CN118782434A - Modular multi-pole serial installation device - Google Patents

Abstract

The modular multi-pole series installation device formed according to the present invention has an insulating material housing, which has a front side, a fixed side opposite to the front side, and a narrow side and a wide side connecting the front side and the fixed side. The first and second device modules of the multi-pole series installation device are arranged side by side and fixed to each other. The multi-pole series installation device has an inspection device, which has a manually operable inspection button arranged on the first device module and can be changed from a ready-to-run position to an inspection position. The inspection button also has a first active surface, through which the inspection circuit that can be arranged in the first device module can be activated. The inspection button has a second active surface, through which the electronic inspection button that can be arranged in the second device module can be operated. Due to the modular design of the multi-pole series installation device, more device variants can be formed without large additional expenses, without significantly increasing the number of components and parts. The inspection button can activate the inspection circuit and operate the electronic inspection button.

Description

Modular multi-pole serial installation device

Technical Field

The invention relates to a modular multi-pole series installation device, which has a modular insulating material housing, the insulating material housing having a front side, a fixing side opposite to the front side, and a narrow side and a wide side connecting the front side and the fixing side.

Background Art

Electromechanical protective switchgear, such as circuit breakers, line protection switches, residual current protection switches and arc or fire protection switches, are used to monitor and protect electrical circuits and, in particular, as switches and safety elements in power supply networks and distribution networks. In order to monitor and protect electrical circuits, the protective switchgear is electrically conductively connected to the electrical line of the circuit to be monitored via two or more connecting terminals in order to interrupt the current in the corresponding monitored line when necessary. For this purpose, the protective switchgear has at least one switching contact which can be opened when a predefined state occurs, for example, when a short circuit or a fault current is detected, in order to separate the monitored circuit from the electrical line network. Such protective switchgear is also referred to as a series-mounted device in the field of low-voltage technology.

Here, the circuit breaker is specially designed for high currents. Line protection switches (so-called LS switches), which are also called miniature circuit breakers (MCB), are so-called overcurrent protection devices in electrical installations and are used in particular within the scope of low-voltage power networks. Circuit breakers and line protection switches ensure safe disconnection in the event of a short circuit and protect electrical consumers and devices from overloads, for example, to prevent damage to electrical lines due to overheating caused by excessive currents. They are designed to automatically disconnect the circuit to be monitored in the event of a short circuit or an overload, thereby separating it from the rest of the line network. Therefore, circuit breakers and line protection switches are used in particular as switches and safety elements for monitoring and protecting circuits in power supply networks. Line circuit breakers are generally known from DE 10 2015 217 704 A1, EP 2 980 822 A1, DE 10 2015 213 375 A1, DE 10 2013 211 539 A1 or EP 2 685 482 B1.

For disconnection of individual phase conductors, single-pole line circuit breakers are usually used, the width of which usually has a width of one pitch unit (HP) (corresponding to approximately 18 mm). For three-phase connections, three-pole line circuit breakers are used (instead of three single-pole switching devices), the width of which is correspondingly three pitch units (corresponding to approximately 54 mm). In this case, each of the three phase conductors is assigned a pole, i.e. a switching position. If, in addition to the three phase conductors, a neutral conductor is to be interrupted, this is referred to as a four-pole device, which has four switching positions: three for the three phase conductors and one for the common neutral conductor.

Furthermore, there are also compact circuit breakers whose housing width is only one pitch unit and which provide two switching contacts for each connecting line, i.e. two phase conductors (compact circuit breakers of type 1+1) or two switching contacts for one phase conductor and a neutral conductor (compact circuit breakers of type 1+N). Such compact circuit breakers of narrow design are known in principle from DE 10 2004 034 859 A1, EP 1 191 562 B1 or EP 1 473 750 A1, for example.

A fault current circuit breaker is a protective device that is used to ensure protection against dangerous leakage currents in electrical installations. Such fault currents (also called differential currents) occur when live line parts are in electrical contact with the ground. This situation occurs, for example, when a person touches a live part of an electrical installation: In this case, the current flows as a fault current through the body of the person concerned and to the ground. In order to prevent such body currents, the fault current circuit breaker must quickly and safely separate the electrical installation from the line network at all poles when such a fault current occurs. In general language usage, the terms FI circuit breaker (FI switch for short), differential current circuit breaker (DI switch for short) or RCD (Residual Current Protective Device) are also used equivalently instead of the term "fault current circuit breaker".

Arc or fire protection switches are used to detect arc faults, which can occur at defective locations in electrical lines, such as loose cable clamps or due to cable breaks. If the arc fault is in series with the consumer, it usually does not exceed the normal operating current, because it is limited by the consumer. For this reason, conventional overcurrent protection devices, such as fuses or line protection switches, do not detect arc faults. In order to determine whether there is an arc fault, the fire protection switch measures the curves of voltage and current over time and analyzes and evaluates them based on the characteristics of the arc fault trend. In the (English) professional literature, such protection devices for detecting arc faults are called "Arc Fault Detection Device" (abbreviation: AFDD). In North America, the name "Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter" (abbreviation: AFCI) is common.

In addition, there are also device structures that combine the functions of a residual current circuit breaker with those of a line circuit breaker: This combined protection switch device is called FI/LS in German and RCBO (Residual current operated circuit breaker with overcurrent protection) in English. Compared with separate residual current circuit breakers and line circuit breakers, this combination device has the advantage that each circuit has its own residual current circuit breaker: usually, a single residual current circuit breaker is used for multiple circuits. If a fault current occurs, all protected circuits are disconnected. By using RCBO, only the affected circuit is disconnected.

As development progresses, more and more functions are integrated into the devices, which means that combined protection switch devices are developed, which cover the functional range of several individual devices: In addition to the FI/LS protection switch devices described above, which combine the functional range of a conventional residual current circuit breaker (FI) with the functional range of a line circuit breaker (LS), there are also other structural forms in which, for example, the functions of a fire protection circuit breaker are integrated into existing devices, such as MCB, RCD or RCBO/FILS.

In order to limit or reduce the number of serially mounted devices formed for different application cases and thereby limit or reduce the manufacturing costs of individual devices, an attempt will be made to construct the devices in a modular manner according to the modular principle: In a modular structure, the system is assembled from components along defined interfaces. Here, the protective switchgear to be formed by modular components is divided into different components or parts, which are called modules, and the interfaces between the individual modules are precisely defined. Thus, different protective switchgear can be formed according to different modules with suitable shape and function, wherein the selected modules interact with each other via predefined interfaces.

Summary of the invention

When forming such a module, the aim is to keep the number of components low and at the same time improve the functionality. The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is therefore to provide an alternative, multi-pole series-mounted device which at least partially achieves these goals and the associated advantages.

According to the present invention, the above technical problem is solved by the multi-pole serial installation device according to the present invention. Advantageous design solutions are also the content of the present invention.

The modular multi-pole series-mounted device according to the present invention has an insulating material housing having a front side, a fixed side opposite to the front side, and a narrow side and a wide side connecting the front side and the fixed side. Here, the first device module and the second device module of the modular multi-pole series-mounted device are arranged side by side and connected to each other. In addition, the modular multi-pole series-mounted device has an inspection device, which itself has a manually operable inspection button, which is arranged on the first device module and can be changed from a ready-to-run position to an inspection position by manual operation. The inspection button itself has a first active surface, through which the electrical inspection circuit arranged in the first device module can be activated when the inspection button is operated. In addition, the inspection button has a second active surface, through which the electronic inspection button arranged in the second device module can be operated.

By means of the modular construction of a multi-pole series-mounted device, a greater number of device variants can be formed without significantly increasing the number of components and parts. Here, each of the device modules has its module width, which corresponds to a portion of the modularly formed insulating material housing, which mainly includes the front side, the fixing side and the narrow side. The wide side can be included; however, it is also possible and in some cases advantageous to omit the wide side between two adjacent device modules.

In particular, the first device module configured as an RCD module has an electrical test circuit, which can be activated by pressing, i.e., by manually operating, a test button arranged on the front side of the first device module to check the functionality of the fault current monitoring of the first device module configured as an RCD module. In addition, the second device module can be configured as an electronic module, i.e., at least part of the functions of the second device module, such as communication or measurement functions, are implemented electronically. Here, this can be, for example, a line protection switch with an additional AFDD function. Such an electronic device can have an electronic test button, such as a micro switch, to implement different functions, for example as a test button, as a reset button or for performing so-called pairing during the commissioning process. Pairing is a process for establishing an initial connection between different devices in order to enable communication between them.

In order not to arrange the inspection buttons separately on a plurality of device modules, the inspection button of the modular multi-pole series-mounted device according to the present invention has a first action surface, which is used to activate the electrical inspection circuit arranged in the first device module, and a second action surface, which is used to operate the electronic inspection button arranged in the second device module. Here, the second action surface is constructed on the part of the inspection button protruding into the second device module. This part, which can be constructed as an arm or a finger, protrudes into the structural space of the second device module in the insulating material housing in order to operate the electronic inspection button arranged there. Here, the inspection button has the function of activating the inspection circuit and the function of operating the electronic inspection button.

In an advantageous development of the modularly designed multi-pole series-connected device, the insulating material housing is designed in a modular manner, wherein the first device module and the second device module each comprise a part of the modularly designed insulating material housing.

The first and second device modules do not necessarily have to have their own complete housing. Since both device modules are anyway installed in a single multi-pole series installation, the wide sides located in the interior can be omitted. Advantageously, the part of the insulating material housing that is associated with the respective device module and is modularly formed consists of the corresponding part of the front side, the fastening side and the two narrow sides. Thus, the part of the insulating material housing that is associated with the respective device module and is modularly formed represents a frame consisting of the front side and the fastening side and the two narrow sides, which can be closed on the wide sides located in the exterior with a housing cover.

In a further advantageous development of the modular multi-pole series-mounted device, the test button is arranged in the front area of the first device module. By arranging the test button in the front area, it is ensured that the device operator can reach it well even in the installed state of the multi-pole series-mounted device.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the modular multi-pole series-connected device, the test device has a return spring which engages the test button and is supported on the insulating material housing in order to return the test button from the test position to the ready-to-operate position. The return spring serves, on the one hand, to return the test button to the ready-to-operate position. On the other hand, the device operator also receives tactile feedback when operating the test button through the return spring, which significantly improves ergonomics.

In a further advantageous expansion scheme of the modular multi-pole serially mounted device, the reset spring is designed as a torsion spring. Due to its simplicity, economy and space saving, the torsion spring is a structurally suitable possibility for realizing the reset function.

In a further advantageous development of the modular multi-pole series-mounted device, the return spring is designed as a movable contact element, by means of which the test circuit can be opened and closed. In this way, in addition to the pure reset function, the contact function of the test circuit can also be realized by the same component, namely the return spring. This can significantly reduce the variety of parts and thus reduce logistics and production costs.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the modularly designed multi-pole series-connected device, each device module has a width of only one pitch unit.

The width of one pitch unit corresponds to the standard width dimension of a single-pole line circuit breaker with a width of approximately 18 mm. Accordingly, a two-pole series-mounted device has a width of two pitch units; a three-pole series-mounted device has a width of three pitch units (etc.). This standard snap-in dimension significantly improves the combination possibilities of different device modules, such as a standard residual current protection switch device module, with special designs, such as an AFDD device module or a communication device module. Thus, even rare special designs can be produced in a simple manner from standard components and parts without significantly increasing the variety of parts.

In a further advantageous extension, the modularly formed multi-pole series-mounted device can be expanded by one or more further device modules. By means of the modular construction of the multi-pole series-mounted device and the insulating material housing, a three-pole or four-pole series-mounted device can be formed in this way without requiring a large amount of additional design overhead.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following is a more detailed description of an embodiment of a modular multi-pole serial installation device with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 and 2 show schematic diagrams of a modular multi-pole series-mounted device with a partially open housing according to the present invention in different views;

3 and 4 show detailed schematic diagrams of a multi-pole series installation device formed in a modular manner according to the present invention according to FIGS. 1 and 2 ;

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 each show a schematic diagram of a possible embodiment of a rail-mounted device according to the present invention in a perspective view.

In the different figures of the drawings, identical parts are always provided with the same reference numerals. This description applies to all figures in which the corresponding parts are also seen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A modular multi-pole series-mounted device with a partially open housing according to the present invention is schematically shown in different views in Figures 1 and 2. Here, Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a modular multi-pole series-mounted device 1, while Figure 2 shows it in a side view. Figures 3 and 4 each show a fragment enlargement.

The modularly formed multi-pole series-mounted device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 is a four-pole series-mounted device formed from four individual device modules 10, 20, 30, 40 and has an insulating material housing 2 with a front side 3, a fixing side 4 opposite the front side 3, and a narrow side 5 and a wide side 6 connecting the front side and the fixing side 3, 4. Here, the four individual device modules 10, 20, 30, 40 are arranged side by side "wide side to wide side" and are firmly connected to one another, for example, by one or more riveted connections 9. However, the number of poles of the modularly formed multi-pole series-mounted device 1 is not essential to the invention; the invention also includes two-pole or three-pole device variants.

Furthermore, the modular multi-pole string-mounted device 1 has a manually operable operating element 7 arranged on the front side 3 , which connects the hand-operated elements 8 of the individual device modules 10 , 20 , 30 , 40 together so that they can be operated together by manual operation of the operating element 7 .

The modular multi-pole series-mounted device 1 also has an inspection device having a manually operable inspection button 50. The inspection button 50 is arranged on the front side 3 of the first device module 10 and can be operated, i.e. pressed in the direction of the fixed side 4, to change from the ready-to-run position to the inspection position against the force of the return spring 53. When the inspection button 50 is released, the return spring 53 returns the inspection button 50 from the depressed inspection position to the ready-to-run position. For this purpose, the first end of the return spring 53 is engaged with the inspection button 50, and the return spring 53 is supported on the insulating material housing 2 by its second end.

For a detailed description of the test button 50, reference is made in particular to the illustrations of FIGS. 3 and 4: The test button 50 has a first active surface 51, by means of which the test circuit 11 arranged in the first device module 10 can be activated when the test button 50 is operated. In the example shown, the return spring 53 configured as a torsion spring simultaneously serves as a contact element, by means of which the test circuit 11 is switched on in the test position, i.e. when the test button 50 is pressed. Therefore, no additional contact elements are required.

Furthermore, the test button 50 has a second active surface 52, by which an electronic test button 60 arranged in the second device module 20 can be operated. For example, the electronic test button 60 can be designed as a micro switch. For this purpose, the test button 50 has an arm 54, which in the installed state of the test button 50 protrudes into the installation space of the second device module 20 and forms the second active surface 52 at its distal end. If the test button 50 is operated, i.e., it is moved from its ready-to-run position to its test position by pressing, the electronic test button 60 arranged in the second device module 20 is operated via the second active surface 52. In this way, the test circuit 11 arranged in the first device module 10 can be activated (via the first active surface 51) and the test button 60 arranged in the adjacent second device module 20 can be operated (via the second active surface 52) by pressing a single test button.

The presence of a test circuit or an electronic test button is not mandatory. It is essential for the invention that the test button 50 has a first active surface 51 and a second active surface 52, so that it can activate the test circuit 11 that can be arranged in the first device module 10 and operate the electronic test button that can be arranged in the adjacent second device module 20. In this way, it is ensured that no matter which device modules 10 and 20 are combined with each other, the test button 50 can always activate the test circuit and/or operate the micro button.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 each schematically show a possible embodiment of a series-mounted device according to the invention in a perspective view. FIG. 5 shows a modularly formed four-pole series-mounted device 1, wherein a first device module 10 is designed as a fully current-sensitive residual current circuit breaker (RCD), which is combined with three other device modules 20, 30, 40, which provide the function of a three-pole line circuit breaker (MCB). The second device module 20 also additionally has an electronic component for wireless communication. With the aid of a test button 50 arranged on the front side 3 of the first device module 10, a test circuit 11 arranged inside the first device module 10 and an electronic test button 60 arranged in the second device module 20 can be activated, i.e. opened or switched on. The electronic test button 60 can be used, for example, to check the function of a communication component arranged inside the second device module 20, but can also be used for pairing within the scope of commissioning or for a reset function. For this purpose, two lighting elements 21 are arranged in the region of the front side 3 of the second device module 20.

FIG. 6 shows a modular, here four-pole series-mounted device 1, wherein a first device module 10 is designed as a pulse current-sensitive residual current circuit breaker (RCD), which is combined with three further device modules 20, 30, 40, which in turn provide the function of a three-pole line circuit breaker (MCB). In this case, a test button 50 arranged on the front side 3 of the first device module 10 is used to activate a test circuit 11 arranged inside the first device module 10 via its first active surface 51 in order to test the functionality of the RCD function, i.e., to test the triggering in the event of a fault current. Since the further device modules 20, 30, 40 are designed as pure line circuit breakers without further electronic functions, the second active surface 52 of the test button 50 is inactive in this case.

The series-mounted device 1 shown in FIG5 and the other series-mounted device 1 shown in FIG6 are basically composed of the same modules, components and parts. In the embodiment shown in FIG5, only the second device module 20 additionally has a communication module, and its test button 60 configured as a micro switch can be operated by means of the test button 50 arranged in the first device module 10. Due to the modular design, different protective switch devices, i.e. series-mounted devices, can be built around the basis of "line protection and fault current protection" on a common platform with relatively little expenditure.

In this case, cross-module components, such as summation current transformers for four-pole residual current circuit breakers, which are incorporated into the installation space across the device modules, or a common circuit board for supplying multiple electronic components arranged in different device modules can also be used. In this way, for example, the electronic components for the fire switch function can be inserted into one of the device modules 20, 30, 40 configured as an MCB, and the current required for operation can be provided with the help of a common circuit board. This is particularly advantageous for different device variants, because traditional electromechanical devices, such as line circuit breakers (MCBs) or residual current circuit breakers (RCDs), have no electronic functions and are mass-produced, while protective switch devices with new electronic functions are currently still produced in low quantities and are correspondingly much more expensive to manufacture. Due to the platform-based approach and modular design, protective switch devices with different combinations of additional electronic functions can be designed based on the combination of residual current circuit breakers and line circuit breakers and manufactured at relatively low costs.

The common test button 50 contributes to this by being able to be used both for testing the RCD function of the first device module 10 and for operating the test button 60 arranged in the second device module 20 to operate one or more further electronically implemented functions. The test button 50 can thus serve as a unified operating element for both electromechanical and electronic series-mounted devices and for combined, i.e. electromechanical and electronic series-mounted devices. This same component concept leads to a significant reduction in tool and manufacturing costs.

The test button 50 according to the present invention also has the advantage that, through the significantly larger button travel of about 3 mm compared to the micro switch and the counterpressure generated by the return spring 53, the operator can obtain clearly perceptible tactile feedback, even when the test circuit does not exist and therefore when purely operating the test button 60. In addition, the test button 50 according to the present invention can also be used in combination with only the return spring 53 or only the electronic test button 60 due to its structural design.

A unified test button makes it possible to design a combined device having a large contact opening distance of about 3 mm for an electromechanical device variant (e.g. a low-voltage test circuit for an RCD module) and button operation for an electronic device variant, for example as a pairing button and/or reset button for a microcontroller.

List of reference numerals:

1 Multi-pole series installation device

2Insulating material housing

3Front side

4Fixed side

5 Narrow side

6 Wide Side

7 Operating elements

8-hand operating element

9 Riveting connection

10 First device module

11 Check the circuit

20 Second device module

21 Lighting elements

30 Third device module

40 Fourth device module

50 Check Button

51 First working surface

52 Second working surface

53 Return spring

54 Arm

60 Check Button

Claims (8)

1. A modular multipole tandem mounting device (1),

Having an insulating material housing (2) with a front side (3), a fixing side (4) opposite to the front side (3) and narrow and wide sides (5, 6) connecting the front side and the fixing sides (3, 4),

Having a first device module (10) and a second device module (20), which are arranged side by side and are fixed to one another,

Having an inspection device with a manually operable inspection button (50) which is arranged on the first device module (10) and which can be moved from a ready-to-run position into an inspection position by manual operation,

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

The inspection button (50) has a first active surface (51), by means of which first active surface (51) an inspection circuit (11) which can be arranged in the first device module (10) can be activated upon operation of the inspection button (50),

-The inspection button (50) has a second active surface (52) by means of which an electronic inspection button (60) which can be arranged in the second device module (20) can be operated.

2. The modularly formed multipole serial mounting device (1) according to claim 1,

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

The insulating-material housing (2) is formed modularly, wherein the first device module (10) and the second device module (20) each have a part of the insulating-material housing (2) formed modularly.

3. The modularly formed multipole series mounting arrangement (1) according to any of the preceding claims,

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

The inspection button (50) is arranged in the region of the front side (3) of the first device module (10).

4. The modularly formed multipole series mounting arrangement (1) according to any of the preceding claims,

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

The inspection device has a return spring (53) which is inserted into the inspection button (50) and is supported on the insulating material housing (2) in order to return the inspection button (50) from the inspection position to the ready-to-run position.

5. The modularly formed multipole series mounting arrangement (1) according to claim 4,

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

The return spring (53) is designed as a torsion spring.

6. The modularly formed multipole series mounting arrangement (1) according to any of claims 4 to 5,

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

The return spring (53) is designed as a movable contact element, by means of which the checking circuit can be switched off and on.

7. The modularly formed multipole series mounting arrangement (1) according to any of the preceding claims,

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

Each device module (10, 20, 30, 40) has a width (B) of only one pitch unit (TE).

8. The modularly formed multipole series mounting arrangement (1) according to any of the preceding claims,

It is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

The serial installation device (1) can be expanded by one or more further device modules (30, 40).