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EP0486389B1 - Protective switch - Google Patents

Protective switch Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0486389B1
EP0486389B1 EP91403049A EP91403049A EP0486389B1 EP 0486389 B1 EP0486389 B1 EP 0486389B1 EP 91403049 A EP91403049 A EP 91403049A EP 91403049 A EP91403049 A EP 91403049A EP 0486389 B1 EP0486389 B1 EP 0486389B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
contact
bridge
slide member
window
contacts
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
EP91403049A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0486389A1 (en
Inventor
Christian Blanchard
Michel Lauraire
Didier Vigouroux
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.)
Schneider Electric SE
Original Assignee
Schneider Electric SE
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 Schneider Electric SE filed Critical Schneider Electric SE
Publication of EP0486389A1 publication Critical patent/EP0486389A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0486389B1 publication Critical patent/EP0486389B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
    • H01H71/12—Automatic release mechanisms with or without manual release
    • H01H71/24—Electromagnetic mechanisms
    • H01H71/2409—Electromagnetic mechanisms combined with an electromagnetic current limiting mechanism
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H89/00—Combinations of two or more different basic types of electric switches, relays, selectors and emergency protective devices, not covered by any single one of the other main groups of this subclass
    • H01H89/06—Combination of a manual reset circuit with a contactor, i.e. the same circuit controlled by both a protective and a remote control device
    • H01H89/08—Combination of a manual reset circuit with a contactor, i.e. the same circuit controlled by both a protective and a remote control device with both devices using the same contact pair
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
    • H01H1/14—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting
    • H01H1/20—Bridging contacts
    • 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
    • H01H73/02—Details
    • H01H73/04—Contacts
    • H01H73/045—Bridging contacts

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a protective switch device, of the circuit breaker or contactor-breaker type according to the preamble of claim 1, comprising at least one pole with separable contacts with double break provided with a movable contact bridge, a movable support for the bridges contact housing these and a contact pressure spring associated with each bridge.
  • the control of the movement of the support is likely to cause the movement of the bridges; the bridges can move relative to the support to allow the contacts to be pressurized by means of the springs.
  • a magnetic and / or thermal tripping mechanism is capable of acting via a control part to cause the omnipolar opening of the contacts, for example by means of sliders.
  • mobile mounted in the support when the device is a contactor-circuit breaker, a voluntary opening or closing order of electrical or manual origin is likely to be exerted via another control part to cause the omnipolar opening of the contacts, for example by means of the aforementioned slides or a cage surrounding the support.
  • the object of the invention is in particular to provide, when the contacts are opened, and in particular in the case of an electrodynamic repulsion of the contacts, excellent insulation between the two breaking points of each pole of a circuit breaker.
  • Another purpose is to arrange the support of the contact bridges of a protective switch device in a space-saving manner and to allow the designer of the device to bring the fixed contacts of the same pole together, in order to reduce the dimensions of the device and the mass of the mobile bridge.
  • each slide comprises means for securing in translation the corresponding contact bridge, and has an isolation range appearing in a window of the mobile support and forming a curtain between the two contact zones of the pole in the case of an opening determined by the second control part and in the case of an electrodynamic repulsion of the contact bridge.
  • an insulating area of the slide can thus be interposed between the fixed contacts of the pole and maintain between them a satisfactory isolation distance.
  • each slide is an independent part, in particular a light and insulating part carrying the respective contact bridge.
  • each contact bridge is mounted in the respective slide with a faculty of angular movement; the contact pressure spring is housed in a slider window away from the cutting zone.
  • the circuit breaker illustrated in FIG. 1 is a contactor-circuit breaker comprising, in a housing 10, several mechanical poles, each of which comprises a movable contact bridge 11. Each bridge cooperates by respective contact pads with two fixed contacts 12, 13 connected to terminals 14, 15 to establish or interrupt the passage of a power current between these terminals.
  • a magnetic and thermal tripping assembly 16 is disposed on each current path in the housing.
  • the assembly 16 detects an overcurrent on the current path, it acts by means of a mechanism 17 provided with a pusher or a lever 18 on a structure 30 for supporting and moving the contact bridges.
  • the lever 18 is applicable, as will be seen below, on an element of this structure. All 16 comprises for example for each pole a magnetic trip and a thermal trip.
  • the electromagnet comprises a fixed magnetic circuit 21, a movable armature 22 and a coil 23 electrically connected to terminals 24 by a switch 25; the latter is controllable by the mechanism 17 and / or by a button 26 capable of acting on the mechanism to open the contacts, in order to confirm an opening caused by the lever 18.
  • the armature 22 of the electromagnet is subject to a return spring 27 and cooperates with a lever 28 which is directly coupled to the structure 30.
  • the contact-carrying structure 30 comprises an omnipolar mobile support 31, contact bridges 11 and unipolar slides 32 housed in wells or slots 33 of the support and movable in these slots.
  • the support 31 is slidably mounted against walls 34a or partitions 34b of the housing (see FIG. 7). It has in particular slots 34c into which these partitions penetrate.
  • Each contact bridge 11 is housed sliding between a high stop 35 and a low position in a window 36 of the support 31, while a contact pressure spring 37, associated with the bridge, is also housed in the window to be in support on one end of it and on the deck.
  • the lever 28, which in this example is fork-shaped, is coupled by its ends 38 in lateral notches 39 of the support to form, between the frame and the support, a connection which is not stressed by the lever 18; thus, the lever 28 lifts the support when the coil 23 is supplied and lowers it under the action of the spring 27 when the coil is not supplied, to close and open respectively all contacts. It can be seen that thus opening the contacts by the electromagnet does not require the compression of the springs 37.
  • each magnetic trigger of the assembly 16 can also cooperate with a lever, distinct from the lever 18, which strikes the respective slide after release of the mechanism 17, which provides cutting assistance for currents of fault close to the repulsion threshold.
  • Each slide 32 is constituted by a flat and light piece of insulating material having, towards its lower end, a window 40 which allows, on the one hand, the mounting of the contact bridge 12 and, on the other hand, the pressure spring contact 37 associated with the bridge.
  • the window 40 of the slider opens onto the corresponding window 36 of the support.
  • Plots 41 are provided in the support 31 at the bottom of the window 40 on either side of the slot 33 and a guide 42 is provided in the slide 32 at the bottom of the window 40.
  • the slides could have a different section.
  • the contact bridge is mounted in the window 40 so as to be substantially integral or immobilized in translation relative to the slide, but to be able to take an angular clearance relative to its nominal position, perpendicular to the median plane X of the slide which is at the same time the plane of symmetry of the support and the contact bridges.
  • solidarity or immobilization in translation it means that the slide is capable of driving the bridge, and the bridge capable of driving the slide, in the opening direction of the contacts.
  • notches 43 are provided at the top of the window 40 and cooperating projections 44 on the bridge 12. After introduction of the contact bridge in the window 40 of the slide, the projections 44 are crimped in the notches 43.
  • the electrodynamic repulsion of a contact bridge is illustrated on the right of FIG. 8.
  • the contact bridge 11 can be pushed back down, as shown, by driving the coupled slide and in compressing the spring 37. It can be seen that the isolation range 45 of the slide appears in the window 36 of the support, which ensures good insulation between the fixed contacts 12, 13 and the break areas of the pole in short circuit.
  • the contact carrier structure occupies the open position following a trip.
  • the support 31 remains in a high position which is the same as that of FIG. 8, as long as the coil of the electromagnet remains energized.
  • the lever 18 lowers and lowers the slides 32 which drive the contact bridges to the position indicated.
  • the insulating zones 45 again interpose to improve the quality of the insulation.
  • the support 31 will then be lowered by the lever 28 in response to the opening of the switch 25 which deactivates the coil of the electromagnet.
  • each contact pressure spring 37 is housed in an upper window 46 of the slide 32.
  • the window 46 is separate from the lower window 40 housing the bridge 11 and is separated from it by the isolation range 45.
  • the isolation range 45 obscures the window 36 of the support in the event of omnipolar or unipolar opening.
  • the spring 37 bears, on the one hand, on an upper face 47 of the support 31, on the other hand, on an upper end of the upper window 46; the location away from the arc zones allows it to avoid being polluted and / or deteriorated by the breaking gases.
  • Each slide 32 is advantageously guided in a suitable slide 48 of the housing of the device.
  • the slides can be in the form of forks whose branches are guided in slots or grooves provided on the outer faces of the support.
  • the contact pressure springs can be tension springs.
  • the invention has been described in relation to a contactor-circuit breaker. It is applicable to circuit breakers of other types, for example to a starter-type circuit breaker comprising two tripping mechanisms, one of which is manually controlled and the other by magnetic trip units to act respectively on the sliders and the supports; or again, to a circuit breaker in which the magnetic trip devices act directly on the slides and indirectly, that is to say by means of a lock, on the support.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Breakers (AREA)

Description

La présente invention concerne un appareil interrupteur de protection, du genre disjoncteur ou contacteur-disjoncteur selon le préambule de la revendication 1, comprenant au moins un pôle à contacts séparables à double coupure muni d'un pont de contact mobile, un support mobile des ponts de contact logeant ceux-ci et un ressort de pression de contact associé à chaque pont.The present invention relates to a protective switch device, of the circuit breaker or contactor-breaker type according to the preamble of claim 1, comprising at least one pole with separable contacts with double break provided with a movable contact bridge, a movable support for the bridges contact housing these and a contact pressure spring associated with each bridge.

Dans un tel appareil, la commande du déplacement du support est susceptible d'entraîner le déplacement des ponts ; les ponts peuvent se déplacer relativement au support pour permettre la mise en pression des contacts au moyen des ressorts. En cas de défaut électrique sur l'un au moins des pôles, un mécanisme de déclenchement magnétique et/ou thermique est susceptible d'agir via une pièce de commande pour provoquer l'ouverture omnipolaire des contacts, par exemple par l'intermédiaire de coulisseaux montés mobiles dans le support : lorsque l'appareil est un contacteur-disjoncteur, un ordre d'ouverture ou de fermeture volontaire d'origine électrique ou manuelle est susceptible de s'exercer via une autre pièce de commande pour provoquer l'ouverture omnipolaire des contacts, par exemple au moyen des coulisseaux précités ou d'une cage entourant le support.In such an apparatus, the control of the movement of the support is likely to cause the movement of the bridges; the bridges can move relative to the support to allow the contacts to be pressurized by means of the springs. In the event of an electrical fault on at least one of the poles, a magnetic and / or thermal tripping mechanism is capable of acting via a control part to cause the omnipolar opening of the contacts, for example by means of sliders. mobile mounted in the support: when the device is a contactor-circuit breaker, a voluntary opening or closing order of electrical or manual origin is likely to be exerted via another control part to cause the omnipolar opening of the contacts, for example by means of the aforementioned slides or a cage surrounding the support.

Un tel appareil est connu d'après les brevets FR-A- 2 634 590 et EP-A- 270 158. Il a pour inconvénient que, dans le cas d'une commande d'ouverture exercée à partir d'un électroaimant, celui-ci doit vaincre les efforts des ressorts de pression de contact car la pièce de commande alors active s'applique directement sur les ponts. De plus, les ensembles de commande des ponts de contact ne permettent pas de réduire autant qu'on le souhaiterait l'encombrement de l'appareil. En effet, si l'on rapproche l'un de l'autre les contacts fixes d'un même pôle, on observe un isolement insuffisant, notamment en cas d'ouverture électrodynamique de ce pôle.Such an apparatus is known from the patents FR-A-2,634,590 and EP-A-270,158. It has the disadvantage that, in the case of an opening command exerted from an electromagnet, that -this must overcome the efforts of the contact pressure springs because the control part then active is applied directly to the bridges. In addition, the contact bridge control assemblies do not make it possible to reduce the size of the apparatus as much as would be desired. In fact, if the fixed contacts of the same pole are brought closer to one another, there is insufficient insulation, in particular in the event of electrodynamic opening of this pole.

L'invention a notamment pour but de procurer à l'ouverture des contacts, et en particulier dans le cas d'une répulsion électrodynamique des contacts, un excellent isolement entre les deux points de coupure de chaque pôle d'un disjoncteur.The object of the invention is in particular to provide, when the contacts are opened, and in particular in the case of an electrodynamic repulsion of the contacts, excellent insulation between the two breaking points of each pole of a circuit breaker.

Elle a pour autre but d'agencer le support des ponts de contact d'un appareil interrupteur de protection de manière peu encombrante et de permettre au concepteur de l'appareil de rapprocher les contacts fixes d'un même pôle, afin de réduire l'encombrement de l'appareil et la masse du pont mobile.Another purpose is to arrange the support of the contact bridges of a protective switch device in a space-saving manner and to allow the designer of the device to bring the fixed contacts of the same pole together, in order to reduce the dimensions of the device and the mass of the mobile bridge.

Elle a enfin pour but de réduire les efforts requis par une commande volontaire dans un appareil contacteur-disjoncteur du type décrit.Finally, it aims to reduce the efforts required by a voluntary command in a contactor-circuit breaker of the type described.

Selon l'invention, dans un appareil disjoncteur ou contacteur-disjoncteur du type ci-dessus rappelé, chaque coulisseau comprend des moyens de solidarisation en translation du pont de contact correspondant, et présente une plage d'isolement apparaissant dans une fenêtre du support mobile et formant rideau entre les deux zones de contact du pôle dans le cas d'une ouverture déterminée par la deuxième pièce de commande et dans le cas d'une répulsion électrodynamique du pont de contact.According to the invention, in a circuit breaker or contactor-circuit breaker device of the above-mentioned type, each slide comprises means for securing in translation the corresponding contact bridge, and has an isolation range appearing in a window of the mobile support and forming a curtain between the two contact zones of the pole in the case of an opening determined by the second control part and in the case of an electrodynamic repulsion of the contact bridge.

Lorsque se produit l'ouverture d'un pôle, en particulier l'ouverture électrodynamique d'un pôle par répulsion des contacts fixes et mobiles en regard, une plage isolante du coulisseau peut ainsi s'interposer entre les contacts fixes du pôle et maintenir entre eux une distance d'isolement satisfaisante.When the opening of a pole occurs, in particular the electrodynamic opening of a pole by repulsion of the fixed and movable opposite contacts, an insulating area of the slide can thus be interposed between the fixed contacts of the pole and maintain between them a satisfactory isolation distance.

Dans un mode de réalisation préféré, chaque coulisseau est une pièce indépendante, en particulier une pièce légère et isolante portant le pont de contact respectif. De préférence, chaque pont de contact est monté dans le coulisseau respectif avec un faculté de débattement angulaire ; le ressort de pression de contact est logé dans une fenêtre du coulisseau à l'écart de la zone de coupure.In a preferred embodiment, each slide is an independent part, in particular a light and insulating part carrying the respective contact bridge. Preferably, each contact bridge is mounted in the respective slide with a faculty of angular movement; the contact pressure spring is housed in a slider window away from the cutting zone.

Un tel mode de réalisation sera décrit ci-après, à titre d'exemple, avec référence aux dessins annexés dans lesquels :

  • La figure 1 représente schématiquement en élévation un contacteur-disjoncteur conforme à l'invention ;
  • La figure 2 montre en perspective la structure porte-contacts de l'appareil de la figure 1 ;
  • La figure 3 est une vue éclatée à plus grande échelle du détail A de la structure porte-contacts de la figure 2 ;
  • La figure 4 représente une partie de cette structure en vue de dessus et en coupe selon le plan IV-IV de la figure 9 ;
  • La figure 5 est une vue de cette même partie en coupe selon V-V ;
  • La figure 6 représente en coupe la partie inférieure de la structure lors d'une ouverture sur défaut ;
  • La figure 7 montre en vue de dessus la structure de la figure 1 ;
  • Les figures 8 à 10 représentent en élévation la structure de la figure 2 dans les positions respectives, d'arrêt automatique et d'arrêt sur défaut ;
  • La figure 11 est une vue en pespective d'une variante de la structure porte-contacts selon l'invention ;
  • La figure 12 est une élévation en coupe de la structure porte-contacts de la figure 11.
Such an embodiment will be described below, by way of example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:
  • Figure 1 shows schematically in elevation a contactor-circuit breaker according to the invention;
  • Figure 2 shows in perspective the contact carrier structure of the apparatus of Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 is an exploded view on a larger scale of detail A of the contact carrier structure of Figure 2;
  • Figure 4 shows a part of this structure in top view and in section along the plane IV-IV of Figure 9;
  • Figure 5 is a view of the same part in section along VV;
  • Figure 6 shows in section the lower part of the structure when opening on fault;
  • Figure 7 shows a top view of the structure of Figure 1;
  • Figures 8 to 10 show in elevation the structure of Figure 2 in the respective positions, automatic stop and fault stop;
  • Figure 11 is a perspective view of a variant of the contact carrier structure according to the invention;
  • FIG. 12 is a sectional elevation of the contact-carrying structure of FIG. 11.

Le disjoncteur illustré sur la figure 1 est un contacteur-disjoncteur comprenant, dans un boîtier 10, plusieurs pôles mécaniques dont chacun comporte un pont de contact mobile 11. Chaque pont coopère par des pastilles de contact respectives avec deux contacts fixes 12, 13 reliés à des bornes 14, 15 pour établir ou interrompre le passage d'un courant de puissance entre ces bornes.The circuit breaker illustrated in FIG. 1 is a contactor-circuit breaker comprising, in a housing 10, several mechanical poles, each of which comprises a movable contact bridge 11. Each bridge cooperates by respective contact pads with two fixed contacts 12, 13 connected to terminals 14, 15 to establish or interrupt the passage of a power current between these terminals.

Un ensemble 16 de déclenchement magnétique et thermique est disposé sur chaque chemin de courant dans le boîtier. Lorsque l'ensemble 16 décèle une surintensité sur le chemin de courant, il agit par l'intermédiaire d'un mécanisme 17 muni d'un poussoir ou d'un levier 18 sur une structure 30 de support et de déplacement des ponts de contact. Le levier 18 est applicable, comme on le verra plus loin, sur un élément de cette structure. L'ensemble 16 comporte par exemple pour chaque pôle un déclencheur magnétique et un déclencheur thermique.A magnetic and thermal tripping assembly 16 is disposed on each current path in the housing. When the assembly 16 detects an overcurrent on the current path, it acts by means of a mechanism 17 provided with a pusher or a lever 18 on a structure 30 for supporting and moving the contact bridges. The lever 18 is applicable, as will be seen below, on an element of this structure. All 16 comprises for example for each pole a magnetic trip and a thermal trip.

D'autre part, un électroaimant 20 logé dans le boîtier 10, ou dans un boîtier auxiliaire rapporté au boîtier 10, agit sur un autre élément de la structure 30. L'électroaimant comprend un circuit magnétique fixe 21, une armature mobile 22 et une bobine 23 reliée électriquement à des bornes 24 par un interrupteur 25 ; ce dernier est commandable par le mécanisme 17 et/ou par un bouton 26 susceptible d'agir sur le mécanisme pour ouvrir les contacts, afin de confirmer une ouverture causée par le levier 18. L'armature 22 de l'électroaimant est assujettie à un ressort de rappel 27 et coopère avec un levier 28 qui est directement attelé à la structure 30.On the other hand, an electromagnet 20 housed in the housing 10, or in an auxiliary housing attached to the housing 10, acts on another element of the structure 30. The electromagnet comprises a fixed magnetic circuit 21, a movable armature 22 and a coil 23 electrically connected to terminals 24 by a switch 25; the latter is controllable by the mechanism 17 and / or by a button 26 capable of acting on the mechanism to open the contacts, in order to confirm an opening caused by the lever 18. The armature 22 of the electromagnet is subject to a return spring 27 and cooperates with a lever 28 which is directly coupled to the structure 30.

La structure porte-contact 30 comprend un support mobile omnipolaire 31, des ponts de contact 11 et des coulisseaux unipolaires 32 logés dans des puits ou fentes 33 du support et mobiles dans ces fentes. Le support 31 est monté coulissant contre des parois 34a ou des cloisons 34b du boîtier (voir figure 7). Il présente en particulier des fentes 34c dans lesquelles pénètrent ces cloisons.The contact-carrying structure 30 comprises an omnipolar mobile support 31, contact bridges 11 and unipolar slides 32 housed in wells or slots 33 of the support and movable in these slots. The support 31 is slidably mounted against walls 34a or partitions 34b of the housing (see FIG. 7). It has in particular slots 34c into which these partitions penetrate.

Chaque pont de contact 11 est logé coulissant entre une butée haute 35 et une position basse dans une fenêtre 36 du support 31, tandis qu'un ressort de pression de contact 37, associé au pont, est également logé dans la fenêtre pour être en appui sur une extrémité de celle-ci et sur le pont. Le levier 28, qui est dans cet exemple en forme de fourche, est attelé par ses extrémités 38 dans des échancrures latérales 39 du support pour former entre l'armature et le support une liaison non sollicitée par le levier 18 ; ainsi, le levier 28 soulève le support quand la bobine 23 est alimentée et l'abaisse sous l'action du ressort 27 quand la bobine n'est pas alimentée, pour respectivement fermer et ouvrir l'ensemble des contacts. On constate qu'ainsi l'ouverture des contacts par l'électroaimant ne nécessite pas la compression des ressorts 37.Each contact bridge 11 is housed sliding between a high stop 35 and a low position in a window 36 of the support 31, while a contact pressure spring 37, associated with the bridge, is also housed in the window to be in support on one end of it and on the deck. The lever 28, which in this example is fork-shaped, is coupled by its ends 38 in lateral notches 39 of the support to form, between the frame and the support, a connection which is not stressed by the lever 18; thus, the lever 28 lifts the support when the coil 23 is supplied and lowers it under the action of the spring 27 when the coil is not supplied, to close and open respectively all contacts. It can be seen that thus opening the contacts by the electromagnet does not require the compression of the springs 37.

Le levier 18 est applicable sur l'ensemble des coulisseaux de manière que, lors d'un déclenchement sur défaut, ceux-ci entraînent les ponts de contact en écrasant les ressorts 37, tout en laissant le support 31 dans sa position haute jusqu'à ce que l'électroaimant, par l'ouverture de l'interrupteur 25, confirme l'ouverture des contacts en abaissant le support. Dans une variante de réalisation, chaque déclencheur magnétique de l'ensemble 16 peut de plus coopérer avec un levier, distinct du levier 18, qui percute le coulisseau respectif après libération du mécanisme 17, ce qui apporte une aide à la coupure pour des courants de défaut voisins du seuil de répulsion.The lever 18 is applicable to all of the sliders so that, upon tripping on a fault, these drive the contact bridges by crushing the springs 37, while leaving the support 31 in its high position until that the electromagnet, by opening the switch 25, confirms the opening of the contacts by lowering the support. In an alternative embodiment, each magnetic trigger of the assembly 16 can also cooperate with a lever, distinct from the lever 18, which strikes the respective slide after release of the mechanism 17, which provides cutting assistance for currents of fault close to the repulsion threshold.

Chaque coulisseau 32 est constitué par une pièce plate et légère en matériau isolant présentant, vers son extrémité, inférieure une fenêtre 40 qui permet, d'une part, le montage du pont de contact 12 et, d'autre part, du ressort de pression de contact 37 associé au pont. Lorsque les contacts sont fermés, la fenêtre 40 du coulisseau débouche sur la fenêtre 36 correspondante du support. Des plots 41 sont prévus dans le support 31 au fond de la fenêtre 40 de part et d'autre de la fente 33 et un guide 42 est prévu dans le coulisseau 32 au fond de la fenêtre 40. Les coulisseaux pourraient présenter une section différente.Each slide 32 is constituted by a flat and light piece of insulating material having, towards its lower end, a window 40 which allows, on the one hand, the mounting of the contact bridge 12 and, on the other hand, the pressure spring contact 37 associated with the bridge. When the contacts are closed, the window 40 of the slider opens onto the corresponding window 36 of the support. Plots 41 are provided in the support 31 at the bottom of the window 40 on either side of the slot 33 and a guide 42 is provided in the slide 32 at the bottom of the window 40. The slides could have a different section.

Le pont de contact est monté dans la fenêtre 40 de façon à être sensiblement solidaire ou immobilisé en translation par rapport au coulisseau, mais à pouvoir prendre un débattement angulaire par rapport à sa position nominale, perpendiculaire au plan médian X du coulisseau qui est en même temps le plan de symétrie du support et des ponts de contact. Par solidarité ou immobilisation en translation, on veut dire que le coulisseau est capable d'entraîner le pont, et le pont capable d'entraîner le coulisseau, dans le sens d'ouverture des contacts. A cet effet, on prévoit des encoches 43 dans le haut de la fenêtre 40 et des saillies coopérantes 44 sur le pont 12. Après introduction du pont de contact dans la fenêtre 40 du coulisseau, les saillies 44 sont serties dans les encoches 43. Il résulte du débattement décrit, que les tolérances ou jeux existant au niveau des pastilles de contact ne se traduisent pas par un coincement des coulisseaux 32 dans leurs puits de guidage 33. En cas de répulsion observée sur un pont 11, celui-ci entraîne le coulisseau et la plage 45 de celui-ci surmontant l'ouverture 40 forme rideau entre les deux zones de contact du pôle. La disposition décrite permet de réduire la distance séparant les contacts fixes d'un même pôle et donc de réaliser un pont mobile plus court et plus léger.The contact bridge is mounted in the window 40 so as to be substantially integral or immobilized in translation relative to the slide, but to be able to take an angular clearance relative to its nominal position, perpendicular to the median plane X of the slide which is at the same time the plane of symmetry of the support and the contact bridges. By solidarity or immobilization in translation, it means that the slide is capable of driving the bridge, and the bridge capable of driving the slide, in the opening direction of the contacts. To this end, notches 43 are provided at the top of the window 40 and cooperating projections 44 on the bridge 12. After introduction of the contact bridge in the window 40 of the slide, the projections 44 are crimped in the notches 43. It results from the displacement described, that the tolerances or clearances existing at the level of the contact pads do not result in a jamming of the slides 32 in their guide wells 33. In the event of repulsion observed on a bridge 11, the latter drives the slide and the area 45 thereof overlying the opening 40 forms a curtain between the two contact zones of the pole. The arrangement described makes it possible to reduce the distance separating the fixed contacts of the same pole and therefore to make a shorter and lighter mobile bridge.

Le fonctionnement de l'appareil selon l'invention va être expliqué en regard des figures 8 à 10.The operation of the apparatus according to the invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10.

Sur la figure 8, les deux ponts de contact 11 situés à gauche sont montrés en position de fermeture des contacts. La bobine 23 de l'électroaimant est alors alimentée et son armature 22 est attirée vers la culasse 21. Le levier 28 a pivoté en sens antihoraire et soulevé le support 31 jusqu'à la fermeture des contacts avec une mise en pression des ressorts 37. Les coulisseaux 32 ont été amenés en position haute par les ponts 11. Le mécanisme 17 est armé.In Figure 8, the two contact bridges 11 on the left are shown in the closed position of the contacts. The coil 23 of the electromagnet is then supplied and its armature 22 is drawn towards the cylinder head 21. The lever 28 has pivoted counterclockwise and lifted the support 31 until the contacts are closed with the springs 37 being pressurized. The slides 32 have been brought into the high position by the bridges 11. The mechanism 17 is armed.

La répulsion électrodynamique d'un pont de contact est illustrée à droite de la figure 8. En cas de court-circuit sur ce pôle, le pont de contact 11 peut être repoussé vers le bas, comme représenté, en entraînant le coulisseau accouplé et en comprimant le ressort 37. On constate que la plage d'isolement 45 du coulisseau apparaît dans la fenêtre 36 du support, ce qui assure un bon isolement entre les contacts fixes 12, 13 et les zones de coupure du pôle en court-circuit.The electrodynamic repulsion of a contact bridge is illustrated on the right of FIG. 8. In the event of a short circuit on this pole, the contact bridge 11 can be pushed back down, as shown, by driving the coupled slide and in compressing the spring 37. It can be seen that the isolation range 45 of the slide appears in the window 36 of the support, which ensures good insulation between the fixed contacts 12, 13 and the break areas of the pole in short circuit.

Sur la figure 9, on voit la structure porte-contact en position d'ouverture commandée par l'électroaimant. La bobine 23 est désalimentée, l'armature 27 revient vers la droite sous l'effet du ressort 27 propre à l'électroaimant et le levier 28 est forcé de pivoter en sens horaire pour porter le support 31 dans la position indiquée. Les ponts de contact 11 viennent d'abord en appui contre les butées hautes 35 des fenêtres 36, tandis que les coulisseaux 32 se décalent légèrement dans les fentes 35 ; ensuite, les ponts poursuivent leur mouvement et entraînent les coulisseaux jusqu'à la position indiquée.In Figure 9, we see the contact carrier structure in the open position controlled by the electromagnet. The coil 23 is de-energized, the armature 27 returns to the right under the effect of the spring 27 specific to the electromagnet and the lever 28 is forced to pivot clockwise to bring the support 31 to the position indicated. The contact bridges 11 first come into abutment against the upper stops 35 of the windows 36, while the slides 32 shift slightly in the slots 35; then, the bridges continue their movement and drive the slides to the indicated position.

Sur la figure 10, la structure porte-contact occupe la position d'ouverture consécutive à un déclenchement. Le support 31 reste dans une position haute qui est la même que celle de la figure 8, tant que la bobine de l'électroaimant reste alimentée. Le levier 18 s'abaisse et fait descendre les coulisseaux 32 qui entraînent les ponts de contact jusqu'à la position indiquée. Les zones isolantes 45 s'interposent là encore pour améliorer la qualité de l'isolement. Le support 31 sera ensuite abaissé par le levier 28 en réponse à l'ouverture de l'interrupteur 25 qui désactive la bobine de l'électroaimant.In FIG. 10, the contact carrier structure occupies the open position following a trip. The support 31 remains in a high position which is the same as that of FIG. 8, as long as the coil of the electromagnet remains energized. The lever 18 lowers and lowers the slides 32 which drive the contact bridges to the position indicated. The insulating zones 45 again interpose to improve the quality of the insulation. The support 31 will then be lowered by the lever 28 in response to the opening of the switch 25 which deactivates the coil of the electromagnet.

Dans le mode de réalisation préféré des figures 11 et 12, chaque ressort de pression de contact 37 est logé dans une fenêtre haute 46 du coulisseau 32. La fenêtre 46 est distincte de la fenêtre basse 40 logeant le pont 11 et elle en est séparée par la plage d'isolement 45. La plage d'isolement 45 vient occulter la fenêtre 36 du support en cas d'ouverture omnipolaire ou unipolaire. Le ressort 37 prend appui, d'une part, sur une face supérieure 47 du support 31, d'autre part, sur une extrémité supérieure de la fenêtre haute 46 ; la situation à l'écart des zones d'arc lui permet d'éviter d'être pollué et/ou détérioré par les gaz de coupure. Chaque coulisseau 32 est avantageusement guidé dans une coulisse adéquate 48 du boîtier de l'appareil.In the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12, each contact pressure spring 37 is housed in an upper window 46 of the slide 32. The window 46 is separate from the lower window 40 housing the bridge 11 and is separated from it by the isolation range 45. The isolation range 45 obscures the window 36 of the support in the event of omnipolar or unipolar opening. The spring 37 bears, on the one hand, on an upper face 47 of the support 31, on the other hand, on an upper end of the upper window 46; the location away from the arc zones allows it to avoid being polluted and / or deteriorated by the breaking gases. Each slide 32 is advantageously guided in a suitable slide 48 of the housing of the device.

Des modifications peuvent être apportées au mode de réalisation décrit. En particulier, les coulisseaux peuvent être en forme de fourches dont les branches sont guidées dans des fentes ou rainures prévues sur les faces extérieures du support. Les ressorts de pression de contact peuvent être des ressorts de traction.Modifications can be made to the embodiment described. In particular, the slides can be in the form of forks whose branches are guided in slots or grooves provided on the outer faces of the support. The contact pressure springs can be tension springs.

L'invention a été décrite à propos d'un contacteur-disjoncteur. Elle est applicable à des disjoncteurs d'autres types, par exemple à un disjoncteur du genre démarreur comprenant deux mécanismes de déclenchement dont l'un est commandé manuellement et l'autre par des déclencheurs magnétiques pour agir respectivement sur les coulisseaux et les supports ; ou encore, à un disjoncteur dans lequel les déclencheurs magnétiques agissent directement sur les coulisseaux et indirectement, c'est-à-dire par l'intermédiaire d'une serrure, sur le support.The invention has been described in relation to a contactor-circuit breaker. It is applicable to circuit breakers of other types, for example to a starter-type circuit breaker comprising two tripping mechanisms, one of which is manually controlled and the other by magnetic trip units to act respectively on the sliders and the supports; or again, to a circuit breaker in which the magnetic trip devices act directly on the slides and indirectly, that is to say by means of a lock, on the support.

Claims (8)

  1. Protective switch of the contactor/circuit breaker type comprising :
    - at least one double-contact switch pole provided with a contact bridge (11) cooperating with the fixed contacts (12, 13),
    - a mobile support (31) for said contact bridge(s) (11) slidably housing said bridge(s) (11) and a contact pressure spring (37) associated with each bridge (11),
    - a solenoid (20) comprising a mobile armature (22) operating in case of an electrical control by means of a first control part (28) to open the contacts (12, 13),
    - a magnetic and/or thermal tripping mechanism (17) adapted to operate in response to an electrical fault on at least one of said contact bridges (11) via a second control part (18) to open said contacts (12, 13),
    - each contact bridge being able to be loaded by a slide member (32) movably housed in the movable support (31) and which can be moved by the second control part (18),
    characterized in that each slide member (32) comprises means for fastening in translation the corresponding contact bridge (11) and has an insulative area (45) appearing in a window (36) of the movable support (31) and forming a screen between the two contact areas of the pole in case of an opening determined by the second control part (18) and in case of an electrodynamic repulsion of the contact bridge (11).
  2. Protection switch according to claim 1,
    characterized in that said slide member (32) has a window (40) to accomodate a contact bridge (11) opening onto the corresponding window (36) of said support (31) when said contacts (12, 13) are closed.
  3. Protective switch according to one of claims 1 and 2,
    characterized in that said contact bridge (11) is immobilized in translation in a window (40) of said slide member (32) by means of cooperating members (43, 44) allowing angular movement of said bridge (11) relative to said slide member (32).
  4. Protective switch according to one of claims 1 to 3,
    characterized in that said contact pressure spring (37) is mounted on said slide member (32) away from the contact opening areas.
  5. Protective switch according to claim 4,
    characterized in that said slide member (32) has a window (46) away from the contact opening areas and separated from said window (40) which houses said contact bridge (11) by said insulative area (45).
  6. Protective switch according to one of claims 1 to 5,
    characterized in that a control part (28) actuated by a mobile armature (22) of a solenoid (20) is coupled directly to said mobile support (31).
  7. Protective switch according to one of claims 1 to 6,
    characterized in that said magnetic tripping device of said tripping mechanism (16) operates said control part (18) in response to a fault to entrain said slide member (32) and an additional lever to strike said slide member (32).
  8. Protective switch according to one of claims 1 to 7,
    characterized in that each slide member (32) is guided in a slideway (48) of said casing (10) of said switch.
EP91403049A 1990-11-15 1991-11-14 Protective switch Expired - Lifetime EP0486389B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9014202A FR2669463B1 (en) 1990-11-15 1990-11-15 PROTECTION SWITCH.
FR9014202 1990-11-15

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0486389A1 EP0486389A1 (en) 1992-05-20
EP0486389B1 true EP0486389B1 (en) 1995-06-14

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91403049A Expired - Lifetime EP0486389B1 (en) 1990-11-15 1991-11-14 Protective switch

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US (1) US5233321A (en)
EP (1) EP0486389B1 (en)
DE (1) DE69110409T2 (en)
FR (1) FR2669463B1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0486389A1 (en) 1992-05-20
DE69110409D1 (en) 1995-07-20
DE69110409T2 (en) 1996-01-11
FR2669463B1 (en) 1995-05-12
US5233321A (en) 1993-08-03
FR2669463A1 (en) 1992-05-22

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