[go: up one dir, main page]

EP0263331B1 - Excess current circuit breaker - Google Patents

Excess current circuit breaker Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0263331B1
EP0263331B1 EP87113455A EP87113455A EP0263331B1 EP 0263331 B1 EP0263331 B1 EP 0263331B1 EP 87113455 A EP87113455 A EP 87113455A EP 87113455 A EP87113455 A EP 87113455A EP 0263331 B1 EP0263331 B1 EP 0263331B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
lever
locking
circuit breaker
tripping
protective circuit
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
EP87113455A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0263331A1 (en
Inventor
Fritz Krasser
Erhard Pietsch
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.)
Ellenberger and Poensgen GmbH
Original Assignee
Ellenberger and Poensgen GmbH
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 Ellenberger and Poensgen GmbH filed Critical Ellenberger and Poensgen GmbH
Priority to AT87113455T priority Critical patent/ATE68909T1/en
Publication of EP0263331A1 publication Critical patent/EP0263331A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0263331B1 publication Critical patent/EP0263331B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H73/00—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism
    • H01H73/22—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism having electrothermal release and no other automatic release
    • H01H73/30—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism having electrothermal release and no other automatic release reset by push-button, pull-knob or slide
    • H01H73/306—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism having electrothermal release and no other automatic release reset by push-button, pull-knob or slide the push-button supporting pivotally a combined contact-latch lever
    • 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
    • H01H71/505—Latching devices between operating and release mechanism
    • H01H2071/508—Latching devices between operating and release mechanism with serial latches, e.g. primary latch latched by secondary latch for requiring a smaller trip force
    • 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
    • H01H71/505—Latching devices between operating and release mechanism

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an overcurrent protection switch with the features specified in the preamble of claim 1.
  • the spring mechanism or switch lock of an overcurrent protection switch essentially has a movable contact piece which closes the switching path of the switch due to its contact with one or more fixed contacts.
  • the movable contact piece is spring-loaded in the switch-off direction, either directly or via articulated switching lock parts.
  • the contact piece In its switched-off position, the contact piece is locked directly or by means of components of the switch lock which are connected to it in an articulated manner - here the so-called trigger slide - by means of a locking lever. This can be pivoted into its locking position and can be pivoted into its unlocking position against a restoring force by a thermal and / or electromagnetic release element or by the actuating handle of the switch.
  • the movable contact piece is fixed in its switched-on position by supporting the trigger slide articulated to the movable contact piece on a stop surface of the end of the locking lever which projects into the defined movement path of the trigger slide in its locking position.
  • the path of movement of the trigger slide can or the like by guiding it in a housing groove. are caused.
  • a link chain-like coupling is also conceivable of the trigger slide, with which a design-related on-off movement of the movable contact piece can be transmitted to the trigger slide. It is only important that the latter cover a path and direction defined when the switch is turned on and off.
  • the overcurrent release elements of the spring mechanism for pivoting the locking lever into its unlocking position must apply release forces.
  • counter forces are composed, among other things, of frictional forces acting on the locking point and on the locking lever, resulting from its spring action in the locking direction.
  • these counter-forces and thus the triggering forces to be applied by the overcurrent releases are to be kept as small as possible.
  • toggle lever systems are structurally complex with a correspondingly high amount of components and assembly work for the jumping mechanism.
  • the object of the invention is to provide an overcurrent protection switch with a locking device for its spring mechanism, in which the triggering forces to be applied by the triggering elements are kept particularly small with simple constructional means.
  • the total force acting on the locking point is reduced by breaking it down into two sub-components.
  • the trigger slide lies with its end pointing in the direction of switch-off against the stop surface of the locking lever and also against a counter-bevel fixed to the housing in its movement path.
  • the stop surface of the locking lever and the counter bevels form a wedge-shaped inner angle region that opens against the direction in which the trigger slide is switched off.
  • the total force is thus broken down in the manner of a parallelogram of forces and acts partly on the counter bevels and only a fraction of the actual locking point between the trigger slide and the locking lever.
  • the locking point is therefore loaded with a lower force, which significantly reduces the friction and leverage forces.
  • the subclaims 2 to 6 relate to advantageous developments of the locking device according to the invention.
  • the housing-fixed bevels are arranged at a larger angle to the switch-off direction than the stop surface of the locking lever.
  • the force decomposition in subcomponents is shifted onto the stop surface in favor of less force application. If this measure is combined in particular with an embodiment of the subject matter of the invention, particularly favorable force relationships result in the locking device.
  • the counter-bevels fixed to the housing and the stop surface of the locking lever form an obtuse inner angle range of approximately 90 ° - for example between 75 ° and 105 ° - and at the same time the counter-bevels are arranged at a larger angle, for example at an angle four times larger than the stop surface to the switch-off direction , a high proportion of the opening forces are supported via the housing bevels. The remaining force component acting on the locking point is thus further reduced. However, due to the geometry, this is still so high that after the locking lever is pivoted into its unlocked position, the trigger slide can slide under the influence of this subcomponent on the counter slope and can be transferred to the switch-off position of the spring mechanism with the contact piece.
  • an advantageous shape for the support end of the trigger slide is specified.
  • it By designing it as an axle journal guided in a slot-like housing groove, a double function is achieved.
  • the release slide is guided along a defined movement path, and secondly, the pin shape results in two point-shaped or at least linear contact areas of the release slide on the counter slope or the stop surface of the locking lever.
  • the points of application of the sub-components of the breaking force are thus clearly defined and there are defined force ratios that can be reproduced from switching cycle to switching cycle.
  • a housing groove is a structurally simple measure to achieve the guidance of a movable component along a certain path.
  • an advantageous embodiment of the housing groove is specified.
  • the counter-bevel fixed to the housing is accordingly formed in a simple manner by an inclined offset of the housing groove which is arranged in the overlap region with the locking lever end and is directed away therefrom.
  • the oblique offset itself can pass as a flat surface at an obtuse angle into the rectilinear regions of the housing groove which adjoin on both sides, but it is also a flat, S-shaped curve is conceivable.
  • Claim 6 teaches a measure with which additional lever forces to be overcome by the triggering forces of the triggering elements are avoided when the locking lever is pivoted into its unlocked position.
  • Its stop surface is namely designed as a convex cylinder segment surface, the radius of which essentially corresponds to the distance of the stop surface from the pivot point of the locking lever.
  • the further claims 7 to 15 relate to advantageous refinements of the subject matter of the invention for a push-button-operated overcurrent protection switch.
  • This is essentially a further development of the push-button-operated overcurrent protection switch with thermal tripping in accordance with DE-C-25 02 579.
  • the known overcurrent protection switch is provided with a momentary on, off, thermal as well as a free release. It has a contact arm carrier designed as a two-armed angle lever, which can be pivoted and displaced in the switching plane, which has a guide arm which is arranged essentially at right angles to the direction of actuation of the push button and is spring-loaded against this direction, and a support arm which is arranged essentially parallel to this direction to the side of the push button.
  • the contact bridge for contact connection between two fixed contacts is attached.
  • the support arm can be latched to the inner end of the push button for transmitting its switch-on movement to the contact bridge support. Due to the latching method shown in the specified publication, an abrupt moment switching on of the contact bridge is achieved.
  • the known overcurrent protection switch is developed in such a way that the overcurrent release elements trigger forces to be applied are particularly low. This shortens the tripping time of the overcurrent protection switch according to the invention and an increased breaking capacity can be achieved.
  • the locking device is subject to less wear due to the reduced frictional forces on the mutual contact surfaces. Abrasion, material deformation and the like. This avoids or at least strongly suppresses within the spring mechanism, which increases the service life of the overcurrent protection switch and allows close tripping tolerances to be maintained over a longer operating period.
  • the tripping slide becomes a single-armed tripping lever with simple constructional means, which is arranged essentially parallel to the housing groove and whose axis of rotation is longitudinally displaceable axle journal in the housing groove.
  • the articulated connection between the guide arm of the contact bridge support and the release lever must allow a mutual displacement of these two parts in the direction of rotation of the release lever.
  • the articulated connection is formed by the engagement of the guide arm free end in a receiving opening running at right angles to the actuating direction at the hinge end of the release lever opposite the axle pin.
  • the intervention is preferably carried out with play, whereby the release lever is reliably carried by the contact bridge support during the switch-on movement, but the mentioned rotary movement of the release lever about its axle journal is possible within certain limits.
  • the measures are specified with which an advantageous additional function can be performed by the release lever.
  • the locking lever of the locking device namely has an approximately parallel to the trigger lever in its pivoting operating arm, by means of which the locking lever can be moved from its locking position by the trigger lever by pivoting it about the axle into the unlocking position.
  • the actuating handle or thermal and / or electromagnetic triggering elements can act on various components of the jumping mechanism in order to unlock the jumping mechanism.
  • the end of movement of the bimetal can act directly on the locking lever, its actuating arm or even the release lever in the unlocking direction. It is up to the designer at which point, for example, he arranges the bimetal in an apparently advantageous manner.
  • the configuration according to the invention leaves him various options here, how he arranges the corresponding triggering element and in which way he lets it act on the locking device.
  • Claim 11 specifies a possible embodiment of the subject matter of the invention, according to which the release lever in its locking position can be pivoted about its journal in the unlocking direction by actuating the push button. This pivoting can be transferred to the locking lever, which in turn can thereby be moved into the unlocking position and releases the locking of the release lever and thus the contact bridge carrier. Since the push button and the thermal release element can thus attack different components of the jumping mechanism, an advantageous functional arrangement of the jumping mechanism structure and thus a constructive simplification is achieved.
  • the measure mentioned in claim 12 represents a particularly simple possibility for forming the receiving opening of the release lever for the free end of the guide arm.
  • the pins for forming the receiving opening can take on further tasks, as indicated in claim 13.
  • the inner of the two pins facing the axle pin is acted upon by a tension spring fastened to the guide arm of the contact bridge support approximately at right angles to the actuating direction of the push button in such a way that it thereby rests continuously on the side edge of the push button facing the locking device and running parallel to the actuating direction.
  • the release lever takes on a defined position in any switching position of the spring mechanism, despite its possible rotatability about its journal.
  • the side edge of the push button Due to the uniqueness of the positional relationship between the side edge of the push button and the inner pin of the release lever, the side edge can be used for control tasks for the rotary movement of the release lever. Accordingly, according to claim 14 on this side edge of the push button is formed with its actuating direction forming an obtuse bevel, via which the release lever and the locking lever can be acted upon in the unlocking direction when the push button is switched off.
  • the control of a rotary movement via an inclined slope is a particularly simple design solution.
  • the side, mutually facing stop projections on the release lever and on the actuating arm of the locking lever ensure immediate transmission of the pivoting movement of the release lever to the locking lever.
  • an overcurrent protection switch is created which is structurally simple in construction, clearly structured and consequently very compact in construction, but all switching technology Has advantages such as instantaneous switching on and off and free tripping and also achieves a high switch-off power with tolerant long-term switching behavior.
  • the spring mechanism 1 lying in two housing half-shells, not shown, is actuated by a push button 3 which is longitudinally displaceable in the actuating direction 2.
  • This is designed as an elongated sliding body 4, the handle end 5 of which protrudes from the housing. Its inner end 6 is arranged within the housing in the area of overlap with the spring mechanism 1.
  • the push button 3 is acted upon in the switch-off direction by a switch-compression spring-like switch spring 7 acting in the region of its handle end 5.
  • the switch-off spring 7 automatically pushes the push button 3 into the switch-off position shown in FIG. 1 when the spring mechanism 1 is triggered.
  • the switch-off spring 7 is supported on a stop 8 fixed to the housing.
  • Switching level is understood to mean the level in which the pivoting and displacement movements of the switch mechanism take place. In the exemplary embodiment shown, it essentially coincides with the plane of the drawing.
  • the contact bridge support 9 which is designed as an angle lever, is arranged on the side of the inner end 6 of the push button 3. This consists essentially of a right-angled to the direction of actuation 2 of the push button 3, at the inner end 6 of the guide arm 10 guided past on the opposite side and a substantially parallel to the actuation direction 2 arranged support arm 11.
  • the contact bridge 13 At the free end 12 of the support arm 11 is the contact bridge 13 by means of a Contact bridge carrier 9 penetrating rivets 14 attached.
  • the contact bridge 13 is arranged approximately at right angles to the switching plane and connects the two lateral fixed contacts 15 which are aligned with one another in this direction, of which only the one facing the viewer can be seen in the figures.
  • the front fixed contact 15 is connected via a connecting lug 16 to the corresponding connecting line by means of a connecting terminal.
  • the rear fixed contact is in conductive connection with the bimetal 39, which contacts via its connecting lug 16 ⁇ with the second connecting line.
  • the connecting line and terminal for the terminal lug 16 and the rear fixed contact are omitted in the figures for the sake of clarity
  • the contact bridge support 9 which is designed as an angle lever, has, in the transition region between its guide 10 and support arm 11, a bearing pin 17 arranged transversely to the switching plane, which is located in a side of the push button 3 parallel to its actuating direction 2 arranged guide groove 18 is guided.
  • the contact bridge carrier 9 can carry out both a sliding movement and a pivoting movement in the switching plane.
  • the guide groove 18 and the fixed contacts 15 are arranged essentially in an extension on a line parallel to the direction of actuation 2 of the push button 3.
  • the locking device 19 of the spring mechanism 1 is arranged on the side of the push button 3 opposite these components.
  • An axle journal 24 is formed transversely to the switching plane on the bearing end 23 of the release lever 20 pointing in the switching-off direction 22, which engages in a substantially parallel to the direction of actuation 2 of the push button 3 laterally next to this housing groove 25 and is guided there to be longitudinally displaceable.
  • the trigger lever 20 can perform a pivoting movement in the switching plane around the journal 24.
  • the free end of the release lever 20 is articulated as a hinge end 26 to the free end 27 of the guide arm 10 of the contact bridge support 9.
  • the free end 27 engages between two pins 28, 29 attached to the release lever 20 and spaced apart in the switching direction 22 at right angles to the switching plane. These thus form a receiving opening 30 for the free end 27, which is tapered in relation to the remaining width of the guide arm 10.
  • the pin 28, which is closer to the axle pin 24, serves as the point of engagement of a helical tension spring 31 which is fastened to the contact arm support 9 by a pin 55 in the central region of the guide arm 10 is.
  • the housing groove 25 is designed in the manner of an elongated hole and has an oblique offset 32 in its lower region, through which the lower end of the housing groove 25 is offset in the direction of the push button 3.
  • the locking arm 33 of the T-shaped, three-armed locking lever 21 is arranged in the region of the oblique offset 32.
  • This lever is pivotally supported by the pivot bearing 34 at the intersection of its T-horizontal and vertical legs. It is acted upon by the helical compression spring 35, which is supported on the housing via the stop 56, in the locking direction (i.e. clockwise in relation to the figure), which acts on its loading arm 36 facing away from the locking arm 33 (locking force V, see FIG. 5).
  • the Latch 33 and loading arm 36 together form the T-horizontal leg of the locking lever 21.
  • the T-vertical leg is formed by the actuating arm 37 lying approximately parallel to the direction of actuation 2 of the push button 3, on which the movement end 38 of the bimetal 39 acting as a thermal release element acts.
  • the locking arm 33 is at its free end 40 in the region of the inclined offset 32 in overlap with the housing groove 25.
  • the stop surface 41 which is designed as a cylinder segment surface arranged transversely to the switching plane, forms one at the free end 40 of the locking arm 33 and the opposite counter bevel 42 of the inclined offset 32 wedge-shaped against the opening direction 22 opening inner angle region 43, the function of which becomes clear from the explanation of the switching kinematic sequence of the spring mechanism 1.
  • Fig. 1 the overcurrent protection switch is shown in its off position.
  • the contact bridge support 9, the push button 3 and the release lever 20 are in their upper extreme position, the Contact bridge support 9 is slightly tilted counterclockwise around its bearing pin 17 with respect to FIG. 1.
  • the push button 3 (FIG. 2) is actuated, its latching lug 44, which is laterally attached to its inner end 6, engages in the latching recess 46 in the contact bridge carrier 9 on the rear side 45 facing away from the fixed contacts 14.
  • the contact bridge support 9 is carried along against the loading force of the contact pressure spring 47 clamped between the guide arm 10 and a stop 48 fixed to the housing, approximately in the actuating direction 2.
  • the contact bridge support 9 is only shifted longitudinally, but remains in its tilted state.
  • the contacts acting on the locking device 19 in this position can be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5.
  • the contact pressure spring 47 provides not only the contact pressure itself, but also the breaking force tearing the contact bridge carrier 9 away from the fixed contacts 15 in the breaking direction 22.
  • This switch-off force A is transmitted via the guide arm 10 to the release lever 20 and acts on it in the switch-off direction 22.
  • the switch-off force A is broken down into two subcomponents F1, F2 in the manner of a force parallelogram.
  • the subcomponent F2 acting on the stop surface 41 is reduced.
  • the push button 3 can be held in its switched-on position, but the triggering movement of the contact bridge carrier is not influenced (free release).
  • the locking recess 46 can namely no longer come into engagement with the locking lug 44 of the push button, as a result of which the switch-off movement could be prevented.
  • the manual switch-off via the push button 3 is explained with reference to FIG. 3.
  • the trigger lever 20 is under the influence of the tension spring 31 with its pin 28 on the locking device 19 facing side edge 51 of the push button 3.
  • a run-up slope 52 is formed on this side edge 51, which forms an obtuse angle with the side edge 51.
  • the defined on-position of the push button 3 shown in FIG. 3 is achieved by inserting the axle pin 24 of the release lever 20 in the angular range between the side edge 51 and the support slope 52 maintained.
  • the torque applied by the tension coil spring 31 and exerted transversely to the actuating direction 2 on the release lever 20 is namely greater than the counter torque transmitted to the release lever 20 by the switch-off spring 7 via the bevel 52.

Landscapes

  • Breakers (AREA)
  • Thermally Actuated Switches (AREA)

Abstract

An overload protection switch having a push button for manually initiating actuation of the overload protection switch and a movable contact member forming a switching path and having at least one fixed contact. There is a lockable trip mechanism actuated by the push button for controlling the movable contact member during actuation of the overload protection switch and a bimetal element which includes a locking lever pivotal into a locking position and pivotal into its unlocking position. A trip slide is articulated to the movable contact member and is charged in a turn-off direction. The trip slide is additionally supported in its path of movement by a housing groove at a counterslope fixed to the housing. An essentially wedge-shaped inner angle is formed to reduce friction forces at the locking lever and produce a lower tripping force at the bimetal element.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft einen Überstromschutzschalter mit den im Oberbegriff des Anspruches 1 angegebenen Merkmalen.The invention relates to an overcurrent protection switch with the features specified in the preamble of claim 1.

Das Sprungwerk oder Schaltschloß eines Überstromschutzschalters weist im wesentlichen ein bewegliches Kontaktstück auf, das durch seine Anlage an einem oder mehreren Festkontakten die Schaltstrecke des Schalters schließt. Um im Überstromfall ein schnelles Abschalten des Stromes zu gewährleisten, ist das bewegliche Kontaktstück direkt oder über gelenkig damit verbundene Schaltschloßteile in Ausschaltrichtung federbeaufschlagt. In seiner Ausschaltstellung ist das Kontaktstück direkt oder über gelenkig mit ihm verbundene Bauelemente des Schaltschlosses - hier der sogenannte Auslöseschieber - mittels eines Riegelhebels verriegelt. Dieser ist in seine Verriegelungsstellung verschwenkbar und durch ein thermisches und/oder elektromagnetisches Auslöseorgan oder durch die Betätigungshandhabe des Schalters gegen eine Rückstellkraft in seine Entriegelungsstellung verschwenkbar. Die Fixierung des beweglichen Kontaktstückes in seiner Einschaltstellung erfolgt durch Abstützung des gelenkig mit dem beweglichen Kontaktstück verbundenen Auslöseschiebers an einer Anschlagfläche des in seiner Verriegelungsstellung in die definierte Bewegungsbahn des Auslöseschiebers hineinragenden Endes des Riegelhebels. Die Bewegungsbahn des Auslöseschiebers kann dabei durch dessen Führung in einer Gehäusenut od.dgl. hervorgerufen werden. Denkbar ist auch eine gelenkkettenartige Kopplung des Auslöseschiebers, mit dem eine konstruktionsbedingte Ein-Ausschaltbewegung des beweglichen Kontaktstückes auf den Auslöseschieber übertragbar ist. Wichtig ist lediglich, daß letzterer bei der Ein-Ausschaltbewegung einen in Lage und Richtung definierten Weg zurücklegt.The spring mechanism or switch lock of an overcurrent protection switch essentially has a movable contact piece which closes the switching path of the switch due to its contact with one or more fixed contacts. In order to ensure that the current is switched off quickly in the event of an overcurrent, the movable contact piece is spring-loaded in the switch-off direction, either directly or via articulated switching lock parts. In its switched-off position, the contact piece is locked directly or by means of components of the switch lock which are connected to it in an articulated manner - here the so-called trigger slide - by means of a locking lever. This can be pivoted into its locking position and can be pivoted into its unlocking position against a restoring force by a thermal and / or electromagnetic release element or by the actuating handle of the switch. The movable contact piece is fixed in its switched-on position by supporting the trigger slide articulated to the movable contact piece on a stop surface of the end of the locking lever which projects into the defined movement path of the trigger slide in its locking position. The path of movement of the trigger slide can or the like by guiding it in a housing groove. are caused. A link chain-like coupling is also conceivable of the trigger slide, with which a design-related on-off movement of the movable contact piece can be transmitted to the trigger slide. It is only important that the latter cover a path and direction defined when the switch is turned on and off.

Grundsätzlich sind von den Überstrom-Auslöseorganen des Sprungwerks zur Verschwenkung des Riegelhebels in seine Entriegelungsstellung Auslösekräfte aufzubringen. Bei der Entriegelung müssen nämlich Gegenkräfte überwunden werden, die sich unter anderem aus Reibungskräften an der Verriegelungsstelle und am Riegelhebel angreifenden, aus dessen Federbeaufschlagung in Verriegelungsrichtung resultierenden Hebelkräften zusammensetzen. Um ein schnelles Ansprechen des Überstromschutzschalters und damit hohe Schaltleistungen zu gewährleisten, sollen diese Gegen-und damit die von den Überstromauslösern aufzubringenden Auslösekräfte möglichst klein gehalten werden.Basically, the overcurrent release elements of the spring mechanism for pivoting the locking lever into its unlocking position must apply release forces. When unlocking, counter forces have to be overcome, which are composed, among other things, of frictional forces acting on the locking point and on the locking lever, resulting from its spring action in the locking direction. In order to ensure a quick response of the overcurrent protection switch and thus high switching capacities, these counter-forces and thus the triggering forces to be applied by the overcurrent releases are to be kept as small as possible.

Bei bekannten Lösungen für dieses Problem nach dem Stande der Technik (wie z.B. in der DE-B-2123765 beschrieben) ist es beispielsweise üblich, die Kontakt- und Ausschaltkräfte über ein Kniehebelsystem zu untersetzen. Damit werden zwar befriedigende Ergebnisse bezüglich der Höhe der aufzubringenden Auslösekräfte erzielt, jedoch sind Kniehebelsysteme konstruktiv aufwendig mit entsprechend hohem Bauteile- und Montageaufwand für das Sprungwerk.In known solutions to this problem according to the prior art (as described, for example, in DE-B-2123765), it is customary, for example, to reduce the contact and switch-off forces using a toggle lever system. Although this achieves satisfactory results with regard to the level of the triggering forces to be applied, toggle lever systems are structurally complex with a correspondingly high amount of components and assembly work for the jumping mechanism.

Davon ausgehend liegt der Erfindung die Aufgabe zugrunde, einen Überstromschutzschalter mit einer Verriegelungsvorrichtung für sein Sprungwerk anzugeben, bei dem mit einfachen konstruktiven Mitteln die von den Auslöseorganen aufzubringenden Auslösekräfte besonders klein gehalten werden.Proceeding from this, the object of the invention is to provide an overcurrent protection switch with a locking device for its spring mechanism, in which the triggering forces to be applied by the triggering elements are kept particularly small with simple constructional means.

Diese Aufgabe wird gemäß den kennzeichnenden Merkmalen des Anspruches 1 gelöst.This object is achieved in accordance with the characterizing features of claim 1.

Demnach wird eine Untersetzung der auf die Verriegelungsstelle wirkenden Gesamtkraft durch deren Zerlegung in zwei Teilkomponenten erreicht. Der Auslöseschieber liegt nämlich mit seinem in Ausschaltrichtung weisenden Ende an der Anschlagfläche des Riegelhebels und zusätzlich an einer gehäusefesten Gegenschräge in seiner Bewegungsbahn an. Die Anschlagfläche des Riegelhebels und die Gegenschräge bilden dabei einen keilförmigen, sich gegen die Ausschaltrichtung des Auslöseschiebers öffnenden Innenwinkelbereich. Die Gesamtkraft wird also nach Art eines Kräfteparallelogramms zerlegt und wirkt teils auf die Gegenschräge und nur mit einem Bruchteil auf die eigentliche Verriegelungsstelle zwisc Auslöseschieber und Riegelhebel. Die Verriegelungsstelle wird also mit einer geringeren Kraft belastet, wodurch sich die Reibungs- und Hebelkräfte erheblich reduzieren.Accordingly, the total force acting on the locking point is reduced by breaking it down into two sub-components. The trigger slide lies with its end pointing in the direction of switch-off against the stop surface of the locking lever and also against a counter-bevel fixed to the housing in its movement path. The stop surface of the locking lever and the counter bevels form a wedge-shaped inner angle region that opens against the direction in which the trigger slide is switched off. The total force is thus broken down in the manner of a parallelogram of forces and acts partly on the counter bevels and only a fraction of the actual locking point between the trigger slide and the locking lever. The locking point is therefore loaded with a lower force, which significantly reduces the friction and leverage forces.

Die Unteransprüche 2 bis 6 betreffen vorteilhafte Weiterbildungen der erfindungsgemäßen Verriegelungsvorrichtung. Nach Anspruch 2 ist die gehäusefeste Gegenschräge in einem größeren Winkel zur Ausschaltrichtung angeordnet als die Anschlagfläche des Riegelhebels. Dadurch wird die Kraftzerlegung in Teilkomponenten zu Gunsten einer geringeren Kraftbeaufschlagung auf die Anschlagfläche verschoben. Wird diese Maßnahme insbesondere kombiniert mit einer Ausgestaltung des Erfindungsgegenstandes gemäß Anspruch 3, so ergeben sich besonders günstige Kraftverhältnisse bei der Verriegelungsvorrichtung. Bilden nämlich die gehäusefeste Gegenschräge und die Anschlagfläche des Riegelhebels einen stumpfen Innenwinkelbereich von etwa 90° - also beispielsweise zwischen 75° und 105° - und ist gleichzeitig die Gegenschräge in einem größeren Winkel, beispielsweise in einem viermal so großen Winkel wie die Anschlagfläche zur Ausschaltrichtung angeordnet, so wird ein hoher Anteil der Ausschaltkräfte über die Gehäuseschräge abgestützt. Die verbleibende, auf die Verriegelungsstelle wirkende Kraftkomponente wird also weiter reduziert. Diese ist durch die Geometrie jedoch noch so hoch, daß nach dem Verschwenken des Riegelhebels in seine Entriegelungsstellung der Auslöseschieber unter Einfluß dieser Teilkomponente an der Gegenschräge abgleiten und mit dem Kontaktstück in die Ausschaltstellung des Sprungwerkes übergeführt werden kann.The subclaims 2 to 6 relate to advantageous developments of the locking device according to the invention. According to claim 2, the housing-fixed bevels are arranged at a larger angle to the switch-off direction than the stop surface of the locking lever. As a result, the force decomposition in subcomponents is shifted onto the stop surface in favor of less force application. If this measure is combined in particular with an embodiment of the subject matter of the invention, particularly favorable force relationships result in the locking device. This is because the counter-bevels fixed to the housing and the stop surface of the locking lever form an obtuse inner angle range of approximately 90 ° - for example between 75 ° and 105 ° - and at the same time the counter-bevels are arranged at a larger angle, for example at an angle four times larger than the stop surface to the switch-off direction , a high proportion of the opening forces are supported via the housing bevels. The remaining force component acting on the locking point is thus further reduced. However, due to the geometry, this is still so high that after the locking lever is pivoted into its unlocked position, the trigger slide can slide under the influence of this subcomponent on the counter slope and can be transferred to the switch-off position of the spring mechanism with the contact piece.

Im Anspruch 4 ist eine vorteilhafte Form für das Abstützende des Auslöseschiebers angegeben. Durch dessen Ausbildung als in einer langlochartigen Gehäusenut geführter Achszapfen ist eine Doppelfunktion erzielt. An seinem Abstützende ist der Auslöseschieber nämlich entlang einer definierten Bewegungsbahn geführt, zum zweiten ergeben sich durch die Zapfenform zwei punkt- oder zumindest linienförmige Anlagebereiche des Auslöseschiebers an der Gegenschräge bzw. der Anschlagfläche des Riegelhebels. Damit sind die Angriffspunkte der Teilkomponenten der Ausschaltkraft eindeutig festgelegt und es ergeben sich definierte, von Schaltzyklus zu Schaltzyklus reproduzierbare Kraftverhältnisse. Darüber hinaus stellt eine Gehäusenut eine konstruktiv denkbar einfache Maßnahme dar, um die Führung eines beweglichen Bauteiles entlang einer bestimmten Bahn zu erzielen.In claim 4, an advantageous shape for the support end of the trigger slide is specified. By designing it as an axle journal guided in a slot-like housing groove, a double function is achieved. At its support end, the release slide is guided along a defined movement path, and secondly, the pin shape results in two point-shaped or at least linear contact areas of the release slide on the counter slope or the stop surface of the locking lever. The points of application of the sub-components of the breaking force are thus clearly defined and there are defined force ratios that can be reproduced from switching cycle to switching cycle. In addition, a housing groove is a structurally simple measure to achieve the guidance of a movable component along a certain path.

Im Kennzeichen des Anspruches 5 ist eine vorteilhafte Ausgestaltung der Gehäusenut angegeben. Die gehäusefeste Gegenschräge wird demgemäß nämlich auf einfache Weise durch einen im Überdeckungsbereich mit dem Riegelhebelende angeordneten, von diesem weggerichteten Schrägversatz der Gehäusenut gebildet. Der Schrägversatz selbst kann dabei als ebene Fläche unter einem stumpfen Winkel in die beidseitig angrenzenden geradlinigen Bereiche der Gehäusenut übergehen, jedoch ist auch ein flacher, S-förmig geschwungener Verlauf denkbar.In the characterizing part of claim 5, an advantageous embodiment of the housing groove is specified. The counter-bevel fixed to the housing is accordingly formed in a simple manner by an inclined offset of the housing groove which is arranged in the overlap region with the locking lever end and is directed away therefrom. The oblique offset itself can pass as a flat surface at an obtuse angle into the rectilinear regions of the housing groove which adjoin on both sides, but it is also a flat, S-shaped curve is conceivable.

Anspruch 6 lehrt eine Maßnahme, mit der zusätzliche, von den Auslösekräften der Auslöseorgane zu überwindende Hebelkräfte bei der Verschwenkung des Riegelhebels in seine Entriegelungsstellung vermieden werden. Dessen Anschlagfläche ist nämlich als konvexe Zylindersegmentfläche ausgebildet, deren Radius im wesentlichen dem Abstand der Anschlagfläche vom Drehlagerpunkt des Riegelhebels entspricht. Dadurch ändert sich der Lageabstand des Achszapfens vom Drehlagerpunkt des Riegelhebels nicht, wenn dieser verschwenkt wird. Würde sich dieser vergrößern, so müßten die Auslöseorgane nämlich eine zusätzliche Kraftkomponente überwinden, die aus der Verschiebung des Achszapfens entgegen der auf den Auslöseschieber gegebenenfalls über das bewegliche Kontaktstück wirkenden Ausschaltkraft herrührt.Claim 6 teaches a measure with which additional lever forces to be overcome by the triggering forces of the triggering elements are avoided when the locking lever is pivoted into its unlocked position. Its stop surface is namely designed as a convex cylinder segment surface, the radius of which essentially corresponds to the distance of the stop surface from the pivot point of the locking lever. As a result, the position distance of the axle pin from the pivot bearing point of the locking lever does not change when it is pivoted. If this were to increase, the release members would have to overcome an additional force component which results from the displacement of the axle journal against the breaking force possibly acting on the release slide via the movable contact piece.

Die weiteren Ansprüche 7 bis 15 betreffen vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen des Erfindungsgegenstandes für einen druckknopfbetätigten Überstromschutzschalter. Dieser ist damit im wesentlichen eine Weiterentwicklung des druckknopfbetätigten Überstromschutzschalters mit thermischer Auslösung gemäß DE-C-25 02 579. Der bekannte Überstromschutzschalter ist mit einer Momentein-, -ausschaltung, thermischer sowie einer Freiauslösung versehen. Er weist einen als zweiarmigen Winkelhebel ausgebildeten, in der Schaltebene schwenk- und verschiebbaren Kontaktbrückenträger auf, der einen im wesentlichen rechtwinklig zur Betätigungsrichtung des Druckknopfes angeordneten, entgegen dieser Richtung federbelasteten Führungsarm und einen im wesentlichen parallel zu dieser Richtung seitlich vom Druckknopf angeordneten Trägerarm auf. Am Freiende des Trägerarmes ist die Kontaktbrücke zur Kontaktverbindung zwischen zwei Festkontakten befestigt. Der Trägerarm ist mit dem inneren Ende des Druckknopfes zur Übertragung dessen Einschaltbewegung auf den Kontaktbrückenträger verklinkbar. Durch die in der angegebenen Druckschrift gezeigte Verklinkungsweise wird eine schlagartige Momenteinschaltung der Kontaktbrücke erreicht.The further claims 7 to 15 relate to advantageous refinements of the subject matter of the invention for a push-button-operated overcurrent protection switch. This is essentially a further development of the push-button-operated overcurrent protection switch with thermal tripping in accordance with DE-C-25 02 579. The known overcurrent protection switch is provided with a momentary on, off, thermal as well as a free release. It has a contact arm carrier designed as a two-armed angle lever, which can be pivoted and displaced in the switching plane, which has a guide arm which is arranged essentially at right angles to the direction of actuation of the push button and is spring-loaded against this direction, and a support arm which is arranged essentially parallel to this direction to the side of the push button. At the free end the support arm, the contact bridge for contact connection between two fixed contacts is attached. The support arm can be latched to the inner end of the push button for transmitting its switch-on movement to the contact bridge support. Due to the latching method shown in the specified publication, an abrupt moment switching on of the contact bridge is achieved.

Bei dem bekannten Überstromschutzschalter wirkt die von der Ausschaltfeder hervorgerufene Beaufschlagungskraft in Ausschaltrichtung in ihrer vollen Höhe auf die Verklinkungsstelle des Kontaktbrückenträgers mit dem Rastvorsprung am Bewegungsende des Bimetalls. Dieser Konstruktion sind die eingangs genannten Nachteile zu eigen.In the known overcurrent protection switch, the loading force caused by the switch-off spring acts in its switch-off direction in its full height on the latching point of the contact bridge support with the locking projection at the end of the movement of the bimetal. This construction has the disadvantages mentioned at the outset.

Durch das Übergreifen des Führungsarmes des Kontaktbrückenträgers über den Druckknopf im Gehäuseinnern und durch die gelenkige Verbindung des Führungsarm-Freiendes mit dem entlang einer parallel zur Betätigungsrichtung des Druckknopfes verlaufenden Bewegungsbahn verschiebbaren Auslöseschieber der Verriegelungsvorrichtung wird der bekannte Überstromschutzschalter derart weitergebildet, daß die von den Überstrom-Auslöseorganen aufzubringenden Auslösekräfte besonders gering sind. Dadurch verkürzt sich die Auslösezeit des erfindungsgemäßen Überstromschutzschalters und es kann eine erhöhte Abschaltleistung erzielt werden. Darüber hinaus unterliegt die Verriegelungsvorrichtung durch die reduzierten Reibungskräfte an den gegenseitigen Anlageflächen einem geringeren Verschleiß. Abrieb, Materialverformungen u.dgl. innerhalb des Sprungwerks werden damit vermieden oder zumindest stark unterdrückt, wodurch sich die Lebensdauer des Überstromschutzschalters erhöht sowie enge Auslösetoleranzen über eine längere Betriebsdauer eingehalten werden können.By overlapping the guide arm of the contact bridge support via the push button in the housing interior and by the articulated connection of the free end of the guide arm with the sliding slide of the locking device running along a movement path parallel to the actuating direction of the push button, the known overcurrent protection switch is developed in such a way that the overcurrent release elements trigger forces to be applied are particularly low. This shortens the tripping time of the overcurrent protection switch according to the invention and an increased breaking capacity can be achieved. In addition, the locking device is subject to less wear due to the reduced frictional forces on the mutual contact surfaces. Abrasion, material deformation and the like. This avoids or at least strongly suppresses within the spring mechanism, which increases the service life of the overcurrent protection switch and allows close tripping tolerances to be maintained over a longer operating period.

Durch eine Ausbildung des Überstromschutzschalters gemäß dem Kennzeichen des Anspruches 8 wird aus dem Auslöseschieber mit einfachen konstruktiven Mitteln ein einarmiger Auslösehebel, der im wesentlichen parallel zur Gehäusenut angeordnet und dessen Drehachse sein in der Gehäusenut längsverschiebbarer Achszapfen ist. Durch diese Ausgestaltung können dem Auslösehebel weitere, im folgenden definierte Funktionen zugewiesen werden.By designing the overcurrent protection switch according to the characterizing part of claim 8, the tripping slide becomes a single-armed tripping lever with simple constructional means, which is arranged essentially parallel to the housing groove and whose axis of rotation is longitudinally displaceable axle journal in the housing groove. With this configuration, further functions defined below can be assigned to the trigger lever.

Um die Schwenkbarkeit des Auslösehebels zu ermöglichen, muß die gelenkige Verbindung zwischen dem Führungsarm des Kontaktbrückenträgers und dem Auslösehebel eine gegenseitige Verschiebung dieser beiden Teile in Drehrichtung des Auslösehebels ermöglichen. Entsprechend ist gemäß Anspruch 9 die gelenkige Verbindung durch den Eingriff des Führungsarm-Freiendes in eine rechtwinklig zur Betätigungsrichtung verlaufende Aufnahmeöffnung am dem Achszapfen gegenüberliegenden Gelenkende des Auslösehebels gebildet. Der Eingriff erfolgt vorzugsweise unter Spiel, wodurch der Auslösehebel zwar zuverlässig bei der Einschaltbewegung vom Kontaktbrückenträger mitgeführt wird, jedoch die genannte Drehbewegung des Auslösehebels um seinen Achszapfen in gewissen Grenzen möglich ist.In order to allow the pivoting of the release lever, the articulated connection between the guide arm of the contact bridge support and the release lever must allow a mutual displacement of these two parts in the direction of rotation of the release lever. Correspondingly, according to claim 9, the articulated connection is formed by the engagement of the guide arm free end in a receiving opening running at right angles to the actuating direction at the hinge end of the release lever opposite the axle pin. The intervention is preferably carried out with play, whereby the release lever is reliably carried by the contact bridge support during the switch-on movement, but the mentioned rotary movement of the release lever about its axle journal is possible within certain limits.

Im Kennzeichen des Anspruches 10 sind die Maßnahmen angegeben, mit denen eine vorteilhafte Zusatzfunktion durch den Auslösehebel wahrnehmbar ist. Der Riegelhebel der Verriegelungsvorrichtung weist nämlich einen etwa parallel neben dem Auslösehebel in dessen Schwenkbereich verlaufenden Betätigungsarm auf, mittels dem der Riegelhebel aus seiner Verriegelungsstellung vom Auslösehebel durch dessen Schwenkung um den Achszapfen in die Entriegelungsstellung verbringbar ist. Dies bedeutet, daß die Betätigungshandhabe bzw. thermischen und/oder elektromagnetischen Auslöseorgane auf verschiedene Bauelemente des Sprungwerkes einwirken können, um eine Entriegelung des Sprungwerkes zu erzielen. Beispielsweise kann das Bewegungsende des Bimetalls direkt den Riegelhebel, dessen Betätigungsarm oder sogar den Auslösehebel in Entriegelungsrichtung beaufschlagen. Es bleibt dem Konstrukteur überlassen, an welcher Stelle er beispielsweise das Bimetall in ihm vorteilhaft erscheinender Weise anordnet. Durch die erfindungsgemäße Ausgestaltung bleiben ihm hier verschiedene Wahlmöglichkeiten, wie er das entsprechende Auslöseorgan anordnet und auf welche Weise er es auf die Verriegelungsvorrichtung einwirken läßt.In the characterizing part of claim 10, the measures are specified with which an advantageous additional function can be performed by the release lever. The locking lever of the locking device namely has an approximately parallel to the trigger lever in its pivoting operating arm, by means of which the locking lever can be moved from its locking position by the trigger lever by pivoting it about the axle into the unlocking position. This means that the actuating handle or thermal and / or electromagnetic triggering elements can act on various components of the jumping mechanism in order to unlock the jumping mechanism. For example, the end of movement of the bimetal can act directly on the locking lever, its actuating arm or even the release lever in the unlocking direction. It is up to the designer at which point, for example, he arranges the bimetal in an apparently advantageous manner. The configuration according to the invention leaves him various options here, how he arranges the corresponding triggering element and in which way he lets it act on the locking device.

Im Anspruch 11 ist eine mögliche Ausgestaltung des Erfindungsgegenstandes angegeben, nach der der Auslösehebel in seiner Verriegelungsstellung durch Betätigung des Druckknopfes in Entriegelungsrichtung um seinen Achszapfen verschwenkbar ist. Diese Verschwenkung kann auf den Riegelhebel übertragen werden, der dadurch seinerseits in die Entriegelungsstellung überführbar ist und die Verriegelung des Auslösehebels und damit den Kontaktbrückenträger frei gibt. Da somit der Druckknopf und das thermische Auslöseorgan an verschiedenen Bauteilen des Sprungwerkes angreifen können, ist eine vorteilhafte funktionale Gliederung des Sprungwerkaufbaues und damit eine konstruktive Vereinfachung erreicht.Claim 11 specifies a possible embodiment of the subject matter of the invention, according to which the release lever in its locking position can be pivoted about its journal in the unlocking direction by actuating the push button. This pivoting can be transferred to the locking lever, which in turn can thereby be moved into the unlocking position and releases the locking of the release lever and thus the contact bridge carrier. Since the push button and the thermal release element can thus attack different components of the jumping mechanism, an advantageous functional arrangement of the jumping mechanism structure and thus a constructive simplification is achieved.

Die in Anspruch 12 genannte Maßnahme stellt eine besonders einfache Möglichkeit zur Bildung der Aufnahmeöffnung des Auslösehebels für das Freiende des Führungsarmes dar. Die Zapfen zur Bildung der Aufnahmeöffnung können dabei weitere Aufgaben übernehmen, wie dies in Anspruch 13 angegeben ist. Der dem Achszapfen zugewandte, innere der beiden Zapfen ist von einer am Führungsarm des Kontaktbrückenträgers befestigten Zugfeder etwa rechtwinklig zur Betätigungsrichtung des Druckknopfes derart beaufschlagt, daß er dadurch ständig an der der Verriegelungsvorrichtung zugewandten, parallel zur Betätigungsrichtung verlaufenden Seitenkante des Druckknopfes anliegt. Damit nimmt der Auslösehebel trotz seiner möglichen Drehbarkeit um seinen Achszapfen in jeder Schaltstellung des Sprungwerkes eine definierte Lage ein. Durch die Eindeutigkeit der Lagebeziehung zwischen der Seitenkante des Druckknopfes und dem inneren Zapfen des Auslösehebels kann die Seitenkante zu Steuerungsaufgaben für die Drehbewegung des Auslösehebels verwendet werden. Entsprechend ist gemäß Anspruch 14 an diese Seitenkante des Druckknopfes eine mit dessen Betätigungsrichtung einen stumpfen Winkel bildende Auflaufschräge angeformt, über die bei der Ausschalt-Betätigung des Druckknopfes der Auslösehebel und über diesen der Riegelhebel in Entriegelungsrichtung beaufschlagbar sind. Die Steuerung einer Drehbewegung über eine Auflaufschräge stellt dabei eine konstruktiv besonders einfache Lösung dar.The measure mentioned in claim 12 represents a particularly simple possibility for forming the receiving opening of the release lever for the free end of the guide arm. The pins for forming the receiving opening can take on further tasks, as indicated in claim 13. The inner of the two pins facing the axle pin is acted upon by a tension spring fastened to the guide arm of the contact bridge support approximately at right angles to the actuating direction of the push button in such a way that it thereby rests continuously on the side edge of the push button facing the locking device and running parallel to the actuating direction. Thus, the release lever takes on a defined position in any switching position of the spring mechanism, despite its possible rotatability about its journal. Due to the uniqueness of the positional relationship between the side edge of the push button and the inner pin of the release lever, the side edge can be used for control tasks for the rotary movement of the release lever. Accordingly, according to claim 14 on this side edge of the push button is formed with its actuating direction forming an obtuse bevel, via which the release lever and the locking lever can be acted upon in the unlocking direction when the push button is switched off. The control of a rotary movement via an inclined slope is a particularly simple design solution.

Die seitlichen, einander zugewandten Anschlagvorsprünge am Auslösehebel und am Betätigungsarm des Riegelhebels gewährleisten eine unverzügliche Übertragung der Schwenkbewegung des Auslösehebels auf den Riegelhebel.The side, mutually facing stop projections on the release lever and on the actuating arm of the locking lever ensure immediate transmission of the pivoting movement of the release lever to the locking lever.

In der Summe der Erfindungsvorteile wird ein Überstromschutzschalter geschaffen, der konstruktiv einfach aufgebaut, klar gegliedert ist und demzufolge sehr kompakt baut, dabei jedoch alle schalttechnischen Vorzüge wie Momentein-, -ausschaltung und Freiauslösung aufweist und darüber hinaus eine hohe Abschaltleistung bei toleranzengem Langzeit-Schaltverhalten erzielt.In the sum of the advantages of the invention, an overcurrent protection switch is created which is structurally simple in construction, clearly structured and consequently very compact in construction, but all switching technology Has advantages such as instantaneous switching on and off and free tripping and also achieves a high switch-off power with tolerant long-term switching behavior.

Die Erfindung wird in einem Ausführungsbeispiel anhand der beiliegenden Figuren näher erläutert. Es zeigen:

Fig. 1
eine schematische Ansicht des Überstromschutzschalters mit Sprungwerk und Druckknopf in Aus-Stellung,
Fig. 2
eine Ansicht gemäß Fig. 1 kurz vor Erreichen der Ein-Stellung,
Fig. 3
eine Ansicht gemäß Fig. 1 in der verriegelten Ein-Stellung des Schalters,
Fig. 4
eine Ansicht gemäß Fig. 1 in der Stellung "Freiauslösung" und
Fig. 5
eine Prinzipskizze der Verriegelungsvorrichtung des Überstromschutzschalters.
The invention is explained in more detail in an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying figures. Show it:
Fig. 1
a schematic view of the overcurrent protection switch with spring mechanism and push button in the off position,
Fig. 2
1 shortly before reaching the on position,
Fig. 3
1 in the locked on position of the switch,
Fig. 4
a view of FIG. 1 in the "free trip" position and
Fig. 5
a schematic diagram of the locking device of the overcurrent protection switch.

Das in zwei nicht dargestellten Gehäusehalbschalen einliegende Sprungwerk 1 wird von einem in Betätigungsrichtung 2 längsverschiebbaren Druckknopf 3 betätigt. Dieser ist als langgestreckter Schiebekörper 4 ausgebildet, dessen Griffende 5 aus dem Gehäuse heraussteht. Sein Innenende 6 ist innerhalb des Gehäuses im Überdeckungsbereich mit dem Sprungwerk 1 angeordnet. Der Druckknopf 3 ist durch eine im Bereich seines Griffendes 5 angreifende, schraubendruckfederartige Ausschaltfeder 7 in Ausschaltrichtung beaufschlagt. Die Ausschaltfeder 7 führt den Druckknopf 3 bei ausgelöstem Sprungwerk 1 selbsttätig in die in Fig. 1 gezeigte Ausschaltstellung über. Dazu stützt sich die Ausschaltfeder 7 an einem gehäusefesten Anschlag 8 ab.The spring mechanism 1 lying in two housing half-shells, not shown, is actuated by a push button 3 which is longitudinally displaceable in the actuating direction 2. This is designed as an elongated sliding body 4, the handle end 5 of which protrudes from the housing. Its inner end 6 is arranged within the housing in the area of overlap with the spring mechanism 1. The push button 3 is acted upon in the switch-off direction by a switch-compression spring-like switch spring 7 acting in the region of its handle end 5. The switch-off spring 7 automatically pushes the push button 3 into the switch-off position shown in FIG. 1 when the spring mechanism 1 is triggered. For this purpose, the switch-off spring 7 is supported on a stop 8 fixed to the housing.

Anhand der Fig. 1 werden die im wesentlichen in der Schaltebene nebeneinanderliegenden, hauptsächlichen Bauteile des Sprungwerkes 1 beschrieben. Unter Schaltebene ist dabei die Ebene zu verstehen, in der die Schwenk- und Verschiebebewegungen der Schaltermechanik ablaufen. Sie fällt im gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiel im wesentlichen mit der Zeichnungsebene zusammen.1, the main components of the spring mechanism 1 which are essentially adjacent to one another in the switching plane are described. Switching level is understood to mean the level in which the pivoting and displacement movements of the switch mechanism take place. In the exemplary embodiment shown, it essentially coincides with the plane of the drawing.

Seitlich des Innenendes 6 des Druckknopfes 3 ist der als Winkelhebel ausgebildete Kontaktbrückenträger 9 angeordnet. Dieser besteht im wesentlichen aus einem rechtwinklig zur Betätigungsrichtung 2 des Druckknopfes 3 angeordneten, an dessen Innenende 6 zur gegenüberliegenden Seite vorbeigeführten Führungsarm 10 und einem im wesentlichen parallel zur Betätigungsrichtung 2 angeordneten Trägerarm 11. Am Freiende 12 des Trägerarmes 11 ist die Kontaktbrücke 13 mittels eines den Kontaktbrückenträger 9 durchsetzenden Nietes 14 befestigt. Die Kontaktbrücke 13 ist etwa rechtwinklig zur Schaltebene angeordnet und verbindet die beiden in dieser Richtung miteinander fluchtenden, seitlichen Festkontakte 15, von denen in den Figuren jeweils nur der dem Betrachter zugewandte erkennbar ist. Der vordere Festkontakt 15 ist über eine Anschlußfahne 16 mit der entsprechenden Anschlußleitung mittels einer Anschlußklemme verbunden. Der hintere Festkontakt steht in leitender Verbindung mit dem Bimetall 39, das über seine Anschlußfahne 16ʹ mit der zweiten Anschlußleitung kontaktiert. Die Anschlußleitung und -klemme für die Anschlußfahne 16 sowie der hintere Festkontakt sind in den Figuren der Übersichtlichkeit halber weggelassenThe contact bridge support 9, which is designed as an angle lever, is arranged on the side of the inner end 6 of the push button 3. This consists essentially of a right-angled to the direction of actuation 2 of the push button 3, at the inner end 6 of the guide arm 10 guided past on the opposite side and a substantially parallel to the actuation direction 2 arranged support arm 11. At the free end 12 of the support arm 11 is the contact bridge 13 by means of a Contact bridge carrier 9 penetrating rivets 14 attached. The contact bridge 13 is arranged approximately at right angles to the switching plane and connects the two lateral fixed contacts 15 which are aligned with one another in this direction, of which only the one facing the viewer can be seen in the figures. The front fixed contact 15 is connected via a connecting lug 16 to the corresponding connecting line by means of a connecting terminal. The rear fixed contact is in conductive connection with the bimetal 39, which contacts via its connecting lug 16ʹ with the second connecting line. The connecting line and terminal for the terminal lug 16 and the rear fixed contact are omitted in the figures for the sake of clarity

Der als Winkelhebel ausgebildete Kontaktbrückenträger 9 weist im Übergangsbereich zwischen seinem Führungs-10 und Trägerarm 11 einen quer zur Schaltebene angeordneten Lagerzapfen 17 auf, der in einer seitlich vom Druckknopf 3 parallel zu dessen Betätigungsrichtung 2 angeordneten Führungsnut 18 verschiebbar geführt ist. Entsprechend kann der Kontaktbrückenträger 9 sowohl eine Schiebebewegung als auch eine Schwenkbewegung in der Schaltebene vollziehen. Die Führungsnut 18 und die Festkontakte 15 sind dabei im wesentlichen in Verlängerung auf einer Linie parallel zur Betätigungsrichtung 2 des Druckknopfes 3 angeordnet. Auf der diesen Bauteilen gegenüberliegenden Seite des Druckknopfes 3 ist die Verriegelungsvorrichtung 19 des Sprungwerks 1 angeordnet. Diese besteht im wesentlichen aus einem parallel zur Betätigungsrichtung 2 direkt neben dem Druckknopf 3 angeordneten, einarmigen Auslösehebel 20 und einem danebenliegenden, T-förmigen Riegelhebel 21. An das in Ausschaltrichtung 22 weisende Lagerende 23 des Auslösehebels 20 ist quer zur Schaltebene ein Achszapfen 24 angeformt, der in eine im wesentlichen parallel zur Betätigungsrichtung 2 des Druckknopfes 3 seitlich neben diesem verlaufenden Gehäusenut 25 eingreift und dort längsverschiebbar geführt ist. Der Auslösehebel 20 kann um den Achszapfen 24 eine Schwenkbewegung in der Schaltebene ausführen. Das Freiende des Auslösehebels 20 ist als Gelenkende 26 gelenkig mit dem Freiende 27 des Führungsarmes 10 des Kontaktbrückenträgers 9 verbunden. Dazu greift das Freiende 27 zwischen zwei quer zur Schaltebene in Ausschaltrichtung 22 beabstandet am Auslösehebel 20 angebrachte Zapfen 28,29 ein. Diese bilden damit eine Aufnahmeöffnung 30 für das gegenüber der restlichen Breite des Führungsarmes 10 verjüngte Freiende 27. Der näher zum Achszapfen 24 liegende Zapfen 28 dient als Angriffspunkt einer Schraubenzugfeder 31, die im Mittenbereich des Führungsarmes 10 des Kontaktbrückenträgers 9 an diesem durch einen Stift 55 befestigt ist.The contact bridge support 9, which is designed as an angle lever, has, in the transition region between its guide 10 and support arm 11, a bearing pin 17 arranged transversely to the switching plane, which is located in a side of the push button 3 parallel to its actuating direction 2 arranged guide groove 18 is guided. Correspondingly, the contact bridge carrier 9 can carry out both a sliding movement and a pivoting movement in the switching plane. The guide groove 18 and the fixed contacts 15 are arranged essentially in an extension on a line parallel to the direction of actuation 2 of the push button 3. The locking device 19 of the spring mechanism 1 is arranged on the side of the push button 3 opposite these components. This essentially consists of a one-armed release lever 20 arranged parallel to the actuation direction 2 directly next to the push button 3 and an adjacent, T-shaped locking lever 21. An axle journal 24 is formed transversely to the switching plane on the bearing end 23 of the release lever 20 pointing in the switching-off direction 22, which engages in a substantially parallel to the direction of actuation 2 of the push button 3 laterally next to this housing groove 25 and is guided there to be longitudinally displaceable. The trigger lever 20 can perform a pivoting movement in the switching plane around the journal 24. The free end of the release lever 20 is articulated as a hinge end 26 to the free end 27 of the guide arm 10 of the contact bridge support 9. For this purpose, the free end 27 engages between two pins 28, 29 attached to the release lever 20 and spaced apart in the switching direction 22 at right angles to the switching plane. These thus form a receiving opening 30 for the free end 27, which is tapered in relation to the remaining width of the guide arm 10. The pin 28, which is closer to the axle pin 24, serves as the point of engagement of a helical tension spring 31 which is fastened to the contact arm support 9 by a pin 55 in the central region of the guide arm 10 is.

Die Gehäusenut 25 ist langlochartig ausgebildet und weist in ihrem unteren Bereich einen Schrägversatz 32 auf, durch den das untere Ende der Gehäusenut 25 in Richtung auf den Druckknopf 3 versetzt ist. Im Bereich des Schrägversatzes 32 ist der Riegelarm 33 des T-förmigen, dreiarmigen Riegelhebels 21 angeordnet. Dieser Hebel ist am Schnittpunkt seines T-Horizontal- und -Vertikalschenkels durch das Drehlager 34 verschwenkbar gelagert. Er ist durch die sich am Gehäuse über den Anschlag 56 abstützende Schraubendruckfeder 35 in Verriegelungsrichtung (d.h. bezgl. den Fign. im Uhrzeigersinn) beaufschlagt, die an seinem dem Riegelarm 33 abgewandten Beaufschlagungsarm 36 angreift (Verriegelungskraft V, s.Fig.5). Riegel-33 und Beaufschlagungsarm 36 bilden gemeinsam den T-Horizontalschenkel des Riegelhebels 21. Der T-Vertikalschenkel ist durch den etwa parallel zur Betätigungsrichtung 2 des Druckknopfes 3 liegenden Betätigungsarm 37 gebildet, an dem das Bewegungsende 38 des als thermisches Auslöseorgan fungierenden Bimetalls 39 angreift. Der Riegelarm 33 steht mit seinem Freiende 40 im Bereich des Schrägversatzes 32 in Überdeckung mit der Gehäusenut 25. In der Verriegelungsstellung bildet dabei die als quer zur Schaltebene angeordnete Zylindersegmentfläche ausgebildete Anschlagfläche 41 am Freiende 40 des Riegelarmes 33 und die gegenüberliegende Gegenschräge 42 des Schrägversatzes 32 einen sich keilförmig gegen die Ausschaltrichtung 22 öffnenden Innenwinkelbereich 43, dessen Funktion anhand der Erklärung des schaltkinematischen Ablaufes des Sprungwerks 1 klar wird.The housing groove 25 is designed in the manner of an elongated hole and has an oblique offset 32 in its lower region, through which the lower end of the housing groove 25 is offset in the direction of the push button 3. The locking arm 33 of the T-shaped, three-armed locking lever 21 is arranged in the region of the oblique offset 32. This lever is pivotally supported by the pivot bearing 34 at the intersection of its T-horizontal and vertical legs. It is acted upon by the helical compression spring 35, which is supported on the housing via the stop 56, in the locking direction (i.e. clockwise in relation to the figure), which acts on its loading arm 36 facing away from the locking arm 33 (locking force V, see FIG. 5). Latch 33 and loading arm 36 together form the T-horizontal leg of the locking lever 21. The T-vertical leg is formed by the actuating arm 37 lying approximately parallel to the direction of actuation 2 of the push button 3, on which the movement end 38 of the bimetal 39 acting as a thermal release element acts. The locking arm 33 is at its free end 40 in the region of the inclined offset 32 in overlap with the housing groove 25. In the locking position, the stop surface 41, which is designed as a cylinder segment surface arranged transversely to the switching plane, forms one at the free end 40 of the locking arm 33 and the opposite counter bevel 42 of the inclined offset 32 wedge-shaped against the opening direction 22 opening inner angle region 43, the function of which becomes clear from the explanation of the switching kinematic sequence of the spring mechanism 1.

In Fig. 1 ist der Überstromschutzschalter in seiner Aus-Stellung gezeigt. Der Kontaktbrückenträger 9, der Druckknopf 3 sowie der Auslösehebel 20 befinden sich in ihrer oberen Extremalstellung, wobei der Kontaktbrückenträger 9 leicht um seinen Lagerzapfen 17 entgegen dem Uhrzeigersinn bezogen auf Fig. 1 verkippt ist. Bei einer Betätigung des Druckknopfes 3 (Fig. 2) greift dessen seitlich an seinem Innenende 6 angebrachte Rastnase 44 in die auf der den Festkontakten 14 abgewandten Rückseite 45 angebrachte Rastausnehmung 46 des Kontaktbrückenträgers 9 ein. Dadurch wird der Kontaktbrückenträger 9 entgegen der Beaufschlagungskraft der etwa in Betätigungsrichtung 2 zwischen den Führungsarm 10 und einem gehäusefesten Anschlag 48 eingespannten Kontaktdruckfeder 47 mitgeführt. Der Kontaktbrückenträger 9 wird dabei nur längsverschoben, verbleibt jedoch in seinem verkippten Zustand. Durch seine Längsverschiebung nimmt er den Auslösehebel 20 mit, wodurch sich dessen Achszapfen 24 in der Gehäusenut 25 nach unten bewegt. Dabei wird bei Durchlaufen des Schrägversatzes 32 der Riegelarm 33 des Riegelhebels 21 kurzzeitig entgegen der Beaufschlagung durch die Schraubendruckfeder 35 in seine Entriegelungsstellung außer Überdeckung mit der Gehäusenut 25 verbracht (nicht gezeigt) und der Achszapfen 24 überschnappt den Riegelhebel 21. Der Druckknopf wird so lange in das Gehäuse geschoben, bis die in Fig. 2 gezeigte Extremalstellung erreicht ist. Dabei liegt die Kontaktbrücke 13 noch nicht an den Festkontakten 15 an, die Kontaktdruckfeder 47 ist maximal gespannt und der Riegelhebel 21 ist unter Einfluß der Schraubendruckfeder 35 wieder in seine Verriegelungsstellung in Überdeckung mit der Gehäusenut 25 verbracht worden.In Fig. 1 the overcurrent protection switch is shown in its off position. The contact bridge support 9, the push button 3 and the release lever 20 are in their upper extreme position, the Contact bridge support 9 is slightly tilted counterclockwise around its bearing pin 17 with respect to FIG. 1. When the push button 3 (FIG. 2) is actuated, its latching lug 44, which is laterally attached to its inner end 6, engages in the latching recess 46 in the contact bridge carrier 9 on the rear side 45 facing away from the fixed contacts 14. As a result, the contact bridge support 9 is carried along against the loading force of the contact pressure spring 47 clamped between the guide arm 10 and a stop 48 fixed to the housing, approximately in the actuating direction 2. The contact bridge support 9 is only shifted longitudinally, but remains in its tilted state. Due to its longitudinal displacement, it takes the release lever 20 with it, whereby its axle journal 24 moves downward in the housing groove 25. When passing through the inclined offset 32, the locking arm 33 of the locking lever 21 is briefly moved into its unlocking position, out of overlap with the housing groove 25 (not shown) against the action of the helical compression spring 35, and the axle pin 24 snaps over the locking lever 21. The push button becomes so long pushed the housing until the extreme position shown in Fig. 2 is reached. The contact bridge 13 is not yet in contact with the fixed contacts 15, the contact pressure spring 47 is maximally tensioned and the locking lever 21 has been moved back into its locking position in overlap with the housing groove 25 under the influence of the helical compression spring 35.

Wird der Druckknopf 3 (Fig. 3) losgelassen, so bewegen sich die Teile der Sprungwerkmechanik in Ausschaltrichtung 22 zurück. Dies erfolgt jedoch nur solange, bis der Achszapfen 24 im von der Anschlagfläche 41 und der Gegenschräge 42 gebildeten Innenwinkelbere ich 43 (vgl. Fig. 5) anschlägt und dort verriegelt wird. Damit wirkt der innere Zapfen 28 des Auslösehebels als fester Drehpunkt für den Kontaktbrückenträger 9, der sich unter Einfluß der Kontaktdruckfeder 47 nun im Uhrzeigersinn verkippt, wobei sich der Druckknopf 3 über eine kurze Wegstrecke in Ausschaltrichtung 22 gegenüber dem Kontaktbrückenträger 9 verschieben kann. Die Rastnase 44 des Druckknopfes 3 gerät damit nach kurzer Zeit außer Eingriff mit der Rastausnehmung 46 am Kontaktbrückenträger 9, wodurch dann letzterer schlagartig in die in Fig. 3 gezeigte Ein-Stellung verschoben wird. Der erfindungsgemäße Überstromschutzschalter gewährleistet also eine handunabhängige Momenteinschaltung.When the push button 3 (FIG. 3) is released, the parts of the spring mechanism move back in the switch-off direction 22. However, this only takes place until the journal 24 strikes in the inner angle region 43 (see FIG. 5) formed by the stop surface 41 and the counter bevel 42 and is locked there. Thus, the inner pin 28 of the release lever acts as a fixed fulcrum for the contact bridge support 9, which now tilts clockwise under the influence of the contact pressure spring 47, the push button 3 being able to move a short distance in the disconnection direction 22 relative to the contact bridge support 9. The locking lug 44 of the push button 3 thus comes out of engagement with the locking recess 46 on the contact bridge support 9 after a short time, as a result of which the latter is suddenly moved into the on position shown in FIG. 3. The overcurrent protection switch according to the invention thus ensures that the torque is switched on independently of the hand.

Die in dieser Stellung auf die Verriegelungsvorrichtung 19 wirkenden Kräfte sind anhand der Fig. 3 und 5 erläuterbar. Die Kontaktdruckfeder 47 stellt nicht nur den Kontaktdruck selbst, sondern auch die den Kontaktbrückenträger 9 von den Festkontakten 15 wegreißende Ausschaltkraft in Ausschaltrichtung 22 zur Verfügung. Diese Ausschaltkraft A wird über den Führungsarm 10 auf den Auslösehebel 20 übertragen und beaufschlagt diesen in Ausschaltrichtung 22. Durch die Anlage des Achszapfens 24 am Innenwinkelbereich 43 wird die Ausschaltkraft A nach Art eines Kräfteparallelogramms in zwei Teilkomponenten F1, F2 zerlegt. Durch die Anordnung der Gegenschräge 42 und der Anschlagfläche 41 in einem Winkel von ca. 80° gem. Fig. 5 zueinander wird die auf die Anschlagfläche 41 wirkende Teilkomponente F2 reduziert. Verstärkt wird dieser Effekt durch die Maßnahme, daß der Winkel 49 von ca. 64° zwischen Gegenschräge 42 und Ausschaltrichtung 22 wesentlich größer ist als der Winkel 50 von ca. 15° zwischen der Anschlagfläche 41 und dieser Richtung 22. Durch die Herabsetzung der Teilkomponente F2 reduzieren sich die Reibungskräfte zwischen dem Achszapfen 24 und dem Riegelhebel 21, womit geringere Entriegelungskräfte E vom Auslöseorgan aufgebracht werden müssen. In dem Ausführungsbeispiel gemäß Fig. 3 bedeutet dies, daß das Bimetall 39 eine geringere Auslösekraft zur Verfügung stellen muß. Die thermische Auslösung des Sprungwerkes 1 erfolgt auf einfache Weise, indem das Bimetall 39 durch eine temperaturbedingte Verbiegung (nicht gezeigt) den Anschlagvorsprung 57 am Betätigungsarm 37 beaufschlagt und den Riegelhebel 21 entgegen dem Uhrzeigersinn in Fig. 3 um Drehlager 34 verschwenkt, wodurch sich die Anschlagfläche 41 aus ihrer Überdeckung mit der Gehäusenut 25 herausbewegt. Der Achszapfen 24 kann damit am Riegelhebel 21 vorbeigleiten, wodurch der Auslösehebel 20 und damit der Kontaktbrückenträger 9 freigegeben und unter Einfluß der Kontaktdruckfeder 47 in die in Fig. 4 gezeigte Ausschaltstellung verbracht wird.The forces acting on the locking device 19 in this position can be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5. The contact pressure spring 47 provides not only the contact pressure itself, but also the breaking force tearing the contact bridge carrier 9 away from the fixed contacts 15 in the breaking direction 22. This switch-off force A is transmitted via the guide arm 10 to the release lever 20 and acts on it in the switch-off direction 22. By the bearing of the journal 24 on the inner angle region 43, the switch-off force A is broken down into two subcomponents F1, F2 in the manner of a force parallelogram. By arranging the counter bevels 42 and the stop surface 41 at an angle of about 80 ° acc. 5 to one another, the subcomponent F2 acting on the stop surface 41 is reduced. This effect is intensified by the measure that the angle 49 of approximately 64 ° between counter slope 42 and switch-off direction 22 is substantially larger than the angle 50 of approximately 15 ° between the stop surface 41 and this direction 22. By reducing the component F2 reduce the frictional forces between the journal 24 and the locking lever 21, which means less Unlocking forces E must be applied by the release member. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3, this means that the bimetal 39 must provide a lower triggering force. The thermal triggering of the spring mechanism 1 takes place in a simple manner in that the bimetal 39 acts on the stop projection 57 on the actuating arm 37 by a temperature-related bending (not shown) and pivots the locking lever 21 counterclockwise in FIG. 3 about the pivot bearing 34, as a result of which the stop surface 41 moved out of their overlap with the housing groove 25. The journal 24 can thus slide past the locking lever 21, whereby the release lever 20 and thus the contact bridge support 9 are released and moved under the influence of the contact pressure spring 47 into the switch-off position shown in FIG. 4.

Wie aus den Fig. 3 und 4 deutlich wird, kann dabei der Druckknopf 3 in seiner Einschaltstellung festgehalten werden, trotzdem wird die Auslösebewegung des Kontaktbrückenträgers nicht beeinflußt (Freiauslösung). Die Rastausnehmung 46 kann nämlich nicht mehr mit der Rastnase 44 des Druckknopfes in Eingriff gelangen, wodurch die Ausschaltbewegung verhindert werden könnte.As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, the push button 3 can be held in its switched-on position, but the triggering movement of the contact bridge carrier is not influenced (free release). The locking recess 46 can namely no longer come into engagement with the locking lug 44 of the push button, as a result of which the switch-off movement could be prevented.

Anhand der Fig. 3 wird die Handausschaltung über den Druckknopf 3 erläutert. Der Auslösehebel 20 liegt unter Einfluß der Schraubenzugfeder 31 mit seinem Zapfen 28 an der der Verriegelungsvorrichtung 19 zugewandten Seitenkante 51 des Druckknopfes 3 an. An diese Seitenkante 51 ist in entsprechender Position eine Auflaufschräge 52 angeformt, die mit der Seitenkante 51 einen stumpfen Winkel bildet. Die in Fig. 3 gezeigte, definierte Ein-Stellung des Druckknopfes 3 wird durch die Einlage des Achszapfens 24 des Auslösehebels 20 in dem Winkelbereich zwischen der Seitenkante 51 und der Auflagschräge 52 aufrechterhalten. Das von der Schraubenzugfeder 31 aufgebrachte, quer zur Betätigungsrichtung 2 auf den Auslösehebel 20 ausgeübte Drehmoment ist nämlich größer als das durch die Ausschaltfeder 7 über die Auflagschräge 52 auf den Auslösehebel 20 übertragene Gegendrehmoment. Wirkt jedoch in Ausschaltrichtung 22 eine zusätzliche Zugkraft auf den Druckknopf 3 - beispielsweise durch die Ausschaltbetätigung des Druckknopfes 3 -, so wird der Druckknopf 3 nach oben verschoben und über die Auflagschräge 52 eine Drehung des Auslösehebels 20 entgegen dem Uhrzeigersinn hervorgerufen. Dieser gerät mit seinem seitlichen Anschlagvorsprung 53 in Anlage an den ihm zugewandten Anschlagvorsprung 54 des Betätigungsarmes 37 des Verriegelungshebels 21, wodurch letzterer mit zunehmendem Herausziehen des Druckknopfes 3 in seine Entriegelungsstellung überführt wird. Damit wird der Auslösehebel 20 und wiederum der Kontaktbrückenträger 9 in Ausschaltrichtung 22 freigegeben, wodurch der Schaltkontakt unter Einfluß der Kontaktdruckfeder 47 schlagartig geöffnet wird. Auch die Ausschaltbewegung des Sprungwerkes 1 ist also eine handunabhängige Momentausschaltung, wodurch verschleißfördernde Lichtbögen oder Kontaktverschweißungen vermieden werden.The manual switch-off via the push button 3 is explained with reference to FIG. 3. The trigger lever 20 is under the influence of the tension spring 31 with its pin 28 on the locking device 19 facing side edge 51 of the push button 3. In this position, a run-up slope 52 is formed on this side edge 51, which forms an obtuse angle with the side edge 51. The defined on-position of the push button 3 shown in FIG. 3 is achieved by inserting the axle pin 24 of the release lever 20 in the angular range between the side edge 51 and the support slope 52 maintained. The torque applied by the tension coil spring 31 and exerted transversely to the actuating direction 2 on the release lever 20 is namely greater than the counter torque transmitted to the release lever 20 by the switch-off spring 7 via the bevel 52. If, however, an additional tensile force acts on the push button 3 in the switch-off direction 22 - for example, by actuating the push button 3 when it is switched off - the push button 3 is shifted upwards and the support lever 52 causes the trigger lever 20 to rotate counterclockwise. This comes with its side stop projection 53 in contact with the stop projection 54 of the actuating arm 37 of the locking lever 21 facing it, as a result of which the latter is moved into its unlocked position as the push button 3 is increasingly pulled out. The release lever 20 and in turn the contact bridge support 9 are thus released in the switch-off direction 22, as a result of which the switch contact is suddenly opened under the influence of the contact pressure spring 47. The switch-off movement of the spring mechanism 1 is therefore also a manual switch-off of the moment, whereby wear-promoting arcs or contact welding are avoided.

Durch Loslassen des Druckknopfes 3 aus der in Fig. 4 gezeigten Stellung wird dieser durch die Ausschaltfeder 7 in Ausschaltrichtung 22 verschoben, wodurch seine Rastnase 44 wieder oberhalb der Rastausnehmung 46 zu liegen kommt (Fig. 1). Der Schutzschalter ist zum neuerlichen Schließen bereit.By releasing the push button 3 from the position shown in FIG. 4, the latter is displaced by the switch-off spring 7 in the switch-off direction 22, as a result of which its catch 44 comes to rest above the catch recess 46 (FIG. 1). The circuit breaker is ready to be closed again.

BezugszeichenlisteReference symbol list

11
SprungwerkSpring work
22nd
BetätigungsrichtungDirection of actuation
33rd
DruckknopfPush button
44th
SchiebekörperSliding body
55
GriffendeHandle end
66
InnenendeInside end
77
AusschaltfederOpening spring
88th
Anschlagattack
99
KontaktbrückenträgerContact bridge support
1010th
FührungsarmGuide arm
1111
TrägerarmSupport arm
1212
Freiende (Trägerarm)Free end (support arm)
1313
KontaktbrückeContact bridge
1414
Nietrivet
1515
FestkontaktFixed contact
16,16ʹ16.16ʹ
AnschlußfahneConnection lug
1717th
LagerzapfenBearing journal
1818th
FührungsnutGuide groove
1919th
VerriegelungsvorrichtungLocking device
2020th
AuslösehebelRelease lever
2121
RiegelhebelLatch lever
2222
AusschaltrichtungSwitch-off direction
2323
LagerendeEnd of storage
2424th
AchszapfenAxle journal
2525th
GehäusenutHousing groove
2626
GelenkendeJoint end
2727th
Freiende (Führungsarm)Free end (guide arm)
2828
ZapfenCones
2929
ZapfenCones
3030th
AufnahmeöffnungReceiving opening
3131
SchraubenzugfederCoil spring
3232
SchrägversatzSkew
3333
RiegelarmLatch arm
3434
DrehlagerPivot bearing
3535
SchraubendruckfederHelical compression spring
3636
BeaufschlagungsarmLow exposure
3737
BetätigungsarmOperating arm
3838
BewegungsendeEnd of movement
3939
BimetallBimetal
4040
Freiende (Riegelarm)Free end (latch arm)
4141
AnschlagflächeAbutment surface
4242
GegenschrägeCounter-slopes
4343
InnenwinkelbereichInterior angular range
4444
RastnaseLatch
4545
Rückseiteback
4646
RastausnehmungNotch
4747
KontaktdruckfederContact pressure spring
4848
Anschlagattack
4949
Winkelangle
5050
Winkelangle
5151
SeitenkanteSide edge
5252
AuflaufschrägeRamp
5353
AnschlagvorsprungStop projection
5454
AnschlagvorsprungStop projection
5555
Stiftpen
5656
Anschlagattack
5757
AnschlagvorsprungStop projection
AA
AusschaltkraftBreaking force
F₁F₁
TeilkomponenteSubcomponent
F₂F₂
TeilkomponenteSubcomponent
EE
EntriegelungskraftUnlocking force
VV
VerriegelungskraftLocking force

Claims (15)

  1. Overcurrent protective circuit breaker with
    - an actuating means (push-button 3)
    - a movable contact stud (bridging contact 13) forming a contact break distance together with at least one fixed contact (15),
    - with a lockable snap action mechanism (1) for the kinematic switching control of the movable contact stud (bridging contact 13) and
    - a thermal (bimetallic element 39) and/or electromagnetic tripping element, the snap action mechanism (1) having a locking device (19) which comprises
    - a locking lever (21) tiltable into a locking position which can be tilted into its unlocking position by the thermal (bimetallic element 39) and/or electromagnetic tripping element or by means of the actuating means (push-button 3) of the circuit breaker against an elastic restoring force, and
    - a tripping slide (tripping lever 20) articulated to the movable contact stud (bridging contact 13), loaded in the cut-out direction (2) which
    - during the movement of switching the snap action mechanism (1) on or off, can be moved along by the movable contact stud (bridging contact 13) along a travel path (casing slot 25) and
    - which is blocked against motion by the bearing of its end pointing in the cut-out direction (22) on a bearing surface (41) of the end (free end 40) of the locking lever (21), which end projects in the locking position into the travel path (casing slot 25) in such a way that the movable contact stud (bridging contact 13) is fixed in the on position,


       characterised in that

    the tripping slide (tripping lever 20) is additionally supported in the travel path (casing slot 25) on a counter slanting surface (42) fixed to the casing, the bearing surface (41) and the counter slanting surface (42) forming an internal angular zone (43) which is essentially wedge shaped and opens against the cut-out direction (22) of the tripping slide (tripping lever 20).
  2. Overcurrent protective circuit breaker according to claim 1,

    characterised in that

    the counter slanting surface (42) fixed to the casing, of the locking device (19) forms a larger angle (49) with the cut-out direction (22) than the bearing surface (41) of the locking lever (21) (Figure 5).
  3. Overcurrent protective circuit breaker according to claim 1 or 2,

    characterised in that

    in the locking position the counter slanting surface (42) and the bearing surface (41) form an internal angular zone of approximately 90° (Figure 5).
  4. Overcurrent protective circuit breaker according to one of the above mentioned claims,
    characterised in that
    the supporting end (bearing end 23) of the tripping slide (20) is formed by a pivot pin (24) arranged transversely to the cut-out direction (22), which is guided in an oblong hole type casing slot (25) forming the travel path.
  5. Overcurrent protective circuit breaker according to one of the above mentioned claims,

    characterised in that

    the casing slot (25) of the locking device (19) has in the overlap zone with the end of the locking lever (free end (40) a slanting offset (32) pointing away therefrom, whose lateral offset wall on the opposite side to the locking lever (21) forms the counter slanting surface (42) which is integral with the casing.
  6. Overcurrent protective circuit breaker according to one of the above mentioned claims,

    characterised in that

    the bearing surface (41) of the locking lever (21) is formed as a convex cylindrical segment surface whose radius essentially corresponds to the distance of bearing surface (42) from the pivot bearing point (34) of the locking lever (21).
  7. Overcurrent protective circuit breaker actuated by a push button, according to one of the above mentioned claims, with instantaneous switching on and off, a thermal and/or electromagnetic, as well as trip-free actuation, with a bridging contact support (9) formed as a two-armed bent lever capable of swivelling and of displacement in the switching plane,
    - which has a guide arm (10) arranged essentially at right angles to the actuating direction (2) of the push-button (3), which is spring-loaded against this direction and
    - a support arm (11) arranged essentially parallel to the actuation direction (2) of the push-button (3) at the side thereof which
    - carries at its free end (12) the bridging contact (13) as a movable contact stud for a contact connection between two fixed contacts (15) arranged transversely to the switching plane, aligned with each other and
    - which is latchable with the inner end (6) of the push-button (3) for transmitting its switching on movement to the bridging contact support (9),


    characterised in that

    the guide arm (10) of the bridging contact carrier (9) is led past the push-button (3) inside the casing and that its free end (27) is articulated to the tripping slide (tripping lever 20) of the locking device (19), which is displaceable in the travel path (casing slot 25) extending in the actuation direction (2) of the push-button (3).
  8. Overcurrent protective circuit breaker according to Claim 7,
    characterised in that

    the tripping slide is a one arm tripping lever (20) arranged essentially parallel to the casing slot (29) whose swivel pin is a pivot pin (24) displaceable in the longitudinal direction in the casing slot (25) which acts as the travel path.
  9. Overcurrent protective circuit breaker according to Claim 8,
    characterised in that

    the articulated connection between the guide arm (10) and the tripping lever (20) is formed by the engagement of the free end (27) of the guide arm in a receiving opening (30), extending at right angles to the actuation direction (2), at the articulated end (26) of the tripping lever (20) on the opposite side to the pivot pin (24).
  10. Overcurrent protective circuit breaker according to Claim 9,

    characterised in that

    the locking lever (21) of the locking device (19) has an actuating arm (37) extending approximately parallel next to the tripping lever (20) in its swivelling range, by means of which arm the locking lever (21) can in the locking position be brought by the tripping lever (20) into the unlocking position by swivelling it round the pivot pin (24).
  11. Overcurrent protective circuit breaker according to one of Claims 7 to 10,

    characterised in that

    in its locking position, the tripping lever (20) can be swivelled around its pivot pin (24) by subjecting the push-button (3) to a switching off action in the unlocking direction.
  12. Overcurrent protective circuit breaker according to one of Claims 7 to 11,

    characterised in that

    the receiving opening (30) of the tripping lever (20) is formed by two pins (28, 29) arranged approximately at right angles to the switching plane which encompass the free end (27) of the guide arm (10) with some play.
  13. Overcurrent protective circuit breaker according to Claim 12,

    characterised in that

    the inner of the two pins (28) facing the pivot pin (24) is loaded by a tension spring (helical tension spring 31) fastened to the guide arm (10) of the bridging contact support (9), approximately at right angles to the actuation direction (2) of the push-button (3), in such a way that it thereby constantly bears on the side edge (51) of the push-button (3) facing the locking device (19) [and] extending parallel to the actuation direction (2).
  14. Overcurrent protective circuit breaker according to Claim 13,
    characterised in that

    a slanting leading surface (52) is formed on the side edge (51), facing the locking device (19), of the push-button (3) which forms with the actuation direction (2) thereof an obtuse angle by means of which slanting surface, the tripping lever (20) and the locking lever (21) can be acted upon in the unlocking direction as the push-button (3) is being switched off.
  15. Overcurrent protective circuit breaker according to one of Claims 7 to 14,
    characterised in that

    the tripping lever (20) and the actuating arm (37) of the locking lever (21) respectively have lateral bearing projections (53, 54) facing each other.
EP87113455A 1986-10-02 1987-09-15 Excess current circuit breaker Expired - Lifetime EP0263331B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT87113455T ATE68909T1 (en) 1986-10-02 1987-09-15 OVERCURRENT PROTECTION SWITCH.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE8626325U 1986-10-02
DE8626325U DE8626325U1 (en) 1986-10-02 1986-10-02 Overcurrent protection switch

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0263331A1 EP0263331A1 (en) 1988-04-13
EP0263331B1 true EP0263331B1 (en) 1991-10-23

Family

ID=6798855

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87113455A Expired - Lifetime EP0263331B1 (en) 1986-10-02 1987-09-15 Excess current circuit breaker

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US4814738A (en)
EP (1) EP0263331B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS6391923A (en)
AT (1) ATE68909T1 (en)
DE (2) DE8626325U1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4424332A1 (en) * 1994-07-11 1996-01-18 Kopp Heinrich Ag Line protection switch

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5710399A (en) * 1996-05-01 1998-01-20 General Electric Company Electronic trip unit conversion kit for high ampere-rated circuit breakers
DE19856707A1 (en) * 1998-12-09 2000-06-21 Ellenberger & Poensgen Circuit breaker for protecting circuits
US6483416B2 (en) * 2001-02-22 2002-11-19 Tsung-Mou Yu Overload protection device of a press type switch
CN100452597C (en) * 2004-02-19 2009-01-14 香港生产力促进局 Earth fault leakage protector

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR753274A (en) * 1932-03-30 1933-10-12 Stotz Kontakt Gmbh Automatic switch or installation maximum circuit breaker, with push-button control
FR2067954A5 (en) * 1969-11-20 1971-08-20 Crouzet & Cie
DE2123765B1 (en) * 1971-05-13 1972-05-31 Ellenberger & Poensgen DR] CKKNOPFBET [TIGTER] CURRENT SWITCH
FR2258698B1 (en) * 1974-01-22 1976-10-08 Unelec
DE2511223C2 (en) * 1975-01-23 1978-02-09 Ellenberger & Poensgen Gmbh, 8503 Altdorf Push-button operated overcurrent switch with thermal release
DE2502579C2 (en) 1975-01-23 1977-02-17 Ellenberger & Poensgen PUSH BUTTON ACTUATED OVERCURRENT SWITCH WITH THERMAL RELEASE

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4424332A1 (en) * 1994-07-11 1996-01-18 Kopp Heinrich Ag Line protection switch
DE4424332B4 (en) * 1994-07-11 2005-10-20 Kopp Heinrich Ag Circuit breaker

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3774064D1 (en) 1991-11-28
JPS6391923A (en) 1988-04-22
JPH056784B2 (en) 1993-01-27
DE8626325U1 (en) 1987-01-02
US4814738A (en) 1989-03-21
ATE68909T1 (en) 1991-11-15
EP0263331A1 (en) 1988-04-13

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
DE2721162C2 (en) Overcurrent protection switch with on and off rocker switch
EP1405325A1 (en) Switching device comprising a breaker mechanism
EP0263331B1 (en) Excess current circuit breaker
EP0391086B1 (en) Push button operated overload circuit breaker
DE3516217C2 (en)
DE69014741T2 (en) Electric switch actuation mechanism.
DE4222965C1 (en) Contact system for electrical power switching of load and safety devices - has movable contacts on carriers with spring elements to provide snap action operating forces
EP3146555A1 (en) Shifting device
DE3037355A1 (en) CIRCUIT BREAKER COMPACT DESIGN WITH A RELEASE PIN
EP0380012B1 (en) Contact system for a current limiting circuit breaker
EP1284494B1 (en) Latch mechanism for a circuit breaker, particularly for a protective switch for a motor
DE3428637C1 (en) Single or multi-pole overcurrent protection switch with integrated signal contact point
DE102006044055B4 (en) Electrical switching device with at least one contact point
DE10133879A1 (en) Switchgear with a key switch
EP0127784B1 (en) Overcurrent circuit breaker
DE2705330C2 (en) Electrical switch, in particular motor protection switch
EP0302249B1 (en) Push button controlled overload circuit breaker
DE19507605C1 (en) Snap-action latching mechanism for electrical switch
EP0202546A2 (en) Switching mechanism for a protective power circuit breaker
EP0399419A2 (en) Electric snap-action switch particularly micro switch
DE4211915C2 (en) Test button arrangement for a residual current or residual current circuit breaker
DE8904064U1 (en) Push-button operated overcurrent protection switch
DE3808012C2 (en)
EP0043406B1 (en) Protective switch element to be added to an on/off switch apparatus built as a rotary switch
EP0851449B1 (en) Switchgear for an electric installation

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19880505

ITCL It: translation for ep claims filed

Representative=s name: RICCARDI SERGIO & CO.

EL Fr: translation of claims filed
GBC Gb: translation of claims filed (gb section 78(7)/1977)
TCNL Nl: translation of patent claims filed
17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19910325

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 68909

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 19911115

Kind code of ref document: T

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3774064

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19911128

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed
ET Fr: translation filed
GBT Gb: translation of ep patent filed (gb section 77(6)(a)/1977)
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
EPTA Lu: last paid annual fee
EAL Se: european patent in force in sweden

Ref document number: 87113455.7

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 19980922

Year of fee payment: 12

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 19980922

Year of fee payment: 12

Ref country code: AT

Payment date: 19980922

Year of fee payment: 12

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Payment date: 19980923

Year of fee payment: 12

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 19980929

Year of fee payment: 12

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 19980930

Year of fee payment: 12

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19990915

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19990915

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: THE PATENT HAS BEEN ANNULLED BY A DECISION OF A NATIONAL AUTHORITY

Effective date: 19990929

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19990930

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19990930

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19990930

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: ELLENBERGER & POENSGEN G.M.B.H.

Effective date: 19990930

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20000401

EUG Se: european patent has lapsed

Ref document number: 87113455.7

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee

Effective date: 20000401

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.

Effective date: 20050915

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20060922

Year of fee payment: 20

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20060922

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20060928

Year of fee payment: 20

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: PE20

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION

Effective date: 20070914