EP0632477A2 - Device for automatically or manually testing of a protecting, controlling or signalling apparatus - Google Patents
Device for automatically or manually testing of a protecting, controlling or signalling apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0632477A2 EP0632477A2 EP94109177A EP94109177A EP0632477A2 EP 0632477 A2 EP0632477 A2 EP 0632477A2 EP 94109177 A EP94109177 A EP 94109177A EP 94109177 A EP94109177 A EP 94109177A EP 0632477 A2 EP0632477 A2 EP 0632477A2
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- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- lever
- levers
- axis
- relay
- button
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H83/00—Protective switches, e.g. circuit-breaking switches, or protective relays operated by abnormal electrical conditions otherwise than solely by excess current
- H01H83/02—Protective switches, e.g. circuit-breaking switches, or protective relays operated by abnormal electrical conditions otherwise than solely by excess current operated by earth fault currents
- H01H83/04—Protective switches, e.g. circuit-breaking switches, or protective relays operated by abnormal electrical conditions otherwise than solely by excess current operated by earth fault currents with testing means for indicating the ability of the switch or relay to function properly
Definitions
- the object of the present invention is a device which automatically or manually performs a screening of a protection device after prefixed whiles and may therefore work with any electric parameter, e.g. the current, the tension, or the homopolar current or any other quantity, even not an electric one, as long as it can go back to an electric quantity.
- any electric parameter e.g. the current, the tension, or the homopolar current or any other quantity, even not an electric one, as long as it can go back to an electric quantity.
- Electro-mechanical devices suitable for protecting plants, users and workers are well known.
- a working failure of said devices causes damages to the plant and is also dangerous for the safety of the persons. Therefore, a continuous check, or at least after regular whiles, of the working of said devices is important, as well as an automatical intervention when the device fails, by replacing it with another one or by cutting off the checked plant and/or by signalling the failure to the operator.
- the description specifically refers to a checking device for residual current circuit breakers against contact voltages in order to protect human life; however, the principle and the embodiment are suitable, with obvious modifications, to a further protecting and adjusting device and also to a further regulating or signalling device.
- the device object of the present invention deviates or stops the mechanical disconnecting chain for a little while (around one second) inside the protecting apparatus.
- Said mechanical disconnecting chain starting from the electro-mechanical detector of the failure quantity (i. e. the relay), releases automatically or manually the hooking of the mechanism which normally activates the contacts.
- a cycle programming automatism having a prefixed cycle sends an electrical impulse to the electro-mechanical detector of the checked quantity (relay), which is as strong as the one to be emitted in case of a plant failure. If the system is in good working order said impulse causes the working of the relay by giving a signal which is sent to the C.P.A. and which confirms that all is in order.
- the C.P.A. sets in motion again the mechanical disconnecting chain previously cut off. Otherwise, if the relay does not work, the C.P.A. does not receive the back signal and, regarding this fact as a failure, it produces a signal.
- Figure 1 shows, inside an electrical protecting device, the part where the polarised relay 10 is placed; said relay 10 fixed to stand 12 has a pusher 11.
- tip 16 this latter disconnects hooking means 17 which switches on the whole disconnecting apparatus 18.
- Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of the present invention automatically checked by a C.P.A., when no free space is available inside the protecting device.
- the lever 13 of figure 1 is split into two half-levers 20, 21 hinged on the same axis 14, being said two half-levers 20, 21 integral to each other during the normal service working as only one lever 13 previously described.
- figure 2 which is an exploded view
- figure 3 which is a horizontal section A-A along the centre line of axis 14, one of said half-levers 20, 21, e.g. half-lever 20, is integrally fixed to axis 14 by means of two suitable stops 22, 23; when axis 14 shifts forward and backward it trails half-lever 20, whereas half-lever 21 stops because of bush 24 which binds said half-lever 21 to stand 12.
- tailpiece 27 of half-lever 20, which up to this point engaged half-lever 21 making it integral to said half-lever 20 during its possible clockwise rotation, is placed in correspondence to free space 28 of half-lever 21; in this position the two half-levers 20, 21 are now free.
- the C.P.A. sends an impulse to the relay 10, said impulse being as strong as the one produced by a failure in the plant with a consequent coming out of pusher 11 which causes a counter-clockwise rotation of half-lever 20, whereas half-lever 21 and hooking means 17 (not represented in Figs. 2-3) stop and then stops also the main mechanism which operates the network contacts.
- half-lever 20 operates a suitable contact 29 by means of its arm 30, said contact 29 being represented in figure 2 as a mechanical one, but may be reed-type or static ones.
- a signal is generated and sent to the C.P.A. causing the excitement of a second electro-magnet 31 which provokes, by means of spring 32, a counter-rotation of half-lever 20 with its slide 33 towards the starting position and further, in order to make sure that through the aforesaid half-lever 20 also pusher 11 of the relay 10 reaches its starting point.
- the C.P.A. After checking the efficiency of the differential trasformer, of the failure detector (relay) and of the first operating unit of the disconnecting apparatus, the C.P.A. resets and starts a new delay cycle, at the end of which it checks again and so on, till when, during such an automatic check, it happens that the relay 10, although energized by means of a test impulse, does not activate pusher 11. It is obvious that the protecting apparatus fails because the relay is no longer efficient or because the mechanical frictions have increased, or because oxidation or corrosion occurs, or because the anchor of the magnetic circuit of the relay 10 adheres, etc.
- Figure 2 shows a particular embodiment of two half-levers 20 and 21, linked by means of any mechanical device, e.g. a pin or a lock placed in suitable bores on parallel side walls of half-levers 20 and 21.
- any mechanical device e.g. a pin or a lock placed in suitable bores on parallel side walls of half-levers 20 and 21.
- the placement of said pin corresponds to the normal working of the device, whereas the extraction of said pin by means of an electro-magnet commanded by the C.P.A. makes the two half-levers 20 and 21 free to indipendently move.
- the aforesaid linkage could be carried out by means of any other device, electro-magnetic (e.g. an electro-magnetical coupling), magnetic (e.g. one or more permanent magnets suitably disposed by an external operator), hydraulic or pneumatical (e.g. by means of a little pinion commanded by an electro-valve), the working of said means being always controlled by the C.P.A
- figure 4 shows a flow-chart of the C.P.A., which in its turn represents a well-known technique, namely:
- the check of a regular working can be effected in a very short while (around 2 seconds).
- the lapse between two checks may vary from some seconds to one month, according to the apparatus, its functions and its requirements.
- Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention.
- a free space is available inside the apparatus and it is necessary an alteration to the normal mechanism of figure 1.
- the relay 10 is fixed on one side to the axis 51 around which it could rotate, were it not stopped by spring 52. If, on the contrary, the external electro-magnet 53 is energized when the C.P.A. decides to start the periodical check, the relay 10 is called back by the anchor of electro-magnet 53 through tie 54 and rotates around axis 51 thus pushing pusher 11 outside the field of action of arm 55 of disconnecting lever 13.
- the relay 10 If, in this new position, the relay 10 is energized by means of the C.P.A., pusher 11 engages lever 56 by making it rotate around axis 57 with an angle sufficient to set in motion a contact, both a metallic contact 58 or a static one.
- the consent signal reported by contact 58 to the C.P.A. starts the following step which consists of loading lever 56 by energizing electro-magnet 59 which swallows up its mobile core and of re-starting the protection by ordering the de-energization of electro-magnet 53 which makes come back the relay 10 to its starting position.
- step which consists of loading lever 56 by energizing electro-magnet 59 which swallows up its mobile core and of re-starting the protection by ordering the de-energization of electro-magnet 53 which makes come back the relay 10 to its starting position.
- pusher 11 had not come out when the C.P.A. had sent the electric impulse to the disconnecting device 10
- lever 56 would have not rotate and contact 58 would have not switched on.
- Receiving no signal the C.P.A. would have stopped and would have started the foreseen emergency measures.
- the showed embodiment is valid in all cases, namely if the relay 10 does not rotate, but shifts or is lifted, if its motion is a combined rotation and shifting or if the relay is definite while the disconnecting chain partly rotates or shifts.
- the third embodiment of the present invention which manually works, is described as follows with a particular reference to a residual current circuit breaker; however, with obvious adjustments, this system can also apply to other electrical apparatuses to keep under control.
- the test button releases a half-lever thus verifying the detecting and disconnecting function (differential transformer, relay and disconnecting chain) without interrupting the supply, as hereinafter described with reference to figures 6 and 7.
- the button is marked with 60.
- the button upper part 61 protruding out of the breaker carter is pushed by the user.
- Letter T 62 graved on said button upper part 61 is prescribed by the rules and means "test”.
- 63 and 64 are two button side wings, which, shifting along the two fixed grooves of the switch, lead the button in its shifting downwards.
- the button cylindrical lower part 66 which can shift inside the sleeve 67, integral to the breaker, guides the reaction spring 68.
- axis 14 shifts rightwards by means of an external action on its left end and comes back to its starting position thanks to spring 34.
- Figure 6 shows as the pressure on the button shifts the aforesaid axis 14.
- the bent part 69 is to be noticed, to which the fixed axis 70 is integral; the free lever 71 is hinged on said axis 70, said lever being frictionally pressed by spring 72 and stop 73.
- the upper end of lever 71 can be placed by the user either on the free space 74, comprised in the main body of the switch corresponding to: “Check without switch click", or on the contiguous space 75, corresponding to "Check with switch click".
- lever 71 is provided with a tailpiece 76 compelling cam 77 (free to rotate on axis 93 integral to button 60), to stop in the position indicated in figure 6, when lever 71 is placed in the free space 74.
- arm 79 and its end 81 will come back to their starting position thus leading upwards also half-lever 20 which will press on the pusher 11 re-energizing the relay 10.
- the end 81 has a springy tailpiece 82, on which the lower end of tailpiece 78 shifts when axis 14, because of spring 34, brings back half-lever 20 to its usual rest position, namely integral to lever 21, cam 77 being come back to the position of figure 6.
- button 60 The electrical functions performed by button 60 in the meanwhile are reported in figure 7, which shows said button 60 rotated 90° counter-clockwise in order to clear up said functions.
- Said test current generates a current in the secondary winding 39 of transformer 38 which energizes the relay 10 and draws out pusher 11 of figure 2, thus rotating counter-clockwise lever 20, which, in the meantime, had been shifted rightwards by axis 14 pushed in its turn by cam 77 of figure 6, and is released from half-lever 21.
- Arm 30 of half-lever 20 switches on contacts 83, 84 which, in their turn, switch on the circuit of lamp 89 which lights up, thus confirming to the user that the differential transformer, the relay and the first half-lever work correctly.
- the breaker could also be provided with a timer programmed with delays corresponding to one month, or to a different lapse of time in case of particular necessities; at the expiry of the programmed time said timer lights up a visual signal, or an acustic one, which indicates to the user that he must press the test button.
- lever 71 If the user wishes to check all functions of the switch, he just has to move lever 71 from position 74 to position 75. In this case, in fact, the tailpiece 76 of lever 71 goes away from cam 77 which, during the pressure of the finger on button 60 shifts to the end of axis 14 without moving it and then leaving the two half-levers 20, 21 integral to each other.
Landscapes
- Emergency Protection Circuit Devices (AREA)
- Testing Electric Properties And Detecting Electric Faults (AREA)
- Mechanisms For Operating Contacts (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The object of the present invention is a device which automatically or manually performs a screening of a protection device after prefixed whiles and may therefore work with any electric parameter, e.g. the current, the tension, or the homopolar current or any other quantity, even not an electric one, as long as it can go back to an electric quantity.
- Electro-mechanical devices suitable for protecting plants, users and workers are well known. A working failure of said devices causes damages to the plant and is also dangerous for the safety of the persons. Therefore, a continuous check, or at least after regular whiles, of the working of said devices is important, as well as an automatical intervention when the device fails, by replacing it with another one or by cutting off the checked plant and/or by signalling the failure to the operator.
- The description specifically refers to a checking device for residual current circuit breakers against contact voltages in order to protect human life; however, the principle and the embodiment are suitable, with obvious modifications, to a further protecting and adjusting device and also to a further regulating or signalling device.
- The device object of the present invention deviates or stops the mechanical disconnecting chain for a little while (around one second) inside the protecting apparatus. Said mechanical disconnecting chain, starting from the electro-mechanical detector of the failure quantity (i. e. the relay), releases automatically or manually the hooking of the mechanism which normally activates the contacts.
- In a particular embodiment during the short while in which the disconnecting chain is intentionally cut off, a cycle programming automatism (C.P.A.) having a prefixed cycle sends an electrical impulse to the electro-mechanical detector of the checked quantity (relay), which is as strong as the one to be emitted in case of a plant failure. If the system is in good working order said impulse causes the working of the relay by giving a signal which is sent to the C.P.A. and which confirms that all is in order.
- As a consequence of that, the C.P.A. sets in motion again the mechanical disconnecting chain previously cut off. Otherwise, if the relay does not work, the C.P.A. does not receive the back signal and, regarding this fact as a failure, it produces a signal.
- Said first embodiment of the present invention comprises:
- A) a C.P.A. performing the aforesaid cycle according to a well-known technique; said cycle could be mechanical, electrical, electronic, hydraulic or pneumatic or a suitable combination of these techniques;
- B) one or more actuators produced by means of a well-known technique, carrying out the orders given by the C.P.A. and which are disclosed in the description as little electro-magnets;
- C) an embodiment of the system which deviates or cuts off for a reduced while the order flow from the relay to the disconnecting chain of the device. Said system may be differently carried out, according to the energy used (i.e. electro-mechanical, magnetic, mechanical, pneumatic, oleodynamic) or by means of a combination of two or more different kinds of energy.
All the above described functions are ruled by an automatism (cycle-programming) and carried out by electro-magnets (or equivalent means) guided by the aforesaid C.P.A..
Aim of a third embodiment of the present invention is to show an accomplishment of the same function, no longer by means of a programmed automatism, but by means of a manual switching on carried out by the user.
This latter accomplishment is easier and cheaper, especially with regard to the residual current circuit breakers. According to the rules, said breakers must be provided with a manual button which, by simulating a current failure towards earth, provokes the click of the breaker and then an interruption of the electrical supply, thus disturbing the user and damaging the plant.
Hereinafter three non-limiting electro-mechanical embodiments are described which could be easily used by employing a kind of energy different from the mechanical one.
It is also possible to employ the first two electro-mechanical embodiments according to the free space available inside the protecting device: - D) with no free space inside the protecting device: it is possible to effect the cutting off of the disconnecting chain by acting on at least a lever which links the acting point of the relay pusher to the hooking point of the click mechanism of the contacts;
- E) with free space inside the protecting device: it is possible to cause the shifting or the rotation of the whole body of the disconnecting device in order to reach a new position where the thrust pin does not interfere with the mechanical disconnecting chain of the protecting device.
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- Figure 1 shows an electro-magnetic disconnecting device placed in a protecting device;
- Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of the present invention automatically checked by a C.P.A., when no free space is available inside the protecting device;
- Figure 3 is a horizontal section A-A along an axis of the first embodiment shown in figure 2;
- Figure 4 shows a flow-chart of the C.P.A., which represents a well-known technique;
- Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention, in that case a free space is available inside the apparatus;
- Figure 6 represents a third embodiment of the device according to the present invention, which manually works;
- Figure 7 represents the electical working of the embodiment shown in figure 6.
- Figure 1 shows, inside an electrical protecting device, the part where the
polarised relay 10 is placed; saidrelay 10 fixed to stand 12 has apusher 11. The disconnectinglever 13, being able to rotate aroundaxis 14, rotates by means ofpusher 11 when therelay 10 is energized owing to a plant failure, saidpusher 11 pushingpoint 15 of theaforesaid lever 13. By means oftip 16 this latter disconnects hooking means 17 which switches on the whole disconnectingapparatus 18. - This working is usual in most of the mechanical protecting devices and it will be modified as follows according to the present invention.
- Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of the present invention automatically checked by a C.P.A., when no free space is available inside the protecting device.
- As shown in figure 2 the
lever 13 of figure 1 is split into two half-levers same axis 14, being said two half-levers lever 13 previously described. In figure 2, which is an exploded view, and in figure 3, which is a horizontal section A-A along the centre line ofaxis 14, one of said half-levers lever 20, is integrally fixed toaxis 14 by means of twosuitable stops axis 14 shifts forward and backward it trails half-lever 20, whereas half-lever 21 stops because ofbush 24 which binds said half-lever 21 to stand 12. - According to this particular feature, or an equivalent one, when the C.P.A. (not shown in figure 2) decides to verify the working of the device, it switches on the electro-
magnet 25 which attractscore 26. In that case,axis 14 shifts trailing half-lever 20, whereas half-lever 21 stops. - In this
way tailpiece 27 of half-lever 20, which up to this point engaged half-lever 21 making it integral to said half-lever 20 during its possible clockwise rotation, is placed in correspondence tofree space 28 of half-lever 21; in this position the two half-levers relay 10, said impulse being as strong as the one produced by a failure in the plant with a consequent coming out ofpusher 11 which causes a counter-clockwise rotation of half-lever 20, whereas half-lever 21 and hooking means 17 (not represented in Figs. 2-3) stop and then stops also the main mechanism which operates the network contacts. During its rotation half-lever 20 operates asuitable contact 29 by means of itsarm 30, saidcontact 29 being represented in figure 2 as a mechanical one, but may be reed-type or static ones. A signal is generated and sent to the C.P.A. causing the excitement of a second electro-magnet 31 which provokes, by means ofspring 32, a counter-rotation of half-lever 20 with itsslide 33 towards the starting position and further, in order to make sure that through the aforesaid half-lever 20 also pusher 11 of therelay 10 reaches its starting point. Afterwards, the C.P.A. provides to de-energize the electro-magnet 25 and then subsequently electro-magnet 31, so that half-lever 20 goes exactly back to the starting point by means ofreaction springs relay 10, although energized by means of a test impulse, does not activatepusher 11. It is obvious that the protecting apparatus fails because the relay is no longer efficient or because the mechanical frictions have increased, or because oxidation or corrosion occurs, or because the anchor of the magnetic circuit of therelay 10 adheres, etc. - Because of the failed action of
pusher 11, half-lever 20 does not rotate andcontact 29 does not switch on. The C.P.A. takes note of this, and, as above said, stops, thus activating the means foreseen by the procedure in case of failure, said means being respectively: - the replacement of the failed apparatus with a spare one by automatically acting suitable switches of the electrical network, besides the activation of a signal;
- the immediate remote switching off of a main circuit breaker placed before the failed apparatus, besides the activation of a suitable signal in situ or far away;
- the simple activation of a suitable signal in order to require the immediate presence of a technician.
- Figure 2 shows a particular embodiment of two half-
levers levers levers - The practical application of the device suitable to the apparatus which does not provide a free space is advantageous when the apparatus is a modular one, namely:
- C.P.A. (very small if completely electronic);
- two electro-
magnets core 26; -
contact 29; - the optical signal device in situ;
- the contact sending said signal, and
- the source for the whole device, which is fed below the protecting apparatus to be controlled,
- In fact, this latter must have already been provided during its construction with:
- two split half-
levers lever 20 and therelevant axis 14 can freely shift; - interfacing
end elements relay 10, which have derived, in the case of residual current circuit breakers or relays, from the electrical test button with suitably limited current, which the C.P.A. will afterwards act in order to inject an impulse intotransformer 38 whose secondary circuit feeds winding 39 of therelay 10; as well as - preconstituted cavities placed on the container wall of the apparatus, on the same side of
stand 40, where it can be subsequently added the aforesaid self-checking module, after the removal of the cut parts for the preconstituted cavities which allow the penetration of the following parts, projecting out of the self-checking module: -
core 26 acted by electro-magnet 25 in order to moveaxis 14 andpress spring 34; -
slide 33 acted by electro-magnet 31 which drives the counter-clockwise rotation of half-lever 20 and which also bearscontact 29; - the connector to be plugged into
end elements - For a better comprehension of the present description figure 4 shows a flow-chart of the C.P.A., which in its turn represents a well-known technique, namely:
- Nr. 40: is the starting step for the counting between two checks;
- Nr. 41: continues the counting;
- Nr. 42: discerns two different cases: (a) if the counting does not come to an end for lack of tension to the C.P.A. (e.g. because the breakes has been manually switched) he cycle resets and then starts again; (b) on the contrary, if the counting ends, it follows Nr. 43 wherein electro-
magnet 25 movingaxis 14 is energized; - Nr. 44: end
elements transformer 38, ofrelay 10 and a final switching on ofcontact 29; - Nr. 45: the switching on of
contact 29 allows the cycle prosecution; on the contrary, its possible failure provokes the C.P.A. stop and the transmission of the signals for the emergency procedure (alarms, etc) (Nr. 50); - Nr. 46: removes the short-circuit between
end terminals - Nr. 47: energizes electro-
magnet 31 which leads half-lever 20 to its starting point and loads again disconnectingdevice 10; - Nr. 48: sequentially de-energizes electro-
magnets - Nr. 49: resets the counting thus allowing the cycle to start again with Nr. 40.
- The check of a regular working can be effected in a very short while (around 2 seconds). The lapse between two checks may vary from some seconds to one month, according to the apparatus, its functions and its requirements.
- Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention. In that case a free space is available inside the apparatus and it is necessary an alteration to the normal mechanism of figure 1. Remark that the
relay 10 is fixed on one side to theaxis 51 around which it could rotate, were it not stopped byspring 52. If, on the contrary, the external electro-magnet 53 is energized when the C.P.A. decides to start the periodical check, therelay 10 is called back by the anchor of electro-magnet 53 throughtie 54 and rotates aroundaxis 51 thus pushingpusher 11 outside the field of action ofarm 55 of disconnectinglever 13. If, in this new position, therelay 10 is energized by means of the C.P.A.,pusher 11 engageslever 56 by making it rotate aroundaxis 57 with an angle sufficient to set in motion a contact, both ametallic contact 58 or a static one. - The consent signal reported by
contact 58 to the C.P.A. starts the following step which consists ofloading lever 56 by energizing electro-magnet 59 which swallows up its mobile core and of re-starting the protection by ordering the de-energization of electro-magnet 53 which makes come back therelay 10 to its starting position. On the contrary, ifpusher 11 had not come out when the C.P.A. had sent the electric impulse to thedisconnecting device 10,lever 56 would have not rotate and contact 58 would have not switched on. Receiving no signal, the C.P.A. would have stopped and would have started the foreseen emergency measures. - If provided with elementary alterations and adjustments the showed embodiment is valid in all cases, namely if the
relay 10 does not rotate, but shifts or is lifted, if its motion is a combined rotation and shifting or if the relay is definite while the disconnecting chain partly rotates or shifts. - The third embodiment of the present invention, which manually works, is described as follows with a particular reference to a residual current circuit breaker; however, with obvious adjustments, this system can also apply to other electrical apparatuses to keep under control. The test button releases a half-lever thus verifying the detecting and disconnecting function (differential transformer, relay and disconnecting chain) without interrupting the supply, as hereinafter described with reference to figures 6 and 7.
- In said two figures the button is marked with 60. The button
upper part 61 protruding out of the breaker carter is pushed by the user.Letter T 62 graved on said buttonupper part 61 is prescribed by the rules and means "test". 63 and 64 are two button side wings, which, shifting along the two fixed grooves of the switch, lead the button in its shifting downwards. The button cylindricallower part 66, which can shift inside thesleeve 67, integral to the breaker, guides thereaction spring 68. In figures 6 and 7 it is also remarkable the presence of thewall 40 supporting the switch mechanism, particularlyaxis 14 of half-lever 20, free to rotate but integral to said switch mechanism by means of twostops - As above said,
axis 14 shifts rightwards by means of an external action on its left end and comes back to its starting position thanks tospring 34. - Figure 6 shows as the pressure on the button shifts the
aforesaid axis 14. In fact, onwall 40 the bent part 69 is to be noticed, to which the fixedaxis 70 is integral; thefree lever 71 is hinged on saidaxis 70, said lever being frictionally pressed byspring 72 and stop 73. The upper end oflever 71 can be placed by the user either on thefree space 74, comprised in the main body of the switch corresponding to: "Check without switch click", or on thecontiguous space 75, corresponding to "Check with switch click". - In fact, the lower end of
lever 71 is provided with atailpiece 76 compelling cam 77 (free to rotate onaxis 93 integral to button 60), to stop in the position indicated in figure 6, whenlever 71 is placed in thefree space 74. - By pushing the button, the right side of
cam 77 engages the end ofaxis 14 and pushes it rightwards, thus shifting half-lever 20 and itstailpiece 78 bent downwards.Arm 79 is integral tobutton 60 and it is therefore shifted downwards in theopening 80. Theend 81 ofarm 79 will then have the same vertical position oftailpiece 78, but below it. Supposing that therelay 10 of figures 1 and 2 has been energized by the actions hereinafter described, thepusher 11 rotates half-lever 20 downwards. If the user releasesbutton 60, it will come back upwards because ofspring 68. Then also arm 79 and itsend 81 will come back to their starting position thus leading upwards also half-lever 20 which will press on thepusher 11 re-energizing therelay 10. Theend 81 has aspringy tailpiece 82, on which the lower end oftailpiece 78 shifts whenaxis 14, because ofspring 34, brings back half-lever 20 to its usual rest position, namely integral to lever 21,cam 77 being come back to the position of figure 6. - The electrical functions performed by
button 60 in the meanwhile are reported in figure 7, which shows saidbutton 60 rotated 90° counter-clockwise in order to clear up said functions. - Figure 7, beside the parts already described in figure 6 with the same references, shows that:
- a
sensitive contact arm 30 of half-lever 20; - a
metallic conducting plate 85, immerged in the isolatingbutton 60, which, when it is engaged with slidingbrushes - a signalling
lamp 89 withrelative ballast 90; - the
differential transformer 38 with its relevant secondary winding 39 feeding therelay 10; - a
resistor 91 limiting the current flowing in the primary spoil oftransformer 38. - By pushing
button 60, beside the aforementioned mechanical functions, the following electrical actions occur: - first,
plate 85 engages slidingbrushes 86, 87, thus linking thefeeding circuit 92 to a circuit composed by the following parts: the aforesaid slidingbrushes 86, 87,lamp 89 with itsrelevant resistor 90,sensitive contacts - then,
plate 85 also touches slidingbrush 88 thus switching on also the circuit composed by: feedingcircuit 92, slidingbrushes transformer 38,resistor 91 limiting the test current of the breaker. - Said test current generates a current in the secondary winding 39 of
transformer 38 which energizes therelay 10 and draws outpusher 11 of figure 2, thus rotatingcounter-clockwise lever 20, which, in the meantime, had been shifted rightwards byaxis 14 pushed in its turn bycam 77 of figure 6, and is released from half-lever 21.Arm 30 of half-lever 20 switches oncontacts lamp 89 which lights up, thus confirming to the user that the differential transformer, the relay and the first half-lever work correctly. - When the user releases the button, together with the above described mechanical actions for the restoration of half-
lever 20, all electrical circuits come to their starting "switched off" position. In this way the manual check of the most sensitive components takes place without interrupting the electrical supply. Together or apart from the present invention, the breaker could also be provided with a timer programmed with delays corresponding to one month, or to a different lapse of time in case of particular necessities; at the expiry of the programmed time said timer lights up a visual signal, or an acustic one, which indicates to the user that he must press the test button. - If the user wishes to check all functions of the switch, he just has to move
lever 71 fromposition 74 toposition 75. In this case, in fact, thetailpiece 76 oflever 71 goes away fromcam 77 which, during the pressure of the finger onbutton 60 shifts to the end ofaxis 14 without moving it and then leaving the two half-levers - In this case, by moving downwards and closing the
contacts 86 and 88button 60 starts therelay 10 which rotates both half-levers lamp 89 does not light up becausearm 30 of the half-lever 20, which has not moved, does not engage thecontact 84. It is also to be noticed that the particular shape ofplate 85 provokes only a temporarily switching on ofcontact 88 which feedstransformer 38 so that the limitingresistor 91 is not damaged if the user presses the test button for a long time.
Claims (10)
- Device to automatically or manually test the efficiency of the most sensitive components of an electrical apparatus, in particular of a residual current circuit breaker, also keeping the contacts of the main circuit in normal working order; said device being characterized in that the lever (13), which usually trasmits the motion from the pusher of the relay to the hooking means usually stopping the disconnecting mechanism of the breaker, is doubled in two half-levers (20, 21);
- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said lever (13) is doubled in two half-levers (20, 21) hinged on the same axis (14) but having two possible mutual positions:(a) a first position, corresponding to the normal working order, without the action of external agents, wherein said two half-levers (20, 21) are integral to each other, thus forming a single lever, which can rotate releasing the disconnecting mechanism and commanding the switching off of the switch;(b) a second position of said two half-levers (20, 21), being caused by the action of external agents when the interruption of the click mechanism is wished, said second position being obtained by shifting the axis (14) of said two half-levers (20, 21) , so that the dragging half-lever (20) shifts integrally with said axis (14) because of two stops (22, 23) on said axis (14), whereas the dragged half-lever (21) stops because it is linked to the stand (12) and is free regarding the axis (14); thanks to the shifting of said axis (14), the tailpiece (27) of the dragging half-lever is located inside a free space (28) of the dragged half-lever (21) and then, during the test, the pusher (11) of the relay may freely rotate said half-lever (20) till switching on a contact (29) which confirms that the protection system is efficient, while the other half-lever (21) and the hooking mechanism are still.
- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the link between said two half-levers (20, 21) is performed by means of a pin or a lock introduced in suitable bores placed on side walls of said two half-levers which may become independent from each other only when an external agent, like an electro-magnet, removes said pin or lock from at least one of said half-levers.
- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said two half-levers (20, 21) are integral to each other through magnetic means.
- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said two half-levers (20, 21) are integral to each other during the normal working order, whereas during the test they become independent from each other by means of hydraulic or pneumatical devices applied to said half-levers and externally guided.
- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the interruption of the disconnecting chain is obtained by rotating, or shifting, or both, the relay (10) by means of an external device (52, 53, 54), so that said relay (10) reaches during the test a different position wherein the pusher (11) of the relay (10) acts a lever (56) in order to switch on the contact (58) confirming the protection efficiency.
- Device according to claim 2, consisting of a button (60) to be externally manually pressed which, beside the electrical contacts necessary to inject a simulated current of failure provoking the intervention of the apparatus under control, supports a cam (77) apt to shift an axis (14) which, in its turn, shifts a half-lever (20) free to rotate on said axis (14) and which, after this shifting, looses its link to a second half-lever (21).
- Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the cam (77) provoking the shifting of the axis (14) on which both half-levers (20, 21) rotate is blocked in its position relevant to the button (60) by a lever (71) hinged on the fixed part of the apparatus which, sliding on a side of said cam (77), links it to its position even when the pressed button (60) shifts, said lever (71) having two stable positions, one being the above mentioned and the other being rotated with any angle with respect to the first which detaches it from said cam (77) and then does not link it any longer, so that the button (60) can perform any other function, but the one the cam (77) is committed to.
- Device according to claim 7, characterized in that it is provided with simple means to subsequently act two electrical circuits, the one being the circuit of a signalling lamp (89), and the other apt to simulate a failure current, said circuits being synchronized with the mechanical actions previously described.
- Device according to the previous claims 7, 8, 9, characterized in that the button (60) is replaced by any other actuator (e.g. lever or rotating knob) and, anyway, carried out and acted.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
ITMI931332 | 1993-06-22 | ||
IT93MI1332 IT1264863B1 (en) | 1993-06-22 | 1993-06-22 | Automatic testing device e.g for residual current circuit breakers - switches off mechanical disconnecting chain which starts from relay to hooking of mechanism for a little while, and decouples lever which usually transmits motion in two half-levers |
IT93MI002581A IT1265388B1 (en) | 1993-12-06 | 1993-12-06 | Manual device for testing the efficiency of components with high risk of failure of an electrical apparatus, especially a differential switch, without causing interruption in the electrical service |
ITMI932581 | 1993-12-06 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0632477A2 true EP0632477A2 (en) | 1995-01-04 |
EP0632477A3 EP0632477A3 (en) | 1995-11-22 |
EP0632477B1 EP0632477B1 (en) | 1999-08-11 |
Family
ID=26331009
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP94109177A Expired - Lifetime EP0632477B1 (en) | 1993-06-22 | 1994-06-15 | Device for automatically or manually testing of a protecting, controlling or signalling apparatus |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0632477B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE183333T1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69419985T2 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1916692A1 (en) * | 2006-10-23 | 2008-04-30 | Gewiss S.P.A. | Residual current operated circuit breaker |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR3057389B1 (en) * | 2016-10-11 | 2020-12-25 | Schneider Electric Ind Sas | DIFFERENTIAL ELECTRICAL CUT-OFF EQUIPMENT INCLUDING A DIFFERENTIAL FUNCTION TEST DEVICE |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4152683A (en) * | 1977-07-20 | 1979-05-01 | Gould Inc. | Test means for circuit breaker automatic trip mechanism |
EP0231732A2 (en) * | 1985-12-02 | 1987-08-12 | Felten & Guilleaume Fabrik elektrischer Apparate Aktiengesellschaft | Circuit breaker for fault and conduction current protection |
US4713639A (en) * | 1987-02-20 | 1987-12-15 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Circuit breaker with push-to-trip button and trip bar |
-
1994
- 1994-06-15 EP EP94109177A patent/EP0632477B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-06-15 DE DE69419985T patent/DE69419985T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-06-15 AT AT94109177T patent/ATE183333T1/en active
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4152683A (en) * | 1977-07-20 | 1979-05-01 | Gould Inc. | Test means for circuit breaker automatic trip mechanism |
EP0231732A2 (en) * | 1985-12-02 | 1987-08-12 | Felten & Guilleaume Fabrik elektrischer Apparate Aktiengesellschaft | Circuit breaker for fault and conduction current protection |
US4713639A (en) * | 1987-02-20 | 1987-12-15 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Circuit breaker with push-to-trip button and trip bar |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1916692A1 (en) * | 2006-10-23 | 2008-04-30 | Gewiss S.P.A. | Residual current operated circuit breaker |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE69419985D1 (en) | 1999-09-16 |
EP0632477A3 (en) | 1995-11-22 |
EP0632477B1 (en) | 1999-08-11 |
DE69419985T2 (en) | 2000-01-27 |
ATE183333T1 (en) | 1999-08-15 |
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