JP2004178999A

JP2004178999A - Circuit breaker and circuit breaker device combining it with external accessory

Info

Publication number: JP2004178999A
Application number: JP2002344355A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Takashi Yamanaka; 尚山中; Tatsunori Ikeda; 龍典池田
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Priority date: 2002-11-27
Filing date: 2002-11-27
Publication date: 2004-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 2022-11-27
Also published as: JP4012051B2; CN1312721C; CN1503297A

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an insulating plate material used as an insulating cover covering a coupling hole of a circuit breaker and an insulating plate material used as an insulating barrier of an outer terminal of a circuit breaker device from being made waste materials, in the circuit breaker which can be combined with an external accessory and the circuit breaker device combining them. <P>SOLUTION: The device is so constructed that one insulating plate material is to be fitted both to a first position covering the coupling hole of the circuit breaker and a second position adjacent to the outer terminal and it is fitted either to the first position or the second position. With this as a basis, the insulating plate material can be saved from becoming a waste material, realizing an effective use of an insulating material resource. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
この発明は、回路遮断器およびこれに外付形付属器を組み合わせた回路遮断装置に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
一般に回路遮断器は、遮断器外箱の内部に、遮断器固定接点と、遮断器可動接点と、この遮断器可動接点を遮断器固定接点に対して離接する遮断器可動接点駆動機構と、可動接点引き外し装置とを収容したものであり、遮断器外箱の外部には、遮断器可動接点駆動機構の手動引き外しレバーが設けられ、また前記遮断器固定接点と遮断器可動接点に接続された遮断器外部端子が設けられている。可動接点引き外し装置は電気回路の過電流に応じて遮断器可動接点駆動機構のラッチを自動的に引き外し、遮断器可動接点を遮断器固定接点から自動的に引き離す。
【０００３】
この回路遮断器に、外付形付属器を組み合わせた回路遮断装置が、例えば特開平１−２２５０３０号公報の第１図に示されている。この外付形付属器は、回路遮断器と連動するように回路遮断器と組み合わされる。この外付形付属器は回路遮断器との連動に基づき、２つの態様で使用される。その第１の態様は、外付形付属器によって回路遮断器を駆動する態様である。この第１の態様では、外付形付属器に外部制御電圧が供給され、この外部制御電圧によって回路遮断器の引き外しを行なう。この外部制御電圧は付属器可動接点駆動機構を駆動し、付属器可動接点を付属器固定接点から引き離してそれらをオフさせると同時に、付属器可動接点駆動機構が遮断器可動接点駆動機構を駆動し、遮断器可動接点を遮断器固定接点から引き外す。第２の態様は、逆に回路遮断器によって外付形付属器を駆動する態様である。この第２の態様では、回路遮断器の可動接点引き外し装置によって遮断器可動接点駆動機構のラッチが引き外され、遮断器可動接点が遮断器固定接点から引き外されると同時に、遮断器可動接点駆動機構が付属器可動接点駆動機構を駆動し、付属器可動接点を付属器固定接点から引き外して、それらをオフさせる。この第２の態様では、外付形付属器に第２の付属器可動接点と第２の付属器固定接点を付設し、回路遮断器の引き外しにより、この第２の付属器可動接点を第２の付属器固定接点にオンさせるものもある。
【０００４】
外付形付属器は、その付属器外箱が遮断器外箱と共用されるものが多い。この付属器外箱の内部には、一般に付属器固定接点と、付属器可動接点と、この付属器可動接点を付属器固定接点に対して離接する付属器可動接点駆動機構が収容され、また前記第１の態様で使用されるものでは、さらに、付属器引き外し装置が収容される。付属器外箱の外部には付属器可動接点駆動機構の手動引き外しレバーが設けられ、またその付属器固定接点と付属器可動接点に接続された付属器外部端子が設けられている。
【０００５】
回路遮断器と外付形付属器とを組み合わせた回路遮断装置では、遮断器外箱と付属器外箱が互いに接するようにして並べられ、遮断器外箱と付属器外箱の間には、遮断器可動接点駆動機構と付属器可動接点駆動機構を連結する連結部材が取り付けられる。この連結部材を取り付けるために、遮断器外箱と付属器外箱には、互いに対向する位置に、連結部材を通すための連結穴が形成される。回路遮断器の連結穴は、外付形付属器を組み合わせないときには、絶縁カバーで塞がれるが、回路遮断器と外付形付属器が組み合わされたときには、この絶縁カバーは不要になるので、従来では破棄されている。
【０００６】
また、回路遮断器と外付形付属器とが組み合わされたときには、遮断器外部端子と付属器外部端子が接近するので、それらの外部端子の間に絶縁バリアが設けられる。特にブスバー接続を行なう負荷側の遮断器外部端子と負荷側の付属器外部端子の間に、この絶縁バリアが設けられる。この負荷側の遮断器外部端子は、多くの場合、遮断器可動接点に接続されるが、遮断器固定接点に接続されるものもある。この絶縁バリアはまた回路遮断器から外付形付属器を取り外し、回路遮断器を単独で使用するときには、不要でなるので、従来では破棄されている。
【０００７】
【特許文献】
特開平１−２２５０３０号公報、特にその図１。
【０００８】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
前記絶縁カバーと絶縁バリアの破棄は、廃材を増加させるばかりか、絶縁材料資源を無駄に消費する結果をもたらす。
この発明は、このような廃材の増加を防止し、併せて絶縁材料資源の有効利用を図ることのできる回路遮断器を提案するものである。
また、この発明は、廃材の増加を防止し、併せて絶縁資源の有効利用を図ることのできる回路遮断器と外付形付属を組み合わせた回路遮断装置を提案するものである。
【０００９】
【課題を解決するための手段】
この発明による回路遮断器は、外付形付属器を組み合わせることのできる回路遮断器であって、遮断器外箱を備え、
前記遮断器外箱の内部には、固定接点と、可動接点と、この可動接点を前記固定接点に離接する可動接点駆動機構とその引き外し装置とが収容されており、前記遮断器外箱には前記可動接点駆動機構を前記外付形付属器に連結するための連結穴が形成され、また前記遮断器外箱の外部には前記固定接点または可動接点に接続された外部端子が配置されており、
さらに前記遮断器外箱には絶縁板材が付属され、この絶縁板材は、前記連結穴を塞ぐ第１の位置と、前記外部端子に隣接する第２の位置の両方に取り付け可能に構成され、これらの第１の位置と第２の位置の何れか一方に配置されたことを特徴とする。
【００１０】
この発明の回路遮断器では、１つの絶縁板材が、連結穴を塞ぐ第１の位置と、外部端子に隣接する第２の位置の両方に取り付け可能に構成され、これらの第１の位置と第２の位置の何れか一方の位置に配置される。結果として、絶縁板材は、絶縁カバーとして、また絶縁バリアとして、共用され、廃材の増加を防止しながら、絶縁材料の有効利用を図ることができる。
【００１１】
また、この発明による回路遮断装置は、回路遮断器と、この回路遮断器に組み合わされた外付形付属器とを備えた回路遮断装置であって、
前記回路遮断器は遮断器外箱を有し、前記遮断器外箱の内部には、遮断器固定接点と、遮断器可動接点と、この遮断器可動接点を前記遮断器固定接点に対して離接する遮断器可動接点駆動機構とその引き外し装置が収容され、また前記遮断器外箱の外部には前記遮断器固定接点または遮断器可動接点に接続された遮断器外部端子が配置されており、
前記外付形付属器は付属器外箱を有し、前記付属器外箱の内部には付属器固定接点と、付属器可動接点と、この付属器可動接点を前記付属器固定接点に対して離接する付属器可動接点駆動機構が収容され、また前記付属器外箱の外部には前記付属器固定接点または付属器可動接点に接続された付属器外部端子が配置されており、
前記遮断器外箱と前記付属器外箱にはそれぞれ前記遮断器可動接点駆動機構と付属器可動接点駆動機構とを連結するための連結穴が形成され、
さらに前記遮断器外箱には絶縁板材が付属され、この絶縁板材は、前記遮断器外部端子と付属器外部端子との間の第２の位置に配置されていてそれらの間の絶縁バリアとして機能するが、前記遮断器外箱の連結穴を塞ぐ第１の位置にも取り付け可能に構成されたことを特徴とする。
【００１２】
この発明の回路遮断装置では、１つの絶縁板材が、遮断器外部端子と付属器外部端子との間の第２の位置に配置され、それらの間の絶縁バリアとして機能するが、遮断器外箱の連結穴を塞ぐ第１の位置にも、取り付け可能に構成される。その結果、１つの絶縁板材が、第２の位置では絶縁バリアとして、また第１の位置では絶縁カバーとして共用され、廃材の増加を防止しながら、絶縁材料の有効利用を図ることができる。
【００１３】
【実施の形態】
この発明による回路遮断器およびこれに外付形付属器を組み合わせた回路遮断装置について、図面を参照して、それらの実施の形態について説明する。
実施の形態１．
図１（Ａ）（Ｂ）はこの発明による回路遮断器の実施の形態１を示し、図１（Ａ）はその正面図、図１（Ｂ）はその右側面図である。図２（Ａ）（Ｂ）は、図１（Ａ）（Ｂ）に示す回路遮断器に組み合わされる外付形付属器を示し、図２（Ａ）はその左側面図、図２（Ｂ）はその正面図である。また、図３（Ａ）（Ｂ）は図１（Ａ）（Ｂ）に示す回路遮断器と図２（Ａ）（Ｂ）に示す外付形付属器との組み合わせて構成されるこの発明による回路遮断装置の実施の形態１を示し、図３（Ａ）はその正面図、図３（Ｂ）は図３（Ａ）のＢ−Ｂ線による矢印方向の断面図である。
【００１４】
［回路遮断器１０の説明］
まず、図１（Ａ）（Ｂ）を参照して実施の形態１の回路遮断器１０について説明する。回路遮断器１０は、遮断器外箱１１を有する。この遮断器外箱１１は、例えばナイロン樹脂などの電気的絶縁性樹脂を、薄い箱型に成形して作られる。この遮断器外箱１１の外面には、相対向する右側面１２、左側面１３と、一対の上端面１４、下端面１５と、上面１６と、下面１７とが形成されている。
【００１５】
遮断器外箱１１の内部には、遮断器固定接点と、遮断器可動接点と、遮断器可動接点駆動機構と、引き外し装置とが収容されている。これらの遮断器固定接点、遮断器可動接点、遮断器可動接点駆動機構および引き外し装置は、周知であり、図示を省略している。遮断器可動接点駆動機構は周知の通り、遮断器可動接点を遮断器固定接点に離接するための駆動機構であり、ラッチ機構を含んでおり、このラッチ機構によって、遮断器可動接点を高速で遮断器固定接点から開離させ、また遮断器可動接点を高速で遮断器固定接点に接合させる。引き外し装置は、周知の通り、例えば回路電流が流れるコイルを有する電磁石を含み、回路電流が所定値を越えて過電流となったときに、前記遮断器可動接点駆動機構のラッチ機構を自動的に引き外し、遮断器可動接点を遮断器固定接点から開離させる。
【００１６】
遮断器外箱１１の上面１６には、手動引き外しレバー１８が配置されている。この手動引き外しレバー１８は、遮断器可動接点駆動機構を手動で引き外すときに回動される。遮断器外箱１１の下端面１５には、遮断器外部端子１９が配置されている。この遮断器外部端子１９は、遮断器可動接点に接続されているが、遮断器固定接点に接続することもできる。この遮断器外部端子１９は、遮断器外箱１１の端子支持部１１Ａに配置され、また、側面１２から突出して形成された端子覆い部１１Ｂによって覆われている。
【００１７】
遮断器外箱１１の右側面１２の上部の第１の位置には、第１の凹部２０が形成されている。この第１の凹部２０は、ほぼ長方形の輪郭形状を有する。具体的には、この第１の凹部２０は、一対の長辺２１、２２と、一対の短辺２３、２４とを有し、長辺２２と短辺２４とで構成される隅部には、円弧面２５が形成されている。第１の凹部２０は内壁２６を有し、この内壁２６は遮断器外箱１１の右側壁の一部を構成する。この第１の凹部２０の内壁２６には、扇形の連結穴２７と、小さな凹穴２８が形成されている。連結穴２７は、内壁２６において遮断器外箱１１の右側壁を貫通し、遮断器外箱１１の内部に通じている。小さな凹穴２８は連結穴２７が形成する扇形の中心に、円形をなして形成されている。
【００１８】
遮断器外箱１１には、１つの絶縁板材３０が付属されている。この絶縁板材３０は、第１の凹部２０に嵌め込まれ、例えば両面接着テープを用いて、第１の凹部２０の内壁２２に接着される。この絶縁板材３０は、例えばフェノール樹脂などの電気的絶縁性樹脂を平板状に成形した成形品を、所定の形状に打ち抜き加工して平板状に作られる。絶縁板材３０は、第１の凹部２０と同じほぼ大きさの長方形の輪郭形状を有し、第１の凹部２０にぴったりと嵌め込まれる。具体的には、絶縁板材３０に輪郭は、一対の長辺３１、３２と、一対の短辺３３、３４を含み、さらに長辺３２と短辺３４とで構成される一つの隅部には、円弧面２５と対向する円弧面３５を有する。
【００１９】
一対の長辺３１、３２が第１の凹部２０の一対の長辺２１、２２にそれぞれ内接し、また一対の短辺３３、３４が第１の凹部２０の一対の短辺２３、２４にそれぞれ内接するようにして、絶縁板材３０は第１の凹部２０にぴったりと嵌め込まれる。また、絶縁板材３０には、絶縁板材３０を貫通する貫通穴３６が形成されている。この貫通穴３６は円形形状を有し、長辺３１と短辺３４とで構成される隅部に形成されている。
【００２０】
この絶縁板材３０は、第１の凹部２０に嵌め込まれた状態において、連結穴２７を塞ぐ絶縁カバーとして機能する。第１の凹部２０に嵌め込まれた絶縁板材３０は、連結穴２７を塞ぎ、遮断器外箱１１の内部が連結穴２３を通じて遮断器外箱１１の外部に開放されるのを防止する。第１の凹部２０に嵌め込まれた絶縁板材３０は、連結穴２７とともに、凹穴２８をもカバーする。また、絶縁板材３０の形成された貫通穴３６は、絶縁板材３０が第１の凹部２０に嵌め込まれた状態において、第１の凹部２０の内壁２６によって塞がれる。
【００２１】
遮断器外箱１１の右側面１２の下部の第２の位置には、第２の凹部４０が形成されている。この第２の位置は、遮断器外部端子１９に隣接する位置であり、第２の凹部４０は、端子支持部１１Ａと端子覆い部１１Ｂとに跨って形成されている。この第２の凹部４０は、第１の凹部２０の短辺２３の部分を切除いたと同じ輪郭形状を持つ。具体的には、一対の長辺４１、４２と、それらを繋ぐ一つの短辺４４を有する。一対の長辺４１、４２は、第１の凹部２０の一対の長辺２１、２２に対応し、それらとほぼ同じ長さを有する。また、短辺４４は第１の凹部２０の短辺２４に対応し、それと同じ長さを有する。第２の凹部４０は、長辺４２と短辺４４とで構成される隅部に、円弧面４５を有する。この円弧面４５は第１の凹部２０の円弧面２５に対応し、それと同じ径を有する。この第２の凹部４０は内壁４６を有する。この内壁４６は端子支持部１１Ａと端子覆い部１１Ｂとに跨り、外部端子１９のほぼ三方に隣接するように、形成されている。この内壁４６の一部に、リブ４７が突出して形成されている。このリブ４７は、長辺４１と短辺４４とで構成される隅部に形成されている。
【００２２】
絶縁板材３０は、図１（Ａ）（Ｂ）では、前記第１の位置に配置され、第１の凹部２０に嵌め込まれているが、前記第２の位置の第２の凹部４０にも嵌め込むことができ、この第２の凹部４０に取り付けることが可能である。この絶縁板材３０の長辺３１が第２の凹部４０の長辺４１に、絶縁板材３０の長辺３２が第２の凹部４０の長辺４２に、また絶縁板材３０の短辺３４が第２の凹部４０の短辺４４にそれぞれ内接するようにして、絶縁板材３０を第２の凹部４０にぴったりと嵌め込むことが可能である。絶縁板材３０を第２の凹部４０に嵌め込んだ状態では、リブ４７が絶縁板材３０の貫通穴３６に嵌り込み、絶縁板材３０を位置決めして、固定する。
【００２３】
［外付形付属器５０の説明］
次に、図２（Ａ）（Ｂ）を参照して、外付形付属器５０について説明する。この外付形付属器５０の付属器外箱５１は、遮断器外箱１１の第１、第２の凹部２０、４０に対応する第１、第２の凹部６０、８０が、付属器外箱５１の左側面５３に形成される点を除き、回路遮断器１０の遮断器外箱１１とほぼ同じ構成を持つ。
【００２４】
実施の形態１の外付形付属器５０は、図２（Ａ）（Ｂ）に示される付属器外箱５１を有する。この付属器外箱５１は、例えばナイロン樹脂などの電気的絶縁性樹脂を、薄い箱型に成形して作られる。この付属器外箱５１の外面には、相対向する右側面５２、左側面５３と、一対の上端面５４、下端面５５と、上面５６と、下面５７とが形成されている。
【００２５】
付属器外箱５１の内部には、付属器固定接点と、付属器可動接点と、付属器可動接点駆動機構とが収容されている。外付形付属器５０が回路遮断器１０を駆動する態様で使用される場合には、付属器引き外し装置も、付属器外箱５１内に収容される。これらの付属器固定接点、付属器可動接点、付属器可動接点駆動機構、付属器引き外し装置は、周知であり、図示を省略している。付属器可動接点駆動機構は周知の通り、付属器可動接点を付属器固定接点に離接するための駆動機構であり、ラッチ機構を含んでおり、このラッチ機構によって、遮断器可動接点を高速で付属器固定接点から開離させ、また付属器可動接点を高速で付属器固定接点に接合させる。
【００２６】
付属器外箱５１の上面５６には、手動引き外しレバー５８が配置されている。この手動引き外しレバー５８は、付属器可動接点駆動機構を手動で引き外すときに回動される。付属器外箱５１の下面５７には、付属器外部端子５９が配置されている。この付属器外部端子５９は、多くの場合付属器可動接点に接続されるが、付属器固定接点に接続することもできる。この付属器外部端子５９は、付属器外箱５１の端子支持部５１Ａに配置され、また、左側面５３から突出して形成された端子覆い部５１Ｂによって覆われている。
【００２７】
付属器外箱５１の左側面５３の上部の第１の位置には、第１の凹部６０が形成されている。この第１の凹部６０は、ほぼ長方形の輪郭形状を有し、遮断器外箱１１の第１の凹部２０と幾何学的に合同の形状を有する。
この第１の凹部６０は、一対の長辺６１、６２と、一対の短辺６３、６４とを含み、また長辺６２と短辺６４とで構成される隅部には、円弧面６５が形成されている。第１の凹部６０は内壁６６を有し、この内壁６６は付属器外箱５１の左側壁の一部を構成する。この第１の凹部６０の内壁６６には、扇形の連結穴６７と、小さな凹穴６８が形成されている。連結穴６７は、内壁６６において付属器外箱５１の左側壁を貫通し、付属器外箱５１の内部に通じている。小さな凹穴６８は連結穴６７が形成する扇形の中心に、円形をなして形成されている。
【００２８】
付属器外箱５１の左側面５３の下部の第２の位置には、第２の凹部８０が形成されている。この第２の位置は、付属器外部端子５９に隣接する位置であり、第２の凹部８０は、遮断器外箱１１の第２の凹部４０と幾何学的に合同の形状を有する。
この第２の凹部８０は、端子支持部５１Ａと端子覆い部５１Ｂとに跨って形成されている。この第２の凹部８０は、第１の凹部６０の短辺６３の部分を切除いたと同じ輪郭形状を持つ。具体的には、一対の長辺８１、８２と、それらを繋ぐ一つの短辺８４を有する。一対の長辺８１、８２は、第１の凹部６０の一対の長辺６１、６２に対応し、それらとほぼ同じ長さを有する。また、短辺８４は第１の凹部６０の短辺６４に対応し、それと同じ長さを有する。第２の凹部８０は、長辺８２と短辺８４とで構成される隅部に、円弧面８５を有する。この円弧面８５は第１の凹部６０の円弧面６５に対応し、それと同じ径を有する。この第２の凹部８０は内壁８６を有する。この内壁８６は端子支持部５１Ａと端子覆い部５１Ｂとに跨り、外部端子５９のほぼ三方に隣接するように、形成されている。この内壁８６の一部に、リブ８７が突出して形成されている。このリブ８７は、長辺８１と短辺８４とで構成される隅部に形成されている。
【００２９】
［回路遮断器１０と外付形付属器５０を組み合わせた回路遮断装置１００の説明］
さて、回路遮断器１０と外付形付属器５０とを組み合わせた回路遮断装置１００の実施の形態１について、図３（Ａ）（Ｂ）を参照して説明する。
【００３０】
この実施の形態１の回路遮断装置１００では、回路遮断器１０と外付形付属器５０とが、図３（Ａ）に示すように、遮断器外箱１１の右側に付属器外箱５１が並ぶ形で組み合わされる。遮断器外箱１１と付属器外箱５１は、基本的な外形を共通にして形成されており、それらの各側面１２、１３、５２、５３は互いに同じ輪郭を持っているので、これらの輪郭が互いに一致する状態で、しかも遮断器外箱１１の右側面１２と付属器外箱５１の左側面５３が互いに接触する形態（以下組合形態という）で組み合わされる。図３（Ａ）は、図を解りやすくするために、回路遮断器１０の右側面１２と外付形付属器５０の左側面５３とが、間隔をおいて対向する状態を示すが、前記組合形態ではそれらの間隔は解消する。
【００３１】
この組合形態において、遮断器外箱１１の上面１６と、付属器外箱５１の上面５６とは互いに隣接しており、手動引き外しレバー１８、５８も互いに隣接する。また前記組合形態では、遮断器外箱１１の下端面１５と付属器外箱５１の下端面５５も互いに隣接しており、遮断器外部端子１９と付属器外部端子５９も互いに隣接する。
【００３２】
前記組合形態では、遮断器外箱１１の第１の凹部２０と付属器外箱５０の第１の凹部６０とが、それらの輪郭を一致させた状態で互いに対向して隣接している。具体的には、付属器外箱５１の第１の凹部６０の長辺６１、６２と、短辺６３、６４と、円弧面６５は、遮断器外箱１１の第１の凹部２０の長辺２１、２２と、短辺２３、２４と、円弧面２５に、それぞれ隣接する。また、付属器外箱５１の第１の凹部６０の内壁６６と、連結穴６７と、小さな凹穴６８は、遮断器外箱１１の第１の凹部２０の内壁２６と、連結穴２７と、小さな凹穴２８とに、それぞれ対向する。
【００３３】
前記組合形態では、遮断器外箱１１の第２の凹部４０と付属器外箱５１の第２の凹部８０も、それらの輪郭を一致させた状態で互いに対向し、隣接している。具体的には、前記組合形態では、付属器外箱５１の第２の凹部８０の長辺８１、８２と、短辺８４と、円弧面８５は、遮断器外箱１１の第２の凹部４０の長辺４１、４２と、短辺４４と、円弧面４５に、それぞれ隣接する。また、付属器外箱５１の第２の凹部８０の内壁８６と、リブ８７とは、遮断器外箱１１の第２の凹部４０の内壁４６と、リブ４７に、それぞれ対向する。
【００３４】
回路遮断器１０と外付形付属器５０とが組み合わされた回路遮断装置１００では、図１（Ａ）（Ｂ）において、遮断器外箱１０の第１の凹部２０に嵌め込まれていた絶縁板材３０が、この第１の凹部２０から取り外され、第２の凹部４０に嵌め込まれる。
【００３５】
絶縁板材３０が第１の凹部２０から取り外された結果、遮断器外箱１１の第１の凹部２０内の連結穴２７は開放され、この連結穴２７は、同じく開放されている付属器外箱５１の第１の凹部６０内の連結穴６７と互いに開放状態で対向する。この連結穴２７、６７には、連結部材９０が嵌め込まれる。連結部材９０は、遮断器外箱１１内に収容された遮断器可動接点駆動機構と、付属器外箱５１内に収容された付属器可動接点駆動機構とを連結し、それらの一方により、他方を駆動することを可能とする。具体的には、外付形付属器５０が回路遮断器１０を駆動する第１の態様で使用される場合には、例えば、外付形付属器５０の付属器外箱５１内に収容された引き外し装置が外部制御電圧によって付属器可動接点駆動機構を引き外し、この付属器可動接点駆動機構により連結部材９０を介して遮断器可動接点駆動機構が駆動される。また、回路遮断器１０が外付形付属器５０を駆動する第２の態様で使用される場合には、遮断器外箱１１内に収容された引き外し装置が過電流によって遮断器可動接点駆動機構のラッチ機構を作動させ、この遮断器可動接点駆動機構が連結部材９０を介して付属器可動接点駆動機構を作動させ、付属器可動接点を付属器固定接点から引き外す。また、外付形付属器５０に第２の付属器固定接点と第２の付属器可動接点が併設される場合には、遮断器可動接点駆動機構によって、連結部材９０を介して第２の付属器可動接点が第２の付属器固定接点に接触させられる。
【００３６】
連結部材９０は、枢軸９１と、連結レバー９２と、この連結レバー９２の両側に位置する一対の連結片９３、９４とを有する。これらの枢軸９１、連結レバー９２、連結片９３、９４は、例えば電気的絶縁性樹脂により、互いに一体に形成される。枢軸９１はその両端部が、遮断器外箱１１の第１の凹部２０内に形成された凹穴２８と、付属器外箱５１の第１の凹部６０内に形成された凹穴６８にそれぞれ回転可能に嵌め込まれ、その結果、連結レバー９２は枢軸９１を中心として、回動可能となっている。一方の連結片９３は、遮断器外箱１１の第１の凹部２０内に形成された連結穴２７を通じて、遮断器外箱１１内に収容された遮断器可動接点駆動機構に係合しており、他方の連結片９４は、付属器外箱５１の第１の凹部６０内に形成された連結穴６７を通じて付属器外箱５１内に収容された付属器可動接点駆動機構に係合しており、これらの連結片９３、９４によって、遮断器可動接点駆動機構と付属器可動接点駆動機構が連結される。遮断器可動接点駆動機構と付属器可動接点駆動機構の一方の駆動機構が駆動されると、連結部材９０が枢軸９１を中心に回動し、この連結部材９０の回動により、他方の駆動機構が駆動される。
【００３７】
絶縁部材３０は、遮断器外箱１１の第１の凹部２０から外された後、遮断器外箱１１の第２の凹部４０に嵌め込まれる。この状態は図３（Ａ）（Ｂ）に示される。絶縁板材３０の長辺３１、３２が第２の凹部４０の長辺４１、４２にそれぞれ内接し、また絶縁板材３０の短辺３４が第２の凹部４０の短辺４４に内接する状態で、絶縁板材３０は第２の凹部４０に嵌め込まれる。この絶縁板材３０が第２の凹部４０に嵌め込まれたとき、第２の凹部４０に形成されたリブ４７が、絶縁板材３０の貫通穴３８に嵌り込み、絶縁板材３０を位置決めし、固定する。
【００３８】
前記組合形態において、絶縁板材３０は遮断器外箱１１の第２の凹部４０から、例えばその厚さの半分が露出するような形態で、第２の凹部４０に嵌め込まれる。この絶縁板材３０の露出部分は、対向する付属器外箱５１の第２の凹部８０に嵌め込まれる。具体的には、絶縁板材３０の長辺３１、３２が第２の凹部８０の長辺８１、８２に内接し、また絶縁板材３０の短辺３４が第２の凹部８０の短辺８４に内接するようにして、絶縁板材３０が第２の凹部８０にも嵌め込まれる。付属器外箱５１の第２の凹部８０に形成されたリブ８７が、リブ４７と対向しており、このリブ８７も絶縁板材３０の貫通穴３８に嵌り込み、絶縁板材３０を位置決めする。
【００３９】
第２の凹部４０に嵌め込まれた絶縁板材３０は、遮断器外部端子１９と付属器外部端子５９との間に位置していて、それらの間の絶縁バリアとして機能する。絶縁板材３０は、外付形付属器５０が回路遮断器１０に組み合わされない状態では、遮断器外箱１１の第１の凹部２０に取り付けられ、連結穴２７の絶縁カバーとして機能したが、外付形付属器５０が組み合わされた状態では、破棄されることなく、第２の凹部４０に取り付けられ、外部端子１９、５９の絶縁バリアとして利用される。この結果、無駄な廃材の発生を防止し、絶縁材料資源の有効利用を図ることができる。
【００４０】
また実施の形態１の回路遮断器１０では、第１の位置に第１の凹部２０を、また第２の位置に第２の凹部４０をそれぞれ形成し、絶縁板材３０をこれらの凹部２０または４０に嵌め込むことができるようにしたので、絶縁部材３０をこれらの凹部２０または４０を利用して、第１の位置または第２の位置に容易に取り付けることができる。また絶縁板材３０を平板状に構成し、その一部に貫通穴３６を形成し、第１の位置ではこの貫通穴３６が遮断器外箱１１で塞がれ、第２の位置ではこの貫通穴３６に遮断器外箱１１のリブ４７が嵌り込むようにしたので、第２の位置において、絶縁板材３０を容易に位置決めすることできるとともに、第１の位置では貫通穴３６を塞ぎ、この貫通穴３６による外部との連通も確実に防止できる。また、回路遮断器１０と外付形付属器５０とを組合わせた回路遮断装置１００において、遮断器外箱１１のリブ４７と、付属器外箱５１のリブ８７がともに貫通穴３６に嵌り込むようにしたので、絶縁板材３０をより正確に位置決めできる。
【００４１】
なお、実施の形態１では、回路遮断器１０の右側面１２に、連結穴２７を含む第１の凹部２０および第２の凹部４０を形成し、また外付形付属器５０の左側面５３に、連結穴６７を含む第１の凹部６０および第２の凹部８０を形成し、回路遮断器１０の右側面１２と外付形付属器５０の左側面５３とが互いに接触する形態で回路遮断装置１００を構成したが、回路遮断器１０の左側面１３と外付形付属器５０の右側面５２とが互いに接触する形態で回路遮断装置１００を構成することも可能である。この場合には、回路遮断器１０の左側面１３に、連結穴２７を含む第１の凹部２０および第２の凹部４０が形成され、また外付形付属器５０の右側面５２に、連結穴６７を含む第１の凹部６０および第２の凹部８０が形成される。
【００４２】
実施の形態２．
実施の形態１では、遮断器外箱１１の第１、第２の凹部２０、４０が互いに隔離された位置に形成されたが、実施の形態２では、第１の凹部７０ａと第２の凹部７０ｂとが比較的近い位置に連続して形成され、回路遮断器１０Ａに外付形付属器５０Ａを組み合わせるときに、絶縁板材３０Ａを第１の凹部７０ａに嵌め込まれた状態から回動させることにより、簡単に第２の凹部７０ｂに嵌め込むようにして、絶縁板材３０Ａの位置変えを、より簡単にしたものである。
【００４３】
図４（Ａ）（Ｂ）（Ｃ）はこの発明による回路遮断器の実施の形態２を示し、図４（Ａ）はその正面図、図４（Ｂ）はその右側面図、図４（Ｃ）は絶縁板材３０Ａの取り付け部分３６の断面図である。図５（Ａ）（Ｂ）は、図４（Ａ）（Ｂ）に示す回路遮断器に組み合わされる外付形付属器を示し、図５（Ａ）はその左側面図、図５（Ｂ）はその正面図である。また、図６（Ａ）（Ｂ）（Ｃ）は図４（Ａ）（Ｂ）に示す回路遮断器１０Ａと図５（Ａ）（Ｂ）に示す外付形付属器５０Ａとを組み合わせて構成されるこの発明による回路遮断装置の実施の形態２を示し、図６（Ａ）はその正面図、図６（Ｂ）は図６（Ａ）のＢ−Ｂ線による矢印方向の断面図、図６（Ｃ）は絶縁板材３０Ａの取り付け部分３６の操作状態を示す断面図である。
【００４４】
実施の形態２の回路遮断器１０Ａは、遮断器外箱１１の右側面１２に、１つの凹部７０を有する。この凹部７０は、実施の形態１における第１の凹部２０とに相当する第１の凹部７０ａと、実施の形態１の第２の凹部４０に相当する第２の凹部７０ｂとを連続して形成したものである。実施の形態２の回路遮断器１０Ａは、この凹部７０を除き、その他の部分は実施の形態１の回路遮断器１０と同じに構成され、同じ部分を同じ符号で示し、説明を省略する。
【００４５】
凹部７０は、第１の凹部７０ａと第２の凹部７０ｂを有し、これらの凹部７０ａ、７０ｂは互いに連続する形で、遮断器外箱１１の右側面１２に形成されている。第１の凹７０ａは遮断器外箱１１の右側面１２の第１の位置にあり、また第２の凹部７０ｂはその第２の位置にある。凹部７０は内壁７６を有し、この内壁７６は第１の凹部７０ａと第２の凹部７０ｂとに跨って形成されており、第１の凹部７０ａの内壁７６には、連結穴７７と凹穴７８が形成されている。連結穴７７は、実施の形態１の連結穴２７と同様に、扇形に形成され、遮断器外箱１１の右側壁を貫通している。凹穴７８は実施の形態１の凹穴２８と同様に、連結穴７７の扇形の中心に円形をなして形成されている。第２の凹部７０ｂは、外部端子１９に隣接する位置にある。さらに、凹部７０の内壁７６には、図４（Ｃ）に貫通穴７９が形成されている。この貫通穴７９は、短辺７４ａと短辺７４ｂとの間に位置している。
【００４６】
第１の凹部７０ａは、上端部が遮断器外箱１０Ａの上端面１４に開口しており、２つの長辺７１ａ、７２ａと、１つの短辺７４ａを有する。長辺７１ａ、７２ａは互いに対向しており、短辺７４ａは、長辺７２ａの一端に連続し、この長辺７２ａからほぼ直角に折曲がっている。
第２の凹部７０ｂは、下端部が遮断器外箱１０Ａの下端面１５の開口しており、２つの長辺７１ｂ、７２ｂと、１つの短辺７４ｂを有する。長辺７１ｂ、７２ｂは互いに対向している。長辺７２ｂは第１の凹部７０ａの短辺７４ａの一端に連続し、この短辺７４ａからほぼ直角に折曲がっている。短辺７４ｂは第１の凹部７０ａの長辺７１ａの一端に連続し、この長辺７１ａからほぼ直角に折曲がっている。第２の凹部７０ｂの長辺７１ｂは、短辺７４ｂに連続し、この短辺７４ｂから直角に折曲がっている。
【００４７】
実施の形態２では、絶縁板材３０Ａが使用される。この絶縁板材３０Ａはほぼ長方形の形状をしているが、一端に回動可能な取り付け部３６を有する。絶縁板材３０Ａは、相対向する２つの長辺３１、３２と、相対向する２つの短辺３３、３４を有し、長辺３１と短辺３４に連続して、取り付け部３６が形成されている。取り付け部３６には、スナップリブ３７は一体に形成されており、このスナップリブ３７が図４（Ｃ）に示すように、貫通穴７９に嵌め込まれる。すなわち、絶縁板材３０Ａは、このスナップリブ３７により、内壁７６に回動可能に支持される。スナップリブ３７は、筒状体３７ａと、この筒状体３７ａの外周に形成された大径部３７ｂと、筒状体３７ａの端部を分割するスリット３７ｃを有し、大径部３７ｂの外径は貫通穴７９よりも大きく作られている。このスナップリブ３７は、スリット３７ｃにより、筒状体３７ａの外径を小さくした状態で、貫通穴７９に嵌め込まれ、嵌め込まれた後は、大径部３７ｂの復元により、貫通穴７９に抜け止めされる。
【００４８】
実施の形態２の回路遮断器１０Ａと組み合わされる外付形付属器５０Ａが図５（Ａ）（Ｂ）に示される。この外付形付属器５０Ａは第１の凹部６０だけを形成し、第２の凹部８０を形成しないようにした点を除き、図２（Ａ）（Ｂ）に示した実施の形態１の外付形付属器５０と同じものであるので、同じ部分を同じ符号で示し、説明を省略する。
【００４９】
実施の形態２の回路遮断器１０Ａは、外付形付属器５０Ａが組み合わされずに、単独で使用されるときには、図４（Ｂ）に示すように、絶縁板材３０Ａは遮断器外箱１１の第１の位置にある第１の凹部７０ａに嵌め込まれる。この図４（Ｂ）に示す状態では、絶縁板材３０Ａの長辺３１、長辺３２、短辺３４は、第１の凹部７０ａの長辺７１ａ、７２ａ、７４ａにそれぞれ内接し、連結穴７７を覆う絶縁カバーとして、使用される。この状態では、連結穴７７は絶縁板材３０Ａによって塞がれ、遮断器外箱１１の内部がこの連結穴７７によって外部に開放するのを防止する。
【００５０】
実施の形態２の回路遮断器１０Ａに、図５に示す外付形付属器５０Ａが組み合わされた実施の形態２の回路遮断装置１００Ａが図６（Ａ）（Ｂ）に示されている。なお、図３（Ａ）と同様に、図６（Ａ）では、回路遮断器１０Ａの右側に、間隔を置いて、外付形付属器５０Ａが示されているが、実際の組合形態では、回路遮断器１０Ａの遮断器外箱１１の右側面１２に、付属器外箱５１の左側面５３が接触する形態で組み合わされる。
【００５１】
この組合形態では、絶縁板材３０Ａが遮断器外箱１１の第２の位置にある第２の凹部７０ｂに嵌り込む形に位置変えが行われる。この位置変えに際し、まず第１の凹部７０ａに嵌め込まれた絶縁板材３０Ａが、図６（Ｃ）に示すように、内壁７６から離れ、絶縁板材３０Ａが凹部７０ａから抜け出る位置まで引き出される。この図６（Ｃ）に示す引出状態において、絶縁板材３０Ａがスナップリブ３７を中心に回動され、第２の凹部７０ｂの上に移動され、続いて、絶縁板材３０Ａが第２の凹部７０ｂに押し込まれ、それに嵌め込まれる。この状態では、絶縁板材３０Ａの長辺３１、長辺３２、短辺３４が、第２の凹部７０ｂの長辺７２ｂ、７１ｂ、７４ｂにそれぞれ内接する。この状態では、絶縁板材３０Ａは、各外部端子１９、５９に隣接し、これらの外部端子１９、５９の間の絶縁バリアとして使われる。
【００５２】
第１の凹部７０ａでは、絶縁板材３０Ａの回動により、連結穴７７が開放される。この連結穴７７は、外付形付属器５０Ａの連結穴６７とちょうど対向する位置にあり、図３に示したと同じ連結部材９０が使用され、回路遮断器１０Ａの可動接点駆動機構と、外付形付属器５０Ａの可動接点駆動機構とが、連結部材９０により連結される。
【００５３】
実施の形態２でも、絶縁板材３０Ａが、遮断器外箱１１の第１の位置のある第１の凹部７０ａに嵌り込むときには、連結穴７７を覆う絶縁カバーとして機能し、また遮断器外箱１１の第２の位置にある第２の凹部７０ｂに嵌り込むときには、外部端子１９に隣接する絶縁バリアとして機能し、これらの絶縁カバーまたは絶縁バリアとして選択的に使用され、廃材とされることがないので、絶縁材料の有効利用を図ることができる。
また、実施の形態２では、絶縁板材３０Ａをスナップリブ３７を中心として回動することにより、簡単に絶縁板材３０Ａの位置変えを行なうことができる。
【００５４】
また実施の形態２では、第１の位置においても、また第２の位置においても絶縁板材３０を遮断器外箱１１から取り外すことがないので、絶縁板材３０の紛失を防止でき、また外付形付属器５０Ａを回路遮断器１０Ａと組合せ、連結穴７７を開放した後、第２の凹部７０ｂへ嵌め込むのを忘れることも防止できる。さらに、絶縁板材３０を平板状として、その一面にスナップリブ３７を形成したものでは、絶縁板材３０の他面は平面となるので、回路遮断装置１００Ａの大型化も防止できる。
【００５５】
【発明の効果】
以上のように、この発明の回路遮断器では、連結穴を覆う絶縁板材を、外部端子に対する絶縁バリアとして転用することができ、絶縁板材を廃材とすることなく、有効利用することができ、絶縁材料資源の有効利用を図ることができる。
また、回路遮断器に外付形付属器を組み合わせたこの発明による回路遮断装置では、回路遮断器の連結穴をカバーするように使用されていた絶縁板材を、外部端子の絶縁バリアとして利用するので、絶縁板材を廃材とすることなく、有効利用することができ、絶縁材料資源の有効利用を図ることができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】この発明による回路遮断器の実施の形態１を示す図であり、図１（Ａ）はその正面図、図１（Ｂ）はその右側面図である。
【図２】回路遮断器の実施の形態１と組み合わされる外付形付属器を示す図であり、図２（Ａ）はその左側面図、図２（Ｂ）はその正面図である。
【図３】回路遮断器と外付形付属器とを組み合わせたこの発明による回路遮断装置の実施の形態１を示す図であり、図３（Ａ）はその正面図、図３（Ｂ）は図３（Ａ）のＢ−Ｂ線による断面図である。
【図４】この発明による回路遮断器の実施の形態２を示す図であり、図４（Ａ）はその正面図、図４（Ｂ）はその右側面図、図４（Ｃ）はその絶縁板材の取り付け部分の断面図である。
【図５】回路遮断器の実施の形態２と組み合わされる外付形付属器を示す図であり、図５（Ａ）はその左側面図、図５（Ｂ）はその正面図である。
【図６】回路遮断器と外付形付属器とを組み合わせたこの発明による回路遮断装置の実施の形態２を示す図であり、図６（Ａ）はその正面図、図６（Ｂ）は図６（Ａ）のＢ−Ｂ線による断面図、図６（Ｃ）はその絶縁板材の取り付け部分の操作状況を示す断面図である。
【符号の説明】
１０、１０Ａ回路遮断器、１１遮断器外箱、１２右側面、
１３左側面、１９遮断器外部端子、
２０第１の凹部、２１、２２長辺、２３、２４短辺、
２６内壁、２７連結穴、
３０、３０Ａ絶縁板材、３１、３２長辺、３３、３４短辺、
４０第２の凹部、４１、４２長辺、４３、４４短辺、
５０外付形付属器、５１付属器外箱、５２右側面、５３左側面、
６０第１の凹部、６１、６２長辺、６３、６４短辺、
６６内壁、６７連結穴、
７０凹部、７０ａ第１の凹部、７０ｂ第２の凹部、
７１ａ、７１ｂ、７２ａ、７２ｂ長辺、
７４ａ、７４ｂ短辺、７６内壁、７７連結穴、
８０第２の凹部、８１、８２長辺、８４短辺、９０連結部材。[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a circuit breaker and a circuit breaker in which an external attachment is combined.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, a circuit breaker includes a circuit breaker fixed contact, a circuit breaker movable contact, a circuit breaker movable contact drive mechanism that separates and connects the circuit breaker movable contact to the circuit breaker fixed contact, and a movable circuit breaker. A contact release device is housed, and a manual release lever of a circuit breaker movable contact drive mechanism is provided outside the circuit breaker outer box, and is connected to the circuit breaker fixed contact and the circuit breaker movable contact. External terminals are provided. The movable contact release device automatically releases the latch of the breaker movable contact drive mechanism in response to the overcurrent of the electric circuit, and automatically separates the breaker movable contact from the breaker fixed contact.
[0003]
A circuit breaker in which this circuit breaker is combined with an external attachment is shown, for example, in FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-225030. This external attachment is combined with the circuit breaker so as to work with the circuit breaker. This external attachment is used in two ways based on the interlocking with the circuit breaker. The first mode is a mode in which a circuit breaker is driven by an external attachment. In the first embodiment, an external control voltage is supplied to the external attachment, and the circuit breaker is tripped by the external control voltage. This external control voltage drives the accessory movable contact drive mechanism, detaches the accessory movable contact from the accessory fixed contact and turns them off, and at the same time, the accessory movable contact drive mechanism drives the breaker movable contact drive mechanism Then, the breaker movable contact is pulled off from the breaker fixed contact. The second mode is a mode in which the external attachment is driven by the circuit breaker. In the second aspect, the latch of the circuit breaker movable contact drive mechanism is tripped by the movable contact trip device of the circuit breaker, and the circuit breaker movable contact is tripped from the circuit breaker fixed contact. The contact drive mechanism drives the accessory movable contact drive mechanism, pulls off the accessory movable contact from the accessory fixed contact, and turns them off. In the second aspect, the second accessory movable contact and the second accessory fixed contact are attached to the external accessory, and the second accessory movable contact is removed by the tripping of the circuit breaker. In some cases, the fixed contact of the second accessory is turned on.
[0004]
In many cases, the outer case of the external type is shared with the outer case of the circuit breaker. Inside the accessory outer box, an accessory fixed contact, an accessory movable contact, and an accessory movable contact drive mechanism for separating and moving the accessory movable contact to and from the accessory fixed contact are generally housed. In the first aspect, an accessory trip device is further housed. A manual release lever of the accessory movable contact drive mechanism is provided outside the accessory outer box, and an accessory external terminal connected to the accessory fixed contact and the accessory movable contact is provided.
[0005]
In a circuit breaker that combines a circuit breaker and an external attachment, the circuit breaker outer box and the accessory outer box are arranged so as to be in contact with each other, and between the circuit breaker outer box and the accessory outer box, A connecting member for connecting the breaker movable contact drive mechanism and the accessory movable contact drive mechanism is attached. In order to attach this connecting member, connecting holes for passing the connecting member are formed in the circuit breaker outer box and the accessory outer box at positions facing each other. The connection hole of the circuit breaker is closed with an insulating cover when the external type accessory is not combined, but when the circuit breaker and the external type accessory are combined, this insulating cover becomes unnecessary, so Conventionally, it has been discarded.
[0006]
When the circuit breaker and the external accessory are combined, the external terminal of the circuit breaker and the external terminal of the accessory come close to each other, so that an insulating barrier is provided between the external terminals. In particular, the insulation barrier is provided between the external terminal of the circuit breaker on the load side and the external terminal of the accessory side on the load side for performing the bus bar connection. The external circuit breaker terminal on the load side is often connected to a circuit breaker movable contact, but may be connected to a circuit breaker fixed contact. The insulation barrier is also conventionally discarded because it is not needed when the external accessory is removed from the circuit breaker and the circuit breaker is used alone.
[0007]
[Patent Document]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-225030, particularly FIG.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Discarding the insulation cover and insulation barrier not only results in increased waste material but also results in wasteful consumption of insulation material resources.
The present invention proposes a circuit breaker capable of preventing such an increase in waste material and at the same time effectively utilizing insulating material resources.
The present invention also proposes a circuit breaker that combines a circuit breaker and an external attachment that can prevent an increase in waste material and can effectively use insulation resources.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A circuit breaker according to the present invention is a circuit breaker that can be combined with an external attachment, comprising a circuit breaker outer box,
Inside the circuit breaker outer box, a fixed contact, a movable contact, a movable contact drive mechanism for separating and moving the movable contact to and from the fixed contact, and a tripping device therefor are housed. A connection hole for connecting the movable contact drive mechanism to the external attachment is formed, and an external terminal connected to the fixed contact or the movable contact is arranged outside the circuit breaker outer box. Yes,
Further, an insulating plate is attached to the circuit breaker outer box, and the insulating plate is configured to be attachable to both a first position for closing the connection hole and a second position adjacent to the external terminal. Is disposed at one of the first position and the second position.
[0010]
In the circuit breaker of the present invention, one insulating plate member is configured to be attachable to both the first position for closing the connection hole and the second position adjacent to the external terminal. It is arranged at one of the two positions. As a result, the insulating plate material is commonly used as an insulating cover and as an insulating barrier, and the effective use of the insulating material can be achieved while preventing an increase in waste material.
[0011]
Further, a circuit breaker according to the present invention is a circuit breaker including a circuit breaker and an external accessory attached to the circuit breaker,
The circuit breaker has a circuit breaker outer case. Inside the circuit breaker outer case, a circuit breaker fixed contact, a circuit breaker movable contact, and the circuit breaker movable contact are separated from the circuit breaker fixed contact. A breaker movable contact driving mechanism and a tripping device therefor are housed therein, and a breaker external terminal connected to the breaker fixed contact or the breaker movable contact is arranged outside the breaker outer box,
The external attachment has an accessory outer box, and an accessory fixed contact, an accessory movable contact, and the accessory movable contact are provided inside the accessory outer box with respect to the accessory fixed contact. Attached and detached accessory movable contact drive mechanism is housed, and an external accessory terminal connected to the accessory fixed contact or the accessory movable contact is arranged outside the accessory outer box,
A connection hole for connecting the breaker movable contact drive mechanism and the accessory movable contact drive mechanism is formed in the circuit breaker outer box and the accessory outer box, respectively.
Further, an insulating plate is attached to the circuit breaker outer box, and the insulating plate is disposed at a second position between the external terminal of the circuit breaker and the external terminal of the accessory and functions as an insulating barrier therebetween. However, it is characterized in that the circuit breaker can be attached to a first position for closing a connection hole of the outer case.
[0012]
In the circuit breaker of the present invention, one insulating plate is disposed at a second position between the external terminal of the circuit breaker and the external terminal of the accessory, and functions as an insulating barrier therebetween. It is also configured to be attachable to a first position for closing the connection hole. As a result, one insulating plate material is commonly used as an insulating barrier at the second position and as an insulating cover at the first position, and the effective use of the insulating material can be achieved while preventing an increase in waste material.
[0013]
Embodiment
Embodiments of a circuit breaker according to the present invention and a circuit breaker in which an external attachment is combined with the circuit breaker will be described with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
1A and 1B show a first embodiment of a circuit breaker according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a front view thereof, and FIG. 1B is a right side view thereof. 2 (A) and 2 (B) show an external accessory attached to the circuit breaker shown in FIGS. 1 (A) and 1 (B), and FIG. 2 (A) is a left side view thereof, and FIG. 2 (B). Is a front view thereof. FIGS. 3A and 3B show a circuit breaker shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B and an external attachment shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B according to the present invention. FIG. 3A is a front view of the circuit breaker according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3A.
[0014]
[Description of Circuit Breaker 10]
First, a circuit breaker 10 according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The circuit breaker 10 has a circuit breaker outer case 11. The circuit breaker outer box 11 is made by molding an electrically insulating resin such as a nylon resin into a thin box shape. On the outer surface of the outer case 11, there are formed a right side surface 12, a left side surface 13, a pair of upper end surfaces 14, a lower end surface 15, an upper surface 16, and a lower surface 17 which are opposed to each other.
[0015]
Inside the circuit breaker outer case 11, a circuit breaker fixed contact, a circuit breaker movable contact, a circuit breaker movable contact drive mechanism, and a trip device are housed. These circuit breaker fixed contacts, circuit breaker movable contacts, circuit breaker movable contact drive mechanisms, and trip devices are well known and are not shown. As is well known, the breaker movable contact drive mechanism is a drive mechanism for separating and connecting the breaker movable contact to the breaker fixed contact, and includes a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism disconnects the breaker movable contact at high speed. The breaker movable contact is separated from the breaker fixed contact, and the breaker movable contact is joined to the breaker fixed contact at high speed. As is well known, the trip device includes, for example, an electromagnet having a coil through which a circuit current flows, and automatically activates a latch mechanism of the breaker movable contact drive mechanism when the circuit current exceeds a predetermined value and becomes an overcurrent. To separate the movable contact of the circuit breaker from the fixed contact of the circuit breaker.
[0016]
On the upper surface 16 of the circuit breaker outer case 11, a manual trip lever 18 is arranged. The manual release lever 18 is rotated when the circuit breaker movable contact drive mechanism is manually released. A circuit breaker external terminal 19 is disposed on the lower end surface 15 of the circuit breaker outer box 11. The breaker external terminal 19 is connected to the breaker movable contact, but may be connected to the breaker fixed contact. The circuit breaker external terminal 19 is disposed on the terminal support portion 11A of the circuit breaker outer case 11, and is covered by a terminal cover portion 11B protruding from the side surface 12.
[0017]
A first recess 20 is formed at a first position above the right side surface 12 of the circuit breaker outer case 11. The first recess 20 has a substantially rectangular outline shape. Specifically, the first concave portion 20 has a pair of long sides 21 and 22 and a pair of short sides 23 and 24, and has a corner formed by the long side 22 and the short side 24. , An arc surface 25 are formed. The first recess 20 has an inner wall 26, which forms a part of the right side wall of the outer case 11. A fan-shaped connecting hole 27 and a small concave hole 28 are formed in the inner wall 26 of the first concave portion 20. The connection hole 27 penetrates the right side wall of the circuit breaker outer box 11 on the inner wall 26 and communicates with the inside of the circuit breaker outer box 11. The small concave hole 28 is formed in a circular shape at the center of the sector formed by the connecting hole 27.
[0018]
One insulating plate 30 is attached to the circuit breaker outer box 11. The insulating plate 30 is fitted into the first recess 20 and adhered to the inner wall 22 of the first recess 20 using, for example, a double-sided adhesive tape. The insulating plate member 30 is formed in a flat plate shape by punching a molded product obtained by forming an electrically insulating resin such as a phenol resin into a flat plate shape into a predetermined shape. The insulating plate member 30 has the same rectangular outline shape as that of the first concave portion 20 and is fitted into the first concave portion 20 exactly. Specifically, the contour of the insulating plate 30 includes a pair of long sides 31 and 32 and a pair of short sides 33 and 34, and one corner formed by the long side 32 and the short side 34 has , An arc surface 35 facing the arc surface 25.
[0019]
The pair of long sides 31 and 32 are inscribed in the pair of long sides 21 and 22 of the first recess 20, respectively, and the pair of short sides 33 and 34 are in contact with the pair of short sides 23 and 24 of the first recess 20, respectively. The insulating plate 30 is fitted into the first recess 20 exactly so as to be inscribed. Further, the insulating plate 30 has a through hole 36 penetrating the insulating plate 30. The through hole 36 has a circular shape and is formed at a corner formed by the long side 31 and the short side 34.
[0020]
The insulating plate 30 functions as an insulating cover that closes the connection hole 27 when fitted in the first recess 20. The insulating plate 30 fitted in the first recess 20 closes the connection hole 27 and prevents the inside of the circuit breaker outer case 11 from being opened to the outside of the circuit breaker outer case 11 through the connection hole 23. The insulating plate material 30 fitted into the first concave portion 20 covers the concave hole 28 as well as the connection hole 27. The through-hole 36 in which the insulating plate 30 is formed is closed by the inner wall 26 of the first recess 20 when the insulating plate 30 is fitted in the first recess 20.
[0021]
A second recess 40 is formed at a second position below the right side surface 12 of the circuit breaker outer case 11. The second position is a position adjacent to the circuit breaker external terminal 19, and the second concave portion 40 is formed across the terminal support portion 11A and the terminal cover portion 11B. The second concave portion 40 has the same contour shape as the short side 23 of the first concave portion 20 is cut off. Specifically, it has a pair of long sides 41 and 42 and one short side 44 connecting them. The pair of long sides 41 and 42 correspond to the pair of long sides 21 and 22 of the first recess 20 and have substantially the same length. The short side 44 corresponds to the short side 24 of the first recess 20 and has the same length. The second concave portion 40 has an arc surface 45 at a corner formed by the long side 42 and the short side 44. This arc surface 45 corresponds to the arc surface 25 of the first recess 20 and has the same diameter as it. The second recess 40 has an inner wall 46. The inner wall 46 is formed so as to straddle the terminal support portion 11A and the terminal cover portion 11B and to be adjacent to the external terminal 19 on almost three sides. A rib 47 protrudes from a part of the inner wall 46. The rib 47 is formed at a corner formed by the long side 41 and the short side 44.
[0022]
1A and 1B, the insulating plate member 30 is disposed at the first position and is fitted in the first concave portion 20, but is also fitted in the second concave portion 40 in the second position. And can be attached to the second recess 40. The long side 31 of the insulating plate 30 is the long side 41 of the second recess 40, the long side 32 of the insulating plate 30 is the long side 42 of the second recess 40, and the short side 34 of the insulating plate 30 is the second side. It is possible to fit the insulating plate 30 into the second recess 40 exactly so as to be inscribed in the short side 44 of the recess 40. When the insulating plate 30 is fitted in the second recess 40, the rib 47 is fitted in the through hole 36 of the insulating plate 30, and the insulating plate 30 is positioned and fixed.
[0023]
[Description of external attachment 50]
Next, the external attachment 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. The outer case 51 of the external attachment 50 includes first and second recesses 60 and 80 corresponding to the first and second recesses 20 and 40 of the circuit breaker outer case 11, respectively. Except for being formed on the left side surface 53 of the circuit breaker 51, the circuit breaker 10 has substantially the same configuration as the circuit breaker outer box 11.
[0024]
The external attachment 50 according to the first embodiment has an accessory outer box 51 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The outer case 51 is formed by molding an electrically insulating resin such as a nylon resin into a thin box shape. On the outer surface of the outer case 51, a right side surface 52, a left side surface 53, a pair of upper end surfaces 54, a lower end surface 55, an upper surface 56, and a lower surface 57 are formed.
[0025]
Inside the accessory outer box 51, an accessory fixed contact, an accessory movable contact, and an accessory movable contact drive mechanism are accommodated. If the external attachment 50 is used in a manner to drive the circuit breaker 10, the accessory tripping device is also housed in the accessory outer box 51. These auxiliary fixed contact, auxiliary movable contact, auxiliary movable contact drive mechanism, and auxiliary release device are well known and are not shown. As is well known, the accessory movable contact drive mechanism is a drive mechanism for separating and attaching the accessory movable contact to the accessory fixed contact, and includes a latch mechanism. With this latch mechanism, the breaker movable contact is attached at high speed. It is separated from the fixed contact of the accessory and the movable contact of the accessory is joined to the fixed contact of the accessory at high speed.
[0026]
On the upper surface 56 of the accessory box 51, a manual trip lever 58 is arranged. The manual release lever 58 is rotated when the accessory movable contact drive mechanism is manually released. On the lower surface 57 of the accessory box 51, an accessory external terminal 59 is arranged. The accessory external terminal 59 is often connected to an accessory movable contact, but can also be connected to an accessory fixed contact. The accessory external terminal 59 is disposed on the terminal support portion 51A of the accessory outer box 51, and is covered by a terminal cover portion 51B protruding from the left side surface 53.
[0027]
A first concave portion 60 is formed at a first position above the left side surface 53 of the appendage outer box 51. The first recess 60 has a substantially rectangular outline shape, and has a geometrically congruent shape with the first recess 20 of the circuit breaker outer case 11.
The first recess 60 includes a pair of long sides 61 and 62 and a pair of short sides 63 and 64, and an arc surface 65 is formed at a corner formed by the long side 62 and the short side 64. Is formed. The first recess 60 has an inner wall 66, which forms a part of the left side wall of the outer case 51. A fan-shaped connecting hole 67 and a small concave hole 68 are formed in the inner wall 66 of the first concave portion 60. The connecting hole 67 penetrates the left side wall of the accessory box 51 on the inner wall 66 and communicates with the inside of the accessory box 51. The small concave hole 68 is formed in a circular shape at the center of the sector formed by the connecting hole 67.
[0028]
A second concave portion 80 is formed at a second position below the left side surface 53 of the accessory case 51. The second position is a position adjacent to the accessory external terminal 59, and the second concave portion 80 has a geometrically congruent shape with the second concave portion 40 of the circuit breaker outer case 11.
The second concave portion 80 is formed across the terminal support portion 51A and the terminal cover portion 51B. The second recess 80 has the same contour shape as the short side 63 of the first recess 60 is cut off. Specifically, it has a pair of long sides 81 and 82 and one short side 84 connecting them. The pair of long sides 81 and 82 correspond to the pair of long sides 61 and 62 of the first recess 60 and have substantially the same length. In addition, the short side 84 corresponds to the short side 64 of the first recess 60 and has the same length. The second concave portion 80 has an arcuate surface 85 at a corner formed by a long side 82 and a short side 84. This arc surface 85 corresponds to the arc surface 65 of the first recess 60 and has the same diameter as it. This second recess 80 has an inner wall 86. The inner wall 86 is formed so as to straddle the terminal support part 51A and the terminal cover part 51B and to be adjacent to the external terminal 59 substantially three sides. A rib 87 protrudes from a part of the inner wall 86. The rib 87 is formed at a corner formed by a long side 81 and a short side 84.
[0029]
[Description of circuit breaker 100 combining circuit breaker 10 and external attachment 50]
Now, a first embodiment of the circuit breaker 100 in which the circuit breaker 10 and the external attachment 50 are combined will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0030]
In the circuit breaker 100 according to the first embodiment, the circuit breaker 10 and the external attachment 50 are provided with an accessory outer box 51 on the right side of the circuit breaker outer box 11 as shown in FIG. Combined side by side. The circuit breaker outer case 11 and the accessory outer case 51 are formed to have a common basic outer shape, and their respective side surfaces 12, 13, 52, 53 have the same outline as each other. Are combined so that the right side surface 12 of the circuit breaker outer case 11 and the left side surface 53 of the accessory case 51 contact each other (hereinafter referred to as a combination form). FIG. 3A shows a state in which the right side surface 12 of the circuit breaker 10 and the left side surface 53 of the external attachment 50 face each other at an interval for easy understanding. In form, those intervals are eliminated.
[0031]
In this combination, the upper surface 16 of the circuit breaker outer box 11 and the upper surface 56 of the accessory outer box 51 are adjacent to each other, and the manual trip levers 18 and 58 are also adjacent to each other. In the above-mentioned combination form, the lower end face 15 of the outer box 11 of the circuit breaker and the lower end face 55 of the outer box 51 of the accessory are also adjacent to each other, and the external terminals 19 and 59 of the accessory are also adjacent to each other.
[0032]
In the combination form, the first concave portion 20 of the circuit breaker outer box 11 and the first concave portion 60 of the accessory outer box 50 are opposed to and adjacent to each other with their contours matched. Specifically, the long sides 61, 62, the short sides 63, 64, and the arc surface 65 of the first recess 60 of the accessory case 51 are formed by the long sides of the first recess 20 of the circuit breaker case 11. 21, 22, short sides 23, 24, and arc surface 25, respectively. In addition, the inner wall 66 of the first concave portion 60 of the accessory outer case 51, the connecting hole 67, and the small concave hole 68 form the inner wall 26 of the first concave portion 20 of the circuit breaker outer case 11, the connecting hole 27, The small concave holes 28 face each other.
[0033]
In the union form, the second concave portion 40 of the circuit breaker outer case 11 and the second concave portion 80 of the accessory outer case 51 also face each other and are adjacent to each other with their contours aligned. Specifically, in the combination form, the long sides 81, 82, the short side 84, and the arc surface 85 of the second recess 80 of the accessory case 51 are formed by the second recess 40 of the circuit breaker case 11. Are adjacent to the long sides 41, 42, the short side 44, and the arc surface 45, respectively. The inner wall 86 of the second concave portion 80 of the accessory outer case 51 and the rib 87 face the inner wall 46 and the rib 47 of the second concave portion 40 of the circuit breaker outer case 11, respectively.
[0034]
In the circuit breaker 100 in which the circuit breaker 10 and the external attachment 50 are combined, the insulating plate material fitted in the first recess 20 of the circuit breaker outer box 10 in FIGS. 30 is removed from the first recess 20 and fitted into the second recess 40.
[0035]
As a result of the insulating plate member 30 being removed from the first recess 20, the connection hole 27 in the first recess 20 of the circuit breaker outer box 11 is opened, and the connection hole 27 is connected to the similarly opened accessory outer box. The opening 51 opposes the connecting hole 67 in the first concave portion 60 of the opening 51. A connecting member 90 is fitted into the connecting holes 27 and 67. The connecting member 90 connects the circuit breaker movable contact drive mechanism housed in the circuit breaker outer box 11 and the accessory movable contact drive mechanism housed in the accessory outer box 51, and one of them connects to the other. Can be driven. Specifically, when the external attachment 50 is used in the first mode of driving the circuit breaker 10, for example, the external attachment 50 is housed in the accessory outer box 51 of the external attachment 50. The trip device trips the accessory movable contact drive mechanism by the external control voltage, and the accessory movable contact drive mechanism drives the circuit breaker movable contact drive mechanism via the connecting member 90. When the circuit breaker 10 is used in the second mode for driving the external attachment 50, the tripping device accommodated in the circuit breaker outer box 11 may be driven by the overcurrent to drive the circuit breaker movable contact. The latch mechanism of the mechanism is actuated, and the breaker movable contact drive mechanism activates the accessory movable contact drive mechanism via the connecting member 90, thereby detaching the accessory movable contact from the accessory fixed contact. In the case where the second attachment fixed contact and the second attachment movable contact are provided in the external attachment 50 together, the breaker movable contact driving mechanism causes the second attachment via the connecting member 90. The movable movable contact is brought into contact with the second fixed auxiliary contact.
[0036]
The connecting member 90 has a pivot 91, a connecting lever 92, and a pair of connecting pieces 93 and 94 located on both sides of the connecting lever 92. The pivot 91, the connection lever 92, and the connection pieces 93 and 94 are formed integrally with each other by, for example, an electrically insulating resin. Both ends of the pivot 91 are formed in the concave hole 28 formed in the first concave portion 20 of the circuit breaker outer box 11 and the concave hole 68 formed in the first concave portion 60 of the accessory outer box 51, respectively. The connecting lever 92 is rotatably fitted, and as a result, the connecting lever 92 is rotatable about the pivot 91. One connecting piece 93 is engaged with the circuit breaker movable contact drive mechanism housed in the circuit breaker outer case 11 through the connection hole 27 formed in the first concave portion 20 of the circuit breaker outer case 11. The other connecting piece 94 is engaged with the accessory movable contact drive mechanism housed in the accessory outer box 51 through the connecting hole 67 formed in the first recess 60 of the accessory outer box 51. By these connecting pieces 93 and 94, the circuit breaker movable contact drive mechanism and the accessory movable contact drive mechanism are connected. When one of the breaker movable contact drive mechanism and the accessory movable contact drive mechanism is driven, the connecting member 90 rotates about the pivot 91, and the rotation of the connecting member 90 causes the other drive mechanism to rotate. Is driven.
[0037]
After the insulating member 30 is detached from the first recess 20 of the circuit breaker outer case 11, it is fitted into the second recess 40 of the circuit breaker outer case 11. This state is shown in FIGS. In a state where the long sides 31 and 32 of the insulating plate 30 are inscribed in the long sides 41 and 42 of the second recess 40, respectively, and the short side 34 of the insulating plate 30 is inscribed in the short side 44 of the second recess 40, The insulating plate 30 is fitted into the second recess 40. When the insulating plate 30 is fitted into the second recess 40, the ribs 47 formed in the second recess 40 are fitted into the through holes 38 of the insulating plate 30 to position and fix the insulating plate 30.
[0038]
In the combination form, the insulating plate member 30 is fitted into the second recess 40 so that, for example, half of the thickness thereof is exposed from the second recess 40 of the circuit breaker outer case 11. The exposed portion of the insulating plate member 30 is fitted into the second concave portion 80 of the opposing accessory outer box 51. Specifically, the long sides 31 and 32 of the insulating plate 30 are inscribed in the long sides 81 and 82 of the second recess 80, and the short side 34 of the insulating plate 30 is inside the short side 84 of the second recess 80. The insulating plate 30 is fitted into the second recess 80 so as to be in contact with the second recess 80. A rib 87 formed in the second concave portion 80 of the accessory outer box 51 is opposed to the rib 47, and this rib 87 is also fitted into the through hole 38 of the insulating plate 30 to position the insulating plate 30.
[0039]
The insulating plate member 30 fitted in the second concave portion 40 is located between the circuit breaker external terminal 19 and the accessory external terminal 59, and functions as an insulating barrier therebetween. In a state where the external attachment 50 is not combined with the circuit breaker 10, the insulating plate 30 is attached to the first recess 20 of the circuit breaker outer case 11 and functions as an insulating cover for the connection hole 27. In a state in which the shape appendage 50 is assembled, it is attached to the second concave portion 40 without being discarded, and is used as an insulating barrier for the external terminals 19 and 59. As a result, generation of useless waste materials can be prevented, and effective use of insulating material resources can be achieved.
[0040]
In the circuit breaker 10 according to the first embodiment, the first recess 20 is formed at the first position, and the second recess 40 is formed at the second position. The insulating member 30 can be easily attached to the first position or the second position by using these recesses 20 or 40. The insulating plate member 30 is formed in a flat plate shape, and a through hole 36 is formed in a part of the insulating plate member 30. The through hole 36 is closed by the outer case 11 at the first position, and the through hole 36 is formed at the second position. Since the ribs 47 of the circuit breaker outer box 11 are fitted into the outer casing 36, the insulating plate 30 can be easily positioned at the second position, and the through hole 36 is closed at the first position. The communication with the outside through 36 can also be reliably prevented. Further, in the circuit breaker 100 in which the circuit breaker 10 and the external attachment 50 are combined, the rib 47 of the circuit breaker outer box 11 and the rib 87 of the accessory outer box 51 are both fitted into the through holes 36. As a result, the insulating plate 30 can be positioned more accurately.
[0041]
In the first embodiment, the first concave portion 20 and the second concave portion 40 including the connection hole 27 are formed on the right side surface 12 of the circuit breaker 10, and the left side surface 53 of the external attachment 50 is formed. , A first recess 60 and a second recess 80 including a connection hole 67 are formed, and the right side surface 12 of the circuit breaker 10 and the left side surface 53 of the external attachment 50 are in contact with each other. Although the circuit breaker 100 is configured, the circuit breaker 100 may be configured such that the left side surface 13 of the circuit breaker 10 and the right side surface 52 of the external attachment 50 are in contact with each other. In this case, the first recess 20 and the second recess 40 including the connection hole 27 are formed on the left side surface 13 of the circuit breaker 10, and the connection hole is formed on the right side surface 52 of the external attachment 50. A first recess 60 and a second recess 80 including 67 are formed.
[0042]
Embodiment 2 FIG.
In the first embodiment, the first and second concave portions 20 and 40 of the circuit breaker outer case 11 are formed at positions separated from each other. However, in the second embodiment, the first concave portion 70a and the second concave portion 70A is formed continuously at a relatively close position, and when the external attachment 50A is combined with the circuit breaker 10A, the insulating plate 30A is turned from the state fitted in the first recess 70a. Thus, the position change of the insulating plate 30A can be made easier by easily fitting into the second recess 70b.
[0043]
4A, 4B, and 4C show a second embodiment of the circuit breaker according to the present invention. FIG. 4A is a front view, FIG. 4B is a right side view, and FIG. (C) is a sectional view of a mounting portion 36 of the insulating plate 30A. FIGS. 5A and 5B show an external accessory attached to the circuit breaker shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, and FIG. 5A is a left side view thereof, and FIG. Is a front view thereof. FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C show a combination of the circuit breaker 10A shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B and the external attachment 50A shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. FIG. 6 (A) is a front view of the circuit breaker according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 6 (A). FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view showing an operation state of the mounting portion 36 of the insulating plate 30A.
[0044]
The circuit breaker 10A according to the second embodiment has one recess 70 on the right side surface 12 of the outer case 11 for the circuit breaker. The recess 70 is formed by continuously forming a first recess 70a corresponding to the first recess 20 in the first embodiment and a second recess 70b corresponding to the second recess 40 in the first embodiment. It was done. The circuit breaker 10A of the second embodiment has the same structure as the circuit breaker 10 of the first embodiment except for the concave portion 70, and the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
[0045]
The concave portion 70 has a first concave portion 70a and a second concave portion 70b, and these concave portions 70a and 70b are formed on the right side surface 12 of the circuit breaker outer case 11 so as to be continuous with each other. The first recess 70a is at a first position on the right side surface 12 of the circuit breaker outer case 11, and the second recess 70b is at the second position. The recess 70 has an inner wall 76, which is formed across the first recess 70a and the second recess 70b. The inner wall 76 of the first recess 70a has a connection hole 77 and a recess. 78 are formed. The connection hole 77 is formed in a fan shape similarly to the connection hole 27 of the first embodiment, and penetrates the right side wall of the circuit breaker outer case 11. Like the concave hole 28 of the first embodiment, the concave hole 78 is formed in a circular shape at the center of the sector of the connecting hole 77. The second concave portion 70b is located at a position adjacent to the external terminal 19. Further, a through hole 79 is formed in the inner wall 76 of the recess 70 as shown in FIG. The through hole 79 is located between the short side 74a and the short side 74b.
[0046]
The first recess 70a has an upper end opening at the upper end surface 14 of the circuit breaker outer box 10A, and has two long sides 71a and 72a and one short side 74a. The long sides 71a and 72a are opposed to each other, and the short side 74a is connected to one end of the long side 72a and is bent substantially at right angles from the long side 72a.
The second recess 70b has a lower end opening at the lower end surface 15 of the circuit breaker outer box 10A, and has two long sides 71b and 72b and one short side 74b. The long sides 71b and 72b face each other. The long side 72b is continuous with one end of the short side 74a of the first recess 70a, and is bent substantially at a right angle from the short side 74a. The short side 74b is continuous with one end of the long side 71a of the first recess 70a, and is bent substantially at a right angle from the long side 71a. The long side 71b of the second recess 70b is continuous with the short side 74b, and is bent at a right angle from the short side 74b.
[0047]
In the second embodiment, an insulating plate 30A is used. The insulating plate 30A has a substantially rectangular shape, but has a rotatable mounting portion 36 at one end. The insulating plate 30A has two long sides 31 and 32 facing each other and two short sides 33 and 34 facing each other, and a mounting portion 36 is formed continuously from the long side 31 and the short side 34. I have. A snap rib 37 is formed integrally with the mounting portion 36, and the snap rib 37 is fitted into the through hole 79 as shown in FIG. That is, the insulating plate 30A is rotatably supported by the inner wall 76 by the snap rib 37. The snap rib 37 has a cylindrical body 37a, a large-diameter portion 37b formed on the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 37a, and a slit 37c for dividing an end of the cylindrical body 37a. The diameter is made larger than the through hole 79. The snap rib 37 is fitted into the through hole 79 in a state where the outer diameter of the cylindrical body 37a is reduced by the slit 37c, and after being fitted, the large diameter portion 37b is restored to prevent the snap hole 37 from falling out. Is done.
[0048]
FIGS. 5A and 5B show an external attachment 50A combined with the circuit breaker 10A of the second embodiment. This external attachment 50A is different from that of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B except that only the first concave portion 60 is formed and the second concave portion 80 is not formed. Since it is the same as the shaping appendage 50, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.
[0049]
When the circuit breaker 10A according to the second embodiment is used alone without the external attachment 50A being combined, as shown in FIG. It is fitted into the first recess 70a at the position 1. In the state shown in FIG. 4B, the long sides 31, the long sides 32, and the short sides 34 of the insulating plate material 30A are inscribed in the long sides 71a, 72a, 74a of the first recess 70a, respectively, and the connection holes 77 are formed. Used as an insulating cover to cover. In this state, the connecting hole 77 is closed by the insulating plate 30A, and the inside of the outer case 11 is prevented from being opened to the outside by the connecting hole 77.
[0050]
FIGS. 6A and 6B show a circuit breaker 100A according to a second embodiment in which the external breaker 50A shown in FIG. 5 is combined with the circuit breaker 10A according to the second embodiment. In addition, like FIG. 3 (A), in FIG. 6 (A), the external attachment 50A is shown at an interval on the right side of the circuit breaker 10A, but in an actual combination form, The circuit breaker 10A is assembled in such a manner that the right side surface 12 of the outer case 11 of the circuit breaker 10A contacts the left side surface 53 of the outer case 51 of the accessory.
[0051]
In this combination form, the position is changed so that the insulating plate material 30A fits into the second concave portion 70b at the second position of the circuit breaker outer case 11. When this position is changed, first, the insulating plate 30A fitted into the first recess 70a is separated from the inner wall 76 as shown in FIG. 6C, and is pulled out to a position where the insulating plate 30A comes out of the recess 70a. In the pulled-out state shown in FIG. 6C, the insulating plate 30A is pivoted about the snap rib 37 and is moved over the second recess 70b, and then the insulating plate 30A is moved to the second recess 70b. It is pushed in and fitted into it. In this state, the long sides 31, long sides 32, and short sides 34 of the insulating plate 30A are inscribed in the long sides 72b, 71b, 74b of the second recess 70b, respectively. In this state, the insulating plate 30A is adjacent to each of the external terminals 19 and 59 and is used as an insulating barrier between the external terminals 19 and 59.
[0052]
In the first recess 70a, the connection hole 77 is opened by the rotation of the insulating plate 30A. This connection hole 77 is located at a position directly opposite to the connection hole 67 of the external attachment 50A, and uses the same connection member 90 as shown in FIG. 3, and the movable contact drive mechanism of the circuit breaker 10A and the external The movable contact drive mechanism of the shape appendage 50A is connected by a connecting member 90.
[0053]
Also in the second embodiment, when insulating plate material 30A fits into first recess 70a at the first position of circuit breaker outer case 11, it functions as an insulating cover covering connection hole 77. When it fits in the second recess 70b at the second position, it functions as an insulating barrier adjacent to the external terminal 19 and is selectively used as these insulating covers or insulating barriers, and is not waste material. Therefore, effective use of the insulating material can be achieved.
In the second embodiment, the position of the insulating plate 30A can be easily changed by rotating the insulating plate 30A about the snap rib 37.
[0054]
Also, in the second embodiment, the insulating plate 30 is not removed from the circuit breaker outer box 11 at the first position or the second position, so that the insulating plate 30 can be prevented from being lost, and the external mounting type can be prevented. Combining the accessory 50A with the circuit breaker 10A, opening the connection hole 77, and also preventing forgetting to fit into the second recess 70b can be prevented. Further, in the case where the insulating plate member 30 is formed in a flat plate shape and the snap rib 37 is formed on one surface, the other surface of the insulating plate member 30 is flat, so that the circuit breaker 100A can be prevented from being enlarged.
[0055]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the circuit breaker of the present invention, the insulating plate covering the connection hole can be diverted as an insulating barrier for the external terminal, and the insulating plate can be effectively used without wasting the insulating plate. Effective utilization of material resources can be achieved.
Further, in the circuit breaker according to the present invention in which the external breaker is combined with the circuit breaker, the insulating plate material used to cover the connection hole of the circuit breaker is used as the insulating barrier of the external terminal. In addition, it is possible to effectively use the insulating plate material without wasting the waste material, and to effectively use the insulating material resources.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of a circuit breaker according to the present invention, FIG. 1 (A) is a front view thereof, and FIG. 1 (B) is a right side view thereof.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an external attachment attached to the circuit breaker according to the first embodiment, FIG. 2 (A) is a left side view thereof, and FIG. 2 (B) is a front view thereof.
FIG. 3 is a view showing Embodiment 1 of the circuit breaker according to the present invention in which a circuit breaker and an external attachment are combined, FIG. 3 (A) is a front view thereof, and FIG. It is sectional drawing by the BB line of FIG. 3 (A).
FIG. 4 is a view showing a second embodiment of the circuit breaker according to the present invention, FIG. 4 (A) is a front view thereof, FIG. 4 (B) is a right side view thereof, and FIG. 4 (C) is an insulation thereof. It is sectional drawing of the attachment part of a board material.
5A and 5B are diagrams showing an external attachment attached to the circuit breaker according to the second embodiment, FIG. 5A is a left side view thereof, and FIG. 5B is a front view thereof.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing Embodiment 2 of the circuit breaker according to the present invention in which a circuit breaker and an external attachment are combined, FIG. 6 (A) is a front view thereof, and FIG. FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 6A, and FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
10, 10A circuit breaker, 11 circuit breaker outer box, 12 right side,
13 left side, 19 breaker external terminal,
20 first concave portion, 21, 22 long side, 23, 24 short side,
26 inner wall, 27 connecting hole,
30, 30A insulating plate material, 31, 32 long side, 33, 34 short side,
40 second concave portion, 41, 42 long side, 43, 44 short side,
50 external attachment, 51 accessory box, 52 right side, 53 left side,
60 first concave portion, 61, 62 long side, 63, 64 short side,
66 inner wall, 67 connecting hole,
70 recess, 70a first recess, 70b second recess,
71a, 71b, 72a, 72b long side,
74a, 74b short side, 76 inner wall, 77 connection hole,
80 second concave portion, 81, 82 long side, 84 short side, 90 connecting member.

Claims

A circuit breaker that can be combined with an external attachment, comprising a circuit breaker outer box,
A fixed contact, a movable contact, a movable contact drive mechanism for separating and moving the movable contact from and to the fixed contact, and a trip device therefor are housed inside the outer case of the circuit breaker. A connection hole for connecting the movable contact drive mechanism to the external attachment is formed in the outer case, and an external terminal connected to the fixed contact or the movable contact is provided outside the circuit breaker outer case. Are located,
Further, an insulating plate is attached to the outer case of the circuit breaker, and the insulating plate is configured to be attachable to both a first position for closing the connection hole and a second position adjacent to the external terminal. 3. A circuit breaker, which is disposed in one of a first position and a second position.

2. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the insulating plate member functions as a connection hole cover that is disposed at the first position and closes the connection hole when the external attachment is not combined. 3. A circuit breaker, which is arranged at the second position when an external attachment is combined, and functions as an insulating barrier for the external terminal.

3. The circuit breaker according to claim 2, wherein the first position is formed with a first recess in which the insulating plate material can be fitted on an outer surface of the outer case of the circuit breaker, and the second recess is formed. A circuit breaker, wherein a second recess is formed at an outer surface of the circuit breaker outer box at a position where the insulating plate material can be fitted.

4. The circuit breaker according to claim 3, wherein the insulating plate is formed in a flat plate shape, has a through hole in a part thereof, and the insulating plate is fitted in the first position. 5. In a state where the through hole of the circuit breaker is closed by the circuit breaker outer box and the insulating plate material is fitted in the second position, the rib formed in the circuit breaker outer box at the second position is formed by the through hole. A circuit breaker which is fitted into a circuit breaker.

3. The circuit breaker according to claim 2, wherein the insulating plate has a snap rib that is snap-fitted to the outer case of the circuit breaker, and the first position is obtained by rotating about the snap rib. 4. A circuit breaker, wherein any one of the second positions can be selected.

A circuit breaker comprising a circuit breaker and an external attachment attached to the circuit breaker,
The circuit breaker has a circuit breaker outer case. Inside the circuit breaker outer case, a circuit breaker fixed contact, a circuit breaker movable contact, and the circuit breaker movable contact are separated from the circuit breaker fixed contact. A breaker movable contact driving mechanism and a tripping device therefor are housed therein, and a breaker external terminal connected to the breaker fixed contact or the breaker movable contact is arranged outside the breaker outer box,
The external accessory has an accessory outer box, and inside the accessory outer box, an accessory fixed contact, an accessory movable contact, and the accessory movable contact with respect to the accessory fixed contact. An accessory external contact terminal connected to the accessory fixed contact or the accessory movable contact is arranged outside the accessory outer box, and an accessory external contact terminal is arranged outside the accessory outer box.
A connection hole for connecting the breaker movable contact drive mechanism and the accessory movable contact drive mechanism is formed in the circuit breaker outer box and the accessory outer box, respectively.
Further, an insulating plate is attached to the outer case of the circuit breaker, and the insulating plate is disposed at a second position between the external terminal of the circuit breaker and the external terminal of the accessory and functions as an insulating barrier therebetween. However, the circuit breaker can be attached to a first position for closing a connection hole of the circuit breaker outer box.

7. The circuit breaker according to claim 6, wherein a connection member is disposed between the circuit breaker outer case and the accessory case, and the connection member passes through each of the connection holes, and is connected to the circuit breaker movable contact drive mechanism. A circuit breaker, which is connected to an accessory movable contact drive mechanism.

8. The circuit breaker according to claim 7, wherein an outer surface of the outer case of the circuit breaker is formed with a first concave portion in which the insulating plate material can be fitted at the first position, and the second concave portion is formed at the first position. 9. A circuit breaker, wherein a second concave portion into which the insulating plate material can be fitted is formed at the position of (2).

9. The circuit breaker according to claim 8, wherein a first recess corresponding to the first recess is formed on an outer surface of the outer case of the accessory, and a second recess corresponding to the second recess is formed. A circuit breaker, wherein a recess is formed.

9. The circuit breaker according to claim 8, wherein the insulating plate is formed in a flat plate shape, and has a through hole in a part thereof, and the insulating plate is cut off when the insulating plate is fitted in the second concave portion. A circuit breaker, wherein ribs formed on each of the outer case and the outer case are fitted into the through holes.

7. The circuit breaker according to claim 6, wherein the insulating plate has a snap rib which is snap-fitted to the outer case of the circuit breaker, and is rotated about the snap rib so as to be in the second position. A circuit breaker, wherein the position can be changed between the first position and the first position.

The circuit breaker according to claim 11, wherein the insulating plate is formed in a flat plate shape, and the snap rib is formed on one surface thereof.