EP0338250B1 - Multiphase circuit breaker - Google Patents

Abstract

There is a circuit breaker, which is assembled from a plurality of individual circuit breakers 22 in a shell method of construction 35, 36, which, in the event of an overload on only one individual circuit breaker 22, isolates all terminals by coupling the individual circuit breakers and in which each individual circuit breaker 22 is constructed completely in its shells 35, 36, including the overload release element and the switching mechanism. In this case, it is desired to complete the circuit breaker in a simple manner to form a motor circuit breaker with current-range setting. This is achieved in that a motor circuit breaker current-range setting device is provided which has an operating device 26 and a current scale 30 allocated thereto, and in that this one adjusting device engages with an adjusting element 19 into each individual circuit breaker 22. A single current-range setting device is provided which is modified in such a manner that it acts simultaneously on each individual circuit breaker. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a multi-phase circuit breaker, which is composed of several individual switches in a shell design, which isolates all poles in the event of overload on only one individual switch by coupling the individual switches, and in which each individual switch is completely formed in its shells, including overload release element and switching mechanism, according to the preamble of claim 1.

A circuit breaker of this type known from CH-A-604 363 is composed of individual switches, such as those e.g. are known from DE-A-33 39 398. The known circuit breaker is a circuit breaker in which the individual switches are designed for certain overload currents. It is known per se (DE-A-35 45 930) to use assemblies for circuit breakers also for the construction of motor circuit breakers. In contrast to the line circuit breaker, the motor protection switch has a current range setting device which comprises an actuating member and a current scale assigned to it. In the known motor protection switch, only a single switching mechanism is provided. The production of this motor protection switch is expensive compared to the production of the known circuit breaker of the type mentioned.

A circuit breaker is also known (GB-A-2 062 966), in which a motor circuit breaker current range setting device is provided which has an actuating member and a current scale associated therewith, and in which the adjusting elements for each individual switch between the overload Tripping element and the switching mechanism are arranged and are a wedge structure transverse to the working direction of the overload tripping element. The adjustment elements are functionally connected to a common axis, because this is the only way to trigger the individual switches together.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a circuit breaker of the type mentioned, which is completed in a simplified manner to a motor circuit breaker with current range setting. The circuit breaker according to the invention, solving this problem, has the characterizing features of patent claim 1.

For the motor protection switch according to the invention, the individual switches known per se are used, which are manufactured in large numbers and therefore inexpensively. Although only one rear derailleur is required per se, single switches with one rear derailleur each are used for reasons of profitable production. However, not every individual switch is assigned its own current range setting device. Rather, a single current range setting device is provided, which is modified in such a way that it acts on each individual switch at the same time. A simplified current range setting device, which forms a functional unit, is added to the multiphase circuit breaker of the type mentioned at the outset. The same components - coil block, bimetallic device, arcing chamber and switchgear - are used for a circuit breaker and a motor protection switch.

Since the adjusting element is arranged between the overload release element and the switching mechanism in each individual switch, the movement path of the overload trigger element that the trigger element has to travel in order to actuate the assigned switching mechanism is changed by adjusting the adjusting element. The adjustable wedge structure is simple to manufacture and requires little space. By shifting the wedge structure transversely to the working direction of the overload release element, the distance between it and the release element of the switching mechanism is changed.

The intermediate guide piece is arranged parallel to the row of overload release elements and parallel to the row of switching mechanisms in the individual switches arranged next to one another and thus displaceably transversely to the working direction of the overload triggering elements and switching mechanisms.

Since the adjusting elements of the individual switches are mounted such that they can move relative to one another, each adjusting element can adjust itself to its individual switch. This is important because, due to manufacturing tolerances, shape and post-shrinkage of pressed parts, it is at most possible in practice to connect the individual switches with one another without play. In the case of a rigid overall adjusting element, the distance between the overload trigger element and the trigger element of the switching mechanism would change in an uncontrolled manner if the individual switches were displaced relative to one another parallel to the working direction of the overload trigger elements.

Since the wedge-shaped adjustment members are pivotally suspended on the intermediate guide piece in the working direction of the overload release element, a shift of the individual switches to one another, which also causes a change in the position of the intermediate guide piece, does not have the effect that the distance between the overload release element and the Trigger element of the rear derailleur is changed.

The actuator is usually stored in the shell of one of the individual switches. It is particularly expedient and advantageous if the actuating member is mounted in a wall piece which is subsequently inserted into the shells of at least one individual switch. This simplifies the assembly of the circuit breaker. The actuating element is preassembled on the wall piece and the intermediate guide piece can be installed via the opening of the shell to be closed by the wall piece.

As a rule, each individual switch can be operated manually. Overload means both an overcurrent and a short-circuit current. The motor protection switch is mainly used to protect a three-phase motor. The actuator is e.g. a pin guided in a groove or an eccentric. The invention is not restricted to a specific embodiment of the overload individual switch in a shell construction.

Fig. 1

eine Draufsicht auf einen Teil eines mehrphasigen Schutzschalters,

Fig. 2

einen Schnitt gemäß Linie II-II in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht gemäß Fig. 1 nach Wegnahme eines Wandungsstückes,

Fig. 4

einen Schnitt gemäß Linie IV-IV in Fig. 1,

Fig. 5

eine Ansicht gemäß Linie V-V in Fig. 3,

Fig. 6

eine Stirnseitenansicht der Darstellung in Fig. 5,

Fig. 7

einen Schnitt gemäß Linie VII-VII in Fig. 5 und

Fig. 8

eine Seitenansicht eines Wandungsstückes des Schutzschalters gemäß Fig. 1.

In the drawing, a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and shows

Fig. 1

a plan view of part of a multi-phase circuit breaker,

Fig. 2

2 shows a section along line II-II in FIG. 1,

Fig. 3

1 after removal of a wall piece,

Fig. 4

2 shows a section along line IV-IV in FIG. 1,

Fig. 5

3 shows a view along line VV in FIG. 3,

Fig. 6

5 shows an end view of the representation in FIG. 5,

Fig. 7

a section along line VII-VII in Fig. 5 and

Fig. 8

2 shows a side view of a wall piece of the circuit breaker according to FIG. 1.

2, there is a coil block 2 or electromagnetic release, which carries a fixed contact piece 3, in a housing 1. Below the coil block 2 there is a quenching chamber 4 and then an arc guide plate 5, which carries on its side facing away from the quenching chamber a bimetal or overload release element 6, which is adjusted by means of a screw device 7 mounted in the housing 1. A connector 8 is connected via a heating winding 9 and / or a flexible connection to the overload release element 6. A connecting line 10 closes the circuit via a movable contact piece 11, the fixed contact piece 3 and a coil winding 12 to a connecting piece 13. The movable contact piece 11 carries a switching mechanism 14, which consists of a locking lever 15 and a pawl 16. The pawl 16 is connected by means of a bracket 17 to a switching element 18, whereby a link chain is formed which closes or opens the circuit when the switching element is actuated manually.

The adjusting device is shown in more detail in FIG. 4. An intermediate guide piece 21 or adjusting slide carries, rotatably suspended in a bearing, 23 adjusting members 19, which on their sides facing the triggering elements 6 have a rising surface 24, viewed parallel to the triggering elements, viewed from the direction of the cover to the release elements, that is to say they have a wedge shape. The intermediate guide piece 21 is driven by an actuator 25 designed as an adjusting eccentric, which is rotatably mounted in a wall piece 20 and has an eccentric pin 26, and can be displaced transversely to the working direction of the triggering elements 6. The intermediate guide piece 21 moves without play in a recess in the housing 1, which is achieved according to FIG. 3 by the suspension of tongues 27 located on the intermediate guide piece. The at the free end of the tongues 27 and opposite cams 28 are arranged so that they only ever move in a recess of a housing part, so do not have to overcome a separation point. The adjusters 19 are suspended on arms 29 of the intermediate guide piece 21 such that two arms 29 of the intermediate guide piece 21 each encompass the adjusting members 19 in the displacement device without play.

The positioning of the adjusting members 19 in the arms 29 of the intermediate guide piece 21 can be done in a variety of ways. The adjusting members can also each comprise a fork of the intermediate guide piece in the form of a fork. The intermediate guide piece can also be actuated via a pin. In this case, the wall piece 20 would have a linear scale, instead of an arcuate scale 30 shown in FIG. 1. The wall piece 20 has a resilient latching tongue 31 according to FIG. 8. 3) and at the same time, the wall piece and thus the entire adjusting device is fixed at a defined point in the direction of displacement by means of a thickened part 34. In contrast, two tongues 33 are rigid and reach behind on the outer parts of the housing only by pushing the complete individual switches together during final assembly.

The housing of the circuit breaker is composed of three self-contained individual housings 22 and held together in a manner known per se. Each individual housing 22 is composed of two different shells 35 and 36. The switching mechanisms in the adjacent individual housings 22 are coupled to one another in a manner not shown in detail, but in a manner known per se, so that when a switching mechanism is triggered, the neighboring switching mechanism is also triggered. The wall piece 20 extends to all individual housings 22, which facilitates the insertion of the intermediate guide piece 21. This is provided with an elongated hole 37 in which the pin 26 engages.

Claims (2)

1. A multi-phase protective circuit breaker, which is composed of a plurality of individual switches of shell-type construction with individual housings (22), which disconnects all poles in the event of overload on only one individual switch by coupling the individual switches, the individual switches in the adjacent individual housings (22) being coupled in such a manner that when one switching mechanism (14) is triggered, the adjacent switching mechanism is also triggered, and wherein each individual switch is of integrated construction within its shells (35, 36), including overload triggering element (6) and switching mechanism (14), characterised in that a current-range adjusting device for a motor protective circuit breaker is provided and comprises an actuating member (25) and a current scale (30) associated therewith, in that adjusting members (19) are arranged between the overload triggering element (6) and the switching mechanism (14) in each individual switch and are of wedge-shaped construction transversely to the working direction of the overload triggering element (6), and in that the wedge-shaped adjusting members (19) are pivotably mounted on an intermediate guide piece (21) so as to be movable relative to each other in the working direction of the overload triggering element (6), and the intermediate guide piece is mounted in the three individual shell housings (22) so as to be displaceable transversely to the working direction of the overload triggering element (6).
2. A protective circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterised in that the actuating member (25) is mounted in a wall portion (20) which is subsequently inserted into the shells (24, 36) of at least one individual switch.

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