ES2799719T3 - Device for signaling an electrical failure in an electrical protection device, and devices that compose it - Google Patents

Abstract

Trip signaling device of an electrical protection device such as a circuit breaker housed in an insulating casing. containing a pair of fixed (5) and mobile (4) contacts, said mobile contact being manually operable by a lever (6) mechanically connected to a support device (3) for the mobile contact, said lever being pivotally mounted between a closing position and an opening position of the contacts, or automatically by means of a trigger mechanism, comprising a magnetic trigger (13) capable of being activated upon the occurrence of a short-circuit fault and a thermal trigger (18) capable of being activated upon occurrence of an overload fault, said movable contact support (3) being rotatably mounted between a position in which the contacts are open and a position in which the contacts are closed and connected to the lever (6) by a transmission medium to form a breakable mechanical link between the bracket and the lever, activation of one of the triggers causes the mechanical link to break, resulting in the separation of the s contacts, and first signaling means called S or called any type of fault intended to be activated to signal the trip status of the device regardless of the type of fault, characterized in that it comprises signaling means called second T, capable of being activated only when a short-circuit fault occurs, said signaling means called first S and the signaling means called second T, cooperating with an opening (7) belonging to the casing (1) of the device, so that when the so-called first means signaling S and the so-called second signaling means T are activated, they can be displayed simultaneously through the opening of the casing to signal to the user the occurrence of a short-circuit fault, while when only the first signaling means S are activated, these first signaling means S are visible through the opening of the casing to signal to the u user the occurrence of an overload fault.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Device for signaling an electrical failure in an electrical protection device, and devices that compose it

Technical field

The present invention refers to a device for signaling the trip of an electrical protection device such as a circuit breaker housed in an insulating housing containing a pair of fixed and mobile contacts, said mobile contact being capable of being actuated either manually by a lever mechanically connected to a mobile contact support device, said lever being pivotally mounted between a closed position and an open position of the contacts, or automatically by means of a trigger mechanism comprising a magnetic trigger capable of being activated when a short-circuit fault and a thermal trigger capable of being activated when an overload fault occurs, said movable contact support being mounted in rotation between a position in which the contacts are open and a position in which the contacts are closed and connected to the lever by a transmission means to form a breakable mechanical link between the support and lever, the activation of one of the triggers causes the mechanical link to break, giving rise to the separation of the contacts, and the signaling means being called first or denominated for any type of failure intended to signal the trip status of the device,

Prior state of the art

It is known that document EP 1 542 253 describes a signaling device of the type mentioned. In this document, the device includes means for signaling an automatic trip on a fault, but these means do not distinguish between the type of fault, that is, whether it is a fault due to an electrical overload or a short circuit.

Patents WO 2013114395 and EP 2083434 are also known to report a short circuit fault.

These signaling devices do not distinguish between thermal and magnetic faults.

Similarly, current fault signaling auxiliary modules signal a trip due to a fault, but cannot distinguish between the two types of fault.

Also known are patents US 2,905,795 and US 6,222,433 which describe a signaling device with the characteristics of the preamble of claim 1.

Description of the invention

The present invention solves these problems and provides a device for signaling a fault in an electrical protection device, allowing the type of fault to be distinguished, in order to communicate the electrical faults of an electrical installation to the customer with greater precision.

To this end, the present invention relates to a signaling device according to claim 1.

According to a particular characteristic, the so-called second signaling means comprise a lever, or arm, rotatably mounted with respect to the housing of the apparatus, said lever comprising a first end that cooperates with the striker of the magnetic trigger and a second end that cooperates with an indicator. According to a particular embodiment, the so-called first and second signaling means respectively comprise a first indicator and a second indicator, said indicators being visible through an opening in the housing of the apparatus, signaling the appearance of the two indicators through the opening a magnetic type fault while the appearance of a single indicator indicates an overload fault.

According to another embodiment, the first and second signaling means are carried by the same and only indicator called third, said third indicator being capable of adopting three positions, respectively a first position corresponding to a closed position of the apparatus, a second position corresponding to an opening of the contacts after an overload fault, and a third position corresponding to an opening in a short circuit.

According to a particular characteristic, this device comprises means for retaining the so-called third indicator in an intermediate position, or second position, making it possible to move the indicator towards the third position in a magnetic firing, using the magnetic forces generated by the firing pin of the magnetic trigger.

According to another characteristic, the travel given to the so-called third indicator by the rotary lever during a magnetic type trip is greater than the travel given by the trip mechanism to said indicator during an overload fault.

According to another characteristic, the magnetic forces exerted by the rotary lever will be sufficient to allow the so-called third indicator to pass through the stops or protrusions provided on the indicator and to cooperate with the edges that define the opening of the housing of the apparatus, these stops and protrusions are intended to lock the indicator in the thermal failure position.

According to another characteristic of this device is that it has means to reset the indicator (s) to the position of no failure of the apparatus when it is closed.

The present invention also relates to an electrical protection apparatus comprising a signaling device with the aforementioned characteristics, alone or in combination.

Advantageously, this apparatus comprises a mobile assembly comprising said mobile contact support device mounted in rotation between the two mentioned positions and connected to the lever by a transmission means to form a breakable mechanical link between the device and the lever, this The apparatus is characterized in that it comprises a signaling device that has the aforementioned characteristics taken alone or in combination and the aforementioned mobile assembly has a different profile depending on the speed of opening of the contacts, this speed being different depending on whether it is a manual opening or of an opening that follows an electrical fault, this profile being such that said set activates the so-called first signaling means mentioned above only during an automatic opening of the contacts that follow a fault. According to a particular characteristic, this aforementioned mobile assembly comprises a transmission link articulated at one of its ends on the lever, and connected in an articulated manner at its other end on a hook, said hook being articulated on the contact support device movable, cooperating with the tripping means and including a means for activating the signaling means when the contacts open following a fault. According to a particular characteristic of the invention, this apparatus is a circuit breaker.

Brief description of the drawings:

But other advantages and characteristics of the invention will be better shown in the following detailed description, which refers to the attached drawings given only as examples and in which:

• Figures 1 to 13 are partial perspective or side views of a control device of an electrical protection device comprising a fault signaling device according to a first embodiment of the invention, while Figures 14 to 24 are partial perspective or side views of the same apparatus comprising a signaling device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

• Figures 1 and 2 illustrate more particularly the two indicators of the signaling device according to the invention, intended to cooperate with an opening in the housing,

• Figures 3 and 4 respectively illustrate the so-called signaling means of any type of failure and the signaling means in magnetic triggering, these two signaling means constitute the signaling device according to the invention,

• Figures 5 to 8 illustrate more particularly the operation of the so-called first or any type of failure signaling means,

• Figures 9 to 11 illustrate more specifically the operation of the magnetic trigger signaling means, called seconds,

• Figures 12 and 13 illustrate the resetting of the two indicators to the no-fault position when the device is closed,

• Figures 14 and 15 illustrate the principle of a three-position indicator, according to the second embodiment of the signaling device according to the invention,

• Figures 16 and 17 illustrate the same signaling device in position 0 of the indicator corresponding to a closed position of the apparatus,

• Figures 18 and 19 illustrate more particularly the operation of the signaling means known as any type of fault according to this second embodiment of the invention, during a magnetic or thermal trigger,

• Figures 20 and 21 more specifically illustrate a trip due to a thermal fault,

• Figure 22 illustrates, in a plan view, the indicator according to another embodiment of the invention, and

• Figures 23 and 24 more specifically illustrate a trip due to a fault of magnetic origin.

Detailed description of two particular embodiments of the invention

The figures show part of the control device of a miniature electrical circuit breaker with molded insulating housing 1, this circuit breaker being of the type shown in more detail in EP 1975971. This control device 2 comprises a support device 3 for the moving contact 4, said mobile contact 4 being intended to cooperate with a fixed contact 5.

An opening is provided in the front panel 8 of the housing for the passage of a lever 6 mounted with limited pivotal movement on an axis 11 of the housing between a closed position in which the contacts 4.5 are closed and a corresponding open position to the separation of the contacts 4.5.

The lever 6 is equipped with an internal base 9 coupled to a transmission connecting rod 10 to form an eccentric joint device 12 (Fig. 16) in relation to the fixed axis 11 of the lever 6.

A return spring (not shown) pushes the lever 6 in the trigonometric direction towards the open position of the contacts. The fixed contact 5 is fixed to the frame of an electromagnetic trigger 13. The moving contact 4 is fixed to the support device 3 of the moving contact 4, said support 3 being articulated around a pivot 14, the rotating plate 15 is also mounted in a rotary around this pivot 14.

A release lever 16 controlled by the striker 28 of the electromagnetic trigger 13 and the thermal or bimetallic trigger 18 or an external auxiliary, is pivotally mounted on a shaft 17 (fig. 18) carried by the plate 15 with a predetermined displacement with with respect to said pivot 14.

There is a breakable mechanical link between the transmission rod 10 and the drive plate 15 of the contact support device 3.

In the lock position of the firing mechanism, the link allows manual control of the mechanism by the lever. By moving the trigger lever 16 to the trigger position under the action of the triggers, a momentary break of the mechanical link occurs, resulting in the automatic firing of the mechanism, independent of lever 6. The trigger lever 16 is associated with a return spring 27 designed to ensure automatic reestablishment of the mechanical link when lever 6 is moved to the open position after a trip of the mechanism due to a fault.

This breakable mechanical link consists of a hook 19 pivotally mounted on an axis 20 of the plate 15. Facing this axis, a tip 21 of the hook 19 cooperates in the locking position of the link with a retaining notch 22 located on the firing lever arm 16. Transmission connecting rod 10 is coupled to hook 19 and plate 15 at an articulation point 23 that can move when firing in two consecutive openings of plate 15. This articulation point 23 is located between the axis of the articulation 20 of the hook 19 on the plate 19 and the tip 21 of the hook hook. The link constitutes a reduction stage in the kinematic chain of the mechanism, allowing a reduction of the firing force from the magnetothermic trigger, as described in more detail in patent EP 1975971.

The operation of the control device will now be described with reference to the figures.

When the control device 2 is in the open contacts position 4.5, the lever 6 is in the open position.

When the lever 6 is operated to close the contacts, the connecting rod 10 is moved, which rests on the plate 15 and on the hook 19. The hook 19 is locked in the trigger bar (or lever) 16.

The connecting rod 10, which is supported by the plate 15 and the hook 19, pivots the plate 15 around its axis 14 until the contacts 4.5 are closed.

The connecting rod continues its course until it passes the dead point of the joint formed by lever 6 and connecting rod 10. Then the mechanism adopts the equilibrium position that keeps the contacts closed 4.5.

To open the contacts 4,5 manually, the lever 6 is actuated until it passes the dead center of the joint in the opposite direction. The mechanism then returns to the equilibrium position with the contacts open when the lever 6 reaches the end of its travel.

When contacts 4.5 are closed and trip bar 16 is actuated, hook 19 is unlocked, but lever 6 does not immediately return to its open position.

The balance of forces exerted by the connecting rod 10 on the mechanism has been broken. The plate 15 rotates around its axis 14 and opens the contacts 4,5. The opening 25 inside the hook 19 allows the rotation of the hook 19 about the axis 20 and this opening 25 in the hook and the openings in the plate 15 allow the rotation of the plate, with the lever still in the closed contact position .

Then the lever spring returns the lever to the open contacts position and the connecting rod returns the hook to the initial position. A spring to bias the hook and the resetting of the bar returns them to a position that allows the hook 19 to be locked on the bar 16 when the lever 6 is actuated to close the contacts 4,5. The openings provided on the plate 15 help guide the connecting rod 10 so that it can be returned to the resting position on the plate.

This control device 2 also has means S for signaling the trip status of the electrical protection apparatus due to a short circuit or overload, these means are inactive when the device is manually opened. A particular embodiment of these means is more specifically described in patent EP 1542253.

According to a particular embodiment of these signaling means described in patent EP 1542253, this hook is articulated in the support device of the mobile contact, cooperates with the trigger means and comprises a means to activate the signaling means mentioned above, in the case a so-called first 32 indicator, when an opening occurs after a failure of any kind. The lever 6 and the support device 3 of the mobile contact 4 being each returned to the open position by a spring, determining the inertia of the lever, the hook and the device and the return force of the springs respectively of the lever and of the support device in such a way that the speed of rotation of the hook when opening in a failure is much higher than the speed of rotation of the lever.

According to the invention, the control device also includes signaling means called T seconds, to signal only the tripping status of the apparatus in the event of a short circuit.

These so-called second signaling means T comprise an arm 34 that rotates with respect to an axis 14 corresponding to the axis of the above-mentioned mechanism, this arm 34 is mechanically connected at one of its ends to the striker 28 of the magnetic firing means 13 and acting at its opposite end in a so-called second indicator 33.

The operation of the signaling device according to the invention comprising the first signaling means S and the second signaling means T mentioned above, will now be described with reference to the figures.

In Figures 1 to 4, the two indicators 32,33 are visible through the opening 7 of the housing 1 of the apparatus, indicating respectively for the indicator 32 located more to the right, a trip without distinction of the type of failure, and for the leftmost indicator 33, a magnetic trip. This viewing configuration of the two indicators 32,33 indicates that a trip of magnetic origin occurred. The rightmost, first named indicator 32 has been displaced by the hook during rotation of the rotating plate 15, causing the hook to rotate rapidly, as explained in more detail in EP 1542253. The indicator 33, located furthest to the left, referred to as the second, has been moved by means of the aforementioned rotary lever 34 which was actuated when the striker 28 moved due to a short-circuit fault. Next, the operation of the signaling means called first S or those of any type of failure will be explained, with special reference to figure 5. Thus, during a failure of thermal origin, the deviation of the bimetallic strip 18 drives the distributor 30 , which drives the rotating bar 16, which causes the bar to be unlocked relative to the hook 19. Then, the hook 19 rotates under the force of the connecting rod 10, and the rotation of the hook 19 causes the translation of the indicator of right 32 to a position of apparent failure.

When a fault of magnetic origin occurs, the striker 28 rotates the bar 16, which causes the indicator on the right 32 to move to an apparent fault position in the same manner as before.

The left hand indicator 33 of the second signaling means T is only actuated in the event of a magnetic failure by rotation of the lever 34, which is actuated by the striker 28 of the magnetic trigger 13.

Thus, the appearance of a single indicator 32 through the opening indicates the occurrence of a fault of thermal origin, while the appearance of the two indicators 32,33 indicates the occurrence of a fault of magnetic origin.

Thus, in figures 6, 7 and 8, only the right indicator 32 is seen, which indicates the occurrence of a failure of thermal origin. In this case, the distributor 30 has rotated the bar 16, causing the hook / bar link to break, with the hook rotating and the first indicator 32 in the fail position. In this case, this indicator only appears because the thermal fault has no effect on the mentioned lever 34.

Figures 9, 10 and 11 illustrate the case of the occurrence of a fault of magnetic origin. In this case, the second indicator 33 was activated by the lever 34 operated by the striker 28, with the first indicator 32 also in the fault position. Thus, the appearance of the two indicators 32,33 makes it possible to indicate a fault of magnetic origin. Thus, a fault of thermal origin can be distinguished from a fault of magnetic origin.

In Figures 12 and 13, we see that the plate 15 has a tip 35 capable of cooperating with the part 36 of the indicators 32,33 extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of said indicators, so that these two indicators return to the position of no It fails when the appliance closes after an opening due to a fault.

Figures 14 to 24 illustrate another embodiment of the signaling device D according to the invention, in which this device has a single indicator 37 with three positions to perform the two functions previously described. they performed the two indicators of the previous embodiment, namely, the signaling of all types of faults and the function of signaling a single fault of magnetic origin.

Thus, this indicator 37, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, can adopt three positions, namely, a first position, called position 0, which corresponds to a no-fault position, a second position, called a thermal fault position , in which the indicator has moved 2.5 mm from the first position, and a third position corresponding to a magnetic fault position in which the indicator has moved 2.5 mm from the second position, so that located at a distance of 5 mm from position O.

In Figures 16 to 19, the indicator is in position 0, which corresponds to a closed position of the apparatus.

In Fig. 20, due to a thermally caused fault, the deflection of the bimetallic strip 18 drove the distributor 30, which rotated the bar 16, causing the bar to unlock from the hook 19. The hook was then left under the effect of the force of the connecting rod 10, the rotation of the hook 19 having caused the so-called third indicator 37 to move to an intermediate fault position to signal a fault of thermal origin. The travel of the indicator is then limited by the rotation of the hook.

When a fault of magnetic origin occurs, the same effects are produced in these signaling means S called any type of fault, but with the trip performed by the striker 28 of the magnetic trigger 13. However, in this case, the striker also it operates the lever 34 in rotation, which causes an additional travel of the so-called third indicator 37 that allows it to pass to a second fault position and thus signal a fault of magnetic origin.

In the event of a failure of thermal origin, the signaling means S called any type of failure carry the indicator in the second position at a distance of 2.5 mm from the first.

The sequence of operation during a magnetic trip is the same as the previous one, except that the indicator 37 must be kept in this position, making possible the movement of the single indicator in a magnetic trip to the third position, by the lever 34, using high magnetic forces, as shown in Figures 23 and 24.

In this case, the travel given to the indicator 37 by the lever 34 is greater than the travel given to the indicator 37 by the hook 19. In addition, the magnetic forces will be sufficient to allow the indicator to pass the stops 38 or the protrusions of the position. thermal failure. And these same stops will be enough to lock the indicator in the thermal failure position, whatever the energy given to the hook by the indicator.

The invention has thus made it possible to signal a fault trip by distinguishing a thermal fault from a magnetic fault, thus making it possible to communicate the electrical faults of an electrical installation to the customer in a more precise way.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the described and illustrated embodiments which have been given as examples only.

Claims (12)

1. Trip signaling device of an electrical protection device such as a circuit breaker housed in an insulating housing. containing a pair of fixed (5) and movable (4) contacts, said movable contact being manually operable by a lever (6) mechanically connected to a movable contact support device (3), said lever being pivotally mounted between a closed position and an open position of the contacts, or automatically by means of a tripping mechanism, comprising a magnetic trigger (13) capable of activating when a short-circuit fault occurs and a thermal trigger (18) capable of activating when an overload fault occurs, said movable contact support (3) being rotatably mounted between a position in which the contacts are open and a position in which the contacts are closed and connected to the lever (6) by a transmission medium to form a breakable mechanical link between the bracket and the lever, the activation of one of the triggers causes the mechanical link to break, resulting in the separation of the s contacts, and first signaling means called S or called any type of fault, intended to be activated to signal the tripping status of the device regardless of the type of fault, characterized in that it comprises signaling means called second T, capable of being activated only when a short-circuit failure occurs, said signaling means called first S and signaling means called second T cooperating with an opening (7) belonging to the casing ( 1) of the apparatus, so that when the so-called first signaling means S and the so-called second signaling means T are activated, they can be simultaneously displayed through the opening of the housing to signal to the user the occurrence of a short-circuit fault, while that when only the first signaling means S are activated, these first signaling means S are visible through the opening of the housing to signal to the user the occurrence of an overload fault. A signaling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the so-called second signaling means T comprise a lever (34) or arm, mounted in order to rotate with respect to the housing (1) of the apparatus, said lever comprising a first end that cooperates with the striker (28) of the magnetic trigger and a second end that cooperates with an indicator (33). A signaling device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the so-called first signaling means S and the so-called second signaling means T respectively comprise a first indicator (32) and a second indicator (33), said indicators being visible to Through an opening (7) in the housing (1) of the apparatus, the appearance of the two indicators through the opening indicates a magnetic type fault, while the appearance of a single indicator indicates an overload fault. A signaling device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first signaling means S and the second signaling means T are carried by the same indicator (37) called third, said so-called third indicator being capable of adopting three positions, respectively a first position corresponding to a closed position of the apparatus, a second position corresponding to an opening of the contacts after an overload fault, and a third position corresponding to an opening in a short circuit. Signaling device according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises means for retaining the so-called third indication (37) in an intermediate position, or second position, making it possible to move the indicator towards the third position in a magnetic trigger, by means of play of the magnetic forces generated by the striker (28) of the magnetic trigger. A signaling device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the travel given to the so-called third indicator (37) by the rotary lever (34) during a magnetic type trigger is greater than the travel given by the trigger mechanism to said indicator during an overload fault. A signaling device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the magnetic forces exerted by the rotating lever (34) will be sufficient to allow the so-called third indicator (37) to pass the stops or protrusions (38) provided in the indicator and cooperating with the edges that define the opening (7) of the housing (1) of the apparatus, said stops and protrusions being intended to block said indicator in the thermal failure position. A signaling device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for restoring the indicator (s) (32, 33, 37) in the non-failure position of the device, when the device is closed. 9. Electrical protection device comprising a signaling device according to any one of the preceding claims. 10. Electrical protection apparatus comprising a mobile assembly comprising the support device (3) of said mobile contact mounted in rotation between the two mentioned positions and connected to the lever (6) by a transmission means (10) to form a breakable mechanical link between the device (3) and the lever (6), characterized in that it comprises a signaling device D according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and in that said mobile equipment has a different profile depending on the opening speed of the contacts (4, 5), this speed being different depending on whether it is a manual opening or an opening due to an electrical failure, this profile being such that said set activates the mentioned first signaling means S only during an automatic opening of the contacts (4, 5) following a failure. Electrical protection device according to claim 10, characterized in that said mobile assembly comprises a transmission link (10) articulated at one of its ends on the lever (6), and connected in an articulated manner at its other end to a hook (19), said hook (19) being articulated on the support device (3) of the movable contact (4), cooperating with the trigger means (16) and comprising means (21) to activate the signaling means S when the contacts (4, 5) open due to a fault. 12. An electrical protection device according to any of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that it is a circuit breaker.