CN1836302B - Test pushbutton module - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a test pushbutton module (2) for a circuit breaker (1), particularly a residual current circuit breaker, comprising a housing (21), a resistor (26), an actuating element (24) that is associated with a first connector of the resistor (26), and a contact element (25) which can be moved by means of the actuating element (24). A second connector (28) of the resistor (26) leads out of the housing (21). Said second connector (28) is provided with a contacting part (29) that is to be detachably connected to a conductor, terminal (3), or similar.

Description

Test Probe Module

technical field

The invention relates to a test probe module (Prüftastermodul) for a protective switch, in particular for a fault current protective switch, with a housing, a resistor, an actuating element adapted to a first connection of the resistor and an actuating The element is a movable contact element, wherein a second connection of the resistor protrudes from the housing. the

Background technique

In fault current protective switches, a test probe module with an operating element is usually provided, whereby electrical contact between two terminals can be established and a current that causes the fault current protective switch to discharge is allowed to flow through the test probe module . In this case, an additional resistor is usually provided for the actuating element in order to reliably ensure that the current flowing through the test probe module is limited. A disadvantage of the known protective switches is that the test probe modules result in high production costs for the protective switch. the

Contents of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a test probe module of the above-mentioned type, which overcomes the known disadvantages, has high reliability, is simple to produce, and allows easy production of protective switches. the

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the second terminal comprises a contact part for detachable connection to a conductor, a connecting piece or the like. the

This results in the advantage that the test probe module can be produced separately as an independent component and then arranged in the lower housing of the protective switch or a similar container. The contact of the test probe module can be realized when connecting the upper case and the lower case. Another advantage is that no soldering points are required for connecting the test probe modules, so that particularly little time can be required for connecting the test probe modules. As a result, the test probe module is fixedly connected, ie independent of whether it is pressed by the actuating element, to the conductor or the connecting piece as soon as it is inserted into the protective switch. Through this detachable connection, the interchangeability of the test probe module is guaranteed. the

In a refinement of the invention, the contact part is designed to bear against the housing. The contact part can thus be supported on the housing, and the elements cooperating with the contact part in the assembled state of the protective switch are produced in such a way that a force is exerted on the contact part in the direction of the housing, thereby reliably establishing an electrically conductive contact and avoiding air gap. This can be achieved in particular by providing a spring element. the

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the contact part is arranged on an end face of the housing, so that the contact part can be constructed particularly simply, especially when the resistance is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the test probe module. the

According to another structure of the present invention, the contact part and the operating element are arranged on the same side of the housing, whereby the contact part can be clearly seen and controlled when opening the upper case of the protective switch. the

The present invention also relates to a connection piece for a test probe module of a protective switch, in particular the above-mentioned test probe module, wherein the connection piece connects the connection terminal with a test probe in the closed state of the protective switch. The resistors of the modules are electrically connected without interruption. the

In known protective switches with such a test probe module, the resistor is usually connected to the terminal by means of a flexible wire, which allows the test probe to be connected in particular when connecting the test probe module to the lower housing. movement required by the module. the

The object of the present invention is to provide a connecting element of the above-mentioned type, with which the known disadvantages can be avoided and which permits a simple and cost-effective production of a protective switch. the

According to the invention, this object is achieved by providing a first contact surface for detachable connection to the resistor. the

By providing a detachable connection of the connecting piece to the test probe module, the sequence of the processing steps in the production of the protective switch can be changed in a simple manner, the connecting piece being connected to the resistor in a subsequent processing step. the

In a further embodiment of the invention, the first contact area comprises at least two contact regions spaced apart from one another, wherein the at least two contact regions are electrically conductively connected to one another. By forming a plurality of contact regions, it is possible with a low material requirement to provide connection elements for different embodiments of the protective switch in which connection elements and test probe modules are arranged differently. the

In a further embodiment of the invention, a central region is provided for supporting the connection element, and the first contact surface is configured elastically relative to this central region. Due to the elastic configuration, a dynamic meshing connection of the contact surface to the resistor can be ensured, thereby improving the reliability of the test probe module. the

According to a further embodiment of the invention, a second contact surface is provided for a detachable connection to a connection terminal. As a result, the sequence of processing steps during the production of the circuit breaker can be formulated particularly flexibly. the

In this regard, in a refinement of the invention, the second contact surface is configured elastically relative to the central region, so that a good electrical contact can be ensured between the connection part and the connection terminal. the

According to a further refinement of the invention, the connecting part is designed as a sheet metal bending part. This represents an embodiment that can be produced particularly simply and cost-effectively. the

According to a further embodiment of the invention, spring regions with inflection points are provided, whereby the spring action can be ensured in a simple manner, especially in the case of sheet metal bent parts. the

The invention further relates to a protective switch, in particular to a fault current protective switch. the

The object of the present invention is to provide a protective switch of the aforementioned type which can be produced particularly simply and cost-effectively. the

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that a test probe module according to claims 1 to 4 and a connecting piece according to claims 5 to 11 are provided. the

This results in the advantage that the test probe modules can be produced separately and inserted into the protective switch in a subsequent processing step, after which the test probe modules can be connected to the connection terminals. the

In another configuration of the present invention, the central area of the connecting member can be accommodated in a notch of the upper shell. This makes it possible to fasten the connection piece with the upper housing and to make the connection to the test probe module and the connection terminal automatically when placed on the upper housing. the

The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a protective switch, in particular a fault current protective switch, in which a connection terminal and a test probe module are arranged in a lower housing, and the test probe module is connected to a resistor. the

Furthermore, the object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a protective switch of the above-mentioned type which avoids the known disadvantages and which is simple and cost-effective to carry out. the

According to the invention, this object is solved by establishing an electrically conductive contact between the connection terminal and the resistor by means of a connecting piece accommodated by the upper housing when an upper housing is placed on the lower housing. the

This results in the advantage that the test probe modules can be produced separately and arranged in the lower housing in a subsequent processing step. A further advantage is that no special processing steps are required to establish the connection between the terminal block and the resistor, but this takes place automatically when the upper housing is placed. the

Description of drawings

The present invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings representing various embodiments, in the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 and 2 represent the oblique view of test probe module of the present invention, connector of the present invention and connecting terminal in working position;

Fig. 3 represents the oblique view of the connector according to Fig. 1;

Figures 4 and 5 show oblique views of an upper case of a protective switch with a connection according to Figure 1;

Fig. 6 represents the oblique view of a lower shell;

Figure 7 shows a plan view of a protective switch; and

FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of the protective switch according to FIG. 7 along the line AA. the

Detailed ways

1 and 2 show an embodiment according to the invention of a test probe module 2 , a connection piece 3 and a connection terminal 4 for a circuit breaker. Such test probe modules 2 are used in particular in fault current circuit breakers, but can also be provided in other types of circuit breakers. Terminals 4 are used to connect conductors or the like to the fully assembled protective switch. the

The test probe module 2 has a housing 21 , a resistor 26 , an actuating element 24 associated with a first connection of the resistor 26 and a contact element 25 movable by means of the actuating element 24 . A second terminal 28 of resistor 26 protrudes from housing 21 and includes a contact part 29 for detachable connection to a conductor, a connecting piece 3 or the like. the

In conventional manufacturing methods, the resistor 26 is connected to the connection terminal 4 by means of a flexible wire, where the flexible wire is soldered to the connection terminal 4 and the resistor 26 . In this case, the soldering process, which means thermal loading of the components, is usually carried out in a previous process in the manufacture of the protective switch, in which the resistor 26 is soldered to the flexible wire and the test probe module 2 is then hand-wound around the resistor 26 assembly. the

Through the contact portion 29 for detachable connection, the test probe module can be manufactured separately and then assembled into the protective switch, thereby greatly simplifying the production process of the protective switch. the

The test probe module 2 can also be exchanged in this way. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 , the detachable connection is preferably formed by a preferably elastic sliding contact. This allows a simple and rapid insertion of the test probe module 2 into the protective switch 1 and a simple, rapid and especially damage-free removal of the test probe module 2 from the protective switch 1 . the

If the connecting part 3 exerts a force on the contact part 9 in the connected state, it is advantageous when the contact part 29 is designed to rest on the housing 21, where the connecting part 3 and the contact part 29 can be supported in the connected state. On the shell 21. the

A particularly simple construction of the test probe module according to the invention results when the contact portion 29 is arranged on an end face 22 of the housing 21 . In this case, the second connection 28 of the resistor 26 can project substantially straight out of the housing 21 if the resistor 26 is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the housing 21 . the

If both the contact part 29 and the actuating element 24 are arranged on the same side 23 of the housing 21, the contact position in the installed state can be seen and controlled particularly clearly when the upper housing of the protective switch is removed. the

By means of the connecting piece 3 , the test probe module 2 and the connection terminal 4 can be electrically connected without interruption in the closed state of the protective switch 1 , irrespective of the position of the actuating element 24 . the

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the connecting part 3 according to FIG. 1 , in which a first contact surface 31 is provided for a detachable connection to the resistor 26 . the

For mounting the connecting element 3 , a central region 34 is provided, with respect to which the first contact surface 31 is configured elastically. This ensures that the first contact surface 31 exerts a force on the contact part 29 in the connected state, thereby ensuring a good electrical contact and preventing the formation of an air gap between the first contact surface 31 and the contact part 29 . the

The first contact area 31 can comprise at least two contact regions 32 spaced apart from one another, the at least two contact regions 32 being electrically conductively connected to one another here. By forming a plurality of contact areas 32 , it is possible to ensure connection of the terminal 4 to the connection part 3 at different distances from the contact part 29 , so that one embodiment of the connection part 3 can be used for many different configurations of the protective switch. the

Furthermore, the connecting piece 3 can have a second contact surface 33 for a detachable connection to the connection terminal 4 . By forming the second contact surface for a detachable connection, the connection between terminal 4 and connection part 3 can be carried out in a subsequent process step during the production of the circuit breaker, which simplifies the production process. the

If the second contact surface 33 is made elastically relative to the central region 34 , an air gap between the connector 3 and the terminal 4 can be effectively avoided, and the reliability of the electrical connection between the test probe module 2 and the terminal 4 can be improved. the

The embodiment of the connecting part 3 shown in FIG. 3 can be designed in a simple manner as a sheet metal bending part. In this case, spring regions 35 with points of inflection can be provided, whereby an elastic configuration of the contact surfaces 31 , 33 to the central region 34 can be ensured in a simple manner. the

4 and 5 show an upper housing 11 of the circuit breaker 1 which has a recess 12 in which the central region 34 of the connection part 3 can be accommodated. FIG. 6 shows the lower housing 15 of the protective switch 1 , which has sockets for the test probe module 2 . the

If the connection terminal 4 and the test probe module 2 are arranged in the lower case 15, and the connector 3 is arranged in the gap 12 of the upper case 11, then when the upper case 11 is placed on the lower case 15, the connection terminal 4 and the test probe module 2 are connected. Conductive contacts are formed between the probe modules 2 , especially the resistors 26 . the

FIG. 7 shows a plan view of the protective switch, in which the actuating element 24 and a screw of the connection terminal 4 can be seen. Furthermore, FIG. 7 shows the cutting lines of FIG. 8 . the

From FIGS. 7 and 8 it can be seen that the position of the test probe module 2 , the connection terminal 4 and the connecting piece is in the assembled state of the protective switch. In another embodiment of the protective switch of the present invention, another connecting terminal 4 of the protective switch can also be connected with the test probe module 2, and/or provide a different number of connecting terminals of the protective switch than shown in the figure. the

The elastic structure of the contact surfaces 31 , 33 of the connecting piece ensures that the connecting piece 3 does not hinder the assembly of the upper shell 11 to the lower shell 15 . the

Claims (15)

1. The test probe module (2) for the protective switch (1) has a housing (21), a resistor (26) assigned to the test probe module, a first contact with the resistor (26) An actuating element (24) with a mating joint and a contact element (25) movable by means of the actuating element (24), wherein a second joint (28) of the resistance (26) protrudes from the housing (21), and its features This consists in that the second connection (28) comprises a contact part (29) for a detachable connection to an electrically conductive connection part (3). 2. The test probe module (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact part (29) is designed to abut against the housing (21). 3. The test probe module (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that the contact portion (29) is arranged on one end face (22) of the housing (21). 4. The test probe module (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that the contact part (29) and the operating element (24) are arranged on the same side (23) of the housing (21). 5. The test probe module (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the protection switch is a fault current protection switch. 6. Protective switch (1), it is characterized in that, this protective switch is provided with connector (3), connecting terminal (4) and according to the test probe module (2) described in any one of claim 1 to 5, wherein , the connecting piece (3) electrically connects the connection terminal (4) to the resistor (26) assigned to the test probe module (2) in an uninterrupted conductive connection in the closed state of the protective switch (1), and the The connecting piece is provided with a first contact surface (31) for detachably connecting with the resistor (26), and the connecting piece is provided with a second contact surface (33) for detachably connecting with the resistor (26). terminal (4) for connection. 7. The protection switch (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the first contact surface (31) comprises at least two contact areas (32) spaced apart from each other, wherein the at least two contact areas (32) are electrically connected to each other. 8. The protective switch (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the connection part (3) is provided with a central area (34) for supporting the connection part (3), and the first contact surface (31) Elastic construction relative to the central region (34). 9. The circuit breaker (1) as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the second contact surface (33) is configured elastically relative to the central region (34). 10. The protective switch (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the connecting piece is designed as a thin plate bending piece. 11. The protective switch (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the connecting piece (3) is provided with elastic regions (35) including inflection points. 12. The protective switch (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the central area (34) of the connecting piece (3) for supporting the connecting piece can be accommodated in an upper shell (11) of the protective switch (1) ) within a gap (12). 13. The protective switch (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the protective switch (1) is a fault current protective switch. 14. Method for producing a protective switch (1) comprising a connection terminal (4) and a test probe module (2) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the connection terminal ( 4) and the test probe module (2) are arranged in a lower shell (15) of the protective switch (1), and the test probe module (2) is connected to the resistance (26) assigned to the test probe module ) to connect, it is characterized in that, when an upper shell (11) of the protective switch (1) is placed on the lower shell (15) of the protective switch (1), by means of an upper shell (1) of the protective switch (1) 11) The received connecting piece (3) establishes an electrically conductive contact between the connection terminal (4) and said resistor (26). 15. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that the protective switch (1) is a fault current protective switch.

Images