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EP0205361B1 - Hand-actuated snap-closing mechanism for a miniaturized circuit breaker - Google Patents

Hand-actuated snap-closing mechanism for a miniaturized circuit breaker Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0205361B1
EP0205361B1 EP86400929A EP86400929A EP0205361B1 EP 0205361 B1 EP0205361 B1 EP 0205361B1 EP 86400929 A EP86400929 A EP 86400929A EP 86400929 A EP86400929 A EP 86400929A EP 0205361 B1 EP0205361 B1 EP 0205361B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
closing
handle
spring
lever
energy storage
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP86400929A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0205361A1 (en
Inventor
William Bartolo
Robertis Patrick De
Daniel Vanzetto
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Merlin Gerin SA
Original Assignee
Merlin Gerin SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Merlin Gerin SA filed Critical Merlin Gerin SA
Priority to AT86400929T priority Critical patent/ATE50084T1/en
Publication of EP0205361A1 publication Critical patent/EP0205361A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0205361B1 publication Critical patent/EP0205361B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H5/00—Snap-action arrangements, i.e. in which during a single opening operation or a single closing operation energy is first stored and then released to produce or assist the contact movement
    • H01H5/04—Energy stored by deformation of elastic members
    • H01H5/14—Energy stored by deformation of elastic members by twisting of torsion members
    • H01H5/16—Energy stored by deformation of elastic members by twisting of torsion members with auxiliary means for temporarily holding parts until torsion member is sufficiently strained
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
    • H01H71/50—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release
    • H01H71/52—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release actuated by lever
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2300/00—Orthogonal indexing scheme relating to electric switches, relays, selectors or emergency protective devices covered by H01H
    • H01H2300/046—Orthogonal indexing scheme relating to electric switches, relays, selectors or emergency protective devices covered by H01H using snap closing mechanisms
    • H01H2300/048—Snap closing by latched movable contact, wherein the movable contact is held in a minimal distance from the fixed contact during first phase of closing sequence in which a closing spring is charged

Definitions

  • the document FR-A 798 188 describes an abrupt closing mechanism for a circuit breaker, having three levers hinged together to form two toggles arranged between the contact carrier bar and the lever.
  • One of the extreme levers is made integral with the bar, and is provided with a spout capable of cooperating during the closing stroke with a first boss of the lever.
  • the lever is connected to the other extreme lever by an accumulator spring.
  • the lever comprises a second boss coming into abutment against a lug of the lever to limit the closing stroke of the lever.
  • the spring is banded until the engagement of the first boss against the beak of the lever, causing the release of the lever of the first toggle.
  • the abrupt movement of rotation of the lever ensures the displacement of the bar towards the closed position. This movement is stopped when the lug of the lever abuts against the second boss of the lever.
  • Another adjustable stop is necessary to limit the stroke of the intermediate lever. Such an arrangement is complicated and risks generating twists of the contacts, with in addition a certain force of actuation of the lever for the closing operation.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a simple mechanism for abruptly closing the contacts of a power cut device, the actuation of which requires normal force without excessive hard point when the accumulator spring comes into action.
  • the retaining plate is pivotally mounted in a bearing of the housing and is biased towards the active position by a biasing spring bearing on a flange situated opposite the bearing.
  • the accumulator spring advantageously consists of a helical torsion spring housed around the pivot axis of the handle in a cylindrical cavity in the body of the handle.
  • an abrupt closing device 10 is incorporated in the control mechanism of an electric current cut-off device, in particular a miniature low-voltage circuit breaker with a molded insulating case 12.
  • the mechanism of each pole includes a tilting lever 14 of my noeuvre manually connected by a kinematic chain transmission 16 to a contact arm 18 supporting the movable contact 19 cooperating with a fixed contact 10.
  • the discoursetiqe 16 of the mechanism chain is described in detail in French Patent No. 2,344,950, but the triggering members of the mechanism have not been shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.
  • the kinematic chain 16 comprises a rocker arm 22 rotatably mounted on a fixed axis 24.
  • One of the branches 25 of the rocker arm 22 carries a pivot 26 on which the contact arm 18 is pivotally mounted, cooperating with a hooking stop belonging to the trigger lever (not shown).
  • the contact arm 18 In the active position of the hooking stop, the contact arm 18 is locked on the rocker arm 22, so as to constitute a bidirectional connection between the lever 14 and the contact arm 18.
  • the contact arm 18 In the unlocked position of the hooking stopper , following a triggering of the mechanism on fault, the contact arm 18 is unlocked relative to the rocker arm 22, causing the breaking of the mechanical connection between the lever 14 and the contact arm 18.
  • An opening spring (not shown) Then causes separation of the contacts 19, 20, independently of the lever 14. The operation of such a mechanism is well known to specialists, and it is unnecessary to describe it in more detail.
  • the snap closure device 10 is composed of a spring 30 energy accumulator housed in a cylindrical cavity 32 of the body 34 of the lever 14, and of a retaining plate 36, cooperating with the kinematic chain 16 of the mechanism.
  • the tilting lever 14 is rotatably mounted between two extreme closing and opening positions on a fixed transverse axis 38 positioned in aligned bearings of the housing 12.
  • the energy storage spring 30 is constituted by a helical torsion spring s' extending in the cavity 32 coaxially around the axis 38.
  • One of the ends 31 of the accumulator spring 30 is engaged in a slot in the body 34 of the lever 14, while the other opposite end 33 is secured to an intermediate lever 40 for supporting a transmission link 42.
  • the branch 44 of the rocker arm 22 located opposite the pivot 26 is attached to the rod 42, formed by a U-shaped bracket.
  • One of the arms of the link 42 is articulated on the lever 40, pivotally mounted on the axis 38, and the other arm is guided inside a slot 46, formed in the retaining plate 36.
  • the transmission link 42 and the intermediate lever 40 constitute a toggle arranged between the lever 14 and the rocker arm 22.
  • the light 46 of the retaining plate 36 is provided with a boss 48, arranged to form an erasable stop, cooperating with the link 42.
  • the body 34 of the lever 14 is equipped with an unlocking lug 50 moving in a circular trajectory, when the lever 14 is tilted.
  • the retaining plate 36 is pivotally mounted on a shoulder or bearing 52 of the housing 12 so as to occupy an active locking position or a cleared unlocking position.
  • the plate 36 has a flange 54 cooperating with a biasing spring 56 which biases the plate 36 counterclockwise towards the active position, allowing the connecting rod 42 to come into abutment against the boss 48 ( Figure 2) during the closing operation of the handle 14.
  • the lug 50 of the body 34 serves as a drive member of the retaining plate 36 towards the erased position against the action of the biasing spring 56, causing the toggle 40, 42 to break, when the lever 14 reaches the end of the closing stroke (FIG. 3).
  • the bias spring 56 is advantageously formed by a strand of the return spring of the trigger lock.
  • a return spring 58 disposed between the housing 12 and the body 34 opposite the lever 40, biases the lever 14 towards the open position ( Figure 1).
  • the snap closure device 10 has a compact structure thanks to the coaxial arrangement of the accumulator spring 30, the lever 40 and the retaining plate 36 on the axis 38 of the lever 14.
  • the operation of the snap closure device 10 according to the invention is as follows:
  • the retaining plate 36 In the open position of the mechanism (FIG. 1), the retaining plate 36 is in the active locking position by the action of the biasing spring 56, and the link 42 is separated from the boss 48 by a predetermined distance.
  • the link 42 moves in the light 46 until it comes into abutment against the boss 48 of the retaining plate 36.
  • the kinematic chain 16 drives, during this start of the closing stroke, the contact arm 18 in a counterclockwise direction to a stable intermediate position separated from the fixed contact 20 by a small interval "d" having a length of one or a few millimeters. This stable intermediate position of the contact arm 18 corresponds to the position of attachment of the link 42 to the boss 48.
  • the arming of the energy storage spring 30 takes place during the continued pivoting movement of the lever 14 towards the position shown in FIG. 3.
  • the blocking of the rod 42 by the retaining plate 36 hampers the movement of the kinematic connection, and the contact arm 18 remains stationary in the intermediate position of FIG. 2.
  • the unlocking lug 50 drives the retaining plate 36 clockwise of a watch towards the erased position, against the force of the spring 56.
  • the release of the link 42 authorizes the passage of the neutral point of the toggle joint, and the relaxation of the spring 30. All the energy stored in this last, by actuation of the lever 14 is thus returned to the rocker arm 22 of the kinematic link 16, causing a sudden closure of the contacts 19, 20, ( Figure 4).
  • the transmission rod 42 is then positioned at the bottom of the light 46, and the retaining plate 36 remains biased in the position erased by the lug 50.
  • the erasure of the boss 48 then authorizes a manual opening operation of the circuit breaker tor by pivoting the handle 14 anticlockwise towards the position of figure 1.

Landscapes

  • Driving Mechanisms And Operating Circuits Of Arc-Extinguishing High-Tension Switches (AREA)
  • Breakers (AREA)
  • Keying Circuit Devices (AREA)
  • Fuses (AREA)
  • Switch Cases, Indication, And Locking (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a fast closing mechanism of a circuit breaker with an operating handle. The mechanism comprises an energy storage spring disposed between the handle and an intermediate lever supporting a transmission rod. A retaining plate operates in conjunction with a pin of the handle to occupy either an active position locking the rod during loading of the spring, or a retracted position unlocking the rod allowing the spring to be released at the end of closing travel.

Description

L'invention est relative à un mécanisme de fermeture manuelle brusque d'un disjoncteur électrique miniature à boîtier isolant moulé, comprenant:

  • - une manette basculante de manoeuvre manuelle de fermeture et d'ouverture, reliée par une chaîne cinématique à un bras porte-contact,
  • - un ressort accumulateur d'énergie ancré entre le corps de la manette et un levier intermédiaire, lequel est articulé à une biellette de transmission pour former une genouillère en liaison avec ladite chaîne cinématique,
  • - et un dispositif de blocage de la chaîne cinématique durant l'armement du ressort accumulateur d'énergie, la neutralisation dudit dispositif de blocage s'effectuant en fin de course de fermeture autorisant la détente du ressort pour une fermeture brusque des contacts.
The invention relates to an abrupt manual closing mechanism of a miniature electric circuit breaker with molded insulating housing, comprising:
  • - a tilting lever for manual closing and opening, connected by a kinematic chain to a contact-carrying arm,
  • - an energy storage spring anchored between the body of the lever and an intermediate lever, which is articulated to a transmission link to form a toggle link in connection with said kinematic chain,
  • - And a device for blocking the kinematic chain during the arming of the energy storage spring, the neutralization of said blocking device being effected at the end of the closing stroke allowing the spring to relax for abrupt closing of the contacts.

Le document FR-A 798 188 décrit un mécanisme de fermeture brusque pour disjoncteur, ayant trois leviers articulés entre eux pour constituer deux genouillères agencées entre le barreau porte-contacts et la manette.The document FR-A 798 188 describes an abrupt closing mechanism for a circuit breaker, having three levers hinged together to form two toggles arranged between the contact carrier bar and the lever.

L'un des leviers extrêmes est rendu solidaire du barreau, et est doté d'un bec susceptible de coopérer lors de la course de fermeture avec un premier bossage de la manette. La manette est reliée à l'autre levier extrême par un ressort accumulateur. La manette comporte un deuxième bossage venant en butée contre un ergot du levier pour limiter la course de fermeture de la manette. Au début de la course de fermeture, le levier est immobilisé, ainsi que le barreau qui reste par conséquent en position d'ouverture. Le ressort est bandé jusqu'à l'engagement du premier bossage contre le bec du levier, entraînant la libération du levier de la première genouillère. Le mouvement brusque de rotation du levier assure le déplacement du barreau vers la position de fermeture. Ce mouvement est stoppé lorsque l'ergot du levier vient en butée contre le deuxième bossage de la manette. Une autre butée réglable est nécessaire pour limiter la course du levier intermédiaire. Un tel agencement est compliqué et risque d'engendrer des rebondissements des contacts, avec en plus un certain effort d'actionnement de la manette pour l'opération de fermeture.One of the extreme levers is made integral with the bar, and is provided with a spout capable of cooperating during the closing stroke with a first boss of the lever. The lever is connected to the other extreme lever by an accumulator spring. The lever comprises a second boss coming into abutment against a lug of the lever to limit the closing stroke of the lever. At the start of the closing stroke, the lever is immobilized, as well as the bar which therefore remains in the open position. The spring is banded until the engagement of the first boss against the beak of the lever, causing the release of the lever of the first toggle. The abrupt movement of rotation of the lever ensures the displacement of the bar towards the closed position. This movement is stopped when the lug of the lever abuts against the second boss of the lever. Another adjustable stop is necessary to limit the stroke of the intermediate lever. Such an arrangement is complicated and risks generating twists of the contacts, with in addition a certain force of actuation of the lever for the closing operation.

D'autres mécanismes connus de fermeture brusque nécessitent généralement une interruption de la chaîne cinématique par des systèmes de leviers d'encliquetage destinés à coopérer directement avec le bras porte-contact, lors de la course de fermeture de la manette. Ces mécanismes sont compliqués et présentent un encombrement important incompatible avec le volume réduit du boîtier.Other known mechanisms for abrupt closing generally require an interruption of the kinematic chain by systems of snap levers intended to cooperate directly with the contact-carrying arm, during the closing stroke of the lever. These mechanisms are complicated and have a large size incompatible with the reduced volume of the housing.

L'objet de la présente invention consiste à réaliser un mécanisme simple de fermeture manuelle brusque des contacts d'un appareil de coupure de courant dont l'actionnement nécessite une force normale sans point dur excessif lors de l'entrée en action du ressort accumulateur.The object of the present invention is to provide a simple mechanism for abruptly closing the contacts of a power cut device, the actuation of which requires normal force without excessive hard point when the accumulator spring comes into action.

Le mécanisme selon l'invention est caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de blocage comporte:

  • - une plaquette de retenue susceptible d'occuper une position active et une position inactive, respectivement lors de l'armement et de la détente du ressort accumulateur,
  • - une lumière ménagée dans la plaquette pour guider l'extrémité opposée de la biellette de transmission, en autorisant au début de la course de fermeture de la manette, l'entraînement par la chaîne cinématique du bras porte-contact jusqu'à une position intermédiaire stable, séparée du contact fixe par un intervalle de faible épaisseur,
  • - un bossage de la lumière servant de butée de verrouillage à la biellette pendant la course de fermeture poursuivie de la manette, appropriée à l'armement du ressort accumulateur en position active de la plaquette,
  • - et un ergot de déverrouillage solidaire du corps de la manette pour déplacer en fin de course de fermeture, la plaquette de retenue de la position active vers la position inactive, autorisant le franchissement du point mort de la genouillère, et la détente du ressort accumulateur pour le déplacement rapide du bras porte-contacts de la position intermédiaire vers la position de fermeture.
The mechanism according to the invention is characterized in that the blocking device comprises:
  • - a retaining plate capable of occupying an active position and an inactive position, respectively when arming and relaxing the accumulator spring,
  • - a light provided in the plate to guide the opposite end of the transmission link, by authorizing, at the start of the lever closing stroke, the drive by the kinematic chain of the contact carrier arm to an intermediate position stable, separated from the fixed contact by a thin gap,
  • - a boss on the light serving as a locking stop for the link during the continued closing stroke of the lever, suitable for arming the accumulator spring in the active position of the plate,
  • - and an unlocking lug secured to the body of the lever to move the end of closing stroke, the retaining plate from the active position to the inactive position, authorizing the crossing of the dead center of the toggle switch, and the relaxation of the accumulator spring for rapid movement of the contact carrier arm from the intermediate position to the closed position.

On remarque que tous les organes indispensables à la fermeture brusque du mécanisme de commande sont situés au niveau de la manette. Ils peuvent être adjoints en usine sans modification notable à des mécanismes classiques pour transformer un disjoncteur standard en un disjoncteur à fermeture brusque des contacts.It is noted that all the organs essential for the abrupt closure of the control mechanism are located at the level of the lever. They can be added at the factory without significant modification to conventional mechanisms to transform a standard circuit breaker into a circuit breaker with snap closure of the contacts.

La plaquette de retenue est montée à pivotement dans un palier du boîtier et est sollicitée vers la position active par un ressort de polarisation prenant appui sur un rebord situé à l'opposé du palier.The retaining plate is pivotally mounted in a bearing of the housing and is biased towards the active position by a biasing spring bearing on a flange situated opposite the bearing.

Le ressort accumulateur est constitué avantageusement par un ressort hélicoïdal de torsion logé autout de l'axe de pivotement de la manette dans une cavité cylindrique du corps de la manette.The accumulator spring advantageously consists of a helical torsion spring housed around the pivot axis of the handle in a cylindrical cavity in the body of the handle.

D'autres avantages et caractéristiques ressortiront plus clairement de la description qui va suivre d'un mode de mise en oeuvre de l'inventiion, donnée à titre d'exemple non limitatif et représenté aux dessins annexés dans lesquels :

  • - les figures 1 à 4 sont des vues schématiques en élévation d'un mécanisme de fermeture brusque selon l'invention, représenté respectivement en position d'ouverture, en cours de mouvement de fermeture avant et après la libération de la biellette de transmission, et en position de fermeture des contacts ;
  • - la figure 5 montre une vue en coupe transversale selon la ligne V - V de la figure 1 ;
  • - la figure 6 est une autre vue en coupe selon la ligne VI - VI de la figure 2.
Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from the description which follows of an embodiment of the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example and represented in the appended drawings in which:
  • FIGS. 1 to 4 are schematic elevation views of an abrupt closing mechanism according to the invention, shown respectively in the open position, during the closing movement before and after the release of the transmission link, and in the closed position of the contacts;
  • - Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view along the line V - V of Figure 1;
  • - Figure 6 is another sectional view along line VI - VI of Figure 2.

Sur les figures, un dispositif de fermeture brusque 10 est incorporé dans le mécanisme de commande d'un appareil électrique de coupure de courant, notamment un disjoncteur miniature à basse tension et à boîtier isolant 12 moulé. Le mécanisme de chaque pôle comporte une manette 14 basculante de manoeuvre manuelle reliée par une chaîne cinématique 16 de transmission à un bras de contact 18 de support du contact mobile 19, coopérant avec un contact fixe 10. La chaîne cinématiqe 16 du mécanisme est décrite en détail dans le brevet français n° 2 344 950, mais les organes de déclenchement du mécanisme n'ont pas été représentés sur les figures 1 à 4.In the figures, an abrupt closing device 10 is incorporated in the control mechanism of an electric current cut-off device, in particular a miniature low-voltage circuit breaker with a molded insulating case 12. The mechanism of each pole includes a tilting lever 14 of my noeuvre manually connected by a kinematic chain transmission 16 to a contact arm 18 supporting the movable contact 19 cooperating with a fixed contact 10. The cinématiqe 16 of the mechanism chain is described in detail in French Patent No. 2,344,950, but the triggering members of the mechanism have not been shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

La chaîne cinématique 16 comprend un culbuteur 22 monté à rotation sur un axe 24 fixe. L'une des branches 25 du culbuteur 22 porte un pivot 26 sur lequel est monté à pivotement le bras de contact 18, coopérant avec une butée d'accrochage appartenant au levier de déclenchement (non représenté).The kinematic chain 16 comprises a rocker arm 22 rotatably mounted on a fixed axis 24. One of the branches 25 of the rocker arm 22 carries a pivot 26 on which the contact arm 18 is pivotally mounted, cooperating with a hooking stop belonging to the trigger lever (not shown).

En position active de la butée d'accrochage, le bras de contact 18 se trouve verrouillé sur le culbuteur 22 , de manière à constituer une liaison bidirectionnelle entre la manette 14 et le bras de contact 18. En position déverrouillée de la butée d'accrochage, suite à un déclenchement du mécanisme sur défaut, le bras de contact 18 est déverrouillé par rapport au culbuteur 22, entraînant la brisure de la liaison mécanique entre la manette 14 et le bras de contact 18. Un ressort d'ouverture ( non représenté) provoque ensuite la séparation des contacts 19, 20, indépendamment de la manette 14. Le fonctionnement d'un tel mécanisme est bien connu des spécialistes, et il est inutile de le décrire plus en détail.In the active position of the hooking stop, the contact arm 18 is locked on the rocker arm 22, so as to constitute a bidirectional connection between the lever 14 and the contact arm 18. In the unlocked position of the hooking stopper , following a triggering of the mechanism on fault, the contact arm 18 is unlocked relative to the rocker arm 22, causing the breaking of the mechanical connection between the lever 14 and the contact arm 18. An opening spring (not shown) Then causes separation of the contacts 19, 20, independently of the lever 14. The operation of such a mechanism is well known to specialists, and it is unnecessary to describe it in more detail.

Selon l'invention, le dispositif de fermeture brusque 10 est composé d'un ressort 30 accumulateur d'énergie logé dans une cavité 32 cylindrique du corps 34 de la manette 14, et d'une plaquette de retenue 36, coopérant avec la chaîne cinématique 16 du mécanisme. La manette 14 basculante est montée à rotation entre deux positions extrêmes de fermeture et d'ouverture sur un axe 38 transversal fixe positionné dans des paliers alignés du boîtier 12. Le ressort 30 accumulateur d'énergie est constitué par un ressort hélicoïdal de torsion s'étendant dans la cavité 32 coaxialement autour de l'axe 38. L'une des extrémités 31 du ressort 30 accumulateur est engagée dans une fente du corps 34 de la manette 14, tandis que l'autre extrémité 33 opposée est solidarisée à un levier intermédiaire 40 de support d'une biellette 42 de transmission. La branche 44 du culbuteur 22 située à l'opposé du pivot 26 est accrochée à la biellette 42, formée par un étrier en U.According to the invention, the snap closure device 10 is composed of a spring 30 energy accumulator housed in a cylindrical cavity 32 of the body 34 of the lever 14, and of a retaining plate 36, cooperating with the kinematic chain 16 of the mechanism. The tilting lever 14 is rotatably mounted between two extreme closing and opening positions on a fixed transverse axis 38 positioned in aligned bearings of the housing 12. The energy storage spring 30 is constituted by a helical torsion spring s' extending in the cavity 32 coaxially around the axis 38. One of the ends 31 of the accumulator spring 30 is engaged in a slot in the body 34 of the lever 14, while the other opposite end 33 is secured to an intermediate lever 40 for supporting a transmission link 42. The branch 44 of the rocker arm 22 located opposite the pivot 26 is attached to the rod 42, formed by a U-shaped bracket.

L'un des bras de la biellette 42 est articulée sur le levier 40 , monté à pivotement sur l'axe 38, et l'autre bras est guidé à l'intérieur d'une lumière 46, ménagée dans la plaquette de retenue 36. La biellette de transmission 42 et le levier intermédiaire 40 constituent une genouillère agencée entre la manette 14 et le culbuteur 22.One of the arms of the link 42 is articulated on the lever 40, pivotally mounted on the axis 38, and the other arm is guided inside a slot 46, formed in the retaining plate 36. The transmission link 42 and the intermediate lever 40 constitute a toggle arranged between the lever 14 and the rocker arm 22.

La lumière 46 de la plaquette de retenue 36 est dotée d'un bossage 48, agencé pour former une butée effaçable,coopérant avec la biellette 42. Le corps 34 de la manette 14 est équipé d'un ergot 50 de déverrouillage se déplaçant selon une trajectoire circulaire, lors du basculement de la manette 14. La plaquette de retenue 36 est monté à pivotement limité sur un épaulement ou palier 52 du boîtier 12 de manière à occuper une position active de verrouillage ou une position effacée de déverrouillage. A l'opposé du palier 52, la plaquette 36 comporte un rebord 54 coopérant avec un ressort 56 de polarisation qui sollicite la plaquette 36 dans le sens trigonométrique vers la position active, autorisant la venue en butée de la biellette 42 contre le bossage 48 (figure 2) lors de la manoeuvre de fermeture de la manette 14. L'ergot 50 du corps 34 sert d'organe d'entraînement de la plaquette de retenue 36 vers la position effacée à l'encontre de l'action du ressort de polarisation 56, provoquant la brisure de la genouillère 40, 42, lorsque la manette 14 arrive en fin de course de fermeture (figure 3). Le ressort de polarisation 56 est formé avantageusement par un brin du ressort de rappel du verrou de déclenchement.The light 46 of the retaining plate 36 is provided with a boss 48, arranged to form an erasable stop, cooperating with the link 42. The body 34 of the lever 14 is equipped with an unlocking lug 50 moving in a circular trajectory, when the lever 14 is tilted. The retaining plate 36 is pivotally mounted on a shoulder or bearing 52 of the housing 12 so as to occupy an active locking position or a cleared unlocking position. Opposite the bearing 52, the plate 36 has a flange 54 cooperating with a biasing spring 56 which biases the plate 36 counterclockwise towards the active position, allowing the connecting rod 42 to come into abutment against the boss 48 ( Figure 2) during the closing operation of the handle 14. The lug 50 of the body 34 serves as a drive member of the retaining plate 36 towards the erased position against the action of the biasing spring 56, causing the toggle 40, 42 to break, when the lever 14 reaches the end of the closing stroke (FIG. 3). The bias spring 56 is advantageously formed by a strand of the return spring of the trigger lock.

Un ressort de rappel 58, disposé entre le boîtier 12 et le corps 34 à l'opposé du levier 40, sollicite la manette 14 vers la position d'ouverture (figure 1). Le dispositif de fermeture brusque 10 présente une structure compacte grâce à la disposition coaxiale du ressort accumulateur 30, du levier 40 et de la plaquette de retenue 36 sur l'axe 38 de la manette 14.A return spring 58, disposed between the housing 12 and the body 34 opposite the lever 40, biases the lever 14 towards the open position (Figure 1). The snap closure device 10 has a compact structure thanks to the coaxial arrangement of the accumulator spring 30, the lever 40 and the retaining plate 36 on the axis 38 of the lever 14.

Le fonctionnement du dispositif de fermeture brusque 10 selon l'invention est le suivant :The operation of the snap closure device 10 according to the invention is as follows:

En position d'ouverture du mécanisme (figure 1), la plaquette de retenue 36 se trouve en position active de verrouillage par l'action du ressort de polarisation 56, et la biellette 42 est séparée du bossage 48 par une distance prédéterminée. Au début de course de fermeture du mécanisme par pivotement de la manette 14 dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre, indiqué par la flèche F sur la figure 2, la biellette 42 se déplace dans la lumière 46 jusqu'à la venue en butée contre le bossage 48 de la plaquette de retenue 36. La chaîne cinématique 16 entraîne, durant ce début de course de fermeture, le bras de contact 18 dans le sens trigonométrique jusqu'à une position intermédiaire stable séparée du contact fixe 20 par un faible intervalle "d" ayant une longueur d'un ou de quelques millimètres. Cette position intermédiaire stable du bras de contact 18 correspond à la position d'accrochage de la biellette 42 sur le bossage 48.In the open position of the mechanism (FIG. 1), the retaining plate 36 is in the active locking position by the action of the biasing spring 56, and the link 42 is separated from the boss 48 by a predetermined distance. At the start of the closing stroke of the mechanism by pivoting the lever 14 clockwise, indicated by the arrow F in FIG. 2, the link 42 moves in the light 46 until it comes into abutment against the boss 48 of the retaining plate 36. The kinematic chain 16 drives, during this start of the closing stroke, the contact arm 18 in a counterclockwise direction to a stable intermediate position separated from the fixed contact 20 by a small interval "d" having a length of one or a few millimeters. This stable intermediate position of the contact arm 18 corresponds to the position of attachment of the link 42 to the boss 48.

L'armement du ressort 30 accumulateur d'énergie s'opère au cours du mouvement poursuivi de pivotement de la manette 14 vers la position représentée à la figure 3. Le blocage de la biellette 42 par la plaquette de retenue 36 entrave le déplacement de la liaison cinématique, et le bras de contact 18 reste immobile dans la position intermédiaire de la figure 2. Lorsque la manette 14 arrive dans la position de la figure 3, l'ergot 50 de déverrouillage entraîne la plaquette de retenue 36 dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre vers la position effacée, à l'encontre de la force du ressort 56. La libération de la biellette 42 autorise le passage du point mort de la genouillère, et la détente du ressort 30. Toute l'énergie emmagasinée dans ce dernier, par l'actionnement de la manette 14 est ainsi restituée au culbuteur 22 de la liaison cinématique 16, provoquant une fermeture brusque des contacts 19, 20, (figure 4).The arming of the energy storage spring 30 takes place during the continued pivoting movement of the lever 14 towards the position shown in FIG. 3. The blocking of the rod 42 by the retaining plate 36 hampers the movement of the kinematic connection, and the contact arm 18 remains stationary in the intermediate position of FIG. 2. When the lever 14 arrives in the position of FIG. 3, the unlocking lug 50 drives the retaining plate 36 clockwise of a watch towards the erased position, against the force of the spring 56. The release of the link 42 authorizes the passage of the neutral point of the toggle joint, and the relaxation of the spring 30. All the energy stored in this last, by actuation of the lever 14 is thus returned to the rocker arm 22 of the kinematic link 16, causing a sudden closure of the contacts 19, 20, (Figure 4).

La biellette de transmission 42 est alors positionnée au fond de la lumière 46, et la plaquette de retenue 36 reste sollicitée en position effacée par l'ergot 50. L'effacement du bossage 48 autorise ensuite une manoeuvre d'ouverture manuelle du disjoncteur en faisant pivoter la manette 14 dans le sens inverse des aiguilles d'une montre vers la position de la figure 1.The transmission rod 42 is then positioned at the bottom of the light 46, and the retaining plate 36 remains biased in the position erased by the lug 50. The erasure of the boss 48 then authorizes a manual opening operation of the circuit breaker tor by pivoting the handle 14 anticlockwise towards the position of figure 1.

Claims (5)

1. Fast manual closing mechanism of a miniature electrical circuit breaker with a moulded insulating casing (12), comprising:
- a pivoting manual opening and closing operating handle (14), coupled by a kinematic linkage system (16) to a contact arm (18),
- an energy storage spring (30), anchored between the body (34) of the handle (14) and an intermediate lever (40) articulated on a transmission rod (42) to form a toggle joint coupled with said kinematic linkage system (16),
- and a device for blocking the kinematic linkage system (16) during loading of the energy storage spring (30), neutralization of said blocking device taking place at end of closing travel allowing the spring (30) to be released for fast closing of the contacts (19, 20), characterized in that the blocking device comprises:
- a retaining plate (36) able to occupy an active position and an inactive position respectively during loading and releasing of the energy storage spring (30),
- an aperture (46) disposed in the plate (36) to guide the opposite end of the transmission rod (42) allowing at the beginning of the closing travel of the handle (14) engagement of the contact arm (18) by means of the kinematic linkage system (16) until a stationary intermediate position, separated from the stationary contact (20) by a clearance (d) of small thickness,
- an abutment (48) of the aperture (46) acting as stop for the rod (42) during the closing travel of the handle (14), appropriate for the loading of the energy storage spring (30) in the active position of the plate (36),
- and an unlocking pin (50) securedly united to the body (34) of the handle (14), in such a way as to move at the end of the closing travel the retaining plate (36) from the active position to the inactive position, allowing the dead point of said toggle joint to be passed, and the energy storage spring (30) to be released for the fast moving of the contact arm (18) from the intermediate position to the closing position.
2. Closing mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining plate (36) is pivotally mounted in a bearing (52) of the casing (12) and is biased towards the active position by a bias spring (56) taking its bearing on a ledge (54) situated opposite the bearing (52).
3. Closing mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that the intermediate lever (40) is pivotally mounted on the spindle (38) of the handle (14) and that the guide bearing (52) of the retaining plate (36) is formed by a coaxial shoulder of the spindle (38) of the handle (14).
4. Closing mechanism according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the energy storage spring (30) is constituted by a torsion coil spring housed coaxially around the spindle (38) in a cylindrical cavity (32) of the body (34) of the handle (14).
5. Closing mechanism according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the transmission rod (42) comprises a U-shaped bracket latched to a rocker (22) of the kinematic linkage system (16), one of the arms of the bracket being articulated on the intermediate lever (40), and the other arm moving inside the aperture (46) of the retaining plate (36).
EP86400929A 1985-05-13 1986-04-28 Hand-actuated snap-closing mechanism for a miniaturized circuit breaker Expired - Lifetime EP0205361B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT86400929T ATE50084T1 (en) 1985-05-13 1986-04-28 HAND OPERATED SNAP CLOSURE DEVICE OF A MINIATURE CIRCUIT BREAKER.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8507343A FR2581791B1 (en) 1985-05-13 1985-05-13 MECHANISM FOR QUICK MANUAL CLOSING OF A CURRENT-BREAKING APPARATUS
FR8507343 1985-05-13

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0205361A1 EP0205361A1 (en) 1986-12-17
EP0205361B1 true EP0205361B1 (en) 1990-01-31

Family

ID=9319290

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP86400929A Expired - Lifetime EP0205361B1 (en) 1985-05-13 1986-04-28 Hand-actuated snap-closing mechanism for a miniaturized circuit breaker

Country Status (11)

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US (1) US4687891A (en)
EP (1) EP0205361B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2510514B2 (en)
AT (1) ATE50084T1 (en)
AU (1) AU581396B2 (en)
CA (1) CA1275139A (en)
DE (1) DE3668724D1 (en)
ES (1) ES8704670A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2581791B1 (en)
PT (1) PT82563B (en)
ZA (1) ZA863450B (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES8704670A1 (en) 1987-04-16
EP0205361A1 (en) 1986-12-17
CA1275139A (en) 1990-10-09
ES554617A0 (en) 1987-04-16
US4687891A (en) 1987-08-18
PT82563B (en) 1990-06-29
FR2581791A1 (en) 1986-11-14
JP2510514B2 (en) 1996-06-26
PT82563A (en) 1986-06-01
DE3668724D1 (en) 1990-03-08
ATE50084T1 (en) 1990-02-15
AU5734086A (en) 1986-11-20
AU581396B2 (en) 1989-02-16
JPS61260525A (en) 1986-11-18
ZA863450B (en) 1986-12-30
FR2581791B1 (en) 1988-11-04

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