Tripping indicator and circuit breaker thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a tripping indicator and a circuit breaker thereof, and belongs to the technical field of circuit breakers. Comprising a shell, an indicating window is formed in the shell, and a first indicating plate is arranged in the shell; an indicating piece is installed in the shell in a sliding mode, a contact plate is installed in the shell in a rotating mode, an elastic piece connected with the contact plate is installed in the shell, a locking plate is installed on the contact plate, and a jump pin is installed on the contact plate in a rotating mode. When a circuit breaks down, the clamping block is hit by the push plate to generate elastic deformation, the clamping block is separated from the first clamping groove and moves to the second clamping groove, the second indicating plate slides to the position between the indicating window and the first indicating plate, and only the red second indicating plate can be seen from the indicating window; in a normal opening state, the indication window only displays the white first indication board; through the color switching of white and red, maintenance personnel can quickly judge whether the tripping of the circuit breaker is caused by a fault or is normally operated without professional knowledge, so that the troubleshooting difficulty is remarkably reduced, and the operation and maintenance efficiency is improved.

Description

A tripping indicator and its circuit breaker Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of circuit breaker technology, and more specifically, to a tripping indicator and a circuit breaker thereof. Background Technology

[0002] Circuit breakers, as critical protective devices in power systems, are widely used in distribution networks to automatically disconnect power when faults such as overload, short circuit, or leakage occur, preventing equipment damage and safety accidents. After a circuit breaker trips, accurately determining the cause is crucial for quickly restoring power, reducing maintenance difficulty, and minimizing downtime.

[0003] In actual operation and maintenance, existing residual current circuit breakers (RCCBs) can only distinguish between residual current faults and tripping faults. They lack a dedicated indicator to differentiate between short circuit / overload faults. Therefore, when the circuit breaker is in the open position, it is impossible to distinguish whether the tripping was caused by manual operation or a short circuit / overload fault, causing significant difficulties and safety hazards for on-site troubleshooting. In view of this, we propose a tripping indicator and its circuit breaker. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a tripping indicator and its circuit breaker to solve the technical problem in the prior art that it is impossible to distinguish whether the circuit breaker trips due to manual tripping or faults such as short circuits / overloads.

[0005] This invention provides a tripping indicator and its circuit breaker, comprising a housing with an indicator window and a first indicator plate inside the housing; an indicator element slidably mounted inside the housing, a contact plate rotatably mounted inside the housing, an elastic element connected to the contact plate inside the housing, a locking plate mounted on the contact plate, and a trip latch rotatably mounted on the contact plate; when the locking plate and the trip latch are locked, the locking plate does not contact the indicator element during rotation, and the first indicator plate is exposed in the indicator window; when the tripping device pushes the trip latch to rotate, causing the locking plate to disengage from the trip latch, the contact plate rotates under the action of elastic force, the locking plate moves with the contact plate and strikes the indicator element, causing the first indicator plate of the indicator element to be exposed in the indicator window.

[0006] As a further description of the above technical solution, the indicator includes a support plate that slides inside the housing, a second indicator plate connected to the support plate, and the second indicator plate being located between the first indicator plate and the indicator window.

[0007] As a further description of the above technical solution, both the first indicator plate and the second indicator plate are colored, and the two are different colors.

[0008] As a further description of the above technical solution, the first indicator panel is located directly below the indicator window.

[0009] As a further description of the above technical solution, the support plate is provided with elastic locking blocks, and the housing is provided with several locking slots, in which the locking blocks are engaged.

[0010] As a further description of the above technical solution, the support plate is provided with a groove, and the contact plate is provided with a reset hook.

[0011] As a further description of the above technical solution, the locking plate is provided with a push plate for pushing the indicator to move.

[0012] As a further description of the above technical solution, the end of the locking plate is provided with a lock head, and the jump buckle is provided with a third slot; the lock head is engaged in the third slot to connect the locking plate and the jump buckle.

[0013] As a further description of the above technical solution, a handle is rotatably mounted on the housing, and the handle is connected to the locking plate via a connecting rod.

[0014] By adopting the above technical solution, in non-fault scenarios, during opening and closing operations, the handle drives the locking plate to move via the linkage. At this time, the locking head is always engaged with the third slot of the trip latch, and the contact plate moves synchronously with the locking plate. The push plate on the locking plate will not contact the indicator, and the locking block of the indicator is always engaged in the first slot. The second indicator plate is located away from the indicator window, and only the white first indicator plate can be seen from the indicator window. The white color indicates that the circuit breaker is in normal operation / normal opening state. Fault trip triggering process: When a short circuit, leakage, or overload fault occurs in the circuit, the magnetic trip unit / thermal trip unit triggers the trip latch to rotate, causing the locking head to disengage from the third slot, and the locking plate unlocks the trip latch; the elastic element releases stored energy to push the contact plate to rotate rapidly. When the circuit breaker is activated, the locking plate moves synchronously with the contact plate. The push plate on the locking plate strikes the support plate of the indicator, causing the elastic block to deform and disengage from the first slot, then engage in the second slot and lock in position. At this time, the second indicator plate slides along the guide groove to between the indicator window and the first indicator plate, and the indicator window turns red, completing the fault indication. Fault reset process: After the fault is cleared, when the circuit breaker is closed, the handle drives the mechanism to reset, the locking head re-engages in the third slot, restoring the connection between the locking plate and the trip latch. During the rotation of the contact plate, the reset hook engages in the groove of the indicator support plate, pushing the indicator to move in the opposite direction. The locking block disengages from the second slot and returns to the first slot. The second indicator plate exits the position below the indicator window, the indicator window returns to white, and the fault indication is cleared.

[0015] In summary, due to the adoption of the above technical solution, the beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: 1. This invention achieves intuitive differentiation between fault and normal states by using the color contrast of the first and second indicator plates. When a short circuit, leakage, or overload occurs, the card block is elastically deformed by the impact of the push plate, disengages from the first slot, and moves to the second slot. The second indicator plate slides along the guide groove between the indicator window and the first indicator plate, and only the red second indicator plate can be seen from the indicator window. In the normal tripping state, the indicator window only displays the white first indicator plate. By switching between white and red colors, maintenance personnel can quickly determine whether the circuit breaker tripping is caused by a fault or by manual tripping. This design can clearly distinguish the three states of the circuit breaker: leakage fault tripping, short circuit / overload fault tripping, and manual tripping. This allows on-site maintenance personnel to have a clear understanding of the circuit breaker's status, significantly reducing the difficulty of fault diagnosis and improving maintenance efficiency.

[0016] 2. This invention utilizes the mechanical action during the circuit breaker's tripping process to automatically trigger fault indication, eliminating the need for additional sensors or control circuits. When a circuit fault occurs, the magnetic / thermal trip unit triggers the trip lever to rotate, causing the locking head to disengage from the third slot. The elastic element releases its stored energy, pushing the contact plate to rotate and complete the tripping action. Simultaneously, the locking plate moves synchronously with the contact plate, and its push plate strikes the support plate of the indicator, causing the locking block to elastically deform and disengage from the first slot into the second slot. Through a closed-loop mechanism from fault triggering to mechanical linkage and then to indication change, the synchronization between fault indication and circuit breaker action is ensured, improving the system's reliability and response speed.

[0017] 3. In the closing process after troubleshooting, the reset hook automatically pushes the indicator to move in the opposite direction, causing the card block to disengage from the second card slot and return to the first card slot. The second indicator plate exits below the indicator window, the indicator window returns to white, and the fault indication is automatically cleared. This avoids the hassle of manually resetting the indicator device, making the maintenance process more efficient. Especially in power distribution systems that require frequent operation or in emergency power restoration scenarios, it can reduce operation steps and improve power restoration efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a tripping indicator and circuit breaker according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the housing structure of a tripping indicator and circuit breaker according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of section A in Figure 2 of a tripping indicator and circuit breaker according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of a tripping indicator and circuit breaker according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is an enlarged view of section B in Figure 4 of a tripping indicator and circuit breaker according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the position of the indicator element in a tripping indicator and circuit breaker according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a tripping indicator and circuit breaker according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 shows an enlarged view at point C; Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the indicator structure of a trip indicator and its circuit breaker according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of a trip indicator and its circuit breaker under normal tripping with the indicator not popping out according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the contact plate connection structure of a trip indicator and its circuit breaker according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of a normal closing of a trip indicator and its circuit breaker according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of a fault tripping state of a trip indicator and its circuit breaker according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the contact between the reset hook and the indicator during the closing process of a trip indicator and its circuit breaker according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] The following are the labels in the diagram: 1. Housing; 11. Indicator window; 12. First indicator plate; 13. Guide groove; 14. Fixing plate; 15. First slot; 16. Second slot; 2. Indicator element; 21. Support plate; 22. Second indicator plate; 23. Locking block; 24. Groove; 3. Contact plate; 31. Reset hook; 4. Elastic element; 5. Locking plate; 51. Push plate; 52. Lock head; 6. Jumper; 61. Third slot; 7. Handle; 8. Linkage rod. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0021] Referring to Figures 1 to 13, this embodiment discloses a tripping indicator and its circuit breaker, including a housing 1, an indicator window 11 on the housing 1, a first indicator plate 12 disposed inside the housing 1, the first indicator plate 12 being located directly below the indicator window 11, a guide groove 13 being formed between the first indicator plate 12 and the housing 1, a fixing plate 14 disposed inside the housing 1, the fixing plate 14 being located below the first indicator plate 12; and a first slot 15 and a second slot 16 disposed on the housing 1.

[0022] Referring to Figures 3, 5, 7, and 8, when a circuit experiences a fault such as leakage, short circuit, or overload, an indicator 2 is provided inside the housing 1 to facilitate the circuit breaker tripping indication caused by the circuit fault. The indicator 2 includes a support plate 21, which is located between the first indicator plate 12 and the fixed plate 14 and slides on the fixed plate 14. A second indicator plate 22 is connected to the support plate 21 and slides in the guide groove 13. A locking block 23 is provided on the support plate 21. The locking block 23 is an elastic block with a certain elastic deformation capability. A groove 24 is provided on one side of the support plate 21.

[0023] The upper surfaces of the first indicator plate 12 and the second indicator plate 22 are both colored, but the colors are different. In this embodiment, the upper surface of the first indicator plate 12 is white, and the upper surface of the second indicator plate 22 is red. Referring to Figure 5, when the locking block 23 is engaged in the first slot 15, the second indicator plate 22 is in a state away from the guide groove 13, as shown by the position of indicator 2 in Figure 3. At this time, only the white first indicator plate 12 can be seen from the indicator window 11 into the housing 1, which is the normal state, i.e., there is no circuit fault. When the locking block 23 moves from the first slot 15 to the second slot 16, as shown by the position of indicator 2 in Figure 7, the second indicator plate 22 moves between the first indicator plate 12 and the indicator window 11. Only the red second indicator plate 22 can be seen from the indicator window 11 into the housing 1, which is the state of circuit fault. Therefore, when the circuit breaker trips, by observing the color displayed in the indicator window 11, it is possible to determine whether the circuit tripped due to a fault, effectively reducing the difficulty of maintenance.

[0024] Referring to Figures 5, 8 to 10, a contact plate 3 is rotatably installed inside the housing 1. When the contact plate 3 rotates, it can cause the moving contact to separate from the stationary contact, thereby forming an open circuit. A reset hook 31 is provided on the contact plate 3. An elastic element 4 is installed inside the housing 1. One end of the elastic element 4 is connected to the reset hook 31, and the other end is connected to the housing 1. The elastic element 4 is used to push the contact plate 3, thereby separating the moving contact from the stationary contact.

[0025] A locking plate 5 is installed on the contact plate 3, and a push plate 51 is provided on the locking plate 5. A lock head 52 is provided at the end of the locking plate 5 away from the push plate 51. A jump buckle 6 is rotatably installed on the contact plate 3. A torsion spring is installed at the rotatable connection of the jump buckle 6. After the jump buckle 6 is rotated, the torsion spring can drive it to automatically reset. A third slot 61 is provided on the jump buckle 6. A handle 7 rotatably installed on the housing 1 is connected to the locking plate 5 through a connecting rod 8.

[0026] Referring to Figure 9, which shows the normal opening state without a circuit fault, the locking head 52 is always engaged with the third slot 61. During the opening process, the push plate 51 does not contact the indicator 2, and the indicator window 11 is white. Figure 11 shows the closing state of the circuit breaker. Before closing, the locking head 52 remains engaged with the third slot 61. When closing in a non-fault state, the handle 7 moves the locking plate 5 via the connecting rod 8. The contact plate 3 rotates around its axis under the action of the locking plate 5, compressing the elastic element 4 to store energy. The trip latch 6 moves under the action of the locking head 52 and the contact plate 3. Finally, the contact plate 3, the locking plate 5, and the trip latch 6 move from the position in Figure 9 to the position in Figure 11, realizing the closing action. Therefore, during the opening / closing process without a circuit fault, the indicator 2 does not move, and the indicator window 11 remains white.

[0027] When a circuit fault such as short circuit, leakage, or overload occurs, the magnetic trip unit or thermal trip unit will actively trigger the trip lever 6 to rotate, causing the locking head 52 of the locking plate 5 to disengage from the third slot 61, thereby separating the locking plate 5 and the trip lever 6. Under the elastic force of the elastic element 4, the contact plate 3 rotates, the moving contact and the stationary contact separate, and the locking plate 5 moves with the contact plate 3. The push plate 51 on the locking plate 5 will contact and strike the support plate 21 of the indicator 2, as shown in Figure 12. After the indicator 2 is subjected to the impact force, the locking block 23 is deformed by the force, disengages from the first slot 15 and moves to the position of the second slot 16. The second indicator plate 22 is inserted into the guide slot 13 and is located between the indicator window 11 and the first indicator plate 12. At this time, the second indicator plate 22 is red when viewed from the indicator window 11. Red indicates that the circuit breaker is tripped due to a circuit fault, thus providing maintenance personnel with fault indication and reducing the difficulty for maintenance personnel to judge the cause of the circuit breaker tripping.

[0028] After the circuit fault trips, the locking head 52 of the locking plate 5 re-engages into the third slot 61. After the fault is cleared, the difference between the fault reset closing action and the non-fault closing action is that the contact plate 3 will drive the reset hook 31 to move into the groove 24 and contact the support plate 21 during the rotation process. Figure 13 shows the position where the reset hook 31 and the indicator 2 just come into contact after the fault is cleared. As the contact plate 3 continues to rotate, the reset hook 31 will push the indicator 2 to move, so that the second indicator plate 22 gradually disengages from the guide groove 13 until it moves to the position in Figure 11, completing the closing. At this time, the first indicator plate 12, which is white, is seen when looking in through the indicator window 11, and the fault state is cleared.

[0029] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention, based on the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A tripping indicator and its circuit breaker, characterized in that: Includes a housing (1), an indicator window (11) is provided on the housing (1), and a first indicator plate (12) is provided inside the housing (1); an indicator element (2) is slidably installed inside the housing (1), a contact plate (3) is rotatably installed inside the housing (1), an elastic element (4) connected to the contact plate (3) is installed inside the housing (1), a locking plate (5) is installed on the contact plate (3), and a jump buckle (6) is rotatably installed on the contact plate (3); when the locking plate (5) and the jump buckle are engaged, the device is equipped with a locking plate (5) and a jump buckle (6). When the buckle (6) is in the locked state, the locking plate (5) does not contact the indicator (2) during the rotation process, and the first indicator plate (12) is exposed in the indicator window (11); when the release device pushes the jump buckle (6) to rotate, causing the locking plate (5) to disengage from the jump buckle (6), the contact plate (3) rotates under the action of the spring force, and the locking plate (5) moves with the contact plate (3) and strikes the indicator (2), so that the first indicator plate (12) of the indicator (2) is exposed in the indicator window (11).

2. The tripping indicator and circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that: The indicator (2) includes a support plate (21) that slides inside the housing (1), and a second indicator plate (22) connected to the support plate (21). The second indicator plate (22) is located between the first indicator plate (12) and the indicator window (11).

3. The tripping indicator and circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first indicator plate (12) and the second indicator plate (22) are both colored, and the two are different colors.

4. A tripping indicator and circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first indicator plate (12) is located directly below the indicator window (11).

5. A tripping indicator and circuit breaker according to claim 2, characterized in that: The support plate (21) is provided with an elastic locking block (23), and the housing (1) is provided with several slots, and the locking block (23) is engaged in the slots.

6. A tripping indicator and circuit breaker according to claim 2, characterized in that: The support plate (21) has a groove (24) and the contact plate (3) has a reset hook (31).

7. A tripping indicator and circuit breaker according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that: The locking plate (5) is provided with a push plate (51) for pushing the indicator (2) to move.

8. A tripping indicator and circuit breaker according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that: The end of the locking plate (5) is provided with a lock head (52), and the jump buckle (6) is provided with a third slot (61); the lock head (52) is engaged in the third slot (61) to connect the locking plate (5) and the jump buckle (6).

9. A tripping indicator and circuit breaker according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that: A handle (7) is rotatably mounted on the housing (1), and the handle (7) is connected to the locking plate (5) via a connecting rod (8).

Images