WO2016116559A1

WO2016116559A1 - Circuit breaker

Info

Publication number: WO2016116559A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/051233
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jozef Smrkolj
Original assignee: Jozef Smrkolj
Priority date: 2015-01-23
Filing date: 2016-01-21
Publication date: 2016-07-28
Also published as: CN107210168B; EP3248204A1; EP3048629A1; EP3248204B1; CN107210168A

Abstract

The invention relates to a circuit breaker having two parallel current paths each with a contact point (15, 18; 15, 22) which, as the main and secondary current paths (19, 21), are connected, via a contact device (15, 17, 18, 22), in series with a coil (11) of a magnetic trip (10), the armature (12) of which, in the event of a fault, opens the contact point (15, 18) of the main current path (19) which is formed exclusively only by the series circuit of the contact device (15, 17, 18) with the coil (11). In order to provide a further circuit breaker which, in the case of energy losses which are minimized during normal continuous operation, prevents the formation of an arc when the circuit is interrupted in the event of a fault and therefore also largely prevents contacts from burning away, provision is made, in the case of a circuit breaker according to the invention, for an interrupter and trip insert (24) to be arranged in the secondary current path (21), which insert, in the event of a short circuit, interrupts the secondary current path and trips a switching lock (30) to open and secure the contact device (15, 17, 18, 22).

Description

CIRCUIT BREAKERS

The present invention relates to a line circuit breaker with two parallel current paths, each with a contact point, which are connected as a main and Nebenstrompfad via a contact device with a coil of a magnetic release in each case in series. From DE 10 2011 016 933 AI such a circuit breaker is already known, in which the armature of a magnetic release in case of failure via a plunger or striker opens the contact point of the main current path, so that the current flows now only on the secondary flow path and its contact point. The opening of the contact point in the main current path takes place without the formation of an arc, since the contact point is short-circuited by the secondary circuit. When a short-circuit current occurs, the contact point of the secondary current path, which is formed as Abbrennkontakt abruptly opened by the plunger or striker, which is for this purpose driven by a second anchor. The arc occurring at the opening of the contact point is brought to extinction in a known manner in one of the contact point associated Deionkammer. Since the burn-off contact and a thermal tripping device for the overcurrent accident are located in the secondary current path through which no current flows in a fault-free case, the energy losses in the circuit breaker can be minimized during normal continuous operation. Due to the burnup at the burn-off contact, however, the tripping characteristic in the event of an overcurrent accident can change.

Further known as overcurrent protection devices are fuse-link systems in which a replaceable fuse link is interposed between a fuse block via which contact is made with a first terminal and a screw cap via which electrical contact is made with a second terminal. When an overcurrent or short circuit occurs, a fuse element of the fuse link melts to break the current path between the terminals. To indicate that the fuse has responded, that is, that the fusible conductor has interrupted the current path between the terminals, an indicator or indicator pin is provided, which is pushed out of a contact head of the fusible link by a spring when the fusible conductor and a holding wire holding the detector melted are. For connection to the mains, domestic connection fuses whose size is prescribed by the grid operator are prescribed as connection devices in buildings in accordance with TAB Technical regulations. Such an overcurrent protection device conventionally has a selective circuit breaker, as described, for example, in DE 10 2011 016 933 A1, and a fuse arranged in the same line in accordance with the instructions This results in the generation of heat in the overcurrent protection devices, connection devices and circuit distributors, which causes temperature increases, which in the case of the Concepti must be taken into account on the overcurrent protection devices in order to avoid malfunctions due to the mutual influence of the protective switching devices in the system. The invention has for its object to provide a circuit breaker that largely prevents the formation of an arc when interrupting the circuit in case of malfunction and thus burning off of contacts in normal continuous operation energy losses.

This object is achieved by the circuit breaker according to claim 1. Advantageous refinements and developments of the invention are described in the subclaims.

According to the invention, in a circuit breaker with two parallel current paths, each with a contact point, which are connected as a main and Nebenstrompfad via a contact device with a coil of a magnetic release in series, in the secondary current path a breaker and trip insert is provided in the short circuit case the Subcircuit interrupts and triggers a switching mechanism for opening and fixing the open contact device. According to the invention, therefore, the functions of a house connection fuse with the separator are combined in a compact circuit breaker. According to the invention is thus achieved by the arrangement of a breaker and tripping insert that even in case of short circuit, the contact point of the main current path, which carries the operating current as a so-called empty contact, without interruption of the short-circuit current is opened to this on the Nebenstrom path and thus by the breaker and trip application to lead. No arc occurs. The breaker and trip insert then interrupts the bypass path, without causing the subsequent contacts to open the contact point of the secondary current path at the corresponding contacts to an arc.

It is particularly advantageous if the breaker and tripping insert in the secondary trumpet is interchangeably arranged between two contact elements, in particular terminal contact elements. This allows easy replacement of the breaker and trip unit.

It is particularly advantageous if the breaker and tripping insert is a fuse link whose fusible wire and / or retaining wire, which melts together with the fusible wire in the event of a short circuit, holds a striking pin in its ready position against the force of a spring. This not only ensures that a short-circuit current is reliably interrupted, but also that the switch lock is triggered to bring the contact device in its OFF position and to fix it. The opening of the contact point of the secondary current path takes place without current, ie without the danger of the creation of an arc.

Due to the inventive integration of the prescribed fuse as a fuse in the bypass path, in which preferably also serving as overcurrent thermal trip, it is possible to completely avoid the power losses of the overcurrent trip and the fuse in normal operation, as the over-current release and the fuse is only flowed through in case of failure of electricity to protect electrical lines, but not during normal operation.

To exclude electrical accidents, it is envisaged that a housing cap covering the breaker and tripping insert in the secondary current path will only be activated when the housing is switched off Circuit breaker, in particular for replacing the breaker and release insert or the fuse is removable.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the contact device has a contact plate, which can be brought into engagement with three contacts, of which the first contact with a terminal, the second contact with another terminal and the third contact with the breaker - And tripping insert is connected in the secondary flow path, wherein the third contact is preferably connected via a thermal release, which is in particular designed as a bimetal element, with the breaker and tripping insert in the secondary flow path. By using a simple, substantially triangular contact plate, which can be brought into engagement with three contacts which also form a triangle, the contact device can be made extremely simple and uncomplicated in order to simultaneously form the contact point of the main current path and the contact point of the secondary current path. In addition, the triangular contact plate makes it possible to produce the miniature circuit breaker strand-free with only a few parts and thus cost-effectively.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the contact plate is arranged on a shaft of a contact plate carrier and is pressed by a spring against the contacts when the contact plate carrier occupies its ON position, wherein the contact plate for opening the contact point of the main current path from the armature of the magnetic release against the force of the spring about a pivot axis formed by the first and third contact away from the second contact is. In this way, in particular, the contact point of the main current paths can break reliably in a simple manner without an arc occurring, since the contact point in the secondary current path remains reliably closed, that is, reliably held in its ON position. Here, the closing force of the force acting on the contact plate spring for the contact point in the secondary flow path is not affected, but increased by the pivotal movement of the contact plate against the force of the spring.

Advantageously, it is provided in a development of the invention that the contact plate is separable from the contacts under the action of a switching spring, wherein the Kon- "

Taktplattenträger and thus the contact plate of the attacking on the contact plate carrier switching spring to open the contact points from his / her closed or ΕΓΝ- position in his / her open or OFF position is movable.

Appropriately, it is provided that the contact plate carrier is fixed by a pawl of the switching mechanism in its closed or ON position, the thermal release and the striker of the breaker and release insert each acting in the event of triggering on the pawl of the switching mechanism to the fixation of the Releasing contact plate carrier to open the contact points, so that the switching spring causes the sudden movement of the contact plate carrier and the contact plate from the ON to the OFF position.

In another advantageous development of the inventive circuit breaker is provided that the contact device has a contact plate, which is engageable with three contacts which form a triangle and of which the first contact with the coil of the magnetic release, the second contact with the main current path and the third contact is connected to the secondary current path, that the contact plate is pressed by a spring against the contacts, which acts within the triangle formed by the contacts on the contact plate, and that the armature of the magnetic release in case of failure via a pivot lever, a force on the contact plate which acts in the same direction on the contact plate as the force of the spring to pivot the contact plate about a pivot axis formed by the first and third contact against the force of the spring and thus the contact plate for opening the contact point of the main current path from the second contact to lift.

Here, the striker of the magnetic release, which interrupts the main current path in the event of overcurrent and short-circuit, so according to the invention indirectly via a pivot lever on the contact plate, so that the force generated by the magnetic release force to open the contact from the same side acts on the contact plate, such as the spring for closing the contacts. However, the force is applied to two sides of a pivot axis about which the contact plate is pivotable like a rocker. In this way it is achieved that when opening the second contact for interrupting the main current path, the other two contacts can be reliably kept closed, so that a small arc, even if the opening of the second contact on the first or third Contact could occur reliably prevented, since when opening the second contact to interrupt the main current path no force acts in the opening direction of the contacts on the contact plate.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the contact plate has an extending from the first and third contact formed pivot axis and the region of the triangular arrangement of the contacts away extending extension on which the pivot lever engages. In this way, the opening behavior of the contact plate can be optimized particularly well, since the closing force generated by the spring and the tripping or opening force generated by the magnetic release can be adjusted to each other via the adjustment of the lever ratios to obtain a desired fast opening behavior.

Appropriately, the contact plate is provided with three mating contacts, with which it can be brought into engagement with the first to third contacts.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the pivot lever is pivotable about a pivot axis which is substantially parallel to the pivot axis of the contact plate formed by the first and third contact, and that it has a first lever arm on which the striker of the magnetic release engages, and has a second lever arm, is engageable with the pivot lever with the extension of the contact plate to open the second contact. This further optimizes the opening behavior.

In another embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the breaker and release insert has a striking pin, with which it acts on the switching lock via a lever, wherein the lever acts on a first lever arm, on which the firing pin of the triggering insert engages, and a second lever Having lever arm, via which it acts on the pawl of the switching mechanism.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the lever acting on the switch lock is arranged relative to the pivot lever acting on the contact plate such that it engages the pivot lever in its release position. xiert, when it is pivoted from its rest position to its release position, wherein the second lever arm of the pivot lever has an extension which extends in the direction transverse to the pivot axis thereof, and the second lever arm of the lever and the extension of the pivot lever are formed so that the second lever arm engages with its free end on the extension.

Although it is basically possible to match the drop of the armature of the magnetic release after interrupting the Nebenstrompfads in the event of short circuit and the response of the sound lock for moving the contact plate to its final OFF position to each other that a re-closing of the main current path is prevented, this is achieved in that in a simple manner the contact plate can be fixed in its opening or release position by the lever acting on the switching mechanism via the pivoting lever acting on the contact plate. Thus, the magnetic release and the switch lock can be optimized independently of each other for their respective switching tasks. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained in more detail below, for example, with reference to the drawing. Show it:

1A shows a schematic sectional view of a circuit breaker according to a first embodiment of the present invention in the on state, Figure 1B shows the circuit diagram of the circuit breaker of Figure 1A, wherein the power supply is highlighted in bold in the on state,

FIG. 2A shows the circuit breaker according to the invention in the case of overcurrent,

FIG. 2B shows the circuit diagram of the circuit breaker, the current control being highlighted in bold in the case of overcurrent, FIG. 3 shows the circuit breaker in the event of a short circuit, 4A shows the circuit breaker according to the present invention in the off state,

FIG. 4B shows the circuit diagram of the switched off circuit breaker,

5A is a schematic sectional view of a circuit breaker according to another embodiment of the invention in the on state,

Figure 5B is a schematic enlarged sectional view of the triggering mechanism of the circuit breaker of Figure 5A

FIG. 5C shows the circuit diagram of the circuit breaker according to FIG. 5A, with the current control being highlighted in the switched-on state, FIG. 6A shows the circuit breaker according to the invention in the event of overcurrent,

FIG. 6B shows the circuit diagram of the circuit breaker according to the invention in the case of overcurrent,

FIG. 7A shows the circuit breaker according to the invention in the switched-off state after overcurrent,

7B, the circuit diagram of the circuit breaker according to the invention in the off state after Ü he Ström,

FIG. 8A shows the circuit breaker according to the invention when a short circuit occurs;

8B shows the circuit diagram of the circuit breaker according to the invention in the event of a short circuit;

Figure 9A shows the circuit breaker according to the present invention in the off state after short circuit, and

FIG. 9B shows the circuit diagram of the circuit breaker according to the invention which is switched off after a short circuit. In the various figures of the drawing corresponding components are provided with the same reference numerals.

As shown in Figure 1 A and 1B, the Lei protection switch according to a first embodiment of the invention, a magnetic release 10 with a coil 11 and an armature 12 which acts on a contact pin 15 via a striker pin 14. The coil 11 is connected at one end to a terminal 16 and at its other end to a first contact 17. When switched on, the contact 17 is connected via the contact plate 15, on which the mating contact to the first contact 17 is formed, to a second contact 18, which is connected via an electrical line element, which forms a main current path 19, to a further connection terminal 20. The main current path 19 is in the on state with the coil 11 of the magnetic release 10 in series and thus connects together with the coil 11, the two terminals 16 and 20 of the circuit breaker according to the invention. In trouble-free operation, therefore, the connection terminals 16 and 20 are connected by the series connection of the coil 11, the first contact 17, the contact plate 15, the second contact 18 vind the electrical line element of the main current path 19.

Parallel to the main current path 19, a secondary current path 21 is connected between a third contact 22 and the further connection terminal 20. The third contact 22, which is concealed in FIG. 1A as well as in the other sectional views of the circuit breaker by the first contact 17, also cooperates with the contact plate 15. The third contact 22 is electrically connected to a thermal release 23, preferably formed by a bimetallic element, which is connected in series with a thermal breaker and tripping insert 24. The breaker and release insert 24 is replaceably inserted between two non-switching contact elements 25, 26, which may be formed as terminal contacts, of which the first contact element 25 via a line element 27 with the thermal release 23 and the second contact element 26 via a another line element 28 is connected to the other terminal 20. However, it is also possible to reverse the order of thermal trip 23 and breaker and trip insert 24 depending on the installation conditions in the circuit breaker, so that the breaker and trip insert 24 directly with the third contact 22nd is connected while the thermal release 23 between the breaker and trip insert 24 and the other terminal 20 is arranged.

The breaker and tripping insert 24 has a striking pin 29, with which it acts on a switching mechanism 30, as indicated by the dashed line 31 in Figure 1B. The bimetal element of the thermal release 23 also acts on the switch lock 30, as indicated by the dashed line 32.

The switch latch 30, which will be further described below as necessary, is also operable by a manual switch 33 and in turn also acts on the switch 33, as shown by the dashed double arrow 34, to move it to its OFF position when the circuit breaker in case of failure interrupts the faulty area of the power supply, so if the circuit breaker due to an overcurrent or a short circuit both the main and the secondary current path between the terminals 16, 20 interrupts.

The preferably substantially triangular or V-shaped contact plate 15 has a non-illustrated passage opening or passage region between the legs of the V and is, as can be seen particularly well in Figure 4A, mounted on a shaft 35 of a contact plate carrier 36 extending through the passage opening or the passage area of the contact plate 15 extends therethrough. The contact plate carrier 36 and its shaft 35 are slidably mounted parallel to the direction of impact of the striker 14 of the magnetic release 10 in a housing 37 of the circuit breaker. Together with the contact plate 15, a spring 38 is mounted on the shaft 35, which is supported with its one end on a shoulder 39 of the contact plate carrier 36 and with its other end on the contact plate 15 to these as shown in Figure 1 A, with the first to third contacts 17, 18, 22 or as shown in Figure 4A, with a retaining shoulder 40 on the shaft 35 of the contact plate carrier 36 to engage.

As shown in Figure 1A, the contact plate carrier 36 is held by a pawl 41 against the force of a switching spring 42 in its ΕΓΝ position, in which the contact plate 15 is lifted from the retaining shoulder 40 and under the pressure of the spring 38 on the contacts 17th , 18, 22 rests to hold the circuit breaker in its EI state. In trouble-free normal operation of the circuit breaker according to the invention, the current flows from the terminal 16 via the coil 11 of the magnetic release 10 to the first contact 17, via the contact plate 15 to the second contact 18 and via the electrical line element of the main current path 19 to the other terminal 20. Although the contact 22 is closed flows over the Nebenstrompfad with the thermal release 23 and the breaker and trip insert 24 virtually no electricity, since the Nebenstrompfad 21 is short-circuited by the main current path 19.

If an overcurrent occurs due to a fault on the load side of the power supply, the magnetic release 10 responds and the armature 12 strikes the striking pin 14 against the contact plate 15, as shown in FIG. 2A and shown in FIG. 2B by the dashed line of action 43. The contact plate 15 is thereby pivoted against the force of the spring 38 about an axis formed by the contacts 17, 22 pivot axis, so that the contact plate 15 is lifted with its corresponding mating contact from the contact 18 and the contact 18 is thus opened, while the first and third Contact 17, 22 stay closed. In the case shown, a compression spring is shown as spring 38, which is further compressed by the pivotal movement of the contact plate 15, whereby the contact plate 15 is held with increased force with the contacts 17 and 22 in engagement. The overcurrent continues to flow through the coil 11 of the magnetic release 10, the contact plate 15 and now via the secondary current path 21 and thus by the bimetallic element of the thermal release 23 and the breaker and trip insert 24. The overcurrent heats the bimetallic element, but does not bring the breaker and trigger insert 24 for response. Since the overcurrent when opening the first contact 17, that is not interrupted when interrupting the main flow path 19, but only to the secondary flow path 21 is passed when opening the first contact 17 no arc. As a result of the overcurrent, the bimetal element of the thermal release 23 is bent in the direction of the arrow A shown in FIG. 2A and contacts a first contact lug 41 'on the pawl 41 and pivots it clockwise about its axis of rotation 44 against the force of a not shown Pawl spring, so that the pawl 41 releases a retaining pin 45 on the contact plate carrier 36. The switching spring 42 pulls after the release of the retaining pin 45 of the contact plate carrier 36 this in its OFF position shown in Figure 4A. At the same time, the switching spring 42, which rotates on a rotatably mounted ten shift lever 46 of the switch 33 is supported, the shift lever 46 in its illustrated in Figure 4A, the OFF state of the circuit breaker indicating position.

If the switch 33 is manually returned to its ON position after the fault in the power supply has been rectified, then the switching lever 46 is moved back from the position shown in FIG. 4A in a clockwise direction into the position shown in FIG Moving the pawl 41 from its OFF position shown in Figure 4A back into the ON position shown in Figure 1A, where it again comes into engagement with the pawl spring, the pawl 41 thereby pivots counterclockwise so that they with the Retaining pin 45 is brought or held on the contact plate carrier 36. During further movement of the shift lever 46 and the pawl 41, the contact plate carrier 36, which is engaged with its retaining pin 45 with the pawl 41, moved by the hinged on the rotary lever 46 pawl 41 back into its closed or ON position. In this case, the switching spring 42 is tensioned.

If the circuit breaker according to the invention has been switched to its OFF state due to an overcurrent by the thermal release 23, it can be switched on again immediately after the fault has been eliminated without further measures. Even in the event that the overcurrent only briefly applied to the circuit breaker, since, for example, a downstream circuit breaker has responded and has turned off the faulty area of the power grid, the armature 12 falls back and the spring 38, the contact plate back into the illustrated in Figure 1 A Bring ON position.

However, if a short circuit occurs, so speaks as in the case of an overcurrent first of the magnetic release 10 and interrupts the main current path 19, so that the short-circuit current flows through the bypass path. Unlike the overcurrent, the breaker and tripping insert 24, which breaks down the secondary current path virtually at the same time and pivots a pivotably mounted lever 48 of the switching mechanism 30 counterclockwise by means of its striking pin 29, as shown in FIG. 3A. The lever 48 has at its bearing part 49 a cam 50 which engages with a second contact nose 51 of the pawl 41 during the pivoting movement and pivots this against the force of the pawl spring in a clockwise direction, so that they the holding pin 45 of the contact plate carrier 36th releases, whereupon the contact plate carrier 36 as in the case of an overcurrent is pulled by the switching spring 42 in its OFF position shown in Figure 4A. In this case, due to the interruption of the main and Nebenstrompfads de-energized contacts 17, 22 are opened without it can come to an arc.

The breaker and release insert 24 is expediently formed by a fuse link whose fuse wire and / or retaining wire holds the contact pin 29 against the force of a release spring in its ready position shown in FIGS. 1A, 2A and 4A in a manner not shown. As soon as the fusible wire and possibly the retaining wire of the fusible insert melts due to a high short-circuit current, the percussion pin 29 is abruptly moved into its release position by the release spring provided in the fusible insert, whereby it actuates the interlock 30 as described above.

After tripping of the circuit breaker in the event of a short circuit, the breaker and tripping insert 24 must be replaced. For this purpose, as indicated by dashed lines in the drawing, a removable cap 52 or the like provided on the housing 37 of the circuit breaker. In particular, the cap 52 is provided with a rod-shaped extension 53 which has at its free end a hook 54 which engages under or behind the breaker and release insert 24. If the cap 52, optionally after the release of suitable fasteners (not shown), removed in the drawing upwards, so the breaker and release insert 24 is taken simultaneously with the top and pulled out between the terminal contact elements 25, 26. The breaker and tripping insert 24 can thus be removed without tools from the circuit breaker according to the invention and replaced by a new one. Since the switching lever 46 with its operating portion secures the cap 52 against being removed in the switched-on state, the circuit breaker must be switched off before replacing the interruption and release insert 24. However, if this is not done beforehand, the circuit breaker is forcibly turned off since not only the operating portion of the shift lever 46 of the manual switch 33 blocks the removal of the cap 52 and is thus forcibly operated upon the removal of the cap 52, but also the lever 48, which cooperates with the striker 29 of the breaker and trip insert 24 is operated. It can thus be ensured that the region of the circuit breaker opened after the removal of the cap 52 has been de-energized. The the breaker and release insert (24) covering the cap (52) is thus removable only in the off state of the circuit breaker.

As shown in Figures 5A and 5B, has a circuit breaker according to another embodiment of the invention, a magnetic release 10 with a coil 11 and an armature 12, via a striker 14 and a pivot lever 114, which will be described in more detail below, on a Contact plate 15 acts. The coil 11 is connected at one end to a terminal 16 and at its other end to a first contact 17. When switched on, the contact 17 is connected via the contact plate 15, on which a mating contact 17 '(see FIG. 5B) to the first contact 17, to a second contact 18 which is connected via an electrical line element which forms a main current path 19 another terminal 20 is connected. The main current path 19 is in the on state with the coil 11 of the magnetic release 10 in series and thus connects together with the coil 11, the two terminals 16 and 20 of the circuit breaker according to the invention. In trouble-free operation, therefore, the connection terminals 16 and 20 are connected exclusively by the series connection of the coil 11, the first contact 17, the contact plate 15, the second contact 18 and the electrical line element of the main current path 19.

Parallel to the main current path 19, a secondary current path 21 is connected between a third contact 22 and the further connection terminal 20. The third contact 22, which is concealed in FIG. 5A as well as in the other sectional views of the circuit breaker by the first contact 17, also interacts with the contact plate 15. The third contact 22 is electrically connected to a thermal release 23, preferably formed by a bimetallic element, which is connected in series with a thermal breaker and tripping insert 24. The breaker and trip insert 24 is used interchangeably between two non-switching contact elements, of which a first contact element 25 via a line member 27 with the thermal release 23 and a second contact element via another line element (not shown) connected to the other terminal 20 is. However, it is also possible to reverse the order of thennischer trigger 23 and breaker and trip insert 24 depending on the installation conditions in the circuit breaker, so that the breaker and trip insert 24 is directly connected to the third contact 22, during the thermal Trigger 23 is disposed between the breaker and trip insert 24 and the other terminal 20.

The breaker and release insert 24 has a striking pin 29, with which it acts via a lever 148 on a switching mechanism 30, as indicated by the dashed line 31 in Figure 5C. The bimetal element of the thermal release 23 also acts on the switch lock 30, as indicated by the dashed line 32.

The switch latch 30, which will be further described below as necessary, is also operable by a manual switch 33 and in turn also acts on the switch 33, as shown by the dashed double arrow 34, to move it to its OFF position the circuit breaker in case of failure interrupts the faulty area of the power supply, so if the circuit breaker due to an overcurrent or a short circuit both the main and the secondary current path 19, 21 between the terminals 16, 20 interrupts.

The contact plate 15 is slidably mounted on a contact plate carrier 36, which in turn is displaceably mounted parallel to the direction of impact of the striker 14 of the magnetic release 10 in a housing 37 of the circuit breaker. Together with the contact plate 15, a spring 38 is mounted on the contact plate carrier 36, which is supported with its one end to the contact plate carrier 36 and with its other end on the contact plate 15 to these as shown in Figure 5A, with the first to third Contacts 17, 18, 22 or as shown for example in Figure 7A, with a retaining shoulder 40 on the contact plate carrier 36 in engagement.

The contact plate 15 has (see Figure 5B) has three mating contacts 17 ', 18' and 22 '(of which the third mating contact 22' corresponding to the third contact 22 in the drawing by the first mating contact 17 'is covered), with which they the first to third contacts 17, 18 and 22 are engageable and form a triangle corresponding to the triangular arrangement of the first to third contacts 17, 18 and 22. The contact plate 15 further includes an extension 15 'extending from one of the first and third contacts 17, 22 and the extension 15' extending from the region 15 "of the triangle arrangement of the mating contacts 17 ', 18', 22 '(see FIG. 5B). The spring 38, which the Contact plate 15 in engagement with the first to third contacts 17, 18 and 22 holds, engages within the triangle formed by the contacts 17, 18, 22, ie in the region 15 "of the triangular arrangement of the mating contacts 17 ', 18', 22 'on the Contact plate 15 on.

The pivoting lever 114 is pivotable about a pivot axis 114 ', which runs substantially parallel to the pivot axis of the contact plate 15 formed by the first and the third mating contact 17', 22 ', and has a first lever arm 115, on which the striker pin 14 in case of failure of the magnetic release 10 engages, and a second lever arm 116 with a contact lug 116 ', with the pivot lever 114 in case of failure on the extension 15' of the contact plate 15 acts to these around their from the first and the third counter-contact 17 ', 22nd 'pivot axis formed pivot. Instead of the contact nose 116 ', the pivot lever 114 may also have another suitably designed contact area for engagement with the contact plate 15. Further, an extension 117 is provided on the second lever arm 116 of the pivot lever 114, which extends in the direction transverse to the pivot axis 115 of this away. As shown in Figures 5A and 5B, the contact plate carrier 36 is held by a pawl 41 against the force of a switching spring 42 and the spring 38 in its ΕΓΝ position in which the contact plate 15 is lifted from the retaining shoulder 40 and under the pressure of Spring 38 rests on the contacts 17, 18, 22 to hold the circuit breaker in its ON state. In trouble-free normal operation of the inventive circuit breaker, the current flows from the terminal 16 via the coil 11 of the magnetic release 10 to the first contact 17, via the contact plate 15 to the second contact 18 and via the electrical line element of the main current path 19 to the other terminal 20. Although the contact 22 is closed flows via the Nebenstrompfad 21 with the thermal trip 23 and the breaker and trip insert 24 virtually no power because the Nebenstrompfad 21 is short-circuited by the main current path 19.

Occurs due to a fault on the consumer side of the circuit breaker on an overcurrent, so speaks of the magnetic release 10 and the armature 12 strikes the striker 14 against the first lever arm 115 about the pivot lever 114 about its pivot axis 14 'in illustrated embodiment to pivot in a clockwise direction, so that it acts on the extension 15 'of the contact plate 15 with the provided on the second lever arm 116 contact nose 116, as shown in Figure 6A and in Figure 6B by the dashed line of action 43 is shown. The contact plate 15 is thereby pivoted against the force of the spring 38 about the pivotal axis formed by the mating contacts 17 ', 22, so that the contact plate 15 with its corresponding mating contact 18' from the contact 18 is lifted and the contact 18 is thus opened, while the first and third contacts 17, 22 remain closed. In the illustrated case, a compression spring is shown as spring 38, which is further compressed by the pivotal movement of the contact plate 15, whereby the contact plate 15 with increased force with the contacts 17 and 22 is held in engagement. Furthermore, the magnetic release 10 also generates a force which acts on the contact plate 15 from its striker 14 via the pivot lever 114 in the same direction as the force of the spring 38, but on the other side of the pivot axis. The contact plate 15 is thereby pressed in the manner of a rocker with its mating contacts 17 ', 22' against the contacts 17, 22, so that when opening the second contact 18 opening of the first and third contact 17, 22 is reliably prevented because the at Opening the second contact 18 forces acting on the contact plate 15 from the same side and not act as previously from two sides on this. The opposite effect of the closing and opening forces is achieved by the design of the contact plate 15 as a pivot plate or rocker.

The duration of the interruption of the main current path 19, ie the duration of the opening of the second contact 18 can be minimized by a suitable coordination of the forces of the spring 38 and the magnetic release 10 on the mass and structure of the contact plate 15. After opening the second contact 18 and the interruption of the main current path 19 of the overcurrent continues to flow through the coil 11 of the magnetic release 10, the contact plate 15 and now on the Nebenstrom path 21 and thus by the bimetallic element of the thermal release 23 and by the breaker and trip insert 24. The overcurrent heats the bimetallic element, but does not cause the breaker and trip insert 24 to respond. Since the overcurrent when opening the second contact 18, ie at Interrupting the main flow path 19 is not interrupted, but is directed to the Nebens- trompfad 21, occurs when opening the second contact 18 no arc.

As a result of the overcurrent, the bimetallic element of the thermal release 23 is bent in the direction of the arrow A shown in FIG. 6A and comes into contact with a contact arm 143 on the pawl 41 and pivots it clockwise about its axis of rotation 44 against the force of a pawl spring (not shown), so that the pawl 41 releases a retaining pin 45 on the contact plate carrier 36. The switching spring 42 moves after the release of the retaining pin 45 of the contact plate carrier 36 this in his shown in Figure 7A exhibition. At the same time pivoted the switching spring 42 which is supported on a rotatably mounted shift lever 46 of the switch 33, the shift lever 46 in its illustrated in Figure 7A, the OFF state of the circuit breaker indicating position.

If the switch 33 is manually returned to its ΕΓΝ position after the fault has been rectified in the power supply, then the shift lever 46 is moved backwards from the position shown in FIG. 7A in the position shown in FIG. 5A or 6A, as a result of this movement also moves the pawl 41 from its exhibition shown in Figure 7A back into the ON position shown in Figure 5A or 6A, where it again comes into engagement with the pawl spring which pivots the pawl 41 in the counterclockwise direction so that it with the retaining pin 45 is brought or held on the contact plate carrier 36. In the further movement of the shift lever 46 and the pawl 41 of the contact plate carrier 36, which is about its retaining pin 45 with the pawl 41 engages moved from the hinged on the rotary lever 46 pawl 41 back into its closed or ON position. In this case, the switching spring 42 is tensioned and the shift lever 46 held in the over-center position.

If the circuit breaker according to the invention has been switched into its OFF state by the thermal release 23 as a result of an overcurrent, it can be switched on immediately after the fault has been eliminated without further measures. Even in the event that the overcurrent only briefly applied to the circuit breaker, for example, has responded to a downstream circuit breaker and has turned off the troubled portion of the mains, the armature 12 falls back and the spring 38, the contact plate 15 again in the in Figure 5A or 6A shown bring ON position. However, if a short circuit occurs, then, as in the case of an overcurrent, the magnetic release 10 initially acts and interrupts the main current path 19, as shown in FIG. 8B by the dashed line of action 43, so that the short-circuit current flows only via the secondary current path 21. Unlike the overcurrent, however, the breaker and tripping insert 24, which practically interrupts the secondary current path 21 at the same time and, by means of its striking pin 29, pivots the lever 148 in a clockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 8A.

The lever 148, which is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis 149, has a first lever arm 150, on which the striker pin 29 of the breaker and release insert 24 engages, and a second lever arm 151, on which an extension 152 is formed, which on the Contact arm 143 of the pawl 41 of the switching mechanism 30 acts to release the contact plate carrier 36, so that it can be brought by the switching spring 42 in the OFF position.

If the lever 148 is pivoted from its rest position shown in Figure 5A by the striker 29 of the breaker and release insert 24 in the release position shown in Figure 8A, so he presses with the free tip of the extension 152 on the first contact arm 143 of the pawl 41 and pivots this against the force of the pawl spring clockwise so that it releases the retaining pin 45 of the contact plate carrier 36, whereupon the contact plate carrier 36 is pulled as in the case of an overcurrent from the switching spring 42 in its OFF position shown in Figure 9A. In this case, due to the interruption of the main and Nebenstrompfads de-energized contacts 17, 22 are opened without it can come to an arc.

In order to prevent, after the interruption of the secondary current path, the contact plate 15, which is no longer held by the magnetic release 10 in its position shown in FIG. 8A, falls back into its closed position, which would cause the short-circuit current to flow across the circuit Main flow path 19 would flow and that when opening the first and second contacts 17 and 18 an undesirable arc occurred, the second lever arm 151 of the lever 148 and the extension 117 of the pivot lever 114 are formed so that the second lever arm 151 with its free end 151 ' engages on a side surface 117 'of the extension 117, so that the located in its release position Swivel lever 114 is prevented from returning to its rest position as soon as the striker pin 14 of the magnetic release 10 no longer holds this in its opening or release position. The second lifting arm 151 of the lever 148 pivoted by the striking pin 29 of the breaker and release insert 24 thus holds the pivot lever 114 and thus the contact plate 15 in the position in which the second contact 18 is opened and the main current path 19 is interrupted, so that both the main and the secondary current path are kept reliably de-energized until the contact plate 15 and the contact plate carrier 36 carrying it have been pulled by the switching spring 42 of the switching mechanism 30 into the OFF position shown in FIG. 9A. The breaker and release insert 24 is expediently formed by a fuse link, the fuse wire and / or retaining wire holds the contact pin 29 against the force of a release spring in its standby position shown in Figures 5A, 5B and 6A in a manner not shown. Once the fuse wire and the holding wire of the fuse link melts due to a high short-circuit current, the striker pin 29 is abruptly moved by the release insert provided in the fuse insert into its release position, whereby it actuates the switching mechanism 30 via the lever 148 as described above.

After tripping the circuit breaker in the event of a short circuit, the breaker and trip unit 24 must be replaced as described above.

Claims

claims

1. Circuit breaker with two parallel current paths, each having a contact point (15, 18, 15, 22), the main and Nebenstrompfad (19, 21) via a contact device (15, 17, 18, 22) with a coil (11 ) of a magnetic release (10) are connected in series, the armature (12) in case of failure, the contact point (15, 18) of the main current path (19) opens, exclusively by the series connection of the contact device (15, 17, 18) with the coil (11) is formed, wherein in the secondary current path (21) a breaker and release insert (24) is arranged, which interrupts the secondary current path in the event of a short circuit and a switching mechanism (30) for opening and fixing the contact device (15, 17, 18, 22) triggers.

2. Circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that the breaker and tripping insert (24) in the secondary current path (21) interchangeable between two contact elements (25, 26), in particular terminal contact elements is arranged.

3. Circuit breaker according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the breaker and tripping insert (24) is a fuse link whose fuse wire holds a striker pin (29) against the force of a spring in its standby position.

4. Circuit breaker according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that a breaker and tripping insert (24) in the secondary flow path (21) covering housing cap (52) only in the off state of the circuit breaker, in particular for replacing the breaker and tripping insert ( 24) is removable.

5. Circuit breaker according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact device comprises a contact plate (15) which can be brought into engagement with three contacts (17, 18, 22), of which the first contact (17) with a terminal ( 16), the second contact (18) is connected to a further connection terminal (20) and the third contact (22) to the breaker and release insert (24) in the secondary flow path (21).

6. Circuit breaker according to claim 5, characterized in that the third contact (22) via a thermal release (23), which is in particular designed as a bimetallic element, with the breaker and tripping insert (24) in the secondary flow path (21) is connected.

7. Circuit breaker according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the contact plate (15) on a shaft (35) of a contact plate carrier (36) is arranged and by a spring (38) against the contacts (17, 18, 22) is pressed when the contact plate carrier (36) assumes its ON position.

8. Circuit breaker according to claim 7, characterized in that the contact plate (15) for opening the contact point of the main current path (19) from the armature (12) of the magnetic release (10) against the force of the spring (38) to one of the first and third contact (17, 22) formed pivot axis of the second contact (18) is pivotable away.

9. Circuit breaker according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the contact plate (15) under the action of a switching spring (42) of the contacts (17, 18, 22) is separable.

10. Circuit breaker according to claim 9, characterized in that the contact plate carrier (36) and thus also the contact plate (15) of the contact plate carrier (36) acting switching spring (42) for opening the contact points from his / her closing or ΕΓΝ position in his / its open or OFF position is movable.

11. Circuit breaker according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the contact plate carrier (36) by a pawl (41) of the switching mechanism (30) is fixable in its closed or ON position.

12. Circuit breaker according to claim 11, characterized in that the thermal release (23) and the striker pin (29) of the breaker and release insert (24) respectively in the event of triggering on the pawl (41) of the switching mechanism (30) act to the fixation the contact plate carrier (36) to open the contact points to solve.

13. Circuit breaker according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact device has a contact plate (15) which can be brought into engagement with three contacts (17, 18, 22) forming a triangle and of which the first contact (17 ) is connected to the coil (11) of the magnetic release (10), the second contact (18) to the main current path (19) and the third contact (22) to the secondary current path (21) that the contact plate (15) by a spring (38) against the contacts (17, 18, 22) is pressed, which acts within the triangle formed by the contacts (17, 18, 22) on the contact plate (15), and that the armature (12) of the magnetic release (10 ) In case of failure via a pivot lever (114) exerts a force on the contact plate (15) which acts in the same direction on the contact plate (15) as the force of the spring (38) to the contact plate (15) to one of the first and third contact (17, 22) formed pivot axis against the force of To pivot spring (38) and so as to lift the contact plate (15) for opening the contact point of the main current path (19) from the second contact (18).

14. Circuit breaker according to claim 13, characterized in that the contact plate (15) from one of the first and third contact (17, 22) formed pivot axis and the region of the triangle arrangement of the contacts (17, 18, 22) extending away extension (15 '), on which the pivot lever (114) engages.

15. Circuit breaker according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the contact plate (15) has three mating contacts (17 ', 18', 22 ') with which they with the first to third contacts (17, 18, 22) into engagement can be brought.

16. Circuit breaker according to claim 13, 14 or 15, characterized in that the pivot lever (114) about a pivot axis (114 ') is pivotable, which is substantially parallel to the pivot axis formed by the first and the third contact (17, 22) the contact plate (15) extends, and that it has a first lever arm (1 15) on which the striker pin (14) of the magnetic release (10) engages, and a second lever arm (116), with the pivot lever (114) with the extension (15 ') of the contact plate (15) is engageable to open the second contact (18, 18').

17. Circuit breaker according to one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that the breaker and release insert (24) has a striker pin (29) with which it acts via a lever (148) on the switching mechanism (30).

18. Circuit breaker according to claim 17, characterized in that the lever (148) has a first lever arm (150) on which the striker pin (29) of the breaker and release insert (24) engages, and a second lever arm (151) he acts on the pawl (41) of the switching mechanism (30).

19. Circuit breaker according to claim 18, characterized in that on the second lever arm (151) an extension (152) is formed, which acts on the pawl (41) of the switching mechanism (30).

20. Circuit breaker according to spoke 17, 18 or 19, characterized in that on the switching mechanism (30) acting lever (148) relative to the contact plate (15) acting pivot lever (114) is arranged so that it the pivot lever (114 ) Fixed in its release position when it is pivoted from its rest position to its release position.

21. Circuit breaker according to claim 20, characterized in that the second lever arm (1 16) of the pivot lever (114) has an extension (117) which extends in the direction transverse to the pivot axis (114 ') thereof, and the second lever arm (151) of the lever (148) and the extension (117) of the pivot lever (114) are formed so that the second lever arm (151) engages with its free end (15) on the extension (117).