AU2003204284A1 - Line and/or equipment safety switch - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): HAGER ELECTRO GMBH Invention Title: LINE AND/OR EQUIPMENT SAFETY SWITCH The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: -2- Line andlor equipment safety switch The invention concerns a line and/or equipment safety switch according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

With regard to the principle of operation, such a line safety switch is known from DE 34 09 513 and regarding its mechanical execution, from DE 41 18 377.

The object of the invention is to execute the line safety switch of DE 34 09 513 in such a manner that a manufacture more rational than that according to DE 41 377 will be possible.

According to the invention this objective is achieved by the measures in accordance with the characterising part of patent claim 1 first in such a manner that these reversals of the current arrangements make a considerable reduction of the number of parts of the line safety switch possible. At the same time the necessary air paths and creep paths can be achieved easier and with fewer components. Above all, however, advantageous constructive possibilities present themselves that are illustrated in the drawings as well as are described.

The subjects matter of claims 2 and 3, as well as 4, the number of parts is once again decidedly reduced.

Moreover, the subject matter of claims 5 to 8 simplifies the assembly.

With the subjects matter of claims 9 to 15 the concept known from DE 195 13 062 A to attach a line safety switch on the bus bar of a distributor is further developed thus that it is suitable for the new line safety switch.

When constructed in accordance with claim 10, the resilient contact leg or the contact clamp with the lug may be made from a material, chosen in addition with regard to the conductivity also by taking the desired spring properties into consideration, that is different from the continuing line, the material of which may have, in addition to good conductivity, advantages as far as manufacturing \VrJb-flles\horm$LindoNKeep\spec\P49548.doc 21105103 -3technology, like deformability, is concerned. At the same time the same parts may be used for all three phrases. The principle for safety switches can be generally used and is particularly advantageous when special production runs become more cost-effective not as a result of larger quantities.

The solution suggested is favourable by virtue of positioning a continuing conducting strip angled along the lateral wall in the vicinity of the longitudinal centre of the line safety switch.

This position is provided in accordance with claim 11. The appropriate conductor guiding means, in fact, in the case of two of the three arrangements of the contact leg or contact clamp mentioned, a diversion. However, altogether and above all it is an advantageous solution considering the electro-physical influences.

With the two branchings and the fastenings of these branchings formed in accordance with claims 12 and 13 in the frame structure, the contact leg or the contact clamp and the conducting strip are held firmly enough when dealing with the sub-assembly, although it is held in the flat channel only to a certain extent prior to the insertion of the conducting strip and the lug of the conducting strip and the contact leg or the contact clamp and their lugs protrude quite freely.

The supports according to claim 15 belong to the matchings according to claims and 6 mentioned interacting with both parallel walls.

Equally, the plug-in mountings on the lateral walls of the housing mentioned in claims 13 and 14 also belong to that.

The drawings illustrate two embodiments of the invention.

Fig.1 shows a circuit diagram of a line safety switch, Fig.2 shows the line safety switch in the "on" position with an execution to be mounted on a cap rail, Fig.3 shows the safety switch in the "off" position, Fig.4 shows the safety switch after partial switching off due to a short circuit, shows the parts of a first and second sub-assembly of the line safety switch in a pulled apart state, \Vnelb-files\hie$\Llnda\Keep\spec\P49548.doc 21/03 -4- Fig.6 shows the first and second sub-assembly in a pulled apart state, Fig.7 shows the first and second sub-assembly in a pulled apart state, viewed from a different angle, Fig.8 shows a third sub-assembly of the line safety switch, Fig.9 shows the third sub-assembly, viewed from a different angle, shows a half-case of the housing and the second sub-assembly assembled with the first one, in a pulled apart state, Fig.11 shows the third and a fourth sub-assemblies in a pulled apart state, Fig.12 shows a half-case with the first and second sub-assemblies fitted and the third sub-assembly assembled with the fourth one in a pulled apart state, Fig.13 shows a half-case after the complete mounting of the sub-assemblies and the other half-case as well as two single parts in a pulled apart state, Fig.14 shows a half-case of a housing of a line safety switch to be assembled on bus bars with two sub-assemblies installed and an assembled third and fourth sub-assembly in a pulled apart state corresponding to Fig.12, shows the half-case after the complete mounting of the sub-assemblies and the associated other half-case as well as two single parts in a pulled apart state corresponding to Fig.13, Fig.16 shows the reversal of Fig.1, i.e. the same sub-assemblies viewed from the other side with the other half-case,

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Fig.17 shows the reversal of Fig.2 corresponding to Fig.3, Fig.18 shows an illustration, corresponding to Fig.4, left, the device of the safety switch for another phase, Fig.19 shows the device of the safety switch in the same illustration, for the third phase, shows a detail each from Figs.4, 5 and 6, Fig.21 shows a sub-assembly in the pulled apart state, and Fig.22 shows the sub-assembly essentially assembled as well as a further subassembly.

As it can be seen from the circuit diagram Fig.1 and particularly from Fig.2, a main current path 1 passes through the line safety switch illustrated, in which a thermal trigger 2, responding to an excess current, a magnet mechanism 3 \melb-fles\home$\L~nda Keep'spec\P49548.doc 21/05103 responding to a short circuit and a separating position 4 actuated by the thermal trigger 2 as well as by the magnet mechanism 3 are provided.

The magnet mechanism 3 and the separating position 4 are bridged over by an induced current path 5. In this induced current path a second thermal trigger 6, an electric resistance 7 of, for example, approx. 0.4 to approx. 4 O for rated currents of 10 to 100 A and a second separating position 8 are provided.

Past the components mentioned a further current path 9 branches off to the neutral wire. It leads over two parallel lines with a third separating position 11 and a fourth separating position 12, respectively, the first with a further second resistance 13 and a diode 158 and then over a second magnet mechanism The thermal triggers 2 and 6 open the second separating position 8 via a mechanism 14 indicated by dotted lines.

The end member of the mechanism 14 and the magnet mechanism 3 open the separating position 4 via a mechanism The second magnet mechanism 10 closes the separating position 4 via a mechanism 16.

A mechanism 17 opening and closing the separating positions 11 and 12 is actuated by the mechanism 16 as well as by a part of mechanism 15. The parts and the functions are described in the following in detail. In addition to the following overview this description describes the operation of the line safety switch in toto: When the separating position 4 is closed, the normal current flow passes through the main current path 1. The simultaneous current flow via the induced current path 5, in which the separating position 8 is also closed, is insignificant due to the resistance 7. The further current path 9 is interrupted by the open separating positions 11 and 12. Should a short circuit occur, the magnet mechanism 3 responds and opens the separating position 4 via the mechanism 15. Thus the main current flow 1 is immediately interrupted. A considerably reduced current flows through the induced current path If the short circuit is in the section of the line between the line safety switch and a line safety switch connected downstream, then after a predetermined period, for which it is designed, the thermal trigger 6 opens also the second separating krnelb-files~honme$\Linda\Keep'spec\P49548.doc 21/05/03 -6position 8 via the mechanism 14. The interruption by means of the line safety switch is now complete and final.

If the short circuit occurs past a line safety switch connected downstream, then, as a rule, it responds simultaneously with the magnet mechanism 3, but in any case well before the thermal trigger 2, and separates the position of the short circuit. Thus the voltage increases at the entry of the further current path 9.

When the separating position 4 is opened, the separating position 11 of the further current path 9 becomes closed by the movement mechanism 17.

However, a current flow, as long as a short circuit existed, was practically not present, particularly as a consequence of the resistance 13 connected directly downstream from the separating position 11. Due to the voltage increase after separating the position of the short circuit the current flows with such intensity that the second magnet mechanism 10 will respond. First it closes the separating position 12 and by virtue of this bridging over of the resistance 13, it will become high enough in its progress through the mechanism 16, that is coupled with the mechanism 15, to close again the separating position 4. The mechanism 17 simultaneously opens the separating positions 11 and 12.

Thus the normal state of the line safety switch is restored. All other consumers connected downstream, except those in the branching of which the short circuit is situated, are further under voltage.

If there is an excess current and if a line safety switch connected downstream does not open previously, the thermal trigger 2 will respond. Via the mechanism 14 it opens the second separating position 8 and further the separating position 4 via the mechanism 15. The interruption by the line safety switch is complete and final in this case also.

In a similar manner this can take place by actuating a hand lever 18 coupled with the mechanism 14.

The manual reconnection of the line safety switch is carried.out in such a manner, that by an appropriate pivoting of the hand lever 18 the mechanism 14 closes the second separation position 8 and consequently the magnet mechanism 10 in the k~elb.filesiom$~linda\Keep\spec\P49548.doc 21105103 -7further current path 9 responds and, as described above, it closes the separating position 4 in the main current path.

The line safety switch is known in principle from DE 32 18 398, further with regard to the parallel lines with the separating positions 11 and 12 from DE 34 09 513 and otherwise from DE 41 18 377. Complementary reference is made to them.

The new mechanical execution according to the present example is as follows: The main current path 1 commences at "LE" (the corresponding connecting terminal is not referenced) on a component of the separating position 4 that is connected with the separating position 4, namely a continuation 19 of a first bracket 20 of a spark extinguisher chamber 21, provided for the separating position 4. Parallel next to this, in Fig.1 up to 8 in front of it, there extends a second stationary bracket 22. One end of a coil 23 of the magnet mechanism 3 is connected with this, the main current path passing through that coil past the separating position 4. Part of this separating position as well as of the main current path 1 is also a fork 24 with two bows 25, that closes the main current path by the bows 25 contacting the brackets 20 and 22 and opens the main current path by removing it from the brackets 20 and 22. Contact points are illustrated on the contact surfaces. The spatial construction of the fork 24 can be best inferred from Fig.9.

The spark extinguisher chamber 21, that is part of the separating position 4, is of the conventional type and does not require any detailed description.

In addition to the coil 23 the magnet mechanism 3 comprises an armature 26, that at one end has a drawbar 27 with a disc 28 and at the other end an impact pin 29. The other end of the coil 23 (for purposes of illustration shown only with three turns) is connected via a wide movable strand wire 30 with a bimetal that represents the thermal trigger 2. In turn the bimetal is mounted on a stationary component 31 and at its end a screw is provided as an adjustable pressure pin The last section of the main current path 1 passes in the component 31 up to the output designated by An output terminal 133 is situated there.

\\mlb-filesVhomeS\Linda\Keep\spec\P49548.doc 21105/03 -8- The induced current path 5 branches off from the main current path with the second separating position 8: one contact, the stationary one, is constructed as a cantilever at 32 on the above mentioned continuation 19, the other contact 33, a moving one, is constructed on a contact member 34. The induced current path continues from this through a contact spring 35 abutting against it in any position, a plate 36, into which the contact spring 35 merges, the resistance 7 (hidden in Figs.2 and 3) connected to the plate 36, a bimetal, originating from it with a firm construction and forming the second thermal trigger 6, and a thin stranded wire 38 welded to the bimetal and shown in dotted line, the other side of the stranded wire being joined at 39 to component 31, so that the induced current path reenters here into the main current path 1.

The further current path 9 branches off from the main current path 1 by means of a doubly bent spiral spring 41 which at 40 is biased against the component 31.

The spiral spring 41 is split into two contact lugs 42 and 43 which are lightly staggered relative one another. They form, together with the mating contacts 44, 244 the third and the fourth interrupting position 11 and 12, respectively. The second resistance 13, a PTC, and the diode 158, that protects the resistance 13 from excess voltage, are provided on a common base 159 with the mating contacts 44 and 244. The resistance 13 is not visible in the drawing, nor is the wiring.

The further current path 9 leads from here via a line 45 to a coil 46 of the second magnet mechanism 10. At its joining it is formed by a component 47, that extends up to the distant end face of the line safety switch and ends there in a connecting terminal 48.

Following this overview of the current paths, in the following the further mechanical parts of the line safety switch are described.

A support skid 52 is held in the mechanism 14 by means of a latch 51, on which skid a pressure rod 54, acting on the contact member 34 and actuated by an intermediate rod 53 with the aid of at he hand lever 18, rests. The latch 51 and the support skid 52 are mounted on stationary hinge shafts 55 and 56, \Vneb-files~home\Linda\Keep~spec\P49548.doc 21/05/03 -9respectively, the intermediate rod 53 and the pressure rod 54 are joined on both sides in an articulated manner.

The contact spring 35, pressing from behind against the U-web, acts on the contact member 34 that, with the exception of its end having the contact 33, has a U-shaped cross-section, against the pressure rod 54 that protrudes into the U leg and is hinged on the legs of the U. In the closed state of the separating position 4 the position of the contact member 34 is determined by the contact 33 abutting against the stationary contact 32 on the one hand and by the support of the pressure rod 54 on the support skid 52 and on the intermediate rod 53 on the other, whereby the contact spring 35 produces the abutting force and slots 58, passed through by a stationary transverse pin 57, hold the contact member 34 in both legs of the U.

If the pressure rod 54, as illustrated in Fig.2, is not supported, then the contact spring 35 pivots the contact member 34, held by the transverse pin 57 at the end of the slot 58, and the separating position 8 will be opened. The support of the pressure rod 54 on the support skid 52 according to Fig.2 will be removed either by moving the lever 18 to the "off' position, resulting in a force-free contact of another position according to Fig.3, or by that the latch 51, actuated by the pressure pin 60 of the thermal trigger 2 or a similar pressure pin of the thermal trigger 6, releases the support skid 52 and it pivots back about its hinge 56. Then the hand lever 18, affected by the spiral spring 157, illustrated only in abutting against it, automatically returns to the "off" position.

When, by moving the switch lever 18 to the "off' position, the pressure rod 54 is moved from the supporting position on the support skid 52 and the thermal trigger 2 and 6 have returned in their positions, the support skid 52 and its latch 51 automatically will return to their opposing positions. This is assisted by a spiral spring 101 acting between the two parts and a stop not described here in detail.

As to how the support skid 52 is held by the latch 51 can remain unexplained here. A possible solution is given in DE 41 18 377.

When manually switching on by pivoting the hand lever 18, first the end of the pressure rod 54, more precisely that hinge which abuts against the support skid 52, is placed against the support skid 52 via the intermediate rod 53; then the kVinebjfies\khome$\Linda\Keep'spec\P49548.doc 21/05M0 hinge is pushed along the support skid, resulting in an increased pressure due to the inclined position of the support skid 52. At the same time the pressure rod 54 presses back the contact member 34 by further tensioning the contact spring and closes the separating position 8. On this occasion the hand lever 18 passes through a dead centre, when its lever arm connected with the intermediate rod 53 forms a 1800 angle with the intermediate rod 53. The arrangement retains automatically its position on both sides of the dead centre.

The manual switching off is carried out in reverse.

When viewed in toto, the mechanism 15, by means of which, as it already has been explained, the separating position 4 is opened as well as by the magnet mechanism 3 and by the end member of mechanism 14, comprises a lever 59 holding the fork 24 revealed as a closing contact, the lever mounted on a spindle 61 and held against the force of a tension spring 62 directly engaging another part, in the closed position of the fork 24 by a latch 53 (not visible in the drawings) engaging its other end. Independently from one another the anchor 26 of the magnet mechanism 3 with its disc 28 as well as a connecting lever 64 (Figs.3, 4) can release the latch 63, the lever being pushed by the end member of mechanism 14, namely the contact member 34. The lever 59, released by the latch 63, is pivoted very rapidly by the tension spring 62 (for details see below), and consequently the fork 24 is lifted off its mating contacts on the brackets and 22. The spark occurring on this occasion is extinguished by the extinguisher chamber 21, in a manner known per se: Further details: The lever 59 essentially comprises a U-shaped sheet metal angularly bent in the vicinity of the spindle 61.

While not shown in detail, at 131 (Fig.9) the fork 24 is mounted as a lever in the lever 59, in fact with a tumbler action and with electrical insulation. A spring that is resting against a protrusion on the lever 59, presses against the rear end of the fork 24 that is provided with an electrically insulating cap. In the closed position of the fork the spring 65 is under tension and thus a contact pressure is ensured. The mounting with a tumbler action ensures the contact of both bows of the fork; it distributes evenly the contact pressure to both of them.

Nebfles~h,oe$\Linda\Keep'spec\P49548.doc 21/05/03 -11 The latch 63, made as a moulded plastic part, is also a lever. The lever is mounted on a stationary spindle 66. In the closed position of the latch it is pulled by a tension spring 80. In the opposite direction the disc 28 of the anchor 23 abuts against it; at 67 the lever engages hook-shaped the drawbar 27 below the disc 28. When the anchor 26 pulls in, it is released. The remaining force of the anchor 26 is transferred directly to the fork 24 via the impact pin 29, in addition to the force of the tension spring 62. In the case of a short circuit, that triggers the magnet mechanism 3, the separating position 4 is correspondingly rapidly opened.

The power arm of the connecting lever 64 mentioned has with the contact member 34 a displaceable hook-like connection that transmits both pressure and tension and not be described in detail. The load arm, commencing from the lever spindle 68, is present in duplicate. The one load arm 69, that is visible in Figs.3 and 4, acts further via pressure pads 70 formed on it, that will be discussed later in detail. The other, shorter load arm is obscured in Figs.3 and 4 behind the load arm 69. Its end 130, shown in Fig.13, acts at 71, in addition to the disc 28, on the latch 63.

When the contact member 34 opens the second separating position 8, it will press against the connecting lever 64. The lever presses down the lever of the latch 63 and consequently triggers also the opening of the separating position 4.

When closing the second separating position 8, the contact member 34 pulls the connecting lever 64 with it and pivots it about its lever spindle 68 back to the normal position.

The mechanism 16 for the closing of the separating position has the following construction: The second magnet mechanism 10 has an anchor 49 that is provided at its end with two laterally protruding carrier dogs A sheet metal part 72 has a U-shaped construction with a back 73 and two cheeks and is mounted as a lever on a spindle 74. Both cheeks engage with projections 75 at their ends from below the carrier dogs 50 of the anchor 49.

melb.files\home$\Llnda\Keep\spec\P49548.doc 21/05/03 -12 When the second magnet mechanism 10 is activated, its anchor 49 is pulled in and consequently the sheet metal part 72 is pivoted.

The counterforce comes from the tension spring 62 mentioned above, that engages a cantilever 76 of the sheet metal part 72, that in turn, after the closing presses at 77 (Fig.9) the lever 59 in the direction of opening of the separating position 4.

The lever 59 protrudes with one of its lever arms (obscured to great extent in the drawings) between the cheeks of the sheet metal part 72 and abuts on its inside against the back 73 of the sheet metal part 72. The sheet metal part 72 engages here the lever 59, so that to pivot it back from the open position of the separating position 4 into the closed position by tensioning the tension spring 62 held under great tension by the tensile force adjustable by its holder 78.

The arrangement of the spindle 74 in the region of the lever arm of the lever 59 results in the best possible force transfer from the sheet metal part 72 to the lever 59.

Fig.2 shows the end of the return pivoting of the lever 59. Shortly before the end the upper edge of the lever 59 engages the lower edge of the latch 63 and pushes it upwards. Finally the latch 63 snaps into the facing it mating surface at the end of the lever 59.

After the second magnet mechanism 10 has been deenergised by virtue of closing the separating position 4, the tension spring 62 will pull the sheet metal part 72 and it the anchor 49 back to the initial position illustrated in Fig.3.

The resetting process describes the progress taking place in the mechanism 17 as follows: On a stationary spindle 29 (see in particular Fig.8) a contact carrier 81 is pivotably provided. It is a moulded plastic part, in which the spiral spring 41 with the contact lugs 42 and 43 has its own seat. It is held in its seat by an insert 156, that coaxially engages with a cylindrical part one of the bends of the doubly-bent S-shaped spiral spring 41 and is positioned approximately in the pivoting axis 79 of the contact carrier. The other, smaller, bend extends between the cylindrical \melbfiles\home$\LindalKeep~spec\P49548.doc 21105/03 -13part and the stationary component 31. It remains here almost unchanged even when the contact carrier 81 pivots. The torque exerted about the spindle 79 on the contact carrier 81, and produced by biasing and supporting the spiral spring 41 on the component 31 at 40, is held by a first lever arm 82 of the contact carrier 81 resting on the back of the lever 59.

The support ceases to exist when at the opening of the separating position 4 the lever 59 pivots away. However, in the case of total switching off of the line safety switch, i.e. when the second separating position 8 is simultaneously opened, the support is replaced by the above mentioned pressure pads 70, and it assumes a position wherein a second lever arm 83 of the contact carrier 81 abuts against it (Fig.3).

In the case of a short circuit and the second separating position 8 remaining 'closed, the separating position 4 will open (Fig.4) and thus the former support of the contact carrier 81 by the lever 59 ceases to exist, the spiral spring 41 will pivot the contact carrier 81 with the contact lug 51 until the contact carrier 81 strikes against a carrier dog 50 mentioned. On this occasion the contact lug 42 abuts against its mating contact 44. However, due to the splitting of the two contact lugs 42 and 43 relative one another, the contact lug 43 just does not yet abuts against its mating contact 244. The splitting is ensured by the different heights of a support 84 (Fig.8), that is constructed in the contact carrier 81 to suit the contact lugs 42 and 43.

Consequently the separating position 11 will be closed and the separating position 12 remains open.

If, due to removal of a short circuit, current reaches the magnet mechanism the current is choked first by the resistance 13. It is, however, adequate to pivot the sheet metal part 72 only a little against the force of the spring 62 and consequently to pull the anchor 49 that much that the stop of the contact carrier 81 on the carrier dog 50 is removed and the contact lug 43 will also abut against its mating contact 244 and thus the separating position 12 will close. The resistance 13 is now bridged over, and by means of the current flowing now the magnet mechanism can pull back the lever 59 into the closed position of the separating position 4. In the last stage of this movement the lever 59 pushes the \\melbjiles~hone$\Linda\Keep~spec\P49548.doc 21/05/03 -14lever arm 82 and thus pivots the contact carrier 81 into the open position of the separating positions 11 and 12. After the returning action the end position, illustrated in Fig.2, is immediately abandoned by the sheet metal part 72 and the anchor 49. The tension spring 62 pulls back both parts to their other end position, determined by a stop.

The same takes place when the line safety switch is switched on manually.

Instead of the support of the contact carrier 81 ceasing to exist on its first lever arm 82, in this case the support on the second lever arm 83 by the pressure pads will cease to exist when the second separating position 8 is closed by means of the hand lever 18.

The switching threshold of the second magnet mechanism 10, in this example 130 V, is determined by means of the adjustable force of the tension spring 62 as well as by the magnitude of the second resistance 13. Thus a switching on again is out of the question when the short circuit position has not been actually separated but the short circuit has been only reduced.

With regard to the assembly of the line safety switch first separate subassemblies that can be separately handled are manufactured independently from one another, and, in contrast to the state-of-the-art, they are brought to and fastened in their intended positions without any jigs by exclusively using the two walls of the switch housing, which have the form of flat half-cases, as a holder, partly with addition reciprocal support. For this reason some provisions have been made on the walls of the housing. The fixed spindles, mounted in the walls of the housing, also serve partly as fixtures, in addition to their function as spindles. Corresponding provisions have been made on the sub-assemblies, also with regard to their reciprocal fixing.

A first sub-assembly 85 comprises parts 6, 60, 7, 35, 36.

A second sub-assembly 86 comprises parts 18, 34, 51-58.

Both sub-assemblies are illustrated together in Figs.5 to 7.

shows the resistance 7 in the new form of a steel film strip provided with an insulating layer, that is wound as a coil 87 around a plate 88, preferably made of copper. The bared, inside end of the coil 87 of the steel film strip is connected to \Vmelb-fies'homeS\Linda\Keep~spec\P49548.doc 21/05/03 the plate 88. It forms one of the contacts. The other contact is the previously mentioned plate 36. The other, designated by 100, bared end of the steel film strip is pressed along its entire width against one edge of a U-shaped frame 89 of the coil 87, the frame pushing against the plate 36 while the end 100 is placed between them. The pressing on is affected by three lugs 92 protruding from the edge and engaging the plate 36 through the slots 90 in the steel film strip and cutouts 91, the lugs being dihedral (instead of dihedral bends are shown) behind the plate. In a similar manner, the other edge of the U-shaped frame 89 is directly joined with the plate 36 by means of lugs 93 and cut-outs 94. Thus the coil 87 is firmly enclosed in a box-like manner. The plate 36, as a wall of the box, protrudes laterally from the frame 89. The plate is provided with the contact spring 35, also mentioned above.

The box protrudes with both of its open faces slightly past the coil 87. The plate 88 protrudes with both of its open faces past the box. The bimetal, forming the second thermal trigger 6 mentioned and bent at right angle and always guided at a distance from the frame 89, is fitted to a bracket 95 bent downward in the drawings. In addition to the drawings, in the position of a hole 96 it is provided with a pressure pin corresponding to pressure pin With a 19 mm width, 0.06 mm thickness, 2400 mm length and a specific resistance of 0.70/mm 2 of the material the resistance of the steel film strip of the coil 87 is approx. 1.3 0.

The coil 87 represents an object that is simpler to manufacture, is more compact and is easier to install than a coil made from copper wire, that can be also constructed in a simple manner to form a component with inherent strength, as is the first sub-assembly 85 in this case.

Various provisions for the installation of this sub-assembly are described in the following.

The second sub-assembly 86 essentially comprises the mechanism 14 to open and close the second separating position 8. The relevant parts are separately illustrated in Fig.5 and provided with their reference numerals, already mentioned.

In this case two wall portions 97 and 98, rigidly joined with one another via spacers are to be described, between and on which the parts are mounted and \\rrelb..fieshomreS\Linda\Keep'spec\P49548.doc 21/05/03 -16impart the sub-assembly 86 the form of an independent unit. With the exception of the reference numeral 99, the spacers have also further functions, namely those of hinge spindles 55 and 56, transverse pin 57 as well as an end stop 102 for the hand lever 18.

The sub-assemblies 85 and 86 are assembled as described in the following, see Figs.6 and 7: On the outside of the wall portion 97 a holding fixture 103 is formed for the subassembly 85; the sub-assembly in the holding fixture 103 abuts against the wall portion 97 and additionally is held on three sides. On the fourth side the protruding section of the plate 36 extends over the intermediate space between the wall portions 97 and 98. Two hooks 104 on the wall portion 98 engage two cut-outs 105 of the plate 36. In the intermediate space the contact spring abuts against a mating surface 106 of the contact member 34. The sub-assembly 85 is further held in the holding fixture 103 by notches 107 engaging the lower edge of the frame 89 and in the lateral direction by two bulges 108 engaging two recesses 109 on the lower and upper edges of the frame 89. It cannot be seen, but the further interaction between parts of the two sub-assemblies, namely the second thermal trigger 6 and the latch 51, need to be mentioned in particular. For the purpose of bridging over the lateral offset, it is provided with a lateral arm During the final assembly of the line safety switch the sub-assemblies 85 and 86 are assembled first and are then placed together into a half-case of the housing, designated by 111 In it various structures are formed to enable the fastening and accurate positioning of the sub-assemblies 85 and 86 in the housing: A sleeve 112 provides a lateral stop for a wall portion 97 and a continuation for a hollow spindle 113 provided on the wall portion 97, on which hollow spindle the hand lever 18 is mounted. The sleeve 112 and the hollow spindle 113 extend over the entire width of the housing space. After mounting the other half-case 114 of the housing (Fig.13), that lets the handle of the manual lever 18 protrude through a recess 155, a plug connection bolt is pushed through a bolt hole 115 in the half-case 114, the hollow spindle 113 and the sleeve 112, that opens in the \mrelbfiles~home$\Linda\Keep~spec\P49548.d~c 21/05103 -17wall of the half-case 111 as a bolt hole, and it is fastened there. This is the main fastening of the sub-assemblies 85 and 86 in the housing.

Further positionings are as follows: The plate 88 engages With a semi-circular cut-out 116 the sleeve 112, and the upper edge 117 of the plate 88 is held on both sides of the cut-out 116 between a batten 118 formed on the half-case 111 and a batten 119 formed on the wall portion 97. The lower edge 120 of the plate 88 is held between a batten 121 formed on the half-case 111 and a ledge 122 formed on the wall portion 97. At the same time the plate 88 sits also on two lugs 123 on the wall portion 97. A plate 124 protruding on the wall portion 97 extends below the batten 121 up to the wall of the half-case 111. A column 125 extends from this wall into the housing; in a position not shown it is engaged with the sub-assembly 86 by means of a peg 126. Finally, the wall portion 98 is engaged at several places with the half-case 111 (not illustrated).

A third sub-assembly 127 essentially comprises mechanisms 16 and 17 with parts 41,46, 49, 50, 59, 61, 62, 65, 71-84. Furthermore, parts 63, 66, 67, belonging rather to mechanism 15, are also integrated. Figs.8 and 9 show parts of the sub-assembly in the assembled state. They are mounted in a frame structure 128, made from plastic, mainly shown only in Fig.11.

A fourth sub-assembly 129 essentially comprises the mechanism 15 with parts 19-23, 26-32, the spark extinguisher chamber 21, the line and connecting parts 31 (incl. part 47, 48, as well as the connecting terminals of the line, namely an input terminal (LE) at 132 (not visible in the drawings) at the end of part 19 as well as output terminal (LA) 133 at the end of part 31.

When assembling the line safety switch the sub-assemblies 127 and 129 are first brought together in their intended position. For this purpose by transversely and longitudinally moving the sub-assembly 127 the fork 24 with its bows 25 has to be inserted past under the coil 23 into the extinguisher chamber 21, the hookshaped wrap-around 67 formed on the latch 63 has to be brought under the disc 28 so that it surrounds the drawbar 27 of the anchor 26 and the output terminal \Vmeb-files~ihone$k~Unda'JXeep~spec\P49548.doc 21/05/03 -18- 133 is brought to its seat 134 in the frame structure 128, while the oblique portion of component 31 is placed over an oblique portion 135 and below an eyelet 136 of the frame structure 128 and a lateral arm 137 of the component 31 over the spiral spring 41 by forming the support 40. Finally, the end 138 of component 47 is fastened in a clamp 139 in the manner illustrated in Fig.8 and thus connected to the coil 46.

Both sub-assemblies 127 and 129 are placed together into the half-case 111. On this occasion the sub-assembly 127 obtains a defined position, whereby the eyelet 136 is pushed onto a hollow spigot 140 and a further eyelet 141, formed in the frame structure 128, is pushed onto a hollow spigot 142 of the half-case 111.

As corresponding provisions for the sub-assembly 129 in the half-case 111 a hollow spigot 143 and an edging frame 144 is proVided for a slightly projecting lateral wall of the spark extinguishing chamber 21, the corresponding parallel wall of which is designated in Fig.12 by 145. The mating part of the hollow spigot 143 in the sub-assembly 129 does not appear in the drawings. Figs.11 and 12 show, however, a sleeve 146, formed in the sub-assembly 129, that extends over the entire width of the housing and through which at the end of the assembly operation a plug connection bolt is inserted from a bolt hole 147 in the half-case 114 to a corresponding bolt hole in the half-case 111. In the same manner plug connection bolts are inserted through the eyelet 136 and the hollow spigot 140 as well as through the eyelet 141 and the hollow spigot 142; for this purpose there are bolt holes 148 and 149 in the half-case 114 as well as hollow spigots projecting on the inside of the wall that bridge over the remaining width of the housing between the eyelets 136 and 141. The same is valid for the hollow spigot 143; a bolt hole 150 is assigned to this. Furthermore, on the inside of the wall of the half-case 114 there is an edging frame for the parallel wall 145 mentioned that is the mirror image of the edging frame 144,.

In addition to the sub-assemblies a few parts have to be individually assembled.

Of these the connecting lever 64 is shown in Fig.13 as well as a rod 151 serving as an interruption indicator.

\\Velb files\home$LIndalKeepkspeclP49548.doc 21/05/03 -19- The connecting lever 64 of sub-assembly 86 acting on the sub-assemblies 127 and 129 had to be inserted with its power arm between the wall portions 97 and 98 and mounted with a stub spindle of its lever spindle 68 in a bearing 152 of the half-case 111. The opposite situated bearing 154 for the other stub spindle is situated in the half-case 114.

The rod 151 with a bush 160 is pushed onto a lateral protrusion 161 of the fork 24 and placed into a flat groove 163 formed in the wall portion 98, in which groove it is guided. With its upper end the rod 151 blocks the hand lever 18 when the separating position is stuck and no longer opens. An analogous interruption indicator is inevitably present for the second separating position 8 by virtue of the fact that in that case the intermediate rod 53 and the pressure rod 54 in the stretched position hold the hand lever 18 firmly clearly before its end position.

This is an advantage resulting from the new arrangement.

In general terms one contact 25 of the separating position 4 is provided on a moving member 24, from which a rod 151 hinged on it is placed on the hand lever 18 of the safety switch, the rod in the case of a closed separating position 4 ending in the pivoting path of the load arm of the hand lever 18 in such a manner that in the case of a stuck contact 25 it blocks as an interruption indicator the hand lever 18 in its pivoting path, and the hand lever 18 is connected via an intermediate rod 53 and a pressure rod 54 with a moving contact member 34 carrying a contact 343 of the second separating position in such a manner that when the contact 33 is stuck in the extended position the intermediate rod 53 and the pressure rod 54 hold firmly the hand lever 18 before its end position as an interruption indicator.

As a further part, reaching from one sub-assembly into another one, the stranded wire 38 was fastened by means of a clamp at 39 on component 31.

When compared with the state-of-the-art on which it is based, the changes in the line safety switch have a complex interaction of purposes.

By reversing the direction of the current in the main current path 1 and in the induced current path 5, when compared with the constructive arrangement k~melb-les~Jhome$\Linda\Keep\spec\P49548.do 21/05103 according to Fig.2 of DE 41 18 377 as well as Fig.2 of this present invention, the output LA was placed on that side where the third and fourth separating positions 11 and 12 are fitted, they could be directly connected to the main current path 1 by reversing the sequence of the devices also in the induced current path 9, due to which the component 19, forming the main current path 1 and extending in Fig.2 of DE 41 18 377 in a rear plane and shown in dotted line, as component 31 in Fig.2 of this present invention could be placed in a front plane with the effect, that the movement mechanism 14 could also be concentrated in the front plane and thus firstly a division into independent sub-assemblies 85 and 86 became possible and secondly the working connection of the contact member 34 with the latch 63 and the lever arm 83 of the contact carrier 81 via the connecting lever 64 could be simplified with regard to both construction and assembly, by virtue of which a division into further sub-assemblies 127 and 129 could follow.

The number of parts was reduced from 151 to 107.

In contrast to this, the construction according to the state-of-the-art has an overall supporting frame, on which the parts are installed or to which parts are attached by elaborate, prolonged manual labour. The supporting frame with the built-in parts is placed into the housing in toto; on the walls of the housing further mountings and the like are formed. According to the preferred constructions of the invention the independent sub-assemblies 85; 86; 127; 129, that can be produced by machines to a great extent, are placed in toto as packets into one half-case 111 of the housing and the other half-case 114 is placed onto this.

At the same time there is the further advantage of a flexible production having the possibility to install some or more sub-assemblies according to choice in accordance with demand, above all, for various rated currents.

The arrangement of the contacts with the spiral spring 41 and the resistance 7 are a completely new design and can be used in other applications also. The latter also applies to the basic assembly technique with sub-assemblies only inserted between two parallel walls of a flat safety switch.

The external function diagram of the line safety switch was retained as far as the general installation technique is concerned. The input terminal and the output k\nmelb-fies\homre$\Linda\Keep'spec\P49548.doc 21105/03 -21 terminal are on the sides, the neutral wire terminal is in the conventional position, the hand lever 18 is arranged and is to be used as is customary, etc.

The basic construction of the line safety switch according to Figs.14 to 22 and its operation are the same as described in Figs.1 to 13. The reference numerals have been adopted.

Constructive differences relative to the first embodiment, that illustrates a line safety switch to be installed on cap rails, become apparent from the adaptation of a line safety switch to be fitted to a bus bar.

The line safety switch according to Figs.14 to 22 is also put together in the final assembly from four sub-assemblies 85, 86, 127 and 129, that are built into a housing comprising two half-cases 111 and 114.

Fig.14 shows the half-case 111, into which the sub-assemblies are placed during the assembly operation, after the fitting of the sub-assemblies 85 (obscured)and 86 and before fitting sub-assemblies 127 and 129 that are assembled already prior to this. Fig.15 shows the half-case 111 with the fully installed subassemblies 85, 86, 127 and 129 prior the fitting of two single parts namely a rod 151 and a connecting lever 64 and prior placing the other half-case 114 on top of it.

Figs.16 and 17 do not illustrate the assembly sequence. They show the interaction of matching regions of the sides from the other side as shown in Figs.1 and 2.

As this can be seen from Figs.14 and 16, the housing of the line safety switch has a rear wall 201, that is constructed up to its half in both half-cases 111 and 114.

Between the supports 202 projecting from the rear wall and further projections 203 and 204 three seats 205, 206 and 207 are formed for three bus bars of each phase. With these seats, matched to suit the width of the bus bar, the line safety switch can be placed accurately fitted onto the relevant three bus bars. In doing so, it engages with a hook-shaped extension 208 of the projection 203 from \\elb files\home$\Linda\Keep\spec\P49548.doc 21/05/03 -22 below the bus bar of the neutral wire, while with a removable insert 209 it can be adapted to suit bus bars with single and double thickness and a lug 215 lies above the bus bar. At the other end a snap-in hook 210, also matching the thickness of the bus bar, grasps from below the bus bar of the phase.

The line safety switch is placed onto the bus bars, first by being pushed under the bus bars of the neutral wire with the hook-shaped extension 208 and then swivelling it onto the other bus bars; finally the hook 210 snaps into this from below.

The hook-shaped continuation 208 and the snap-in hook 210 are partly formed on the half-shells 11 and 114 and partly on the sub-assemblies 127 and 129, that with narrow wall sections 211 between the half-shells 111 and 114, having corresponding regions in this case, are part of the wall of the housing.

The formation of the hook-shaped projection 208 and of the lug 215 partly on the half-case 114 and partly on the sub-assembly 127 can be best seen in They are laterally joined. The insert 209 is held on the sub-assembly 127 and overlaps the half case 114. When the bus bar has a standard thickness, it does not directly touch the hook-shaped extension 208, but rather the insert 209. When the bus bar has double thickness, the insert 209 is removed and the bus bar is situated directly between the hook-shaped extension 208 and the lug 215.

The locking hook 210 can be best seen from Figs.16 and 17: A flat plastic spring 214, that is made integral with two hook legs 217 having an inclined surface 216, sits in two sockets 213 formed on the half-cases 111 and 114.

To match a bus bar of single or double thickness the spring 214 has a resilient part 219 having two lateral projections 218 and the socket 213 has two notches 220 on both of its parts, with which the projections 218 can be alternatively engaged, in fact by pressing back the resilient part 219, so that the projections 218 protrude from behind from the notches 220 occupied so far.and move the spring.214 into the socket 213.

In further projections 204 of the two half cases 111 and 114 for both positions a guide 221 each is provided for a socket 222 laterally protruding on both hook legs 217.

\mVelbflles\home$\LlndalKeep\spec\P49548.doc 21/05/03 -23 When the line safety switch is swivelled onto the bus bar as described above, the inclined surfaces 216 of the hook leg strike against the outermost edge of the bus bar. Consequently the hook 210 is pushed back until it locks below the bus bar.

To remove the line safety switch from the bus bar, the tip of a screwdriver can be inserted into a bracket 223 and by making use of a semi-circular lug 224 formed on the spring 214 as a support, the spring 214 can be bent back.

At the manufacturing stage the spring 214 is held on the sub-assembly 129 up to the final assembly in a manner not illustrated.

For one of the outside bus bars a contact clamp 225 is provided on the seat 205 as contact for the electrical connection with this bus bar.

The contact clamp 225 is formed by bending a sheet metal strip from a resilient conducting material to form a U-shape and following this by bending back one of the legs of the U and then bending a lug 226 as the extension of the back of the contact clamp. The two legs of the U-shaped clamp are designated by 227 and 228, the back by 229 and the backward bend by 230.

The lug 226 is connected to a further lug 231 of a continuing conducting strip 232.

After a short angled bend within the plane to form a short intermediate section 233 it is bent at an angle out of this plane and lies in a flat frame 234 that is formed on a frame structure 235 of the sub-assembly 129. The continuation within the sub-assembly 129 will be explained below.

On the half case 111 (see Fig.14) a mating part 236 is formed in the form of ribs 237 and 238 to accommodate 234. In the finally assembled state they envelop the flat frame 234, so that the continuing conducting strip 232 is encased merely by being covered by the wall of the half-case 111.

When dealing with the sub-assembly 129, the lugs 231 and 226 and the contact clamp 225 protrude freely.

In the completely assembled line safety switch the contact clamp 225 is held in such a manner that its legs 227 and 228 protrude through two breaches 239 and 240 in the rear wall 201 and their backs 229 are loosely grasped laterally in each of the two half-cases 111 and 114 between a relatively narrow lateral support 241 for the inside and a counter-holder 242 for the outside of the back.

\'meibflleshorre$\LlndaXKeep'spec\P49548.doc 21105/03 -24 This loose mounting allows the contact clamp to match exactly, within the tolerances, the position of the bus bar and to be accordingly placed with its legs 227 and 228 at correspondingly reduced pressure on the narrow sides of the bus bar. At the same time a considerable proportion of the tolerance is compensated for by the sliding achieved with the backward bend 230.

The leg 227 of the contact clamp 225 arranged on the seat 205 for a bus bar is situated between the hook legs 217 of the locking hook 210 which are to lock below this bus bar.

The half-cases 111 and 114 have breaches 239 and 240 and support 241 as well as support 242 also in those places where the bus bars of the other phases are positioned, i.e. on seats 206 and 207.

In this case the unused breaches 239 and 240 are closed off by inserts 243 and 244. The inserts 243 and 244 of both associated breaches 239 and 240 are joined with one another on the inside of the rear wall by webs 245 and are held with batten-shaped projections 246 behind the rear wall. The connected single parts are shown in Figs.14 and 16 with their spatial arrangement in the subassemblies 127 and 129. They are, however, single parts separate from the subassemblies.

In Fig.18 the contact clamp 225 is provided on the seat 206 and the breaches for the legs of a contact clamp are closed off on the seats 205 and 207 by means of inserts 243 and 244. In Fig.19 the contact clamp 225 is on the seat 207.

In all three arrangements of the contact clamp 225 the back 229 of the contact clamp, the lug 226 and the further lug 231 are aligned parallel with the rear wall 201 and covered by an intermediate wall 247, i.e. separated from the remaining space of the housing.

Just like the rear wall 201, the intermediate wall 247 is also constructed with a half each in the half-cases 111 and 114. The cylindrical cambers 248 on the rear wall 201 and on the intermediate wall 247 are necessitated by the manufacturing technology and do not have any function in the line safety switch.

The gap, seen in Fig.14, in the intermediate wall 247 at the outlet of the continuing conductor 232 is closed off by the frame structure 235 mentioned before.

\~Nemb-filesJhome$\Linda\Keep\spec\P49548.doc 21105103 shows the arrangement of the contact clamp 225 with regard to the further lug 231 and the continuing conductor 232, as it is provided according to Figs.17, 18 and When arranging the contact clamp 225 in accordance with Figs.17 and 20 (left) the free ends of both lugs 226 and 231 are joined to one another by, for example, spot welding.

In the arrangement according to Figs.18 and 20 (centre), in the case of a contact clamp 225 orientated in the opposite direction, the end of the lug 226 joined to the contact clamp 225 is joined with the free end of the lug 231.

When the contact clamp 225 is arranged in accordance with Figs.19 and (right) and is orientated in the same direction as the contact clamp in Figs.18 and (centre), the end of the lug 231 joined to the continuing conductor strip 232 is joined with the free end of the lug 226.

The alignment of the contact clamps in the half-cases 111 and 114 corresponds to the respective alignments of the breaches of different sizes; 239 for the sole Uleg 227 and 240 for the U-leg 228 and the backward bend 230 together.

Fig.21 shows the continuation of the continuing conductor strip 232 in the subassembly 129.

The mechanical part carrying this sub-assembly is the already mentioned plastic frame structure 235. Together with the half-cases 111 and 114 it provides the mounting of a conductor component 249 and of an essentially similar conductor component 250 that have two stationary contacts 251 of the main separating position of the line safety switch. Furthermore, together with the half-cases 111 and 114 it provides the mounting for two spark extinguishing chambers 21, into which the conductor components 249 and 250 extend. Finally, it has the mechanically carrying part of a magnet mechanism 3 to open the separating position as well as the mechanically carrying part of a stationary contact of a second separating position 8 in the form of a chamber 254.

The following are the details: The already mentioned flat frame 234 for the continuing conductor strip 232 is constructed coaxially with and on the part 253 that, in principle, has a cylindrical \nebjfies~homeS'Linda\Keep'spec\P49548.doc 21105/03 -26 construction and is laterally angled to a flat at the upper end at 255. A corresponding angle can be seen at 256 on the mating part 236 in the half-case 111.

The correspondingly angled continuing conductor strip 232 is bent at 257 from the flat into the sub-assembly. By virtue of further angular bends it continues up to and into the chamber 254, where it carries on its end the contact 32. It is mounted in front of the chamber 254 with a bore 258 on a stationary pin 259 of the frame structure 235 and held by it.

The line conductor component 249 is mounted by means of a rectangular plate 260 on a section, bent at an angle at 257, of the continuing conducting strip 232.

The plate 260 projects freely on both of its sides, however, on the side of the bending 257 only next to the radius of the bend.

At the other end of the line conductor component 249 there is also a rectangular expansion 261 with free lateral projections.

When assembling the sub-assembly 129 the parts shown in an exploded view in Fig.21 are assembled in a direction opposing the dismantling. In this conjunction the rear projections of the plate 260 shown in the drawing and the expansion 261 reach a plug-in mounting 262 and 263, respectively on the frame structure 235. In the course of the final assembly of the line safety switch the front projections, as shown in the drawing, reach a mounting 264 and an insert mounting 265, respectively, of the half-case 111 (Fig.14).

During the same assembly the walls 145 of the extinguishing chamber are placed into an edging frame 266 of the frame structure 235 and 144 of the edging frame 111, respectively.

The conductor component 250 is provided with a similar plate 260 and a similar expansion 261 as the conductor component 249. The lateral projections are accommodated in this case in the same manner in plug-in mountings of the frame structure 235 and plug-in mountings 264 and 265 of the half-case 114.

The same is valid again for the walls 145 of the extinguishing chamber 145 and their edging frames, of which the drawings show only the edging frame 144 on the half-case 114.

~\Vmelbfiresihome$\Linda\Keep~spec\P49548.doc 21/05/03 -27 When assembling the conductor component 250 with the frame structure 235, the coil 23 of the magnet mechanism 3 connected to the plate 260 is inserted into the cylindrical space of the mechanically carrying part 253, that for this purpose has a slot 267 in its wall for the connecting end 268. The other end 269 is joined with a bimetal 2 via a wide strand wire 30 indicated in Fig.9 by dotted lines. The bimetal is held mechanically by a component 31 rigidly connected with the output terminal 133 of the line safety switch; the output terminal 133 itself obtains its firm arrangement by virtue of a seat in the sub-assembly 17 when the sub-assemblies 127 and 129 are assembled prior to their placement into the half-case 111 (Fig.14). For the cable connected to the output terminal 133 a cable guide 270 is provided in the vicinity of the extension of the output terminal.

In the assembled state of the sub-assemblies 127 and 129 both contacts 251 are on the bows 25 joined as a fork 24, and a latch 63 is situated with its hookshaped wrap-around 67 under a disc 28 that is at the end of the anchor 26 of the magnet mechanism 3 inserted into the central hollow space of the carrying part 253.

In the closed position of the separating position the fork 24 with the bows abuts against the contacts 251 and connects them. If the contact is opened, by the anchor 26 of the magnet mechanism 3 moving the latch 63 via its disc 28 and the hook-shaped wrap-around 67 and the latch releasing a spring, the fork 24 will move off the contacts 251.

For the purposes of this specification it will be clearly understood that the word "comprising" means "including but not limited to", and that the word "comprises" has a corresponding meaning.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

\\mlb-files~horme$\Linda\Keep'.specP49548.doc 21/05/03

Claims (12)

1. A line and/or equipment safety switch against excess current and short circuit, that has a main current path that can be separated by means of a magnet mechanism responding to a short circuit as well as by means of a slower magnet mechanism responding to excess current, wherein the separating position of the main current path actuated by the magnet mechanism responding to the short circuit is bridged over by an induced current path with an electric resistance and a second separating position that is to be opened by the mentioned and/or a further slower movement mechanism, and a device to close the first mentioned separating position when the short circuit is eliminated prior to the opening of the second separating position, that comprises a further current path with a third separating position branching off past the second separating position to the neutral wire or to the line of another phase, this separating position coupled with the first mentioned separating position in such a manner that it closes by the magnet mechanism mentioned when the other is opened and that is to be opened by a second magnet mechanism provided in the further current path mentioned while closing the first mentioned separating position, while a second resistance is connected in series with the second magnet mechanism and a fourth separating position is provided in a line bridging over the resistance and is coupled with the second magnet mechanism in such a manner that the fourth separating position will close at the first movement of the anchor, characterised in that in the direction from the input to the output the first separating position mentioned, the first mentioned magnet mechanism and the first mentioned slower movement mechanism are provided in succession in the main current path, that in the direction from the input to the output the second separating position, the resistance and the further slower movement mechanism are provided in succession in the induced current path, and that in the direction to the neutral wire or to the line of another phase the third separating position, the second resistance and the second magnet mechanism are provided in succession in the further current path mentioned. \Vnelb-files~home$\Linda\Keep\spec\P49548.doc 21/05(03 -29

2. A safety switch according to claim 1, characterised in that the main current path is formed past the first mentioned slower movement mechanism by a stationary component and the further current path mentioned branches off from the main current path by placing a biased spiral spring to the component, the spring being split into two contact lugs forming the moving contact of the third and of the fourth separating position and held in a pivotably mounted contact carrier, and the two mating contacts provided in the path in which the contact lugs travel during the pivoting of the contact carrier, while they are offset in the direction of the path and/or the contact lugs are staggered in such a manner that the third separating position can be closed and the fourth opened and the fourth separating position will be closed only when the contact lug of the third separating position is slightly bent, while the contact carrier pivoted in one direction by the force of the spiral spring is coupled with the first separating position and the second magnet mechanism via a lever arm provided on the contact carrier in a manner mentioned for the third and the fourth separating position and is preferably coupled with the second separating position via a second lever arm in such a manner that when they open the third and the fourth separating position will open.

3. A safety switch according to claim 2, characterised in that the spiral spring is bent with an S-shape and one of the bends extends around the geometric pivoting axis of the contact carrier and the other bend extends between the pivoting axis and the stationary component, while the spiral spring is preferably held by an insert in the contact carrier, the insert with a rounding that suits the contact carrier engaging the first mentioned bend and snapped into the contact carrier.

4. A safety switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the first mentioned resistance is made from a preferably poorly conducting metal strip wound into a coil with an insulating layer between the coils, and the coil is constructed as a compact component by a flat frame surrounded preferably on four sides, the compact component preferably further constructed as an independent sub-assembly with a contact spring and with a bracket of the \melb-fles\home\Linda\Keep\spec\P49548.doc 21/05/03 30 mentioned further slower movement mechanism that is rigidly connected with the plate mentioned as well as with this movement mechanism itself. A safety switch according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that it has a flat housing with two parallel walls having relatively large surfaces, preferably two flat half-cases and the functional devices situated in the housing are present mainly in the form of sub-assemblies manufactured independently from one another, which are placed as packets onto one of the large-area walls, preferably inserted into one of the half-cases, and are preferably covered with the other large-area wall, preferably the half-case, and for the purpose of engaging the mechanical components, in particular the moving ones, of one sub-assembly have regions that for the accurate positioning and holding match one another and/or have regions interacting with both parallel walls.

6. A safety switch according to claim 5, characterised by structures formed on the walls, preferably in the form of battens, frames, columns, pegs and/or spigots and by bearings constructed in the walls and/or with bolt holes aligned with bolt connections in the sub-assemblies to form the regions mentioned.

7. A safety switch according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the first mentioned resistance, preferably together with the further slower movement mechanism, the moving contact of the second separating position and the parts moving and holding it, the moving contact of the first mentioned separating position, the second magnet mechanism and the third and the fourth separating position as well as the second resistance and/or the stationary contacts of the first mentioned and of the second separating position, the first mentioned magnet mechanism and preferably the first mentioned slower movement mechanism are combined into a sub-assembly each. \\melbjfiles\)hone$\Lnda\Keep'spec\P49548.doc 21/05/03 -31

8. A safety switch according to claim 7, characterised in that a contact spring from the first-mentioned sub-assembly engages the second sub-assembly and abuts against a contact member of the second separating position, a latch with a lateral arm from the second sub-assembly engages the first- mentioned sub-assembly and interacts with the further slower movement mechanism, the first-mentioned slow movement mechanism from the fourth sub- assembly engages the second one and interacts with the latch, a lateral arm of the stationary component from the fourth sub-assembly engages the third one as a support for the spiral spring, a conductor component from the fourth sub-assembly engages the third one and in this place it is inserted into a clamp, and/or a connecting lever as a single assembled part from the second sub- assembly engages the third one and between the contact member and operates between the contact member on the one hand and a latch as well as a lever arm of the third and the fourth separating position.

9. A line safety switch according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that for the purpose of attaching it on bus bars of an electrical distributor it is provided on its upper side or underside with at least one fastening element grasping the bus bars, at least one fastening element provided on or in the vicinity of the opposite situated side and/or on the rear side grasping another of the bus bars and at least one resilient contact leg abutting against one of the narrow sides of one of the bus bars or one contact clamp abutting with two legs against both narrow sides, from which a conducting strip extends along a rear wall and then along a lateral wall of the housing of the safety switch and parallel to it, while the contact leg or the legs of the contact clamp protrude a breach or two breaches in the rear wall and the rear wall has one unused or two unused breaches also in the positions of the bus bars of the two other phases. \\meb-files'.home$\Linda\Keep'spec\P49548.doc 21/05103 32 A line safety switch according to claim 9, characterised in that the contact leg or the contact clamp has a lug forming a first section of the conducting strip and this is connected with a further lug of a continuing conducting strip, that on the end of the further lug is bent at an angle laterally away parallel to the rear wall and parallel to the rear wall directly at or above an intermediate section extending along the lateral wall of the housing, and that both lugs have such a length that when the angular bend is in the vicinity of the longitudinal centre of the line safety switch, in the case of the contact leg or the contact clamp being allocated to one of the external bus bars of the three phases (Fig.4) both lugs overlap with their free ends, in the case of the contact leg or the contact clamp being allocated to the central bus bar of the three phases (Fig.5) the lug of the contact leg or the contact clamp is aligned in reverse and its end connected with the contact leg or the contact clamp overlaps the free end of the further lug, and in the case of the contact leg or the contact clamp being allocated to the other external bus bars of the three phases (Fig.6) the free end of the lug of the contact leg or contact clamp overlaps that end of the further lug which joins the angular bend.

11. A line safety switch according to claims 5 and 9 or 10, wherein one of the sub-assemblies has the stationary contact of a first and of a second separating position, a first magnet mechanism and preferably a first slower movement mechanism, characterised in that the contact leg or the contact clamp and the conducting strip are part of the latter mentioned sub-assembly and in the vicinity of the longitudinal centre of the line safety switch the plastic frame structure of the sub-assembly has a flat, unilaterally open frame for the continuing conductor strip mentioned and progressing angularly bent along the lateral wall, which together with a mating part on the adjacent lateral wall of the housing forms a flat channel totally enclosing the conductor strip until the conductor strip is bent at an angle into the sub-assembly, where it is held and directed to the stationary contacts mentioned of the first and second separating position, preferably via further bends up to and into a chamber formed in the frame structure, in which chamber it carries the stationary contact mentioned of the second separating position. \'mb-jiles~honme$\Llnda\Keep'spec\P49548.doc 21/05103 33

12. A line safety switch according to claim 11, characterised in that the frame of the continuing conducting strip is constructed on the frame structure of the sub-assembly coaxially and structurally together with a mechanically carrying part of the first magnet mechanism mentioned and at the end, prior to its bending into the sub-assembly, it is angularly bent shortly parallel with the adjacent lateral wall of the switch housing.

13. A line safety switch according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that on the angular bend into the sub-assembly, preferably via a unilaterally or bilaterally projecting plate, a conductor component carrying a part of the stationary contact, constructed in a known manner as a double-contact, of the first separating position is provided, that extends further as an arm into the extinguishing chamber that is also part of the sub-assembly, while preferably the plate with its projection(s) engages a narrow plug-in mounting of the frame structure and possibly a recess of the adjacent lateral wall of the housing, further preferably the expanded end of the arm engages also with the lateral projections the plug-in mountings of the frame structure and of the lateral wall.

14. A line safety switch according to claim 13, characterised in that the other part of the stationary contact of the first separating position is arranged on an essentially similar conductor component that in an essentially similar manner is held via a plate and an expansion in plug-in mountings of the frame structure and in the other lateral wall of the housing, and the coil of the magnet mechanism mentioned is connected to the plate, the other end of the coil being connected to the slower movement mechanism and an output clamp, which preferably are still part of the sub-assembly. A line safety switch according to any one of claims 9 to 14, characterised in that the housing comprises two flat half-cases that have half each of the rear wall and the breaches, possibly further the intermediate wall, and between each two associated breaches have a support to laterally grasp a contact leg or a contact clamp, preferably in the form of a support for the back of a U- Vmelb-fileskhome$\Linda\Keep\spec\P49548.doc 21/05/03 -34 shaped contact clamp and of a mating support provided on the other side of the back. Dated this 21st day of May 2003 HAGER ELECTRO GMBH By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia ~\neb..fies\home$\Linda\Keep~spec\P49548.doc 21105/03