A small circuit breaker movable contact connecting structure and small circuit breaker

Abstract

The application discloses a small circuit breaker movable contact connecting structure and a small circuit breaker. The movable contact connecting structure comprises a movable contact and a contact support. A waist-shaped hole is arranged on the surface of the contact support, the waist-shaped hole is used for arranging a first hinged shaft to hinge the contact support to a circuit breaker base, and the contact support can slide along the long axis direction of the waist-shaped hole under the radial limitation of the first hinged shaft; an insertion warehouse for partially inserting the movable contact is arranged on the side wall of the contact support. During the closing process of the small circuit breaker, the contact support is forced to rotate around the first hinged shaft to a preset angle, then the movable contact and the static contact abut against each other, the contact support continues to be forced to make the contact support translate relative to the base, and the first hinged shaft in the waist-shaped hole is relatively translated to the other side along the long axis direction from one side of the waist-shaped hole. The application discards the mode of fixing the movable contact in the traditional circuit breaker, and has the advantages of stable connection and simple structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of circuit control technology, and more specifically, to a moving contact connection structure for a miniature circuit breaker and a miniature circuit breaker. Background Technology

[0002] A circuit breaker is an important circuit device and one of the most widely used safety mechanisms in household and industrial circuits. Its function is to disconnect and connect load circuits, as well as to disconnect faulty circuits, preventing accidents from escalating and ensuring safe operation. The basic working principle of a circuit breaker is as follows: When a short circuit occurs, the magnetic field generated by the large current overcomes the counterforce spring, causing the trip unit to pull the operating mechanism, and the circuit breaker trips instantaneously; when an overload occurs, the current increases, the heat generation intensifies, and the bimetallic strip deforms to a certain extent, pushing the mechanism to actuate, and the circuit breaker trips.

[0003] As a designer in the circuit breaker industry, the inventor of this patent, through extensive product development, testing, and experience accumulation, discovered the following technical defects in existing circuit breakers: 1. The internal components of the circuit breaker are complex, making installation difficult and resulting in low automation in production and assembly; 2. Due to the easy conduction of heat by the metal moving contact, and the fact that the moving contact and the latch are pivotally mounted on the same support shaft, which is fixed to the circuit breaker base, the heat generated by the moving contact touching the stationary contact is easily conducted from the moving contact to the fixed end of the support shaft. In addition, the support shaft is subjected to a large force amplitude, making the support shaft unstable and reducing the reliability and service life of the circuit breaker. For example, in the utility model patent with patent application number 201920304893.7 entitled "A Contact Support for a Circuit Breaker", the utility model patent with patent application number 201620033978.2 entitled "An Operating Mechanism for a Miniature Circuit Breaker", the invention patent with patent application number 201410853315.0 entitled "A Moving Contact Assembly for a Miniature Circuit Breaker and Its Manufacturing Method", and in the utility model patent with patent application number 201220467999.7 entitled "An Easy-to-Assemble Miniature Circuit Breaker and Its Operating Mechanism", the moving contact and the contact support are fixed by a fixed shaft and a torsion spring. However, this fixing method is prone to overheating and loosening in actual use, and it is also prone to shaking and has poor stability. Furthermore, the hot-riveting method used to fix the moving contact and contact support has several drawbacks. Firstly, it carries the risk of incomplete riveting, and the high temperature control required during assembly can easily lead to burn-through. Secondly, this method is complex, prone to plastic burrs, and susceptible to human error, resulting in a high failure rate. 3. As the circuit breaker industry matures, reducing production costs while maintaining or improving product performance is one effective way to enhance product competitiveness. 4. When a circuit breaker operates, the moving contact is subjected to significant impact force. The method of fixing the moving contact greatly affects its service life; an improper fixing method can accelerate loosening and misalignment.

[0004] Therefore, the problem this patent aims to solve is whether a miniature circuit breaker with a reasonable internal structure, easy automated installation, and high reliability can be designed. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address one of the above-mentioned deficiencies in the existing technology, the present invention provides a moving contact connection structure for a miniature circuit breaker and a miniature circuit breaker, achieving the goals of stable connection, reasonable internal structure design, easy automated installation, and high reliability.

[0006] The technical solution provided by this invention is as follows:

[0007] A moving contact connection structure for a miniature circuit breaker includes a moving contact and a contact support. The contact support has an oblong hole on its surface, which is used to mount a first hinge shaft to hinge the contact support to the circuit breaker base. The contact support can slide along the long axis of the oblong hole under the radial limitation of the first hinge shaft. An insertion chamber is provided on the side wall of the contact support for partial insertion of the moving contact. The opening shape of the insertion chamber is adapted to the moving contact. During the closing process of the miniature circuit breaker, after the contact support is subjected to force and rotates around the first hinge shaft to a preset angle, the moving contact and the stationary contact abut against each other. The contact support continues to be subjected to force, causing it to translate relative to the base. The first hinge shaft within the oblong hole translates relative to the other side along the long axis of the oblong hole.

[0008] In some embodiments, the contact support has a first through hole located in the insertion chamber along its thickness direction, and the moving contact has a second through hole corresponding to the first through hole along its thickness direction; the moving contact and the contact support can be connected by fitting a fixed shaft that is simultaneously inserted into the first through hole and the second through hole.

[0009] In some embodiments, the moving contact includes an impact portion, a fixing portion, and an anti-sway extension portion, wherein the fixing portion is used to be installed inside the insertion chamber; the impact portion corresponds to the stationary contact; and the anti-sway extension portion is located on the side of the fixing portion away from the impact portion, and has an extended limiting surface that abuts against the insertion chamber along the circumferential direction of the fixing axis.

[0010] In some embodiments, the anti-sway extension extends partially from the fixing portion toward the side away from the impact portion, or is formed by a wide-to-narrow extension.

[0011] In some embodiments, the contact support is made of plastic and the moving contact is made of metal.

[0012] A miniature circuit breaker includes: a base and a cover; a handle pivotally supported on the base; a linkage mechanism connected between the handle and a moving contact, and responsive to pivoting of the handle to connect and disconnect the moving contact from a stationary contact; a tripping mechanism detecting excessive current flowing between the moving and stationary contacts, the tripping mechanism being configured to operate the linkage mechanism in response to the excessive current to separate the moving and stationary contacts; the linkage mechanism includes a contact support and a reset assembly; the contact support is resiliently mounted inside the base via a first hinge axis, and the reset assembly is mounted at one end of the contact support near the handle for drive connection between the handle and the contact support. The contact support has an insertion chamber at one end near the stationary contact for inserting the moving contact portion, the opening shape of which is adapted to the moving contact. The contact support surface has an oblong hole for the first hinge shaft to pass through, and the contact support can slide along the long axis of the oblong hole under radial limitation of the first hinge shaft. During the closing process, the handle, through the reset assembly, drives the contact support to rotate around the first hinge shaft to a preset angle, causing the moving contact and the stationary contact to abut against each other. Continuing to rotate the handle causes the contact support to translate relative to the base, and the first hinge shaft within the oblong hole translates relative to the other side along the long axis of the oblong hole.

[0013] In some embodiments, the reset assembly includes a latch, a jump catch, and a linkage; the jump catch is pivotally mounted on the side of the contact support away from the base via a second hinge axis; the latch cooperates with the jump catch, the latch is pivotally mounted on the contact support via a third hinge axis, and is connected to the handle via the linkage.

[0014] In some embodiments, the contact support has a first cylindrical boss on the side away from the base, the first cylindrical boss and the waist-shaped hole are located on the same center line, and the outer periphery of the first cylindrical boss cooperates with the snap fastener to form the second hinge shaft; and / or, the contact support has a second cylindrical boss on the side away from the base, the second cylindrical boss is located on the side of the contact support away from the waist-shaped hole and away from the moving contact, and the outer periphery of the second cylindrical boss cooperates with the latch to form the third hinge shaft.

[0015] In some embodiments, the latch has an extension arm extending outward along its diameter with its own pivot axis as the center. The extension arm is provided with a boss. The end of the latch away from the third hinge axis is provided with a hook. The hook is adapted to the boss and is embedded in the boss under the action of falling trend to form a hook-and-hold structure.

[0016] In some embodiments, a first reset torsion spring is provided between the jump buckle and the contact support, and the edge of the hook is provided with an arc transition for the jump buckle to abut against. Under the action of the first reset torsion spring, the jump buckle abuts the disengaged hook back against the boss and forms the hook abutment structure.

[0017] In some embodiments, the moving contact support is provided with a protrusion that serves as a limiting structure for the latch to restrict the rotational travel of the latch.

[0018] In some embodiments, the energy storage indicator is hingedly mounted inside the base and includes a hinge portion and a connecting portion, an energy storage portion, and an indicator portion respectively connected to the hinge portion; the end of the connecting portion is connected to the handle to drive the hinge portion to rotate in coordination with the handle; the indicator portion has an open indication area and an closed indication area along its rotation direction, and one of the open indication area and the closed indication area may correspond to the display window on the side wall of the base; the energy storage portion is flexibly connected to the hinge portion, and the energy storage portion has a travel direction tangential to the rotation direction of the hinge portion, and the travel direction interferes with the rotation path supported by the contact, so that the energy storage portion is withdrawn from or embedded in the rotation path before and after the contact supports rotation.

[0019] In some embodiments, a stop is provided on the inner side of the base along the direction of travel, and the stop corresponds to the contact support; wherein, when the handle is rotated clockwise, the handle drives the connecting part to move, and the hinge part rotates counterclockwise under the drive of the connecting part; the indicator part rotates synchronously, and the display window changes from the opening indication area to the closing indication area; the energy storage part is pulled away from the contact support and the stop along its direction of travel, and the contact support, under the tension of the tension spring, drives the moving contact to quickly strike the stationary contact.

[0020] In some embodiments, the energy storage indicator is mounted inside the base via a second reset torsion spring, which causes the hinge to have a clockwise rotation tendency; when the handle is rotated counterclockwise, the hinge rotates clockwise under the elastic force of the second reset torsion spring; the indicator rotates synchronously, and the display window changes from the closing indication area to the opening indication area; the contact supports counterclockwise rotation, and the energy storage part is embedded between the contact support and the stop block along its direction of travel.

[0021] In some embodiments, the contact support has a force-bearing boss on the side facing the stationary contact; in the open state of the miniature circuit breaker, the energy storage unit is embedded between the contact support and the stop block, and the contact support is supported on the surface of the energy storage unit by the force-bearing boss.

[0022] In some embodiments, the hinge portion and the energy storage portion are connected by a flexible rib, and the energy storage indicator is integrally injection molded.

[0023] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has one or more of the following beneficial effects:

[0024] 1. The moving contact connection structure disclosed in this invention includes a contact support and a moving contact. The moving contact is fixed by an insertion chamber on the side wall of the contact support. A slotted hole is formed on the surface of the contact support so that during the closing process of the miniature circuit breaker, after the moving contact and stationary contact abut against each other, the handle can be continuously operated by the translation of the contact support along the long axis of the slotted hole, keeping the miniature circuit breaker in the closed state and storing energy. In the prior art, torsion springs are usually used to fix the moving contact to the upper or lower surface of the contact support. However, due to the large vibration generated when the moving contact impacts or breaks the stationary contact, the moving contact and the contact support are prone to loosening, which greatly affects the service life of the circuit breaker. This invention uses an insertion-type fixing method for the moving contact and the contact support, forming a wraparound enclosure around one end of the moving contact, greatly increasing the connection strength between the moving contact and the contact support. This achieves the goals of a stable connection, reasonable internal structure design, easy automated installation, and high reliability.

[0025] 2. This invention achieves relative fixation of the contact support and moving contact by creating a first through hole and a second through hole that are mutually connected on the surfaces of the contact support and the moving contact, using only a single fixed shaft. In the actual assembly process of miniature circuit breakers, the contact support and moving contact can be assembled in advance, and then the already fixed contact support and moving contact can be assembled into the circuit breaker, thereby reducing assembly difficulty and increasing automated assembly capabilities.

[0026] 3. By providing an anti-sway extension at one end of the moving contact and the specific shape characteristics of the anti-sway extension, the present invention increases the force-bearing area of ​​the moving contact and the contact support insertion chamber, thereby realizing the overall impact resistance of the moving contact connection structure, further increasing its connection strength and service life.

[0027] 4. This invention discloses the specific materials of the contact support and the moving contact. By using a separate design of the contact support and the moving contact with different materials, the electrical and thermal conductivity of different materials can be reasonably utilized, effectively reducing product costs and enhancing product market competitiveness.

[0028] 5. The miniature circuit breaker disclosed in this invention, through its connection structure between the contact support and the moving contact, and the oblong hole design of the contact support, enables the miniature circuit breaker to have a longer service life and effectively reduces the complexity of internal components. The oblong hole on the contact support surface allows the circuit breaker to be kept in the closed state and also enables energy storage, allowing the circuit breaker to close quickly.

[0029] 6. The present invention opens the waist-shaped hole inside the first cylindrical boss, which on the one hand increases the structural strength around the waist-shaped hole; on the other hand, the first cylindrical boss is used as the second hinge axis to hinge the trip latch. During the closing process, the trip latch will slide along the long axis of the waist-shaped hole together with the contact support. The design is ingenious.

[0030] 7. The present invention connects the contact support and the moving contact through insertion and is radially fixed by a fixed shaft. Compared with the existing technology's integrated structure design of contact support and moving contact, the present invention can effectively reduce heat conduction, improve product safety and reliability, and reduce product production costs.

[0031] 8. The present invention has an extension arm extending outward from its own pivot axis as the center and along its diameter direction. The extension arm is provided with a boss and the locking connection end is provided with a hook. The hook is adapted to the boss and is embedded into the boss under the action of falling to form the hook structure. It has the characteristics of stable connection and easy reset.

[0032] 9. The present invention provides an oblong hole on its moving contact support for mounting its first hinge shaft, so that the moving contact support can adjust its rotation posture through the oblong hole during rotation, thereby avoiding damage to the moving contact support due to excessive force during rotation and greatly improving the service life of the present invention.

[0033] 10. The present invention discloses the specific structure of the energy storage indicator. The energy storage indicator can be linked with the handle through its connecting part, so that the hinge part rotates with the handle to realize the switching of the display state of the indicator part; or it can be flexiblely connected between the energy storage part and the hinge part to cleverly convert the rotation state of the hinge part into the linear motion state of the energy storage part, so as to realize the energy storage effect of the linkage mechanism.

[0034] 11. The present invention discloses a specific installation structure for an energy storage indicator. By setting a stop block on the inner side of the base, a sliding channel for the energy storage part can be formed between the contact support and the stop block in the open state; and the stop block can limit the maximum swing angle of the contact support in the closed state.

[0035] 12. This invention discloses a specific installation structure for an energy storage indicator. By installing a second reset torsion spring on the energy storage indicator, the indicator can automatically return to its open state after being released from the handle's limit position. Specifically, the energy storage portion is automatically embedded between the contact support and the stop block by the elastic force of the second reset torsion spring. This increases the response speed of the energy storage indicator and allows it to directly return to the open state without the need for a handle, reflecting the true open / closed state of the circuit breaker and preventing malfunctions in the linkage mechanism that could cause the energy storage indicator to malfunction.

[0036] 13. The present invention discloses a specific structure of the contact support. By providing a force-bearing protrusion on the side of the contact support facing the stationary contact, the force exerted by the handle on the contact support during the closing process of the miniature circuit breaker is concentrated and applied to the energy storage part of the energy storage indicator through the force-bearing protrusion. This reduces the force-bearing area between the contact support and the energy storage part, thereby reducing the resistance of the contact support to the energy storage part during the closing process.

[0037] 14. This invention discloses a specific form of an energy storage indicator. The one-piece injection molding can reduce the production cost of the product and the assembly difficulty of the product, making it easier to achieve automated assembly. Attached Figure Description

[0038] The preferred embodiments will now be described in a clear and easy-to-understand manner, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, to further explain the above-mentioned characteristics, technical features, advantages, and implementation methods of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the components inside the base in the open state according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram in the closed state;

[0041] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure after removing the jumper and release lever;

[0042] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A structural diagram viewed from another perspective;

[0043] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A partial structural diagram of region A;

[0044] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the cover structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a linkage mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 A structural diagram viewed from another perspective;

[0047] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of contact support, moving contact, jumper and latch according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of a locking structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 11This is a schematic diagram of a jump-button structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0050] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of a contact support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0051] Figure 13 This is an exploded view of the contact support and moving contact connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0052] Figure 14 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the contact support and moving contact connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0054] 100. Base; 110. Display window; 120. Stop;

[0055] 200. Cover;

[0056] 300. Moving contact; 310. Impact part; 320. Fixing part; 321. Second through hole; 330. Anti-sway extension part; 331. Extended limiting surface;

[0057] 400. Static contact;

[0058] 500. Linkage mechanism; 510. Contact support; 511. Waist-shaped hole; 512. First hinge shaft; 513. Insertion chamber; 514. First through hole; 515. Fixed shaft; 516. First cylindrical boss; 517. Second cylindrical boss; 518. Protrusion; 5181. First protrusion; 5182. Second protrusion; 519. Force-bearing boss;

[0059] 520. Lock; 521. Third hinge pin; 522. Hook;

[0060] 530. Jumper buckle; 531. Second hinge pin; 532. Extension arm; 533. Boss;

[0061] 540. Tension spring; 550. First reset torsion spring; 551. Limiting post; 560. Second reset torsion spring; 570. Connecting rod;

[0062] 600. Trip mechanism; 610. Electromagnetic trip device; 620. Thermal trip device; 621. Bimetallic strip; 622. Tripping rod; 623. Brush wire;

[0063] 700. Energy storage indicator; 710. Hinge; 720. Connecting part; 730. Energy storage part; 740. Indicator; 741. Opening indication area; 742. Closing indication area; 750. Flexible rib;

[0064] 800. Handle. Detailed Implementation

[0065] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the specific implementation methods of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings and other implementation methods can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative effort.

[0066] To keep the drawings concise, each figure only schematically shows the parts relevant to the invention, and these do not represent the actual structure of the product. Furthermore, to facilitate understanding, in some figures, only one of components with the same structure or function is schematically depicted, or only one is labeled. In this document, "one" not only means "only one," but can also mean "more than one."

[0067] It should also be further understood that the term “and / or” as used in this application specification and the appended claims means any combination of one or more of the associated listed items and all possible combinations, and includes such combinations.

[0068] In this document, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0069] Furthermore, in the description of this application, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0070] In one embodiment, such as Figures 9 to 14 The diagram shows a connection structure for a moving contact 300 in a miniature circuit breaker. This structure includes the moving contact 300 and a contact support 510. The specific structure and connection relationship of the moving contact 300 and the contact support 510 are as follows:

[0071] like Figure 12 and Figure 13As shown, the contact support 510 has an oblong hole 511 on its surface. The oblong hole 511 is used to mount a first hinge shaft 512 to hinge the contact support 510 to the circuit breaker base 100, and the contact support 510 can slide along the long axis of the oblong hole 511 under the radial limitation of the first hinge shaft 512. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the oblong hole 511 includes, but is not limited to, an elliptical hole, whose long axis is consistent with the direction of the two parallel side lines of the oblong hole 511, or with the direction of the line connecting the centers of the two arcs at the two ends of the oblong hole 511.

[0072] The contact support 510 has an insertion chamber 513 on its side wall for partial insertion of the moving contact 300. The opening shape of the insertion chamber 513 is adapted to the moving contact 300. It should be noted that, as... Figure 9 and Figure 14 As shown, the insertion chamber 513 is designed such that the moving contact 300 can only be partially inserted, that is, part of the moving contact 300 is fixed inside the insertion chamber 513 and part is located inside the insertion chamber 513. The part of the moving contact 300 located inside the insertion chamber 513 is the fixed part 320, and the part of the moving contact 300 located outside the insertion chamber 513 is the impact part 310 corresponding to the stationary contact 400.

[0073] In the existing technology, the connection structure of the moving contact 300 is mainly divided into two categories. One category designs the moving contact 300 and the contact support 510 as an integral structure. However, due to the heat generated at the impact part 310 of the moving contact 300 and the stationary contact 400 during the circuit breaker closing process, the pivot fixing hole of the moving contact 300 in this type of product will deform. Moreover, due to the frequent impact and vibration between the moving contact 300 and the stationary contact 400, the moving contact 300 is prone to loosening, posing a safety lifespan risk. The other category fixes the moving contact 300 to the upper or lower surface of the contact support 510 by a torsion spring. This fixing method will result in uneven support force on the upper and lower surfaces of the moving contact 300, resulting in an unstable fixation, which also has a significant impact on the product lifespan. In addition, the product structure is complex and assembly is difficult. In this embodiment, the moving contact 300 is more securely fixed by the insertion connection between the moving contact 300 and the contact support 510. The oblong hole 511 design of the contact support 510 can also provide buffering during closing or tripping, effectively increasing the product's service life. The product has a simple structure and is easy to assemble.

[0074] During the closing process of the miniature circuit breaker, turning the handle 800 clockwise causes the contact support 510 to rotate around the first hinge axis 512 to a preset angle. The moving contact 300 and the stationary contact 400 then abut against each other. At this point, the handle 800 is at a critical angle; that is, if the handle 800 is released before this point, it will reset counterclockwise. Continuing to turn the handle 800 clockwise further forces the contact support 510 to translate relative to the base 100. The first hinge axis 512 within the oblong hole 511 translates relative to the other side along its long axis, allowing the handle 800 to smoothly pass the critical angle and stop at its right limit position.

[0075] In one embodiment, the contact support 510 has a first through hole 514 located in the insertion chamber 513 along its thickness direction, and the moving contact 300 has a second through hole 321 corresponding to the first through hole 514 along its thickness direction. The moving contact 300 and the contact support 510 can be connected by fitting a fixed shaft 515 that simultaneously inserts into the first through hole 514 and the second through hole 321. In practical applications, the contact support 510 is a plastic part, and the moving contact 300 is a metal part. The connection between the contact support 510 and the moving contact 300 using this structure is stable and not easily deformed or damaged, and has a long service life. It should be noted that in other embodiments of the present invention, the moving contact 300 is an irregular sheet-like structure, and its thickness direction refers to the direction perpendicular to the surface where the sheet-like structure is largest, that is, the thickness direction of the moving contact 300 refers to the direction perpendicular to the surface where the upper and lower surfaces of the moving contact 300 are located.

[0076] In one embodiment, such as Figure 13 and Figure 14 As shown, the moving contact 300 includes an impact part 310, a fixing part 320, and an anti-sway extension part 330.

[0077] The fixing part 320 is installed inside the insertion chamber 513; the impact part 310 corresponds to the stationary contact 400; the anti-sway extension part 330 is located on the side of the fixing part 320 away from the impact part 310, and has an extended limiting surface 331 that abuts against the insertion chamber 513 along the circumferential direction of the fixing axis 515.

[0078] In the accompanying drawings of this embodiment, the anti-sway extension 330 adopts a technical solution of partially extending from the fixing part 320 toward the side away from the impact part 310, or extending from wide to narrow. In other words, the anti-sway extension 330 is provided with a notch on the basis of the extension of the fixing part 320, so as to increase the force-bearing area of ​​the moving contact 300 and the contact support 510 assembly and prevent the moving contact 300 from shaking.

[0079] In one embodiment, such as Figures 1 to 14The diagram shows a miniature circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes: a base 100 and a cover 200 that can be interlocked, a handle 800 placed between the base 100 and the cover 200, a stationary contact 400 and a moving contact 300, as well as a linkage mechanism 500 and a tripping mechanism 600.

[0080] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the handle 800, as the main operating component of the miniature circuit breaker, includes a push portion exposed outside the base 100 and cover 200, and a disc portion hidden between the base 100 and cover 200, with the disc portion pivotally mounted inside the base 100. A linkage mechanism 500 is connected between the handle 800 and the moving contact 300, and in response to the pivoting operation of the handle 800, connects and disconnects the moving contact 300 from the stationary contact 400. A tripping mechanism 600 is used to detect excessive current flowing between the moving contact 300 and the stationary contact 400. The tripping mechanism 600 is configured to operate the linkage mechanism 500 in response to excessive current, thereby separating the moving contact 300 from the stationary contact 400. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, in order to increase the reliability of the moving contact 300 and reduce the difficulty of automated assembly of the circuit breaker, the moving contact 300 and the contact support 510 are designed to include a pluggable connection, and the specific structure of the contact support 510 is improved.

[0081] In the above form, such as Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the linkage mechanism 500 consists of a contact support 510, a latch 520, and a jumper 530. The contact support 510 is spring-loaded onto the inner side of the base 100 via a first hinge shaft 512. A reset assembly is installed at one end of the contact support 510 near the handle 800, and is used to drive the connection between the handle 800 and the contact support 510.

[0082] Among them, such as Figures 12 to 14 As shown, the contact support 510 has an insertion chamber 513 near the stationary contact 400 for the moving contact 300 to partially insert into. The opening shape of the insertion chamber 513 is adapted to the moving contact 300. The surface of the contact support 510 has an oblong hole 511 for the first hinge shaft 512 to pass through, and the contact support 510 can slide along the long axis of the oblong hole 511 under the radial limitation of the first hinge shaft 512. The specific structures of the contact support 510 and the moving contact 300 are applicable to any of the above embodiments and will not be described in detail here.

[0083] During the closing process, the handle 800 drives the contact support 510 to rotate around the first hinge axis 512 to a preset angle through the reset component. Then, the moving contact 300 and the stationary contact 400 abut against each other. As the handle 800 continues to rotate, the contact support 510 translates relative to the base 100. The first hinge axis 512 in the waist-shaped hole 511 translates relative to the other side along the long axis direction from one side of the waist-shaped hole 511.

[0084] In one embodiment, such as Figures 7 to 9 As shown, the reset assembly includes a latch 520, a jump latch 530, and a connecting rod 570. The jump latch 530 is pivotally mounted on the side of the contact support 510 away from the base 100 via a second hinge shaft 531; the latch 520 cooperates with the jump latch 530, and the latch 520 is pivotally mounted on the contact support 510 via a third hinge shaft 521 and connected to the handle 800 via the connecting rod 570. In practical applications, the contact support 510 is provided with a protrusion 518, which serves as a limiting structure for the latch 520 to restrict its rotational stroke. In the accompanying drawings of this embodiment, the protrusion 518 includes a first protrusion 5181 located on the latch 520 near the first cylindrical boss 516, and a second protrusion 5182 located on the latch 520 away from the first cylindrical boss 516. The first protrusion 5181 is used to form a lower end limit of the latch 520, and the second protrusion 5182 is used to form an upper end limit of the latch 520 and to prevent excessive reset or excessive clockwise rotation of the latch during the disengagement process.

[0085] In one embodiment, such as Figure 12 and Figure 13 As shown, a first cylindrical boss 516 is provided on the side of the contact support 510 away from the base 100. The first cylindrical boss 516 and the oblong hole 511 are located on the same center line, and the outer periphery of the first cylindrical boss 516 cooperates with the jump buckle 530 to form a second hinge shaft 531. Similarly, a second cylindrical boss 517 is provided on the side of the contact support 510 away from the base 100. The second cylindrical boss 517 is located on the side of the contact support 510 away from the oblong hole 511 and away from the moving contact 300, and the outer periphery of the second cylindrical boss 517 cooperates with the latch 520 to form a third hinge shaft 521.

[0086] In this embodiment, by opening the oblong hole 511 inside the first cylindrical boss 516, on the one hand, the structural strength around the oblong hole 511 is increased; on the other hand, the first cylindrical boss 516 is used as the second hinge axis 531 to hinge the trip latch 530. During the closing process, the trip latch 530 will slide along the long axis of the oblong hole 511 together with the contact support 510, which is a clever design.

[0087] In one embodiment, such as Figure 9 and Figure 10As shown, the jump buckle 530 has an extension arm 532 extending outward from its pivot axis along its diameter. A boss 533 is provided on the extension arm 532. A hook 522 is provided at the end of the latch 520 away from the third hinge axis 521. The hook 522 fits into the boss 533 and, under the action of falling, embeds into the boss 533 to form a hook-and-hold structure. In practical applications, a first return torsion spring 550 is provided between the jump buckle 530 and the contact support 510. The edge of the hook 522 has an arc-shaped transition for the jump buckle 530 to abut against. Under the action of the first return torsion spring 550, the jump buckle 530 re-attaches the disengaged hook 522 to the boss 533, forming a hook-and-hold structure.

[0088] In practical applications, one end of the first reset torsion spring 550 abuts against the trip latch 530, and the other end abuts against the limiting post 551 on the surface of the contact support 510, so that the trip latch 530 has a rotational tendency to always abut against the hook 522. Its connecting end is provided with an arc angle transition for the trip latch 530 to abut. At the moment of tripping, the trip latch 530 is forced to separate from the latch 520, and the connecting end falls. Then, under the action of the first reset torsion spring 550, the trip latch 530 rotates again to abut against the connecting end. The connecting end continues to abut against the extension arm 532 through the arc angle transition, and rises again under the action of the first reset torsion spring 550 until the disengaged hook 522 abuts against the boss 533 again and forms a hook abutment structure again.

[0089] In this embodiment, the buckle 530 extends outward from its own pivot axis along its diameter direction with an extension arm 532. The extension arm 532 is provided with a boss 533. The locking buckle 520 is provided with a hook 522 at its connecting end. The hook 522 is adapted to the boss 533 and is embedded into the boss 533 under the action of falling to form a hook structure, which has the characteristics of stable connection and easy reset.

[0090] In one embodiment, such as Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the aforementioned miniature circuit breaker also includes an energy storage indicator 700, which is hingedly mounted inside the base 100. The energy storage indicator 700 includes a hinge portion 710 and a connecting portion 720, an energy storage portion 730, and an indicator portion 740, all connected to the hinge portion 710. In practical applications, the hinge portion 710 and the energy storage portion 730 are connected by a flexible rib 750, and the energy storage indicator 700 is integrally injection molded.

[0091] The connecting part 720 is connected at its end to the handle 800, and is used to drive the hinge part 710 to rotate in coordination with the handle 800. The indicating part 740 has an opening indication area 741 and an closing indication area 742 along its rotation direction. The opening indication area 741 and the closing indication area 742 can be selectively aligned with the display window 110 on the side wall of the base 100. The energy storage part 730 is flexibly connected to the hinge part 710. The energy storage part 730 has a travel direction tangential to the rotation direction of the hinge part 710, and the travel direction interferes with the rotation path of the contact support 510, so that the energy storage part 730 can be withdrawn from or embedded in the rotation path before and after the contact support 510 rotates.

[0092] Based on this, such as Figure 3 As shown, a stop 120 is provided on the inner side of the base 100 along the direction of travel, and the stop 120 corresponds to the contact support 510. When the handle 800 is rotated clockwise, the handle 800 drives the connecting part 720 to move, and the hinge part 710 rotates counterclockwise under the drive of the connecting part 720; the indicator part 740 rotates synchronously, and the display window 110 changes from the opening indication area 741 to the closing indication area 742; the energy storage part 730 is pulled away from the contact support 510 and the stop 120 along its direction of travel, and the contact support 510, under the tension of the tension spring 540, drives the moving contact 300 to quickly strike the stationary contact 400.

[0093] In practical applications, the energy storage indicator 700 is mounted inside the base 100 via a second reset torsion spring 560, which causes the hinge portion 710 to have a clockwise rotation tendency. When the handle 800 is rotated counterclockwise, the hinge portion 710 rotates clockwise under the elastic force of the second reset torsion spring 560; the indicator portion 740 rotates synchronously, and the display window 110 changes from the closing indication area 742 to the opening indication area 741; the contact support 510 rotates counterclockwise, and the energy storage portion 730 is embedded between the contact support 510 and the stop block 120 along its direction of travel.

[0094] In addition, such as Figure 12 and Figure 13 As shown, a force-bearing boss 519 is provided on the side of the contact support 510 facing the stationary contact 400. In the open state of the miniature circuit breaker, the energy storage unit 730 is embedded between the contact support 510 and the stop block 120, and the contact support 510 is supported on the surface of the energy storage unit 730 by the force-bearing boss 519.

[0095] In this embodiment, by providing a force-bearing boss 519 on the side of the contact support 510 facing the stationary contact 400, when the miniature circuit breaker is closed, after rotating the handle 800 to a certain angle, the force exerted by the handle 800 on the contact support 510 is concentrated on the energy storage part 730 of the energy storage indicator 700 through the force-bearing boss 519. At this time, the energy storage part 730 applies a reaction force to the force-bearing boss 519, causing the contact support 510 to slide as a whole along the long axis of the oblong hole 511 to the other side until the handle 800 is rotated to the limit position.

[0096] As a specific example, such as Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the tripping mechanism 600 includes an electromagnetic tripping device 610 and a thermal tripping device 620. The thermal tripping device 620 includes a bimetallic strip 621 and a tripping rod 622 connecting the bimetallic strip 621 and the linkage mechanism 500. The moving contact 300 is connected to the bimetallic strip 621 via a brush wire 623. The side of the moving contact 300 away from the base 100 is welded to the first end of the brush wire 623, and the second end of the brush wire 623 is welded to the bimetallic strip 621.

[0097] In practical applications, the electromagnetic trip device 610 includes a coil, a coil frame, a stationary iron core, and a push rod. The coil is wound around the surface of the coil frame and connected to the stationary contact 400. The stationary iron core is located inside the coil frame, and the push rod is located on the same axis as the stationary iron core, used to push the trip latch 530 out of the latch 520. One end of the coil frame abuts against the side wall of the base 100, and the other end of the coil frame is axially fixed by a stop block inside the base 100. The circumferential fixation of the coil frame is completed by the interlocking of the base 100 and the cover 200.

[0098] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principle of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A miniature circuit breaker, characterized in that, include: Base and cover; A handle, which is pivotally supported on the base; A linkage mechanism is connected between the handle and the moving contact, and in response to the pivoting operation of the handle, the moving contact is connected to and disconnected from the stationary contact. A tripping mechanism detects an excessive current flowing between the moving contact and the stationary contact, the tripping mechanism being configured to operate the linkage mechanism in response to the excessive current to separate the moving contact from the stationary contact; The linkage mechanism includes a contact support and a reset assembly; the contact support is spring-loaded to the inside of the base via a first hinge shaft, and the reset assembly is installed at one end of the contact support near the handle, for driving connection between the handle and the contact support; The contact supports an insertion chamber at one end near the stationary contact for the moving contact portion to be inserted, and the opening shape of the insertion chamber is adapted to the moving contact. The contact support surface is provided with an oblong hole for the first hinge shaft to pass through, and the contact support can slide along the long axis of the oblong hole under the radial limitation of the first hinge shaft. During the closing process, the handle drives the contact support to rotate around the first hinge axis to a preset angle through the reset component. Then, the moving contact and the stationary contact abut against each other. As the handle continues to rotate, the contact support translates relative to the base. The first hinge axis in the waist-shaped hole translates from one side of the waist-shaped hole to the other side along the long axis direction. The miniature circuit breaker also includes an energy storage indicator, which is hingedly mounted on the inner side of the base and includes a hinge portion and a connecting portion, an energy storage portion, and an indicator portion that are respectively connected to the hinge portion; The end of the connecting part is connected to the handle, and is used to drive the hinge part to rotate in coordination with the handle; The indicator has an opening indication area and an closing indication area along its rotation direction, and one of the opening indication area and the closing indication area may correspond to the display window on the side wall of the base. The energy storage part is flexibly connected to the hinge part. The energy storage part has a travel direction tangent to the rotation direction of the hinge part, and the travel direction interferes with the rotation path supported by the contact, so as to allow the energy storage part to be withdrawn from or embedded in the rotation path before and after the contact supports rotation. A stop block is provided on the inner side of the base along the traveling direction, and the stop block corresponds to the contact support; wherein... When the handle is rotated clockwise, the handle drives the connecting part to move, and the hinge part rotates counterclockwise under the drive of the connecting part; the indicator part rotates synchronously, and the display window changes from the opening indication area to the closing indication area; the energy storage part is pulled away from the contact support and the stop block along its direction of travel, and the contact support, under the tension of the tension spring, drives the moving contact to strike the stationary contact.

2. The miniature circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The reset assembly includes a latch, a jumper, and a linkage; The jump buckle is pivotally mounted on the side of the contact support away from the base via a second hinge axis; the latch cooperates with the jump buckle, the latch is pivotally mounted on the contact support via a third hinge axis, and is connected to the handle via the connecting rod.

3. A miniature circuit breaker according to claim 2, characterized in that, The contact support has a first cylindrical boss on the side away from the base. The first cylindrical boss and the oblong hole are located on the same center line, and the outer periphery of the first cylindrical boss mates with the snap fastener to form the second hinge shaft; and / or, The contact support has a second cylindrical boss on the side away from the base. The second cylindrical boss is located on the side of the contact support away from the waist-shaped hole and away from the moving contact. The outer periphery of the second cylindrical boss cooperates with the latch to form a third hinge shaft.

4. A miniature circuit breaker according to claim 2, characterized in that, The buckle has an extension arm extending outward along its diameter with its own pivot axis as the center. The extension arm is provided with a boss. The end of the buckle away from the third hinge axis is provided with a hook. The hook is adapted to the boss and is embedded into the boss under the action of falling trend to form a hook-and-hold structure.

5. A miniature circuit breaker according to claim 4, characterized in that, A first reset torsion spring is provided between the jump buckle and the contact support. The edge of the hook is provided with an arc transition and is used for the jump buckle to abut. Under the action of the first reset torsion spring, the jump buckle will re-abut the disengaged hook to the boss and form the hook abutment structure.

6. A miniature circuit breaker according to claim 2, characterized in that, The moving contact support is provided with a protrusion, which serves as a limiting structure for the latch to restrict the rotational travel of the latch.

7. A miniature circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The energy storage indicator is mounted on the inner side of the base via a second reset torsion spring, which is used to give the hinge a clockwise rotation tendency; When the handle is rotated counterclockwise, the hinge part rotates clockwise under the elastic force of the second reset torsion spring; the indicator part rotates synchronously, and the display window changes from the closing indication area to the opening indication area; the contact support rotates counterclockwise, and the energy storage part is embedded between the contact support and the stop block along its direction of travel; when the handle is rotated clockwise again, the contact support translates relative to the base, and the first hinge shaft in the waist-shaped hole translates relative to one side of the waist-shaped hole along the long axis direction to the other side.

8. A miniature circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The contact support has a force-bearing protrusion on the side facing the stationary contact; When the miniature circuit breaker is in the open state, the energy storage unit is embedded between the contact support and the stop block, and the contact support is supported on the surface of the energy storage unit by the force-bearing boss.

9. A miniature circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hinge and the energy storage unit are connected by a flexible rib, and the energy storage indicator is integrally injection molded.

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