferably comprises two electrically conductive supporting pivots 92, 93 on each of which a respective rocking switching member 72, 73 lies.
• the supporting pivots 92, 93 are for example made of cut and bent metal sheet .
• the rotor 60 exerts a pushing force, preferably through rotation transmitting elements 62, 63, on the rocking switching members 72, 73 in order to push them against the corresponding supporting pivots 92, 93 and ensure continuity of the electrical contact between the supporting pivots 92, 93 and the rocking switching members 72, 73.
• At least one rotation transmitting member 62,63 comprises, or consists in, a sliding slider and the rotor 60 comprises at least an elastic element 69 adapted to push said sliding slider towards the respective rocking switching member 72,73.
• both rotation transmitting members 62, 63 comprise a corresponding sliding slider.
• an elastic element is operatively interposed between the two sliding sliders, for example a helical spring 69.
• the rotor 60 comprises a hollow body made for example of electrically insulating material, crossed by a channel inside which the elastic element 69 is housed and inside which the at least one sliding slider 62, 63, slides, preferably two sliding sliders, wherein the at least one sliding slider 62, 63 has a portion protruding outwardly of the channel to engage with the corresponding rocking switching member 72, 73.
• each supporting pivot 92, 93 comprises a supporting and contact portion 92a, 93a shaped such that it defines a groove, for example having a V-shaped transverse section. More preferably, each supporting pivot 92, 93 further comprises a connecting portion 92b, 93b which is part of a respective connecting terminal 82, 83 of the inverter circuit breaker 100.
• each of the rocking switching members 72, 73 is an L-shaped plate having a larger base lying on the corresponding supporting pivot 92, 93, and in particular on the corresponding supporting and contact portion 92a, 93a, and a narrower arm of the base and to which corresponding movable contacts ml, m2 and m3, m4 are fixed.
• the movable contacts ml-m4 are for example two couples of opposed pads made of electrically conductive material, for example made of silver alloy, fixed, for example welded, at opposite sides of rocking switching members 72 , 73.
• the inverter circuit breaker 100 further comprises four fixed contacts fl, f2, f3, f4.
• the four fixed contacts fl-f4 are arranged at the corners of a quadrilateral, for example a rectangle.
• the inverter circuit breaker 100 comprises two electrically conductive supporting elements 91, 94 of the fixed contacts fl-f4, for example made of copper.
• Each of the supporting elements 91, 94 is fixed to, or integrated in, a corresponding connecting terminal 81, 84.
• each supporting element 91, 94 supports a corresponding pair of fixed contacts fl-f4.
• the supporting element 91 supports the fixed contacts fl, f3 and the supporting element 94 supports the fixed contacts f2, f4.
• the fixed contacts fl- f4 are for example welded to corresponding supporting elements 91, 94 and are for example pads made of electrically conductive material, for example made of silver alloy.
• the supporting elements 91, 94 are shaped as a T letter or as a Y letter.
• each of the supporting elements 91, 94 comprises a stem and two branches separating from such stem.
• Each of the two branches bears a corresponding fixed contact.
• the proposed inverter circuit breaker 100 allows to fully reach the set objects as it overcomes the drawbacks of the known art circuit breakers. In fact, thanks to the provision of a rotor 60 rotating about an axis a2 perpendicular to the rotation axis al of the rocking control member 50 a significant reduction of the axial occupancy was obtained.

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• 2018
  • 2018-06-12 IT IT102018000006224A patent/IT201800006224A1/it unknown
• 2019
  • 2019-04-08 BR BR112020025385-5A patent/BR112020025385A2/pt unknown
  • 2019-04-08 AU AU2019286354A patent/AU2019286354B2/en active Active
  • 2019-04-08 MX MX2020012062A patent/MX2020012062A/es unknown
  • 2019-04-08 CN CN201980039584.4A patent/CN112335009B/zh active Active
  • 2019-04-08 WO PCT/IB2019/052869 patent/WO2019239225A1/en unknown
  • 2019-04-08 RU RU2020140958A patent/RU2769958C1/ru active
  • 2019-04-08 EP EP19722207.8A patent/EP3807917B1/en active Active
  • 2019-04-08 ES ES19722207T patent/ES2928380T3/es active Active
  • 2019-04-08 HU HUE19722207A patent/HUE060041T2/hu unknown

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