Circuit breaker and electrical device

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a circuit breaker and an electrical device, the circuit breaker comprising: a base, a tripping mechanism mounted on the base; a middle cover mounted on the base; an electrical adapter plate mounted on a side of the middle cover away from the base; an integrated protection module, a communication module and a battery module, which are respectively electrically connected to the electrical adapter plate, the tripping mechanism is located on one side of the middle cover, and the integrated protection module, the communication module and the battery module are respectively arranged on a side of the middle cover away from the tripping mechanism. The integrated protection module, the communication module and the battery module are respectively modularly mounted on the side of the middle cover away from the tripping mechanism, so that the mechanical components and the electronic components are separately arranged on the two sides of the middle cover, and the service life of the components on the two sides of the middle cover is the same. When one of the electronic components fails, only the electronic component needs to be replaced and repaired, and the circuit breaker does not need to be disassembled or scrapped, thereby reducing the use cost and maintenance burden.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of low-voltage electrical technology, and more specifically, to a circuit breaker and electrical equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Intelligent circuit breakers, as critical protection devices in power systems, integrate multiple protection functions such as overload, short circuit, and leakage current protection, playing a vital role in ensuring the safe and stable operation of power systems. However, in existing intelligent circuit breakers, electronic and mechanical components are typically integrated within the base. Because electronic components are susceptible to electromagnetic interference and heat accumulation during long-term operation, their aging rate is much higher than that of mechanical components. Therefore, when electronic components fail, the still-functioning mechanical components often become unusable along with the electronic components, resulting in resource waste and increased operating costs and maintenance burdens. Utility Model Content

[0003] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a circuit breaker and electrical device that at least partially solves the problems existing in the related art.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, this disclosure provides a circuit breaker, comprising: The base is equipped with a release mechanism; The middle cover is installed on the base; An electrical adapter plate is mounted on the side of the middle cover opposite to the base; and The integrated protection module, communication module, and battery module are electrically connected to the electrical adapter board. The tripping mechanism is located on one side of the middle cover, and the comprehensive protection module, the communication module, and the battery module are respectively located on the side of the middle cover opposite to the tripping mechanism.

[0005] Optionally, it also includes a face cover mounted on the side of the middle cover opposite to the base, with the electrical adapter plate located between the face cover and the middle cover. The comprehensive protection module, the communication module, and the battery module are respectively installed on the face cover.

[0006] Optionally, the cover has multiple mounting slots for accommodating the integrated protection module, the communication module, and the battery module.

[0007] Optionally, the faceplate is equipped with an operating mechanism operably connected to the tripping mechanism. The communication module, the integrated protection module, and the battery module are arranged along an L-shaped path, and the operating mechanism is located inside the L-shaped path.

[0008] Optionally, it also includes a protective cover that is snapped onto the faceplate, the protective cover being used to cover at least one of the integrated protection module, the communication module, and the battery module.

[0009] Optionally, it also includes an anti-tampering component disposed on the protective cover.

[0010] Optionally, the electrical adapter board is provided with a plurality of first sockets on the side opposite to the tripping mechanism, the plurality of first sockets being used for plugging and unplugging connections with the communication module, the integrated protection module and the battery module.

[0011] Optionally, the tripping mechanism includes a magnetic flux trip unit and a thermomagnetic trip unit.

[0012] Optionally, it also includes a current transformer disposed on the base, the current transformer being electrically connected to the electrical adapter plate.

[0013] Optionally, the current transformer has a through hole, and the circuit breaker further includes a rear connection plate for connecting an external circuit, the rear connection plate passing through the through hole and extending at least to the thermomagnetic trip unit, the thermomagnetic trip unit being mounted on the rear connection plate.

[0014] Optionally, the side of the electrical adapter plate opposite to the tripping mechanism is further provided with a second socket for connecting the magnetic flux trip unit.

[0015] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, an electrical device is provided, including the circuit breaker described above.

[0016] The above technical solution modularly installs the protection module, communication module, and battery module on the side of the middle cover opposite the tripping mechanism, thereby achieving separate arrangement of mechanical components (tripping mechanism) and electronic components (protection module, communication module, and battery module), i.e., separately located on both sides of the middle cover, ensuring that the components on both sides of the middle cover have the same lifespan. If one electronic component fails, only that component can be replaced or repaired, without needing to remove or scrap the entire circuit breaker, reducing operating costs and maintenance burden. Furthermore, the inclusion of an electrical adapter board facilitates the establishment of electrical connections between the protection module, communication module, and battery module, and integrating complex circuitry into the adapter board simplifies the internal circuit structure.

[0017] Other features and advantages of this disclosure will be described in detail in the following detailed description section. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the present disclosure and form part of the specification. They are used together with the following detailed description to explain the present disclosure, but do not constitute a limitation thereof. In the drawings: Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of a circuit breaker exemplarily shown according to this disclosure; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the circuit breaker shown in the figure shows that the integrated protection module is separated from the mounting slot; Figure 3 yes Figure 1 The diagram shows a circuit breaker in which the communication module is separated from the mounting slot; Figure 4 yes Figure 1 The diagram shows a circuit breaker in which the battery module is separated from the mounting slot; Figure 5 yes Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the circuit breaker shown in the figure omits the face cover, integrated protection module, communication module and battery module; Figure 6 yes Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the circuit breaker shown in the figure omits the middle cover, front cover, electrical adapter board, integrated protection module, communication module and battery module; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a faceplate exemplarily shown according to this disclosure; Figure 8 yes Figure 7 Another angle diagram of the cover is shown in the image.

[0019] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures 1-Base; 2-Middle cover; 3-Electrical adapter board; 31-First socket; 32-Second socket; 4-Face cover; 41-Mounting slot; 42-Operating mechanism; 421-Traction rod; 51-Comprehensive protection module; 52-Communication module; 53-Battery module; 6-Protective cover; 61-Anti-tampering component; 7-Triggering mechanism; 71-Magnetic flux trip unit; 72-Thermomagnetic trip unit; 721-Bimetallic strip; 8-Inductor; 801-Through hole; 9-Rear connecting plate. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The specific embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustration and explanation only and are not intended to limit this disclosure.

[0021] In this disclosure, unless otherwise stated, directional terms such as "inner" and "outer" may be used based on the structure of the relevant component itself, or based on the orientation of the relevant components when they are used together. For example, "the operating mechanism is located on the "inner" side of the L-shaped path" means that the L-shaped path surrounds and partially encloses the operating mechanism, that is, the operating mechanism is located at the inner corner of the L-shaped path.

[0022] In this disclosure, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used to distinguish one element from another and do not indicate any order or importance. When the following description relates to the accompanying drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements.

[0023] Reference Figures 1-6 This disclosure exemplarily illustrates a circuit breaker, including a base 1 with a tripping mechanism 7 mounted thereon, a middle cover 2 mounted on the base 1, an electrical adapter plate 3 mounted on the middle cover 2 on the side opposite to the base 1, and a comprehensive protection module 51, a communication module 52, and a battery module 53 electrically connected to the electrical adapter plate 3. The tripping mechanism 7 is located on one side of the middle cover 2, and the comprehensive protection module 51, communication module 52, and battery module 53 are respectively disposed on the side of the middle cover 2 opposite to the tripping mechanism 7. Specifically, they can be directly mounted on the middle cover 2, or they can be mounted on the front cover 4 mentioned below. This disclosure does not limit the structure of the base 1 and the middle cover 2, as long as the middle cover 2 is mounted on the base 1 and the tripping mechanism 7 and the comprehensive protection module 51, communication module 52, and battery module 53 are separated on both sides of the middle cover 2. Of course, "separated on both sides of the middle cover 2" here does not mean absolutely located on both sides. It is sufficient that most of the main structure of the tripping mechanism 7 is located on the side of the middle cover 2 away from the integrated protection module 51, communication module 52, and battery module 53. Some of its connecting structures can be appropriately extended to the side of the middle cover 2 closer to the integrated protection module 51, communication module 52, and battery module 53. The tripping mechanism 7 refers to a mechanical structure that can automatically trip and quickly disconnect the faulty circuit when an abnormality occurs in the circuit (such as overload, short circuit, leakage, etc.) to protect the circuit. It can be a magnetic flux trip, a thermomagnetic trip, etc. The specific structure of the tripping mechanism 7 will be described below.

[0024] The electrical adapter board 3 refers to a circuit board that integrates circuitry to establish electrical connections between multiple electronic modules connected to it. It can be fixed to the middle cover 2 with screws. The aforementioned integrated protection module 51, communication module 52, and battery module 53, as well as the flux trip unit and current transformer mentioned below, can all be electrically connected to the electrical adapter board 3 to establish electrical connections between them. The integrated protection module 51 is a comprehensive module capable of receiving, processing, and outputting electrical signals from components such as current transformers and flux trip units. Specifically, it may include a high-precision timer, processing chip, etc. The communication module 52 can transmit the information processed by the integrated protection module 51 to external devices, such as displays, or it can transmit instructions from external devices to the circuit breaker. Its main function is to establish communication between the circuit breaker and external devices. The battery module can power the integrated protection module 51, communication module 52, etc., and it mainly includes a battery pack. The comprehensive protection module 51, communication module 52, and battery module 53 disclosed herein are not limited to the functions described above. Any electronic module capable of performing the aforementioned functions can be categorized into these three electronic modules. For ease of description, unless otherwise stated, the electronic modules mentioned below refer to the comprehensive protection module 51, communication module 52, and battery module 53.

[0025] By using the above technical solution, the integrated protection module 51, communication module 52, and battery module 53 are modularly installed on the side of the middle cover 2 away from the tripping mechanism 7, thereby achieving separate arrangement of mechanical components (tripping mechanism 7) and electronic components (integrated protection module 51, communication module 52, and battery module 53), i.e., separately located on both sides of the middle cover 2, so that the components on both sides of the middle cover 2 have the same lifespan. Furthermore, with this design, if one electronic component fails, only that electronic component can be replaced and repaired individually, without having to remove or scrap the entire circuit breaker, reducing operating costs and maintenance burden. The electrical adapter board 3 facilitates the establishment of electrical connections between the integrated protection module 51, communication module 52, battery module 53, and other related components, allowing complex circuits to be integrated into the electrical adapter board 3, which simplifies the internal circuit structure of the circuit breaker.

[0026] Here, the "same lifespan" mentioned above is explained. Because electronic components are susceptible to electromagnetic interference and heat accumulation during long-term operation, their aging rate is much higher than that of mechanical components. Therefore, when electronic components fail, mechanical components often still have a long service life. Here, mechanical and electronic components are located on opposite sides of the middle cover 2, so that the overall service life of the corresponding components on each side is similar, avoiding the problem of large differences in service life between components on the same side.

[0027] Reference Figures 1-8In some embodiments of this disclosure, the circuit breaker may further include a face cover 4 mounted on the side of the middle cover 2 facing away from the base 1, and an electrical adapter plate 3 may be located between the face cover 4 and the middle cover 2. The integrated protection module 51, communication module 52, and battery module 53 are respectively mounted on the face cover 4. Since the electrical adapter plate 3 requires a large space to be mounted on the middle cover 2, resulting in limited free space in the middle cover 2, the face cover 4 provides mounting space for the integrated protection module 51, communication module 52, and battery module 53, solving the problem of insufficient mounting space in the middle cover 2. Furthermore, the face cover 4 allows the integrated protection module 51, communication module 52, and battery module 53 to be integrated into a single unit, facilitating disassembly and maintenance. For example, when electronic components malfunction, the face cover 4 can be disassembled entirely for repair. During installation, the integrated protection module 51, communication module 52, and battery module 53 can be installed onto the middle cover 2 separately and then assembled together. Furthermore, designing the face cover 4 to be located on the side of the electrical adapter plate 3 away from the middle cover 2 further distances the electronic components from the middle cover 2, making the separation of the integrated protection module 51, communication module 52, and battery module 53 from the tripping mechanism 7 on the other side of the middle cover 2 more obvious. In addition, since the electrical adapter plate 3 is exposed to the middle cover 2, the face cover 4 protects the electrical adapter plate 3 from damage caused by dust, liquids, etc.

[0028] This disclosure does not limit the structure of the cover 4; for example, it can be... Figure 7 and Figure 8 The shell-shaped part shown has a certain thickness. Its periphery on the side facing the middle cover 2 can be connected to the middle cover 2 at the position corresponding to the outer periphery of the electrical adapter plate 3, so that the front cover 4 can wrap around the electrical adapter plate 3 when it is installed to the middle cover 2.

[0029] Reference Figure 2 and Figures 7-8 The cover 4 may have multiple mounting slots 41 for accommodating the protection module 51, communication module 52, and battery module 53. During installation, the mounting slots 41 for the protection module 51, communication module 52, and battery module 53 are respectively installed into their respective mounting slots 41. Furthermore, through holes may be provided at the bottom of the mounting slots 41 to allow the protection module 51, communication module 52, and battery module 53 to establish an electrical connection with the bottom electrical adapter board 3.

[0030] Reference Figures 1-5In the embodiments of this disclosure, the cover 4 may be equipped with an operating mechanism 42 operably connected to the tripping mechanism 7. The operating mechanism 42 extends inward from the cover 4 and is connected to the pull rod 421, so that the pull rod 421 can interact with the tripping mechanism 7 when the operating mechanism 42 is actuated. Alternatively, the operating mechanism 42 can be displaced by the pull rod 421 when the tripping mechanism 7 is activated. Specifically, the operating mechanism 42 may be a lever. Since the structure and working principle of the circuit breaker's operating mechanism 42 are well known to those skilled in the art, they will not be described in detail here.

[0031] In the embodiments disclosed herein, the communication module 52, the integrated protection module 51, and the battery module 53 can be arranged along an L-shaped path. The operating mechanism 42 can be located inside the L-shaped path. Specifically, the communication module 52 can be located below the operating mechanism 42, the integrated protection module 51 can be located to the right of the operating mechanism 42, and the battery module 53 can be located between the integrated protection module 51 and the communication module 52. This design can make full use of the limited installation space of the cover 4 and improve space utilization. In addition, in some other embodiments, the integrated protection module 51 and the communication module 52 can be respectively arranged on the left and right sides of the operating mechanism 42, and the battery module 53 can be arranged below the operating mechanism 42. It should be noted that when the electronic module is arranged on the left and right sides of the operating mechanism 42, it can directly utilize the original accessory slots on the left and right sides of the middle cover 2, that is, the position of the electronic module on the cover 4 can be correspondingly inserted into the original accessory slot, improving space utilization, and there is no need to re-mold the original middle cover 2.

[0032] Reference Figure 1 In some embodiments of this disclosure, the circuit breaker may further include a protective cover 6 snapped onto the faceplate 4. The protective cover 6 is used to cover at least one of the integrated protection module 51, the communication module 52, and the battery module 53, for example, covering the communication module 52 and the battery module 53; or covering the integrated protection module 51; or covering a portion of the communication module 52, the battery module 53, and the integrated protection module 51. By providing the protective cover 6, the electronic modules can be protected.

[0033] Furthermore, referring to Figure 2 In some embodiments of this disclosure, the circuit breaker may further include an anti-tampering component 61 disposed on the protective cover 6, specifically an anti-tampering seal cap, lead seal, etc. The anti-tampering component 61 serves as a warning sign, preventing unauthorized personnel from disassembling the circuit breaker, adjusting internal parameters, or damaging components, thus ensuring equipment performance and operational safety. It also complies with industry regulatory standards, facilitating rapid identification of equipment status and responsibility when the seal is intact or damaged, ensuring compliant and reliable equipment operation.

[0034] Reference Figure 5In some embodiments of this disclosure, a plurality of first sockets 31 may be provided on the side of the electrical adapter board 3 away from the tripping mechanism 7. These first sockets 31 are used for plugging and unplugging connections with the communication module 52, the integrated protection module 51, and the battery module 53. Specifically, in Figure 5 In the illustrated embodiment, the number of first sockets 31 can be six, with three for the integrated protection module 51, two for the communication module 52, and one for the battery module 53. The number of first sockets 31 can be flexibly designed according to actual needs. By providing multiple first sockets 31, it is beneficial to quickly connect the electronic module to the electrical adapter board 3, and in the event of a fault in the electronic module, it is possible to quickly disassemble, repair, or replace it individually, making the operation convenient.

[0035] Reference Figure 6 In some embodiments of this disclosure, the tripping mechanism 7 may include a magnetic flux trip unit 71 and a thermomagnetic trip unit 72. The magnetic flux trip unit 71 operates based on the principle of electromagnetic induction. Its internal coil is connected in series with the circuit. When a short circuit occurs, a huge instantaneous short-circuit current passes through the coil, generating a strong magnetic field that magnetizes the iron core. This quickly attracts the armature, causing the tripping part to actuate and cut off the circuit within milliseconds. The thermomagnetic trip unit 72, also known as a thermomagnetic backup protection sleeve, integrates thermal and magnetic protection principles. It includes a bimetallic strip 721 and an electromagnetic mechanism. During overload, the increased current causes the bimetallic strip to heat up and deform, pushing the tripping part to actuate. The actuation time varies inversely with the degree of overload. During a short circuit, the short-circuit current excites the electromagnetic mechanism to generate a strong magnetic field, which instantaneously triggers the trip unit to cut off the circuit through the moving iron core. This composite structure eliminates the need for electronic control, achieving overload and short-circuit protection simultaneously through purely mechanical means. It has a compact structure and high reliability. The circuit breaker disclosed herein is compatible with both the flux trip unit 71 and the thermal-magnetic trip unit 72, effectively achieving dual protection, improving the reliability and versatility of the circuit breaker, and thus greatly enhancing its scalability.

[0036] Reference Figure 5 In some embodiments of this disclosure, the magnetic flux trip unit 71 can be placed on the left or right side of the operating mechanism 42, corresponding to the original left and right accessory slot positions of a conventional circuit breaker. This improves space utilization. Furthermore, the connecting wire of the magnetic flux trip unit 71 can extend upwards through the corresponding accessory slot position and connect to the electrical adapter plate 3, eliminating the need to rearrange the wiring holes in the middle cover 2.

[0037] Reference Figure 6 In some embodiments of this disclosure, the thermal-magnetic trip unit 72 includes three groups, each group corresponding to one pole of the circuit. When an abnormality occurs in any pole, the corresponding group will activate and disconnect the circuit.

[0038] Reference Figure 6In some embodiments of this disclosure, the circuit breaker may further include a current transformer 8 disposed on the base 1, and the current transformer 8 is electrically connected to the electrical transfer board 3. The current transformer 8 can protect current transformers and metering current transformers, etc. The current transformer 8 can collect and protect the current information of the circuit connected by the circuit breaker, and transmit the current information to the integrated protection module 51 for analysis and processing through the electrical transfer board 3. Establishing an electrical connection relationship through the electrical transfer board 3 can effectively simplify the internal circuit of the circuit breaker and reduce the use of wires. By establishing connections between each module and the electrical transfer board 3, individual repair and replacement can be performed when each module fails. The structure and principle of the current transformer 8 are well known to those skilled in the art and will not be described here.

[0039] To achieve the connection of the thermal magnetic trip unit 72, refer to... Figure 6 In some embodiments of this disclosure, the current transformer 8 may have a through hole 801, and the circuit breaker may also include a rear connection plate 9 for connecting an external circuit. The rear connection plate 9 may pass through the through hole 801 and extend at least to the thermal-magnetic trip unit 72. The thermal-magnetic trip unit 72 may be mounted on the rear connection plate 9. Specifically, the thermal-magnetic trip unit 72 may be connected to the rear connection plate 9 by fixing screws.

[0040] Reference Figure 5 In some embodiments of this disclosure, a second socket 32 ​​for connecting the magnetic flux trip unit 71 may be provided on the side of the electrical adapter plate 3 facing away from the tripping mechanism 7. By connecting the magnetic flux trip unit 71 to the electrical adapter plate 3, it can form an electrical connection with the integrated protection module 51, thereby enabling the integrated protection module 51 to obtain various parameters of the magnetic flux trip unit 71 in real time, thereby monitoring its working status, such as monitoring whether it has tripped. Specifically, in embodiments of this disclosure, the magnetic flux trip unit 71 can be electrically connected to the second socket 32 ​​via a wire. In this case, the end of the wire away from the magnetic flux trip unit 71 needs to be provided with a plug-in terminal to cooperate with the second socket 32.

[0041] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, an electrical device is provided, including the circuit breaker described above. Since this electrical device possesses all the beneficial effects of the circuit breaker described above, further details are omitted here. The electrical device may be, for example, a meter box, etc.

[0042] The preferred embodiments of this disclosure have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, this disclosure is not limited to the specific details of the above embodiments. Within the scope of the technical concept of this disclosure, various simple modifications can be made to the technical solutions of this disclosure, and these simple modifications all fall within the protection scope of this disclosure.

[0043] It should also be noted that the various specific technical features described in the above specific embodiments can be combined in any suitable manner without contradiction. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, this disclosure will not describe the various possible combinations separately.

[0044] Furthermore, various different embodiments of this disclosure can be combined in any way, as long as they do not violate the spirit of this disclosure, they should also be regarded as the content disclosed in this disclosure.

Claims

1. A circuit breaker, characterized in that, include: The base is equipped with a release mechanism; The middle cover is installed on the base; An electrical adapter board is installed on the side of the middle cover opposite to the base; as well as The integrated protection module, communication module, and battery module are electrically connected to the electrical adapter board. The tripping mechanism is located on one side of the middle cover, and the comprehensive protection module, the communication module, and the battery module are respectively located on the side of the middle cover opposite to the tripping mechanism.

2. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a face cover mounted on the side of the middle cover opposite to the base, and the electrical adapter plate is located between the face cover and the middle cover. The comprehensive protection module, the communication module, and the battery module are respectively installed on the face cover.

3. The circuit breaker according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cover has multiple mounting slots for accommodating the integrated protection module, the communication module, and the battery module.

4. The circuit breaker according to claim 2, characterized in that, The faceplate is equipped with an operating mechanism operably connected to the tripping mechanism. The communication module, the integrated protection module, and the battery module are arranged along an L-shaped path, and the operating mechanism is located inside the L-shaped path.

5. The circuit breaker according to claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a protective cover that is snapped onto the faceplate, the protective cover being used to cover at least one of the integrated protection module, the communication module and the battery module.

6. The circuit breaker according to claim 5, characterized in that, It also includes an anti-tampering component installed on the protective cover.

7. The circuit breaker according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The electrical adapter board has a plurality of first sockets on the side opposite to the tripping mechanism. The plurality of first sockets are used for plugging and unplugging connections with the communication module, the integrated protection module and the battery module.

8. The circuit breaker according to claim 7, characterized in that, The tripping mechanism includes a magnetic flux trip unit and a thermomagnetic trip unit.

9. The circuit breaker according to claim 8, characterized in that, It also includes a current transformer disposed on the base, the current transformer being electrically connected to the electrical adapter plate.

10. The circuit breaker according to claim 9, characterized in that, The current transformer has a through hole, and the circuit breaker further includes a rear connection plate for connecting an external circuit, the rear connection plate passing through the through hole and extending at least to the thermomagnetic trip unit, which is mounted on the rear connection plate.

11. The circuit breaker according to claim 8, characterized in that, The electrical adapter board is also provided with a second socket for connecting the magnetic flux trip unit on the side opposite to the tripping mechanism.

12. An electrical device, characterized in that, Includes the circuit breaker according to any one of claims 1-11.

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