EP0090176B1 - Overcurrent circuit breaker - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an overcurrent protection switch with the features of the preamble of claim 1. Such a switch is the subject of GB-PS-1 008 876.

The invention has for its object to improve the switch-off behavior of such a switch by impact anchor action on the contacts. This object is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1.

Through the angle lever-like release lever, which passes through the recess of the tappet with the pivoting end of its one L-leg, the contacts arranged on the tappet are opened faster, since the tappet is not only accelerated when released by the latching lever by the force of the spring acting on it acts, but experiences additional acceleration due to the swiveling end. In the event of tripping, the swiveling end strikes the end of the plunger groove facing the latching lever, so that a quicker opening of the switching contacts is achieved. This improves the erosion behavior of the switch contacts and the u.a. dependent switching capacity. In addition, the switching lock arrangement, which consists essentially of only two parts, is relatively simple, which ultimately increases the switching reliability of the device.

The characterizing features of claim 2 - in conjunction with the features of claim 1 - a known from DE-OS-2 721 162, particularly simple and also a free release of the device ensuring transmission of the movement of the actuating element designed as a two-armed rocker arm taught on the latch lever.

By the characterizing part of claim 3, there is not only the possibility of locking the switch or the main contacts of the switch in an on or off position, with at least one pair of auxiliary contacts being closed when the main contacts are open and vice versa, but rather the actuating element and all of them connected Bring parts of the switch lock or the contact arrangement into an intermediate position and lock there, in which all contact pairs are open. This intermediate position can be reached and locked in both from the on position and from the off position.

Characterized by the characterizing part of claim 5, on the one hand, the essential moving parts of the switch lock, which are exposed to high acceleration forces in the event of tripping, are designed with a relatively small mass, so that the shutdown can take place even faster and thus more safely.

On the other hand, it is achieved through the design, in particular, of the switch parts listed in claim 5 that no current-carrying parts are arranged in the switch part which is provided with the actuating element and which must be accessible to the layman in the installed state. This means that an additional protective measure or insulation measure has been taken that far exceeds the relevant VDE regulations.

By the measure according to claim 6, an improved impact anchor effect is achieved, since the impact anchor, which is longitudinally displaceable in the coil body of the magnetic release, has a certain lead time until it hits the central region of the release lever and strikes it upward, so that it in turn describes the plunger in the manner already described can act on the contacts provided on it.

The detachable mounting of the yoke on the coil body of the magnetic release according to claim 7 makes it possible to operate the magnetic release with and without a yoke as required. A considerable influence on the magnetic flux in the coil can thus be achieved in a targeted manner, so that a coarse adjustment of the tripping characteristics of the magnetic release is possible. These tripping characteristics are fine-tuned by a spring force according to claim 8, which is achieved, for example, by a spring. The spring adjustment can be adjusted very finely by means of the adjustment device known essentially from DE-OS-2 505 449.

Claim 12 teaches a particularly space-saving arrangement of the bimetal and an action of the same via a compensation bimetal known per se on the release lever.

Such overcurrent protection switches are often put together with other switches next to them to form multi-pole devices. There is a requirement that when only one pole or one phase is triggered, the other phases are also triggered. So far, this has generally been achieved by a so-called external mechanical coupling of the actuating elements. Claim 13 now teaches a - from US-PS-2 913 524 essentially known - more immediate and faster coupling (internal coupling) of the triggering movements of the adjacent switch locks by a coupling element lying between the devices, which is inaccessible to the layperson and cannot be influenced by it . These so-called release clutches are designed in a particularly functional and simple manner according to claim 14 and can be used between the individual devices built next to one another as required.

Finally, claim 16 teaches a type of contact arrangement in the devices which is known per se, is simple to produce and is particularly electrically reliable.

• Figur 1 eine Draufsicht auf den Überstromschutzschalter - mit abgenommenem Oberteil in der Einschaltstellung,
• Figur 2 eine Ansicht wie Figur 1 auf den Überstromschutzschalter, jedoch in der Zwischenstellung,
• Figur 3 eine Ansicht wie Figur 1 und 2 auf den Überstromschutzschalter, jedoch in der Ausschaltstellung,
• Figur 4 eine Ausschaltstellung des Überstromschutzschalters bei Freiauslösung,
• Figur 5 ein Detail der Justierung für die Magnetauslösung gemäß Bereich V der Figur 1,
• Figur 6 einen Schnitt nach Fig 5 des Details der Justierung gemäß Ebene VI-VI,
• Figur 7 eine Kombination von zwei Einzelgeräten zu einem zweipoligen Überstromschutzschalter,
• Figur 8 eine perspektivische Explosionszeichnung der Einzelteile für die Kopplung zweier Geräte,
• Figur 9 eine perspektivische Explosionszeichnung der Einzelteile für die Kopplung der Auslösehebel.

The invention is based on a Embodiment explained in more detail in Figures 1-8, wherein all components essential to the invention are provided with reference numerals. Show it:

• FIG. 1 shows a top view of the overcurrent protection switch - with the upper part removed in the switched-on position,
• FIG. 2 shows a view like FIG. 1 of the overcurrent protection switch, but in the intermediate position,
• 3 shows a view like FIGS. 1 and 2 of the overcurrent protection switch, but in the off position,
• FIG. 4 shows a switch-off position of the overcurrent protection switch when tripped,
• 5 shows a detail of the adjustment for the magnetic release according to area V of FIG. 1,
• 6 shows a section according to FIG. 5 of the detail of the adjustment according to plane VI-VI,
• FIG. 7 shows a combination of two individual devices to form a two-pole overcurrent protection switch,
• FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the individual parts for coupling two devices,
• Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the individual parts for coupling the release lever.

• -Schaltschloß,
• -Auslöseglieder,
• -Schaltkontakte,
• Kopplung.

The description is divided into sections

• -Switch lock,
• -Tripping elements,
• -Switch contacts,
• Coupling.

The key switch (Fig. 1-4)

The housing of the overcurrent protection switch consists of two housing halves made of plastic (here made of thermoplastic, resistant to leakage current and flame-retardant), of which the lower housing part 1 is shown in the figures. The device is actuated by the rocker arm 2, which is mounted with the shaft 3 formed on the rocker arm in the upper and lower parts of the housing. At the lower end of the rocker arm 2, a guide pin 4 is attached, which extends through a link guide 5 of the latch lever 6.

The latch lever 6 is movably mounted in the housing parts by means of an axis 7. The side with the axis 7 presses the plunger 8 downward in the switched-on position (FIG. 1). The other end of the latch lever 6 is supported on the release lever 9, which is pivotably mounted on the axis 75 fixed to the housing. In the switched-on position shown in FIG. 1, the tappet 8 is pressed down by the rocker arm 2 and its guide pin 4 via the link guide 5 of the latch lever 6, due to the support on the release lever 9. The compression spring 10 on the plunger 8 counteracts the latching lever 6 and thus generates a clockwise rotation on the rocker arm 2 via its guide pin 4 (FIG. 1). Through the stop 11 in the housing, the switch-on position is retained despite the torsion torsion spring 12. The torsion leg spring 12 exerts a left-turning torque on the rocker arm 2, but is inferior in strength in the switched-on position.

The intermediate position shown in FIG. 2 is practically based on the same considerations as in FIG. 1. Due to the link shape 5, the plunger 8 can move further upwards. This has an influence on the position of the contact bridges, which will be discussed later. The torsion leg spring also has smaller forces here, so that the rocker arm 2 remains in this intermediate position.

In the off position according to FIG. 3, the compression spring 10 can push the latching lever 6 all the way up. At the same time, the torsion leg spring 12 now dominates in terms of force, so that the latching lever 6 comes to rest on the side of the release lever 9 via its support surface 13. When the rocker arm 2 is actuated in the on position, the latching lever is first pressed onto the support surface 13 and only then can the plunger 8 be pressed downward.

2 can be reached both from the off position and from the on position.

When the trigger lever 9 rotates clockwise, the support surface 13 for the latch lever 6 is released. The compression spring 10 can now turn the latching lever 6 clockwise around the axis 4. The rocker arm 2 can be held in the switched-on position, as shown in FIG. 4. The plunger 8 moves independently of it upwards. When the rocker arm 2 is unimpeded, after the trigger 9/6, the compression spring 10 no longer has any influence on the torsion leg spring 12, so that the rocker arm 2 is moved into the off position by the torsion leg spring 12. The latch lever 6 assumes the position according to FIG. 3 in the end position.

The trigger elements (Fig. 1-4)

The overcurrent protection switch has both a bimetal and a solenoid release. Everyone is fully effective on their own, i.e. that the overcurrent protection switch can also be manufactured with only one release.

• - Anschluß 15;
• - Bimetallstreifen 16, der auf den Anschluß 15 aufgenietet (oder geschweißt) ist;
• - Heizwicklung 17 durch Zwischenlage einer Isolation (z. B. Glimmer) um den Bimetallstreifen 16 gewickelt;
• - Justierung 18 mittels einer Justierschraube, die auf eine Nase des Bimetallstreifens einwirkt.

The bimetal trigger 14 essentially consists of the following parts:

• - connection 15;
• - Bimetallic strip 16 which is riveted (or welded) to the connection 15;
• - Heating winding 17 wrapped around the bimetallic strip 16 by interposing insulation (e.g. mica);
• - Adjustment 18 by means of an adjusting screw, which acts on a nose of the bimetal strip.

As a result of the heating, the bimetal strip 16 bends to the left and presses against the compensation bimetal strip 19. This is attached to the release lever 9.

Due to the bimetal strip pressure, the release lever is moved clockwise until the release lever is released. The leg spring 20 counteracts the force of the bimetallic strip and brings the release lever into the rest position according to FIGS. 1-3.

• -Magnetischer Kreis aus Magnet-Joch 22 und Anker 23,
• -Justierung 24,
• -Magnetspule 25.

The magnetic release 21 consists of the following parts:

• -Magnetic circuit consisting of magnetic yoke 22 and armature 23,
• -Adjustment 24,
• -Magnet coil 25.

In the event of large overcurrents (short circuit), the armature 23 is pulled upward by the force of the magnetic flux. After a certain free travel, it presses against a lug 26 of the release lever 9, which in turn is turned clockwise and causes the release (Fig. 4).

Due to the high acceleration of the armature 23, an additional force can be exerted on the plunger 8 in the switch-off direction via the pivoting end 27 of the release lever 9. In order to open the contacts quickly, this is important in terms of high switching capacity.

• - Weglassen des Magnet-Joches 22; damit wird der Ansprechwert verzögert.
• - Veränderung der Federkraft der Torsions-Schenkel-Druckfeder 31 mittels der Justierung 24. Dies ist mehr eine Feineinstellung.

The response value and thus the tripping characteristic can be influenced by two measures.

• Omitting the magnetic yoke 22; this delays the response value.
• - Change the spring force of the torsion leg compression spring 31 by means of the adjustment 24. This is more a fine adjustment.

5 and 6 serve to explain the adjustment 24.

• -Justierteil 30, aus Kunststoff geformt,
• -federnde Haken 35 am Justierteil 30 angeformt,
• -Torsions-Schenkel-Druckfeder 31 mit den Schenkeln 32 und 33,
• -Zähne 34 am Justierteil 30 angeformt,
• -Nase 36 am Gehäuse-Oberteil 29 angeformt,
• -Auge 37 am Gehäuse-Unterteil 1 angeformt.

The adjustment has the following parts:

• -Adjustment part 30, molded from plastic,
• resilient hook 35 formed on the adjustment part 30,
• -Torsion leg compression spring 31 with the legs 32 and 33,
• Teeth 34 formed on the adjustment part 30,
• Molded nose 36 on the upper housing part 29,
• -Eye 37 formed on the lower housing part 1.

The spring 31, which combines a compression spring and a torsion leg spring, is placed on the eye 37. The adjusting part 30 is inserted through the eye and the torsion spring until the resilient hooks 35 engage in the lower housing part 1.

The leg 32 of the spring 31 is supported in the armature 23, the other leg 33 lies in the slot 38, which is formed by the resilient hook. Since the spring 31 is also a compression spring, the spring 31 is supported between the eye 37 and the teeth 34. As long as the upper part 29 is not in place, the resilient hooks 35 hold the adjusting part 30 in place.

When the device is fully assembled, one tooth 34 is supported on the nose 36 and thus forms a support point for the torsion leg compression spring 31. The other support point is the armature 23.

By turning the adjusting part 30 to the left, the torsion spring 31 is tensioned and its torque increases. To relax the torsion spring 31, the adjusting part 30 is pressed against the lower housing part until the teeth 34 are out of reach of the nose 36 and the adjustment is thus possible.

The switch contacts (Fig. 1-4)

• - Hauptstromkreis 39,
• - Hillfsstromkreis-Öffner 40,
• - Hilfsstromkreis-Schließer 41.

There are three circuit breaks in the device:

• - main circuit 39,
• - auxiliary circuit breaker 40,
• - Auxiliary circuit closer 41.

The main circuit breaker is a double contact break.

The connection 42 forms the first fixed contact. The contact point itself can consist of copper with surface silvering or contact material is plated at the contact point.

In the switched-on position according to FIG. 1, the contact bridge 43 bears against the connection 42. The contact bridge is supported on the plunger 8 via the compression spring 44 in order to generate the necessary contact pressure.

The second fixed contact is formed by the connection 45. The circuit break point is thus between the terminals 42 and 45. At the terminal 45, however, the winding end of the coil 25 is also conductively connected, the other end of which is connected to the heating winding 17 at the clamping point 46. The second end of the heating coil is welded to the bimetal.

The current path for the trigger elements is thus between the connection 45 and the connection 15.

The auxiliary circuit breaker has a fixed contact at connection 47. In the off position, which also serves as the starting position for viewing the break contact, the contact spring 48, which is fastened to connection 49, is on the fixed contact. The auxiliary circuit breaker is thus between the terminals 47 and 49. The contact is actuated via organ 76 of the plunger 8.

The auxiliary circuit closer has its fixed contact at connection 50. In the off position, which again serves as the starting position, the contact point, which is formed by contact spring 51, is open.

The contact spring 51 is attached to the terminal 52. The auxiliary circuit closer is located between terminals 50 and 52. The contact is also actuated by the plunger 8 via its organ 77.

• - Hauptstromkreis 39/42-45 - geöffnet,
• - Hilfsstromkreis-Öffner 40/47-49 - geschlossen,
• - Hilfsstromkreis-Schließer 41/50-52 - geöffnet.

The following switch positions are present in the switch-off position according to FIG. 3:

• - main circuit 39 / 42-45 - open,
• - auxiliary circuit breaker 40 / 47-49 - closed,
• - Auxiliary circuit make contact 41 / 50-52 - opened.

• - Hauptstromkreis 39/42-45 - geschlossen,
• - Hilfsstromkreis-Öffner 40/47-49 - geöffnet,
• - Hilfsstromkreis-Schließer 41/50-52 - geschlossen.

The following switch positions are present in the switch-on position according to FIG. 1:

• - main circuit 39 / 42-45 - closed,
• - auxiliary circuit breaker 40 / 47-49 - open,
• - Auxiliary circuit closer 41 / 50-52 - closed.

• - Hauptstromkreis 39/42-45 - geöffnet,
• - Hilfsstromkreis-Öffner 40/47-49 - geöffnet,
• - Hilfsstromkreis-Schließer 41/50-52 - geöffnet.

The following switch positions are present in the intermediate position according to FIG. 2:

• - main circuit 39 / 42-45 - open,
• - auxiliary circuit breaker 40 / 47-49 - open,
• - Auxiliary circuit make contact 41 / 50-52 - opened.

4, the switch positions correspond to those of the switch-off position.

The auxiliary circuits can also be assigned differently, such as. B. two break contacts or two make contacts, whereby other switching positions can also be varied in the intermediate position.

The coupling (Fig. 7 and 8)

7 and 8, two individual devices are coupled together. However, three or more devices can also be coupled together.

The coupling not only takes place mechanically via the actuating members, but also the trigger levers 9 are coupled.

• - Verbindungsstück 53,
• - Auslöse-Kupplung 54
• - Feder 55

The following parts are required for the coupling:

• - connecting piece 53,
• - Release clutch 54
• - spring 55

Are z. B. two devices (device 56 and 57) coupled to each other, they lie on the spacers 58 and are riveted together by rivets. Cavities 59 form between the devices, which on the one hand receive the release clutch 54 and on the other hand create an air cushion so that the mutual influence of heat on the devices is reduced.

Additional cutouts 60 are formed in the housings for the release clutch 54. In the bore 61, which is present in both housing parts, the pins 62 of the release clutch 54 are mounted, which is thus rotatably located between the two devices. The spring 55 rotates the release clutch clockwise and brings it with the tab 63 to the stop in the housing opening 64. The pins 65 also protrude through a housing opening 66 into the devices.

In the switched-on position according to FIG. 1, the individual parts have the position as shown in FIG. 9.

Assuming device 56 trips, i.e. the release lever 9 is rotated clockwise, then the latching lever 6 can, as already described, pivot about the guide pin 4 in a clockwise direction. During this process, the pin 67 comes into contact with the tab 63 of the release clutch 54. The clutch is thereby rotated downwards or counterclockwise (see rotary arrow). With a correspondingly large rotational movement, the pins 65 press against the inner surface 68 and thus rotate the release lever 9 of the device 57 until this device also trips.

The same triggering process takes place when the device 57 responds first.

From the description and the illustrations it can be seen that several devices can be coupled together. In general, an appealing device also triggers the neighboring device (devices) via its release lever when the device is switched off via the release coupling. If coupled devices are operated manually, they are only triggered by coupling the rocker arms 2 via the connecting piece 53.

Reference symbol list

• 1 lower housing part
• 2 rocker arms
• 3 axis
• 4 axis
• 5 backdrop
• 6 latching levers
• 7 axis
• 8 pestles
• 9 release lever
• 10 compression spring
• 11 stop
• 12 torsion torsion springs
• 13 support point
• 14 bimetallic triggers
• 15 connection
• 16 bimetal
• 17 heating winding
• 18 Adjustment
• 19 compensation bimetal
• 20 torsion torsion springs
• 21 magnetic release
• 22 magnetic yoke
• 23 anchors
• 24 adjustment
• 25 magnetic coil
• 26 nose
• 27 extended end
• 28
• 29 Upper housing part
• 30 adjustment part
• 31 torsion compression spring
• 32 legs
• 33 legs
• 34 tooth
• 35 spring hooks
• 36 nose
• 37 eye
• 38 slot
• 39 main circuit
• 40 auxiliary circuit opener
• 41 Auxiliary circuit make contact
• 42 connection
• 43 contact bridge
• 44 compression spring
• 45 connection
• 46 clamping point
• 47 connection
• 48 contact spring
• 49 connection
• 50 connection
• 51 contact spring
• 52 connection
• 53 connector
• 54 Release clutch
• 55 spring
• 56 device
• 57 device
• 58 spacer
• 59 cavity
• 60 recess
• 61 hole
• 62 cones
• 63 rags
• 64 housing breakthrough
• 65 cones
• 66 Housing breakthrough
• 67 cones
• 68 area
• 69 Housing longitudinal direction
• 75 axis fixed to housing (A 1)
• 76 organ on plunger 8
• 77 organ on plunger 8

Claims (16)

1. Overcurrent circuit-breaker having at least one thermal and/or magnetic release (bimetallic release 14/ magnetic release 21) and a mechanical breaker mechanism, which substantially consists of an actuating element (toggle lever 2) and a latching lever (6) interacting with the latter, which latching lever acts with its first end on a plunger (8), which is guided under spring prestressing substantially at right angles to the latching lever (6) and drives the switching contacts, and rests with its other end in latching position under spring prestressing on a supporting surface (13) of a release lever (9) which can be actuated by a release, which release lever:

-is designed as a substantially L-shaped angle lever (9), which

- is pivot-mounted in its angle region on a spindle (75) fixed to the casing,

-is resiliently prestressed against the thermal and/or magnetic release (14, 21),

-is made with a first L-leg, which runs substantially at right angles to the plunger (8),

-is provided with the supporting surface (13) at the swivel end of the second L-leg, which runs substantially parallel to the plunger (8) and projects from the pivot towards the actuating element (toggle lever 2),
characterized
in that the release lever (9) can be acted on by an armature (23) of a magnetic release (21),

-in that the swivel end (27) of the first L-leg engages in a longitudinal groove of the plunger (8),

- in that the end of the longitudinal groove is made as a stop for the swivel end (27) of the first L-leg of the release lever (9) moved with forward swing.

2. Overcurrent circuit-breaker according to Claim 1, characterized in that the latching lever (6) has in its centre region a link guide (5), in which a guide pin (4) of the casing-inner end of the actuating element designed as a two-armed toggle lever (2) engages such that no locking of the toggle lever (2) takes place on application of current to one of the releases (14, 21) (Fig. 4).

3. Overcurrent circuit-breaker according to one of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the link guide (5) has, apart from the two end notches, assigned to the on (Fig. 1) and off positions (Fig. 3), a centrally arranged further notch, assigned to an intermediate position (Fig. 2), for the guide pin (4) and the guide pin (4) can be locked in the further notch both from the on position and from the off position.

4.Overcurrent circuit-breaker according to one of the preceding claims- characterized in that all switching contacts acted on by the plunger (8) are open in the intermediate position (Fig. 2).

5. Overcurrent circuit-breaker according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that toggle lever (2), latching lever (6), release lever (9) and plunger (8) are made of plastic and are arranged with a distance ensuring an air insulating clearance from the casing walls.

6. Overcurrent circuit-breaker according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the magnetic release (21) is designed as a coil former (magnet coil 25) surrounded by a yoke (22) with axially displacable armature (23) therein, which latter acts with its end facing the toggle lever (2), in the case of release, on the centre region of the first L-leg of the release lever (9), for releasing the latching.

7. Overcurrent circuit-breaker according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the yoke (22) is mounted releaseably on the coil former (magnet coil 25).

8. Overcurrent circuit-breaker according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the armature (23) is prestressed by means of a spring (torsion-leg-compression spring 31) in axial direction away from the release lever (9).

9. Overcurrent circuit-breaker according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the springis designed as a torsion-leg-compression spring (31), mounted on an adjustment part (30) which can be turned in steps in the casing and locked in place, the effective end of which spring (leg 32) protrudes radially from the adjustment part (30) and is fixed on the armature (23) and the fixed end of which spring (other leg 33) is arranged on the adjustment part (30).

10. Overcurrent circuit-breaker according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjustment part (30) is rotationally mounted by a spindle in the casing and has a plurality of radially protruding teeth (34), which can lock behind a casing lug (lug 36).

11. Overcurrent circuit-breaker according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjustment part (30) can be displaced towards its spindle against the axial stress of the torsion-leg-compression spring (31).

12. Overcurrent circuit-breaker according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a compensating bimetallic strip (19) protrudes from the angle region of the release lever (9), the protruding end of which strip can be acted on by the swivel end of the thermal release designed as a bimetallic strip (16) running parallel to the impact armature.

13. Overcurrent circuit-breaker according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two adjacent circuit-breakers (devices 56, 57) form with their side surfaces a hollow space (59) predetermined by spacer pieces (58), in which hollow space a release coupling (54) for the coupling of the release movements of adjacent breaker mechanisms (latching lever 6 and release lever 9) is arranged.

14. Overcurrent circuit-breaker according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the release coupling (54) is of substantially L-shaped design, has pins at the end of its first leg for rotatable bearingin casing bores (bores 61), is provided at the end of its second leg with tabs (63) engaging laterally in the adjacent casings, which tabs are acted on, in the case of release, by further pins (67) protruding laterally from the latching levers (6) and a third pin (65) is arranged in the angle region, which pin acts, in the case of release, on the inner surfaces (68) of the second L-leg of the release lever (9).

15. Overcurrent circuit-breaker according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the further pins (67) can be introduced into bores of the latching lever (6).

16. Overcurrent circuit-breaker according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all switching contacts are arranged in the housing part away from the actuating element (toggle lever 2) and are formed at least partially by the housing-inner ends of the connection contact tabs.

Images