EP0066486B1 — Operating mechanism for a low-voltage multi-pole …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 297 words

A multi-pole electric circuit breaker in a moulded box, containing an operating mechanism (28) of the moving gear comprising a moving contact (34) per pole mounted on a contact arm (32), which mechanism (28) is composed of: - a toggle joint (52) with lower (56) and upper (58) links cooperating with an automatic trip hook (64) and a manual control lever (26) in order to actuate the moving gear, - a rocker (68) supporting the lever (26) and able to pivot between the two fixed limits, closing position (F) and opening position (0), - a bar (30) in insulating material, connected mechanically to a lower link (56) in the toggle joint (52) to drive the alternate pivoting movement of the contacts arms (32) of all the poles to close or open the contacts of the circuit breaker, - a mechanism (28) drive spring (66) anchored between the rocker (68) and the intermediate hinge pin (54) of the toggle joint links (56, 58), - a latch (78) to engage the trip hook (64) in the reset position, - and a component (86) to telease the latch (78) that is controlled by the tripping unit and ensures that the trip hook (64) is freed when a fault occurs, during which operation the control lever (26) is driven to an intermediate position (D), between open position (0) and closed position (F), characterized in that the upper link (58) in the toggle joint (52) is hinged on the trip hook (64) and extended by a drive lever (112) cooperating with the rocker (68) to obtain the resetting of the trip hook (64) in its reset position engaged with the latch (78) when the control lever (26) moves from the intermediate position (D) towards the resetting position (R) near open position (O).

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 297 words

A multi-pole electric circuit breaker in a moulded box, containing an operating mechanism (28) of the moving gear comprising a moving contact (34) per pole mounted on a contact arm (32), which mechanism (28) is composed of: - a toggle joint (52) with lower (56) and upper (58) links cooperating with an automatic trip hook (64) and a manual control lever (26) in order to actuate the moving gear, - a rocker (68) supporting the lever (26) and able to pivot between the two fixed limits, closing position (F) and opening position (0), - a bar (30) in insulating material, connected mechanically to a lower link (56) in the toggle joint (52) to drive the alternate pivoting movement of the contacts arms (32) of all the poles to close or open the contacts of the circuit breaker, - a mechanism (28) drive spring (66) anchored between the rocker (68) and the intermediate hinge pin (54) of the toggle joint links (56, 58), - a latch (78) to engage the trip hook (64) in the reset position, - and a component (86) to telease the latch (78) that is controlled by the tripping unit and ensures that the trip hook (64) is freed when a fault occurs, during which operation the control lever (26) is driven to an intermediate position (D), between open position (0) and closed position (F), characterized in that the upper link (58) in the toggle joint (52) is hinged on the trip hook (64) and extended by a drive lever (112) cooperating with the rocker (68) to obtain the resetting of the trip hook (64) in its reset position engaged with the latch (78) when the control lever (26) moves from the intermediate position (D) towards the resetting position (R) near open position (O).

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 54 words

Multi-pole circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that the free end of the drive lever (112) on the upper link (58) is designed as a drive lug (114) that bears on a sliding surface (116) of the rocker (68) between intermediate position (D) and open position (O) of the control lever (26).

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 44 words

Multi-pole circuit breaker according to claim 2, characterized in that the lug (114) of the drive lever (112) is bent at right angles to lie crosswise towards the outside of the gap provided between the mounting plates (48, 50) of the drive mechanism (28).

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

Multi-pole circuit breaker according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the rocker (68) sliding surface (116) is slightly curved.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 67 words

Multi-pole circuit breaker according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the upper link (58) is designed in a V-shape and comprises a first lever (110) placed between that pivot pin (54) of the toggle joint (52) and the hinge pin (62) of the trip hook (64), and forms a predetermined angle with the second drive lever (114) that cooperates with the rocker (68).

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 83 words

Multi-pole circuit breaker according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the pivotable rocker (68) has a shoulder (118) designed to thrust against the link lug (114) in order to stop the control lever (26) in a position (S) and thereby block any attempt to open the circuit breaker manually if the contacts are joined, while the afore-said lug (114) is automatically withdrawn away from the shoulder (118) when the toggle (52) joint folds in and the contacts open normally.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 28 words

Multi-pole circuit breaker according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that the shoulder (118) is disposed between the sliding surface (116) and the rocker (68) pin (70).

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 74 words

Multi-pole circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that said component to release the latch (78) comprises a half moon (86) shaped element pivotally mounted on a pin (88) and cooperating with elastic means for moving the half moon element (86) towards the latch position of the latch (78), the half moon element (86) being in equilibrium on the pin (88) and maintained with respect to the latch (78) by said elastic means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 49 words

Multi-pole circuit breaker according to claim 8, characterized in that said elastic means is constituted by a torsion spring (104) having one end resting at least on one bosse (108) of said half moon element (86) and its other end (109) bearing on an abutment of the plate (48).

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 63 words

Multi-pole circuit breaker according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by the fact that the half moon element (86) is in plastic material and extends crosswise in the gap between the plates (48, 50) and comprises a bore (92) with a radial projection (90) to fit into a matching groove (94) of the pin (88) in aligned openings in the plates (48, 50).

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 57 words

Multi-pole circuit breaker according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 10, characterized by the fact that said bar (30) common to all poles is rotatably guided by intermediate coaxial bushings in plastic which bear on the internal separating walls between the pole chambers, two successive bushings being crosswise separated by the intermediate pole wide.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 103 words

Multi-pole circuit breaker according to any one of the claims 1 to 11, wherein each contact arm (32) is pressed against a bearing surface of the bar (30) by a compression spring (46), characterized in that the downward pressure applied on each contact arm (32) is adjusted by means of a spacer (126) of predetermined thickness inserted in a slot in the bar (30) in order to modify the angular position of the aforementioned bearing surface, the positioning of the spacer (126) taking place once the contact arm (32) has been pulled away by a force opposing that of the compression spring (46).

Operating mechanism for a low-voltage multi-pole circuit breaker

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