EP0951044B1 - Indicating auxiliary block for a circuit breaker - Google Patents

Description

• une manette d'actionnement,
• une patte d'entraínement traversant un premier orifice du boítier pour former ladite deuxième liaison mécanique,
• un téton de déclenchement traversant un deuxième orifice du boítier,
• et deux leviers de manoeuvre associés à des ressorts pour assurer la commutation des contacts mobiles des commutateurs inverseurs, dont le premier indique une première signalisation OF ouvert - fermé du disjoncteur.

The invention relates to an auxiliary signaling unit with a housing intended to be attached to a circuit breaker and comprising two reversing switches controlled manually or automatically by a mechanism coupled to the circuit breaker by a first mechanical tripping link, and a second mechanical reset link. , transmitting respectively to the mechanism of the auxiliary unit a tripping movement coming from the trip unit of the circuit breaker after detection of a fault, and the position of the handle of the circuit breaker, said mechanism of the auxiliary unit comprising:

• an actuation handle,
• a drive tab passing through a first orifice of the housing to form said second mechanical connection,
• a trigger pin passing through a second orifice of the housing,
• and two operating levers associated with springs to ensure the switching of the movable contacts of the reversing switches, the first of which indicates a first open - closed OF signaling of the circuit breaker.

The document EP 303965 describes an auxiliary block for signaling of the kind mentioned, including two juxtaposed levers and projecting from the front of the housing. The first lever is used to activate the mechanism of one of the switches - reversers to allow manual engagement of the latter, and to indicate the switching position. The second joystick is coupled to the joystick of the circuit breaker and serves for the simultaneous switching on of the auxiliary unit and the circuit breaker.

The document EP147605 relates to an auxiliary switchable signaling unit, one of the reversing switches can be locked in the latching position by means of a stop pawl cooperating with the control lever, which crosses the front face of the housing. A selector limits the area of pivoting of the pawl.

The object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary signaling unit without exposed lever, and having a switch-reverser which can be easily transformed into an open - closed position switch, or a fault signal.

The auxiliary unit according to the invention is characterized in that the lever actuator is housed inside the housing being provided with said tab drive, and further comprises cam means arranged so that the second reversing switch indicates either said first OF signaling open - closed, i.e. a second SD fault signaling signaling the triggering of the breaker. A pair of control rods is associated with the operating lever the second changeover switch; one of the links cooperating with the means cam of the actuating lever, and the other rod being coupled to a plate rotary mechanism.

It is thus easy to go from the OF version to the SD version by replacing the lever, the rest of the mechanism remains unchanged.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the operating lever of the first changeover switch is pivotally mounted on the turntable pivot, and is driven by it between the extreme closed and open positions.

According to a preferred embodiment, the actuating lever is driven to an intermediate position when the circuit breaker trips, the rearming of the auxiliary unit taking place during the passage of the lever actuation from the intermediate position to the open position. The cam the lever for the OF version does not act on the link during resetting, and confirms the first open signaling of the second reversing switch. The cam of the SD version lever acts on the link during resetting, to cause the bistable lever to tip over and the second one to switch switch - reverser, the second signaling indicating the passage of the position fault to reset position - open.

According to a development of the invention, the two devices OF and SD not switchable, can be replaced by a single switchable device equipped with a selector for transforming the profile of the actuating lever by means of an adjustable cam.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un bloc auxiliaire de signalisation selon l'invention, le bloc étant représenté du côté des liaisons d'accouplement mâles ;
• la figure 2 est une vue schématique de l'association du bloc auxiliaire de signalisation avec un disjoncteur de protection ;
• la figure 3 montre une vue en perspective du mécanisme du bloc auxiliaire de signalisation après enlèvement du couvercle du boítier ;
• les figures 4 à 10 représentent la première version OF-OF du bloc auxiliaire de signalisation dans les positions suivantes :
  • figure 4 : fermé,
  • figure 5 : passage de point mort après ouverture manuelle,
  • figure 6 : ouvert après ouverture manuelle,
  • figure 7 : déverrouillage du mécanisme suite à un déclenchement du disjoncteur,
  • figure 8 : passage des points morts au déclenchement,
  • figure 9 : déclenché - ouvert
  • figure 10 : réarmé - ouvert suite au réarmement par le disjoncteur,
• les figures 11 à 14 montrent la deuxième version SD - OF du bloc auxiliaire de signalisation dans les positions suivantes :
  • figure 11 : passage de point mort du levier bistable droit après ouverture manuelle,
  • figure 12 : ouvert après ouverture manuelle,
  • figure 13 : passage de point mort du levier bistable gauche lors du réarmement,
  • figure 14 : réarmé - ouvert suite au réarmement par le disjoncteur,
• la figure 15 montre une vue en perspective d'un bloc auxiliaire de signalisation commutable OF-OF / SD-OF, et vice versa ;
• la figure 16 est une vue de profil de la figure 15 ;
• les figures 17 et 18 sont des vues de détail à échelles agrandies du sélecteur de la figure 15, respectivement dans la position SD et OF ;
• les figures 19 à 21 montrent le sélecteur en position SD avec différentes positions de la manette lors d'une phase de réarmement ;
• les figures 22 à 24 représentent le sélecteur en position OF avec différentes positions de la manette lors du réarmement.

Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from the description which follows of an embodiment of the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example and represented in the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of an auxiliary signaling block according to the invention, the block being shown on the side of the male coupling links;
• Figure 2 is a schematic view of the association of the auxiliary signaling unit with a protective circuit breaker;
• Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the mechanism of the auxiliary signaling unit after removal of the housing cover;
• Figures 4 to 10 show the first OF-OF version of the auxiliary signaling unit in the following positions:
  • figure 4: closed,
  • figure 5: shift from neutral after manual opening,
  • figure 6: open after manual opening,
  • FIG. 7: unlocking of the mechanism following tripping of the circuit breaker,
  • FIG. 8: passage from neutral to triggering,
  • figure 9: triggered - open
  • figure 10: reset - open following reset by the circuit breaker,
• Figures 11 to 14 show the second SD - OF version of the auxiliary signaling unit in the following positions:
  • figure 11: passage of neutral position of the right bistable lever after manual opening,
  • figure 12: open after manual opening,
  • figure 13: passage of neutral position of the left bistable lever during resetting,
  • Figure 14: reset - open following reset by the circuit breaker,
• FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of an auxiliary OF-OF / SD-OF switchable signaling unit, and vice versa;
• Figure 16 is a side view of Figure 15;
• Figures 17 and 18 are detail views on enlarged scales of the selector of Figure 15, respectively in the position SD and OF;
• FIGS. 19 to 21 show the selector in the SD position with different positions of the lever during a rearming phase;
• Figures 22 to 24 show the selector in the OF position with different positions of the lever during resetting.

In Figures 1 and 2, an auxiliary signaling unit 10 and housed in a housing 12 intended to be attached to a switchgear, in particular a circuit breaker 14, with coupling of a first mechanical trigger link 16 and a second mechanical reset link 18. The auxiliary signaling unit 10 is equipped with a drive tab 20 projecting from the housing 12 through a first curvilinear orifice 22, and capable of being coupled to the pivoting support 24 of the handle 26 of the circuit breaker 14 to form the second mechanical connection 18. A trigger pin 28 passes through a second orifice 30 of the housing 12, and is intended to fit into the tripping bar of the circuit breaker 14 to constitute the first mechanical link 16 for triggering. Snap hooks 32, 34 are provided on the side face of the housing 12 to allow the fixing of the block auxiliary 10 on the circuit breaker 14. The mechanism 35 of the circuit breaker 14 is of the type described in patent FR 2 616 583 in which the lever 26 can occupy during the triggering an intermediate position located between the two extreme positions opening and closing.

Referring to Figure 3, the housing 12 of the auxiliary signaling unit 10 contains two reversing switches 36, 38 controlled by a control mechanism 40, capable of being coupled to the mechanism 35 of the circuit breaker 14 by the two links mechanical 16, 18.

Each change-over switch 36, 38 is composed of a movable contact 42, 44 cooperating with a pair of fixed contacts 46, 48; 50, 52. The first change-over switch 38 on the right allows OF (open / closed) signaling, and the second reversing circuit 36 on the left indicates OF (open / closed) or SD signaling (fault signal) as a function of the cam profile of the actuating handle 54. Contacts 42, 46, 48 of the second reversing switch 36 on the left are connected electrically at connection terminals 56, 58, 60 housed in cells on the small left side face of the housing 12. Contacts 44, 50, 52 of the first reversing switch 38 are electrically connected to terminals of connection 62, 64, 66 provided on the small right side face.

The actuating handle 54 is mounted with limited rotation on an axis 68 inside of the housing 12, and carries the drive tab 20 eccentric with respect to the axis 68. A transmission link 70 connects the actuating handle 54 to the hook hooking 72 of the mechanism 40, which comprises a rotary plate 74, and a trigger lever 76. The trigger pin 28 is secured to the lever of the trigger 76, extending parallel to the drive tab 20.

The rotary plate 74 can rotate around a pivot 78 between two positions extremes, and the trigger lever 76 is articulated on an axis 80 integral with the plate 74. The movable contacts 42, 44 are shaped according to metal blades flexible, actuated by a pair of operating levers 82, 84 bistable cooperating with springs 86, 88 housed in guide members 90.92.

At the operating lever 82 for moving contact 42 associated with the reversing circuit 36 is articulated a pair of control rods 94, 96 cooperating at their ends opposite respectively with a stop 55 of the housing 12 (OF) or the lever 54 (SD) and the plate 74. The other operating lever 84 of the movable contact 44 associated with the first inverter circuit 38, is pivotally mounted on pivot 78 so as to be driven by the rotary plate 74 between the two extreme positions. The end bent rod 96 moves into an oblong hole 98 in the area of articulation with the lever 82.

1) The operation of the auxiliary signaling unit 10 in OF-OF version is shown in FIGS. 4 to 10. The internal handle 54 in this case comprises a first configuration of the profile 54A allowing the control rod 94 to come to bear on the stop 55 of the housing 12.

1.1.- MANUAL OPENING

The signaling unit 10 being in the closed state (FIG. 4), the movable contact 42 is in engagement against the fixed contact 46, and the other movable contact 44 is in press on the fixed contact 50. During manual operation of the circuit breaker 14 at by means of the lever 26, the auxiliary signaling unit 10 is actuated by the tab drive 20 of the second mechanical link 18, causing movement of tilting of the handle 54 in an anticlockwise direction. The Figure 5 shows the mechanism 40 in the vicinity of the dead center of the two levers operation 82, 84. The two movable contacts 42, 44 are driven towards a position separation center with the corresponding fixed contacts. When the joystick 54 arrives in the extreme left position corresponding to the open state of the block auxiliary 10 (Figure 6), the shift from neutral to the two levers 82, 84 causes the simultaneous switching of the two movable contacts 42, 44, which arrive respectively against the fixed contact 48 of the reversing circuit 36, and the fixed contact 52 of the inverter circuit 38. The auxiliary signaling unit 10 also delivers two signals representative of the open state of the circuit breaker 14.

1.2.- MANUAL CLOSING

The manual closing operation of the auxiliary signaling unit takes place in opposite direction of Figures 4 to 6 after actuation of the handle 26 of the circuit breaker 14 towards the closed state.

1.3.- FAULT TRIGGERING

The closed state of the auxiliary unit 10 corresponds to FIG. 4. The movement of tripping of circuit breaker 14 following a fault detection is transmitted to the auxiliary unit 10 by the first mechanical link 16, pivoting the lever trigger 76 counterclockwise to unlock the attachment with the hook 72 of the mechanism 40 (Figure 7). Joystick 54 is also driven by the tab 20 of the second mechanical connection 18 to a intermediate position (figure 8) corresponding to the triggered position of the lever 26 of the circuit breaker 14. The opening spring rotates the plate 74 in the direction counterclockwise to bring it to a stop. Platinum 74 drives the two levers 82, 84 bistable beyond neutral, and the two contacts movable 42, 44 are respectively switched to the fixed contacts 48, 52 corresponding to the open triggered state (Figure 9). Tilting lever 82 takes place via the link 96. The auxiliary signaling unit 10 thus delivers two signals representative of the open or closed state of the circuit breaker.

1.4.- RESET OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER

The circuit breaker is reset by tilting the handle 26 of the circuit breaker 14 from the intermediate position tripped towards the open position. The second mechanical link 18 brings the hook 72 back to an armed position, following driving the joystick 54 to the end position of the opening stroke. The lever 82 remains stationary during this rearming maneuver, because the link 94 is not activated. In the reset - open position in Figure 10, the contacts mobiles 42, 44 remain in the same position as that illustrated in FIG. 9.

To transform the signaling block into an SD-OF version, simply replace the lever 54 of the OF-OF version by a lever 154 having a cam 54B. The rest of the mechanism 40 is identical to that described above with reference to Figures 4 to 10.

2. The operation of the auxiliary signaling unit 10 in SD-OF version is illustrated in Figures 11 to 14:

2.1.- MANUAL OPENING

From the closed position identical to that of FIG. 4, the manual opening of the circuit breaker 14 drives the lever 154 anticlockwise, causing the rotation of the plate 74 in the same direction. The plate 74 drives the lever 84 in the vicinity of neutral (figure 11) with separation of the movable contact 44 which is in an intermediate position. Tilting of lever 84 occurs at the end of travel of the plate 74 (FIG. 12), with switching of the movable contact 44 on fixed contact 52. The auxiliary signaling unit is then in the open position, and the other movable contact 42 remains stationary in contact with the contact fixed 46. Manual opening is signaled by the first reversing switch 38.

2.2.- MANUAL CLOSING

Manual closing by the circuit breaker 14 is carried out in the opposite direction to FIGS. 12, 11 and 4, following the rotation of the lever 154 clockwise towards the other extreme position.

2.3.- FAULT TRIGGERING

This tripping phase on fault of the SD-OF version is identical to that of the OF-OF version of Figures 7 to 9.

2.4.- RESET

Resetting from the triggered position - open in Figure 9, is carried out following the drive of the lever 154 from the intermediate position to the position open (Figure 13). The hook 72 is reset, and the cam 54B of the lever 154 causes the rod 94 to descend, followed by the tilting of the bistable lever 82. The movable contact 42 is switched from the fixed contact 48 (default position) to the other fixed contact 46 (reset position - open in Figure 14). The mobile contact 44 of the other reversing switch 38 remains stationary during the resetting phase, and indicates the open position.

The two versions OF-OF and SD-OF of the auxiliary signaling unit constitute two separate non-switchable devices, which differ from each other by the profile of the internal handles 54, 154.

FIGS. 15 to 18 represent an auxiliary signaling block 100 which can be switched, comprising a selector 102 disposed in the vicinity of the orifice 22 of the tab drive 20. The selector 102 is pivotable by means of a recess for screwdriver, between two stable positions, shown in Figures 17 and 18, and corresponding respectively to the SD-OF version and the OF-OF version. A window 104 is housed in the front face of the housing 12 for viewing the position of selector 102.

The auxiliary signaling unit 100 comprises a lever 254 convertible into a controller 54 of the OF version, or a controller 154 of the SD version depending on the position of the selector 102. The lever 254 is provided with a base 106 mounted at pivot on the axis 68, and equipped with the drive tab 20. The selector 102 cooperates with an adjustable cam 108 pivotally mounted on an axis 110 of the base 106.

In the SD version (Figures 19 to 21), the selector 102 is in the first position adjustment (6 hours), and does not come into engagement with the cam 108 during the rotation of the lever 254. The end of the cam 108 is bevelled, and engages between the base 106 and the link 94 so as to push the latter towards the bottom during the rearming maneuver (Figures 20 and 21).

In the OF version (Figures 22 to 24), the selector 102 is positioned in the second adjustment position (4 o'clock), by turning cam 108 counterclockwise Clockwise. The cam 108 passes under the link 94 during the movement of rotation of the lever 254.

Claims (9)

1. Auxiliary indication unit (10, 100) with a case (12) designed to be adjoined to a circuit breaker (14) and comprising two changeover switches (36, 38) operated manually or automatically by a mechanism (40) coupled to the circuit breaker (14) by a first mechanical tripping link (16), and a second mechanical resetting link (18), respectively transmitting to the mechanism (40) of the auxiliary unit (10, 100) a tripping movement originating from the trip device of the circuit breaker (14) after detection of a fault, and the position of the handle (26) of the circuit breaker (14), said mechanism (40) of the auxiliary unit (10, 100) comprising:

   an actuating handle (54, 154, 254),

   a drive lug (20) passing through a first orifice (22) of the case (12) to form said second mechanical link (18),

   a tripping pin (28) passing through a second orifice (30) of the case (12),

   and two operating levers (82, 84) associated to springs (86, 88) to perform switching of the movable contacts (42, 44) of the changeover switches (36, 38), the first (38) whereof provides a first open - closed OC indication of the circuit breaker (14),

   characterized in that the actuating handle (54, 154, 254) is housed inside the case (12) being equipped with said drive lug (20), and comprises in addition camming shapes (54A, 54B, 108) arranged so that the second changeover switch (36) provides either said first open - closed OC indication or a second fault signal FS indication indicating tripping of the circuit breaker (14), depending on the camming shapes.
2. Auxiliary indication unit according to claim 1, characterized in that a pair of control rods (94, 96) is associated to the operating lever (82) of the second changeover switch (36), one of the rods (94) being directed towards the actuating handle (54, 154, 254), and the other rod (96) being coupled to a rotary plate (74) of the mechanism (40).
3. Auxiliary indication unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the curved end of the rod (96) is housed in an oblong hole (98) of the operating lever (82) associated to the second changeover switch (36).
4. Auxiliary indication unit according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the operating lever (84) of the first changeover switch (38) is mounted swivelling on the pivot (78) of the plate (74) and is driven thereby between the extreme closed and open positions.
5. Auxiliary indication unit according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each spring (86, 88) is housed in a guide part (90, 92) operating in conjunction with the corresponding operating lever (82, 84) to form a toggle with dead point passage.
6. Auxiliary indication unit according to one of the claims 2 to 5, wherein the actuating handle (54, 154, 254) is driven to an intermediate position when tripping of the circuit breaker (14) takes place, said intermediate position being situated between extreme positions corresponding to the closed and open state,
   characterized in that resetting of the auxiliary unit is performed when the actuating handle (54, 154, 254) moves from the intermediate position to the open position.
7. Auxiliary indication unit according to claim 6, characterized in that the cam (54A) of the handle (54) for the OC version does not act on the rod (94) when resetting takes place and confirms the first open indication of the second changeover switch (36).
8. Auxiliary indication unit according to claim 6, characterized in that the cam (54B) of the handle (154) of the FS version acts on the rod (94) when resetting takes place to cause rocking of the bistable lever (82) and switching of the second changeover switch (36), the second indication indicating switching from the fault position to the reset - open position.
9. Auxiliary indication unit according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a selector (102) accessible from outside and operating in conjunction with a cam (108) to shape the actuating handle (254) with two different camming shapes suitable for said first OC indication or said second FS indication of the second changeover switch (36).

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