INSULATING-MATERIAL HOUSING AND COMPACT CIRCUIT BREAKER

Abstract

An insulating-material housing has first and second current path region next to each other and each having a first receiving space for a short-circuit tripping apparatus, a second receiving space for a switching contact and a third receiving space for an arc-quenching apparatus. The two first receiving spaces are arranged in a front side and a respective narrow side of the housing. The two second receiving spaces are arranged centrally between the two first receiving spaces. The third receiving spaces are arranged between a fastening side of the housing and the respectively associated first receiving space. A fourth receiving space for an additional functional assembly is next to the first and/or third receiving space of the first current path region in a normal direction of the broad sides. The compact configuration allows the circuit breaker to be expanded by an additional functional assembly in the fourth receiving space.

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. An insulating-material housing for a compact circuit breaker, the housing comprising: a front side, a fastening side opposite said front side, and narrow and wide sides connected between said front side and said fastening side; first and second current path regions disposed next to one another in a width direction and configured to each receive a current path, with each of said current path regions having: a first receptacle space configured to receive a short-circuit tripping device of the circuit breaker; a second receptacle space configured to receive a switching contact of the circuit breaker; a third receptacle space configured to receive an arc-quenching device of the circuit breaker; said two first receptacle spaces being disposed in said insulating-material housing in a region of said front side and in a region of a respective one of said narrow sides; said two second receptacle spaces being disposed in said insulating-material housing centrally between said two first receptacle spaces; said third receptacle spaces each being disposed between said fastening side and the respectively assigned said first receptacle space of the respective said current path region; a fourth receptacle space configured to receive an additional functional group of the circuit breaker; said fourth receptacle space being disposed, in a normal direction of said wide sides, next to said first and/or third receptacle spaces of said first current path region.

11. The insulating-material housing according to claim 10, which comprises a further fourth receptacle space configured to receive a further additional functional group of the circuit breaker, said further fourth receptacle space being disposed, in the normal direction of said wide sides, next to said first and/or third receptacle spaces of said second current path region.

12. The insulating-material housing according to claim 11, wherein at least one of said fourth receptacle space or said further fourth receptacle space extends at least partially from a region next to said first receptacle space to an adjacent region next to said third receptacle space.

13. The insulating-material housing according to claim 11, wherein said fourth receptacle space is disposed next to said first receptacle space of said first current path region and said further fourth receptacle space is disposed next to said first receptacle space of said second current path region.

14. The insulating-material housing according to claim 10, wherein said fourth receptacle space assigned to said first current path region is disposed next to said first receptacle space of said second current path region.

15. The insulating-material housing according to claim 11, wherein said further fourth receptacle space assigned to said second current path region is disposed next to said first receptacle space of said first current path region.

16. A compact circuit breaker, comprising: an insulating-material housing according to claim 10; a first current path in the first current path region that is interruptible by a first switching contact disposed in the second receptacle space of the first current path region; a second current path in the second current path region that is interruptible by a second switching contact disposed in the second receptacle space of the second current path region; a first short-circuit tripping apparatus disposed in the first receptacle space of the first current path region, and a second short-circuit tripping apparatus disposed in the first receptacle space of the second current path region; a first arc-quenching device disposed in the third receptacle space of the first current path region, and a second arc-quenching device disposed in the third receptacle space of the second current path region; and an additional functional group disposed in the fourth receptacle space.

17. The compact circuit breaker according to claim 16, wherein said first switching contact and said second switching contact are disposed in an opposing manner and are activatable in an opposing manner.

18. The compact circuit breaker according to claim 16, wherein said additional functional group is assigned to the first current path region or to the second current path region.

19. The compact circuit breaker according to claim 16, which comprises a further additional functional group disposed in a further fourth receptacle space.

Description

[0034] Exemplary embodiments of the insulating-material housing according to the invention and of the compact circuit breaker according to the invention will be explained in more detail hereunder with reference to the appended figures. In the figures:

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of the insulating-material housing according to the invention in a plurality of views;

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the insulating-material housing according to the invention;

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the insulating-material housing according to the invention;

[0038] FIG. 4 shows a perspective sectional illustration of the compact circuit breaker according to the invention; and

[0039] FIGS. 5 and 6 show perspective lateral illustrations of the compact circuit breaker according to the invention.

[0040] The same parts are at all times provided with the same reference signs in the various figures of the drawing. The description applies to all figures of the drawing in which the corresponding part can likewise be seen.

[0041] Schematically illustrated in a plurality of views in FIG. 1 is a first exemplary embodiment of the insulating-material housing 2 according to the invention for a compact circuit breaker 1 (see FIG. 4). The term compact circuit breaker herein is understood to be a circuit breaker device having two protected, electrically mutually isolated poles or switching points in a common housing with a width of only one pitch unit (1 pitch unit (TE) corresponds to approx. 18 mm). The two switching points here can be switchable conjointly or independently.

[0042] The insulating-material housing 2 according to the invention has a front side 3, a fastening side 4 which lies opposite the front side 3, as well as narrow sides 5 and wide sides 6 that connect the front side 3 to the fastening side 4. The front side 3 here is of a stepped configuration and therefore has a projecting central region as well as two recessed peripheral regions. A switching mechanism receptacle space 7, which serves for receiving and mounting a manually activatable switching mechanism of the compact circuit breaker 1, is configured in the interior of the projecting central region.

[0043] The interior of the insulating-material housing 2 furthermore has a first current path region 10 as well as a second current path region 20 which along a direction of longitudinal extent L extend from one of the two narrow sides 5 to the other, opposite narrow side 5, and are disposed next to one another in a width direction B. The first current path region 10 and the second current path region 20 here are disposed so as to be substantially mutually symmetrical with respect to a point in the insulating-material housing 2. The first current path region 10 here has a first receptacle space 11, a second receptacle space 12, as well as a third receptacle space 13; likewise, the second current path region 20 has a first receptacle space 21, a second receptacle space 22, as well as a third receptacle space 23. The first receptacle spaces 11, 21 serve for receiving and mounting in each case one short-circuit tripping device 40 (see FIG. 4) of the circuit breaker 1. The second receptacle spaces 12, 22 serve for receiving and mounting in each case one switching contact of the circuit breaker 1 and, if required, for receiving and mounting in each case one thermal actuator which in the event of a thermal overload acts on the switching mechanism of the compact circuit breaker 1 and in this manner causes the circuit breaker 1 to be triggered, i.e. causes the switching contact and/or contacts to be opened. The third receptacle spaces 13, 23 serve for receiving and mounting in each case one arc-quenching device 50 (see FIG. 4) of the compact circuit breaker 1.

[0044] Furthermore, the first current path region 10 has a first terminal receptacle space 18 for receiving and fixing in a stationary manner a first electrical terminal clamp, as well as a second terminal receptacle space 19 for receiving and fixing in a stationary manner a second electrical terminal clamp. Accordingly, the second current path region 20 has a first terminal receptacle space 28 for receiving and fixing in a stationary manner a first electrical terminal clamp, as well as a second terminal receptacle space 29 for receiving and fixing in a stationary manner a further second electrical terminal clamp. The compact circuit breaker 1 by way of the electrical terminal clamps (see FIGS. 5 and 6), which are disposed in the first and second terminal receptacle spaces 18, 19, 28 and 29 and are mounted so as to be fixed in the insulating-material housing 2, is able to be connected in an electrically conducting manner to electrical input and output connecting lines (not illustrated).

[0045] The first receptacle space 11 of the first current path region 10, as well as the first receptacle space 21 of the second current path region 20, here are configured in the region of in each case one of the two recessed peripheral regions of the front side 3 as well as in the region of in each case one of the two narrow sides 5 in the insulating-material housing 2. In other words: the first two receptacle spaces 11, 21 in the direction of longitudinal extent L are disposed behind one another in succession, wherein the first receptacle space 11 of the first current path region 10 is disposed in the region of the one narrow side 5, while the first receptacle space 21 of the second current path region 20 is disposed in the region of the other narrow side 5. Only two of the terminal receptacle spaces 18, 19, 28, 29 are in each case still disposed between the first receptacle spaces 11 and 21 and the respective narrow side 5.

[0046] The third receptacle space 13 of the first current path region 10, as well as the third receptacle space 23 of the second current path region 20, here are disposed between the fastening side 4 and the first receptacle space 11 or 21 assigned to the respective current path region 10 or 20, respectively. In other words: the third receptacle space 13 of the first current path region 10 is disposed between the fastening side 4 and the first receptacle space 11 of the first current path region 10, while the third receptacle space 23 of the second current path region 20 is disposed between the fastening side 4 and the first receptacle space 21 of the second current path region 20. When viewed orthogonally toward the front side 3, the two third receptacle spaces 13 and 23 are thus in each case disposed below the first receptacle space 11 or 21 assigned to the same current path region 10 or 20, respectively. Because the first current path region 10 and the second current path region 20 are disposed so as to be substantially symmetrical with respect to a point in the insulating-material housing 2, the switching contacts disposed in the respective second receptacle space are disposed in an opposing manner, i.e. the moving contacts thereof are activatable in an opposing manner, for example by the respective short-circuit tripping device or a thermal actuating device which is likewise disposed in the assigned second receptacle space.

[0047] As a result of this opposing disposal of the moving contacts, the central planes of the two short-circuit tripping devices 40 are in each case positioned so as to be spaced apart from the central plane of the compact circuit breaker 1. As a result of this eccentric disposal of the two short-circuit tripping devices 40, an additional installation space, i.e. the fourth receptacle space 104 or the further fourth receptacle space 204, is in each case created next to the first receptacle spaces 11 and 21 in the region of in each case one of the two wide sides 6, it being possible for said receptacle space 104 or 204 to be assigned so as to be hermetically sealed to the one or other current path region, or so as to be functionally openly assigned to the compact circuit breaker 1 as an entity.

[0048] The second receptacle space 12 of the first current path region 10 as well as the second receptacle space 22 of the second current path region 20 here are disposed so as to be mutually adjacent between the two first receptacle spaces 11 and 21 as well as centrically in the insulating-material housing 2. The two second receptacle spaces 12 and 22 here occupy in each case approximately half the installation space available in the width direction B in the interior of the insulating-material housing 2, while the two first receptacle spaces 11 and 21 as well as the two third receptacle spaces 13 and 23 occupy in each case significantly more than half of the available internal width of the insulating-material housing 2.

[0049] A fourth receptacle space 104, which is provided to receive an additional functional group of the circuit breaker 1, is configured in the width direction B next to the first receptacle space 11 and the third receptacle space 13 of the first current path region 10. The fourth receptacle space 104 here can be assigned to the first current path region 10 as well as to the second current path region 20. It is likewise possible that the fourth receptacle space 104 is assigned to both current path regions 10 and 20, for example because said fourth receptacle space 104 accommodates an additional functional group which may be assigned to both current path regions 10 and 20.

[0050] Furthermore, a further fourth receptacle space 204, which is provided to receive a further additional functional group of the circuit breaker 1, is configured in the width direction B next to the second receptacle space 21 and the third receptacle space 23 of the second current path region 20 in the interior of the insulating-material housing 2. The further fourth receptacle space 204 here can also be assigned to the first current path region 10 as well as to the second current path region 20. It is likewise possible that the further fourth receptacle space 204 is also assigned to both current path regions 10 and 20.

[0051] FIG. 1 shows the fundamental construction of the insulating-material housing 2 for disposing the individual components of a two-pole compact circuit breaker 1 at a housing width B of one pitch unit. This fundamental construction can however be scaled to circuit breakers having a plurality of protected poles, for example four protected poles in one insulating-material housing having a corresponding housing width of in this instance two pitch units.

[0052] Schematically illustrated in FIG. 2 is a second exemplary embodiment of the insulating-material housing 2 according to the invention, again in a plurality of views. As opposed to the first exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the fourth receptacle space 104 as well as the further fourth receptacle space 204 in the second exemplary embodiment do not extend quite up to the fastening side 4. Rather, a narrow connecting region 27 is disposed between the fastening side 4 and the fourth receptacle space 104, which connecting region 27 serves for receiving and mounting an electrically conducting connection between the second switching contact which is able to be disposed in the second receptacle space of the second current path region 20, and the electrical terminal clamp which is able to be disposed in the second terminal receptacle space 29 of the second current path region 20. Likewise, a further narrow connecting region 17 is disposed between the fastening side 4 and the further fourth receptacle space 204, which further narrow connecting region 17 serves for receiving and mounting a further electrically conducting connection between the first switching contact which is able to be disposed in the second receptacle space 12 of the first current path region 20, and the further second electrical terminal clamp which is able to be disposed in the second terminal receptacle space 19 of the first current path region 10. The electrically conducting connections between the first switching contact and/or the second switching contact and the electrical terminal clamp which is in each case unequivocally assigned to the respective switching contact can be of different design, for example as a rigid conductor, as a flexible wire, as a sheet-metal strip, or the like.

[0053] Schematically illustrated in FIG. 3 is a third exemplary embodiment of the insulating-material housing 2 according to the invention, again in a plurality of views. The fourth receptacle space 104 here is now disposed only in the region next to the first receptacle space 11 of the first current path region 10. Likewise, the further fourth receptacle space 204 is now only disposed next to the first receptacle space of the second current path region 20. This embodiment is expedient, for example, when the additional functional group to be disposed in the fourth receptacle space 104 is to be assigned directly to the short-circuit tripping device that is to be disposed in the first receptacle space 11 of the first current path region 10, as well as the additional functional group to be disposed in the further fourth receptacle space 204 is to be assigned directly to the short-circuit tripping device that is to be disposed in the first receptacle space 21 of the second current path region 20, for example in the form of a respective shielding plate so as to reduce the magnetic field generated by the respective short-circuit tripping device.

[0054] The advantage that the third receptacle spaces 13 and 23 can be designed correspondingly larger, i.e. wider, can furthermore be derived from the housing apportionment illustrated in FIG. 3, so that the arc-quenching devices which are to be disposed in the third receptacle space 13 and those to be disposed in the further third receptacle space 23 can likewise be of a larger embodiment.

[0055] FIG. 4 schematically shows a perspective sectional illustration of the compact circuit breaker 1 according to the invention, wherein the section plane runs parallel to the narrow sides 5 through the first receptacle space 11 as well as the third receptacle space 13 of the first current path region 10. The insulating-material housing 2 presently is configured in three parts and has a first housing cover 2-1 as well as a second housing cover 2-2, which are fastened to a housing central part 2-3, for example by means of rivet and/or latching connections.

[0056] A short-circuit tripping device 40 of the compact circuit breaker 1 is disposed, i.e. received and mounted, in the first receptacle space 11. The short-circuit tripping device 40 has a solenoid 41 as well as an armature/tappet module 42 which is movable relative to the latter and, when a short-circuit current arises, moves through the magnetic field generated by the solenoid 41 in the direction of the switching contact assigned to the first current path region 10, so as to open the switching contact and in this manner interrupt the current flow.

[0057] An arc-quenching device 50 of the compact circuit breaker 1 is disposed, i.e. received and mounted, in the third receptacle space 13, below the short-circuit tripping device 40. The arc-quenching device 50 has a multiplicity of quenching plates which are disposed so as to be mutually parallel and spaced apart. When the arc hits the arc-quenching device 50, the arc is divided into a plurality of sub-arcs which burn electrically in series between the individual quenching plates. Owing to the higher arc voltage resulting therefrom, and to the cooling effect of the quenching plates, the arc is ultimately quenched.

[0058] The fourth receptacle space 104, in which the additional functional group of the circuit breaker 1 can be disposed, is situated in the width direction B next to the first receptacle space 11 having the short-circuit tripping device 40 disposed therein, and next to the third receptacle space 13 having the arc-quenching device 50 disposed therein. The width direction B herein corresponds to the normal direction of the wide sides 6.

[0059] FIGS. 5 and 6 show perspective lateral illustrations of the compact circuit breaker 1 according to the invention, wherein the housing cover 2-1 has been omitted so as to enable a view onto the fourth receptacle space 104. By way of example, a cooling element 80 for a potential additional functional group to be disposed in the fourth receptacle space 104 is received and mounted in the latter. Furthermore to be seen in this illustration, between the cooling element 80 and the narrow side 5, is the terminal clamp 9 disposed in the terminal receptacle space 29. The terminal clamp 9 in this illustration is embodied as a screw clamp; however, this is not relevant to the invention which is why other suitable terminal elements can also be used there.

[0060] With the aid of the fourth receptacle space 104 and/or the further fourth receptacle space 204 it is possible to upgrade the functionality of the compact circuit breaker by one or a plurality of functions. In particular in the case of compact circuit breaker devices having two secured poles at a width of one pitch unit or four secured poles at a width of two pitch units, the possibility to implement additional functions represents a not insignificant competitive advantage. The following possibilities can be considered, for example, as an additional functional group, or as a further additional functional group which can be received and mounted in the fourth receptacle space 104 and/or in the further fourth receptacle space 204: [0061] Using one or a plurality of shielding plates in relation to exiting magnetic fields of the short-circuit tripping device disposed in the adjacent first receptacle space 11 or 21, respectively, so as to influence or minimize the magnetic influence on adjacent circuit breaker devices. [0062] Incorporating ferromagnetic materials so as to influence the effect of the arc in the region of the arc-quenching device disposed in the adjacent third receptacle space 13 or 23, respectively. [0063] Incorporating cooling elements 80 made from ferromagnetic or non-ferromagnetic, solid, liquid or gaseous materials for cooling the short-circuit tripping device 40 disposed in the adjacent first receptacle space 11 or 21, respectively, and/or the arc-quenching device 50 disposed in the adjacent third receptacle space 13 or 23, respectively. [0064] Utilizing the construction volume provided by the fourth receptacle space 104 and/or in the further fourth receptacle space 204 for influencing the gas exchange, in particular in the region of the respective switching contact disposed in the respective second receptacle space 12 or 22, respectively: this includes, for example, suitable streamlined contours for guiding the gas stream in a targeted manner while shutting down/quenching an arc. [0065] Using electronic components which serve for digitizing the compact circuit breaker 1, for example by way of a communications module (wired or wireless), a measuring device, for example for detecting the type of tripping (thermal or magnetic), a counting function, temperature monitoring, a failure probability prognosis, etc. [0066] Owing to the physical proximity of the short-circuit tripping device disposed in the adjacent first receptacle space 11 or 21, respectively, as well as of the arc-quenching device 50 disposed in the adjacent third receptacle space 13 or 23, respectively, electronic actuators and/or sensors for monitoring the state and transmitting the state can advantageously be incorporated in the fourth receptacle space 104 and/or the further fourth receptacle space 204. [0067] Instead of the connecting region 17 or 27, respectively, the fourth receptacle space 104 and/or the further fourth receptacle space 204 can also be utilized as an alternative connecting region between the output-side terminal clamp 9 and the switching contact disposed in the second receptacle space 21 or 22, respectively, optionally by way of the thermal system which is likewise disposed in the second receptacle space 21 or 22, respectively. [0068] Furthermore, the construction volume made available by the fourth receptacle space 104 and/or the further fourth receptacle space 204 can also be utilized as an additional exhaust duct, so as to positively influence the gas exchange in the compact circuit breaker 1, here in particular in the region of the arc-quenching device 50.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0069] 1 Compact circuit breaker [0070] 2 Insulating-material housing [0071] 2-1 Housing cover [0072] 2-2 Housing cover [0073] 2-3 Housing central part [0074] 3 Front side [0075] 4 Fastening side [0076] 5 Narrow side [0077] 6 Wide side [0078] 7 Switching mechanism receptacle space [0079] 9 Terminal [0080] 10 Current path region [0081] 11 First receptacle space [0082] 12 Second receptacle space [0083] 13 Third receptacle space [0084] 17 Connecting region [0085] 18 First terminal receptacle space [0086] 19 Second terminal receptacle space [0087] 20 Current path region [0088] 21 First receptacle space [0089] 22 Second receptacle space [0090] 23 Third receptacle space [0091] 27 Connecting region [0092] 28 First terminal receptacle space [0093] 29 Second terminal receptacle space [0094] 40 Short-circuit tripping apparatus [0095] 41 Solenoid [0096] 42 Armature/tappet module [0097] 50 Arc-quenching device [0098] 80 Cooling element [0099] 104 Fourth receptacle space [0100] 204 Further fourth receptacle space [0101] B Width direction [0102] L Direction of longitudinal extent