EP0013642B1 - Low voltage current limiting circuit breaker - Google Patents

Low voltage current limiting circuit breaker Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0013642B1
EP0013642B1 EP19800400014 EP80400014A EP0013642B1 EP 0013642 B1 EP0013642 B1 EP 0013642B1 EP 19800400014 EP19800400014 EP 19800400014 EP 80400014 A EP80400014 A EP 80400014A EP 0013642 B1 EP0013642 B1 EP 0013642B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
circuit breaker
switch
contact
cheeks
cage
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP19800400014
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0013642A1 (en
Inventor
Yves Pelenc
Pierre Schueller
Claude Terracol
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Merlin Gerin SA
Original Assignee
Merlin Gerin SA
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Merlin Gerin SA filed Critical Merlin Gerin SA
Publication of EP0013642A1 publication Critical patent/EP0013642A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0013642B1 publication Critical patent/EP0013642B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
    • H01H71/12—Automatic release mechanisms with or without manual release
    • H01H71/24—Electromagnetic mechanisms
    • H01H71/2418—Electromagnetic mechanisms combined with an electrodynamic current limiting mechanism
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
    • H01H71/12—Automatic release mechanisms with or without manual release
    • H01H71/24—Electromagnetic mechanisms
    • H01H71/2472—Electromagnetic mechanisms with rotatable armatures
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H77/00—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting
    • H01H77/02—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting in which the excess current itself provides the energy for opening the contacts, and having a separate reset mechanism
    • H01H77/10—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting in which the excess current itself provides the energy for opening the contacts, and having a separate reset mechanism with electrodynamic opening
    • H01H77/107—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting in which the excess current itself provides the energy for opening the contacts, and having a separate reset mechanism with electrodynamic opening characterised by the blow-off force generating means, e.g. current loops
    • H01H77/108—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting in which the excess current itself provides the energy for opening the contacts, and having a separate reset mechanism with electrodynamic opening characterised by the blow-off force generating means, e.g. current loops comprising magnetisable elements, e.g. flux concentrator, linear slot motor
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
    • H01H71/12—Automatic release mechanisms with or without manual release
    • H01H71/24—Electromagnetic mechanisms
    • H01H71/2454—Electromagnetic mechanisms characterised by the magnetic circuit or active magnetic elements

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a low-voltage limiting circuit breaker comprising, by pole, a fixed contact cooperating in the closing position of the circuit breaker with a movable contact coupled to a manual and / or automatic operating mechanism for opening and closing the circuit breaker and a trip device electromagnetic device cooperating with said mechanism for tripping the circuit breaker and opening the contacts when the fault current detected by the electromagnetic trip device exceeds a first threshold, said trip device comprising an excitation coil with an axial magnetic core traversed by said fault current and a magnetic circuit having a movable pallet separated by a first air gap of two fixed yokes in the form of parallel cheeks framing the coil with core perpendicular to the cheeks and cooperating with the movable pallet to move the latter in the release position when said first threshold is exceeded, said cheeks defining a second air gap in which extends a part of the movable contact in the closed position of the contacts.
  • the yokes of the magnetic circuit of the electromagnetic trip device constitute blown arc flanges.
  • the cheeks frame the fixed and mobile contacts and the arc development area and their spacing is important. They are therefore unable to exert a significant force on the movable contact, the end of which penetrates between the cheeks and the opening of the circuit breaker on fault results from the detection of this fault by the trip device and from the unlocking of the operating mechanism. .
  • the circuit breaker opens with a certain delay preventing any limitation of the current.
  • the object of the invention is to make use of the third technique by the use of simple and compact means.
  • the circuit breaker according to the invention is characterized in that the ends of the cheeks are folded at right angles, thus defining the second thin air gap, through which extends, in the closed position of the contacts, a conductive tab belonging to the contact, movable in a direction perpendicular to the length and the tongue and parallel to the cheeks, so that the magnetic flux, generated in said air gap by the fault current flowing through the coil, when this current exceeds a second threshold greater than said first threshold, causes a electrodynamic effect of rapid displacement of the movable contact in the open position.
  • the small air gap makes it possible to have sufficient magnetic flux to move the movable contact to the open position before unlocking the mechanism and it is unnecessary to recall the operation which is described in detail in the aforementioned French patents of the applicant.
  • the force exerted on the movable contact can be a Laplace force resulting from the interaction of the current flowing through the contact and the magnetic field in the air gap.
  • the repulsion threshold of the movable contact is greater than the trigger threshold of the trigger, so as to avoid a critical zone of contact beats.
  • a low-voltage circuit breaker with high breaking capacity comprises a molded housing 10 formed by two half-shells 12, 14 made of insulating material.
  • the housing 10 contains a cut-off device 16, an operating mechanism 17 with manual control lever (not shown), a bimetal thermal trip device 18 and an instantaneous electromagnetic trip device 20 cooperating with the mechanism 17 when a overload or short-circuit current to actuate the moving element to the open position.
  • the magnetic circuit 22 of the electromagnetic trip device 20 comprises two yokes or cheeks 24, 26 parallel to the side walls of the housing 10 and joined together by a transverse core 28 on which is wound a coil 30 of the trip device 20.
  • the core 28 extends perpendicularly to the walls of the housing 10 and is subject to cylinder heads 24, 26 by any suitable fixing method, in particular by riveting or crimping.
  • Two air gaps e 1 and e 2 are arranged between the upper ends of the cylinder heads 24, 26 and a movable triggering pallet 32 disposed above the coil 30 opposite the cut-off device 16.
  • the pallet 32 is constituted by a ferromagnetic U-shaped stirrup 33, pivotally mounted on an axis 34, and biased by a return spring 36 towards a spaced-apart rearming position.
  • the stirrup 33 is provided with a finger 38 capable of actuating an unlocking pusher 40 when the coil 30 is excited.
  • the lower ends of the yokes 24, 26 of the magnetic circuit 22 are bent at right angles and directed towards each other parallel to the bottom 46 of the housing 10, being separated by a transverse air gap 3 .
  • the breaking device 16 comprises a movable bridge 48 with movable contacts cooperating in the closed position with two fixed contacts 50, 52 conjugated respectively connected to a supply terminal 54, and to the coil 30 of the trip device 20.
  • the bridge 48 is provided a tongue 56, made of conductive material and in the form of a sheet, inserted in the transverse air gap 3 of the magnetic circuit 22 in the closed position of the contacts 48, 50, 52. With each pair of fixed and mobile contacts is associated a chamber 58, 60 arc extinction formed in a manner well known to specialists by stacking metal sheets of deionization.
  • the tongue 56 has a height greater than its thickness and occupies, when the circuit breaker is closed, an asymmetrical position in the air gap e3.
  • the operating mechanism 17 comprises a sliding support or cage 62 urged downward in FIG. 1 by a spring member (not shown).
  • the cage 62 carries a hook 42 pivotally mounted on an axis 66 and capable of being hooked to a stop 44 to retain the cage 62 in the raised position corresponding to the closing of the contacts 48, 50, 52.
  • the unlocking pusher 40 acts on the hook 42 to release the cage 62 during the attraction of the pallet 32.
  • the contact bridge 48 is positioned in elongated slots 64 formed in the wings of the cage 62.
  • a compression spring 68 interposed between the bottom of the cage 62 and the contact bridge 48, biases the latter up against the bottom of the lights 64.
  • the spring 68 ensures the contact pressure in the closed position of the circuit breaker and authorizes a downward movement in the open position of the contact bridge 48, the cage 62 being locked.
  • the magnetic circuit 22 constitutes both an electrodynamic propellant of the movable bridge 48 and an instantaneous electromagnetic trip device. It is clear from fig. 3 that the induction flow generated by the coil 30 breaks down into a flow 0 1 passing through the air gap e 3 for housing the contact bridge 48 and a flow O 2 passing through the air gaps e 1 and e 2 .
  • the two magnetic circuits or loops are in parallel and correspond respectively to functions 1 and 2, the two fluxes O 1 and 0 2 being generated by the same coil 30 of the trip device.
  • the thermal trip device comprises a bimetallic strip 18 connected on the one hand to a terminal 70 and on the other hand by a braid 72 to the coil 30.
  • the bimetallic strip 18 controls the unlocking of the hook42, when an overload current appears in a well-known manner.
  • the magnetic circuit 22 and its excitation coil 30 wound on the transverse core 28 form a fixed assembly disposed inside the cage 62 without hindering the sliding of the latter between the closed position (fig. 2) and opening (fig. 4).

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

Description

L'invention est relative à un disjoncteur limiteur basse tension comportant par pôle un contact fixe coopérant en position de fermeture du disjoncteur avec un contact mobile accouplé à un mécanisme de manoeuvre manuelle et/ou automatique d'ouverture et de fermeture du disjoncteur et un déclencheur électromagnétique coopérant avec ledit mécanisme pour déclencher le disjoncteur et ouvrir les contacts lorsque le courant de défaut détecté par le déclencheur électromagnétique dépasse un premier seuil, ledit déclencheur comprenant une bobine d'excitation à noyau magnétique axial parcourue par ledit courant de défaut et un circuit magnétique ayant une palette mobile séparée par un premier entrefer de deux culasses fixes en forme de joues parallèles encadrant la bobine à noyau perpendiculaire aux joues et coopérant avec la palette mobile pour déplacer cette dernière en position de déclenchement lors du dépassement dudit premier seuil, lesdites joues définissant un deuxième entrefer dans lequel s'étend une partie du contact mobile en position de fermeture des contacts.The invention relates to a low-voltage limiting circuit breaker comprising, by pole, a fixed contact cooperating in the closing position of the circuit breaker with a movable contact coupled to a manual and / or automatic operating mechanism for opening and closing the circuit breaker and a trip device electromagnetic device cooperating with said mechanism for tripping the circuit breaker and opening the contacts when the fault current detected by the electromagnetic trip device exceeds a first threshold, said trip device comprising an excitation coil with an axial magnetic core traversed by said fault current and a magnetic circuit having a movable pallet separated by a first air gap of two fixed yokes in the form of parallel cheeks framing the coil with core perpendicular to the cheeks and cooperating with the movable pallet to move the latter in the release position when said first threshold is exceeded, said cheeks defining a second air gap in which extends a part of the movable contact in the closed position of the contacts.

Dans un disjoncteur connu du genre mentionné (brevet britannique N° 369.740), les culasses du circuit magnétique du déclencheur électromagnétique constituent des joues de soufflage de l'arc. Les joues encadrent les contacts fixe et mobile et la zone de développement de l'arc et leur écartement est important. Elles sont de ce fait incapables d'exercer un effort notable sur le contact mobile, dont l'extrémité pénètre entre les joues et l'ouverture du disjoncteur sur défaut résulte de la détection de ce défaut par le déclencheur et du déverrouillage du mécanisme de manoeuvre. L'ouverture du disjoncteur intervient avec un certain retard empêchant toute limitation du courant.In a known circuit breaker of the kind mentioned (British Patent No. 369,740), the yokes of the magnetic circuit of the electromagnetic trip device constitute blown arc flanges. The cheeks frame the fixed and mobile contacts and the arc development area and their spacing is important. They are therefore unable to exert a significant force on the movable contact, the end of which penetrates between the cheeks and the opening of the circuit breaker on fault results from the detection of this fault by the trip device and from the unlocking of the operating mechanism. . The circuit breaker opens with a certain delay preventing any limitation of the current.

L'obtention de pouvoirs de coupure élevés dans les disjoncteurs basse tension nécessite un déplacement rapide du contact mobile en vue d'obtenir l'insertion d'une tension d'arc entraînant la limitation du courant. Différentes techniques ont déjà été proposées pour améliorer ce déplacement du contact et les performances des disjoncteurs, notamment :

  • 1) répulsion électrodynamique des contacts fixe et mobile,
  • 2) accélération du contact mobile par percussion du noyau mobile du déclencheur électromagnétique instantané ;
  • 3) insertion d'une partie du contact mobile dans l'entrefer d'un circuit magnétique à auto- excitation ou à excitation indépendante par une bobine.
    (brevet français NO 2 185 853 et ses additions 2 237 302 et 2 278 146).
Obtaining high breaking powers in low voltage circuit breakers requires rapid movement of the movable contact in order to obtain the insertion of an arcing voltage causing current limitation. Various techniques have already been proposed to improve this displacement of the contact and the performance of the circuit breakers, in particular:
  • 1) electrodynamic repulsion of the fixed and mobile contacts,
  • 2) acceleration of the mobile contact by percussion of the mobile core of the instantaneous electromagnetic trip device;
  • 3) insertion of part of the movable contact into the air gap of a self-excited or independently excited magnetic circuit by a coil.
    (French Patent NO 2,185,853 and additions 2,237,302 and 2,278,146).

Le but de l'invention est de faire usage de la troisième technique par l'emploi de moyens simples et compacts.The object of the invention is to make use of the third technique by the use of simple and compact means.

Le disjoncteur selon l'invention est caractérisé en ce que les extrémités des joues sont repliées en équerre, définissant ainsi le deuxième entrefer de faible épaisseur, à travers lequel s'étend, en position de fermeture des contacts, une languette conductrice appartenant au contact, mobile suivant une direction perpendiculaire à la longueur et la languette et parallèle aux joues, de façon que le flux magnétique, engendré dans ledit entrefer par le courant de défaut parcourant la bobine, lorsque ce courant dépasse un deuxième seuil supérieur audit premier seuil, provoque un effet électrodynamique de déplacement rapide du contact mobile en position d'ouverture.The circuit breaker according to the invention is characterized in that the ends of the cheeks are folded at right angles, thus defining the second thin air gap, through which extends, in the closed position of the contacts, a conductive tab belonging to the contact, movable in a direction perpendicular to the length and the tongue and parallel to the cheeks, so that the magnetic flux, generated in said air gap by the fault current flowing through the coil, when this current exceeds a second threshold greater than said first threshold, causes a electrodynamic effect of rapid displacement of the movable contact in the open position.

Le faible entrefer permet de disposer d'un flux magnétique suffisant pour déplacer le contact mobile en position d'ouverture avant le déverrouillage du mécanisme et il est inutile de rappeler le fonctionnement qui est décrit en détail dans les brevets français précités de la demanderesse. La force s'exerçant sur le contact mobile peut être une force de Laplace résultant de l'interaction du courant parcourant le contact et le champ magnétique dans l'entrefer.The small air gap makes it possible to have sufficient magnetic flux to move the movable contact to the open position before unlocking the mechanism and it is unnecessary to recall the operation which is described in detail in the aforementioned French patents of the applicant. The force exerted on the movable contact can be a Laplace force resulting from the interaction of the current flowing through the contact and the magnetic field in the air gap.

Le seuil de répulsion du contact mobile est supérieur au seuil de déclenchement du déclencheur, de manière à éviter une zone critique de battements du contact.The repulsion threshold of the movable contact is greater than the trigger threshold of the trigger, so as to avoid a critical zone of contact beats.

D'autres avantages et caractéristiques ressortiront plus clairement de l'exposé qui va suivre d'un mode de mise en oeuvre de l'invention, donné à titre d'exemple non limitatif et représenté aux dessins annexés, dans lesquels :

  • la figure 1 est une vue schématique en élévation et en coupe verticale d'un pôle d'un disjoncteur limiteur équipé d'un déclencheur électromagnétique selon l'invention, et représenté en position de fermeture des contacts ;
  • les figures 2 à 4 montrent des vues en coupe selon la ligne II-II de la fig. 1, respectivement en position de fermeture, au début de la course d'ouverture sur action électrodynamique avant déclenchement du mécanisme, et en position d'ouverture définitive après déclenchement.
Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from the description which follows of an embodiment of the invention, given by way of nonlimiting example and represented in the appended drawings, in which:
  • Figure 1 is a schematic elevational view in vertical section of a pole of a limiting circuit breaker equipped with an electromagnetic trip device according to the invention, and shown in the closed position of the contacts;
  • Figures 2 to 4 show sectional views along line II-II of FIG. 1, respectively in the closed position, at the start of the opening stroke on electrodynamic action before triggering of the mechanism, and in the final open position after triggering.

Sur les figures, un disjoncteur basse tension à haut pouvoir de coupure comporte un boîtier 10 moulé formé de deux demi-coquilles 12, 14 en matériau isolant. Le boîtier 10 renferme un dispositif de coupure 16, un mécanisme de manoeuvre 17 à manette de commande manuelle (non représentée), un déclencheur thermique à bilame 18 et un déclencheur électromagnétique 20 instantané coopérant avec le mécanisme 17 lors de l'apparition d'un courant de surcharge ou de court-circuit pour actionner l'équipage mobile vers la position d'ouverture.In the figures, a low-voltage circuit breaker with high breaking capacity comprises a molded housing 10 formed by two half-shells 12, 14 made of insulating material. The housing 10 contains a cut-off device 16, an operating mechanism 17 with manual control lever (not shown), a bimetal thermal trip device 18 and an instantaneous electromagnetic trip device 20 cooperating with the mechanism 17 when a overload or short-circuit current to actuate the moving element to the open position.

Le circuit magnétique 22 du déclencheur électromagnétique 20 comporte deux culasses ou joues 24, 26 parallèles aux parois latérales du boîtier 10 et réunies entre elles par un noyau 28 transversal sur lequel est enroulé une bobine 30 du déclencheur 20. Le noyau 28 s'étend perpendiculairement aux parois du boîtier 10 et est assujetti aux culasses 24, 26 par tout procédé de fixation approprié, notamment par rivetage ou sertissage. Deux entrefers e1 et e2 sont agencés entre les extrémités supérieures des culasses 24, 26 et une palette 32 mobile de déclenchement disposée au-dessus de la bobine 30 à l'opposé du dispositif de coupure 16. La palette 32 est constituée par un étrier 33 ferromagnétique en forme de U, monté à pivotement sur un axe 34, et sollicité par un ressort de rappel 36 vers une position écartée de réarmement. L'étrier 33 est doté d'un doigt 38 susceptible d'actionner un poussoir 40 de déverrouillage lors de l'excitation de la bobine 30. Les extrémités inférieures des culasses 24, 26 du circuit magnétique 22 sont pliées en équerre et dirigées l'une vers l'autre parallèlement au fond 46 du boîtier 10 en étant séparées par un entrefer e3 transversal.The magnetic circuit 22 of the electromagnetic trip device 20 comprises two yokes or cheeks 24, 26 parallel to the side walls of the housing 10 and joined together by a transverse core 28 on which is wound a coil 30 of the trip device 20. The core 28 extends perpendicularly to the walls of the housing 10 and is subject to cylinder heads 24, 26 by any suitable fixing method, in particular by riveting or crimping. Two air gaps e 1 and e 2 are arranged between the upper ends of the cylinder heads 24, 26 and a movable triggering pallet 32 disposed above the coil 30 opposite the cut-off device 16. The pallet 32 is constituted by a ferromagnetic U-shaped stirrup 33, pivotally mounted on an axis 34, and biased by a return spring 36 towards a spaced-apart rearming position. The stirrup 33 is provided with a finger 38 capable of actuating an unlocking pusher 40 when the coil 30 is excited. The lower ends of the yokes 24, 26 of the magnetic circuit 22 are bent at right angles and directed towards each other parallel to the bottom 46 of the housing 10, being separated by a transverse air gap 3 .

Le dispositif de coupure 16 comprend un pont mobile 48 à contacts mobiles coopérant en position de fermeture avec deux contacts fixes 50, 52 conjugués reliés respectivement à une borne d'alimentation 54, et à la bobine 30 du déclencheur 20. Le pont 48 est pourvu d'une languette 56, en matériau conducteur et en forme de feuillet, inséré dans l'entrefer e3 transversal du circuit magnétique 22 en position de fermeture des contacts48, 50, 52. A chaque paire de contacts fixe et mobile est associée une chambre 58, 60 d'extinction d'arc formée d'une manière bien connue des spécialistes par un empilage de tôles métalliques de désionisation. La languette 56 présente une hauteur supérieure à son épaisseur et occupe lors de la fermeture du disjoncteur une position dissymétrique dans l'entrefer e3.The breaking device 16 comprises a movable bridge 48 with movable contacts cooperating in the closed position with two fixed contacts 50, 52 conjugated respectively connected to a supply terminal 54, and to the coil 30 of the trip device 20. The bridge 48 is provided a tongue 56, made of conductive material and in the form of a sheet, inserted in the transverse air gap 3 of the magnetic circuit 22 in the closed position of the contacts 48, 50, 52. With each pair of fixed and mobile contacts is associated a chamber 58, 60 arc extinction formed in a manner well known to specialists by stacking metal sheets of deionization. The tongue 56 has a height greater than its thickness and occupies, when the circuit breaker is closed, an asymmetrical position in the air gap e3.

Le mécanisme de manoeuvre 17 comporte un support ou cage 62 coulissant sollicité vers le bas sur la figure 1 par un organe ressort (non représenté). La cage 62 porte un crochet 42 monté à pivotement sur un axe 66 et susceptible de s'accrocher à une butée 44 pour retenir la cage 62 en position élevée correspondant à la fermeture des contacts 48, 50, 52. Le poussoir 40 de déverrouillage agit sur le crochet 42 pour libérer la cage 62 lors de l'attraction de la palette 32. Le pont de contact 48 est positionné dans des lumières allongées 64 ménagées dans les ailes de la cage 62.The operating mechanism 17 comprises a sliding support or cage 62 urged downward in FIG. 1 by a spring member (not shown). The cage 62 carries a hook 42 pivotally mounted on an axis 66 and capable of being hooked to a stop 44 to retain the cage 62 in the raised position corresponding to the closing of the contacts 48, 50, 52. The unlocking pusher 40 acts on the hook 42 to release the cage 62 during the attraction of the pallet 32. The contact bridge 48 is positioned in elongated slots 64 formed in the wings of the cage 62.

Un ressort de compression 68, intercalé entre le fond de la cage 62 et le pont de contact 48, sollicite ce dernier vers le haut en appui contre le fond des lumières 64. Le ressort 68 assure la pression de contact en position de fermeture du disjoncteur et autorise un déplacement vers le bas en position d'ouverture du pont de contact 48, la cage 62 étant verrouillée.A compression spring 68, interposed between the bottom of the cage 62 and the contact bridge 48, biases the latter up against the bottom of the lights 64. The spring 68 ensures the contact pressure in the closed position of the circuit breaker and authorizes a downward movement in the open position of the contact bridge 48, the cage 62 being locked.

On remarque que le circuit magnétique 22 associé à la bobine 30 du déclencheur 22 est agencé pour remplir deux fonctions :

  • 1) accélération du pont mobile 48 par entraînement électrodynamique vers la position d'ouverture lors d'un court-circuit important à l'encontre du ressort 68 ;
  • 2) ouverture automatique du disjoncteur lors du déclenchement du mécanisme 17 par déverrouillage du crochet 42 due à l'attraction de la palette 32 dès que le défaut dépasse un seuil prédéterminé.
Note that the magnetic circuit 22 associated with the coil 30 of the release 22 is arranged to fulfill two functions:
  • 1) acceleration of the movable bridge 48 by electrodynamic drive towards the open position during a significant short circuit against the spring 68;
  • 2) automatic opening of the circuit breaker when the mechanism 17 is triggered by unlocking the hook 42 due to the attraction of the pallet 32 as soon as the fault exceeds a predetermined threshold.

A chacune de ces fonctions correspond un entrefer dans le circuit magnétique 22, en l'occurrence :

  • - l'entrefer e3, dans lequel se trouve engagé la languette 56 solidaire du pont de contact 48 ;
  • - et les entrefers e1 et e2, entre les culasses fixes 24, 26 et la palette mobile 32 de déverrouillage du crochet 42.
Each of these functions corresponds to an air gap in the magnetic circuit 22, in this case:
  • - The air gap 3 , in which is engaged the tongue 56 secured to the contact bridge 48;
  • - and the air gaps e 1 and e 2 , between the fixed yokes 24, 26 and the movable pallet 32 for unlocking the hook 42.

En remplissant ces deux fonctions, le circuit magnétique 22 constitue à la fois un propulseur électrodynamique du pont mobile 48 et un déclencheur électromagnétique instantané. Il ressort clairement de la fig. 3 que le flux d'induction engendré par la bobine 30 se décompose en un flux 01 traversant l'entrefer e3 de logement du pont de contact 48 et un flux O2 traversant les entrefers e1 et e2. Les deux circuits ou boucles magnétiques sont en parallèle et correspondent respectivement aux fonctions 1 et 2, les deux flux O1 et 02 étant engendrés par la même bobine 30 du déclencheur.By fulfilling these two functions, the magnetic circuit 22 constitutes both an electrodynamic propellant of the movable bridge 48 and an instantaneous electromagnetic trip device. It is clear from fig. 3 that the induction flow generated by the coil 30 breaks down into a flow 0 1 passing through the air gap e 3 for housing the contact bridge 48 and a flow O 2 passing through the air gaps e 1 and e 2 . The two magnetic circuits or loops are in parallel and correspond respectively to functions 1 and 2, the two fluxes O 1 and 0 2 being generated by the same coil 30 of the trip device.

Le déclencheur thermique comporte un bilame 18 relié d'une part à une borne 70 et d'autre part par une tresse 72 à la bobine 30. Le bilame 18 commande le déverrouillage du crochet42, lors de l'apparition d'un courant de surcharge d'une manière bien connue.The thermal trip device comprises a bimetallic strip 18 connected on the one hand to a terminal 70 and on the other hand by a braid 72 to the coil 30. The bimetallic strip 18 controls the unlocking of the hook42, when an overload current appears in a well-known manner.

Le fonctionnement du dispositif de coupure rapide selon l'invention est le suivant :

  • En position de fermeture du disjoncteur (fig. 1 et 2), le courant nominal entre dans l'appareil par la borne 70 et parcourt successivement le bilame 18, la tresse de liaison 72, la bobine 30 du déclencheur, la plage du contact fixe 52, le pont de contact mobile 48 et sa languette 56 associée, la plage de contact fixe 50, et sort par la borne 54 opposée. Les flux 01 et 02 sont trop faibles pour vaincre la force antagoniste des ressorts 68 et 36. Le bras de contact 48 reste en position fermé et la palette 32 reste en position écartée. La languette 56 est insérée dans l'entrefer 23 et occupe une position dissymétrique tel que représenté à la figure 2. Le crochet 42 maintient la cage 62 en position de fermeture.
The operation of the quick cut device according to the invention is as follows:
  • In the closed position of the circuit breaker (fig. 1 and 2), the nominal current enters the device through terminal 70 and travels successively through the bimetallic strip 18, the braid 72, the coil 30 of the trip unit, the range of the fixed contact 52, the movable contact bridge 48 and its associated tongue 56, the fixed contact pad 50, and exits via the opposite terminal 54. The flows 0 1 and 0 2 are too weak to overcome the opposing force of the springs 68 and 36. The contact arm 48 remains in the closed position and the pallet 32 remains in the separated position. The tongue 56 is inserted into the air gap 23 and occupies an asymmetrical position as shown in FIG. 2. The hook 42 keeps the cage 62 in the closed position.

Lors de l'apparition d'un courant de court-circuit, dépassant un seuil IS2, l'interaction entre le flux magnétique O1 existant dans l'entrefer e3 et le courant I circulant dans la languette 56 crée une force électrodynamique F1 de répulsion dans le sens de l'ouverture du pont de contact 48 à l'encontre de la force résistante du ressort 68 (voir fig.3). L'ouverture intervient rapidement sans attendre le déverrouillage du crochet 42 et la libération de la cage 62 et elle engendre un arc favorable à l'effet de limitation recherché. Simultanément, la palette 32 est attirée et elle déverrouille la cage 62 qui se déplace vers le bas en direction du fond 46 du boîtier sous l'action de la force F2 du ressort (non représenté). La venue en butée des fonds des lumières 64 de la cage 62 contre le pont de contact 48 maintient ce dernier en position d'ouverture (voir fig. 4).When a short-circuit current appears, exceeding a threshold IS 2 , the interaction between the magnetic flux O 1 existing in the air gap e 3 and the current I flowing in the tongue 56 creates an electrodynamic force F 1 repulsion in the direction of opening of the contact bridge 48 against the resistance force of the spring 68 (see fig. 3). The opening occurs quickly without waiting for the hook 42 to be unlocked and the cage 62 to be released and it generates an arc favorable to the desired limiting effect. Simultaneously, the pallet 32 is attracted and it unlocks the cage 62 which moves down towards the bottom 46 of the housing under the action of the force F 2 of the spring (not shown). The abutment of the bottoms of the lights 64 of the cage 62 against the contact bridge 48 maintains the latter in the open position (see fig. 4).

L'attraction de la palette 32, due au flux O2, se produit lorsque le courant est supérieur à un seuil IS1, dénommé seuil de déclenchement instantané du déclencheur 20. Il est impératif que le seuil IS1 de déclenchement soit inférieur au seuil IS2 de répulsion pour éviter toute zone critique favorable à des phénomènes de battement.The attraction of the pallet 32, due to the flow O2, occurs when the current is above a threshold IS 1, called instantaneous trigger threshold of trigger 20. It is imperative that the threshold IS 1 of trigger is lower than threshold IS 2 of repulsion to avoid any critical zone favorable to beat phenomena.

Dans la zone des surcharges inférieures au seuil IS1 il n'y a pas d'attraction de la palette 32 ni de répulsion de la languette 56, et le pont de contact 48 reste fermé jusqu'au déverrouillage du crochet 42 opéré par la déformation du bilame 18. La libération de la cage 62 assure le déplacement du pont de contact 48 vers la position d'ouverture (fig.4) sous l'action de la force F2. Dans la zone de faibles court-circuits dans laquelle le courant est compris entre les seuils IS1 de déclenchement et lS2 de répulsion, il ne se produit pas d'entraînement électrodynamique de la languette 56 et du pont 48. L'ouverture s'effectue par déverrouillage de la cage 62 due à l'attraction de la palette 32 par le flux 02 du circuit magnétique 22.In the zone of overloads below the threshold IS 1 there is no attraction of the pallet 32 nor repulsion of the tongue 56, and the contact bridge 48 remains closed until the hook 42 unlocked operated by the deformation of the bimetallic strip 18. The release of the cage 62 ensures the displacement of the contact bridge 48 towards the open position (FIG. 4) under the action of the force F 2 . In the zone of weak short-circuits in which the current is between the thresholds IS 1 of triggering and IS 2 of repulsion, there does not occur an electrodynamic drive of the tongue 56 and of the bridge 48. The opening is performed by unlocking the cage 62 due to the attraction of the pallet 32 by the flow 0 2 of the magnetic circuit 22.

Le circuit magnétique 22 et sa bobine 30 d'excitation enroulée sur le noyau transversal 28 forment un ensemble fixe disposé à l'intérieur de la cage 62 sans entraver le coulissement de cette dernière entre la position de fermeture (fig. 2) et d'ouverture (fig. 4).The magnetic circuit 22 and its excitation coil 30 wound on the transverse core 28 form a fixed assembly disposed inside the cage 62 without hindering the sliding of the latter between the closed position (fig. 2) and opening (fig. 4).

Il est clair que le déplacement du pont de contact 48 peut s'effectuer vers l'intérieur du circuit magnétique et que la conformation de ce dernier peut être différente.It is clear that the displacement of the contact bridge 48 can take place towards the inside of the magnetic circuit and that the conformation of the latter can be different.

Claims (4)

1. Low voltage current limiting circuit breaker comprising by pole a fixed contact (50, 52) cooperating in the switch-on position of the circuit breaker with a movable contact (48) coupled to a mechanism (17) of manual and/or automatic switching operation of switching off and on the circuit breaker, and an electromagnetic release (20) cooperating with said mechanism (17) to trip the circuit breaker and to switch off the cbntacts (48, 50, 52) when the fault current detected by the electromagnetic release (20) exceeds a first threshold, said release comprising a magnetising coil (30) with an axial magnetic core (28) flowed through by said fault current and a magnetic circuit (22) having a movable plate (32) separated by a first air-gap (e,, e2) from two fixed yokes shaped as parallel cheeks (24, 26) surrounding the coil (30) with a core perpendicular to the cheeks and cooperating with the movable plate (32) to displace this last one in the tripping position when said first threshold is exceeded, said cheeks (24, 26) defining a second air-gap (e3) inside which a part (56) of the movable contact (48) extends in the switch-on position of the contacts (48, 50, 52), characterized in that the ends of the cheeks (24, 26) are folded up at right angles, thus defining the second air-gap (e3) of narrow width, through which extends in the switch-on position of the contacts (48, 50, 52) a conducting spline (56) being part of the contact (48), movable along a direction perpendicular to the spline (56) length and parallel to the cheeks (24), 26), so that tha magnetic flux, generated in said air-gap (e3) by the fault current flowing through the coil (30), induces an electrodynamic effect of fast displacement of the movable contact (48) in the switch-off position when this current exceeds a second threshold above said first threshold.
2. Circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that said movable contact (48) constitutes a contact bridge conformed or associated to said spline (56) inserted in the second air-gap (e3) in the switch-on position of the contacts (48, 50, 52).
3. Circuit breaker according to claim 2, characterized in that the movable contact (48) is elastically mounted on a sliding cage (62) being part of said mechanism of switching operation (17), and surrounding the coil (30) and the magnetic circuit (22), disposed stationary and that said movable contact (48) is displaceable in the switch-off position by a relative motion with respect to said cage (62) under said electrodynamic effect.
4. Circuit breaker according to claim 3, characterized by a latch (42, 44) capable of locking the cage (62) in the switch-on position of the circuit breaker and by an unlock member (40) driven by the plate (32) to unlock the latch (42, 44) and cause the cage (62) displacement towards the switch-off position under the action of a spring.
EP19800400014 1979-01-11 1980-01-07 Low voltage current limiting circuit breaker Expired EP0013642B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR7900827A FR2446538A1 (en) 1979-01-11 1979-01-11 LOW VOLTAGE LIMITER CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH IMPROVED ELECTROMAGNETIC TRIGGER
FR790082 1979-01-11

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0013642A1 EP0013642A1 (en) 1980-07-23
EP0013642B1 true EP0013642B1 (en) 1982-10-13

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19800400014 Expired EP0013642B1 (en) 1979-01-11 1980-01-07 Low voltage current limiting circuit breaker

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Country Link
EP (1) EP0013642B1 (en)
DE (1) DE3060923D1 (en)
FR (1) FR2446538A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ZA885255B (en) * 1987-04-21 1989-04-26 Circuit Breaker Ind An electric circuit breaker
ATE74463T1 (en) * 1987-12-25 1992-04-15 Maier & Cie C TRIP SYSTEM IN AN INSTALLATION BREAKER.
GB8917283D0 (en) * 1989-07-28 1989-09-13 Federal Pioneer Ltd Miniature circuit breakers
FR2687251B1 (en) * 1992-02-11 1994-04-29 Telemecanique CUTTING STRUCTURE FOR CIRCUIT BREAKER.
EP2251887B1 (en) * 2009-05-15 2016-03-16 Abb Ag Electromagnetic trip device
FR2968829B1 (en) * 2010-12-10 2012-12-21 Schneider Electric Ind Sas CURRENT LIMITER CIRCUIT BREAKER
DE102011008832A1 (en) * 2011-01-19 2012-07-19 Abb Ag Service switching device
DE102011008833B4 (en) * 2011-01-19 2013-03-07 Abb Ag Overcurrent release and service switching device with overcurrent release
DE102011008831A1 (en) * 2011-01-19 2012-07-19 Abb Ag Istallationsschaltgerät
DE102011008829B4 (en) * 2011-01-19 2012-08-09 Abb Ag Service switching device
DE102011008834A1 (en) * 2011-01-19 2012-07-19 Abb Ag Service switching device
CN108389763B (en) * 2018-05-09 2023-10-31 佳一电气有限公司 N-pole circuit breaker unit

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR596483A (en) * 1925-04-08 1925-10-24 Ultra-fast circuit breaker
GB369740A (en) * 1931-03-17 1932-03-31 John Westmoreland Record Improvements in or relating to electric circuit breakers or like circuit rupturing apparatus
US3317866A (en) * 1963-02-07 1967-05-02 Terasaki Denki Sangyo Kk Automatic circuit interrupter having magnetic blowoff means
FR2185853B1 (en) * 1972-05-26 1977-12-30 Merlin Gerin

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2446538B1 (en) 1983-02-18
DE3060923D1 (en) 1982-11-18
FR2446538A1 (en) 1980-08-08
EP0013642A1 (en) 1980-07-23

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