Circuit breaker

Abstract

The embodiment of the utility model provides a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker comprises a shell, a handle, a tripping mechanism, a contact assembly and a sliding cover. The handle is rotatably coupled to the housing and is switchable between a closing position and an opening position. The tripping mechanism is arranged in the shell and coupled to the handle, and the tripping mechanism can be driven by the handle to move. The contact assembly is disposed within the housing and coupled to the tripping mechanism. The slide cover is slidably coupled to one side of the housing and coupled to the handle. By means of the arrangement, the handle is driven by the sliding cover to be switched between the switching-on position and the switching-off position, an original handle shifting control mode of the circuit breaker can be adjusted into a sliding control mode, and operation of a user is facilitated. Meanwhile, the sliding cover can be matched with an existing handle of the circuit breaker, most structures of the circuit breaker do not need to be changed, existing parts can be utilized, and therefore design and manufacturing cost is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of electrical equipment, and more particularly to a circuit breaker. Background Art

[0002] A circuit breaker can cut off a circuit when an anomaly occurs, ensuring safe and convenient electricity use. In some conventional circuit breakers, the circuit breaker includes a handle. To open the circuit, the handle is moved to the closed position, at which point the contacts in the circuit breaker close and the circuit is connected. To close the circuit, the handle is moved to the open position, separating the contacts and disconnecting the circuit. However, for frequent operations, the opening and closing of the handle may increase the operator's labor intensity, thereby affecting work efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0003] An object of the embodiments of the present disclosure is to provide a circuit breaker to at least partially solve the above problems and other potential problems.

[0004] The present disclosure provides a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes: a housing; a handle rotatably coupled to the housing and capable of switching between a closed position and an open position; a trip mechanism disposed within the housing and coupled to the handle, the trip mechanism being movable under the drive of the handle; a contact assembly disposed within the housing and coupled to the trip mechanism; and a sliding cover slidably coupled to one side of the housing and to the handle, the sliding cover being capable of driving the handle to switch between the closed position and the open position.

[0005] In some embodiments, a sliding groove is provided on a side of the housing facing the sliding cover, and a guiding portion is provided on a side of the sliding cover facing the housing, and the guiding portion is slidably coupled to the sliding groove.

[0006] In some embodiments, a drag reduction component is provided between the sliding cover and the housing for reducing the resistance of the sliding cover when sliding.

[0007] In some embodiments, a plurality of limiting grooves are provided on the side of the shell facing the sliding cover, and the drag reduction component includes: a plurality of limiting seats, which are respectively provided in the plurality of limiting grooves, and each limiting seat is provided with a accommodating cavity; and a plurality of balls, which are respectively rotatably provided in the accommodating cavities of the plurality of limiting seats, and each ball protrudes out of the corresponding accommodating cavity and contacts the sliding cover.

[0008] In some embodiments, the drag reduction assembly includes: a first magnetic member coupled to the housing; and a second magnetic member coupled to the sliding cover on a side of the sliding cover facing the housing, and the magnetic poles of the second magnetic member and the adjacent sides of the first magnetic member are the same.

[0009] In some embodiments, an operating portion for sliding the sliding cover is provided on a side of the sliding cover away from the housing.

[0010] In some embodiments, a groove is provided on a side of the sliding cover facing the handle, and the circuit breaker further comprises: a connecting member provided in the groove and rotatably coupled to the handle.

[0011] In some embodiments, the position of the groove corresponds to the position of the operating portion.

[0012] In some embodiments, an edge of the housing is provided with a connection portion for fixing the housing.

[0013] In some embodiments, a first mark and a second mark are provided on the side of the shell facing the sliding cover, the first mark is used to indicate that the handle is in the closed position, and the second mark is used to indicate that the handle is in the open position; when the handle is in the closed position, the sliding cover covers the second mark; when the handle is in the open position, the sliding cover covers the first mark.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a circuit breaker includes a housing, a handle, a tripping mechanism, a contact assembly, and a sliding cover. The handle is rotatably coupled to the housing and can be switched between a closed position and an open position. The tripping mechanism is disposed in the housing and coupled to the handle, and the tripping mechanism can move under the drive of the handle. The contact assembly is disposed in the housing and coupled to the tripping mechanism. The sliding cover is slidably coupled to one side of the housing and coupled to the handle. With this arrangement, the handle is driven to switch between the closed position and the open position by the sliding cover, and the circuit breaker can be adjusted from the original handle toggle control mode to the sliding control mode, which facilitates the user's operation. At the same time, the sliding cover can cooperate with the existing handle of the circuit breaker, and most of the structure of the circuit breaker does not need to be changed. Existing parts can be used, thereby reducing design and manufacturing costs.

[0015] It should be understood that the content described in this content section is not intended to limit the key features or important features of the embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily understood through the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The above and other features, advantages and aspects of the embodiments of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar elements, wherein:

[0017] Figure 1 A perspective view of a circuit breaker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0018] Figure 2 An exploded view of a circuit breaker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown, wherein a chute is shown;

[0019] Figure 3 A schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a circuit breaker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0020] Figure 4 An exploded view of a circuit breaker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown, wherein the guide portion is shown; and

[0021] Figure 5 An exploded view of a circuit breaker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown, wherein the drag reduction assembly includes a ball and a limiting seat.

[0022] Description of reference numerals:

[0023] 100. Circuit breaker;

[0024] 10. Housing; 11. Slide groove; 12. Limiting groove; 13. First mark; 14. Second mark; 15. Connecting portion;

[0025] 20. Handle;

[0026] 30. Contact assembly; 31. Moving contact; 32. Static contact;

[0027] 40. Sliding cover; 41. Guide portion; 42. Operating portion; 43. Groove; 44. Connecting piece;

[0028] 50. Drag reduction assembly; 51. Ball; 52. Limit seat; 520. Accommodation cavity; 521. Through hole;

[0029] 60. Tripping mechanism. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms and should not be limited by the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to make the present disclosure more thorough and complete, and to fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0031] As used herein, the term "including" and its variations represent open inclusion, i.e., "including but not limited to." Unless otherwise stated, the term "or" means "and / or." The term "based on" means "based at least in part on." The terms "one example embodiment" and "an embodiment" mean "at least one example embodiment." The term "another embodiment" means "at least one additional embodiment." The terms "first," "second," etc. may refer to different or identical objects.

[0032] As mentioned above, some conventional circuit breakers include a handle. To open a circuit, the handle is moved to the closed position, closing the contacts and conducting the circuit. To close the circuit, the handle is moved to the open position, separating the contacts and disconnecting the circuit. However, for frequent operations, the manual opening and closing of the handle can increase the operator's workload, thereby affecting work efficiency.

[0033] An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a circuit breaker. In the circuit breaker, a handle is rotatably coupled to the housing and can be switched between a closed position and an open position. A sliding cover is slidably coupled to one side of the housing and coupled to the handle. With this arrangement, the handle is driven to switch between the closed position and the open position by the sliding cover, and the circuit breaker can be adjusted from the original handle toggle control mode to a sliding control mode, which facilitates user operation. Figures 1 to 5 To describe the principles of the present disclosure in detail.

[0034] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the circuit breaker 100 mainly includes a housing 10 , a handle 20 , a tripping mechanism 60 , a contact assembly 30 and a sliding cover 40 .

[0035] The housing 10 serves as the framework of the entire circuit breaker 100, providing space for mounting internal electronic components and protecting them from external environmental influences. The handle 20 is rotatably connected to the housing 10. For example, a pin can be provided on the housing 10, and a pin hole can be provided on the handle 20. The pin and the pin hole cooperate to allow the handle 20 to rotate relative to the housing 10. The user can toggle the handle 20 between the closed and open positions.

[0036] like Figure 3 As shown, the tripping mechanism 60 is disposed in the housing 10 and is coupled to the handle 20 and the contact assembly 30. When the user operates the handle 20, the tripping mechanism 60 can be driven by the handle 20 to move.

[0037] like Figure 3 As shown, the contact assembly 30 can realize the function of power on and off. The contact assembly 30 is located inside the housing 10 and is connected to the trip mechanism 60. When the user performs an operation through the handle 20, the contact assembly 30 will move accordingly under the drive of the trip mechanism 60, thereby closing or opening the circuit.

[0038] In some embodiments, the contact assembly 30 includes a moving contact 31 and a stationary contact 32. The moving contact 31 is coupled to the trip mechanism 60. When the trip mechanism 60 is driven by the handle 20, the moving contact 31 moves accordingly. The stationary contact 32 is fixed to one side of the moving contact 31. The contact or separation between the moving contact 31 and the stationary contact 32 controls the on / off state of the circuit breaker 100. When the moving contact 31 and the stationary contact 32 make contact, the circuit is closed and the power is turned on. When the moving contact 31 and the stationary contact 32 separate, the circuit is disconnected and the power is turned off.

[0039] In some embodiments, the tripping mechanism 60 includes an operating assembly and a tripping assembly. The operating assembly can adopt a four-bar linkage structure, which can effectively transmit the rotation or sliding movement of the handle 20, ensuring that the moving contact 31 of the contact assembly 30 moves under the drive of the operating assembly. Of course, the tripping mechanism 60 can also adopt other similar designs, such as gear transmission, cam mechanism, etc., to adapt to different usage requirements and application scenarios. The tripping assembly is coupled to the operating assembly, and its main function is to quickly cut off the power supply in abnormal conditions such as circuit overload or short circuit to protect the safety of the circuit and equipment.

[0040] In some embodiments, the trip assembly may include a detection unit and an execution unit, such as a thermal trip assembly and a magnetic trip assembly. The detection unit is responsible for monitoring the current or temperature changes in the circuit. Once an abnormal situation is detected, the execution unit can act immediately and drive the moving contact 31 and the static contact 32 to separate through the operating assembly, thereby cutting off the power supply.

[0041] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the sliding cover 40 is slidably mounted on one side of the housing 10 and is mechanically connected to the handle 20. The user can push the sliding cover 40 to slide along the housing 10, and the sliding cover 40 drives the handle 20 to switch between the closed position and the open position during the sliding process.

[0042] With this arrangement, the user switches the state of the circuit breaker 100 by pushing the slider 40, switching from the original handle-toggle control mode to a sliding control mode, facilitating user operation. Furthermore, the slider 40 can be used with the existing handle 20 of the circuit breaker 100, leaving the majority of the circuit breaker 100 structure unchanged and utilizing existing components, thereby reducing design and manufacturing costs.

[0043] In some embodiments, as Figures 2 to 4As shown, to ensure that the sliding cover 40 can move smoothly along the housing 10, a sliding groove 11 is provided on the side of the housing 10 facing the sliding cover 40, and a matching guide portion 41 is provided on the side of the sliding cover 40 facing the housing 10. The guide portion 41 is slidably coupled to the sliding groove 11. With this arrangement, the cooperation between the sliding groove 11 and the guide portion 41 not only allows the sliding cover 40 to slide stably, but also prevents the sliding cover 40 from falling off the housing 10.

[0044] In some embodiments, as Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the guide portion 41 is a T-shaped structure, and the slide groove 11 is correspondingly designed as a T-slot. This arrangement not only prevents the sliding cover 40 from lateral displacement during sliding, but also utilizes the limiting effect between the T-shaped structure and the T-slot to make the sliding cover 40 more stable and reliable during sliding, preventing the sliding cover 40 from accidentally falling off due to external vibration or impact.

[0045] In other embodiments, the guide portion 41 and the chute 11 may also take other forms, such as dovetail, rectangular, etc. Different shapes are suitable for different application scenarios and needs. For example, the combination of the dovetail-shaped guide portion 41 and the chute 11 can provide higher anti-slip performance and is suitable for situations where it is necessary to withstand large lateral forces. The rectangular guide portion 41 and the chute 11 can reduce design and manufacturing costs. It should be understood that the design forms of the guide portion 41 and the chute 11 are diverse and can be flexibly selected according to actual needs, and the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to this.

[0046] In some embodiments, the adjacent sides of the sliding cover 40 and the housing 10 may be surface treated. With this arrangement, it is possible to ensure that the sliding cover 40 can maintain good sliding performance and stability during long-term use.

[0047] In some embodiments, as Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, to enhance the sliding performance of the sliding cover 40, a drag reduction assembly 50 is positioned between the sliding cover 40 and the housing 10. This arrangement allows the sliding cover 40 to move more easily and flexibly. Furthermore, the drag reduction assembly 50 helps reduce wear between the sliding cover 40 and the housing 10, extending the product's service life and reducing maintenance costs. Furthermore, the drag reduction assembly 50 absorbs and mitigates vibration and noise generated by the sliding cover 40, making the circuit breaker 100 quieter and more stable during use.

[0048] In some embodiments, as Figure 2 、 Figure 3 and Figure 5As shown, a plurality of retaining grooves 12 are provided on the side of the housing 10 facing the sliding cover 40. These retaining grooves 12 provide installation space for the drag reduction assembly 50. The drag reduction assembly 50 can be composed of a plurality of retaining seats 52 and a plurality of balls 51. Each retaining seat 52 is disposed within a retaining groove 12 on the housing 10, and each retaining seat 52 has an accommodating cavity 520 disposed therein. A ball 51 is rotatably disposed within the accommodating cavity 520, with a portion of the ball 51 protruding from the accommodating cavity 520 and directly contacting the bottom surface of the sliding cover 40.

[0049] like Figure 2 、 Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, a plurality of limit grooves 12 can be arranged in a straight line to ensure that the sliding cover 40 slides smoothly along a predetermined track. The limit seat 52 is tightly fitted with the corresponding limit groove 12. During the sliding of the sliding cover 40, the limit seat 52 will not deviate or loosen. The size of the accommodating cavity 520 of each limit seat 52 is adapted to the diameter of the ball 51, which can ensure that the ball 51 can rotate freely in the accommodating cavity 520, while also avoiding unnecessary shaking caused by excessive gaps. In some embodiments, the ball 51 is generally made of stainless steel or ceramic materials with high hardness and low friction coefficient. These materials not only have excellent wear resistance and corrosion resistance, but also maintain good rolling performance after long-term use.

[0050] With this arrangement, when the sliding cover 40 slides along the housing 10 , the balls 51 contact and roll with the bottom surface of the sliding cover 40 , converting the original sliding friction into rolling friction, which not only reduces friction but also improves the sliding speed and responsiveness of the sliding cover 40 .

[0051] In other embodiments, the drag reduction assembly 50 can be implemented using magnetic components. For example, the drag reduction assembly 50 may include a first magnetic component and a second magnetic component. The first magnetic component is coupled to the housing 10, while the second magnetic component is coupled to the side of the sliding cover 40 facing the housing 10. In this arrangement, the magnetic poles of the adjacent sides of the first and second magnetic components are the same, generating a mutually repulsive magnetic force between them. With this arrangement, the sliding cover 40 can be suspended on one side of the housing 10 during sliding, thereby reducing physical contact between the two and lowering friction.

[0052] In a specific implementation, the first magnetic member can be fixed inside or on the surface of the housing 10. The first magnetic member is positioned stably and does not affect the normal sliding of the sliding cover 40. The second magnetic member is mounted on the bottom of the sliding cover 40, corresponding to the first magnetic member. In some embodiments, the magnetic member is typically made of high-performance neodymium iron boron magnets or other high magnetic energy product materials to ensure sufficient repulsive force.

[0053] This arrangement allows the sliding cover 40 to slide more smoothly and effortlessly, with minimal resistance during operation, thus enhancing the user experience. In scenarios with frequent switching operations, the frictionless sliding method significantly reduces wear on the sliding cover 40, extending its service life. Furthermore, the magnetic levitation structure effectively reduces noise and vibration generated by the sliding of the sliding cover 40, making the circuit breaker 100 quieter and more stable during use.

[0054] In some embodiments, as Figures 1 to 5 As shown, an operating portion 42 is provided on a side of the sliding cover 40 away from the housing 10. The operating portion 42 provides a location for the user to directly contact and apply force, thereby ensuring smoothness and stability of the sliding cover 40 during sliding.

[0055] In some embodiments, the operating portion 42 can be ergonomically designed to provide a better grip when a user's finger touches it. For example, the size and shape of the operating portion 42 can be adapted to the finger sizes and operating habits of different users, ensuring that the user can easily complete the sliding operation. With this arrangement, the user can more conveniently control the opening and closing of the slider 40.

[0056] In some embodiments, as Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, to achieve the connection between the sliding cover 40 and the handle 20, a groove 43 is provided on the side of the sliding cover 40 facing the handle 20. A connector 44 is disposed within the groove 43, serving as a transitional structure between the sliding cover 40 and the handle 20. The connector 44 is rotatably coupled to the handle 20, for example, by a pin connection between the connector 44 and the handle 20, enabling the handle 20 to switch between the closed position and the open position under the influence of the sliding cover 40.

[0057] In some embodiments, as Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the position of groove 43 corresponds to the position of operating portion 42. This arrangement not only fully utilizes the space behind operating portion 42, but also effectively reduces the size of sliding cover 40, making the entire circuit breaker 100 more compact and aesthetically pleasing. As sliding cover 40 slides, the connection between handle 20 and connector 44 can rotate within groove 43, thereby ensuring smoother movement of sliding cover 40 and handle 20.

[0058] In some embodiments, as Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the circuit breaker housing has a connector on its edge, which secures the housing. For example, screw holes are machined into the connector, allowing installers to use screws to mount the circuit breaker to an electrical control cabinet or other designated location. To repair or upgrade the electrical system, the circuit breaker can be removed simply by loosening the screws, making it easy to do.

[0059] In some embodiments, as Figure 1 、 Figure 2 and Figure 5 As shown, in order to facilitate the user to intuitively judge the status of the circuit breaker 100, a first mark 13 and a second mark 14 can be set on the side of the housing 10 facing the slide cover 40. The first mark 13 is used to indicate that the handle 20 is in the closed position, that is, the power is on. The second mark 14 is used to indicate that the handle 20 is in the open position, that is, the power is off. When the handle 20 is in the closed position, the slide cover 40 will slide to a position, covering the second mark 14, making the first mark 13 clearly visible, thereby informing the user that the power is on. Conversely, when the handle 20 is in the open position, the slide cover 40 will slide to another position, covering the first mark 13, making the second mark 14 clearly visible, thereby informing the user that the power is off. With this arrangement, the visibility and safety of the circuit breaker 100 are enhanced, ensuring that the user can quickly and accurately understand the status of the switch and avoid the risks caused by misoperation.

[0060] While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the above descriptions are illustrative, non-exhaustive, and not intended to be limiting of the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein is selected to best explain the principles of the embodiments, their practical applications, or technological improvements in the marketplace, or to enable other persons skilled in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A circuit breaker (100), characterized in that: include: Housing (10); a handle (20) rotatably coupled to the housing (10) and capable of switching between a closed position and an open position; a tripping mechanism (60) disposed in the housing (10) and coupled to the handle (20), wherein the tripping mechanism (60) is capable of moving under the drive of the handle (20); A contact assembly (30) is disposed in the housing (10) and coupled to the trip mechanism (60); as well as A sliding cover (40) is slidably coupled to one side of the housing (10) and to the handle (20), and the sliding cover (40) is capable of driving the handle (20) to switch between the closing position and the opening position.

2. The circuit breaker (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that A sliding groove (11) is provided on the side of the housing (10) facing the sliding cover (40), and a guide portion (41) is provided on the side of the sliding cover (40) facing the housing (10), and the guide portion (41) is slidably coupled to the sliding groove (11).

3. The circuit breaker (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: A drag reduction component (50) is provided between the sliding cover (40) and the housing (10) for reducing the resistance of the sliding cover (40) when sliding.

4. The circuit breaker (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that A plurality of limiting grooves (12) are provided on a side of the housing (10) facing the sliding cover (40), and the drag reduction component (50) comprises: A plurality of limiting seats (52) are respectively arranged in the plurality of limiting grooves (12), and a receiving cavity (520) is provided in each limiting seat (52); and A plurality of balls (51) are rotatably arranged in the accommodating cavities (520) of the plurality of limiting seats (52), and each ball (51) protrudes out of the corresponding accommodating cavity (520) and contacts the sliding cover (40).

5. The circuit breaker (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that The drag reduction assembly (50) comprises: a first magnetic member coupled to the housing (10); and A second magnetic member is coupled to the sliding cover (40) on a side of the sliding cover (40) facing the housing (10), and the second magnetic member and the first magnetic member have the same magnetic poles on adjacent sides.

6. The circuit breaker (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: An operating portion (42) for sliding the sliding cover (40) is provided on a side of the sliding cover (40) away from the housing (10).

7. The circuit breaker (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that A groove (43) is provided on a side of the sliding cover (40) facing the handle (20), and the circuit breaker (100) further comprises: A connecting member (44) is disposed in the groove (43) and is rotatably coupled to the handle (20).

8. The circuit breaker (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that The position of the groove (43) corresponds to the position of the operating portion (42).

9. The circuit breaker (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The edge of the housing (10) is provided with a connecting portion (15) for fixing the housing (10).

10. The circuit breaker (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: A first mark (13) and a second mark (14) are provided on a side of the housing (10) facing the sliding cover (40), wherein the first mark (13) is used to indicate that the handle (20) is in the closing position, and the second mark (14) is used to indicate that the handle (20) is in the opening position; When the handle (20) is in the closing position, the sliding cover (40) covers the second mark (14); when the handle (20) is in the opening position, the sliding cover (40) covers the first mark (13).

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