Electronic cut-off protection device with heat sink

Abstract

Electronic cut-off protection device with heat sink The invention relates to an electronic cut-off protection device comprising: a housing (1), a phase current line (P), a neutral current line (N) between a first neutral connection terminal (4) and a second neutral connection terminal (5), an electronic cut-off unit (8) comprising an electronic power cut-off component (9) arranged on said phase current line (P), an electronic protection trip unit, a heat sink (10) made of electrically conductive material, characterized in that it comprises: - a neutral conductive portion (11) forming on the one hand a first part of the neutral current line (N) and on the other hand a heat sink (10) and being electrically connected between the first neutral connection terminal (4) and the second neutral connection terminal (5),- the neutral conductive portion (11) being on the one hand arranged relative to said electronic cut-off unit (8) so as to dissipate the heat coming from said electronic power cut-off component (9) associated with said phase current line (P) at least by thermal conduction and being on the other hand electrically insulated from said electronic cut-off unit (8). Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 3,

Description

Title of the invention: Electronic cut-off protection device with heat sink

[0001] The invention relates to the field of electronic cut-off protection devices with a heat sink.

[0002] Electronic cut-off protection devices with a heat sink are known, for example, from publication WO2022106527A1 or from publication WO22243456 A1. In these documents, it is notably a question of finding a solution making it possible to efficiently evacuate the heat released by the electronic power cut-off components, of the power transistor type.

[0003] More particularly in document WO2022106527A1, it is proposed to arrange said electronic cut-off unit in the housing opposite the rear side face made of metallic material and which preferably comprises a heat sink, for example with a plurality of fins. This configuration makes it possible to optimize the dissipation of joule losses, to optimize thermal conduction between the electronic power cut-off components with a DIN rail, and to optimize thermal convection with the ambient air. However, this solution requires modifying the material of the rear side face of the housing, which is usually made of plastic, and therefore has an impact on the material of the housing.

[0004] More particularly in document WO22243456A1, it is proposed to house the cut-off block comprising the power switches of a phase line between several conductive plates and the walls of the housing of the device, which has the advantage of allowing the dissipation of thermal energy and therefore of reducing the number of semiconductor cut-off components. This document further discloses that the thermal energy released by the switches is here dissipated towards the outside of the device by conduction along the electrical phase conductors. For example, the thermal energy is mainly dissipated by conduction and by radiation by the conductive parts towards the outside of the device.For the dissipation of thermal energy by conduction, the entire phase current flow chain inside the circuit breaker is concerned, i.e. all the electrical conductors, power supply cables and electrical conduction lines which allow the flow of phase current from upstream to downstream of the device. However, in this solution the power supply cables or electrical braids used on the phase electrical conduction lines do not have optimal thermal conduction properties and also involve tedious and meticulous assembly operations, particularly with the conductive plates. In . Furthermore, this solution requires significant modifications to the phase current line to allow heat to be dissipated from the phase switches associated with the phase current line using the conductive plates.

[0005] The present invention aims to overcome at least one of these drawbacks and aims to propose an alternative solution to the known prior art having a limited impact on the material of the housing and on the phase current line.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to an electronic cut-off protection device comprising at least:

[0007] - a case,

[0008] - a phase current line between a first phase connection terminal and a second phase connection terminal,

[0009] - a neutral current line between a first neutral connection terminal and a second neutral connection terminal,

[0010] - an electronic cut-off unit comprising at least one electronic component power cut-off device arranged on said phase current line,

[0011] - an electronic protection trigger comprising at least one unit of control coupled to said electronic cut-off unit configured to control the opening of said at least one electronic power cut-off component in the event of a fault occurring,

[0012] - at least one heat sink made of electrically conductive material,

[0013] the electronic cut-off protection device is characterized in that it comprises:

[0014] - a neutral conductive portion forming on the one hand at least a first part of the neutral current line and on the other hand heat sink and being electrically connected between the first neutral connection terminal and the second neutral connection terminal,

[0015] - the neutral conductive portion being on the one hand arranged relative to said unit electronic cut-off unit so as to dissipate the heat coming from said at least one electronic power cut-off component associated with said phase current line at least by thermal conduction and being on the other hand electrically isolated from said electronic cut-off unit.

[0016] The invention will be better understood, thanks to the following description, which relates to several preferred embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

[0017] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] represents a perspective and partial view of an apparatus of electronic cut-off protection according to the invention,

[0018] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a perspective, exploded and partial view of the electronic cut-off protection device according to the invention,

[0019] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a top view of a phase conductive portion and a neutral conductive portion thermally interfaced with an electronic cut-off unit of the electronic cut-off protection device according to the invention,

[0020] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents a perspective and sectional view of the phase conductive portion and the neutral conductive portion separated by an insulating separating wall and thermally interfaced with the electronic cut-off unit of the electronic cut-off protection device according to the invention, and

[0021] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] represents a perspective view, in section, partial of the electronic cut-off protection apparatus according to the invention.

[0022] The invention relates to an electronic cut-off protection device comprising at least:

[0023] - a housing 1,

[0024] - a phase current line P between a first phase connection terminal 2 and a second phase connection terminal 3,

[0025] - a neutral current line N between a first connection terminal of neutral 4 and a second neutral connection terminal 5,

[0026] - an electronic cut-off unit 8 comprising at least one electronic component power cut-off electronics 9 arranged on said phase current line P,

[0027] - an electronic protection trip unit comprising at least one unit of control coupled to said electronic cut-off unit 8 configured to control the opening of said at least one electronic power cut-off component 9 in the event of the occurrence of a fault,

[0028] - at least one heat sink 10 made of electrically conductive material.

[0029] According to the invention, the electronic cut-off protection device is characterized in that it comprises:

[0030] - a neutral conductive portion 11 forming on the one hand at least a first part of the neutral current line N and on the other hand heat sink 10 and being electrically connected between the first neutral connection terminal 4 and the second neutral connection terminal 5,

[0031] - the neutral conductive portion 11 being on the one hand arranged relative to said electronic cut-off unit 8 so as to dissipate the heat coming from said at least one electronic power cut-off component 9 associated with said phase P current line at least by thermal conduction and being on the other hand electrically isolated from said electronic cut-off unit 8.

[0032] Advantageously, the neutral conductive portion 11 is thermally interfaced with the electronic cut-off unit 8 comprising said at least one electronic power cut-off component 9 of the phase P current line while being insulated electrically thereof. Thanks to this configuration, not the phase current line P is used to dissipate the heat emanating from said at least one electronic power cut-off component 9 of the phase current line P, but counter-intuitively at least a part of the neutral current line N which forms a heat sink 10 and allows the heat to be evacuated towards the first neutral connection terminal 4.

[0033] It will be noted that in the case of direct current, the neutral conductive portion 11 can allow the flow of electric current in the direction going from the second neutral connection terminal 5 to the first neutral connection terminal 4 or in the direction going from the first neutral connection terminal 4 to the second neutral connection terminal 5.

[0034] It will also be noted that the neutral conductive portion 11 makes it possible to evacuate the heat coming from said at least one electronic power cut-off component 9 towards the first neutral connection terminal 4 by thermal conduction.

[0035] Preferably, the neutral conductive portion 11 is electrically insulated from said electronic cut-off unit 8 by an electrically insulating and thermally conductive element 13.

[0036] Advantageously, the electrically insulating and thermally conductive element 13 makes it possible on the one hand to electrically insulate the neutral conductive portion 11 of the electronic cut-off unit 8 in order to respect the dielectric distances and avoid breakdowns and on the other hand to promote the conduction of heat coming from said electronic power cut-off component 9 from the phase current line P to the neutral current line N.

[0037] Preferably, the electronic cut-off protection apparatus comprises at least one phase compartment 14 comprising at least the first phase connection terminal 2, the second phase connection terminal 3 and said electronic cut-off unit 8, and a neutral compartment 15 comprising at least the first neutral connection terminal 4 associated with the neutral conductive portion 11 and the second neutral connection terminal 5, the phase compartment 14 and the neutral compartment 15 being separated by an insulating separating wall 16 comprising a passage 17 configured to allow thermal conduction from said electronic cut-off unit 8 to the neutral conductive portion 11.

[0038] The creation in the housing 1 of the phase compartment 14 and the neutral compartment 15 makes it possible to divide the housing 1 at least into two parts and to physically separate said at least one phase current line P from the neutral current line N to respect the dielectric insulation between the phase potential and the neutral potential. In the case of a multipolar electronic cut-off protection device comprising several phase current lines P and a neutral line N, the housing 1 can comprise as many phase compartments 14 as there are phase current lines P. The passage 17 further improves thermal conduction by providing direct access between the phase compartment 14 and the neutral compartment 15 and thus by limiting the number of interfaces between the neutral conductive portion 11 and the electronic cut-off unit 8.

[0039] Preferably, said electronic cut-off unit 8 comprises at least one electronic card 18 comprising a first face 19 and a second face 20 opposite the first face 19 and said electronic cut-off unit 8 comprises a first assembly E1 of at least one electronic power cut-off component 9 on said phase current line P mounted on the first face 19 or the second face 20 and a second assembly E2 of at least one electronic power cut-off component 9 on said phase current line P mounted on the first face 19 or the second face 20 and electrically connected head-to-tail to said at least one electronic power cut-off component 9 of the first assembly E1.

[0040] Preferably, the electronic card 18 is parallel to the insulating separating wall 16 and said at least one electronic power cut-off component 9 of the second assembly E2 is mounted on the first face 19 opposite the passage 17 and comprises a dissipating element (not shown) oriented against the first face 19 and an insulated face 21 oriented opposite, the neutral conductive portion 11 comprises a contact interface 22 which is arranged opposite and at a distance from the insulated face 21.

[0041] Advantageously, since said at least one electronic power cut-off component 9 of the second assembly E2 is opposite the neutral conductive portion 11 and therefore aligned with it, the thermal conduction is optimized while respecting the dielectric insulation distance. In this example, the evacuation of the heat coming from the electronic power cut-off components 9 of the second assembly E2 is carried out by thermal conduction, in particular furthermore in the neutral conductive portion 11 towards the first neutral connection terminal 4. A portion of the calories is also evacuated towards the second neutral connection terminal 5 and, where appropriate, towards the second set of contacts.Alternatively and advantageously, it could be provided according to a variant not shown that the insulated face of said at least one electronic power cut-off component 9 of the second assembly E2 is oriented against the first face 19 and the dissipating element is oriented opposite and that therefore the contact interface 22 is arranged opposite and at a distance from the dissipating element.

[0042] Preferably, the electrically insulating and thermally conductive element 13 is interposed between the insulated face 21 and the contact interface 22 and is arranged against both the insulated face 21 and the contact interface 22.

[0043] Advantageously, the electrically insulating and thermally conductive element 13 makes it possible to physically maintain the dielectric isolation distance between the insulated face 21 of said at least one electronic power cut-off component 9 of the second assembly E2 and the contact interface 22 of the neutral conductive portion 11 while allowing thermal conduction. Alternatively and advantageously, the electrical insulating element and the thermal conductor 13 could, according to the variant not shown described previously, make it possible to physically maintain the dielectric isolation distance between the dissipating element of said at least one electronic power cut-off component 9 of the second assembly E2 and the contact interface 22 of the neutral conductive portion 11 while allowing thermal conduction.

[0044] Preferably, the first / second neutral connection terminal 4, 5 comprises a conductive part 6 comprising at least one contact portion 7 configured to come into contact with a supply conductor of the network or of a load, the conductive part 6 of the first neutral connection terminal 4 is extended by the neutral conductive portion 11, the conductive part 6 and the neutral conductive portion 11 forming a single-piece conductive part 12.

[0045] Advantageously, the conductive part 6 of the first / second neutral connection terminal 4, 5 incorporates a neutral conductive portion 11 which is thermally interfaced with the electronic cut-off unit 8 comprising said at least one electronic power cut-off component 9 of the phase P current line while being electrically insulated therefrom. No connection by means of an electrical cable or electrical braid is used to connect the first / second neutral connection terminal 4, 5 to the heat sink 10 formed by the neutral conductive portion 11. The conductive part 6 and the neutral conductive portion 11 are in the form of a single-piece conductive part 12. This results in a reduction in the number of parts and an improvement in the assembly operations of the electronic cut-off protection device and heat dissipation by thermal conduction along the phase N current line.

[0046] Preferably, the single-piece conductive part 12 is made of metal and preferably copper.

[0047] Preferably, the electronic cut-off protection apparatus further comprises a galvanic isolation mechanism comprising a first set of contacts with a first fixed contact 23 and a first movable contact arranged on the phase current line P in series with said at least one electronic power cut-off component 9 and a second set of contacts with a second fixed contact 24 and a second movable contact arranged on the neutral current line N upstream or downstream of the neutral conductive portion 11.

[0048] The galvanic isolation mechanism makes it possible to isolate the electronic cut-off protection device, in particular after the opening of said at least one electronic component. power cut-off electronics 9 following the occurrence of a fault, by interrupting the flow of current on the phase current line P and the neutral current line N.

[0049] Preferably, the neutral current line N is devoid of electronic power cut-off components.

[0050] In this advantageous configuration, the neutral current line N cannot be interrupted by the electronic protection trip unit and the electronic cut-off unit 8 when a fault occurs. On the other hand, the separation of the second set of contacts from the neutral current line N can be controlled by the electronic protection trip unit in the event of a fault occurring.

[0051] Preferably, said at least one electronic power cut-off component 9 comprises at least one power transistor and preferably at least one MOSFET and / or one JFET and / or one IGBT.

[0052] The housing 1 preferably has a generally parallelepiped shape with a first main face (not shown) and a second main face (not shown), and lateral faces, respectively rear 25, upper 26, lower 27, front (not shown) extending from one to the other of the first and second main faces and with a width, that is to say the gap between the first and second main faces, equal to an integer number of times a predetermined distance, called module generally worth approximately 18 millimeters.

[0053] Thanks to this advantageous arrangement, the format of the housing 1 is modular and this results in a modular electronic cut-off protection device.

[0054] The electronic cut-off protection device shown in Figures 1 to 5 has a width of two modules. This example is not limiting.

[0055] The electronic cut-off protection device may comprise a phase P current line, or several phase P current lines, and in all cases it further comprises a neutral current line. Figures 1 to 5 illustrate an electronic cut-off protection device with a phase P current line and a neutral current line N.

[0056] The electronic cut-off protection device can be a circuit breaker or perform a differential circuit breaker protection function, but also other functionalities, for example current and voltage measurement, protection against electric arc faults in the installation.

[0057] When the electronic cut-off protection device performs a differential circuit breaker protection function, it preferably comprises a differential current sensor (not shown) for detecting faults of the differential fault type and which is connected to the control unit. The differential current sensor is capable and intended at least to measure the differential current flowing between said at least one phase current line P and the neutral current line N and to emit an acquisition signal representative of the image of the differential current between the phase current line P and the neutral current line N. The differential current sensor makes it possible to detect differential faults.

[0058] The first phase connection terminal 2 and the first neutral connection terminal 4 may be a screw cage terminal or a spring-type self-clamping terminal or the like. In the examples illustrated in the figures the first phase connection terminal 2 and the first neutral connection terminal 4 are each a spring-type self-clamping terminal and are arranged inside the housing 1 near the upper side face 26.

[0059] The second phase connection terminal 3 and the second neutral connection terminal 5 may be a screw cage terminal or a spring-type or similar self-clamping terminal and / or a mixed self-clamping cage and screw terminal. In the examples illustrated in the figures, the second phase connection terminal 3 and the second neutral connection terminal 5 are each a mixed self-clamping cage and screw terminal and are arranged inside the housing 1 near the lower side face 27.

[0060] In the case of a first phase 2 connection terminal or a first neutral connection terminal 4 with automatic clamping illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, the first phase 2 or neutral 4 connection terminals each comprise a conductive part 6 comprising at least one contact portion 7 configured to come into contact with a power supply conductor of the network or of a load. The conductive part 6 comprises an elastically deformable metal part which makes it possible to clamp at least one power supply conductor of the network or of a load at the contact portion 7. In the examples illustrated in the figures, this elastically deformable metal part comprises two elastic branches joining together. The two conductive parts 6 are arranged inside the housing 1 near the upper lateral face 26.

[0061] The control unit (not shown) of the electronic protection trip device is electrically connected to the electronic cut-off unit 8. The control unit and the electronic cut-off unit 8 are arranged inside the housing 1. For example, the control unit may comprise at least one microcontroller and at least one power driver.

[0062] The control unit and the electronic cut-off unit 8 may respectively comprise one or more electronic cards. The control unit and the electronic cut-off unit 8 could alternatively comprise a single electronic card comprising said microcontroller and said power driver and said at least one electronic power cut-off component 9. In the example illustrated in the figures the electronic cut-off unit 8 and the control unit are not grouped on the same electronic card, but on at least two separate electronic cards electrically and mechanically connected to each other, only the electronic card 18 is shown.

[0063] In this case, the electronic cut-off unit 8 comprises the electronic card 18 on which said at least one electronic power cut-off component 9 is mounted and preferably integrated. The electronic card 18 is arranged in the phase compartment 14 preferably parallel to the first and second main faces of the housing 1 and to the insulating separating wall 16 and extends in the length direction in a space located between the first and second phase connection terminals 2, 3, in the width direction in a space located between the rear lateral face 25 and the front lateral face, and in the thickness direction in a space located between the second main face and the insulating separating wall 16. In the example illustrated in the figures, the electronic card 18 is preferably arranged at least partly opposite the second main face.

[0064] The first set E1 of electronic power cut-off components 9 and the second set E2 of electronic power cut-off components 9 are preferably mounted in series, for example head-to-tail, on the phase current line P.

[0065] In the illustrated example, the first assembly E1 and the second assembly E2 each have two electronic power cut-off components 9. This example is not limiting. The first assembly E1 comprises at least two electronic power cut-off components 9 in the same direction and mounted in parallel. The second assembly E2 comprises at least two electronic power cut-off components 9 in the same direction and mounted in parallel.

[0066] The dissipating element (not shown) of the electronic power cut-off component 9 is generally made of metal.

[0067] It can be fixed on a ceramic or plastic body, preferably molded, of the electronic power cut-off component 9.

[0068] In this case, the dissipating element may be in the form of a metal plate, corresponding to the drain of the electronic power cut-off component 9, which is arranged opposite the insulated face 21. Depending on the types of electronic power cut-off components 9, the drain may also perform an electrical connection function with an attached dissipating element described below. This may for example be the case when the drain is located at the face of the electronic power cut-off component 9, which may be the upper face, not resting against one of the faces 19, 20 of the electronic card 18. However, when the drain is located on the face of the electronic power cut-off component 9, which may be the lower face, which rests on one of the faces 19, 20 of the electronic card 18, the drain does not perform an electrical connection function with an attached dissipating element.

[0069] Alternatively, the dissipating element may be a separate part attached to the electronic power cut-off component 9 and in particular not corresponding to the drain. The dissipating element may in this case be in the form of a part provided with a plurality of fins. Either this dissipating element is not in electrical contact with the drain of the electronic power cut-off component 9 and is mounted on the insulated face 21, or this dissipating element may be in electrical contact with the drain of the electronic power cut-off component 9. As a result, in this variant, the drain must be located at the level of the face of the electronic power cut-off component 9 not resting against one of the faces 19, 20 of the electronic card 18.

[0070] The neutral conductive portion 11 forming a heat sink 10 may preferably be in the form of a flat part or flat plate with or without a folding zone. Preferably, the flat part or flat plate is arranged in the housing 1 parallel to the first and second main faces, to the insulating separating wall 16 and to the electronic card 18 and in the neutral compartment 15. The flat part or flat plate extends in the lengthwise direction in a space located between the first and second neutral connection terminals 4, 5, in the widthwise direction in a space located between the rear lateral face 25 and the front lateral face, and in the thicknesswise direction in a space located between the first main face and the insulating separating wall 16.

[0071] The neutral conductive portion 11 is located in the extension of the contact portion 7 of the first neutral connection terminal 4.

[0072] A single-piece conductive part 12 is understood to mean a part formed in one piece, for example by folding or stamping, for example, a preferably metallic conductive part. In other words, the preferably conductive contact portion 7 and the neutral conductive portion 11 are not two distinct and separate parts; there is no junction by mechanical connection between two distinct parts and which would be formed between the contact portion 7 and the neutral conductive portion 11.

[0073] The electrically insulating and thermally conductive element 13 preferably comprises a thermally conductive and electrically insulating material, for example a polymer such as a polyimide or a non-metallic mineral material such as ceramic. The electrically insulating and thermally conductive element 13 may be in the form of a flat plate, for example of substantially rectangular shape, which covers the second assembly E2 of electronic power cut-off component 9. The electrically insulating and thermally conductive element 13 is preferably arranged in phase compartment 14.

[0074] The insulating separating wall 16 is preferably made of a polymer material such as plastic.

[0075] The passage 17 preferably has a substantially rectangular shape. The passage 17 is preferably covered by said electrically insulating and thermally conductive element 13. The passage 17 leaves free access to the second set E2 of electronic power cut-off components 9 which are electrically but not thermally insulated by said electrically insulating and thermally conductive element 13.

[0076] Preferably, the electronic cut-off protection apparatus comprises a phase conductive portion 28 forming on the one hand at least a first part of the phase current line P and on the other hand an additional heat sink 29 and being electrically connected between the first phase connection terminal 2 and the second phase connection terminal 3.

[0077] The phase conductive portion 28 forming an additional heat sink 29 may preferably be in the form of a flat part or flat plate. Preferably, the flat part or flat plate is arranged in the housing 1 parallel to the first and second main faces and to the electronic card 18. Furthermore, the flat part or flat plate is arranged opposite the first face 19 of the electronic card 18 on an area devoid of the second assembly E2 of electronic power cut-off components 9 and opposite the insulating separating wall 16.

[0078] The phase conductive portion 28 is located in the extension of the conductive part 6 of the first phase connection terminal 2.

[0079] The conductive part 6 of the first phase connection terminal 2 and the phase conductive portion 28 can form a single-piece phase conductive part 30.

[0080] A single-piece phase conductive part 30 is understood to mean a part formed in one piece, for example by folding or stamping, for example, a preferably metallic conductive part. In other words, the conductive part 6, preferably made of electrically conductive material, and the phase conductive portion 28 are not two distinct and separate parts; there is no junction by mechanical connection between two distinct parts that would be formed between the conductive part 6 and the phase conductive portion 28.

[0081] Preferably, the phase conductive portion 28 comprises a contact interface 31 which is arranged opposite the first face 19, against the latter and being aligned with said at least one electronic power cut-off component 9 of the first assembly E1 and is electrically and thermally connected to the electronic card 18 without direct electrical and thermal contact with said at least one electronic power cut-off component 9 of the first assembly E1.

[0082] The first face 19 of the electronic card 18 may comprise a conductive layer (not shown) of the equipotential track or plane type which is in direct contact on the one hand with the contact interface 31 of the phase conductive portion 28 and on the other hand with said at least one electronic power cut-off component 9 of the first assembly E1. This conductive layer may be connected to the contact interface 31 by a solder material.

[0083] The first fixed contact 23 is preferably mounted on the electronic card 18. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, the first fixed contact 23 is mounted protruding from the second face 20. The first fixed contact 23 may consist of a metal plate curved at 90 degrees having a general L shape, the longest portion of which is preferably mounted by welding or brazing on the second face 20 and the shortest portion is orthogonal to the second face 20.

[0084] The second fixed contact 24 is preferably part of the neutral conductive portion 11.

[0085] The first movable contact and the second movable contact can be actuated by a lever-type operating member (not shown). This lever preferably projects from the front side face.

[0086] Figures 1 to 5 illustrate a modular phase-neutral electronic cut-off protection device which has a width of two modules. The modular electronic cut-off protection device comprises the galvanic isolation mechanism comprising the first set of contacts with the first fixed contact 23 and the first movable contact arranged on the phase current line P in series with the electronic power cut-off components 9 upstream of the first phase connection terminal 2 and the second set of contacts with the second fixed contact 24 and the second movable contact arranged on the neutral current line N upstream of the neutral conductive portion 11. The conductive part 6 of the first neutral connection terminal 4 and the neutral conductive portion 11 form a single-piece conductive part 12.The conductive part 6 of the first phase 2 connection terminal and the phase conductive portion 28 form a single-piece phase conductive part 30. The interior of the housing 1 is divided into two compartments, namely the phase compartment 14 and the neutral compartment 15 by the insulating separating wall 16. The phase compartment 14 comprises the first phase 2 connection terminal associated with the phase conductive portion 28, the second phase connection terminal 3, said electronic cut-off unit 8 and the electrically insulating and thermally conductive element 13. The neutral compartment 15 comprises the first neutral connection terminal 4 associated with the neutral conductive portion 11 and the second neutral connection terminal 5. Furthermore, the insulating separating wall. 16 comprises the passage 17 configured to allow thermal conduction from said electronic cut-off unit 8 to the neutral conductive portion 11. The electronic cut-off unit 8 comprises a single electronic card 18 with the first assembly E1 having two electronic power cut-off components 9 on said phase current line P mounted on the second face 20 and the second assembly E2 having two electronic power cut-off components 9 on said phase current line P mounted on the first face 19.The two electronic power cut-off components 9 of the second assembly E2 are electrically connected in series in a head-to-tail manner with the two electronic power cut-off components 9 of the first assembly EL. The two electronic power cut-off components 9 of the first assembly E1 and of the second assembly E2 each comprise the dissipating element (not visible) in the form of a plate oriented respectively against the second face 20 and the first face 19 and the insulated face 21 oriented opposite. The first fixed contact 23 is mounted on the electronic card 18 while projecting from the second face 20. The electronic card 18 is parallel to the insulating separating wall 16. The electronic power cut-off components 9 of the second assembly E2 are aligned with the passage 17.On the other hand, the contact interface 22 of the neutral conductive portion 11 is parallel to the insulating separating wall 16 and is aligned with the passage 17 and with the two insulated upper faces 21 while being at a distance from them. The electrically insulating and thermally conductive element 13 is interposed between the insulated upper faces 21 and the contact interface 22 and is arranged both against the insulated upper faces 21 and the contact interface 22. The electronic power cut-off components 9 of the first assembly E1 are aligned with the contact interface 31.The contact interface 31 of the phase conductive portion 28 is arranged opposite the first face 19, against the latter and being aligned with the two electronic power cut-off components 9 of the first assembly El and is electrically and thermally connected to the electronic card 18 without direct electrical and thermal contact with the two electronic power cut-off components 9 of the first assembly EL.

[0087] In this example, the evacuation of the heat coming from the electronic power cut-off components 9 of the second assembly E2 is carried out by thermal conduction in addition in the single-piece conductive part 12 towards the first neutral connection terminal 4 and the evacuation of the heat coming from the electronic power cut-off components 9 of the first assembly E1 is carried out in addition by thermal conduction in the single-piece phase conductive part 30 towards the first phase connection terminal 2. A part of the calories coming from the electronic power cut-off components 9 of the second assembly E2 is also discharged to the second neutral connection terminal 5 and to the second set of contacts. Part of the calories coming from the electronic power cut-off components 9 of the first set El is also discharged to the second phase connection terminal 3 and to the first set of contacts.

[0088] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown in the attached drawings. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Electronic cut-off protection apparatus comprising at least: - a housing (1), - a phase current line (P) between a first phase connection terminal (2) and a second phase connection terminal (3), - a neutral current line (N) between a first neutral connection terminal (4) and a second neutral connection terminal (5), - an electronic cut-off unit (8) comprising at least one electronic power cut-off component (9) arranged on said phase current line (P), - an electronic protection trip unit comprising at least one control unit coupled to said electronic cut-off unit (8) configured to control the opening of said at least one electronic power cut-off component (9) in the event of a fault occurring, - at least one heat sink (10) made of electrically conductive material,the electronic cut-off protection apparatus is characterized in that it comprises: - a neutral conductive portion (11) forming on the one hand at least a first part of the neutral current line (N) and on the other hand a heat sink (10) and being electrically connected between the first neutral connection terminal (4) and the second neutral connection terminal (5), - the neutral conductive portion (11) being on the one hand arranged relative to said electronic cut-off unit (8) so as to dissipate the heat coming from said at least one electronic power cut-off component (9) associated with said phase current line (P) at least by thermal conduction and being on the other hand electrically isolated from said electronic cut-off unit (8).,

2. Electronic cut-off protection apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the neutral conductive portion (11) is electrically insulated from said electronic cut-off unit (8) by an electrically insulating and thermally conductive element (13).

3. Electronic cut-off protection apparatus according to one of

4.

5.

6. any of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that it comprises at least one phase compartment (14) comprising at least the first phase connection terminal (2), the second phase connection terminal (3) and said electronic cut-off unit (8), and a neutral compartment (15) comprising at least the first neutral connection terminal (4) associated with the neutral conductive portion (11) and the second neutral connection terminal (5), the phase compartment (14) and the neutral compartment (15) being separated by an insulating separating wall (16) comprising a passage (17) configured to allow thermal conduction from said electronic cut-off unit (8) to the neutral conductive portion (11). Electronic cut-off protection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said electronic cut-off unit (8) comprises at least one electronic card (18) comprising a first face (19) and a second face (20) opposite the first face (19) and in that said electronic cut-off unit (8) comprises a first assembly (El) of at least one electronic power cut-off component (9) on said phase current line (P) mounted on the first face (19) or the second face (20) and a second assembly (E2) of at least one electronic power cut-off component (9) on said phase current line (P) mounted on the first face (19) or the second face (20) and electrically connected head-to-tail to said at least one electronic power cut-off component (9) of the first assembly (El). Electronic cut-off protection device according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the electronic card (18) is parallel to the insulating separating wall (16) and said at least one electronic power cut-off component (9) of the second assembly (E2) is mounted on the first face (19) opposite the passage (17) and comprises a dissipating element oriented against the first face (19) and an insulated face (21) oriented opposite, the neutral conductive portion (11) comprises a contact interface (22) which is arranged opposite and at a distance from the insulated face (21). Electronic cut-off protection device according to claims 2 and 5, characterized in that the electrically insulating and thermally conductive element (13) is interposed between the insulated face (21) and the contact interface (22) and is arranged against both the insulated face (21) and the contact interface (22).

7. Electronic cut-off protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first neutral connection terminal (4) comprises a conductive part (6) comprising at least one contact portion (7) configured to come into contact with a supply conductor of the network or of a load, the conductive part (6) of the first neutral connection terminal (4) is extended by the neutral conductive portion (11), the conductive part (6) and the neutral conductive portion (11) forming a single-piece conductive part (12).

8. Electronic cut-off protection device according to claim 7, characterized in that the single-piece conductive part (12) is made of metal and preferably copper.

9. Electronic cut-off protection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it further comprises a galvanic isolation mechanism comprising a first set of contacts with a first fixed contact (23) and a first movable contact arranged on the phase current line (P) in series with said at least one electronic power cut-off component (9) and a second set of contacts with a second fixed contact (24) and a second movable contact arranged on the neutral current line (N) upstream or downstream of the neutral conductive portion (11).

10. Electronic cut-off protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the neutral current line (N) is devoid of an electronic power cut-off component.

11. Electronic cut-off protection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said at least one electronic power cut-off component (9) comprises at least one power transistor and preferably at least one MOSFET and / or one JFET and / or one IGBT.

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