JP6020236B2 - Circuit breaker and circuit breaker assembly method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a circuit breaker and a circuit breaker assembling method for wiring breakers, circuit breakers, and the like, and more particularly to the structure of a trip button provided in a circuit breaker.

Circuit breakers have a device equipped with a test button called `` trip button '' to test whether the trip operation of the circuit breaker functions properly at any time. By pushing in, the latch mechanism is released and the main circuit contact is opened.
FIG. 5 shows the inside of a circuit breaker provided with a trip button.

Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 5 is a handle that allows manual operation of the circuit breaker, reference numeral 2 is a handle lever, reference numeral 3 is a latch mechanism that is connected to the handle lever 2 and is involved in the pulling operation, and reference numeral 4 is The movable contact 6 having a movable contact 4A, which is rotatably connected via the latch mechanism 3 and the toggle link mechanism 5, is rotated around the pin 6A and is connected via the trip lever 7 when the overcurrent is tripped. The crossbar that releases the engagement state with the latch mechanism 3 and causes the toggle link mechanism 5 to perform a shut-off operation, 8 is an open / close spring, and 9 is an electromagnetic force generated in the electromagnetic trip portion 10 when an overcurrent occurs. This is an armature that is sucked by the arm and rotates the cross bar 6 in the direction of the arrow. Reference numeral 11 denotes a fixed contact having a fixed contact 11A.
The housing 12 is provided with a trip button 13. By depressing the trip button 13 against the spring force of the coil spring 14, the engagement state between the latch mechanism 3 and the trip lever 7 is released, and the movable contact 4 is opened. It is tested whether the tripping operation is normal without flowing.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-20854 (Fig. 1)

  By the way, the circuit breaker of Patent Document 1 described above includes a stopper (not shown) that regulates the push-down position of the trip button 13 in the direction of pushing down the trip button 13 and a cylindrical spring guide 15 that holds the coil spring 14. It is formed so as to protrude from the inner wall of the housing 12, and the size of the stopper, the spring guide 15 and the stroke of the trip button 13 must be taken into consideration, so that the inner volume of the housing 12 must be designed large, and the size can be reduced. There is a problem in terms of.

Further, providing the stopper, the spring guide 15 and the like on the inner wall of the housing 12 complicates the shape of the housing 12 and causes a problem in terms of manufacturing cost.
In addition, the housing 12 is formed by connecting a plurality of divided bodies via connecting screws. However, the housing 12 is deformed by the influence of the tightening force of the connecting screws. May affect the spring guide 15 and impair the operational reliability of the trip button 13.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a circuit breaker and a circuit breaker assembling method that can be reduced in size while reducing the manufacturing cost even if a trip button is provided.

  In order to achieve the above object, a circuit breaker according to an aspect of the present invention includes a fixed contact provided with a fixed contact and a movable contact provided with a movable contact in contact with the fixed contact inside a housing. And an opening / closing mechanism connected to the movable contact, and a trip cross bar that causes the opening / closing mechanism to perform a trip operation by receiving a pressing operation, and a trip button is disposed on the outer surface of the housing, In the circuit breaker configured to press the trip cross bar by pressing the trip button, the trip button includes a push button portion provided on a top portion of the button body and the trip cross bar provided on the button body. An axis extends in a direction orthogonal to the push-in direction of the push button portion between the engagement portion engageable with the push button portion and the engagement portion of the button body. The button body is rotated around the shaft portion when the push button portion is pushed in, and the engagement portion applies a pressing force to the trip cross bar. The mechanism portion includes a bearing hole that supports the shaft portion of the trip button.

  According to the circuit breaker according to one aspect of the present invention, the member for holding the trip button is not formed in the housing as in the conventional device, and the housing can be made a simple structure. Reduction can be achieved. In addition, even when a casing in which a plurality of divided bodies are connected via a connecting screw is deformed by the influence of a tightening force such as a connecting screw, the trip button of the present invention is not connected to the casing and operates. Reliability is not reduced.

Further, in the circuit breaker according to one aspect of the present invention, the shaft part of the trip button is a spring member that is elastically deformable, and the button main body is rotated when the push button part is pushed. A return spring force acts to return the main body to its original position.
According to the circuit breaker according to one aspect of the present invention, since the shaft portion of the trip button also serves as a return spring, the number of parts can be reduced.

The circuit breaker according to an aspect of the present invention is a torsion spring in which a shaft portion of the trip button is bent in a substantially U shape and includes a pair of parallel wires, and the torsion spring includes: The other wire rod is inserted into the bearing hole of the opening / closing mechanism portion.
According to the circuit breaker according to one aspect of the present invention, the torsion spring can act on the return spring force while supporting the trip button.

On the other hand, a circuit breaker assembly method according to an aspect of the present invention includes a fixed contact provided with a fixed contact, a movable contact provided with a movable contact contacting the fixed contact, An opening / closing mechanism connected to the movable contact and a trip cross bar that causes the opening / closing mechanism to perform a trip operation by receiving a pressing operation are mounted, and a trip button is disposed on the outer surface of the casing. In the circuit breaker configured to push the trip crossbar by pushing operation, the trip button is assembled to the opening / closing mechanism portion, and the trip button includes a push button portion provided on a top portion of the button body. An engagement portion that can be engaged with the trip cross bar provided on the button body, and a portion between the push button portion and the engagement portion of the button body. A shaft insertion hole provided with an axial line extending in a direction orthogonal to the pushing direction of the tongue portion, and the opening / closing mechanism portion includes a pair of side plates and a top plate positioned above the pair of side plates. The one side plate is provided with a bearing hole penetrating in the plate thickness direction, and after arranging the trip button so that the shaft insertion hole corresponds to the bearing hole of the side plate, a substantially U shape A torsion spring having a pair of wires that are bent in parallel with each other, one wire is locked to a part of the top plate, and the other wire is the bearing hole of the side plate and the trip button It is inserted into the shaft insertion hole and attached.
According to the circuit breaker assembling method according to one aspect of the present invention, the trip button can be easily assembled to the opening / closing mechanism portion using a substantially U-shaped torsion spring without using a tool such as a screwdriver.

  According to the circuit breaker and the circuit breaker assembling method according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the size while reducing the manufacturing cost and the number of parts.

It is a perspective view which shows the principal part of the switching mechanism part of the circuit breaker which concerns on this invention. It is a side view which shows the principal part of the switching mechanism part of the circuit breaker which concerns on this invention. The assembly procedure of the trip button with respect to the opening / closing mechanism is shown. It is a figure which shows the structure and pushing operation | movement of a trip button. It is sectional drawing which shows the conventional circuit breaker provided with the trip button.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the same components as those shown in FIG.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a circuit breaker for three-pole wiring according to the present invention, showing an opening / closing mechanism unit 20, a trip crossbar 21, and a trip button 22 mounted in a housing 12. Is. 2 is a view showing the main part of FIG. 1 from the side, FIG. 3 shows the assembly of the trip button 22 to the opening / closing mechanism 20, and FIG. 4 shows the structure of the trip button 22 and It is a figure which shows pushing operation.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the opening / closing mechanism unit 20 includes a latch mechanism 3 and a toggle link mechanism 5 (see FIG. 5) that are connected to the handle lever 2 and are involved in the pulling operation. A pair of side plates 23a and 23b arranged in parallel to each other and a top plate 24 connected to the upper part of the pair of side plates 23a and 23b are arranged around the periphery.

The top plate 24 has an opening 24a. The opening 24a extends so as to form an L shape continuously with a long opening extending toward the pair of side plates 23a and 23b and the side of the long opening toward the side plate 23a. And a short opening.
A bearing hole 25 is formed through the side plate 23a near the short opening of the opening 24a of the top plate 24 in the thickness direction.

The trip cross bar 21 is a member in which trip portions 21b are integrally formed at three positions in the longitudinal direction of the bar main body 21a, and as shown in FIG. 1, the shaft portion is rotatable around the hole 23c. It is supported between the pair of side plates 23a and 23b. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 c indicates the position of the axis of the trip crossbar 21 described above.
As shown in FIG. 3, the trip button 22 includes a button main body 22a, a push button portion 22b provided at the top of the button main body 22a, an engagement convex portion 22c provided at the lower portion of the button main body 22a, and a push button portion 22b. And a shaft insertion hole 22d provided penetrating in the thickness direction between the engaging convex portions 22c.

As shown in FIG. 1, the trip button 22 is disposed on the lower surface side of the top plate 24, and the shaft insertion hole 22d is made to correspond to the bearing hole 25 of the side plate 23a, and the bearing hole 25 and the shaft insertion hole 22d A torsion spring 26 is inserted.
As shown in FIG. 3, the torsion spring 26 is an elastic member including a pair of wire rods 26 a and 26 b that are bent in a substantially U shape and are parallel to each other.

One wire rod 26a of the torsion spring 26 is a member inserted into the bearing hole 25 and the shaft insertion hole 22d, and the other wire rod 26b extends along the opening edge of the opening 24a as shown in FIG. The end portion 26 b 1 extends and is engaged with the upper surface of the top plate 24.
In this way, the trip button 22 supported by the opening / closing mechanism 20 (side plate 23a and top plate 24) via the torsion spring 26 has a button hole provided in the housing 12, as shown in FIG. A push button portion 22 b projects from 12 a to the outside, and is arranged in the housing 12 with the engagement convex portion 22 c facing the trip portion 21 b of the trip crossbar 21.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, when viewed from the side, the engaging convex portion 22c is located below the shaft insertion hole 22d, and the push button portion 22b is located above the shaft insertion hole 22d. In addition, the trip button 22 in which the engaging convex portion 22c and the push button portion 22b are arranged on the left and right with respect to the shaft insertion hole 22d causes the shaft insertion hole 22d to move when a downward pushing force is applied to the push button portion 22b. It is converted into rotation of the button body 22a with the center.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, when a pushing force is applied to the push button portion 22b, the torsion spring 26 has one wire rod 26a inserted through the bearing hole 25 and the shaft insertion hole 22d, and an opening 24a. The other wire rod 26b extending along the opening edge of the top plate 24 and having the end portion 26b1 hooked and engaged with the upper surface of the top plate 24 undergoes torsional deformation so that the distance between the two wire rods 26b increases. . At this time, the button main body 22a rotates around the shaft insertion hole 22d while moving downward, and the engagement convex portion 22c applies a pressing force to the trip portion 21b of the trip crossbar 21. As a result, the trip crossbar 21 rotates in the direction of the arrow about the shaft 21 c, thereby opening the movable contact 4 by the latch mechanism 3 and the toggle link mechanism 5 of the opening / closing mechanism 20.

Here, when the pushing force of the push button portion 22b is released, the torsion spring 26 performing the torsional deformation generates a return spring force for returning to the original shape in which the pair of wires 26a and 26b are parallel to each other. Acts on 22a (returning spring force indicated by the arrow direction of S). The trip button 22 to which the return spring force S of the torsion spring 26 is applied moves to the original position in FIG.
The engaging portion according to the present invention corresponds to the engaging convex portion 22 c, and the shaft portion according to the present invention corresponds to the wire material 26 a of the torsion spring 26.

Next, in the circuit breaker of this embodiment, the procedure for assembling the trip button 22 on the side plate 23a and the top plate 24 arranged around the opening / closing mechanism 20 will be described with reference to FIG.
First, as indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 3, the trip button 22 is raised from the lower surface side of the top plate 24, and the trip button 22 is moved until the upper part of the button body 22 a is positioned at the opening 24 a of the top plate 24.
Then, the shaft insertion hole 22d of the trip button 22 is made to correspond to the bearing hole 25 of the side plate 23a.

Next, as indicated by an arrow B in FIG. 3, the torsion spring 26 is moved toward the upper part of the side plate 23a, and one wire rod 26a is inserted into the bearing hole 25 and the shaft insertion hole 22d, and the other wire rod is inserted. 26 b extends along the opening edge of the opening 24 a, and its end 26 b 1 is hooked and engaged with the upper surface of the top plate 24.
Thereby, the assembly of the trip button 22 to the side plate 23a and the top plate 24 is completed.

Next, the effect of the circuit breaker of this embodiment is demonstrated.
In the circuit breaker of the present embodiment, the members that support the trip button 22 are the side plates 23a and 23b and the top plate 24 of the opening / closing mechanism unit 20, and the member that holds the trip button as in the conventional device is the housing 12. Since the housing 12 can have a simple structure, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Further, even when the casing 12 to which the plurality of divided bodies are connected via the connecting screw is deformed due to the influence of the tightening force such as the connecting screw, the trip button 22 of the present embodiment is not connected to the casing 12. However, since it is supported by the side plates 23a and 23b and the top plate 24 of the opening / closing mechanism 20, the operational reliability is not lowered.
The trip button 22 is a mechanism that rotates around a shaft insertion hole 22d provided substantially at the center of the button body 22a. Since the operation stroke of the trip button 22 is small, the circuit breaker can be downsized. it can.

  A member that rotatably supports the trip button 22 on the side plate 23a and the top plate 24 is a torsion spring 26. The torsion spring 26 is a return for returning the pushed trip button 22 to its original position. Since the spring force S acts to support the trip button 22 and the function as a return spring member, an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed.

  Further, in order to assemble the trip button 22 to the side plate 23a and the top plate 24 of the opening / closing mechanism section 20, the trip button 22 is disposed on the lower surface side of the top plate 24, and then the trip button is inserted into the bearing hole 25 of the side plate 23a. 22 shaft insertion holes 22d are made to correspond, and then one wire rod 26a of the substantially U-shaped torsion spring 26 is inserted into the bearing hole 25 and the shaft insertion hole 22d, and the other wire rod 26b of the torsion spring 26 is opened. Assembling of the trip button 22 is completed by extending along the opening edge of 24 a and engaging the end 26 b 1 with the upper surface of the top plate 24. In this way, the trip button 22 can be easily assembled to the side plate 23 a and the top plate 24 using the substantially U-shaped torsion spring 26 without using a tool such as a screwdriver.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Handle, 2 ... Handle lever, 3 ... Latch mechanism, 4 ... Movable contact, 5 ... Toggle link mechanism, 12 ... Housing, 12a ... Button hole, 20 ... Opening / closing mechanism part, 21 ... Trip crossbar, 21a ... Bar body, 21b ... Trip part, 21c ... Shaft, 22 ... Trip button, 22a ... Button body, 22b ... Button part, 22c ... Engaging convex part, 22d ... Shaft insertion hole, 23a, 23b ... Side plate, 24 ... Top Plate, 24a ... opening, 25 ... bearing hole, 26 ... torsion spring, 26a, 26b ... wire, 26b1 ... end of wire

Claims (4)

By receiving a pressing operation inside the housing, a fixed contact provided with a fixed contact, a movable contact provided with a movable contact that contacts the fixed contact, an opening / closing mechanism connected to the movable contact, A trip cross bar for tripping operation is mounted on the opening / closing mechanism, a trip button is disposed on the outer surface of the casing, and the trip cross bar is pressed to operate the trip cross bar. In the vessel
The trip button includes a push button portion provided on a top portion of the button body, an engagement portion engageable with the trip crossbar provided on the button body, and the push button portion and the engagement portion of the button body. A shaft portion provided with an axial line extending in a direction perpendicular to the pushing direction of the push button portion, and the button body rotates around the shaft portion by pushing the push button portion. The engagement portion is configured to apply a pressing force to the trip cross bar,
The circuit breaker, wherein the opening / closing mechanism portion includes a bearing hole that supports a shaft portion of the trip button.   The shaft part of the trip button is a spring member that can be elastically deformed, and when the button body is rotated by pushing the push button part, a return spring force acts so as to return the button body to the original position. The circuit breaker according to claim 1.   The trip button shaft portion is a torsion spring having a pair of wires that are bent in a substantially U shape and are parallel to each other. One of the wire rods is locked to a part of the opening / closing mechanism portion. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the other wire is inserted through the bearing hole of the opening / closing mechanism. By receiving a pressing operation inside the housing, a fixed contact provided with a fixed contact, a movable contact provided with a movable contact that contacts the fixed contact, an opening / closing mechanism connected to the movable contact, A trip cross bar for tripping operation is mounted on the opening / closing mechanism, a trip button is disposed on the outer surface of the casing, and the trip cross bar is pressed to operate the trip cross bar. A method of assembling the trip button in the opening / closing mechanism in a container,
The trip button includes a push button portion provided on a top portion of the button body, an engagement portion engageable with the trip crossbar provided on the button body, and the push button portion and the engagement portion of the button body. A shaft insertion hole provided with an axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the pushing direction of the push button portion,
The opening / closing mechanism portion is composed of a pair of side plates and a top plate positioned on the upper side of the pair of side plates, and one side plate is provided with a bearing hole penetrating in the plate thickness direction,
After arranging the trip button so that the shaft insertion hole corresponds to the bearing hole of the side plate,
A torsion spring having a pair of wires that are bent in a substantially U shape and parallel to each other, one wire is locked to a part of the top plate, and the other wire is the bearing hole of the side plate and the side plate A circuit breaker assembling method, wherein the circuit breaker is inserted into the shaft insertion hole of the trip button.

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