An ultra-low voltage bidirectional release

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of tripping device, and particularly relates to a super-low voltage bidirectional tripping device, which comprises a shell, an electromagnet in the shape of a hoof, a tripping swing arm and a permanent magnet are arranged in the shell, a coil of the electromagnet bears an externally input current, the tripping swing arm has a connecting end and a swing end, the connecting end is rotationally arranged in the shell, the swing end penetrates through the shell, the permanent magnet is coaxially driven with the connecting end between two magnetic poles of the electromagnet, so that the swing end can be swung in two directions respectively when the permanent magnet is acted on by magnetic fields in different directions of the electromagnet, and then the swing end cooperates with an operating mechanism of a circuit breaker to realize tripping of the circuit breaker. The super-low voltage bidirectional tripping device can reliably act in two directions under super-low voltage of about 2V to realize bidirectional tripping of the circuit breaker, and the overall power consumption is extremely low, and the super-low voltage bidirectional tripping device is particularly suitable for low-power and low-voltage application scenarios.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of trip unit technology, and in particular to an ultra-low voltage bidirectional trip unit. Background Technology

[0002] In low-voltage power distribution systems, circuit breakers are crucial protective electrical appliances. Their tripping function is achieved by the trip unit applying a force to the operating mechanism inside the circuit breaker. For scenarios requiring bidirectional tripping (such as forward / reverse control, bidirectional protection, and double-break circuit breakers), existing technologies often employ relay-based solutions or complex electromagnetic drive devices. These traditional bidirectional trip units typically rely on electromagnetic force to directly drive the swing arm or armature, and must overcome the preload of the return spring to complete the tripping action. This leads to the following problems: First, the required driving power and voltage are relatively high to ensure that the electromagnet generates a sufficiently large force. Gravity-driven armatures typically require tens of volts or even higher to operate reliably. Currently, DC 12V relay-type trip units are commonly used in circuit breakers. Secondly, in order to generate sufficient electromagnetic force to overcome the resistance of the reset spring, the coil has many turns and high resistance. To prevent the trip unit from fully engaging, the energizing time of the electromagnet's coil needs to be extended, resulting in high overall power consumption and heat generation. Therefore, in applications where ultra-low voltage (e.g., around DC 2V) signals are directly driven, traditional structures cannot operate reliably due to insufficient driving force, greatly limiting their application in low-power, battery-powered, or special low-voltage control systems. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, the purpose of this invention is to provide an ultra-low voltage bidirectional trip unit to solve the above problems.

[0004] For the purposes described above, the present invention provides:

[0005] An ultra-low voltage bidirectional trip unit includes a housing, and the housing contains:

[0006] A horseshoe-shaped electromagnet, the coil of which is used to receive a control current;

[0007] A tripping swing arm, which has a connecting end and a swinging end, wherein the connecting end is rotatably disposed inside the housing, and the swinging end extends out of the housing;

[0008] The permanent magnet is located between the two magnetic poles of the electromagnet and is coaxially driven with the connecting end. When the permanent magnet is subjected to magnetic fields in different directions by the electromagnet, it can drive the swing end to swing in two directions respectively, thereby enabling the swing end to cooperate with the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker to achieve circuit breaker tripping.

[0009] Preferably, an isolation plate is provided inside the housing, and the electromagnet and the permanent magnet are respectively disposed on both sides of the isolation plate. The two vertical parts of the U-shaped iron core of the electromagnet pass through the isolation plate and are located on both sides of the permanent magnet. The permanent magnet is cylindrical and radially magnetized.

[0010] Preferably, the inner wall of the housing is formed with a positioning rod that passes through the rotation center of the connecting end.

[0011] Preferably, the inner wall of the housing and the partition plate are respectively formed with a first support protrusion and a second support protrusion in a circular shape with the same center as the positioning rod, and the first support protrusion and the second support protrusion abut against both sides of the connecting end.

[0012] Preferably, two mounting plates are erected on the isolation plate, and the mounting plates are provided with mounting grooves that match the iron core of the electromagnet. The horizontal part of the iron core of the electromagnet is inserted into the mounting groove, and the coil of the electromagnet is wound on the horizontal part of the iron core of the electromagnet and located between the two mounting plates.

[0013] Preferably, the connecting end has an installation cavity that matches the permanent magnet, a transmission rod is formed on the bottom wall of the installation cavity, a limit key is formed on the circumferential surface of the transmission rod, a transmission hole that matches the transmission rod is formed at the center of the permanent magnet, a limit groove that matches the limit key is formed on the inner wall of the transmission hole, and the permanent magnet is placed in the installation cavity so that the transmission rod and the limit key pass through the transmission hole and the limit groove respectively.

[0014] Preferably, the coil of the electromagnet consists of a first coil and a second coil wound in parallel on an iron core.

[0015] Preferably, the swing end has two mating portions extending in two swing directions respectively.

[0016] Preferably, the housing is composed of an upper housing and a lower housing joined together by fasteners.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0018] 1. A coupling structure with a permanent magnet placed between the two poles of an electromagnet is adopted. The direction of the pushing / pulling force on the permanent magnet is controlled by the change in the direction of the magnetic field generated by the change in the direction of the current in the coil of the electromagnet. The permanent magnet body provides a stable bias magnetic field. The electromagnet only needs to provide a small control magnetomotive force to change the resultant torque and realize the swing of the trip arm. This allows the trip unit to operate reliably under an ultra-low voltage of about 2V. At the same time, the coil current is small and the overall power consumption is extremely low, making it particularly suitable for low power consumption and low voltage application scenarios.

[0019] 2. By simply changing the direction of the current in the input coil, the tripping arm can be precisely controlled to swing in two opposite directions, achieving bidirectional tripping function with clear and reliable action;

[0020] 3. The permanent magnet is directly connected to the tripping swing arm on the same axis, resulting in a short transmission path and no intermediate conversion mechanism, which makes the tripping device respond quickly and act sensitively.

[0021] 4. With fewer moving parts, a simple structure, and fewer wear points, the magnetic drive is a non-contact action, eliminating mechanical fatigue issues and resulting in a long service life for the trip unit. Attached Figure Description

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only for this invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the isolation plate and the electromagnet in this invention;

[0027] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the tripping swing arm and permanent magnet in this invention.

[0028] The diagram is marked as follows:

[0029] 1. Housing; 11. Upper housing; 12. Lower housing; 13. Positioning rod; 14. First support protrusion; 2. Electromagnet; 21. Iron core; 22. Coil; 3. Tripping swing arm; 31. Connecting end; 32. Swinging end; 33. Mounting cavity; 34. Transmission rod; 35. Limit key; 36. Mating part; 4. Permanent magnet; 41. Transmission hole; 42. Limiting groove; 5. Isolation plate; 51. Second support protrusion; 6. Mounting plate; 61. Mounting groove. Detailed Implementation

[0030] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0031] It should be noted that, unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in this invention should have the ordinary meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terms "first," "second," and similar terms used in this invention do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Terms such as "comprising" or "including" mean that the element or object preceding the word encompasses the elements or objects listed following the word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Terms such as "connected" or "linked" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but can include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. Terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are used only to indicate relative positional relationships; when the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0032] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown, an ultra-low voltage bidirectional trip unit includes a housing 1, an electromagnet 2, a tripping swing arm 3, and a permanent magnet 4.

[0033] The housing 1 is composed of an upper housing 11 and a lower housing 12 connected by snap fasteners to form a sealed protective space. This snap-fit ​​structure simplifies the assembly process of the trip unit, facilitates the installation and maintenance of internal components, and reduces mold costs while improving production efficiency and product consistency.

[0034] An isolation plate 5 is provided inside the housing 1, which is located horizontally between the upper housing 11 and the lower housing 12, and roughly divides the internal space of the housing 1 into upper and lower parts. The electromagnet 2 and the permanent magnet 4 are respectively arranged on both sides of the isolation plate 5 and are located in the upper and lower parts of the space formed by the isolation plate 5, so that the electromagnet 2 and the permanent magnet 4 are effectively separated, avoiding unnecessary magnetic field interference and improving the efficiency of the magnetic circuit.

[0035] Electromagnet 2 is disposed inside housing 1 above isolation plate 5. It includes a U-shaped iron core 21 and a coil 22 wound on the horizontal part of the iron core 21, forming a horseshoe-shaped electromagnet 2. The two vertical parts of the iron core 21 pass through through holes in the isolation plate 5. Permanent magnet 4 is disposed inside housing 1 below isolation plate 5. It is preferably cylindrical and radially magnetized, with the center of permanent magnet 4 located at the midpoint between the two pole shoes of electromagnet 2. The two magnetic poles of permanent magnet 4 are symmetrically distributed along the center of permanent magnet 4. The radially magnetized permanent magnet 4 has a longer torque arm, which allows it to... To generate a greater torque, the two vertical parts of the iron core 21 pass through the isolation plate 5 and are located on the left and right sides of the permanent magnet 4, respectively. That is, the two magnetic poles of the electromagnet 2 are located on the left and right sides of the permanent magnet 4. By changing the direction of the current in the input coil 22, the direction of the magnetic field acting on the permanent magnet 4 can be changed efficiently. The push / pull force between the magnetic poles drives the permanent magnet 4 and drives the tripping swing arm 3 to swing in both directions. The magnetic energy utilization rate is extremely high, which lays the foundation for the tripping device action in ultra-low voltage application scenarios. Furthermore, the closed magnetic circuit formed by the horseshoe-shaped electromagnet 2 and the permanent magnet 4 effectively enhances the magnetic field strength of the working air gap.

[0036] The tripping swing arm 3 is lever-shaped, with a cylindrical connecting end 31 and a swing end 32 that extends out of the housing 1. On the inner wall of the lower housing 12, a positioning rod 13 protrudes upward to form a positioning rod 13. The positioning rod 13 is inserted into the rotation center of the connecting end 31 located below the isolation plate 5, providing a precise rotation fulcrum for the rotation of the connecting end 31, i.e. the swing of the tripping swing arm 3, effectively reducing friction and sway during the swinging process of the tripping swing arm 3.

[0037] To further ensure the motion accuracy of the tripping arm 3 during swing, a second annular support protrusion 51 is formed on the lower surface of the isolation plate 5 at the same center as the positioning rod 13. At the same time, a first annular support protrusion 14 is formed on the inner wall of the lower housing 12 at the same center as the positioning rod 13. The first support protrusion 14 and the second support protrusion 51 abut against the lower end face and the upper end face of the connecting end 31, respectively, providing stable axial limiting for the connecting end 31. This effectively prevents axial movement of the tripping arm 3 during swing, improving the stability and reliability of the tripping arm 3 during swing. Furthermore, the end faces of the first support protrusion 14 and the second support protrusion 51 that abut against the connecting end 31 are arc-shaped, reducing the contact area between the tripping arm 3 and the first support protrusion 14 and the second support protrusion 51 during swing, thereby reducing friction during swing.

[0038] Two parallel mounting plates 6 are erected on the isolation plate 5. The mounting plates 6 have mounting grooves 61 that match the shape of the horizontal part of the iron core 21. The two ends of the horizontal part of the iron core 21 are precisely inserted into the two mounting grooves 61. The coil 22 is wound on the horizontal part of the iron core 21 and located between the two mounting plates 6. This installation method allows the iron core 21 to be quickly and accurately positioned and firmly fixed during assembly. At the same time, the coil 22 is protected between the two mounting plates 6 to prevent the coil 22 from shifting under force during assembly or use, thereby improving the stability of the overall structure.

[0039] An installation cavity 33 matching the shape of the permanent magnet 4 is provided on the upper end face of the connecting end 31. A transmission rod 34 is formed by the upward protrusion of the bottom wall center of the installation cavity 33. A limiting key 35 is formed on the circumferential surface of the transmission rod 34. Correspondingly, a transmission hole 41 matching the transmission rod 34 is provided in the center of the permanent magnet 4. A limiting groove 42 matching the limiting key 35 is provided on the inner wall of the transmission hole 41. During assembly, the permanent magnet 4 is placed into the installation cavity 33, so that the transmission rod 34 is inserted into the transmission hole 41, and the limiting key 35 is inserted into the limiting groove 42, so as to realize the coaxial transmission between the permanent magnet 4 and the connecting end 31. The transmission path is short and there is no intermediate conversion mechanism, which ensures that the release swing arm 3 has a fast response speed and sensitive action.

[0040] The bidirectional trip unit with the above structure operates in the following manner:

[0041] When coil 22 is not energized, the trip unit is in a static equilibrium formed by the magnetic field of permanent magnet 4 and iron core 21, and the tripping swing arm 3 is stationary. When tripping in one direction is required, an ultra-low voltage pulse current (as low as about 2V) is supplied to coil 22, causing the two magnetic poles of electromagnet 2 to form at the ends of the two vertical parts of iron core 21 located on both sides of permanent magnet 4. At this time, an interaction force is generated between the two magnetic poles of permanent magnet 4 and the two magnetic poles of electromagnet 2, causing permanent magnet 4 to be subjected to a resultant torque in one direction within the control magnetic field formed between the two magnetic poles of electromagnet 2, driving permanent magnet 4 to rotate in one direction. Permanent magnet 4 drives the swing end 32 of tripping swing arm 3 through the cooperation of limit key 35 and limit groove 42, so that the swing end 32 of tripping swing arm 3 cooperates with the operating mechanism of circuit breaker to realize tripping in one direction of circuit breaker. When tripping in another direction is required, a directional current is supplied to coil 22. The opposite pulse current reverses the control magnetic field between the two poles of electromagnet 2, driving permanent magnet 4 to rotate in the opposite direction. This, in turn, causes the swing end 32 of tripping arm 3 to swing in the opposite direction, enabling the swing end 32 of tripping arm 3 to cooperate with the circuit breaker's operating mechanism to achieve tripping in the other direction. This achieves bidirectional tripping of the circuit breaker in ultra-low voltage applications, and achieves the following effects: the driving force generated by the magnetic field directly drives the tripping arm without overcoming other resistance, achieving bidirectional tripping even at low driving voltage, with fast response speed and extremely low overall power consumption; permanent magnet 4 and tripping arm 3 are coaxially and directly connected, with a short transmission path and no intermediate conversion mechanism, resulting in fast response speed and sensitive action of the trip unit; fewer moving parts, simple structure, fewer wear points, and non-contact magnetic drive eliminate mechanical fatigue problems, resulting in a long service life of the trip unit.

[0042] Furthermore, based on the above structure, the coil 22 of the electromagnet 2 is composed of a first coil and a second coil wound in parallel on the horizontal part of the iron core 21. The first coil and the second coil are respectively connected to two pulse currents of opposite directions that are passed through the coil 22 in succession when performing bidirectional tripping. By configuring the interval time of the two pulse currents, the magnetic field of the electromagnet 2 can be reversed more quickly, improving the response speed of the two actions of the tripping swing arm 3, thereby realizing the bidirectional tripping function more quickly and accurately.

[0043] Furthermore, based on the above structure, the swing end 32 forms two mating parts 36 extending in two swing directions respectively. The mating parts 36 are specifically adapted to the components in the circuit breaker's operating mechanism, ensuring that the mating parts 36 can accurately cooperate with the circuit breaker's operating mechanism to achieve tripping when the swing end 32 of the tripping swing arm 3 swings.

[0044] Those skilled in the art should understand that the discussion of any of the above embodiments is merely exemplary and is not intended to imply that the scope of the invention (including the claims) is limited to these examples; within the framework of the invention, the technical features of the above embodiments or different embodiments can also be combined, the steps can be implemented in any order, and there are many other variations of the different aspects of the invention as described above, which are not provided in the details for the sake of brevity.

[0045] This invention is intended to cover all such substitutions, modifications, and variations that fall within the broad scope of the appended claims. Therefore, any omissions, modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this invention should be included within the scope of protection of this invention.

Claims

1. An ultra-low voltage bidirectional trip unit, comprising a housing (1), characterized in that, The housing (1) is provided with: A horseshoe-shaped electromagnet (2), the coil (22) of which is used to connect a control current; The tripping swing arm (3) has a connecting end (31) and a swing end (32). The connecting end (31) is rotatably disposed inside the housing (1), and the swing end (32) extends out of the housing (1). The permanent magnet (4) is located between the two magnetic poles of the electromagnet (2) and is coaxially driven with the connecting end (31). When the permanent magnet (4) is subjected to the magnetic field of the electromagnet (2) in different directions, it can drive the swing end (32) to swing in two directions respectively, so that the swing end (32) can cooperate with the action mechanism of the circuit breaker to realize the circuit breaker tripping.

2. The ultra-low voltage bidirectional trip unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing (1) is provided with an isolation plate (5). The electromagnet (2) and the permanent magnet (4) are respectively located on both sides of the isolation plate (5). The two vertical parts of the U-shaped iron core (21) of the electromagnet (2) pass through the isolation plate (5) and are located on both sides of the permanent magnet (4). The permanent magnet (4) is cylindrical and radially magnetized.

3. The ultra-low voltage bidirectional trip unit according to claim 2, characterized in that, The inner wall of the housing (1) is formed with a positioning rod (13) that passes through the rotation center of the connecting end (31).

4. The ultra-low voltage bidirectional trip unit according to claim 3, characterized in that, The inner wall of the housing (1) and the partition plate (5) are respectively formed with a first support protrusion (14) and a second support protrusion (51) in a circular shape with the same center as the positioning rod (13). The first support protrusion (14) and the second support protrusion (51) respectively abut against both sides of the connecting end (31).

5. The ultra-low voltage bidirectional trip unit according to claim 2, characterized in that, Two mounting plates (6) are erected on the isolation plate (5). The mounting plate (6) has a mounting groove (61) that matches the iron core (21) of the electromagnet (2). The horizontal part of the iron core (21) of the electromagnet (2) is inserted into the mounting groove (61). The coil (22) of the electromagnet (2) is wound on the horizontal part of the iron core (21) of the electromagnet (2) and located between the two mounting plates (6).

6. The ultra-low voltage bidirectional trip unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting end (31) has an installation cavity (33) that matches the permanent magnet (4). A transmission rod (34) is formed on the bottom wall of the installation cavity (33). A limit key (35) is formed on the circumferential surface of the transmission rod (34). A transmission hole (41) that matches the transmission rod (34) is opened in the center of the permanent magnet (4). A limit groove (42) that matches the limit key (35) is opened on the inner wall of the transmission hole (41). The permanent magnet (4) is placed in the installation cavity (33) so that the transmission rod (34) and the limit key (35) pass through the transmission hole (41) and the limit groove (42) respectively.

7. The ultra-low voltage bidirectional trip unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The coil (22) of the electromagnet (2) consists of a first coil and a second coil wound in parallel on the iron core (21).

8. The ultra-low voltage bidirectional trip unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The swing end (32) has two mating parts (36) that extend in two swing directions respectively.

9. The ultra-low voltage bidirectional trip unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing (1) is composed of an upper housing (11) and a lower housing (12) joined together by fasteners.

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