EP2717284B1 - Operating device of an electric protection apparatus and electric protection apparatus comprising same - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL AREA.

The present invention relates to a device for controlling an electrical protection device housed in an insulating casing containing at least one pair comprising a fixed contact and a movable contact, said movable contact (s) being able to be actuated ( s) either manually via a joystick or automatically, said device comprising a transmission rod coupled to the handle, a device for supporting the movable contact (s) mounted to rotate about a fixed axis said first housing and a platen rotatably mounted about an axis said second coincides with said first axis, said platen having a mechanical connection breakable with the transmission rod and being adapted to drive the (s) contact (s) ( s) mobile (s) to the closed position and keep the (the) contact (s) mobile (s) in the closed position, and a release lever controlled by a trigger to cause in case of failure breakage of themechanical connection, causing the automatic triggering of the mechanism independently of the joystick and the separation of the contacts, and an electrical protection device comprising such a device.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

For example, documents are known EP 1 975 971 and FR 2,956,922 describing a control device of a miniature circuit breaker having the features mentioned above.

However, these devices can not be used to cut DC currents, and the performance of these devices are limited in the case where the voltages of the circuits to be protected are very high.

The document is also known FR 2,495,826 describing a double-contact breaker for breaking DC currents that can be used for high voltages.

Finally, we know the document EP 0 403 329 A1 describing a circuit breaker according to the preamble of claim 1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to propose a device for controlling a simple electrical protection device, making it possible to increase the performance of the apparatus. Another object of the invention is to provide a control device of simple design that allows the devices to be used in the presence of a higher voltage or to achieve the breaking of DC currents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For this purpose, the subject of the present invention is a device for controlling an electrical protection device of the kind mentioned above, this device being characterized in that the aforementioned contact-holding device comprises an oblong orifice through which said support device is mounted articulated about the hinge axis said first, and in that the aforementioned support device is mechanically connected to the aforementioned plate by a connection of the ball joint type, whose center of rotation is offset relative to the axis of rotation said first or second, the position of this center of rotation and the orientation of said oblong orifice being such that, during the contact pressure setting between the (the) contact (s) fixed (s) and mobile (s), this oblong hole allows the relative displacement between the so-called first axis and the support device of the contacts, by displacement of the axis inside the oblong orifice, and thereby rota the support device around the center of rotation of the ball joint, in order to allow the rotation of the support device around the first point (s) of contact created between the fixed contact (s) (s) and mobile (s), during the pressurization of contact, the latter rotation having the effect of balancing the different forces between the (s) contact (s) mobile (s) and the (the) contact (s) ( s) fixed (s).

The invention thus makes it possible to obtain a balancing of the forces between the movable contacts and the fixed contacts, whatever the number of moving contacts and fixed contacts, even when the contact support supports only one movable contact intended to cooperate with a single fixed contact, the balancing then being performed between different points of contacts established successively on the same contact.

According to a particular characteristic, the aforementioned ball joint connection between the contact support device and the plate is a point type ball joint.

According to another characteristic, the aforementioned plate is secured to a shaft, said needle rotatably mounted relative to the housing of the apparatus, and around which is mounted articulated the contact support device, said needle passing through said oblong orifice.

According to another characteristic, the device for supporting the contacts supports two so-called mechanically secured and electrically connected mobile contacts, said mobile contacts being intended to cooperate with two fixed contacts.

According to another feature, when only one point of contact between one of the movable contacts and one of the fixed contacts is established, the support device rotates about said point of contact, the needle of the platen moving towards the interior of the orifice, until the needle is brought into contact with the support device, on the opposite side to the point of contact made, in order to reach an equilibrium position of the assembly, and then when a second contact point is established between a second movable contact and a second fixed contact, the contact support device detaches from the needle until the needle is no longer in contact with the contact support device position in which the balancing between the contact pressures is achieved.

According to another characteristic, the mechanical connection between the abovementioned contact support device and the plate is a slightly slippery point pinion connection, so as to allow a slight translational movement of the support device with respect to the plate, and the orientation of the oblong orifice and the direction of the aforementioned degree of freedom in translation of the support device are such that during the pressurization of the contacts during the closing, or during the decompression of the contacts during the opening of the contacts, the rotational drive of the plate about the so-called second axis causes the rotation of the support device relative to the first axis, to a position in which this movement of the support device is no longer possible, and after which there is a relative displacement in rotation of the plate relative to the support device around the center of rotation of the ball joint, this rotation of the support device causing a displacement in relative translation between the plate and the support device by cooperation between the shaft materializing the so-called first axis and the walls of the device defining said orifice, this displacement to obtain cleaning of the contacts by friction between the movable contacts and the fixed contacts.

The present invention also relates to an electrical protection apparatus comprising a control device comprising the previously mentioned features taken alone or in combination.

According to a particular characteristic, this apparatus is a circuit breaker or a switch.

According to another characteristic, this apparatus is intended to be used for switching off high-voltage direct current or alternating current.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective, illustrant la partie intérieure d'un disjoncteur selon l'invention après ouverture de son boîtier, ledit disjoncteur étant en position ouverte des contacts,
• La figure 2 est une vue identique à la figure précédente, ledit disjoncteur étant dans une position fermée des contacts,
• La figure 3 est une vue en perspective, illustrant une partie du dispositif de commande selon l'invention associée aux contacts mobiles,
• La figure 4 est une vue en perspective, illustrant la même partie du dispositif de commande que sur la figure précédente, en position équilibrée des efforts de pression de contact exercés par les contacts mobiles sur les contacts fixes, mais vu du côté opposé par rapport à la figure précédente,
• La figure 5 est une vue de côté de cette même partie du dispositif de commande, une fois l'équilibrage des efforts réalisé, et au début de l'étape consistant à réaliser l'auto-nettoyage des contacts,
• La figure 6 est une vue partielle en plan, illustrant le dispositif de commande mis en service dans l'appareil, le nettoyage des contacts ayant été réalisé, et
• La figure 7 est une vue partielle en plan, le dispositif de commande étant mis en service dans l'appareil, en position fermée des contacts, et illustrant plus particulièrement la multiplication par deux de l'effort du ressort de pression de contact,

But other advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent in the detailed description which follows and refers to the accompanying drawings given solely by way of example and in which:

• The figure 1 is a perspective view, illustrating the inner part of a circuit breaker according to the invention after opening its housing, said circuit breaker being in the open position of the contacts,
• The figure 2 is a view identical to the previous figure, said circuit breaker being in a closed position of the contacts,
• The figure 3 is a perspective view, illustrating a part of the control device according to the invention associated with the moving contacts,
• The figure 4 is a perspective view, illustrating the same part of the control device as in the previous figure, in a balanced position of the contact pressure forces exerted by the movable contacts on the fixed contacts, but seen from the opposite side compared to the previous figure ,
• The figure 5 is a side view of this same part of the control device, once the balancing of the efforts made, and at the beginning of the step of performing the self-cleaning of the contacts,
• The figure 6 is a partial plan view, illustrating the control device put into service in the apparatus, the cleaning of the contacts having been realized, and
• The figure 7 is a partial plan view, the control device being put into operation in the apparatus, in the closed position of the contacts, and more particularly illustrating the multiplication by two of the force of the contact pressure spring,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

As is visible on the figures 1 and 2 , a circuit breaker D according to a particular embodiment of the invention comprises an insulating housing 1 essentially formed by two half-shells 2, the upper half-shell having been removed to allow viewing of the interior of said circuit breaker. The casing 1 has a parallelepipedal general shape corresponding to a modular system. This housing 1 has a rear face 3 for attachment to a rail and a front face 4 having a passage 5 of a control lever 6.

This circuit breaker comprises, in a manner known per se, a breaking circuit.

Conventionally, the breaking circuit comprises a movable contact, two 7,8 in this particular embodiment of the invention, carried by a first end of a contact support 9. The contact supports 9 are made of an insulating material and are mounted to pivot about an axis X said first materialized by a pivot 10.

This circuit breaker comprises a control mechanism housed in the upper part of the housing.

This hinge pivot 10 of the contact support 9 is carried by a plate 11, which plate is pivotally mounted relative to the housing about an axis said second Y coincides with the hinge pin X said first pivot aforementioned , via two bearings formed in the half-shells of the housing respectively receiving the two ends of the pivot.

The axis of pivoting of the plate 11 and the axis 10 of articulation of the contact supports 9 are materialized by the shaft or pivot 10 integral with the plate 11.

The pivotal mounting of the plate 11 relative to the housing 1 allows the displacement of the contact support 9 between an open position of the movable contacts 7.8 and a closed position of said movable contacts.

For this purpose, the plate 11 carries abutments capable of cooperating with the contact support device 9 to rotate it around the pivot 10 to the closed position of the movable contacts. A spring mounted between the housing and the plate makes it possible to urge the turntable around the shaft towards the open position of the movable contacts.

A pivotally limited mounting of the contact support 9 relative to the plate 11 allows, for its part, a displacement of said contact support 9, in particular after the plate 11 has been driven into the closed position of the movable contacts 7.8 .

The control device also comprises contact pressure means (not shown) acting on the contact support for exerting a pressing force on said support and for constraining said support in the closed position of the movable contacts. These contact pressure means comprise two torsion springs 22, 23 acting on the contact support corresponding. Each torsion spring is provided with an axis of rotation about which it exerts a torsion force.

The dimensioning of the torsion springs is made with respect only to the contact pressure force to be exerted.

In the embodiment shown, the control mechanism comprises transmission means arranged between the lever 6 and the contact support 9, or more precisely between the handle 6 and the plate 11. These means make it possible to move the plate 11 between the open position and the closing position of the movable contacts 7.8.

As this is known per se and as is visible on the figures 1 and 2 a trip lever 13 (to be shown) coupled to tripping means makes it possible to detect the presence of an electrical fault and to act on the control mechanism to open the contacts of the circuit breaker. These triggering means include an electromagnetic release E and a thermal release T, in this case a bimetallic strip. The trigger lever is pivotally mounted about an axis carried by the plate, with a predetermined offset of this axis relative to the pivot. The trip lever is designed to cause the displacement of the contact support in the open position by causing the breaking of a breakable mechanical link L of the transmission means.

These transmission means comprise a transmission rod 14 coupled to an internal base of the lever 6 to form a knee joint whose articulation is eccentric with respect to the pivot axis Z of said lever 6. The breakable mechanical connection is arranged between the transmission rod 14 and the plate 11. In the locked position, the breakable mechanical link L allows the manual control of the control mechanism with the handle 6. The displacement of the release lever 13 to a triggered position under the action of the trigger, causes the momentary rupture of the mechanical link L, causing the automatic triggering of the control mechanism independently of the lever 6. The trigger lever 13 is associated with a return spring for ensuring the automatic restoration of the link mechanical when the lever is actuated to the open position, following a triggering of the ecanism on default.

According to a particular embodiment of these transmission means, the breakable mechanical link L comprises a hook 15 mounted to pivot on an axis of the plate 11. Opposite this axis, the hook spout cooperates in the locked position of the connection with a detent located on the upper arm of the release lever 13.

This breakable mechanical connection well known to those skilled in the art will not be described in more detail. For more information, see the documents FR 2,956,922 or EP 1 975 971 of the plaintiff.

As this is not shown but is well known per se, the bimetallic of the thermal release cooperates with the trigger lever by means of a drawer.

According to the invention, and as this is more particularly visible on the Figures 3 to 7 , the orifice 16 provided in the contact support 9 and allowing the passage of the pivot 10 integral with the plate 11, is oblong and has a width substantially corresponding to the diameter of the pivot 10. On the other hand, the contact support 9 is mechanically connected to the plate 11 by means of a point ball joint R via an arm 17 of the contact support 9 having at its free end a ball 18, the arm assembly 17 and ball 18 being intended to be introduced into an elongated recess 19 provided in the plate 11, the contact support 9 then being rotatable relative to the plate 11 around a point of contact P between this ball 18 and the plate 11, the link being of the point type to ball, allowing said contact support 9 to oscillate around the point of contact P on either side of an axis U. During this rotation, the pivot 10 integral with the aforementioned plate 11 can move in the open oblong shape 16 of the contact support 9, the amplitude of this rotational movement being determined by the length of this oblong opening, the orientation of this oblong portion being such that during this rotation, the needle 10 constituting the aforementioned pivot can move from one end to the other of this opening 16, in that this oblong opening is substantially concentric with the center of rotation associated with the point ball joint R, which center of rotation is constituted by the point P of contact between the contact support 9 and the plate 11. This point ball joint connection R in combination with the degree of freedom created by the oblong shape of the opening 16 receiving the pivot articulation 10 of the contact support 9, make it possible to balance the forces exerted by the movable contacts 7,8 on the fixed contacts 20,21, during the contact pressurization of the contacts, as will be explained in this following.

According to the invention, this control device is intended to be used in an electrical protection device said double-cut, that is to say having two movable contacts. For this purpose, the contact support supports two movable contacts 7,8 intended to cooperate respectively with two fixed contacts 20, 21. In this case, the balancing of the contact pressure forces will be made between the two contact points created at level of each set consisting of a fixed contact 20,21 and a movable contact 7.8.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the point-type ball joint R between the contact support 9 and the plate 11 is of the sliding type so as to allow a slight translational movement of the arm 17 supporting the ball 18 inside. of the plate 11 at the point link P, in an elongate recess 19 provided for this purpose in the plate 11. On the other hand, the orientation of the oblong hole 16 is such that the axis of symmetry longitudinal of this oblong orifice is inclined relative to the circular path t of the contact support 9, so that when the contact support 9 rotates relative to the plate 11 about the center of rotation P, the pivot 10 cooperates with the wall delimiting the oblong orifice 16, so as to cause the displacement in translation of the contact support 9 according to the degree of freedom in translation allowed thereof relative to the plate 11, that is to say substantially parallel the longitudinal direction of the fixed and moving contacts, as illustrated in figures 5 and 6 .

The operation of the control device according to the invention will be described in the following with reference to the figures.
On the figure 1 , the control device is in a position of the contacts 7, 8, 20, 21 open, the handle 6 being in the open position.
When the lever 6 is actuated to close the contacts, it moves the rod 14, which bears on the plate 11 and the hook 15. The hook 15 is locked on the bar (or lever) 13 .

The rod 14 resting on the plate 11 and on the hook 15 rotates the plate 11 about its axis until the closure of the contacts.
The rod 14 continues its course until crossing the dead center of the toggle formed by the handle 6 and the rod 14.
Then, the mechanism takes the equilibrium position that holds the contacts 7, 8, 20, 21 closed as shown in FIG. figure 2 .
To open the contacts manually, the handle 6 is actuated until it crosses the dead center of the toggle in the opposite direction. The mechanism then reaches the equilibrium position, the contacts being open, when the lever 6 reaches the end of its travel, position represented on the figure 1 .
When the contacts 7, 8, 20, 21 are closed and the trigger bar 13 is actuated, the hook 15 is unlocked, but the lever 6 does not return immediately to its open position.
The balance of forces exerted by the rod 14 on the mechanism is broken. The plate 11 rotates about its axis and opens the contacts 7, 8, 20, 21.
Then, the spring of the handle 6 brings it in open contacts position, the link 14 returns the hook 15 to the initial position, and a biasing spring of the hook and rearming of the bar puts them in a position for locking the hook 15 on the bar 13 when the lever 6 is actuated to close the contacts.
According to the invention, during the transition from the open position to the closed position, and during the contact pressure setting of the movable contacts on the fixed contacts, the contact support 9 moves in rotation and the needle moves in the oblong-shaped opening 16. The contact support 9 remains resting on the needle 10 opposite the first point of contact created between one of the movable contacts 7.8 and the one 20.21 contacts fixed, so as to establish a certain balance.
Then, when the second contact is established between the other mobile contacts and the other of the fixed contacts, the contact support 9 is detached from the needle 10, the latter then being in the vicinity of a central position in the oblong opening 16, a position representing the balance of the contact pressures, as illustrated in FIG. figure 4 .

After this so-called position of equilibrium of the contact pressures, the handle 6 is further rotated in the direction of closure. However, the movable contacts 7,8 already being in abutment against the fixed contacts 20,21, the rotational drive of the contact support 9 around the needle 10 is no longer possible, and it is the contact support 9 which then rotates relative to the plate 11 through the ball joint R provided for this purpose.
During this effort on the contact support 9, it presses the needle 10 ( fig.5 ), which needle, because of the orientation of the oblong opening 16, bears on the wall of the oblong opening 16, which induces a movement downwards, that is to say towards the face rear of the apparatus, the contact support 9, a distance corresponding substantially to the distance d between the circle t passing through the upper part of the pivot 10 and the highest point of the oblong opening 16, this being illustrated in particular on the figure 5 . This movement is authorized by the additional degree of freedom in translation allowed at the point ball joint R between the contact support 9 and the ball 18 inside the elongate opening 19 provided for this purpose in the plate 11.
This downward movement is followed by an upward movement of the movable contacts 7,8 when the contact pressure is released, this alternating movement creating a self-cleaning effect of the movable contacts 7,8 compared fixed contacts 20,21, as illustrated in the figures 5 and 6 .
Note that the same effects in the opposite direction of balancing and self-cleaning, occur during the opening of the contacts during the decompression phase of the movable contacts relative to the fixed contacts.
Thus, thanks to the invention, a control device for an electrical protection device has been realized, making it possible to balance the forces on the contact pads so as to recover the games due to wear, by the installation of a spherical connection of the point type between the contact support and the platen, supplemented by an additional degree of freedom of the platinum needle, in a circular stroke, in the opening provided in the contact support.

The invention also makes it possible to perform self-cleaning of the contacts, which makes it possible to stabilize the contact resistances, by orienting the oblong opening of the contact support cooperating with a sliding point link. between the contact support and the plate, in order to create a sliding of the movable contacts during the pressurization of the contacts.
The invention also makes it possible to obtain a reduction in the volume of the contact pressure springs by the transfer of the point of rotation of the contact support during the contact pressurization, as can be seen in FIG. figure 7 , which shows that the lever arm (a) of the application of the force of the contact pressure spring, is multiplied by more than two (2Xa).
A faster opening speed (multiplied by two) is obtained thanks to the double contact, as well as a doubling of the opening distance due to the presence of the double-contact, each sliding contact having an opening distance, the arrival of the current being made by the first contact and outgoing by the second.
An improvement in the performance of devices equipped with a control device according to the invention is thus obtained by virtue of the invention, enabling said apparatuses to be used for DC currents or high voltages.
Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and illustrated which has been given by way of example.
The invention applies to any electrical apparatus in which at least one moving contact and at least one fixed contact are brought into contact.

Claims (9)

1. Electrical auxiliary switch (1) intended to be linked to a breaker device (2), said auxiliary switch comprising an outer casing (10) having two lateral faces (10A, 10B) and comprising

   - mechanical coupling means allowing a face-to-face coupling of one auxiliary switch with another auxiliary switch or with a breaker device,

   - mechanical control means allowing the transmission of a control command from one auxiliary switch to the other or from a breaker device to an auxiliary switch,

   characterized in that the outer casing (10) comprises currency polarizing means comprising a rotary barrel (100) positioned in an orifice passing through the casing (10) from one lateral face to the other, said barrel of longitudinal axis (Y) having a first radial face comprising a male imprint (101) and a second radial face comprising a female imprint (102), the form of the male imprint being matched to that of the female imprint to collaborate by fitting together, the currency polarizing means allowing a limited number of couplings of electrical auxiliary switches (1) to a breaker device (2).
2. Electrical auxiliary switch according to Claim 1, characterized in that the male imprint (101) of a barrel (100) is offset by an adjustment angle (β) relative to the female imprint (102) in such a way that the male imprint (101) of a barrel of a first electrical auxiliary switch can enter into a female imprint of a barrel of a second electrical auxiliary switch only if at least one of the barrels has rotated on its longitudinal axis (Y) by an angle equal to an integer multiple of the adjustment angle (β).
3. Electrical auxiliary switch according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the barrel (100) comprises positioning abutments (103) allowing a rotation of said barrel (100) on the longitudinal axis (Y) between two extreme angular positions, the two extreme angular positions being separated by a positioning angle (α).
4. Electrical auxiliary switch according to Claim 3, characterized in that the positioning angle (α) is equal to N times the adjustment angle (β), N being an integer number.
5. Electrical auxiliary switch according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that it comprises elastic means allowing the positioning of the barrel (100) in one of the two extreme angular positions.
6. Electrical auxiliary switch according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hole emerging from the casing (10) has a longitudinal axis substantially at right angles to the lateral faces (10A, 10B) and the two radial faces of a barrel (100) are substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis (Y) of rotation of said barrel.
7. Breaker device (2) comprising a casing (20) having two lateral faces (20A, 20B), said casing comprising:

   - mechanical coupling means allowing a face-to-face coupling with an electrical auxiliary switch (1) according to any one of Claims 2 to 7,

   - mechanical control means allowing the transmission of a control command with said electrical auxiliary switch (1),

   characterized in that the casing comprises, on at least one of the lateral faces (20B), an imprint (201) having a form matched to that of an imprint (101) of a barrel (100) of an electrical auxiliary switch (1) to collaborate by fitting together.
8. Breaker device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the casing (20) comprises, on at least one of the lateral faces (20B), a female imprint (201) having a form matched to that of a male imprint (101) of a barrel (100) of an electrical auxiliary switch (1) to collaborate by fitting together.
9. Method for assembling at least two electrical auxiliary switches (10) according to Claim 1 on a breaker device (20) according to Claim 7, the method being characterized in that it consists in:

   - attaching a first auxiliary switch to the breaker device;

   - pivoting a barrel (100) of a second auxiliary switch (10) by an adjustment angle (β);

   - attaching the second auxiliary switch (10) to the first auxiliary switch (10).

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