Device for extinguishing an electric arc and associated modular-format electrical protection apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for extinguishing an electric arc, comprising: - a first electric arc-extinguishing sub-assembly (10) comprising a first stack (11) of first splitter plates (1) and a

Description

Title of the invention: Device for extinguishing an electric arc and associated modular-format electrical protection apparatus

[0001] The present invention concerns the field of electric-arc-extinguishing devices for protection electrical apparatus, preferably of modular type, and the field of protection electrical apparatus, preferably of modular type, incorporating such electric-arc-extinguishing devices.

[0002] The field of residential and tertiary electrical equipment includes in particular protection electrical apparatus, in particular of modular format, which includes in particular an electric-arc-extinguishing chamber. This electric-arc-extinguishing chamber comprises in known manner support means and an electric-arc-extinguishing device comprising a plurality of plates for splitting the electric arc. The splitter plates have a constant and identical shape. Their shape is globally rectangular with two lateral edges, comprising a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, connected by a lower edge and an upper edge. The splitter plates are disposed substantially parallel to one another and are distant from one another by a distance interval between two adjacent splitter plates. Each splitter plate comprises an electric arc entry notch beginning at the level of the lower edge and the set of entry notches forms an electric arc entry zone. The support means are disposed on a part of each first / second lateral edge to hold the splitter plates distant from one another by the distance interval. There are usually thirteen splitter plates.

[0003] However, under some conditions the electric-arc-extinguishing chamber does not have a volume sufficient to receive the device for extinguishing an electric arc as described above. This is in particular the case when a new functionality is added to the protection electrical apparatus and the overall size linked to that new functionality encroaches on the space initially dedicated to receiving the electric-arc-extinguishing device in the electric-arc-extinguishing chamber.

[0004] There exists for example modular-format protection electrical apparatus the width of which has the value of one module and that comprise a phase line and a neutral line. Such protection electrical apparatus can be installed both in an electrical distribution box enabling only central distribution of the phase and in an electrical distribution box enabling central distribution of the phase and the neutral. In the situation where the protection electrical apparatus is installed in an electrical distribution box enabling only central distribution of the phase, the neutral line is then fed by a cable external to the protection electrical apparatus that is connected to the neutral input connecting terminal and has the particular feature of crossing the interior of the protection electrical apparatus at the level of a passage. Now, this passage of the cable through the protection electrical apparatus locally encroaches on a part of the electric-arc-extinguishing chamber. However, the size of the electric-arc-extinguishing device cannot simply be reduced without unfavorably impacting the efficacy of the operation of the protection electrical apparatus.

[0005] The aim of the invention is to provide an electric-arc-extinguishing device the architecture of which is suitable for an extinguishing chamber the space in which is locally restricted to incorporate a new functionality unfavorably impacting the interrupting performance of the protection electrical apparatus.

[0006] To this end the invention concerns an electric-arc-extinguishing device as claimed in claim 1.

[0007] The invention also concerns modular-format protection electrical apparatus as claimed in claim 11.

[0008] The invention will be better understood thanks to the following description which relates to a plurality of preferred embodiments that are given by way of non-limiting example and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

[0009] [Fig. 1] figure 1A and figure 1B respectively represent a perspective view from above and a perspective view from below of an electric-arc-extinguishing device in a first variant embodiment of the invention.

[0010] [Fig. 2] figure 2 represents a perspective view of the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly of the electric arc extinguishing device depicted in figures 1A and 1B.

[0011] [Fig. 3] figure 3 represents a perspective view of the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly of the electric-arc-extinguishing device depicted in figures 1A and 1B.

[0012] [Fig. 4] figure 4 represents a side view of the electric-arc-extinguishing device depicted in figures 1A and 1B.

[0013] [Fig. 5] figure 5 represents a perspective view of an electric-arc-extinguishing device in a second variant of the invention.

[0014] [Fig. 6] figure 6 represents a perspective view of the electric-arc-extinguishing device depicted in figure 5.

[0015] [Fig. 7] figure 7 represents a side view of the electric-arc-extinguishing device depicted in figure 5.

[0016] [Fig. 8] figure 8 represents a perspective view of a separator wall of modular-format protection electrical apparatus in accordance with the invention showing the neutral side second face.

[0017] [Fig. 9] figure 9 represents a perspective view of the separator wall showing the phase side first face comprising a first sub-zone and a second sub-zone and the electric-arc-extinguishing device in accordance with the first variant embodiment of the invention during assembly.

[0018] [Fig. 10] figure 10 represents a perspective view of the wall showing the first sub-zone and the second sub-zone receiving the electric-arc-extinguishing device in accordance with the first variant embodiment of the invention, and

[0019] [Fig. 11] figure 11 represents a view from above of the separator wall showing the first sub-zone and the second sub-zone receiving the electric-arc-extinguishing device in accordance with the first variant embodiment of the invention.

[0020] An electric-arc-extinguishing device for protection electrical apparatus comprises at least:

[0021] - a plurality of plates 1, 1’ for splitting the electric arc, each splitter plate 1,1’ having a globally rectangular shape with two lateral edges, comprising a first lateral edge 2 and a second lateral edge 3, connected by a lower edge 4 and an upper edge 5, the splitter plates 1,1’ being substantially parallel to one another and being distant from one another by a distance interval I between two adjacent splitter plates 1, T, each splitter plate 1, T comprising an electric arc entry notch 6 beginning at the level of the lower edge 4, the set of entry notches 6 forming an electric arc entry zone, each entry notch 6 defining two branches 7, 8.

[0022] - support means 9 disposed on at least a part of each first / second lateral edge 2, 3 configured at least to hold the splitter plates 1,1’ distant from one another by the distance interval I,

[0023] the electric-arc-extinguishing device comprising a first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 comprising at least one first stack 11 of first plates 1 for splitting the electric arc and a second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12 comprising at least one second stack 13 of second plates 1’ for splitting the electric arc.

[0024] In accordance with the invention the electric-arc-extinguishing device is characterized in that:

[0025] each first splitter plate 1 has a first height hi corresponding to the distance between the first lateral edge 2 and the second lateral edge 3 so that the first stack 11 has a first overall height hg1 substantially equal to the first height hi,

[0026] each second splitter plate T has a second height h2 corresponding to the distance between the first lateral edge 2 and the second lateral edge 3 so that the second stack 13 has a second overall height hg2 substantially equal to the first height h2 and less than the first overall height hg 1,

[0027] the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 and the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12 being configured to be adjacent and distant from one another by the distance interval I in an alignment position PA, in which the second lateral edges 3 of the first splitter plates 1 of the first stack 11 and the second lateral edges 3 of the second splitter plates T of the second stack 13 are offset by an offset distance so as to form a gap 14,

[0028] This configuration advantageously makes it possible to produce an electric-arc-extinguishing device the architecture of which is adapted to suit an electric-arc-extinguishing chamber (not represented) of modular-format protection electrical apparatus the space in which is locally restricted to incorporate new functionality without unfavorably compacting the interrupting performance of the protection electrical apparatus. Thus the size and in particular the second height h2 of the second splitter plates 1 ’ of the second stack 13 does not correspond to the size and in particular the first height hi of the first splitter plates 1 of the first stack 11, in contrast to the known prior art which comprises a stack of splitter plates that are of constant size and in particular of constant height. In fact, the size of the second stack 13 is reduced relative to the size of the first stack 11. The gap 14 therefore makes it possible to receive the new functionality in the protection electrical apparatus.

[0029] In the example illustrated in particular by figures 9 to 11 this localized space restriction is situated at the level of a second sub-zone 29 of the electric-arc-extinguishing chamber in contrast to a first sub-zone 28 the space in which is not impacted. Thus the first sub-zone 28 has a receiving volume greater than that of the second sub-zone 29 because of the existence of the new functionality that encroaches on the volume initially available in the electric-arc-extinguishing device in the absence of this new functionality. The first electric-arc-extinguishing subassembly 10 is intended to be received in the first sub-zone 28. The second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12 is intended to be received in the second sub-zone 29. The second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12 features a gap 14 that is therefore incorporated in the second sub-zone 29 that has a restricted volume compared to that of the first sub-zone 28. In fact, in the alignment position PA the second lateral edges 3 of the splitter plates 1 of the first stack 11 and the splitter plates T of the second stack 13 are situated on two offset levels enabling creation of the gap 14. In other words the first stack 11 of the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 is larger than the second stack 13 of the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12 at least in the direction of the first and second heights hi, h2. Thus only the size of the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12 is impacted.

[0030] It will be noted that in the alignment position PA the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 and the second electric-arc-extinguishing subassembly 12 may be assembled reversibly or non-reversibly or alternatively not assembled and simply aligned.

[0031] In the alignment position PA the first lateral edges 2 of the first splitter plates 1 of the first stack 11 and the first lateral edges 2 of the second splitter plates T of the second stack 13 are preferably aligned.

[0032] In the alignment position PA the first lateral edges 2 of the splitter plates 1 of the first stack 11 and the splitter plates 1’ of the second stack 13 are advantageously situated at the same level.

[0033] The total number of splitter plates 1, T is preferably 13. This total number is equivalent to the number of splitter plates of a prior art electric-arc-extinguishing device that comprises only one stack of splitter plates of constant size.

[0034] As figures 1A and B, 2, 5, 6, 9 to 11 show, the first stack 11 preferably comprises a first number of first splitter plates 1 that is for example equal to 10.

[0035] As figures 1A and 1B, 3, 5, 6, 9 to 11 show, the second stack 13 preferably comprises a second number of second splitter plates T that is for example equal to 3.

[0036] The first number of first splitter plates 1 is preferably greater than the second number of second splitter plates T.

[0037] Thus only the size of the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12 that has fewer splitter plates 1, T is impacted. The modification is therefore localized on a very limited number of second splitter plates T, preferably a number equal to 3.

[0038] The first height hi is preferably approximately one-third of a module value of substantially 18 millimeters and is for example between 12.6 millimeters and 12.8 millimeters inclusive.

[0039] The second height h2 is preferably less than the first height hi and is by way of non-limiting example between 9.9 millimeters and 10.1 millimeters inclusive.

[0040] The offset distance is preferably substantially equal to the difference between the first height hi and the second height h2.

[0041] Each first splitter plate 1 preferably has a first length 11 corresponding to the distance between the lower edge 4 and the upper edge 5. Each second splitter plate T preferably has a second length I2 corresponding to the distance between the lower edge 4 and the upper edge 5.

[0042] As figures 4 and 7 in particular show, the entry notches 6 of the first stack 11 and the entry notches 6 of the second stack 13 are preferably all aligned.

[0043] Each entry notch 6 defines two branches 7, 8, namely a first branch 7 and a second branch 8. The first branch 7 is disposed near the first lateral edge 2 and has a first branch length Ib1, IbT and the second branch 8 is disposed near the second lateral edge 3 and has a second branch length Ib2, Ib2’.

[0044] In a first variant embodiment that is depicted in figures 1A and 1B to 4 the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 and the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12 are two distinct entities.

[0045] In this case the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 and the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12 are advantageously two autonomous entities, namely a first entity and a second entity disposed side-by-side in the aligned position PA. This solution has the advantage of the most simplistic geometry and is easy to produce. Furthermore, this solution makes it possible to preserve satisfactory interrupting performance, for example 10 kiloamperes for a rating of 45 amperes.

[0046] In a second variant embodiment that is depicted in figures 5 to 7 the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 and the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12 are permanently assembled to form a single entity.

[0047] In this case the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 and the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12 are advantageously joined and assembled permanently. The geometry of this solution is more complex than that of the solution of the first variant embodiment but has the advantage of being in one piece and therefore easy to manipulate and to assemble into the electrical protection apparatus.

[0048] In accordance with a first option of the first variant embodiment the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 further comprises first support means comprising two first support plates 15 respectively disposed on at least some of the first lateral edges 2 and second lateral edges 3 to hold the first splitter plates 1 distant from one another by the distance interval I and the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12 further comprises second support means comprising two second support plates 16 respectively disposed on some of the first lateral edges 2 and the second lateral edges 3 to hold the second splitter plates T distant from one another by the distance interval I, the first support means and the second support means forming said support means 9.

[0049] The two first support plates 15 and the two second support plates 16 are preferably made of cardboard or the like. This example is not limiting on the invention.

[0050] The two first support plates 15 and the two second support plates 16 preferably have a substantially rectangular overall shape. [0051 ] In accordance with a second option of the first variant embodiment the first ends 17 of the first support plates 15 and the two second ends 18 of the second support plates 16 include nesting means 19 configured to be engaged one in the other in the alignment position PA so that in the alignment position PA the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 and the second electric-arc-extinguishing subassembly 12 are distant from one another by the distance interval I.

[0052] The nesting means 19 make it possible for the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 and the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12 to be distant from one another by the distance interval I in the alignment position PA to prevent them colliding.

[0053] By way of non-limiting example the nesting means 19 correspond to a crenelated shape of the first ends 17 and the second ends 18.

[0054] In accordance with a third option of the first variant embodiment a first gap between the two first support plates 15 is substantially equal to the first overall height hg1 and a second gap between the two second support plates 16 is substantially equal to the second overall height hg2.

[0055] The first length 11 of each first splitter plate 1 is preferably less than the second length I2 of each second splitter plate T.

[0056] During assembly this configuration advantageously makes it possible, as depicted in figure 9, to install the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12 after installing a confinement cheek 36 of the interrupting prechamber 37 so that the latter covers the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 at the level of its second branches 8 but does not cover the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12, as figures 10 and 11 show.

[0057] As depicted in particular in figure 4 the entry notches 6 of the first stack 11 and the entry notches 6 of the second stack 13 are preferably all aligned but are not identical.

[0058] The consecutive entry notches 6 are advantageously aligned between the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 and the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12.

[0059] Figure 2 shows, for the entry notches 6 of the first stack 11, that the first branch length Ib1 of the first branch 7 and the second branch length Ib2 of the second branch 8 are different. In fact, the first branch length Ib1 is less than the second branch length Ib2.

[0060] The first and second branches 7, 8 of the second electric-arc-extinguishing subassembly 12 are thus shortened relative to those of the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 to allow the installation of the confinement cheek 36 as explained above. [0061 ] As figure 3 shows, for the entry notches 6 of the second stack 13 the first branch length Ib1 ’ of the first branch 7 and the second branch length Ib2’ of the second branch 8 are equal.

[0062] This configuration advantageously enables symmetry to be achieved. In fact, the second splitter plates 1 ’ of the second stack 13 are thus symmetrical about the middle of their second height h2, which makes it possible to render symmetrical the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12. It is therefore not necessary to polarize its mounting direction when assembling the protection electrical apparatus.

[0063] As figures 2 to 4 show, the first branch length Ib1 of the first branch 7 of the entry notches 6 of the first stack 11 is moreover also equal to the first branch length IbT of the first branch 7 and the second branch length Ib2’ of the second branch 8 of the entry notches 6 of the second stack 13.

[0064] Figure 2 shows in particular that in the first variant embodiment the first electricarc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 is in the form of a first one-piece entity that comprises the first stack 11 of first splitter plates 1 that are retained by the support means 9 which in this case are in the form of the two parallel first support plates 15. The first stack 11 comprises ten first splitter plates 1. Each first support plate 15 preferably has two substantially parallel rows R1, R2 of aligned perforations 30. The perforations 30 of each row R1, R2 are preferably ten in number. A perforation 30 is provided to form a fixing with a tongue 31 projecting from the first / second lateral edge 2, 3 of the first splitter plate 1. The tongues 31 are adapted to be nested in the perforations 30.

[0065] Figure 3 shows in particular that in the first variant embodiment the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12 is in the form of a second one-piece entity that comprises the second stack 13 of second splitter plates T that are retained by the support means 9 which in this case are in the form of the two parallel second support plates 16. The second stack 13 comprises three second splitter plates T. Each second support plate 16 preferably includes two substantially parallel rows R1, R2 of aligned perforations 30. The perforations 30 of each row R1, R2 are preferably three in number. A perforation 30 is provided to form a fixing with a tongue 31 projecting from the first / second lateral edge 2, 3 of the second splitter plate T. The tongues 31 are adapted to be nested in the perforations 30.

[0066] The first entity depicted in figure 2 and the second entity depicted in figure 3 are separate.

[0067] Figure 4 shows in particular that in the first variant embodiment the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 and the second electric-arc-extinguishing subassembly 12 are in the alignment position PA in which the first lateral edges 2 of the splitter plates 1 of the first stack 11 and the splitter plates 1 ’ of the second stack 13 are situated at the same level whereas the second lateral edges 3 of the first splitter plates 1 of the first stack 11 and the second lateral edges 3 of the second splitter plates T of the second stack 13 are offset by an offset distance so as to form said gap 14 or in other words are at two distinct levels. Furthermore, the first overall heigh hg1 of the first stack 11 is greater than the second overall height hg2 of the second stack 13.

[0068] In accordance with a first option of the second variant embodiment said support means 9 include a single support envelope 20 disposed on at least one part of the first lateral edges 2 and the second lateral edges 3 and on the upper edges 5 of the first splitter plates 1 and the second splitter plates 1’, respectively, so as to hold the first splitter plates 1 and the second splitter plates T distant from one another by the distance interval I and to retain the first electric-arc-extinguishing subassembly 10 and the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12 distant from one another by the distance interval I with the first lateral edges 2 of the first stack 11 of first splitter plates 1 and the first lateral edges 2 of the second stack 13 of second splitter plates T preferably aligned and with the second lateral edges 3 of the first stack 11 of first splitter plates 1 and the second lateral edges 3 of the second stack 13 of second splitter plates 1’ offset by an offset distance so as to form said gap 14.

[0069] The single support envelope 20 is preferably made of cardboard or the like. This example is not limiting on the invention.

[0070] In accordance with a second option of the second variant embodiment the single support envelope 20 comprises a base wall 21 extended on one side by a lateral wall 22 and on the other side by a first lateral wall 23 and a second lateral wall 24, the base wall 21 is disposed on the upper edges of the first splitter plates 1 and the second splitter plates T, the lateral wall 22 is disposed on some of the first lateral edges 2 of the first splitter plates 1 and the second splitter plates 1 the first lateral wall 23 is disposed on some of the second lateral edges 3 of the first splitter plates 1 and the second lateral wall 24 is disposed on some of the second lateral edges 3 of the second splitter plates T.

[0071] In accordance with a third option of the second variant embodiment a third gap between the lateral wall 22 and the first lateral wall 23 is substantially equal to the first overall height hg1 and the fourth gap between the lateral wall 22 and the second lateral wall 24 is substantially equal to the second overall height hg2.

[0072] The first length 11 of each first splitter plate 1 is preferably equal to the second length I2 of each second splitter plate T.

[0073] In this configuration there is no benefit in shortening the second length I2 relative to the first length 11 as is the case in the first variant embodiment because in this second variant embodiment the device for extinguishing an electric arc is a single entity that is installed before installing the confinement cheek 36.

[0074] As figure 7 in particular shows the entry notches 6 of the first stack 11 and the entry notches 6 of the second stack 13 are preferably all aligned and identical.

[0075] For the entry notches 6 of the first stack 11 the first branch length Ib1 of the first branch 7 and the second branch length Ib2 of the second branch 8 are equal.

[0076] For the entry notches 6 of the second stack 13 the first branch length Ib1 ’ of the first branch 7 and the second branch length Ib2’ of the second branch 8 are equal. Furthermore, the first branch length Ib1 of the first branch 7 and the second branch length Ib2 of the second branch 8 of the entry notches 6 of the first stack 11 are also equal to the first branch length Ib1 ’ of the first branch 7 and the second branch length Ib2’ of the second branch 8 of the entry notches 6 of the second stack 13.

[0077] Figures 5 to 7 show in particular that in the second variant embodiment the device for extinguishing an electric arc is in the form of a single one-piece entity. The first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 comprises the first stack 11 of first splitter plates 1 and the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12 comprises the second stack 13 of second splitter plates T. The first stack 11 comprises ten first splitter plates 1. The second stack 13 comprises three second splitter plates T. The support means 9 are in the form of the single support envelope 20, which has at least three functions, namely retaining the first splitter plates 1, retaining the second splitter plates T, and maintaining the first stack 11 assembled with the second stack 13 in the alignment position PA. The first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 and the second electric-arc-extinguishing subassembly 12 are in the alignment position PA that corresponds to a position in which the first lateral edges 2 of the first splitter plates 1 of the first stack 11 and the second splitter plates 1 ’ of the second stack 13 are situated at the same level whereas the second lateral edges 3 of the first splitter plates 1 of the first stack 11 and the second lateral edges 3 of the second splitter plates 1 ’ of the second stack 13 are offset by an offset distance so as to form said gap 14 or in other words are at two distinct levels. Furthermore, the first overall height hg 1 of the first stack 11 is greater than the second overall height hg2 of the second stack 13.

[0078] Figure 5 shows more particularly that the base wall 21 may comprise a plurality of slots 32. A function of these slots 32 is to enable escape of gases generated during interrupting and arc extinction in the device for extinguishing an electric arc. A first portion of the base wall 21 that has a width equal to the overall height hg1 preferably comprises a first row of slots RF1 preferably including four slots 32 and a second row of slots RF2 preferably including five slots 32. The slots 32 of the first row of slots RF1 and the slots 32 of the second row of slots RF2 preferably do not face one another. The second portion of the base wall 21 that has a width equal to the overall height hg2 preferably comprises a first slot 33 substantially in line with the first row of slots RF1 and an offset second slot 34 substantially in line with the second row of slots RF2. The first slot 33 and the second slot 34 preferably do not face one another and are smaller than the slots 32. The first lateral wall 23 preferably includes three substantially parallel rows R01, R02, R03 of aligned perforations 30. The perforations 30 of each row R01, R02, R03 are preferably five in number. The second lateral wall 24 preferably includes three substantially parallel rows R11, R12, R13 of aligned perforations 30. The perforations 30 of the first row R11 and the third row R13 are preferably two in number and the second row R12 comprises a single perforation 30. A perforation 30 is provided to form a fixing with a tongue 31 projecting from the second lateral edge 3 of the first / second splitter plate 1, T. The tongues 31 are adapted to be nested in the perforations 30.

[0079] Figure 6 shows more particularly that the lateral wall 22 preferably includes four substantially parallel rows R4, R5, R6, R7 of aligned perforations 30. The perforations 30 of the forth row R4 and the seventh row R7 are preferably six in number, the perforations 30 of the fifth row R5 are preferably five in number, and the perforations 30 of the sixth row R6 are preferably two in number. A perforation 30 is provided to form a fixing with a tongue 31 projecting from the lateral edge 2 of the first / second splitter plate 1, T. The tongues 31 are adapted to be nested in the perforations 30.

[0080] Figure 7 shows in particular that in the second variant embodiment the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 and the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12 are in the alignment position PA in which the first lateral edges 2 of the splitter plates 1 of the first stack 11 and the splitter plates T of the second stack 13 are situated on the same level whereas the second lateral edges 3 of the first splitter plates 1 of the first stack 11 and the second lateral edges 3 of the second splitter plates T of the second stack 13 are offset by an offset distance so as to form said gap 14 or in other words are at two distinct levels. Furthermore, the first overall height hg1 of the first stack 11 is greater than the second overall height hg2 of the second stack 13.

[0081] The invention also concerns a modular-format protection electrical apparatus comprising at least:

[0082] - a phase first line comprising a pair of contacts, respectively a fixed contact and a mobile contact,

[0083] - a neutral second line,

[0084] - a member controlling the position of the mobile contact, connected to the mobile contact via a mechanical latch able to pivot between two stable positions respectively corresponding to opening and closing the fixed and mobile contacts following action on the control member or to pivot into an open position of the fixed and mobile contacts following mechanical action of at least one tripping device reflecting an electrical fault on said at least one first line,

[0085] - tripping means including at least one magnetic and / or thermal and / or electronic actuator designed to actuate said at least one tripping device in order to trip the mechanical latch, and

[0086] - at least one electric-arc-extinguishing chamber.

[0087] In accordance with the invention said protection electrical apparatus is characterized in that the electric-arc-extinguishing chamber comprises the electric-arc-extinguishing device in accordance with the invention and as described above.

[0088] Said protection electrical apparatus preferably comprises at least one separator wall 25 defining a phase side and a neutral side, the separator wall 25 comprising a first face 26 on the phase side and a second face 27 on the neutral side, and the first face 26 defines at least in part the arc-extinguishing chamber and comprises a zone to receive the electric-arc-extinguishing device comprising a first sub-zone 28 configured to receive the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 and a second sub-zone 29 to receive the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12.

[0089] Figure 8 shows the second face 27 of the separator wall 25, the latter comprising a passage 35 for a cable (not represented) of the neutral second line.

[0090] Figure 9 shows the first face 26 of the separator wall 25, the latter comprising the passage 35 and the electric-arc-extinguishing device in accordance with first variant embodiment of the invention that is not in the alignment position PA. The first face 26 comprises the first sub-zone 28 configured to receive the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 and the second sub-zone 29 configured to receive the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12. The passage 35 encroaches on the second sub-zone 29. The first sub-zone 28 and the second subzone 29 are side-by-side. The prechamber 37 is disposed upstream of the first subzone 28 and the second sub-zone 29 and is configured to receive the confinement cheek 36.

[0091] Figures 10 and 11 show the first face 26 of the separator wall 25 and the electric-arc-extinguishing device in accordance with the first variant embodiment of the invention in the alignment position PA. The first sub-zone 28 receives the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 and the second sub-zone 29 receives the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12. The nesting means 19 of the support means 9 of the first electric-arc-extinguishing subassembly 10 and the nesting means 19 of the support means 9 of the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12 are nested. The prechamber 37 receives the confinement cheek 36 that covers the second branches 8 of the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 but does not cover the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12.

[0092] The protection electrical apparatus in accordance with the invention is preferably of modular type and therefore has a width Im that is a multiple of one module, which is to say that the distance between the two lateral walls of the envelope of the protection electrical apparatus corresponds to a multiple of a standardized value called a module. The width of a module is substantially of the order of 18 millimeters. The protection electrical apparatus preferably has a width Im of only one module.

[0093] The protection electrical apparatus may be a circuit-breaker or a differential circuit-breaker, preferably of modular type.

[0094] The protection electrical apparatus may be designed to protect a single line (unipolar protection electrical apparatus) or a plurality of lines (multipolar protection electrical apparatus), for example a phase first line and neutral second line.

[0095] The phase first line may comprise a first connecting terminal and a second connecting terminal between which the fixed contact and the mobile contact are disposed. The first connecting terminal is preferably designed to be electrically connected to the mains electrical supply whereas the second connecting terminal is preferably designed to be electrically connected to a load of an electrical installation.

[0096] The neutral second line may comprise at least one third connecting terminal and one fourth connecting terminal. The third connecting terminal is preferably designed to be electrically connected to the cable electrically connected to the electrical mains supply whereas the fourth connecting terminal is preferably designed to be electrically connected to the load of the electrical installation.

[0097] The magnetic actuator preferably comprises a coil surrounding a core mobile in translation to strike the tripping device so as to actuate the mechanical latch. The mobile core is configured to be moved in the event of a short-circuit.

[0098] The thermal actuator may consist of a bimetallic strip optionally electrically connected to the mobile contact by a flexible conductor (not represented) such as a conductive braid adapted to actuate the tripping device because of the effect of deformation of the bimetallic strip so as to actuate the mechanical latch. The bimetallic strip is advantageously deformed by direct or indirect heating of the flexible conductor in the event of a prolonged overcurrent.

[0099] The invention also concerns a method of assembling the electric-arc-extinguishing device in accordance with the invention into said protection electrical apparatus in accordance with the invention.

[0100] The assembly method comprises a first step during which the electrical extinguishing device is placed in the electric-arc-extinguishing chamber.

[0101] Preferably, and as figures 9 to 11 show, if the electric-arc-extinguishing device conforms to the first variant embodiment described above and the protection electrical apparatus comprises the separator wall 25 defining a phase side and a neutral side, the separator wall 25 comprising the first face 26 on the phase side and the second face 27 on the neutral side and the first face 26 defines at least in part the arc-extinguishing chamber comprising the zone to receive the electric-arc-extinguishing device comprising the first sub-zone 28 configured to receive the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 and the second sub-zone 29 configured to receive the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12, and during the first step the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 is first received in the sub-zone 28 and the second electric-arc-extinguishing subassembly 12 is then received in the second sub-zone 29.

[0102] If said protection electrical apparatus further comprises the confinement cheek 36 and the prechamber 37 then during the first step the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 is preferably initially received in the first sub-zone 28 after which the confinement cheek 36 is installed in the prechamber 37, after which the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12 is received in the second sub-zone 29 so that the confinement cheek 36 covers the second branch 8 of the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 but does not cover the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12.

[0103] Preferably, if the electric-arc-extinguishing device conforms to the second variant embodiment described above and the protection electrical apparatus comprises the separator wall 25 defining a phase side and a neutral side, the separator wall 25 comprising the first face 26 on the phase side and the second face 27 on the neutral side and the first face 26 defines at least in part the arcextinguishing chamber and comprises the zone to receive the electric-arc-extinguishing device comprising the first sub-zone 28 configured to receive the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 and the second sub-zone 29 configured to receive the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12, during the first step the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 10 is received in the first sub-zone 28 and the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly 12 is simultaneously received in the second sub-zone 28.

[0104] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and represented in the appended drawings. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the composition of the various elements or substitution of technical equivalents, without this departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

1. |An electric-arc-extinguishing device for protection electrical apparatus comprising at least:- a plurality of plates (1, 1’) for splitting the electric arc, each splitter plate (1, T) having a globally rectangular shape with two lateral edges, comprising a first lateral edge (2) and a second lateral edge (3), connected by a lower edge (4) and an upper edge (5), the splitter plates (1, T) being substantially parallel to one another and distant from another by a distance interval (I) between two adjacent splitter plates (1, 1’), each splitter plate (1, 1’) comprising an electric arc entry notch (6) beginning at the level of the lower edge (4), the set of entry notches (6) forming an electric arc entry zone, each entry notch (6) defining two branches (7, 8),- support means (9) disposed on at least a part of each first / second lateral edge (2, 3) and configured at least to maintain the splitter plates (1, 1’) distant from one another by the distance interval (I), the electric-arc-extinguishing device comprising a first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly (10) comprising at least one first stack (11) of first electric arc splitter plates (1) and a second electric-arc-extinguishing assembly (12) comprising at least one second stack (13) of second electric arc splitter plates (1 ’),which electric-arc-extinguishing device is characterized in that:- each first splitter plate (1) has a first height (hi) corresponding to the distance between the first lateral edge (2) and the second lateral edge (3) so that the first stack (11) has a first overall height (hg1) substantially equal to the first height (hi),- each second splitter plate (T) has a second height (h2) corresponding to the distance between the first lateral edge (2) and the second lateral edge (3) so that the second stack (13) has a second overall height (hg2) substantially equal to the first height (h2) and less than the first overall height (hg1),- the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly (10) and the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly (12) are configured to be adjacent and distant from one another by the distance interval (I) in an alignmentposition (PA) in which the second lateral edges (3) of the first splitter plates (1) of the first stack (11) and the second lateral edges (3) of the second splitter plates (T) of the second stack (13) are offset by an offset distance so as to form a gap (14).

2. The electric-arc-extinguishing device as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that in the alignment position (PA) the first lateral edges (2) of the first splitter plates (1) of the first stack (11) and the first lateral edges (2) of the second splitter plates (T) of the second stack (13) are aligned.

3. The electric-arc-extinguishing device as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the first electric-arc-extinguishing subassembly (10) and the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly (12) are two distinct entities.

4. The electric-arc-extinguishing device as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the first electric-arc-extinguishing subassembly (10) and the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly (12) are permanently assembled to form a single entity.

5. The electric-arc-extinguishing device as claimed in claim 3 characterized in that the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly (10) further comprises first support means comprising two first support plates (15) respectively disposed on at least some of the first lateral edges (2) and the second lateral edges (3) to maintain the first splitter plates (1) distant from one another by the distance interval (I) and in that the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly (12) further comprises second support means comprising two second support plates (16) respectively disposed on at least some of the first lateral edges (2) and the second lateral edges (3) to maintain the second splitter plates (T) distant from one another by the distance interval (I), the first support means and the second support means forming said support means (9).

6. The electric-arc-extinguishing device as claimed in claim 5 characterized in that the two first ends (17) of the first support plates (15) and the two second ends (18) of the second support plates (16) include nesting means (19) configured to engage in one another in the alignment position (PA) so that in the alignment position (PA) the first electric-arc-extinguishing subassembly (10) and the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly (12) are distant from one another by the distance interval (I).

7. The electric-arc-extinguishing device as claimed in either one of claims 5 or 6 characterized in that a first gap between the two first support plates (15) is substantially equal to the first overall height (hg1) and in that a second gap between the two second support plates (16) is substantially equal to the second overall height (hg2).

8. The electric-arc-extinguishing device as claimed in claim 4 characterized in that said support means (9) include a single support envelope (20) respectively disposed on at least some of the first lateral edges (2) and the second lateral edges (3) and the upper edges (5) of the first splitter plates (1) and the second splitter plates (T) so as to maintain the first splitter plates (1) and the second splitter plates (T) distant from one another by the distance interval (I) and to maintain the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly (10) and the second electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly (12) distant from one another by the distance interval (I) with the first lateral edges (2) of the first stack (11) of first splitter plates (1) and the first lateral edges (2) of the second stack (13) of second splitter plates (T) preferably aligned and with the second lateral edges (3) of the first stack (11) of first splitter plates (1) and the second lateral edges (3) of the second stack (13) of second splitter plates (T) offset by an offset distance so as to form said gap (14).

9. The electric-arc-extinguishing device as claimed in claim 8 characterized in that the support envelope (20) comprises a base wall (21) extended on one side by a lateral wall (22) and on the other side by a first lateral wall (23) and a second lateral wall (24), in that the base wall (21) is disposed on the upper edges of the first splitter plates (1) and the second splitter plates (T), in that the lateral wall (22) is disposed on some of the first lateral edges (2) of the first splitter plates (1) and the second splitter plates (T), in that the first lateral wall (23) is disposed on some of the second lateral edges (3) of the first splitter plates (1), and in that the second lateral wall (24) is disposed on some of the second lateral edges (3) of the second splitter plates (T).

10. The electric-arc-extinguishing device as claimed in either one of claims 8 or 9 characterized in that a third gap between the lateral wall (22) and the first lateral wall (23) is substantially equal to the first overall height (hg1)and in that the fourth gap between the lateral wall (22) and the second lateral wall (24) is substantially equal to the second overall height (hg2).

11. Modular-format protection electrical apparatus comprising at least: - a phase first line comprising a pair of contacts, respectively a fixed contact and a mobile contact, - a neutral second line,- a member controlling the position of the mobile contact, connected to the mobile contact via a mechanical latch able to pivot between two stable positions respectively corresponding to opening and closing the fixed and mobile contacts following action on the control member or to pivot into an open position of the fixed and mobile contacts following mechanical action of at least one tripping device reflecting an electrical fault on said at least one first line, - tripping means including at least one magnetic and / or thermal and / or electronic actuator designed to actuate said at least one tripping device in order to trip the mechanical latch, and- at least one electric-arc-extinguishing chamber,which protection electrical apparatus is characterized in that the electric-arc-extinguishing chamber comprises the electric-arc-extinguishing device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. Protection electrical apparatus as claimed in claim 11 characterized in that it comprises at least one separator wall (25) defining a phase side and a neutral side, the separator wall (25) comprising a first face (26) on the phase side and a second face (27) on the neutral side, and in that the first face (26) defines at least in part the arc-extinguishing chamber and comprises a zone to receive the electric-arc-extinguishing device comprising a first sub-zone (28) configured to receive the first electric-arc-extinguishing sub-assembly (10) and a second sub-zone (29) to receive the second electric-arc-extinguishing subassembly (12).

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