Circuit breaker

Abstract

A circuit breaker includes: a housing having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side in a first direction, in which a first contact assembly, a second contact assembly, a third contact assembly, and a fourth contact assembly are sequentially arranged from the first side to the second side; the circuit breaker further comprises a connecting line, and the two ends of the connecting line are electrically connected to the second contact assembly and the third contact assembly respectively. The circuit breaker further comprises a first heat conduction piece and a second heat conduction piece, the two sides of the first heat conduction piece are in insulated thermal connection with the first contact assembly and the second contact assembly respectively, and the two sides of the second heat conduction piece are in insulated thermal connection with the third contact assembly and the fourth contact assembly respectively.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a circuit breaker, and more particularly, to a three-phase circuit breaker with high current carrying capacity and simple structure. Background Art

[0002] Three-phase circuit breakers control the closing and opening of three-phase circuits. Their current-carrying capacity is limited by the Joule heat generated by the current in the circuit breaker. Therefore, improving the circuit breaker's heat dissipation performance to reduce its operating temperature can help improve its current-carrying capacity. Existing circuit breakers use additional heat sinks to dissipate heat, but these additional components complicate the circuit breaker's structure and increase its cost.

[0003] Therefore, it is desired to propose a circuit breaker that can achieve good heat dissipation performance of the circuit breaker while having a simple structure and low cost, so as to improve the current carrying capacity of the circuit breaker. Summary of the Invention

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a circuit breaker is provided, comprising: a housing having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side in a first direction, a first contact assembly, a second contact assembly, a third contact assembly, and a fourth contact assembly arranged in sequence from the first side to the second side; a first contact assembly comprising a first static contact and a first moving contact; a second contact assembly comprising a second static contact and a second moving contact; a third contact assembly comprising a third static contact and a third moving contact; and a fourth contact assembly comprising a fourth static contact and a fourth moving contact; wherein the circuit breaker further comprises a connecting wire, both ends of the connecting wire being electrically connected to the second contact assembly and the third contact assembly, respectively; and wherein the circuit breaker further comprises a first heat conductor and a second heat conductor, both sides of the first heat conductor being thermally insulated and connected to the first contact assembly and the second contact assembly, respectively, and both sides of the second heat conductor being thermally insulated and connected to the third contact assembly and the fourth contact assembly, respectively.

[0005] According to this solution, by connecting the second contact assembly with the third contact assembly, the current-carrying capacity of the connection between the second contact assembly and the third contact assembly is improved through shunting, and the heat generated by the first contact assembly is transferred to the second contact assembly through the first heat conductor, and the heat generated by the fourth contact assembly is transferred to the third contact assembly through the second heat conductor, so that the temperature of the circuit breaker will not be too high, thereby improving the current-carrying capacity of the circuit breaker.

[0006] In some embodiments, the first contact assembly, the second contact assembly, the third contact assembly and the fourth contact assembly may respectively have a first U-shaped terminal, a second U-shaped terminal, a third U-shaped terminal and a fourth U-shaped terminal; the first U-shaped terminal, the second U-shaped terminal, the third U-shaped terminal and the fourth U-shaped terminal are close to the power side, the first moving contact, the second moving contact, the third moving contact and the fourth moving contact are close to the load side, the first static contact is between the first moving contact and the first U-shaped terminal, the second static contact is between the second moving contact and the second U-shaped terminal, the third static contact is between the third moving contact and the third U-shaped terminal, and the fourth static contact is between the fourth moving contact. between the head and the fourth U-shaped terminal; the first U-shaped terminal has a first bottom wall electrically connected to the first static contact and a first left side wall and a first right side wall respectively extending from both sides of the first bottom wall; the second U-shaped terminal has a second bottom wall electrically connected to the second static contact and a second left side wall and a second right side wall respectively extending from both sides of the second bottom wall; the third U-shaped terminal has a third bottom wall electrically connected to the third static contact and a third left side wall and a third right side wall respectively extending from both sides of the third bottom wall; the fourth U-shaped terminal has a fourth bottom wall electrically connected to the fourth static contact and a fourth left side wall and a fourth right side wall respectively extending from both sides of the fourth bottom wall.

[0007] In some embodiments, both sides of the first heat conductor may be thermally insulated and connected to the first and second static contacts, and / or both sides of the second heat conductor may be thermally insulated and connected to the third and fourth static contacts.

[0008] According to this solution, since the position where the static contact and the moving contact in the circuit breaker generate the most heat, insulating and thermally connecting the heat conductor to the static contact can better improve the heat dissipation performance of the circuit breaker.

[0009] In some embodiments, both sides of the first thermal conductor can be respectively thermally insulated and connected to the first and second U-shaped terminals, and / or both sides of the second thermal conductor can be respectively thermally insulated and connected to the third and fourth U-shaped terminals.

[0010] According to this solution, since the moving contact frequently collides with the static contact during operation of the circuit breaker, the thermally insulated thermal connection of the heat conductor to the U-shaped terminal has better stability than the thermally insulated thermal connection of the heat conductor to the static contact.

[0011] In some embodiments, both sides of the first heat conductor can be fixed to the first right wall and the second left wall by screws, and both sides of the second heat conductor can be fixed to the third right wall and the fourth left wall by screws.

[0012] In some embodiments, the first heat conductor may have at least one first through hole, the screw passes through the first right side wall, the first through hole and the second left side wall and is fixed by a nut; the second heat conductor may have at least one second through hole, the screw passes through the third right side wall, the second through hole and the fourth left side wall and is fixed by a nut.

[0013] In some embodiments, a thermal grease layer may be provided between the first heat conductor and the first right wall and the second left wall, and a thermal grease layer may be provided between the second heat conductor and the third right wall and the fourth left wall.

[0014] According to this solution, by providing a thermally conductive silicone grease layer, the heat transfer efficiency can be further improved, thereby improving the heat dissipation performance of the circuit breaker and increasing the current carrying capacity of the circuit breaker.

[0015] In some aspects, the first heat conducting member and / or the second heat conducting member may be made of aluminum nitride or aluminum oxide.

[0016] In some embodiments, the cross-sectional area of ​​the first heat conducting member and / or the second heat conducting member perpendicular to the first direction may be no less than 200 mm. 2 .

[0017] In some aspects, the first contact assembly, the connecting wire, and the fourth contact assembly can be electrically connected to a three-phase power source. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a circuit breaker according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0019] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a circuit breaker according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of a thermal connection portion according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 Shown Figure 3 Exploded view of

[0022] Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram of a thermal connection portion according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 6 Shown Figure 5 Exploded diagram of .

[0024] Reference numerals:

[0025] 1 circuit breaker

[0026] 2 Actuation mechanism

[0027] S1 First side

[0028] S2 Second side

[0029] 10 First contact assembly

[0030] 12 First static contact

[0031] 14 First moving contact

[0032] 16 First U-shaped terminal

[0033] 17 first bottom surface

[0034] 18 First left side surface

[0035] 19 First right side surface

[0036] 20 Second contact assembly

[0037] 22 Second static contact

[0038] 24 Second moving contact

[0039] 26 Second U-shaped terminal

[0040] 27 Second bottom surface

[0041] 28 Second left side surface

[0042] 29 Second right side surface

[0043] 30 Third contact assembly

[0044] 32 Third static contact

[0045] 34 Third moving contact

[0046] 36 third U-shaped terminal

[0047] 37 third bottom surface

[0048] 38 Third left side surface

[0049] 39 Third right side surface

[0050] 40 Fourth contact assembly

[0051] 42 Fourth static contact

[0052] 44 Fourth moving contact

[0053] 46 fourth U-shaped terminal

[0054] 47 fourth bottom surface

[0055] 48 Fourth left side surface

[0056] 49 Fourth right side surface

[0057] 110 first heat conducting member

[0058] 113 screw

[0059] 114 Nut

[0060] 115 screws

[0061] 116 Thermal grease layer

[0062] 120 second heat conducting member

[0063] 130 connecting wire

[0064] P1 Phase 1

[0065] P2 Second phase

[0066] P3 third phase DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0067] In order to make the purpose, scheme and advantages of the technical solution of the present invention more clear, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings of specific embodiments of the present invention. Unless otherwise specified, the terms used herein have the common meanings in the art. The same reference numerals in the drawings represent the same components.

[0068] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a circuit breaker 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The circuit breaker 1 mainly includes a first contact assembly 10, a second contact assembly 20, a third contact assembly 30 and a fourth contact assembly 40, which are arranged in sequence from the first side S1 to the second side S2. The first contact assembly 10 includes a first static contact 12 and a first moving contact 14, the second contact assembly 20 includes a second static contact 22 and a second moving contact 24, the third contact assembly 30 includes a third static contact 32 and a third moving contact 34, and the fourth contact assembly 40 includes a fourth static contact 42 and a fourth moving contact 44. The closing and opening of the circuit are controlled by the contact and separation between the static contacts and the moving contacts.

[0069] In order to improve the current-carrying capacity of the circuit breaker 1, the circuit breaker 1 also includes a connecting line 130, and the second contact assembly 20 and the third contact assembly 30 are electrically connected through the connecting line 130. After being connected in parallel, the second contact assembly 20 and the third contact assembly 30 have a shunt effect on the current input from the power supply end.

[0070] In the above situation, the current in the first contact assembly 10 and the fourth contact assembly 40 (not shunted) is greater than the current in the second contact assembly 20 and the third contact assembly 30 (shunted), so that the heat generated in the first contact assembly 10 and the fourth contact assembly 40 is greater than the heat generated in the second contact assembly 20 and the third contact assembly 30, resulting in the temperature of the first contact assembly 10 and the fourth contact assembly 40 being higher than the temperature of the second contact assembly 20 and the third contact assembly 30.

[0071] The key to the present invention lies in how to reduce the temperatures of the first contact assembly 10 and the fourth contact assembly 40, which have higher temperatures. To this end, the circuit breaker 1 of the present invention also includes a first heat conductor 110 and a second heat conductor 120. The two sides of the first heat conductor 110 are respectively insulated and thermally connected to the first contact assembly 10 and the second contact assembly 20, so that the first contact assembly 10 transfers heat to the second contact assembly 20 via the first heat conductor 110, thereby reducing the temperature of the first contact assembly 10. Similarly, the second heat conductor 120 can also serve to reduce the temperature of the fourth contact assembly 40. In summary, the present invention improves the heat dissipation performance of the contact assembly in the circuit breaker 1 by arranging the heat conductors, thereby improving the current carrying capacity of the circuit breaker 1.

[0072] Alternatively, as Figure 2 As shown, the first contact assembly 10, the second contact assembly 20, the third contact assembly 30 and the fourth contact assembly 40 may respectively have a first U-shaped terminal 16, a second U-shaped terminal 26, a third U-shaped terminal 36 and a fourth U-shaped terminal 46. The first U-shaped terminal 16, the second U-shaped terminal 26, the third U-shaped terminal 36 and the fourth U-shaped terminal 46 are close to the power side (i.e., Figure 1 The first moving contact 14, the second moving contact 24, the third moving contact 34 and the fourth moving contact 44 are close to the load side (ie, Figure 1 The first stationary contact 12 is located between the first movable contact 14 and the first U-shaped terminal 16, the second stationary contact 22 is located between the second movable contact 24 and the second U-shaped terminal 26, the third stationary contact 32 is located between the third movable contact 34 and the third U-shaped terminal 36, and the fourth stationary contact 42 is located between the fourth movable contact 44 and the fourth U-shaped terminal 46. According to the above configuration, when the circuit breaker is in the closed state (i.e., the stationary contact is in contact with the movable contact), the current supplied by the power supply flows to the load via the U-shaped terminal, the stationary contact, and the movable contact in sequence.

[0073] Optionally, the first U-shaped terminal 16 has a first bottom wall 17 electrically connected to the first static contact 12 and a first left side wall 18 and a first right side wall 19 extending from both sides of the first bottom wall 17, respectively. The second U-shaped terminal 26 has a second bottom wall 27 electrically connected to the second static contact 22 and a second left side wall 28 and a second right side wall 29 extending from both sides of the second bottom wall 27, respectively. The third U-shaped terminal 36 has a third bottom wall 37 electrically connected to the third static contact 32 and a third left side wall 38 and a third right side wall 39 extending from both sides of the third bottom wall 37, respectively. The fourth U-shaped terminal 46 has a fourth bottom wall 47 electrically connected to the fourth static contact 42 and a fourth left side wall 48 and a fourth right side wall 49 extending from both sides of the fourth bottom wall 47. It should be understood that the "left" and "right" in the above-mentioned component names are merely exemplary and should not be understood as limiting the positional relationship of the components.

[0074] Preferably, both sides of the first heat conductor 110 can be respectively thermally insulated and connected to the first static contact 12 and the second static contact 22, and / or both sides of the second heat conductor 120 can be respectively thermally insulated and connected to the third static contact 32 and the fourth static contact 42. Because the position where the static contact and the moving contact of the circuit breaker 1 contact each other generates the most heat, insulating and thermally connecting the heat conductor to the static contact can better improve the heat dissipation performance of the circuit breaker 1, thereby improving the current carrying capacity of the circuit breaker 1.

[0075] Preferably, both sides of the first heat conductor 110 can be respectively insulated and thermally connected to the first U-shaped terminal 16 and the second U-shaped terminal 26, and / or both sides of the second heat conductor 120 can be respectively insulated and thermally connected to the third U-shaped terminal 36 and the fourth U-shaped terminal 46. Although connecting the heat conductor to the static contact can enable the circuit breaker 1 to have better heat dissipation performance, because the moving contact frequently collides with the static contact during operation of the circuit breaker 1, the connection between the heat conductor and the static contact may be unstable due to the frequent collisions of the static contact. Therefore, compared with the insulated thermal connection of the heat conductor to the static contact, the insulated thermal connection of the heat conductor to the U-shaped terminal has better stability.

[0076] Alternatively, as Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, both sides of the first heat conducting member 110 can be fixed to the first right side wall 19 and the second left side wall 28 by screws 115 respectively. Figure 3 and Figure 4 Only the fixed connection manner between the first heat conducting member 110 and the first and second contact assemblies 10 and 20 is shown, but the second heat conducting member 120 can also be fixed to the third and fourth contact assemblies 30 and 40 in a similar or even identical connection manner.

[0077] Alternatively, as Figure 5 and Figure 6As shown, the first heat conducting member 110 may have at least one first through hole, and the screw 113 passes through the first right side wall 19, the first through hole and the second left side wall 28 and is fixed by a nut 114. It should be understood that although Figure 5 and Figure 6 Only the fixed connection manner between the first heat conducting member 110 and the first and second contact assemblies 10 and 20 is shown, but the second heat conducting member 120 can also be fixed to the third and fourth contact assemblies 30 and 40 in a similar or even identical connection manner.

[0078] The above fixed connection manner of the heat conducting member is merely exemplary, and the present invention is not intended to limit the specific connection manner between the heat conducting member and the contact assembly, but includes any other suitable insulating thermal connection manner.

[0079] Preferably, a layer of thermally conductive silicone grease may be provided between the first heat conductor 110 and the first right side wall 19 and the second left side wall 28. Similarly, a layer of thermally conductive silicone grease may be provided between the second heat conductor 120 and the third right side wall 39 and the fourth left side wall 48. Providing a layer of thermally conductive silicone grease further improves heat transfer efficiency, thereby enhancing the heat dissipation performance of the circuit breaker 1 and increasing the current carrying capacity of the circuit breaker 1.

[0080] The thermal conductivity of the heat conductor mainly depends on the thermal conductivity of the material, the length of the heat conductor and the cross-sectional area of ​​the heat conductor. Since the relative positions between the contact assemblies are fixed, the length of the heat conductor is fixed. Therefore, the thermal conductivity and cross-sectional area of ​​the heat conductor can be optimized to improve the thermal conductivity of the heat conductor, thereby improving the heat dissipation performance of the circuit breaker 1 and thus improving the current carrying capacity of the circuit breaker 1.

[0081] Preferably, the first heat conducting member 110 and / or the second heat conducting member 120 can be made of aluminum nitride or aluminum oxide. Aluminum nitride or aluminum oxide has a high thermal conductivity, and thus can improve the thermal conductivity of the heat conducting member, thereby improving the heat dissipation performance of the circuit breaker 1 and thus increasing the current carrying capacity of the circuit breaker 1.

[0082] Preferably, the cross-sectional area of ​​the first heat conducting member 110 and / or the second heat conducting member 120 perpendicular to the first direction may be no less than 200 mm. 2 By designing a larger cross-sectional area of ​​the heat conductor, the heat conductivity of the heat conductor can be improved, thereby improving the heat dissipation performance of the circuit breaker 1, thereby increasing the current carrying capacity of the circuit breaker 1. Specifically, the circuit breaker 1 according to the present invention can increase the current carrying capacity from approximately 4kA to approximately 5kA.

[0083] The circuit breaker 1 of the present invention can be improved upon existing three-phase, four-wire circuit breakers and has good industrial applicability. For example, before the addition of the connecting wire 130, the first contact assembly 10 serves as a grounding wire, and the second, third, and fourth contact assemblies 20, 30, and 40 are respectively used to receive the three phase currents of a three-phase power supply. After the addition of the connecting wire 130, the first contact assembly 10 is used to receive the first phase P1 of the three-phase power supply. The second and third contact assemblies 20 and 30, after being connected in parallel, are used to receive the second phase P2 of the three-phase power supply. The fourth contact assembly 40 is used to receive the third phase P3 of the three-phase power supply.

[0084] This document describes in detail several exemplary embodiments of the present invention with reference to preferred embodiments. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made to the above-mentioned specific embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and that the various technical features and structures proposed in the present invention may be combined without exceeding the scope of protection of the present invention, which is determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A circuit breaker, characterized in that: include: a housing having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side in a first direction, wherein a first contact assembly, a second contact assembly, a third contact assembly and a fourth contact assembly are sequentially arranged from the first side to the second side; A first contact assembly, comprising a first static contact and a first moving contact; A second contact assembly, comprising a second static contact and a second movable contact; A third contact assembly, comprising a third static contact and a third movable contact; a fourth contact assembly, comprising a fourth static contact and a fourth movable contact; Wherein, the circuit breaker further includes a connecting wire, both ends of which are electrically connected to the second contact assembly and the third contact assembly respectively; And wherein, the circuit breaker further includes a first heat conductor and a second heat conductor, the two sides of the first heat conductor are respectively thermally insulated and connected to the first contact assembly and the second contact assembly, and the two sides of the second heat conductor are respectively thermally insulated and connected to the third contact assembly and the fourth contact assembly.

2. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein: The first contact assembly, the second contact assembly, the third contact assembly and the fourth contact assembly respectively have a first U-shaped terminal, a second U-shaped terminal, a third U-shaped terminal and a fourth U-shaped terminal; The first U-shaped terminal, the second U-shaped terminal, the third U-shaped terminal and the fourth U-shaped terminal are close to the power supply side, the first moving contact, the second moving contact, the third moving contact and the fourth moving contact are close to the load side, the first static contact is between the first moving contact and the first U-shaped terminal, the second static contact is between the second moving contact and the second U-shaped terminal, the third static contact is between the third moving contact and the third U-shaped terminal, and the fourth static contact is between the fourth moving contact and the fourth U-shaped terminal; The first U-shaped terminal has a first bottom wall electrically connected to the first static contact and a first left side wall and a first right side wall respectively extending from both sides of the first bottom wall; the second U-shaped terminal has a second bottom wall electrically connected to the second static contact and a second left side wall and a second right side wall respectively extending from both sides of the second bottom wall; the third U-shaped terminal has a third bottom wall electrically connected to the third static contact and a third left side wall and a third right side wall respectively extending from both sides of the third bottom wall; the fourth U-shaped terminal has a fourth bottom wall electrically connected to the fourth static contact and a fourth left side wall and a fourth right side wall respectively extending from both sides of the fourth bottom wall.

3. The circuit breaker according to claim 2, wherein: Both sides of the first heat conducting member are respectively thermally insulated and connected to the first static contact and the second static contact, and / or both sides of the second heat conducting member are respectively thermally insulated and connected to the third static contact and the fourth static contact.

4. The circuit breaker according to claim 2, wherein: Both sides of the first heat conductor are respectively thermally insulated and connected to the first U-shaped terminal and the second U-shaped terminal, and / or both sides of the second heat conductor are respectively thermally insulated and connected to the third U-shaped terminal and the fourth U-shaped terminal.

5. The circuit breaker according to claim 4, characterized in that Both sides of the first heat conducting member are fixed to the first right wall and the second left wall by screws, and both sides of the second heat conducting member are fixed to the third right wall and the fourth left wall by screws.

6. The circuit breaker according to claim 4, characterized in that The first heat-conducting member has at least one first through hole, a screw passes through the first right side wall, the first through hole and the second left side wall and is fixed by a nut; the second heat-conducting member has at least one second through hole, a screw passes through the third right side wall, the second through hole and the fourth left side wall and is fixed by a nut.

7. The circuit breaker according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that: A thermal conductive silicone grease layer is provided between the first heat conducting member and the first right wall and the second left wall, and a thermal conductive silicone grease layer is provided between the second heat conducting member and the third right wall and the fourth left wall.

8. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein: The first heat conducting member and / or the second heat conducting member are made of aluminum nitride or aluminum oxide.

9. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein: The cross-sectional area of ​​the first heat conducting member and / or the second heat conducting member perpendicular to the first direction is not less than 200 mm 2 .

10. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein: The first contact assembly, the connecting wire, and the fourth contact assembly are electrically connected to a three-phase power supply.

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