Indication and interlocking mechanism of leakage circuit breaker

Abstract

This invention discloses an indicating and interlocking mechanism for a residual current circuit breaker (RCCB), comprising a housing, an interlocking lever, and an indicating element. One end of the interlocking lever is provided with a hook, and the other end with a push plate. The push plate has a first position where it pushes the latch to rotate in the tripping direction to disengage the latch from the tripping latch, and a second position where it releases the latch to engage with the tripping latch. The indicating element has a first limiting structure and a second limiting structure that can cooperate with the hook for limiting. When the push plate is in the first position, the pin of the electromagnetic trip unit can drive the interlocking lever to pivot, causing the push plate to move from the second position to the first position. A reset element is provided between the interlocking lever and the housing for driving the interlocking lever to pivot and reset the push plate from the first position to the second position. This invention provides an indicating and interlocking mechanism for an RCCB with a simple structure that ensures the circuit breaker is in the open state during fault maintenance, improving the safety of maintenance work and preventing the risk of electric shock.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an indication and interlocking mechanism for a residual current circuit breaker. Background Technology

[0002] The principle of a residual current circuit breaker (RCCB) is to use an inductor to induce current, which is transmitted to the tripping mechanism, causing it to trip and thus cut off the power supply. When both the neutral and live wires of the circuit pass through the current transformer, they cancel each other out due to their positive and negative polarity, resulting in a zero sum. In this case, the current transformer cannot induce current. However, when there is a single-phase leakage, the sum is not zero, and the inductor can induce current. In existing technology, an RCCB mainly consists of a housing, a circuit breaker section housed within the housing, and a leakage detection section. Both the circuit breaker section and the leakage detection section are equipped with tripping mechanisms for opening and closing. The two tripping mechanisms are connected by a transmission rod; that is, the action of one tripping mechanism will drive the action of the other, thereby enabling the RCCB to provide leakage, short-circuit, or overload protection functions.

[0003] Chinese utility model CN201920529854.7 discloses a "miniature circuit breaker and its operating mechanism." The operating mechanism includes a latching latch and a trip latch, which engage with the latch via teeth and grooves. When a leakage current occurs in the main circuit, it is detected by a zero-sequence current transformer. After passing through the control unit, the electromagnetic trip unit is activated. The pin of the electromagnetic trip unit pushes the latch, causing the moving contact to move away from the stationary contact, thus achieving the leakage current tripping function. However, current leakage current circuit breakers can still re-energize after tripping if the leakage fault persists and the safety hazard remains. This is because the handle moves the trip latch, which in turn drives the latch to rotate, achieving re-energization. This poses a safety hazard if maintenance personnel accidentally re-energize the circuit breaker during troubleshooting, potentially leading to electric shock. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention provides an indication and interlocking mechanism for a residual current circuit breaker that is simple in structure, ensures that the circuit breaker is in the open state during fault repair, improves the safety of repair work, and prevents the risk of electric shock.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: an indicating and interlocking mechanism for a residual current circuit breaker, comprising a housing, an interlocking lever pivotally disposed within the housing, and an indicating element slidably disposed within the housing. One end of the interlocking lever is provided with a hook, and the other end of the interlocking lever is provided with a push plate. The push plate has a first position that pushes the latch to rotate in the tripping direction to disengage the latch from the tripping latch, and a second position that releases the latch so that the latch and the tripping latch can engage. The indicating element has a first limiting structure and a second limiting structure disposed on the pivoting path of the hook, which can cooperate with the hook for limiting. The hook cooperates with the first limiting structure to prevent the indicating element from extending out of the housing and to keep the push plate in the second position. The hook cooperates with the second limiting structure to keep the push plate in the first position. When the push plate is in the first position, the indicating element can slide out of the housing. The pin of the electromagnetic tripping device can drive the interlocking lever to pivot, causing the push plate to move from the second position to the first position. A reset element is disposed between the interlocking lever and the housing for driving the interlocking lever to pivot and reset the push plate from the first position to the second position.

[0006] Using the above scheme, when a leakage fault occurs, the pin of the electromagnetic trip unit drives the interlock lever to pivot in the reverse direction, causing the push plate to move from the second position to the first position. At this time, the push plate can push the latch to rotate in the tripping direction, causing the latch to disengage from the trip latch. When the latch disengages from the trip latch, the circuit breaker handle cannot control the latch to close via the trip latch. Furthermore, through the second limit structure and the locking hook limit, the push plate is kept in the first position, achieving the circuit breaker's tripping "lock". The operator can also detect the fault by sliding the indicator out of the housing. After the fault is cleared, the indicator slides and retracts into the housing under manual drive. At this time, the locking hook changes from "cooperating with the second limit structure" to "cooperating with the first limit structure". Simultaneously, under the drive of the reset component, the interlock lever pivots in the forward direction, and the push plate resets from the first position to the second position. The locking hook at the other end of the interlock lever cooperates with the first limit structure to lock the limit component and prevent it from extending out of the housing. The interlocking lever's latch engages with the first and second limiting structures on the indicator, ensuring that the latch locks the indicator when it retracts into the housing. Simultaneously, it pivots with the interlocking lever, allowing the second limiting structure of the indicator to lock the push plate in its first position, thus achieving the interlocking purpose. The structure is simple, easy to manufacture and install, improves the safety of maintenance operations, and prevents the risk of electric shock.

[0007] As a further feature of the present invention, the push plate extends between the electromagnetic trip unit and the latch, and the push plate can be pushed by the electromagnetic trip unit pin to drive the interlocking lever to pivot.

[0008] By adopting the above solution, the push plate is extended between the electromagnetic trip unit and the latch. The push plate is pushed by the pin to drive the interlock lever to pivot. The action of the push plate is more sensitive, which helps the residual current circuit breaker to disconnect. At the same time, it simplifies the component structure, making the product easier to install and more compact.

[0009] As a further feature of the present invention, the first limiting structure is a slot, which engages with the hook to form a limiting fit, and the second limiting structure is a limiting block, which abuts against the hook after the indicator slides out of the housing to form a limiting fit.

[0010] Using the above scheme, the engagement of the hook and the slot can effectively prevent the indicator from sliding out of the housing, thus "locking" the indicator. The hook abuts against the limit block to lock the pivot position of the interlocking lever, which can keep the push plate in the first position, thereby locking the position of the push plate. The structure is simple and easy to implement.

[0011] As a further feature of the present invention, the reset element is a reset spring, one end of which is fixedly mounted on the housing, and the interlocking lever is provided with a barb for the other end of the reset spring to be hooked.

[0012] The above solution has a simple structure and is easy to install.

[0013] As a further feature of the present invention, an elastic element is provided between the indicator and the housing, which can drive the indicator to slide out of the housing.

[0014] Using the above solution, when the hook separates from the first limiting structure, the indicator can be slid out of the housing by the elastic force of the elastic element.

[0015] As a further feature of the present invention, a test button is provided on the housing, the elastic element is a torsion spring, the middle part of the torsion spring is sleeved and fixed inside the housing, the torsion spring extends inside the housing to form a first free end and a second free end, the first free end elastically abuts against the indicator, and the second free end elastically abuts against the test button.

[0016] By adopting the above scheme, the test button and indicator can be elastically driven by the first and second free ends of the torsion spring, respectively, which can reduce the number of springs in the housing and facilitate installation.

[0017] As a further feature of the present invention, the housing is provided with a circuit breaker section and a leakage current detection section. Both the circuit breaker section and the leakage current detection section are provided with an operating mechanism. The operating mechanisms of the two sections are connected by a transmission rod. The interlocking lever is provided with a lever that can move the transmission rod to make the operating mechanisms of the two sections operate simultaneously.

[0018] Using the above scheme, the actuator lever moves the transmission rod, thereby causing the operating mechanisms of the circuit breaker and the leakage current detection section to operate, achieving the purpose of tripping the circuit breaker. This method offers higher synchronization, a simpler structure, and easier installation.

[0019] The present invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Appendix Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure when the push plate is in the second position according to a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Appendix Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the state of the push plate in the second position according to a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Appendix Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure when the push plate is in the first position according to a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Appendix Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram showing the state of the push plate in the first position according to a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Appendix Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the shell in a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Appendix Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the indicator in a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Appendix Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the interlocking lever in a specific embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0027] Specific embodiments of the present invention, for example Figure 1-7As shown, an indicating and interlocking mechanism for a residual current circuit breaker includes a housing 1, an interlocking lever 2 pivotally disposed within the housing 1, and an indicating element 3 slidably disposed within the housing 1. One end of the interlocking lever 2 is provided with a hook 21, and the other end is provided with a push plate 22. The push plate 22 has a first position m where it pushes a latch 11 to rotate in the release direction to disengage the latch 11 from the trip latch 12, and a second position n where it releases the latch 11 so that the latch 11 can engage with the trip latch 12. The indicating element 3 has a first limiting structure 31 and a second limiting structure 32 disposed on the pivoting path of the hook 21, which can limit the engagement of the hook 21. The hook 21 and the first limiting structure 31 limit the engagement to prevent the indicating element 3 from extending out of the housing 1 and the push plate 22 from being pushed out. When held in the second position n, the hook 21 engages with the second limiting structure 32 to keep the push plate 22 in the first position m. When the push plate 22 is in the first position m, the indicator 3 can slide out of the housing 1. The indicator 3 is provided with a pressing part 33 that can slide out of the housing 1. The housing 1 is provided with a sliding groove 13 for the indicator 3 to slide. The sliding groove 13 is provided with a height limiting part 131 for limiting the extension height of the pressing part 33. The pin of the electromagnetic trip device 4 can drive the interlocking lever 2 to pivot so that the push plate 22 moves from the second position n to the first position m. A reset member 5 is provided between the interlocking lever 2 and the housing 1 for driving the interlocking lever 2 to pivot so that the push plate 22 resets from the first position m to the second position n.

[0028] When a leakage fault occurs, the pin of the electromagnetic trip unit 4 drives the interlock lever 2 to pivot in the opposite direction a, causing the push plate 22 to move from the second position n to the first position m. At this time, the push plate 22 can push the latch 11 to rotate in the tripping direction, causing the latch 11 to disengage from the trip latch 12. When the latch 11 disengages from the trip latch 12, the circuit breaker handle cannot control the latch 11 to close through the trip latch 12. Furthermore, through the second limiting structure 32 and the locking hook 21, the push plate 22 is kept in the first position m, realizing the circuit breaker's tripping "lock". The operator can also learn about the fault by sliding the indicator 3 out of the housing 1. After troubleshooting, the indicator 3 slides and retracts into the housing 1 under manual drive. At this time, the hook 21 changes from "cooperating with the second limiting structure 32" to "cooperating with the first limiting structure 31". Simultaneously, driven by the reset component 5, the interlocking lever 2 pivots forward by b, and the push plate 22 resets from the first position m to the second position n. The hook 21 at the other end of the interlocking lever 2 cooperates with the first limiting structure 31 to lock the limiting component and prevent it from extending out of the housing 1. The hook 21 of the interlocking lever 2 cooperates with the first limiting structure 31 and the second limiting structure 32 on the indicator 3 to limit and retract, respectively. While ensuring that the hook 21 locks the indicator 3 when it retracts into the housing 1, it can also pivot with the interlocking lever 2 to keep the second limiting structure 32 of the indicator 3 locked to the push plate 22 in the first position m, thus achieving the interlocking purpose. The structure is simple, easy to process and install, improves the safety of maintenance operations, and prevents the risk of electric shock.

[0029] In this embodiment, the push plate 22 extends between the electromagnetic release device 4 and the latch 11, and the push plate 22 can be pushed by the pin of the electromagnetic release device 4 to drive the interlocking lever 2 to pivot.

[0030] In this embodiment, the first limiting structure 31 is a slot, which engages with the hook 21 to form a limiting fit. The second limiting structure 32 is a limiting block, which can abut against the hook 21 after the indicator 3 slides out of the housing 1 to form a limiting fit. The slot is disposed between the pressing part 33 and the limiting block.

[0031] In this embodiment, the reset element 5 is a reset spring, one end of which is fixedly mounted on the housing 1, and the interlocking lever 2 is provided with a barb 23 for the other end of the reset spring to be hooked.

[0032] In this embodiment, an elastic element 6 is provided between the indicator 3 and the housing 1, which can drive the indicator 3 to slide out of the housing 1.

[0033] In this embodiment, a test button 7 is provided on the housing 1, and the elastic element 6 is a torsion spring. The middle part of the torsion spring is sleeved and fixed inside the housing 1. The torsion spring extends inside the housing 1 to form a first free end 61 and a second free end 62. The first free end 61 elastically abuts against the indicator 3, and the second free end 62 elastically abuts against the test button 7.

[0034] In this embodiment, the housing 1 is composed of a circuit breaker part X and a leakage current detection part Y. Both the circuit breaker part X and the leakage current detection part Y are provided with an operating mechanism. The operating mechanisms of the two parts are connected by a transmission rod 8. The interlocking lever 2 is provided with a lever 24 that can move the transmission rod 8 to make the operating mechanisms of the two parts operate simultaneously.

[0035] This invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. Those skilled in the art can implement this invention using various other specific embodiments based on the content disclosed herein. Any simple changes or modifications made to the design structure and concept of this invention fall within the protection scope of this invention.

Claims

1. An indication and interlocking mechanism for a residual current circuit breaker, comprising a housing, characterized in that: The device includes an interlocking lever pivotally disposed within a housing and an indicator slidably disposed within the housing. One end of the interlocking lever has a hook, and the other end has a push plate. The push plate has a first position that pushes the latch to rotate in the release direction to disengage the latch from the jump catch, and a second position that releases the latch so that the latch and jump catch can engage. The indicator has a first limiting structure and a second limiting structure on the pivoting path of the hook, which can cooperate with the hook for limiting. The hook cooperates with the first limiting structure to prevent the indicator from extending out of the housing and to keep the push plate in the second position. The hook cooperates with the second limiting structure to keep the push plate in the first position. When the push plate is in the first position, the indicator can slide out of the housing. The pin of the electromagnetic release device can drive the interlocking lever to pivot, causing the push plate to move from the second position to the first position. A space is provided between the interlocking lever and the housing. A reset member is provided for driving the interlocking lever to pivot so that the push plate is reset from the first position to the second position; an elastic member is provided between the indicator and the housing, which can drive the indicator to slide out of the housing; a test button is provided on the housing; the elastic member is a torsion spring, the middle part of the torsion spring is sleeved and fixed inside the housing, the torsion spring extends inside the housing to form a first free end and a second free end, the first free end elastically abuts against the indicator, and the second free end elastically abuts against the test button; a sliding groove is provided inside the housing for the indicator to slide in the up and down direction; a height limiting part is provided in the sliding groove for limiting the extension height of the pressing part; the first limiting structure is a slot, which engages with the hook to form a limiting fit; the second limiting structure is a limiting block, which abuts against the hook after the indicator slides out of the housing to form a limiting fit.

2. The indicating and interlocking mechanism of the residual current circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that: The push plate extends between the electromagnetic trip unit and the latch, and the push plate can be pushed by the electromagnetic trip unit pin to drive the interlocking lever to pivot.

3. The indicating and interlocking mechanism of the residual current circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that: The reset component is a reset spring, one end of which is fixedly mounted on the housing, and the interlocking lever is provided with a barb for the other end of the reset spring to hook.

4. The indicating and interlocking mechanism of the residual current circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that: The housing consists of a circuit breaker section and a leakage current detection section. Both the circuit breaker section and the leakage current detection section are equipped with operating mechanisms. The operating mechanisms of the two sections are connected by a transmission rod. The interlocking lever is equipped with a lever that can move the transmission rod to make the operating mechanisms of the two sections operate simultaneously.

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