EP0140761B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Operating mechanism for a low-voltage multi-pole circuit breaker
Assignee: Merlin Gerin SA
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Filing: 1984-10-01
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Granted: 1987-09-09
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Expires: 2004-10-01
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a circuit breaker operating mechanism. The base (70) of the handle (52) moves along grooves or edges (78, 80) on the fixed guiding part formed by the mechanism support plates (40, 42). The grooves (78, 80) determine the trajectory and the fictitious pivoting axis of the handle (52) accurately. Rollers (74, 76) are fitted between the base (70) and the grooves (78, 80) to reduce the friction forces. The switch bar (28) comprises a projection located close to each electrical auxiliary so as to give a remote indication of the state of the circuit breaker and to cause automatic resetting of the auxiliary releases following tripping.
Inventors
- 👤 Pierre Batteux
- 👤 Robert Denis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 21:10
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H71/00; H01H71/10; H01H71/50; H01H71/52; H01H71/522; H01H71/525; H01H71/12; H01H71/46; H01H71/503; H01H71/521; H01H83/00; H01H83/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
An operating mechanism for a multipole circuit breaker comprising a molded insulating housing (10) having a base (32) and a cover (54), said mechanism being mounted between two parallel plates (40, 42) and comprising : a handle (52) for manual actuation of the mechanism (12) with an extended base (70) located inside the housing (10) of a support element arranged to determine the trajectory of the handle (52), a toggle device (44) associated with an automatic trip lever (56) and with a switch bar (28) common to all the poles, a stored energy spring (62) fitted between the handle (52) and the axis (50) of the toggle (44), a latching device (66) of the trip lever (56) in the charged position, a trip bar (68) which can be either in an inactive position or a tripped position to respectively latch and unlatch the trip lever (56), and tripping means cooperating with the trip bar (68) when a fault occurs or an external order is given, characterized by the fact that the support element of the base (70) of the handle (52) comprises a guiding plane (78, 80) secured to each plate (40, 42) of the mechanism (12), said plane comprising a profile either arcuate or inclined if the handle (52) has a pivoting movement around its fictitious pivoting axis, or straight and parallel to the base (32) of the housing (10) if the handle (52) has a sliding movement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
An operating mechanism for a multipole circuit breaker comprising a molded insulating housing (10) having a base (32) and a cover (54), said mechanism being mounted between two parallel plates (40, 42) and comprising : a handle (52) for manual actuation of the mechanism (12) with an extended base (70) located inside the housing (10) of a support element arranged to determine the trajectory of the handle (52), a toggle device (44) associated with an automatic trip lever (56) and with a switch bar (28) common to all the poles, a stored energy spring (62) fitted between the handle (52) and the axis (50) of the toggle (44), a latching device (66) of the trip lever (56) in the charged position, a trip bar (68) which can be either in an inactive position or a tripped position to respectively latch and unlatch the trip lever (56), and tripping means cooperating with the trip bar (68) when a fault occurs or an external order is given, characterized by the fact that the support element of the base (70) of the handle (52) comprises a guiding plane (78, 80) secured to each plate (40, 42) of the mechanism (12), said plane comprising a profile either arcuate or inclined if the handle (52) has a pivoting movement around its fictitious pivoting axis, or straight and parallel to the base (32) of the housing (10) if the handle (52) has a sliding movement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
An operating mechanism according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that roller elements (74, 76) are mounted between the lower face (72) of the handle base (70) and the planes (78, 80) of the plates (40, 42) to reduce the friction forces generated when the handle (52) is moving.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
An operating mechanism according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the planes (78, 80) are shaped on the upper edges of the plates (40, 42), each roller element (74, 76) being formed by a roller with an axial length slightly greater than the transverse clearance between the plates (40, 42).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
104 words
An operating mechanism according to one of the claims 1 to 3, the toggle device (44) comprising a lower rod (46) coupled with the switch bar (28) and an upper rod (48) pivoting on the automatic trip lever (56), characterized by the fact that the lower rod (46) comprises a circular cross-section steel wire branch (94, 100), engaged in a notch (96, 102) in the upper rod (48), to constitute the axis (50) of the toggle (44), said branch (94, 100) being held firmly in the notch (96, 102) by the trip bar (68) hooked over the handle (52) and said branch (94, 100).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
207 words
An operating mechanism according to one of the claims 1 to 4, comprising further : a trip device cooperating with the trip bar (68) when a fault occurs, a stop cooperating with the toggle (44) to ensure a variation of the opening travel of the contact arms (26) due to a different rotation of the switch bar (28) happening during the opening by tripping on fault occurrence, and electrical control and indication auxiliaries fitted on either side of the mechanism (12) and comprising a first and a second system of auxiliary contacts (OF, SD) giving a remote indication of the state of the circuit breaker, as well as voltmeter type auxiliary releases (MN, MX), particularly undervoltage or shunt trip, characterized by the fact that the trip lever (56) has a cam (104) limited by two notches (106, 108) acting as stops for the pivot axis (50) of toggle (44), and that the switch bar (28) has a projection (110) or boss, located close to each electrical auxiliary, so as to actuate the first system of auxiliary contacts (OF) indicating manual opening before actuating the second system of auxiliary contacts (SD) indicating a fault, and/or to reset the auxiliary releases (MN, MX) automatically following tripping of the mechanism.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
An operating mechanism according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that the notches (106, 108) of the cam (104) are located along the curved lower edge of the trip lever (56) between the pivot pin (58) and the latching nose (64) of the lever (56).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
An operating mechanism according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by the fact that a transmission lever (112) is fitted between the projection (110) of the switch bar (28) and the corresponding electrical auxiliary (OF, SD, MN. MX).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
An operating mechanism according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized by the fact that the opposite ends of the base (70) of the handle (52) cover respectively the switch bar (28) and the trip bar (68) when the handle (52) is in its end of travel positions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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