EP1901328B1 - Protection unit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a protection block having a differential stage provided with a relay trigger and at least two independent circuit breakers protecting separate circuits. The idea underlying the invention is to group different electrical functions in a monobloc assembly mainly to reduce costs in manufacturing.

The basic idea behind the combination of a differential stage and several circuit breakers is that, in many cases, in an electrical distribution box, these products are placed side by side on a rail and connected together. either by means of bridging bars or by individualized wiring. Thus, according to a widespread circuit configuration, a differential switch, for example bipolar in the case of a phase / neutral installation is placed at the head of several circuit breakers, the assembly being located for example downstream of a general switch him- even connected to a branch circuit breaker.

The principle of their association in the same housing is quite natural especially in the aforementioned perspective of cost reduction. Gains are then possible for example on the amount of plastic used, on the number of connection terminals to be provided according to the configuration used, etc.

In the same perspective, such a grouping makes it possible to overcome the switch in the differential stage, while obviously then providing for mechanically connecting the relay to the locks of the circuit breakers. Such a link already exists, for example in some multipole differential blocks, with a mechanical link between the differential trip relay and the locks of the circuit breakers which operates in cascade.

Circuit breakers therefore all have identical behavior at all times, in particular because there is no possible disengagement between their locks. So, it is not possible for example to operate one in particular, especially if it is separated from the differential switch by one or more circuit breakers.

In the case of differential blocks, all circuit breakers are also reset at the same time, which makes it impossible to operate a selection of one or more circuit breakers to the exclusion of others. There is no, in this case, independence between circuit breakers, or the possibility of protecting circuits with different functions.

In the context of the invention, the pooling or grouping of certain functions with a view to ensuring production gains must, on the other hand, be achieved while at the same time guaranteeing the individualisation of the operation of the circuit breakers which are linked to the differential stage.

• les bornes de raccordement d'entrée du bloc de protection sont reliées à l'étage différentiel ;
• le bloc de protection comporte des bornes de raccordement de sortie pour chaque disjoncteur ;
• les disjoncteurs sont chacun dotés d'un mécanisme de déclenchement relié au déclencheur de l'étage différentiel et/ou au mécanisme de déclenchement d'au moins un disjoncteur adjacent ;
• lesdits mécanismes de déclenchement sont aptes à exercer simultanément une action de déclenchement sur les serrures des disjoncteurs sur impulsion ou commande du déclencheur de l'étage différentiel.

For this purpose, the protection block is provided in such a way that:

• the input terminals of the protection block are connected to the differential stage;
• the protection block has output connection terminals for each circuit breaker;
• the circuit breakers each have a trip mechanism connected to the differential stage trip unit and / or the trip mechanism of at least one adjacent circuit breaker;
• said triggering mechanisms are able to simultaneously perform a triggering action on the locks of the circuit breakers on pulse or command of the trigger of the differential stage.

This is for example what is disclosed in the document FR-2 391 549 , which describes a compact protection block incorporating the conventional differential and disjunction functions.

Unlike the cascading operation previously reported for differential blocks, the trigger mechanisms specific to this type of block operate in parallel. The movement of said mechanisms is controlled by the movement of the tripping relay of the differential stage, regardless of the positions of the locks of the circuit breakers. The concrete means to do this, however, are not described.

According to one possibility, this triggering mechanism is a lever disposed in each circuit breaker and one end of which is displaced, when the differential stage is tripped, along a path allowing it to come into contact with the lock in order to unlock it.

As indicated above, this lever is distinct from the lock itself, and has a mechanical connection only with the trip relay and / or a homologous lever, or with two identical levers of circuit breakers contiguous on both sides. other. In other words, it is located at a location that makes it insensitive to the position of the locks of the circuit breakers. Each mobile lever therefore comprises means for fixing the differential stage or at least one lever of an adjacent circuit breaker.

To ensure the simultaneity of the disjunctions during the tripping of the differential stage, it is necessary that these fixing means ensure the connection between all the levers and said relay.

According to one possibility, said fixing means consist of a spacer, each end of which allows the fixing to the differential stage or to a lever of a circuit breaker.

Each spacer is thus fixed either between two adjacent levers, or between a lever and the differential stage when it must make the connection between said stage and the circuit breaker which is immediately adjacent thereto.

Alternatively, these fixing means may consist of a single shaft connecting the levers of the circuit breakers and the differential tripping stage. This solution can in particular be implemented when a single one-piece housing is used for the protection block of the invention, housing which then contains the differential stage and the circuit breakers.

In addition to the plastic economy that is made possible by the use of a single housing for the switch and the circuit breakers, this configuration has the advantage of allowing the replacement of the input terminals of the circuit breakers by simple electrical connections. , to the extent that they do not have to be accessible from outside said housing. The electrical connection between the output of the differential switch and the inputs of the circuit breakers is indeed opaque for the user.

The protection block can also be composed of contiguous boxes, a differential element and at least two circuit breakers, then connected by spacers that constitute the mechanical link between the different devices.

According to a preferred solution, the levers may be rotatable, for example articulated at one of their ends in the vicinity of the control lever of the circuit breaker, the other end having a zone of contact with the lock.

The trigger of the differential stage may consist of an electromagnetic relay assembly associated with a trigger lock, allowing operation independent of the supply voltage of the block.

Alternatively, said trigger may comprise a relay having a transmission coil, allowing dependent operation unlike the supply voltage of the block.

These two versions correspond in fact to differential devices qualified respectively electromechanical and electronic.

• la figure 1 représente un schéma d'installation classique d'un interrupteur différentiel associé à des disjoncteurs ;
• la figure 2 représente un schéma d'installation selon l'invention ;
• la figure 3 montre, de manière schématique, la réalisation d'un bloc de protection selon l'invention ;
• la figure 4 montre une implantation et une configuration possibles d'un levier d'actionnement par rapport à une serrure classique de disjoncteur ; et
• la figure 5 représente en perspective un alignement de tels leviers, avec des entretoises de fixation les uns aux autres.

The invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended figures, for which:

• the figure 1 represents a typical installation diagram of a differential switch associated with circuit breakers;
• the figure 2 represents an installation diagram according to the invention;
• the figure 3 shows, schematically, the production of a protection block according to the invention;
• the figure 4 shows a possible layout and configuration of an actuating lever with respect to a conventional circuit breaker lock; and
• the figure 5 represents in perspective an alignment of such levers, with fixing struts to each other.

With reference to the figure 1 , the conventional installation diagram, in this example represented in two-wire, comprises a differential stage (1) located upstream of a row of circuit-breakers (2), constituted by a differential switch having the function, in particular, of cutting the circuit by opening the contacts via a conventional toroidal pattern (6), relay (3) and lock (5). As already mentioned, the combination of a differential switch (1) head and several circuit breakers (2) is an electrical schema extremely common in distribution boxes, made in the form of modular devices arranged in a row on standardized rails. The differential switch (1) is generally located at one end of the rail, and a number of circuit breakers (2) are contiguous thereto. The standards provide in principle the maximum number of circuit-breakers (2) which can be associated with a differential switch (1). Thus, for example, the maximum number of circuit breakers (2) that the Spanish standard plans to associate with a differential switch (1) is equal to 5.

In the distribution boxes, the modular devices are connected to each other by means of bridging bars (one for the phase and one for the neutral in the case of a two-wire diagram like the one shown in figure 1 ), or by wiring.

The objective of the invention is therefore to group the aforementioned electrical functions (differential protection and against overloads or short-circuits), as is shown in figure 2 , by omitting a switch in the differential stage (1), and connecting the relay (3) and - according to one possible example - a lock (5) of the differential stage (1) to the circuit breakers ( 2).

Moreover, it is possible to simplify the electrical connection by inserting said functions in a one-piece assembly consisting of a single casing (4) (see FIG. figure 3 ). This housing (4) incorporates a differential protection assembly (1) composed of a measurement toroid (6) connected to a relay (3), which is capable, via a mechanical link (7), of triggering the locks of the associated circuit breakers (2) if a differential fault occurs.

According to the invention, said mechanical connection (7) does not prevent the individualized management of the circuit breakers (2). It thus ensures the simultaneous release of the locks of the circuit breakers without disturbing their individual operation.

The figure 3 also shows the internal character of the links (8, 9) allowing in this version the connection of the phase and the neutral respectively to the input of each circuit breaker (2). The housing (4) of the protection block according to the invention therefore comprises only two input connection terminals (10, 11), for a number of pairs of output connection terminals (12, 12 'to 16, 16 ') corresponding to the number of circuit breakers (2) integrated in the housing (4). In this case, five circuit breakers (2) have been associated with the differential component (1), and there are therefore ten output connection connectors (12,12 'to 16,16').

In fact, looking at the configuration of a conventional circuit breaker, as it appears partially in figure 4 , the lever (20) of the invention, rotatable about one end (21) and having at its other end (22) an excrescence enabling it to exert an action on the trigger pawl (17) of the lock , is separate from the latter, placed between the control lever (18) of the circuit breaker and said trigger pawl (17). This lever (20) does not interfere with the proper functioning of the circuit breakers, which can each be reset by means of the control lever (18) independently of the other circuit breakers. A disjunction caused for example by the electromagnetic motor (19) by action of the firing pin (23) on the trigger (17) has no influence on said lever (20).

When the relay (3) of the differential stage (2) toggles, the lever (20) moves, resulting in separating the movable contact (24) from the fixed contact (25) by tilting of the lock caused by the movement of the ratchet trigger (17) following its contact with the end (22).

This operation does not depend on the place of the circuit breaker relative to the differential stage (1). So, as it appears in figure 5 , the levers (20) equipping each circuit breakers are connected for example by spacers (26) which echo the movement initially impulsed by the relay to each circuit breaker. These spacers (26) secure, for the rotational movement, the various levers (20). They take for example the form of parallelepipedal tabs insertable in housings (27) of corresponding shape. This solution is suitable for example for assemblies according to the invention consisting of contiguous boxes.

Of course, the example illustrated above can not be considered as limiting the invention. Alternative shape and configuration can also be used. Thus, for example, the use of the spacers (26) can be replaced by a single shaft connecting all the levers (20), assuming a single housing.

Claims (8)

1. Protection device containing a differential stage (1) fitted with a release relay (3) and at least two independent circuit breakers (2) protecting separate circuits, each circuit breaker (2) having its own thermal-magnetic triggering elements as well as a tripping mechanism allowing it to be opened on command from the differential stage (1), such that:

   - the input connection terminals (10, 11) of the protection device are connected to the differential stage (1) ;

   - the protection device has output connection terminals (12, 12' ; 13, 13' ; 14,14' ; 16,16' ; 16,16') for each circuit breaker (2) ;

   - the circuit breakers (2) are each equipped with a trigger mechanism (20) linked to the trigger of the differential stage(1) and/or the trigger mechanism (20) of at least one adjacent circuit breaker (2').

   - the said triggering mechanisms (20) are able to simultaneously exercise a trigger action on the tripping mechanism of the circuit breakers (2) on pulse or command from the trigger on the differential stage (1), and

   the trigger mechanism is a lever (20) placed in each circuit breaker (2), characterised in that one of the ends (22) of the lever (20) moves, when the differential is triggered(1), according to a trajectory enabling it to come into contact with the tripping mechanism in order to open it.
2. Protection device according to the preceding claim characterised in that each lever (20) includes a means of securing (26) at the differential stage (1) or at least at a lever (20) of an adjacent circuit breaker (2).
3. Protection device according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the securing means consists of a spacer (26) of which each end allows attachment to the differential stage (1) or to a lever (20) of an adjacent circuit breaker (2).
4. Protection device according to claim 2, characterised by the securing means consisting of a single shaft connecting the levers (20) of circuit breakers (2) and the differential stage(1).
5. Protection device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it includes a single unit (4) containing the differential stage (1) and the circuit breakers (2).
6. Protection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the levers (20) are able to rotate, articulated at one end (21) in the vicinity of the circuit breaker (2) control lever (18), the other end (22) having a contact area with the tripping mechanism.
7. Protection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the trigger for the differential stage (1) is composed of an electromagnetic relay assembly (3) associated with a trigger tripping mechanism (5), allowing operation independent of the protection device supply voltage.
8. Protection device according to any of the claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the trigger for the differential stage (1) includes a relay (3) with a solenoid, allowing operation dependent on the protection device supply voltage.

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