Circuit breaker and adapter for a circuit breaker

Abstract

A circuit breaker for protecting an electric circuit contains a housing and an adapter having a receiving connector. The circuit breaker has two electrically conductive, substantially cylinder-shaped connection points which are positioned along an axis. Either the outer diameter of the connection points is between 5.0 mm and 5.3 mm and the maximum distance between the connection points is between 19.0 mm and 21.0 mm, or the outer diameter of the connection points is between 6.2 mm and 6.5 mm and the maximum distance between the connection points is between 30.5 mm and 33.0 mm.

Claims

1. A circuit breaker for protecting a circuit, comprising: a housing; two electrically conductive, substantially cylindrical connection points disposed along an axis, wherein said connection points having either: an external diameter being between 5.0 mm and 5.3 mm and a maximum distance between said connection points being between 19.0 mm and 21.0 mm; or said external diameter being between 6.2 mm and 6.5 mm and said maximum distance between said connection points is between 30.5 mm and 33.0 mm; a breaker latching mechanism, containing: a stationary contact being electrically connected to a first of said connection points; a displaceable contact; wherein in an electrically conductive state of said breaker latching mechanism, said stationary contact being electrically connected to a second of said connection points by said displaceable contact; wherein in an electrically non-conductive state of said breaker latching mechanism, said displaceable contact being reversibly lifted off said stationary contact thereby interrupting a flow of current via said first and second connection points through said breaker latching mechanism; and a spring biasing said breaker latching mechanism to the electrically non-conductive state and a spring force of said spring may be overcome for returning said breaker latching mechanism from the electrically non-conductive state to the electrically conductive state.

2. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein said connection points having a height in each case of between 4.0 mm and 6.0 mm or between 5.5 mm and 7.0 mm, and/or said connection points are made from a metal strip with a substantially S-shaped cross section.

3. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, further comprising a manually actuable slider and for reversible tripping, a transfer from the electrically non-conductive state to the electrically conductive state is blocked by said manually actuable slider.

4. The circuit breaker according to claim 3, further comprising: a bimetal element; a contact carrier, said stationary contact being electrically connected to said second of said connection points by said displaceable contact and said bimetal element; and said bimetal element having a latching lug by which said contact carrier which bears said displaceable contact and is pivotable with respect to said stationary contact is latched in the electrically conductive state.

5. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, further comprising a manual trigger projecting out of said housing.

6. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, further comprising; a bimetal element, said stationary contact being electrically connected to said second of said connection points by said displaceable contact and said bimetal element, wherein said displaceable contact is disposed on said bimetal element.

7. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, further comprising a magnetic trigger having a coil, said is connected in series with said coil of said magnetic trigger in the electrically conductive state.

8. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, further comprising a thermal trigger element, said spring being mechanically pre-tensioned in an aperture direction and is held in a contact-making position by said thermal trigger element in the electrically conductive state.

9. The circuit breaker according to claim 8, wherein said thermal trigger element is an expansion wire.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrammatic, perspective views of a first embodiment of a circuit breaker according to the invention;

(2) FIGS. 2-5 are diagrammatic, perspectives view of further embodiments of the circuit breaker; and

(3) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an adaptor for the circuit breaker.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(4) Parts which correspond to one another are provided with identical reference signs in all of the figures. Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIGS. 1A and 1B thereof, there is shown a first embodiment of a circuit breaker 2 in a perspective view, wherein, in FIG. 1A, a part of a housing 6 which covers a region of a breaker latching mechanism 4 is removed. The circuit breaker 2 is used to protect a circuit in the mounted state, in particular electrical lines and/or consumers, for instance of an electric motor, against an overvoltage and/or an over current. A manual trigger 8 projects out of one side of the housing 6, by which manual trigger the breaker latching mechanism 4 is actuable. On the side of the housing 6 which is opposite to the manual trigger 8, there are two hollow-cylindrical connection points 10 which are produced from a bent metal strip. In other words, the connection points 10 are stamped and bent parts, wherein the cross section of each of the connection points 10 is configured to be substantially S-shaped. In this connection, the cross section is perpendicular to an axis 12 on which the two connection points 10 lie.

(5) The maximum distance 14 between the two connection points 10 is in this case either 20.0 mm or 31.8 mm. The minimum distance 16, which is limited by the two limit surfaces which face towards one another of the two connection points 10, is precisely 9.8 mm or 19.4 mm. Consequently, a height (length) 18, that is to say the extent of the respective connection point 10 along the axis 12, is either 5.1 mm or 6.2 mm, wherein the height 18 of the two connection points 10 is identical.

(6) An external diameter 20 of the two connection points 10 is either precisely 5.2 mm or 6.35 mm. In this case, for the connection points 10, the respectively smaller values for the maximum distance 14, the height 18 and the external diameter 20 are always used. Thus, each of the connection points 10 has a height 18 of 5.1 mm and an external diameter 20 of 5.2 mm, wherein the maximum distance 14 is substantially 20.0 mm, or, alternatively to this, the height 18 is precisely 6.2 mm, the external diameter 20 is precisely a value of 6.35 mm and the maximum distance 14 is 31.8 mm.

(7) The metal strip forming one of the two connection points 10 transitions into a stationary contact 22 opposite which a displaceable contact 26 arranged on a contact carrier 24 is pivotably mounted. In this connection, the substantially L-shaped contact carrier 24 has force applied thereto by two springs 28 and is guided by a guide stack 30 formed on the manual trigger 8. In the conductive state, the free end of the contact carrier 24 which is opposite the displaceable contact 26 is engaged with a latching lug 32 which is formed on a bimetal element 34. The bimetal 34 itself is in electrical contact with the remaining one of the two connection points 10.

(8) By means of a movement of the manual trigger 8 in the direction of the connection point 10, the circuit breaker 2 is brought from the non-conductive stateillustrated hereinto a conductive state in which a carrier 36 formed on the guide rod 30 presses the displaceable contact 26 against the stationary contact 22 counter to the force applied by the two springs 28 and thus electrically conductively connects the two contacts 22, 26. In this position, the bimetal element 34 latches via the latching lug 32 with the contact carrier 24 and keeps the contact carrier 24 in precisely this position.

(9) In the event of an over current and subsequent heating of the bimetal element 34, the free end thereof which bears the latching lug 32 is pivoted away from the contact carrier 24, which releases same. Owing to the force provided by the springs 28, the now-released free end of the contact carrier 24 is pivoted in the direction of the manual trigger 8, which lifts the electrical contact between the displaceable contact 24 and the stationary contact 22 and thus interrupts a flow of current via the two connection points 10 through the breaker latching mechanism 4. This type of circuit breaker 2 is used as a replacement for a conventional time-delay G fuse-link.

(10) FIG. 2 shows a perspective illustration of another embodiment of the circuit breaker 2 according to FIG. 1A. The function and configuration of the breaker latching mechanism 4 substantially corresponds to the preceding embodiment of the circuit breaker 2, wherein the breaker latching mechanism 4 is shown in the conductive state. In other words, the contact carrier 34 is held by the latching lug 32 of the bimetal element 34 counter to the force applied by the springs 28. For this reason, the stationary contact 22 and the displaceable contact 26 are in electrically conductive contact with one another. In contrast, what is different is the configuration of the manual trigger 8 the shape of which is substantially that of a round cylinder. The connection points 10 are also rotated by 90 about the axis 12 in comparison to the first embodiment.

(11) FIG. 3A shows another configuration of the circuit breaker 2 in an exploded illustration, wherein the components of the circuit breaker 2 are removed from the connection points 10 counter to a joining direction 38, which connection points 10 substantially correspond to those of the preceding embodiments of the circuit breaker 2. The breaker latching mechanism 4 has two receiving carriers 40 which are manufactured as stamped and bent parts in one piece with in each case one of the connection points 10. One of the receiving carriers 40 in this case bears the stationary contact 22 and the other bears a connection point 42 to which the bimetal element 34, which bears the displaceable contact 26, is welded in the mounted state at a welding point 44.

(12) The breaker latching mechanism 4 also contains a slider 46 to which force is applied by a spring 48. The free end 50 of the spring 48 which is remote from the slider 46 is held in a manner fixed in place by a fastening lug 52 within the housing 6. The slider 46 has an interruption region 54 and an indicating region 56 which projects through an aperture 58 of the housing cover 60 if the interruption region 54 is located between the displaceable contact 26 and the stationary contact 22. When the bimetal 24 heats up, the displaceable contact 26 in particular is removed from the stationary contact 22 on account of the forces acting within the bimetal element 24, with the result that the interruption region 54 of the slider 46 is introduced between the two contacts owing to the spring force acting on it. When the bimetal element 34 cools down once more, the displaceable contact 26 is kept at a distance from the stationary contact 22 owing to the slider 46, as a result of which a flow of current from one of the connection points 10 to the other is suppressed in this case, too. Only when the indicating region 56 is manually moved in the joining direction 38 is the interruption region 54 between the two contacts 22, 26 removed and the bimetal 34 snaps into a conductive position. In this case, the force applied by the bimetal element 34 is comparatively large and the configuration of the interruption region 54 is such that, despite the spring force, the electrical contact between the stationary contact 22 and the displaceable contact 26 is maintained.

(13) The manual trigger 8 is configured to be substantially U-shaped and, in the mounted state, is latched with a fastening spring 62. The manual trigger 8 contains a trigger limb 64 by which the bimetal element 34 can be moved away from the stationary contact 22 in the event of a pivoting movement of the manual trigger 8 about the fastening spring 62. Owing to the slider 46 snapping into the gap, it is thus possible to suppress an electrical connection between the two connection points 10 by the manual trigger 8, although no disturbing case is present.

(14) The alternative shown in FIG. 3B of the circuit breaker 2 corresponds substantially to the preceding embodiment. In contrast, the slider 46 is omitted and the bimetal element 34 is oriented in the joining direction 38. As a result of this, the extent of the breaker latching mechanism 4 along the axis 12 is reduced; as a result of which the circuit breaker 2 can also be used in comparatively narrow fuse boxes.

(15) FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the circuit breaker 2 which is used as a replacement for a quick-acting blowable fuse. The breaker latching mechanism 4 has a magnetic trigger 66 with a coil 68 one end of which is directly connected to one of the receiving carriers 40 and the other electrical end of which is connected via a contact spring 70 to the remaining one of the two receiving carriers 40, which in each case are in electrical contact with one of the connection points 10. The connection points 10 are in this case again in one piece with the respectively associated receiving carrier 40.

(16) The coil 68 is looped around a damping element modified by an adjustment screw 72, by which damping element the trip characteristics of the circuit breaker 2 are modifiable. Furthermore, a permanent magnet 74 is arranged within the coil 68 and is in contact with two conductor limbs 76 which are parallel to one another and made of soft iron and with which the coil 68 is also in abutment. The two conductor limbs 76 are arranged perpendicular to the coil 68 and bridged by a yoke 78, which is held in contact with the conductor limbs 76 counter to a force exerted by a spring 80, owing to the magnetic force applied by the permanent magnet 74. On the side of the yoke 78 which is opposite the spring 80, the contact spring 70 is arranged and is positioned there by the manual trigger 8.

(17) In the case of a flow of current via the circuit breaker 2, a magnetic field is generated by the electrical coil 68, which magnetic field is set up in opposition to the magnetic field of the permanent magnet 74. Owing to this, the force holding the yoke 78 in contact with the conductor limbs 76 is reduced. If the flow of current through the coil 68 exceeds a particular limit value, the magnetic force acting on the yoke 78 is smaller than the spring force and the yoke 78 is removed from the conductor limbs 76, wherein the contact spring 70 is taken away from the yoke 78. As a result of this, the electrical contact between the contact spring 70 and the associated receiving carrier 40, and the electrical connection to the coil 68, are removed and thus the flow of current through the circuit breaker 2 is interrupted.

(18) FIG. 5 shows a final embodiment of the circuit breaker 2 according to FIG. 1A, wherein once again in each case a receiving carrier 40 and a connection point 10 are produced in one piece with one another as stamped and bent parts. The substantially U-shaped contact spring 68 is attached, preferably welded, to one of the two receiving carriers 40. The remote free end of the contact spring 68 bears the displaceable contact 26, which, in the conductive state, is in abutment with the stationary contact 22 formed by the remaining receiving carrier 40. In the conductive state which is illustrated here, a current consequently flows from the one of the connection points via the associated receiving carrier, the contact spring 68, the displaceable contact 26 and the stationary contact 22 to the second receiving carrier 40 and the connection point 10 which is in one piece with the second receiving carrier.

(19) The contact spring 68 is pre-tensioned in the opening direction. In other words, the contact spring 68 is manufactured and/or fastened to the receiving carrier 40 such that a force which is directed away from the stationary contact 22 acts on the displaceable contact 26. The two contacts 22, 26 are held against the force by an expansion wire 82 the length and/or elasticity of which is dependent on its temperature. In the event of an increased flow of current, the temperature of the expansion wire 82, through which the electric current also flows, increases. As a result of this, the length of the expansion wire 82 is increased and the contact spring 68 snaps away from the stationary contact 22 into a rest position. In this case, the contact spring 68 has a curvature which is directed counter to the illustrated curvature. Owing to the arrangement of the expansion wire 82 between the two U-shaped limbs of the contact spring 68, the displaceable contact 26 is thus moved further away from the stationary contact 22 in the event of the expansion wire 82 cooling down. The circuit breaker 2 can be brought into the conductive state again only by the manual trigger 8. This type of circuit breaker 2 is used as a substitute for a medium blowable fuse.

(20) FIG. 6 shows an adaptor 84 for receiving a circuit breaker 2. The adaptor 84 has the two connection points 10 which are arranged on the axis 12 and are in turn manufactured from a bent metal strip. The configuration of the connection points 10 themselves corresponds to that of the connection points 10 of the circuit breaker 2 of the preceding figures. Thus, the height 18 is either precisely 5.1 mm or 6.2 mm, the external diameter 20 is precisely 5.2 mm or 6.35 mm and the maximum distance 14 between the two connection points 10 is precisely 20.0 mm or 31.8 mm. As a result of this, it is made possible to electrically conductively position the adaptor 84 in a receiver of a G fuse-link which is defined in European Standard EN 60127.

(21) The adaptor 84 has a receiving connector 86 having two receiving points 88. Each of the receiving points 88 makes electrical contact with in each case one of the connection points 10 and is configured to receive a tab 90 of a circuit breaker 2. In this case, in the mounted state, in each case one of the tabs 90 of the circuit breaker 2 makes electrical contact with one of the connection points 10 via the respective receiving point 88. In this way, it is made possible to combine a multiplicity of different circuit breakers 2 with the adaptor 84 and thus to adjust the protection of the circuit to the requirements prevailing therein. The profile of the tabs 90 is parallel to the axis 12, as a result of which the requirement on space of the assembly of the circuit breaker 2 under the adaptor 84 is comparatively space-saving.

(22) The invention is not restricted to the above-described exemplary embodiments. Rather, other variants of the invention can also be derived herefrom by a person skilled in the art without departing from the subject matter of the invention. In particular, all individual features described in connection with the exemplary embodiments can also be combined with one another in other ways without departing from the subject matter of the invention.

(23) The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention. List of reference signs: 2 circuit breaker 4 breaker latching mechanism 6 housing 8 manual trigger 10 connection point 12 axis 14 maximum distance 16 minimum distance 18 height 20 external diameter 22 stationary contact 24 contact carrier 26 displaceable contact 28 spring 30 guide rod 32 latching lug 34 bimetal element 36 carrier 38 joining direction 40 receiving carrier 42 connection point 44 welding point 46 slider 48 spring 50 free end 52 fastening lug 54 interruption region 56 indicating region 58 aperture 60 cover 62 fastening spring 64 trigger limb 66 magnetic trigger 68 coil 70 contact spring 72 adjustment screw 74 permanent magnet 76 conductor limb 78 yoke 80 spring 82 expansion wire 84 adaptor 86 receiving connector 88 receiving points 90 tab