Control unit for an electrical circuit breaker and associated electrical circuit breaker

Abstract

Control unit for an electric circuit breaker and associated electric circuit breaker This control unit (20) comprises a housing (30) comprising a rear subassembly (34) and a front subassembly (100), which is assembled to the rear subassembly and which comprises a central portion (102) with two opposite transverse edges (111, 112). The front subassembly (100) also comprises fixing members (121, 122) while the rear subassembly (34) comprises complementary members (131, 132), which are configured to cooperate with the fixing members so as to secure the front subassembly (100) to the rear subassembly (34), so that the two transverse edges are locked in translation relative to the rear subassembly (34) in two respective opposite and divergent directions, while each of the transverse edges is free to rotate relative to the rear subassembly (34) around an axis parallel to the transverse edge in question.Figure for abstract: Figure 5.

Description

Title of the invention: Control unit for an electrical circuit breaker and associated electrical circuit breaker

[0001] The present invention relates to a control unit for an electric circuit breaker, as well as to an electric circuit breaker comprising such a control unit.

[0002] Electrical circuit breakers are known, in particular from EP-0 843 332-A1, comprising a cut-off unit and an electronic control unit. Such a control unit is typically configured to measure in real time an operating state of the circuit breaker and to control the opening of the cut-off unit in the event of detection of an operating fault of the circuit breaker. The control unit is received, reversibly, in a receptacle provided in the cut-off unit and is located on a front face of the circuit breaker, so that a user can read and / or adjust certain operating parameters of the electrical circuit breaker. The control unit is removable, so that a user can replace the control unit in the event of a malfunction, without having to disconnect the cut-off unit from the rest of the electrical installation.

[0003] With the evolution of technologies and needs, it is advantageous to offer the user an operational interface, also called "human-machine interface" or HMI - HMI in English -, which allows the user to easily understand an operating state of the control unit and / or to make adjustments to the control unit. Thus, depending on the case, the HMI of the control unit comprises one or more elements chosen, in a non-limiting manner, from one or more indicator lights and / or one or more buttons and / or a display screen. These HMI elements are assembled on a front subassembly of the control unit, the front subassembly being fixed to a rear subassembly to form a housing of the control unit.

[0004] However, these elements of the HMI - in particular the screen - are relatively fragile compared to the rest of the control unit. When the circuit breaker trips, the various electrical and / or magnetic and / or mechanical phenomena generate a breaking shock, which risks damaging or ejecting the HMI elements.

[0005] EP 3 290 935-A1 describes, for example, a control unit comprising a front subassembly, which comprises a central portion on which several human-machine interface elements are arranged. The front subassembly is fixed, by clipping, to a housing of the control unit. This front subassembly tends to be ejected from the housing by the breaking shock wave, when the circuit breaker is tripped, which is not satisfactory.

[0006] The traditional approach to avoiding ejection of the front subassembly is to add fasteners such as screws to secure the front subassembly to the rear subassembly. However, screws form hard points, which increase local stresses during releases, risking cracking the front subassembly. This approach is not satisfactory.

[0007] It is these problems that the invention more particularly intends to remedy, by proposing a control unit for an electrical circuit breaker comprising a front subassembly, the front subassembly comprising a central portion with at least one HMI element, in which the front subassembly is resistant to breaking shocks.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a control unit for an electrical circuit breaker, the control unit being configured to be received in a receptacle opening onto a front face of a cut-off unit of the circuit breaker so as to control the cut-off unit, in which: - the control unit has a front face, which has a generally planar shape and which is geometrically supported by a front plane, the front plane being orthogonal to a depth axis and defining a front direction oriented towards the user when the control unit is in a normal configuration of use, the front plane being parallel to a height axis and to a transverse axis of the control unit, - the control unit comprises a housing, which is made of an electrically insulating material, the housing comprising a rear subassembly and a front subassembly, which is assembled to the rear subassembly and which comprises a central portion which forms a portion of the front face of the control unit, the central portion being configured to receive at least one human-machine interface element, - the central portion comprises two transverse edges, which include a first edge and a second edge, which are located on either side of the central portion and which extend parallel to each other and parallel to the transverse axis, - the front subassembly also comprises members for attaching the front subassembly to the rear subassembly, the attachment members including a first attachment member, which is located in the vicinity of the first edge, and a second attachment member, which is located in the vicinity of the second edge, - the rear subassembly is made of an insulating material and comprises complementary members, which are configured to cooperate with the fixing members of the front subassembly, so as to secure the front subassembly to the rear subassembly in an assembled position of the front subassembly to the rear subassembly, where a front side of the central portion is oriented in the forward direction and forms a portion of the front face of the control unit,

[0009] in which: - the complementary members include a first complementary member, which cooperates with the first fixing member so as to form a first kinematic connection between the front subassembly and the rear subassembly, the first kinematic connection being such that: • the first edge is locked in translation relative to the rear subassembly in a first direction parallel to the height axis, and • the first edge is free to rotate relative to the rear subassembly around a first axis parallel to the transverse axis, - the complementary members include, in addition to the first complementary member, a second complementary member, which cooperates with a second fixing member so as to form a second kinematic connection between the front sub-assembly and the rear sub-assembly, the second kinematic connection being such that: • the second edge is locked in translation relative to the rear subassembly in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and • the second edge is free to rotate relative to the rear subassembly around a second axis parallel to the transverse axis.

[0010] Thanks to the invention, the front subassembly is held, along the two transverse edges, by kinematic connections blocking translation, but allowing rotation. In other words, the central portion is free to deform elastically in flexion. When the cut-off unit is triggered, the deformations caused by the cut-off shock are thus distributed and absorbed over the entire front subassembly. The absence of hard points means that the front subassembly flexes, but does not break.

[0011] According to advantageous but not mandatory aspects of the invention, such a control unit may incorporate one or more of the following features taken in isolation or in any technically admissible combination: - The first fixing member comprises at least one hook, which is arranged set back from the central portion in the front direction, each hook comprising a curved end which extends in the same direction parallel to the height axis and which forms a hollow, the hollow of each hook being geometrically carried by the same axis parallel to the transverse axis, while the first complementary member includes at least one cavity, each cavity being formed as a hollow in the rear subassembly and being configured to receive a respective hook in an engaged configuration of the hook, each cavity opening towards the front of the rear subassembly through a respective orifice and providing an internal bearing face, which is oriented towards the interior of the corresponding cavity in a rear direction, opposite to the front direction, and that, when each hook is in the engaged configuration, the curved end cooperates with the corresponding internal bearing face, so as to form the first kinematic connection, the first axis being substantially aligned with the hollow of each hook. Each hook comprises a lug, which is provided protruding, relative to the curved end portion of the hook in question, in the hollow of the curved end portion, while each internal bearing face comprises a complementary recess, which is configured to receive the lug of the corresponding hook, so as to prevent translational movements parallel to the height axis of the hook relative to the corresponding internal bearing face, when the hook is in the engaged configuration. The front subassembly includes clipping members, which are located spaced from the first edge and which are configured to cooperate with complementary clipping members of the rear subassembly, so as to maintain the front subassembly in the assembled position when each hook is in the engaged configuration. The second fixing member comprises a protrusion, which projects relative to the central portion and set back from the central portion, the protrusion providing a bearing surface facing forward when the front subassembly is in the position assembled to the rear subassembly, while the control unit also comprises a lock, which forms the second complementary member, the lock being assembled to the housing and being movable relative to the housing between a locking position and a release position, that the lock comprises a locking face, which is located opposite the bearing surface, in the forward direction, when the lock is in the locking position, so as to prevent translational movements of the protrusion relative to the rear subassembly in the forward direction, thus preventing rotational movements of the front subassembly relative to the rear subassembly around the first axis, and that,when the lock is in the release position, the lock does not prevent translational movements of the protrusion relative to the rear subassembly in the forward direction, thus allowing rotational movements of the, front subassembly relative to the rear subassembly around the first axis. The lock is pivotally mounted relative to the rear subassembly about a lock axis parallel to the transverse axis, the locking position and the release position being two angular positions of the lock relative to the rear subassembly about the lock axis.

[0012] The invention also relates to an electrical circuit breaker, comprising: a cut-off unit, comprising at least one cut-off device and an actuator, a copy of the control unit as described above,

[0013] in which: the cut-off unit provides a receptacle, which opens onto the front face of the cut-off unit, the control unit is received in the receptacle of the cut-off unit, such that the front face of the control unit is substantially aligned with the front face of the cut-off unit.

[0014] Advantageously: the second transverse edge of the front subassembly is located at the edge of the front face of the control unit, the control unit is as described previously, the lock has a recess, which is set back from the front face when the lock is in the locking position, the recess having a locking face, which is oriented in a direction orthoradial to the lock axis, the circuit breaker comprises a faceplate, which is configured to be assembled to the cut-off unit, so as to form a portion of the front face of the cut-off unit, the faceplate having a window, through which the front face of the control unit is visible, the window includes a locking flange, which cooperates with the locking face so as to maintain the lock in the locking position when the control unit is received in the receptacle and the faceplate is assembled to the cut-off unit.

[0015] The invention will be better understood, and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the light of the following description of an embodiment of a control unit and an electrical circuit breaker, in accordance with its principle, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0016] - [Fig.l] [Fig.l] represents respectively, on two inserts a) and b), a view in perspective and a partially exploded perspective view of an electrical circuit breaker in accordance with the invention, the electrical circuit breaker comprising a control unit, also in accordance with the invention;

[0017] - [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of the control unit of [Fig.l], the control unit comprising a housing, a front subassembly and a lock, the lock being in a locking configuration;

[0018] - [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of the housing, the front subassembly and of the control unit lock of [Fig.2], the lock being in a release configuration;

[0019] - [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is an exploded perspective view of the housing, of the subassembly front and lock of the control unit of [Fig.2];

[0020] - [Fig.5] [Fig.5] represents, on two inserts a) and b), a perspective view of the control unit of [Fig.3] in an intermediate configuration during assembly of the control unit, and a cross-section along a plane VV of a detail of the control unit of [Fig.3];

[0021] - [Fig.6] [Fig.6] represents, on two inserts a) and b), a side view of the unit of control of [Fig.3], the lock being in a release position, and a cross-section of a detail of the control unit of [Fig.3], the lock being in a locking position;

[0022] - [Fig.7] [Fig.7] represents respectively, on two inserts a) and b), a view in perspective and a section of the electrical circuit breaker in [Fig.l], some parts being hidden.

[0023] An electrical circuit breaker 10 is shown in [Fig.l]. The electrical circuit breaker 10, also simply called circuit breaker 10, is here a multi-pole circuit breaker, in particular a three-pole circuit breaker. The number of poles of the circuit breaker 10 is not limiting. In a known manner, a multi-pole electrical circuit breaker comprises, for each electrical pole, input and output power terminals, which are respectively connected or electrically isolated from each other by a circuit breaker cut-off device. The cut-off device comprises, for example, separable movable contacts, which are received in a cut-off chamber of the electrical circuit breaker 10 and whose movements are controlled by an actuator. Thus, the cut-off device can be triggered by the actuator. The cut-off chambers are here materialized by three grids 12 visible on an upper face of the circuit breaker 10, the other elements of the cut-off device not being shown..

[0024] The electrical circuit breaker 10 is intended to be used within an electrical installation, for example to control the power supply of a machine tool. In a normal configuration of use, the electrical circuit breaker 10 is generally placed within an electrical cabinet, the electrical circuit breaker 10 having a front face 14, which is oriented towards the user standing in front of the electrical cabinet. The electrical cabinet is not shown.

[0025] The electrical circuit breaker 10 comprises a cut-off unit 16, which in particular comprises each of the cut-off chambers, as well as the cut-off device and the associated actuator.

[0026] The electrical circuit breaker 10 advantageously comprises a faceplate 18, which is reversibly fixed to the cut-off unit 16. The faceplate 18 is made of an electrically insulating material and extends generally along a front plane P14, which defines a portion of the front face 14 of the electrical circuit breaker 10, and by extension of the cut-off unit 16. The faceplate 18 thus serves to protect the user of the circuit breaker 10. In [Fig.l] a), the faceplate 18 is shown assembled to the cut-off unit 16, which corresponds to a normal usage configuration of the circuit breaker 10. In [Fig.l] b), the faceplate 18 is distant from the cut-off unit 16, this configuration being found for example during maintenance of the cut-off unit 16

[0027] The electrical circuit breaker 10 also comprises a control unit 20. The control unit 20 is configured to analyze states of the cut-off unit 16 and is configured to trigger the actuator according to the results of these analyses, thus separating the separable contacts.

[0028] The control unit 20 comprising a front face 22. The front face 22 has a generally planar shape and is geometrically carried by a front plane P22, which is orthogonal to a depth axis A22 of the control unit 20. The front face 22 is oriented towards the user when the control unit 20 is in a normal configuration of use. The front face 22 thus defines a front direction D22, which is parallel to the depth axis A22. The front direction D22 is represented by an arrow. The concepts of directions such as “front”, “back”, “up”, “down”, etc., are defined in relation to the elements as represented in the drawings, knowing that it may be otherwise in reality.

[0029] The faceplate 18 comprises a window 19, through which the front face 22 of the cutting unit 20 is visible in the front direction D22. The window 19 is advantageously closed by a transparent flap. The flap is not shown.

[0030] The control unit 20 is assembled to the cut-off unit 16 in a reversible manner. In the example of figures 1a) and 1b), the control unit 20 is shown in the configuration assembled to the cut-off unit 16. The control unit 20 is shown in isolation in [Fig.2].

[0031] The cut-off unit 16 provides a receptacle, which opens onto a front face 14 of the cut-off unit 16 and in which the control unit 20 is received, so that the front face 22 of the control unit 20 is substantially aligned with the front face 14 of the cut-off unit 16, as illustrated in particular in [Fig.l] a). The receptacle is not shown.

[0032] The control unit 20 is now described. The control unit 20 comprises a housing 30, which is made of an insulating material and which forms a volume for receiving various components of the control unit 20. The housing 30 houses in particular an electronic card 32, which is partially visible in [Fig. 7]. The electronic card 32 comprises a printed circuit and several electronic components such as a microprocessor, etc.

[0033] The housing 30 comprises a rear subassembly 34 and a front subassembly 100, the front subassembly 100 being assembled to the rear subassembly 34 during the manufacture of the control unit 20. The elements of the housing 30 are shown assembled in [Fig. 3] and at a distance from each other in [Fig. 4]. The rear subassembly 34 here comprises a rear block 36 and an intermediate wall 38. The rear block delimits a cavity 37, which is closed by the intermediate wall 38 and in which the electronic card 32 is received. The intermediate wall 38 is advantageously fixed to the rear block 36 by means of fixing members 40, preferably clipping members, as illustrated in [Fig. 4]. Alternatively, the rear block 36 and the intermediate wall 38 are manufactured in a single piece.

[0034] The front subassembly 100 comprises a central portion 102, which forms a portion of the front face 22 of the control unit 120. The central portion 102 is generally planar and has a front side 102A and a rear side 102B opposite the front side 102A. The central portion 102 is here configured to receive at least one human-machine interface element 104. The front side 102A of the central portion 102 is preferably oriented in the front direction D22. A human-machine interface is also designated by its acronym HMI, or MHI in English. The human-machine interface elements 104 are also simply referred to as “HMI elements” 104. In the illustrated example, the central portion 102 comprises several HMI elements 104. The HMI elements 104 here include three indicator lights 104A, a transparent portion 104B, through which a screen can be observed, and four buttons 104C.These examples are not limiting, the type, number and arrangement of the HMI elements 104 can be changed during the design of the front subassembly 100.

[0035] Advantageously, the front subassembly 100 is assembled to the rear subassembly 34 in a reversible manner. It is thus possible to replace the front subassembly 100 in the event of a malfunction.

[0036] The central portion 102 here has a substantially rectangular shape and provides two transverse edges, which include a first edge 111 and a second edge 112, which are located on either side of the central portion 102 and which extend parallel to each other. The first edge 111 and the second edge 112 are parallel to a transverse axis T100 of the front subassembly 100. The first transverse edge 111 is a low edge of the central portion 102, while the second transverse edge 112 is a high edge of the central portion 102, as in the illustrated example. Thus, the first edge 111 is located below the second edge 112 when the control unit 20 is in a normal configuration of use. The transverse axis T100 is an axis orthogonal to a height axis H20 of the control unit. By extension, the transverse axis 100 is also a transverse axis for the control unit 20. The front plane P22 is thus parallel to the height axis H20 and to the transverse axis T100. The depth axis A22, the height axis H20 and the transverse axis T100 together form an orthogonal reference frame. The height axis H20 is vertical when the control unit 20 is in a normal configuration of use. Other arrangements are of course possible.

[0037] The central portion 102 also comprises two lateral edges 113, which are parallel to each other and which each connect the first edge 111 to the second edge 112. Thus the first edge 111, the second edge 112 and the two lateral edges 113 delimit the central portion 102.

[0038] The front subassembly 100 comprises fixing members 120 for fixing the front subassembly 100 to the rest of the control unit 20, in particular to the rear subassembly 34. The fixing members 120 include a first fixing member 121, which is located in the vicinity of the first edge 111, and a second fixing member 122, which is located in the vicinity of the second edge 112.

[0039] The rear subassembly 34 comprises complementary members, which are configured to cooperate with the fixing members 120 of the front subassembly 100, so as to secure the front subassembly 100 to the rear subassembly 34 in an assembled position of the front subassembly 100 to the rear subassembly 34, thus forming the housing 30 of the control unit 20. The housing 30, and by extension the control unit 20, is then in an assembled configuration, where the front side 102A of the central portion 102 is oriented in the front direction D22 and forms a portion of the front face 22 of the control unit 20.

[0040] The complementary members include a first complementary member 131, which cooperates with the first fixing member 121 so as to form a first kinematic connection between the front subassembly 100 and the rear subassembly 34, the first kinematic connection being such that: - the first edge 101 is locked in translation relative to the rear subassembly in a first direction D1, which is parallel to the height axis H20, - the first edge 101 is free to rotate relative to the rear subassembly 34 around a first axis Al parallel to the transverse axis T100.

[0041] In the example illustrated, the first fixing member 121 comprises a hook 123, which is arranged set back from the central portion 102 in the front direction D22. The front subassembly 100 here comprises two hooks 123, which are arranged in the vicinity of the junctions between the first edge 111 and the lateral edges 113.

[0042] With reference to [Fig. 4], each hook 123 here comprises a curved end 124A, which extends in the same direction parallel to the height axis H20, the curved end 124A delimiting a hollow 124B, the hollows 124B of each hook 123 being geometrically carried by a first axis A1, which is parallel to the transverse axis T100. Schematically, the first axis A1 is substantially aligned with the hollow 124B of each hook 123.

[0043] The first complementary member 131 includes at least one cavity 133, each cavity 133 being formed in a hollow in the rear subassembly 34 and being configured to receive a respective hook 123 in an engaged configuration of the hook 123. The cavities 133 are here formed in the intermediate wall 38. Each cavity 133 opens towards the front of the rear subassembly 34 via a respective orifice 134A and forms an internal bearing face 134B, which is oriented towards the interior of the cavity 133 in a rear direction, opposite to the front direction D22.

[0044] When each hook 123 is received in the corresponding cavity 133, the curved end 124A of each hook 123 cooperates with the corresponding internal bearing face 134B, in particular by complementarity of shapes, so as to prevent translational movements of the hook 123 relative to the bearing surface 134B parallel to the height axis H20 and downwards, while allowing rotational movements around the first axis AL. The first direction DI is oriented from the second edge 112 towards the first edge 111, i.e. here oriented downwards. The rotational movement is illustrated by a curved double arrow R121 in [Fig.5]. In other words, the curved end 124A of each hook 123 cooperates with the corresponding internal bearing face 134B, so as to form the first kinematic connection.It is also understood that when the hooks 123 are received in the corresponding cavities 133, the translational movements of the front subassembly 110 relative to the rear subassembly 34 parallel to the first axis A1 are prevented.

[0045] Advantageously, each hook 123 comprises a lug 125, which is arranged to project, relative to the curved end portion 124A of the hook in question, in the hollow 124B of the end portion 124A in question, while each internal bearing face 134B comprises a complementary recess 135, which is configured to receive the lug 125 of the corresponding hook 123, so as to prevent parallel to the height axis H120 of the hook 123 relative to the corresponding internal bearing face 134B, when the hook is in the engaged configuration.

[0046] The complementary members include, in addition to the first complementary member 131, a second complementary member 132, which cooperates with a second complementary member 132. attachment 122 so as to form a second kinematic connection between the front subassembly 100 and the rear subassembly 34, the second kinematic connection being such that: - the second edge 112 is locked in translation relative to the rear subassembly 34 in a second direction D2 parallel to the height axis H20, the second direction D2 being opposite to the first direction D1, and - the second edge 112 is free to rotate relative to the rear subassembly 34 around a second axis A2 parallel to the transverse axis T100.

[0047] In the example illustrated, the second fixing member 122 comprises a protrusion 126, which projects relative to the central portion 102. The protrusion 126 is located set back from the central portion 102 and here extends towards the top of the control unit, the protrusion 126 providing a bearing surface 127, which is oriented in the front direction D22 when the front subassembly 100 is in the position assembled to the rear subassembly 34. The bearing surface 127 here has an elongated shape which extends parallel to the second edge 112, in other words parallel to the transverse axis T100.

[0048] The control unit 20 comprises a lock 136, which is a separate part from the housing 30 and which forms the second complementary member 132. The lock 136 is movable relative to the housing 30 between a locking position, in which the lock 136 is assembled to the housing 30 and cooperates with the protrusion 126 so as to prevent a translational movement of the protrusion 126 relative to the rear subassembly 34 in the forward direction D22, and a release position, in which the lock 136 does not prevent a translational movement of the protrusion 126 relative to the rear subassembly 34 in the forward direction D22. In the illustrated example, the lock 136 comprises a locking face 137, which is located opposite the bearing surface 127, in the forward direction D22, when the lock 136 is in the locking position.

[0049] When the lock 136 is in the release position and each hook 123 is received in the corresponding cavity 133, the lock 136 does not prevent translational movements of the protrusion 126 relative to the rear subassembly 34 in the forward direction D22, thus authorizing rotational movements R121 of the front subassembly 100 relative to the rear subassembly 34 around the first axis AL

[0050] Schematically, when the lock 136 is in the locking position and each hook 123 is received in the corresponding cavity 133, during a cutting shock, contact between the bearing surface 127 and the locking face 137 is comparable to rectilinear contact, the second axis A2 being geometrically carried by the bearing surface 127. Thus, a rotational movement of the front subassembly 100 relative to the rear subassembly 34, around the second axis A2, is not prevented.

[0051] The first direction DI is oriented from the second edge 112 towards the first edge 111, i.e. here oriented downwards. Consequently, the second direction D2 is oriented from the first edge 111 towards the second edge 112, i.e. here upwards. It is understood that the translational movements of the front subassembly 100 parallel to the height axis H20 are thus generally prevented, but that the first edge 111 and the second edge 112 can move closer to each other.

[0052] In other words, the front subassembly 100, although secured to the rear subassembly 34, is free to deform elastically in flexion. In particular, the central portion 102 is free to deform elastically in flexion. When the cut-off unit 15 is triggered, the deformations caused by the cut-off shock are thus distributed and absorbed over the entire front subassembly 100, and in particular over the central portion 102. The absence of hard points reduces the risks of cracking, in other words the front subassembly 100 flexes, but does not break. The front subassembly 100 then returns to its initial position by elastic return.

[0053] Advantageously, the front subassembly 100 comprises clipping members 106, which are located at a distance from the first edge 111 and which are configured to cooperate with complementary clipping members of the rear subassembly 34, so as to maintain the front subassembly 100 in the assembled position when each hook 123 is received in the corresponding cavity 133. The role of the clipping members 106 is mainly to retain the front subassembly 100 when the lock 136 is in the release position rather than to retain the front subassembly 100 during a triggering. The clipping members 106 are preferably located near the second edge 112, so as not to hinder the bending of the central portion 102 of the front subassembly 100.

[0054] Advantageously, the lock 136 is pivotally mounted relative to the rear subassembly 34 about a lock axis A136 parallel to the second edge 112, the locking position and the release position being two angular positions of the lock 136 relative to the rear subassembly 34 about the lock axis A136. For this purpose, the lock 136 here comprises clipping members 138A, which cooperate with pins 138B provided on the rear subassembly 34. A rotational movement R136 of the lock 136 relative to the rear subassembly 34 between the locking position and the release position is represented by a double arrow in the figures. The transition from the locking position to the release position is advantageously done by hand, and without tools.

[0055] Advantageously, the second transverse edge 112 of the front subassembly 100 is located at the edge of the front face 22 of the control unit 20. The lock 136 has a recess 138, which is located set back from the front face 22 when the lock 136 is in the locking position, the recess 138 providing a locking face 139. The locking face 139 is oriented along an axis orthoradial to the lock axis A136, that is to say along an axis which is orthogonal to a plane passing through the lock axis A136 but which does not intersect the lock axis A136. In other words, when the locking face 139 is blocked, then the rotational movement R136 of the lock 136 is prevented. The locking face 139 is preferably oriented towards the top of the control unit 20, that is to say here along the second direction D2.

[0056] The window 19, formed in the faceplate 18, comprises a locking rim 19A, which is located opposite the locking face 139 when the control unit 30 is received in the receptacle and the faceplate 28 is assembled to the cut-off unit 16. The locking rim 19A cooperates with the locking face 139 so as to maintain the lock 136 in the locking position.

[0057] The embodiments and variants mentioned above can be combined with each other to generate new embodiments of the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Control unit (20) for an electrical circuit breaker (10), the control unit (20) being configured to be received in a receptacle opening onto a front face (14) of a cut-off unit (16) of the circuit breaker so as to control the cut-off unit (16), wherein: • the control unit (20) has a front face (22), which has a generally planar shape and which is geometrically carried by a front plane (P22), the front plane (P22) being orthogonal to a depth axis (A22) and defining a front direction (D22) oriented towards the user when the control unit (20) is in a normal configuration of use, the front plane (P22) being parallel to a height axis (H20) and to a transverse axis (T 100) of the control unit (20), • the control unit (20) comprises a housing (30), which is made of an electrically insulating material, the housing (30) comprising a rear subassembly (34) and a front subassembly (100), which is assembled to the rear subassembly (34) and which comprises a central portion (102) which forms a portion of the front face (22) of the control unit (20), • the central portion (102) comprises two transverse edges, which include a first edge (111) and a second edge (112), which are located on either side of the central portion (102) and which extend parallel to each other and parallel to the transverse axis (T 100), • the front subassembly (100) also comprises fixing members (120) for fixing the front subassembly (100) to the rear subassembly (34), the fixing members (120) including a first fixing member (121), which is located in the vicinity of the first edge (111), and a second fixing member (122), which is located in the vicinity of the second edge (112), • the rear subassembly (34) is made of an insulating material and comprises complementary members, which are configured to cooperate with the fixing members (120) of the front subassembly (100), so as to secure the front subassembly (100) to the rear subassembly (34) in a assembled position of the front subassembly (100) to the rear subassembly (34), where a front side (102A) of the central portion (102) is oriented in the front direction (D22) and forms a portion of the front face (22) of the control unit (20), in which: • the complementary members include a first complementary member (131), which cooperates with the first fixing member (121) so as to form a first kinematic connection between the front subassembly (100) and the rear subassembly (34), the first kinematic connection being such that: • the first edge (111) is locked in translation relative to the rear subassembly (34) in a first direction (Dl) parallel to the height axis (H20), and • the first edge (111) is free to rotate (R121) relative to the rear subassembly (34) around a first axis parallel to the transverse axis (T100), • the complementary members include, in addition to the first complementary member (131), a second complementary member (132), which cooperates with a second fixing member (122) so as to form a second kinematic connection between the front sub-assembly (100) and the rear sub-assembly (34), the second kinematic connection being such that: • the second edge (112) is locked in translation relative to the rear subassembly (34) in a second direction (D2) opposite to the first direction (D1), and • the second edge (112) is free to rotate relative to the rear subassembly (34) around a second axis (A2) parallel to the transverse axis (T 100).

2. Control unit (20) according to claim 1, wherein:

3. • the first fixing member (121) comprises at least one hook (123), which is arranged set back from the central portion (102) in the front direction (D22), each hook (123) comprising a curved end (124A) which extends in the same direction parallel to the height axis (H20) and which forms a hollow (124B), the hollow (124B) of each hook (123) being geometrically carried by the same axis parallel to the transverse axis (T100), • the first complementary member (131) includes at least one cavity (133), each cavity (133) being formed hollow in the rear subassembly (34) and being configured to receive a respective hook (123) in an engaged configuration of the hook, each cavity (133) opening towards the front of the rear subassembly (34) via a respective orifice (134A) and forming an internal bearing face (134B), which is oriented towards the interior of the corresponding cavity in a rear direction, opposite to the front direction (D22), • when each hook (123) is in the engaged configuration, the curved end (124A) cooperates with the corresponding internal bearing face (134B), so as to form the first kinematic connection, the first axis (Al) being substantially aligned with the hollow (124B) of each hook (123). Control unit (20) according to claim 2, wherein: • each hook (123) comprises a lug (125), which is provided protruding, relative to the curved end portion (124A) of the hook in question, in the hollow (124B) of the curved end portion (124A), • each internal bearing face (134B) comprises a complementary recess (135), which is configured to receive the lug (125) of the corresponding hook (123), so as to prevent translational movements parallel to the height axis (H20) of the hook (123) relative to the corresponding internal bearing face (134B), when the hook (123) is in the engaged configuration.

4. Control unit (20) according to any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein: • the front subassembly (100) comprises clipping members (106), which are located at a distance from the first edge (111) and which are configured to cooperate with complementary clipping members of the rear subassembly (34), so as to maintain the front subassembly (100) in the assembled position when each hook (123) is in the engaged configuration.

5. Control unit (20) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein: • the second fixing member (122) comprises a protrusion (126), which projects relative to the central portion (102) and is set back from the central portion (102), the protrusion (126) providing a bearing surface (127) facing forward when the front subassembly (100) is in the position assembled to the rear subassembly (34), • the control unit (20) also comprises a lock (136), which forms the second complementary member (132), the lock (136) being assembled to the housing (30) and being movable relative to the housing (30) between a locking position and a release position, • the lock (136) comprises a locking face (137), which is located opposite the bearing surface (127), in the front direction (D22), when the lock (136) is in the locking position, so as to prevent translational movements of the protrusion (126) relative to the rear subassembly (34) in the front direction (D22), thus preventing rotational movements (R 121) of the front subassembly (100) relative to the rear subassembly (34) around the first axis (Al), • when the lock (136) is in the release position, the lock (136) does not prevent translational movements of the protrusion (126) relative to the rear subassembly (34) in the forward direction (D22), thus allowing rotational movements (R121) of the front subassembly (100) relative to the rear subassembly (34) around the first axis (Al).

6. Control unit (20) according to claim 5, in which: • the lock (136) is pivotally mounted relative to the rear sub-assembly (34) around a lock axis (A 136) parallel to the transverse axis (T100), the locking position and the release position being two angular positions of the lock (136) relative to the rear sub-assembly (34) around the lock axis (A 136).

7. Electrical circuit breaker (10), comprising: • a cut-off unit (16), comprising at least one cut-off device and an actuator, • an example of the control unit (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which: • the cut-off unit (16) provides a receptacle, which opens onto the front face (14) of the cut-off unit (16), • the control unit (20) is received in the receptacle of the cut-off unit (16), so that the front face (22) of the control unit (20) is substantially aligned with the front face (14) of the cut-off unit (16).

8. Electrical circuit breaker (10) according to claim 7, in which: • the second transverse edge (112) of the front subassembly (100) is located at the edge of the front face (22) of the control unit (20), • the control unit (20) is according to any one of claims 5 or 6, • the lock (136) has a recess (138), which is located set back from the front face (22) when the lock (136) is in the locking position, the recess having a locking face (139), which is oriented in a direction orthoradial to the lock axis (A 136), the circuit breaker (10) comprises a faceplate (18), which is configured to be assembled to the cut-off unit (16), so as to form a portion of the front face (14) of the cut-off unit (16), the faceplate having a window (19), through which the front face (22) of the control unit (20) is visible, the window (19) comprises a locking rim (19A), which cooperates with the locking face (139) so as to maintain the lock (136) in the locking position when the control unit (20) is received in the receptacle and the faceplate (18) is assembled to the cutting unit (16).

Images