AU2010299740B2

AU2010299740B2 - Common structure for producing n-phase protection units, and neutrals

Info

Publication number: AU2010299740B2
Application number: AU2010299740A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Cyril Artis; Eric Baumann; Denis Deckert
Original assignee: Hager Electro SAS
Current assignee: Hager Electro SAS
Priority date: 2009-09-25
Filing date: 2010-09-15
Publication date: 2014-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 2030-09-15
Also published as: AU2010299740A1; FR2950730B1; WO2011036376A1; EP2481066A1; FR2950730A1; EP2481066B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a common structure for producing n-phase protection units and to a neutral, said structure consisting of a differential stage (1), having a switch trigger for opening the neutral, and n circuit breakers (2) that protect separate circuits for each phase and are connected downstream from the differential stage (1), said structure comprising (n+1) input coupling devices, connected to the differential stage, and (n+1) output coupling devices, each circuit breaker (2) comprising the respective magnetothermal trigger mechanism thereof, that is, a mechanical trigger lock combined with a magnetic actuator and a thermal actuator, linking members (4, 5, 6) being provided so as to connect the switch trigger of the differential stage (1) and the locks of the circuit breaker (2), each linking member (4, 5, 6) connecting either the circuit breaker and at least one lock of an adjacent circuit breaker (2), or the locks of two adjacent circuit breakers (2). Said structure is convertible into three different protection units.

Description

1 Common structure for producing n-phase production units, and neutrals The present invention relates to a common structure for producing n 5 phase production units and neutrals, made up of a differential stage provided with a switch trigger for opening the neutral, and n circuit breakers that protect separate circuits for each phase. The idea at the base of the invention is on the one hand to group different electrical functions together in a compact single-piece assembly, and on the other hand to form a common 10 industrial platform for similar different products, primarily to reduce manufacturing costs. In all of these products, the association of the differential stage and several circuit breakers results naturally from the fact that, in many cases, in an electric distribution box, these products are placed side-by-side on a 15 railing connected to one another either by means of bridging bars, or by individualized cabling. The different cabling cultures from one country to another in the building industry (in single phase or three-phase, depending on the case) for example involve, depending on the country, the existence of pre-wiring with three or five wires, then requiring the manufacture of distinct 20 devices that in fact perform the same differential and circuit breaker functions. The desire or need to make the different associated circuit breakers in a same unit independent, or on the contrary to trigger them at the same time, with an equal number of phases, also leads to other possible variations of the 25 unit performing the same functions. The identical multifunctional basis of all of these alternatives has led, in the context of this invention, to the development of what we have described as a common platform in order to simplify the industrialization phase by creating a structure designed to comprise all of the elements and 30 characteristics shared by the different considered units, and which allows their ultimate differentiation while only using a minimal number of industrial operations. The integration of said elements and characteristics into the same structure also makes it possible to increase the compactness of the 2 units inasmuch as the multifunctional aspect is automatically integrated into the design of the common platforms. To that end, the common structure according to the invention, comprising (n+1) input coupling devices, connected to the differential stage, and (n+1) 5 output coupling devices, each circuit breaker comprising a respective magnetothermal trigger mechanism thereof, that is, a mechanical trigger lock combined with a magnetic actuator and a thermal actuator, linking members being provided so as to connect the switch trigger of the differential stage and the locks of the circuit breaker, each linking member connecting either 10 the trigger and at least one lock of an adjacent circuit breaker, or the locks of two adjacent circuit breakers, characterized in that it is transformable into three different protection units: - a differential circuit breaker with n phases and neutral, the linking members between the mechanical trigger of the 15 differential stage and the locks of the circuit breakers being connected in order to cause simultaneous triggering of the n circuit breakers when a circuit breaker or the trigger of the differential stage is triggered; - a protection unit with n phases and neutral whereof the trigger 20 mechanisms operate independently on each phase, the linking members being provided only to pass the triggering of the mechanical trigger of the differential stage on to the locks of the circuit breakers; and - a phase-neutral protection unit, a member for giving the inputs 25 of the n circuit breakers a common polarity at the potential of the single phase being added to the protection unit with n phases and neutral at the output of the differential stage or the differential circuit breaker with n phases and neutral. Depending on the product, and in general by changing or adding a single 30 type of component, the triggering may be simultaneous for all of the products irrespective of the origin of the trigger. Alternatively, the simultaneous triggering may only occur when the switching of the locks of the circuit breakers is controlled by the movement of the trigger of the differential stage, also irrespective of the positions of the locks of the circuit breakers.

3 In all, depending on the types of mechanical linking members, there is a distinction between two triggering modes. In general, in this type of product, the mechanical trigger of the differential stage uses a relay, and it is therefore the movement of the vane of the relay 5 that actuates the locks of the circuit breaker by means of an appropriate mechanical connection. In the differential circuit breaker with n phases and neutral, an additional component is preferably provided to secure the handles of the circuit breakers. 10 More specifically, the linking member of the protection unit with n phases and neutral is a lever or a cam, one of the ends or surfaces of which is moved, during triggering of the mechanical trigger of the differential stage, along a path allowing it to come into contact with the lock of each circuit breaker in order to unlock it, each lever or cam comprising means for 15 securing at least one identical adjacent lever or cam, and linking/securing means to the mechanical trigger of the differential stage making it possible for the latter to pass a movement on thereto when it is triggered. This lever or cam is separate from the trigger or the locks strictly speaking, and only comprises a mechanical connection with the trigger relay 20 of the differential stage and/or a counterpart lever or cam, or with two identical levers or cams of circuit breakers alongside one another. In other words, the lever or cam is located in a location that makes it, depending on the product resulting from the common structure, insensitive to the position of the locks of the circuit breakers, or on the contrary, dependent on the 25 movement of a lock (in the case of the differential circuit breaker). Each movable lever or cam then comprises means for securing an adjacent circuit breaker to at least one identical lever or cam and means for linking/securing the differential stage to the mechanical trigger, which are preferably identical. 30 To ensure simultaneity of the circuit breakers when the differential stage is triggered, it is necessary for these means to ensure securing between all of the levers or cams and said relay.

4 According to one possibility, said levers are rotatable, articulated at one end thereof in the vicinity of the control handle of the circuit breaker, the other end comprising a contact zone with the lock of the circuit breaker. According to one possibility frequently used in reality, in particular in 5 household installations, n=3 and the power supply for the units is done in three-phase and neutral. The invention will now be described in more detail, in reference to the appended figure, showing diagrams of three devices that may be industrialized based on the same structure. 10 In reference to this figure, which is very diagrammatic, each product comprises a differential stage (1) installed upstream of a row of circuit breakers (2), in particular serving to cut the downstream circuits by opening the contacts of the circuit breakers by means of a traditional toroid and trigger relay scheme. The differential stage (1) is generally located at one of the 15 lateral ends of the unit, and a certain number of circuit breakers (2) are stored in the direction of the other end of said unit. In the scenario illustrated for the three products (A, B, C) benefiting from the common structure according to the invention, n=3 and there are therefore three circuit breakers (2). 20 According to the invention, the functions performed are integrated into a single-piece assembly made up of a single housing (3). This housing (3) incorporates a differential protection assembly (1) made up of a measuring toroid connected to a relay, capable, by means of a mechanical connection, of triggering the locks of the associated circuit breakers (2) if a differential 25 defect occurs. According to the invention, in product (A), the mechanical linking member (4) does not prevent individualized management of the circuit breakers (2). It therefore ensures the simultaneous triggering of the locks of the circuit breakers (2) when the differential stage (1) is triggered, but a circuit breaker 30 (2) whereof the lock switches has no effect on the adjacent circuit breakers (2). This is not the case for product (B), for which the linking member is replaced, relative to that of product (A), by a member (5) providing a mechanical connection driving the triggering of all of the lines of the 5 protection unit (B) irrespective of the line on which the problem at the origin of the trigger occurs. The modification of the linking member is the only adaptation to be made on the common platform or structure to go from product (A), in this case a three phase-neutral protection unit, to product (B), 5 which represents a traditional three-phase and neutral differential circuit breaker. The transition to product (C) is done no less easily from product (A) or (B), by simply adding a member (7) for giving the inputs of the n circuit breakers a same polarity at the potential of the single phase of the output of 10 the differential stage. The linking member (6) is then either the mechanical linking member (4) of the protection block with n phases and neutral, or the mechanical linking member (5) of the differential circuit breaker with n phases and neutral. No other transformation is necessary, in particular relative to the unused 15 input connection devices, which may be kept if applicable. It is also possible not to equip, in the housing of the unit during assembly, the locations reserved for these unused input connection devices. Owing to the particular concept developed in the context of the invention, the common structure may be quickly, and by making at least one change, 20 very simply, converted into one of the three products (A, B, C) described above. The economic advantage of the invention is real and interesting. Of course, the example illustrated above cannot be considered limiting on the invention: alternatives in terms of form and configuration may also be used to produce the common structure serving as the common industrial 25 platform for production.

Claims

1. A common structure for producing n-phase production units and neutrals, made up of a differential stage provided with a mechanical trigger for opening the 5 neutral and n circuit breakers protecting distinct circuits for each phase and connected downstream of the differential stage. said structure comprising input coupling devices, connected to the differential stage, and (n+1) output coupling devices, each circuit breaker comprising a respective magnetothermal trigger mechanism thereof, that is. a mechanical trigger lock combined with a magnetic 10 actuator and a thermal actuator, linking members being provided so as to connect the switch trigger of the differential stage and the locks of the circuit breakers, each linking member connecting either trigger and at least one lock of an adjacent circuit breaker, or the locks of two adjacent circuit breakers. characterized in that it is transformable into three different protection units including: 15 - a differential circuit breaker with n phases and neutral, the linking members between the mechanical trigger of the differential stage and the locks of the circuit breakers being connected in order to cause simultaneous triggering of the n circuit breakers when a circuit breaker or the trigger of the differential stage is triggered; 20 - a protection unit with n phases and neutral whereof the trigger mechanisms operate independently on each phase, the linking members being provided only to pass the triggering of the mechanical trigger of the differential stage on to the locks of the circuit breakers; and - a phase-neutral protection unit, a member for giving the inputs of 25 the n circuit breakers a common polarity at the potential of the single phase being added to the protection unit with n phases and neutral at the output of the differential stage or the differential circuit breaker with n phases and neutral.

2. The common structure according claim 1 wherein the mechanical trigger of 30 the differential stage uses a relay. 06/1 1/14.jm19870 claims,6 -7

3. The common structure according to claim I or claim 2, wherein an additional component secures the handles of the circuit breakers of the differential circuit breaker with n phases and neutral. 5

4. The common structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the linking member of the protection unit with n phases and neutral is a lever or a cam, one of the ends or surfaces of which is moved, during triggering of the mechanical trigger of the differential stage, along a path allowing it to come into contact with the lock of each circuit breaker in order to unlock it, each lever or cam 10 comprising means for securing at least one identical adjacent lever or cam of an adjacent circuit breaker, and linking/securing means to the mechanical trigger of the differential stage making it possible for the latter to pass a movement on thereto when it is triggered. 15

5. The common structure according to claim 4 wherein the means for securing an adjacent circuit breaker (2) to at least one identical lever or cam and the means for linking/securing the differential stage (1) to the mechanical trigger are identical.

6. The common structure according to any one of the preceding claims, 20 wherein said levers are rotatable, articulated at one end thereof in the vicinity of the control handle of the circuit breaker, the other end comprising a contact zone with the lock of the circuit breaker.

7. The common structure according to any one of the preceding claims, 25 wherein n=3, and the power supply for the units is done in three-phase and neutral. 06/11/14,jm19870 claims,7