EP0865061B1 - Improvements in and relating to circuit breakers - Google Patents

Improvements in and relating to circuit breakers Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0865061B1
EP0865061B1 EP19980410026 EP98410026A EP0865061B1 EP 0865061 B1 EP0865061 B1 EP 0865061B1 EP 19980410026 EP19980410026 EP 19980410026 EP 98410026 A EP98410026 A EP 98410026A EP 0865061 B1 EP0865061 B1 EP 0865061B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
body portion
adapter
circuit breaker
casing
extending
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 - Lifetime
Application number
EP19980410026
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0865061A3 (en
EP0865061A2 (en
Inventor
Keith Wray Ball
Andrew Purdie Baker
Anthony Robert Cole
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.)
Schneider Electric Industries SAS
Original Assignee
Schneider Electric Industries SAS
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Schneider Electric Industries SAS filed Critical Schneider Electric Industries SAS
Publication of EP0865061A2 publication Critical patent/EP0865061A2/en
Publication of EP0865061A3 publication Critical patent/EP0865061A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0865061B1 publication Critical patent/EP0865061B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • H01H71/08—Terminals; Connections
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H11/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches
    • H01H11/0006—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches for converting electric switches
    • H01H11/0031—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches for converting electric switches for allowing different types or orientation of connections to contacts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/02—Bases, casings, or covers
    • H01H9/0264—Protective covers for terminals

Definitions

  • the invention relates to adapters for circuit breakers, more particularly, although not exclusively, to miniature circuit breakers (m.c.b's).
  • the invention further relates to an adapter and circuit breaker in combination.
  • Standard m.c.b's at the present have screw terminals for both the incoming and outgoing electrical connections.
  • load centres and consumer units for example as disclosed in European Patent no 0,325,370, have provisions for m.c.b's to plug onto bus bars to provide the incoming electrical connection thereto.
  • United Kingdom patent application no 2301940A discloses a simple and inexpensive adapter for converting standard m.c.b' s for plug on or plug in usage.
  • an adapter which comprises an electrically conductive member formed to be attachable to a circuit breaker of a type having a casing and a cable entry formed in an end wall of the casing, the electrically conductive member comprising:
  • the adapter may be formed from a blank of electrically conductive material.
  • the blank may comprise a generally sheet-form member having:
  • Parts of the first arms distal to said central body portion may be formed with a nose portion for engagement with the circuit breaker casing, in use.
  • the adapter may be provided in combination with an electrically insulative cover member engageable with the casing of the circuit breaker and adapted to cover the adapter when said first part is clamped in said cable entry.
  • Said first part may join said body portion at the same end as the third part, opposite to the end to which the second part joins the body portion.
  • the invention in a second aspect provides an adapter according the first aspect of the invention as set forth above, in combination with a circuit breaker of the type described.
  • the blank 10 comprises a generally sheet - form member with a central body portion 11, an upwardly extending portion 12 and two wing portions 13 extending upwardly and downwardly from opposed sides of the body portion 11.
  • portion 12 of the blank is bent upwardly from body portion 11 to lie in a plane normal to the plane of body portion 11.
  • the two wing portions 13 are bent downwardly from body portion 11 to lie in coplanar relationship normal to the plane of body portion 11.
  • the upper arms 13a of wing 13 are each formed with a nose portion 13b extending in the direction of portion 12.
  • the lower leg portions 13c of wings 13 are bent in arcuate fashion adjacent extremities 13d to provide plug on contacts.
  • FIG.5 of the drawing there is shown an exploded perspective view of an m.c.b. 14 an adapter and an electrically insulative cover 15.
  • the adapter is located with portion 12 inserted into the cable entry of m.c.b. 14 with arms 13a and nose portion 13b abutting the edge of m.c.b. 14 and legs portions 13c depending downwardly therefrom.
  • the cover 15 is located over the edge of m.c.b. 14 to cover the adapter and cable entry.
  • the provision of the arm and nose portions 13a 13b provide a more rigid connection of the adapter to an m.c.b. and formation of the adapter from blank provides a simple and inexpensive form of manufacture.

Landscapes

  • Breakers (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)

Description

  • The invention relates to adapters for circuit breakers, more particularly, although not exclusively, to miniature circuit breakers (m.c.b's). The invention further relates to an adapter and circuit breaker in combination.
  • Standard m.c.b's at the present have screw terminals for both the incoming and outgoing electrical connections. However, load centres and consumer units for example as disclosed in European Patent no 0,325,370, have provisions for m.c.b's to plug onto bus bars to provide the incoming electrical connection thereto.
  • United Kingdom patent application no 2301940A discloses a simple and inexpensive adapter for converting standard m.c.b' s for plug on or plug in usage.
  • It is an object of the present invention to provide such an adapter which has an improved location and support arrangement and is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
  • According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an adapter which comprises an electrically conductive member formed to be attachable to a circuit breaker of a type having a casing and a cable entry formed in an end wall of the casing, the electrically conductive member comprising:
  • a central body portion;
  • a first part extending from said body portion to be clamped and electrically connected within the cable entry of the circuit breaker;
  • a second part including an electrical connector portion and extending from the body portion in a direction substantially normal to said first part; and
  • a third part including a support portion extending from said body portion in a direction opposite to the second part and adapted to extend in use along the end wall of the circuit breaker casing and to engage the casing so as to provide mechanical support.
  • The adapter may be formed from a blank of electrically conductive material.
  • The blank may comprise a generally sheet-form member having:
  • a portion to form said central body portion;
  • a first portion extending coplanar with said central body portion and which can be bent to lie normal to said body portion to form said first part to be clamped and electrically connectable within a cable entry of the circuit breaker;
  • first and second wing portions extending from opposite sides of said central body portion and each being bendable in a direction opposite to said first portion to lie in a respective plane normal to both said body portion and said first portion;
    •    wherein each wing portion includes first and second arms extending in opposite directions away from said body portion, wherein the first arms of said wing portions form said support portion and the second arms of said wing portions can be further arcuately bent to form said connector portion.
  • Parts of the first arms distal to said central body portion may be formed with a nose portion for engagement with the circuit breaker casing, in use.
  • The adapter may be provided in combination with an electrically insulative cover member engageable with the casing of the circuit breaker and adapted to cover the adapter when said first part is clamped in said cable entry. Said first part may join said body portion at the same end as the third part, opposite to the end to which the second part joins the body portion.
  • The invention in a second aspect provides an adapter according the first aspect of the invention as set forth above, in combination with a circuit breaker of the type described.
  • The foregoing and further features of the invention may be more readily understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof by way example, with reference to the 5 accompanying drawing, in which:-
  • Fig 1 shows a plan view of a blank for forming an adapter;
  • Fig.2 shows a front elevational view of an adapter formed from the blank of Fig.1;
  • Fig.3 shows a side elevational view of the adapter of Fig.2;
  • Fig.4 shows a plan view of the adapter of Figs 2 and 3, and
  • Fig.5 is an exploded perspective view of an adapter of Figs 1 to 4 on reduced scale attachment to a circuit breaker.
  • Referring now to Fig.1 of the drawing there is shown a blank 10 for a circuit breaker adapter. The blank 10 comprises a generally sheet - form member with a central body portion 11, an upwardly extending portion 12 and two wing portions 13 extending upwardly and downwardly from opposed sides of the body portion 11.
  • Referring now also to Figs 2,3 and 4 of the drawings portion 12 of the blank is bent upwardly from body portion 11 to lie in a plane normal to the plane of body portion 11.
  • The two wing portions 13 are bent downwardly from body portion 11 to lie in coplanar relationship normal to the plane of body portion 11. The upper arms 13a of wing 13 are each formed with a nose portion 13b extending in the direction of portion 12.
  • The lower leg portions 13c of wings 13 are bent in arcuate fashion adjacent extremities 13d to provide plug on contacts.
  • Referring now to Fig.5 of the drawing there is shown an exploded perspective view of an m.c.b. 14 an adapter and an electrically insulative cover 15. The adapter is located with portion 12 inserted into the cable entry of m.c.b. 14 with arms 13a and nose portion 13b abutting the edge of m.c.b. 14 and legs portions 13c depending downwardly therefrom. The cover 15 is located over the edge of m.c.b. 14 to cover the adapter and cable entry.
  • The provision of the arm and nose portions 13a 13b provide a more rigid connection of the adapter to an m.c.b. and formation of the adapter from blank provides a simple and inexpensive form of manufacture.

Claims (7)

  1. An adapter which comprises an electrically conductive member formed to be attachable to a circuit breaker of a type having a casing and a cable entry formed in an end wall of the casing, the electrically conductive member comprising:
    a central body portion;
    a first part extending from said body portion to be clamped and electrically connected within the cable entry of the circuit breaker;
    a second part including an electrical connector portion and extending from the body portion in a direction substantially normal to said first part; and
    a third part including a support portion extending from said body portion in a direction opposite to the second part and adapted to extend in use along the end wall of the circuit breaker casing and to engage the casing so as to provide mechanical support.
  2. An adapter as claimed in claim 1 formed from a blank of electrically conductive material.
  3. An adapter as claimed in claim 2 wherein said blank comprises a generally sheet-form member having:
    a portion to form said central body portion;
    a first portion extending coplanar with said central body portion and which can be bent to lie normal to said body portion to form said first part to be clamped and electrically connectable within a cable entry of the circuit breaker;
    first and second wing portions extending from opposite sides of said central body portion and each being bendable in a direction opposite to said first portion to lie in a respective plane normal to both said body portion and said first portion;
       wherein each wing portion includes first and second arms extending in opposite directions away from said body portion, wherein the first arms of said wing portions form said support portion and the second arms of said wing portions can be further arcuately bent to form said connector portion.
  4. An adapter as claimed in claim 3 wherein parts of the first arms distal to said central body portion are each formed with a nose portion for engagement with the circuit breaker casing, in use.
  5. An adapter as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with an electrically insulative cover member engageable with the casing of the circuit breaker and adapted to cover the adapter when said first part is clamped in said cable entry.
  6. An adapter as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said first part joins said body portion at the same end as the third part, opposite to the end to which the second part joins the body portion.
  7. An adapter as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with said circuit breaker.
EP19980410026 1997-03-14 1998-03-06 Improvements in and relating to circuit breakers Expired - Lifetime EP0865061B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9705342A GB2323480B (en) 1997-03-14 1997-03-14 An adapter arrangement for a circuit breaker
GB9705342 1997-03-14

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0865061A2 EP0865061A2 (en) 1998-09-16
EP0865061A3 EP0865061A3 (en) 1999-04-14
EP0865061B1 true EP0865061B1 (en) 2005-06-08

Family

ID=10809256

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19980410026 Expired - Lifetime EP0865061B1 (en) 1997-03-14 1998-03-06 Improvements in and relating to circuit breakers

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0865061B1 (en)
AU (1) AU742165B2 (en)
DE (1) DE69830436T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2242267T3 (en)
GB (1) GB2323480B (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB0119680D0 (en) 2001-08-11 2001-10-03 Turner Intellect Property Ltd Tile cutter
CN106711727B (en) * 2016-12-15 2019-08-23 深圳市海德森科技股份有限公司 Breaker, hot-plug component and its adapter

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL8204297A (en) * 1982-11-05 1984-06-01 Hazemeijer Bv COUNTER CONTACTS, ESPECIALLY FOR A KNIFE CONTACT OF A KNIFE PATTERN AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME.
GB2214712A (en) * 1988-01-14 1989-09-06 Square D Co Housings for electrical consumer units
DE9203111U1 (en) * 1992-03-09 1992-04-30 Siemens AG, 80333 München Terminal adapter
GB9511278D0 (en) * 1995-06-05 1995-08-02 Square D Co Improvements in and relating to circuit breakers
NL1000906C2 (en) * 1995-07-31 1997-02-04 Holec Syst & Componenten Switching system with connection modules.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9705342D0 (en) 1997-04-30
GB2323480B (en) 2002-03-20
ES2242267T3 (en) 2005-11-01
DE69830436D1 (en) 2005-07-14
AU742165B2 (en) 2001-12-20
DE69830436T2 (en) 2006-03-16
EP0865061A3 (en) 1999-04-14
AU5834898A (en) 1998-09-17
EP0865061A2 (en) 1998-09-16
GB2323480A (en) 1998-09-23

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