Electricity: magnetically operated switches – magnets – and electr – Electromagnetically actuated switches – Automatic circuit-interrupting devices
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-08
2001-07-10
Barrera, Ramon M. (Department: 2832)
Electricity: magnetically operated switches, magnets, and electr
Electromagnetically actuated switches
Automatic circuit-interrupting devices
C335S008000, C335S201000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06259338
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a multipole circuit breaker having an explosion, or arcing, chamber housing, in which a number of arcing chambers, corresponding to the number of poles, are arranged next to each other, and having an interrupter shaft that is in common for all poles, each arcing chamber having a stationary contact arrangement and a hinged contact bridge arrangement which cooperates with the stationary contact arrangement.
RELATED TECHNOLOGY
A multipole circuit breaker having an arcing chamber is known, for example, from European Patent Document No. 0542 636 B1. In this context, each of the contact bridges is arranged in a separate, plastic shaft segment of the interrupter shaft. To join the shaft segments, provision is made for two switch, or drive, rods, extending in the axial direction and arranged so as to be parallel to each other. In this known circuit breaker, it is disadvantageous that assembly of the interrupter shaft, composed of shaft segments and switch rods, is relatively time-consuming. In addition, an expensive bearing assembly for the interrupter shaft is required in the latching mechanism of the circuit breaker, and if continuous metal rods are used, problems often arise with respect to the electrical insulation of the adjoining explosion chambers. Finally, the torsional stiffness of an interrupter shaft of this type is slight and as a rule does not stand up to the demands placed on it.
From European Patent Document No. 0 634 051 B1, a multipole circuit breaker having an interrupter shaft in common for all poles is known, in which, as well, the contact bridges of the individual arcing chambers are arranged on shaft segments. To manufacture the interrupter shaft, the middle shaft segment at both of its ends has a central pin, which is inserted into corresponding recesses, or cavities, of the adjoining shaft segments. In addition, provision is made at the end of the shaft segments for levers having recesses that receive additional coupling pins. Disadvantageous in this known circuit breaker is the supplemental connection using coupling pins, as well as the also relatively expensive bearing assembly, to assure a precise positioning of the interrupter shaft.
Finally, from German Patent Document No. 42 01 255 A1, a multipole circuit breaker having one interrupter shaft in common for all poles is known, in which the contact bridges assigned to the explosion chambers are arranged in adjoining shaft segments. For the formation of the interrupter shaft, the shaft segments are joined to each other using plastic coupling elements. The coupling elements are each composed basically of a central intermediate wall for electrically insulating adjoining hinged contact bridges as well as of cylindrical parts, arranged on both sides of the intermediate wall, having each case two holding pins, which engage in corresponding recesses in the shaft segments. In this circuit breaker as well, the relatively expensive bearing assembly of the interrupter shaft, mainly in the area of the shaft segments, is disadvantageous.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An objective of the present invention is to provide a multipole circuit breaker whose interrupter shaft can be preassembled in a simple fashion, has sufficient torsional stiffness, and does not require an expensive bearing assembly in order to achieve a precise positioning in the arcing chamber housing.
The present invention provides a multipole circuit breaker including an arcing chamber housing defining a first and a second arcing chamber disposed next to each other and each corresponding to a respective pole of the multipole circuit breaker. An interrupter shaft common to the respective poles of the multipole circuit breaker is provided, the interrupter shaft defining an axial direction and including first and second shaft segments, the first and second shaft segments including an insulating material. A coupling element joining the first and second shaft segments is provided, the coupling element including first and second tab-shaped parts joined to each other by a support shaft, the first tab-shaped part supporting at least two first connecting pins on a first side facing away from the support shaft, the second tab-shaped part supporting at least two second connecting pins on a second side facing away from the support shaft, the first and second connecting pins extending in the axial direction. A first stationary contact arrangement and first hinged contact arrangement disposed in the first arcing chamber are provided, the first hinged contact arrangement cooperating with the first stationary contact arrangement and including a first hinged contact bridge disposed in the first shaft segment. A second stationary contact arrangement and second hinged contact arrangement disposed in the second arcing chamber are provided, the second hinged contact arrangement cooperating with the second stationary contact arrangement and including a second hinged contact bridge disposed in the second shaft segment. The first shaft segment defines at least two first recesses on a third side facing the coupling element, the at least two first recesses for receiving the at least two first connecting pins. The second shaft segment defines at least two second recesses on a fourth side facing the coupling element, the at least two second recesses for receiving the at least two second connecting pins. The arcing chamber housing defines a transition area between the first and second arcing chambers, the transition area including a support for supporting the support shaft.
According to the present invention the shaft segments, made of plastic and containing the hinged contact bridges, are joined to each other by coupling elements, the interrupter shaft being supported on the explosion chamber housing by the coupling elements. For this purpose, each coupling element contains two tab-shaped parts, which are joined to each other by a bearing shaft and which, on their side facing away from the bearing shaft, support, in each case, at least two connecting pins, which, for joining to the neighboring shaft segments, engage with corresponding recesses in the segments.
The coupling element can be made either of metal or of an electrically non-conductive material having sufficient strength. In order to assure a good torsional stiffness of the interrupter shaft, it has proven to be advantageous if the distance between adjoining connecting pins of each coupling element is greater than the diameter of the bearing shaft.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3562469 (1971-02-01), Peck
patent: 5262744 (1993-11-01), Arnold et al.
patent: 5910757 (1999-06-01), Broghammer et al.
patent: 42 01 255 (1992-07-01), None
patent: 0 542 636 (1992-10-01), None
patent: 0 634 051 (1995-01-01), None
Boeder Franz
Dedenbach Guido
Mader Hans-Juergen
Barrera Ramon M.
Kenyon & Kenyon
Moeller GmbH
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