Waterproof cover for earth leakage breaker

Abstract

To provide a waterproof cover for an earth leakage breaker capable of maintaining satisfactory workability and operability of an operation lever.SOLUTION: In a waterproof cover 16, an elastically deformable storage part 20 in which an operation lever 14 supported by a breaker body 12 so as to be rotatable between a closing position and an opening position is stored in a non-contact manner is provided in a mounting part 18 which is mounted in the breaker body 12. In the storage part 20, an outer wall 22 covering a protruding end side of the operation lever 14 and a sidewall part 30 covering a periphery are formed in a crest shape which is linearly tilted outside as the operation lever 14 between the closing position and the opening position is moved from a closing position side and an opening position side toward a position corresponding to a position where the operation lever most protrudes from the breaker body 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a waterproof cover for an earth leakage circuit breaker provided in various electrical devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Earth leakage circuit breakers installed in various electrical devices such as refrigerators, freezers, cooling storage units, ice makers, and cleaning machines are provided with a waterproof cover that prevents water droplets and the like from entering the inside from near the operating lever (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The waterproof cover in Patent Document 1 is configured such that the operating lever is accommodated in a non-contact state within a storage section provided in a rubber waterproof cover that covers the earth leakage circuit breaker case, allowing smooth operation of the operating lever when an earth leakage occurs, while utilizing the elasticity of the waterproof cover to enable operation of the operating lever from outside when resetting. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-245551 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the waterproof cover of Patent Document 1, the wall covering the protruding end side of the operating lever in the housing is formed in an arc shape that follows the trajectory of the protruding end, so when the wall is pressed with a finger from the outside to operate the operating lever, it is uncertain how the part of the wall other than the part pressed by the finger will deform. Therefore, depending on how the wall is pressed, the part of the wall other than the part pressed by the finger may deform inward, and the deformed part may get caught on the operating lever, hindering operability. In addition, the operating lever operated to reset may get caught on the deformed part of the wall, and the wall may not return to its shape before deformation, which may lead to a problem of hindering smooth operation of the operating lever when an electric leakage occurs.

[0005] The present invention has been proposed in consideration of the problems inherent in the prior art described above, and aims to provide a waterproof cover for an earth leakage circuit breaker that can maintain good operability and operability of the operating lever. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to overcome the above problems and achieve the intended purpose, the waterproof cover of the earth leakage circuit breaker according to the invention of claim 1 comprises: A waterproof cover to be attached to an earth leakage circuit breaker having an operating lever (14) configured to be rotatable between a closed position and an open position, a housing portion (20) that is elastically deformable and that houses, in a non-contact manner, the operating lever (14) protruding from a body (12) of the earth leakage circuit breaker; The first wall (22) covering the protruding end side of the operating lever (14) in the storage section (20) is mountain-shaped with its apex (26) being a portion facing the protruding end (14b) of the operating lever (14) at the protruding position (A) that protrudes most from the main body (12) in the operable range, and inclined surface portions (22a, 22b) extending toward the closed position side and the open position side of the operating lever (14) are formed in straight lines across the apex (26), while the second wall (30) covering the side side of the operating lever (14) in the storage section (20) is mountain-shaped with its apex (32) being a portion facing the side of the operating lever (14) at the protruding position (A), and inclined surface portions (30a, 30b) extending toward the closed position side and the open position side of the operating lever (14) are formed in straight lines across the apex (32). According to the invention of claim 1, the first wall and the second wall covering the operating lever in the housing are mountain-shaped with the apex at the part corresponding to the operating lever at the protruding position where the protruding end protrudes most from the main body in the operable range, and the inclined surface parts extending to the closed position side and the open position side of the operating lever are formed in straight lines sandwiching the apex, so that when the open position side or the closed position side of the housing is pressed from the outside to operate the operating lever at the open position or the closed position, a force acts on the first wall and the second wall covering the operating lever to deform the apex side outward. As a result, the first wall and the second wall in the housing part other than the pressing part deform outward, and the deformed part does not hinder the operation of the operating lever. In addition, since the first wall and the second wall covering the operating lever deform outward, the operated operating lever does not get caught on the deformed wall, and the smooth operation of the operating lever can be maintained when an electric leakage occurs.

[0007] The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that ribs (36, 38) are provided on the outer surface of the storage portion (20) and extend between the closed position side and the open position side. According to the invention of claim 2, the rigidity (strength) of the accommodating section is improved by the rib, thereby increasing the restoring force of the portion of the accommodating section that is deformed when the operating lever is operated, thereby preventing the wall of the accommodating section from remaining deformed and reducing the operability and operability of the operating lever.

[0008] The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that ribs (42, 44) are provided on the inner surface of the storage portion (20) and extend between the closed position side and the open position side. According to the invention of claim 3, the ribs improve the rigidity (strength) of the storage section, which increases the restoring force of the portion of the storage section that is deformed when the operating lever is operated, and prevents the wall of the storage section from remaining deformed and reducing the operability and operability of the operating lever. Also, the ribs provided on the inner surface of the storage section to increase the rigidity (strength) of the storage section do not reduce the feeling given to a user who presses the storage section from the outside when operating the operating lever. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the waterproof cover for the earth leakage circuit breaker of the present invention, good operability and operability of the operating lever can be maintained. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a vertical sectional side view of a main portion of a ground fault circuit interrupter equipped with a waterproof cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional front view of a housing portion in the waterproof cover according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1 is a cross-sectional plan view of a main portion of a ground fault circuit interrupter equipped with a waterproof cover according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing a deformation state of the accommodating section when the operating lever is operated, in which (a) is a vertical cross-sectional side view, and (b) is a front view. [Diagram 5] 11A and 11B show a housing portion of a waterproof cover according to a first alternative embodiment, where (a) is a side view and (b) is a front view. [Figure 6] 13 shows a housing portion of a waterproof cover of a second modified embodiment, where (a) is a vertical cross-sectional side view, and (b) is a vertical cross-sectional rear view. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional side view of a main part of a waterproof cover according to a third modified embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional front view showing a housing portion of a waterproof cover according to a third modified embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Next, a waterproof cover for an earth leakage circuit breaker according to the present invention will be described below by way of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. EXAMPLES

[0012] 1, an earth leakage circuit breaker 10 according to the embodiment includes an operating lever 14 that is rotatably supported inside a circuit breaker body (main body) 12 and has one end that protrudes outward from an opening provided in the circuit breaker body 12, and a protruding portion 14a of the operating lever 14 from the circuit breaker body 12 is covered with a waterproof cover 16 attached to the circuit breaker body 12. In the embodiment, the operating lever 14 is pivotally supported on a horizontal shaft and configured to be rotatable in the vertical direction, and the operating lever 14 is configured to be rotatable (operable) up and down along the opening between a closed position (energized position, solid line position in FIG. 1) when the earth leakage circuit breaker 10 is not interrupted and an open position (operated position, two-dot chain line position in FIG. 1) when the circuit breaker is in operation.

[0013] The waterproof cover 16 is an elastically deformable member made of a transparent or semi-transparent rubber-like elastic material such as silicone rubber, and as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, the waterproof cover 16 includes an attachment portion 18 attached to the circuit breaker body 12, and a housing portion 20 that is provided so as to protrude forward from the attachment portion 18 and that houses the protruding portion 14a of the operating lever 14 without contacting the mounting portion 18, and the opening is covered by the housing portion 20. The housing portion 20 is formed in a shape that opens toward the circuit breaker body 12 from an outer wall (first wall) 22 that faces the protruding end 14b of the protruding portion 14a of the housed operating lever 14 and covers the entire operating range (operable range) of the operating lever 14 from the front side, and a peripheral wall 24 that is connected to the outer periphery of the outer wall 22 and surrounds the periphery of the operating lever 14. The protruding end 14b of the operating lever 14 protrudes most from the circuit breaker body 12 at an intermediate position (protruding position) A (a position indicated by a dashed line in Fig. 1) that is in the middle of the operating range between the closed position and the open position. The outer wall 22 has a mountain shape in which an apex (top) 26 extending in a width direction intersecting with the operating direction of the operating lever 14 matches a portion facing the protruding end 14b of the protruding portion 14a of the operating lever 14 in the intermediate position A, and inclined surface portions 22a, 22b extending on the closed position side and the open position side of the operating lever 14 are formed in straight lines across the apex 26. That is, the outer wall 22 is configured by abutting at the apex 26 a first inclined surface portion 22a which is inclined so as to extend linearly outwardly so as to move away from the circuit breaker body 12 as it moves from one side (closed position side) of the operating direction of the operating lever 14 toward the apex 26, and a second inclined surface portion 22b which is inclined so as to extend linearly outwardly so as to move away from the circuit breaker body 12 as it moves from the other side (open position side) of the operating direction toward the apex 26. By forming the outer wall 22 into a mountain-shaped cross section, the internal dimension in the opposing direction between the outer wall 22 and the circuit breaker body 12 in the accommodating section 20 is set such that the distance C1 at the portion corresponding to the intermediate position A is longer than the distance C2 at the positions corresponding to the closed position and open position of the operating lever 14 on the front and rear end sides (the closed position side and the open position side) in the operating direction of the operating lever 14 (C1>C2).

[0014] 2, the peripheral wall 24 of the storage section 20 is composed of end wall portions 28, 28 located on one side (closed position side) and the other side (open position side) in the operating direction of the operating lever 14, and side wall portions (second walls) 30, 30 connected to the end wall portions 28, 28 and covering the side surface along the operating direction (rotation direction) of the protruding portion 14a of the operating lever 14. Each side wall portion 30 is mountain-shaped with an apex (apex portion) 32 extending parallel to the protruding direction of the operating lever 14 aligned with a portion facing the side surface of the protruding portion 14a of the operating lever 14 in the intermediate position A, and side surface portions 30a, 30b extending toward the closed position side and the open position side of the operating lever 14 on either side of the apex portion 32 are formed in straight lines. That is, the side wall 30 is configured by butting together at the apex 32 a first side surface portion 30a that is inclined so as to extend linearly outwardly so as to move away from the track (middle in the width direction) on which the operating lever 14 operates as it moves from one side in the operating direction of the operating lever 14 toward the apex 32, and a second side surface portion 30b that is inclined so as to extend linearly outwardly so as to move away from the track on which the operating lever 14 operates as it moves from the other side in the operating direction toward the apex 32. By forming the side wall 30 into a mountain-shaped cross section, the internal dimensions of the both side wall portions 30, 30 facing each other in the width direction are set such that the distance D1 of the portion corresponding to the intermediate position A is longer than the distance D2 at the front and rear end sides (closed position side and open position side) in the operating direction of the operating lever 14, which corresponds to the closed position and the open position of the operating lever 14 (D1>D2). That is, the storage portion 20 is configured such that the internal dimensions are larger at the center side corresponding to the intermediate position A than at the front and rear end sides in the operating direction of the operating lever 14. Moreover, the gap between the inner surface of the storage section 20 and the operating lever 14 is set to be the same whether the operating lever 14 is in the closed position or the open position.

[0015] [Function of the embodiment] Next, the function of the waterproof cover of the earth leakage circuit breaker according to the embodiment will be described.

[0016] In the earth leakage circuit breaker 10 in which the operating lever 14 is actuated to the open position when an electric leakage occurs, when the operating lever 14 is to be returned to the closed position, as shown in FIG. 4(a), the end wall portion 28 on the open position side of the peripheral wall 24 of the accommodating section 20 is pushed from the outside with a finger to push the operating lever 14 in the open position toward the closed position. The second inclined surface portion 22b of the outer wall 22 connected to the pushed end wall portion 28 is inclined linearly outwardly toward the top edge 26 corresponding to the intermediate position A so as to move away from the circuit breaker body 12. Therefore, when the end wall portion 28 is pushed inward, a force acts on the second inclined surface portion 22b to deform the top edge 26 side of the second inclined surface portion 22b outward. As a result, the second inclined surface portion 22b is deformed outward. In other words, the outer wall 22 of the accommodating section 20 does not protrude forward in the direction of travel of the operating lever 14 being pushed down with a finger, and the operation of the operating lever 14 is not hindered. In addition, the second side surface portions 30b, 30b of the left and right side wall portions 30 connected to the pushed end wall portion 28 are also inclined linearly outward so as to move away from the operating lever 14 toward the apex 32 corresponding to the intermediate position A, so that when the end wall portion 28 is pushed inward, a force acts on the second side surface portions 30b, 30b to deform the apex 32 side of the second side surface portions 30b, 30b outward. As a result, as shown in Fig. 4(b), the second side surface portions 30b, 30b are deformed outward, and the peripheral wall 24 of the storage portion 20 does not protrude forward in the direction of travel of the operating lever 14 being pushed down by a finger, and the operation of the operating lever 14 is not hindered.

[0017] Furthermore, when the operating lever 14, which has been pushed down to the closed position, is manually operated to the open position, similarly to when the operating lever 14 is operated from the open position to the closed position, a force acts on the first inclined surface portion 22a and the first side surface portion 30a of the outer wall 22 and the side wall portion 30 covering the operating lever 14 in the storage portion 20, deforming the corresponding top edges 26, 32 outward when the end wall portion 28 on the closed position side is pushed inward. In other words, both the first inclined surface portion 22a and the first side surface portion 30a deform outward and do not impede the operation of the operating lever 14.

[0018] In the waterproof cover 16 of the embodiment, the operating lever 14 is accommodated in the accommodation section 20 without contact, so that the operating lever 14 in the closed position moves smoothly to the open position when a leakage current occurs. Also, the outer wall 22 and the side wall section 30 in the accommodation section 20 are formed so as to expand linearly outward from the front and rear ends in the operating direction of the operating lever 14 toward the position corresponding to the intermediate position A, so that when the end wall section 28 on one side in the front and rear in the operating direction of the peripheral wall 24 is pushed toward the other side, a force acts to deform the inclined surface sections 22a, 22b of the outer wall 22 and the top edges 26, 32 of the side surface sections 30a, 30b of the peripheral wall 24 outward, and the parts of the accommodation section 20 other than the part pushed from the outside by a finger do not deform inward, so that the operating lever 14 can be smoothly operated. In addition, the first and second inclined surface portions 22a and 22b of the outer wall 22 and the first and second side surface portions 30a and 30b of the peripheral wall 24 all have their straight-line abutting surfaces whose apexes become the starting points of deformation, and deformation of the first and second inclined surface portions 22a, 22b and the first and second side surface portions 30a, 30b tends to proceed outward.

[0019] When the operating lever 14 is operated from outside the storage section 20, the inclined surface portions 22a, 22b of the outer wall 22 and the side surface portions 30a, 30b of the peripheral wall 24 that cover the operating lever 14 are deformed outward, so that the operated operating lever 14 is not caught on the deformed inclined surface portions 22a, 22b or side surface portions 30a, 30b, and smooth operation of the operating lever 14 can be maintained when a leakage current occurs. In addition, when the operating lever 14 is positioned at the closed position or the open position, the gap between the operating lever 14 and the inner surface of the storage section 20 is set to be the same, so that when the operating lever 14 is operated by pushing the storage section 20 from the outside, approximately the same force is applied to the storage section 20, whether the operating lever 14 is operated from the closed position to the open position or from the open position to the closed position. Therefore, even if the operating lever 14 is repeatedly operated, the possibility of early deterioration of only one side or the other side of the storage section 20 in the operating direction of the operating lever 14 can be reduced, and a decrease in the restoring force of the storage section 20 against deformation can be suppressed.

[0020] (About another embodiment) Next, the first to third alternative embodiments will be described. Note that for the first to third alternative embodiments, differences from the embodiment will be mainly described, and members having the same or similar functions as the embodiment will be given the same reference numerals and detailed descriptions will be omitted.

[0021] (First Alternative Example) 22SP010 5, the waterproof cover 34 of the first alternative embodiment is provided with external ribs (ribs) 36, 38 that protrude outwardly and extend between the closed position side and the open position side on the outer surface of the accommodating section 20. In the first alternative embodiment, the first external rib 36 is provided in the center of the width direction of the outer wall 22 so as to intersect with the top side 26 and extend continuously for a predetermined length along the first inclined surface portion 22a and the second inclined surface portion 22b, and the second external rib 38 is provided in the center of the height direction (the direction away from the circuit breaker body 12) of each side wall portion 30 so as to intersect with the top side 32 and extend continuously for a predetermined length along the first side surface portion 30a and the second side surface portion 30b. The extension lengths of the first external rib 36 and the second external rib 38 are set to be the same.

[0022] By providing the outer ribs 36, 38 on the storage section 20, the rigidity (strength) of the storage section 20 is improved, and the restoring force with which the storage section 20 returns to its original shape when it is deformed is increased. Therefore, the part of the storage section 20 that is deformed inward when the operating lever 14 is operated returns to its original shape when the finger is released, and it is possible to prevent the part from remaining deformed inward and impeding the operability and operability of the operating lever 14. In addition, the part of the storage section 20 that is deformed outward when the operating lever 14 is operated also easily returns to its original shape due to the high restoring force, and it is possible to prevent the outer wall 22 and the side wall section 30 of the peripheral wall 24 from remaining deformed.

[0023] (Second Alternative Example) 22SP011 As shown in Fig. 6, the waterproof cover 40 of the second embodiment has inner ribs (ribs) 42, 44 that protrude inward and extend between the closed position side and the open position side on the inner surface of the storage section 20. In the second embodiment, the first inner rib 42 is provided at the center of the width of the outer wall 22 so as to intersect with the top side 26 and extend continuously for a predetermined length along the first inclined surface portion 22a and the second inclined surface portion 22b, and the second inner rib 44 is provided at the center of the height of each side wall portion 30 so as to intersect with the top side 32 and extend continuously for a predetermined length along the first side surface portion 30a and the second side surface portion 30b. The extension lengths of the first inner rib 42 and the second inner rib 44 are set to be the same.

[0024] By providing the inner ribs 42, 44 on the storage section 20, the rigidity (strength) of the storage section 20 is improved, and the restoring force that returns the storage section 20 to its original shape when it is deformed is increased. Therefore, the part of the storage section 20 that is deformed inward when the operating lever 14 is operated returns to its original shape when the finger is released, and it is possible to prevent the part from remaining deformed inward and impeding the operability and operability of the operating lever 14. In addition, the part of the storage section 20 that is deformed outward when the operating lever 14 is operated is also easily restored to its original shape by the high restoring force, and it is possible to prevent the outer wall 22 and the side wall portion 30 of the peripheral wall 24 from remaining deformed. Furthermore, the waterproof cover 40 of the second alternative embodiment does not have a protruding part on the outer surface of the storage section 20 that the user's finger touches, and the inner ribs 42, 44 for improving the rigidity (strength) of the storage section 20 do not reduce the feeling given to the user who presses the storage section 20 from the outside when operating the operating lever 14, and the operability is not reduced.

[0025] (Third Alternative Example) 22SP008 7, in the waterproof cover 46 of the third alternative embodiment, the outer wall 22 constituting the accommodating section 20 is formed in an arc shape in which the intermediate position in the operating direction corresponding to the intermediate position A of the operating lever 14 is farthest from the circuit breaker body 12. That is, the internal dimension in the opposing direction between the outer wall 22 and the circuit breaker body 12 in the accommodating section 20 is set such that the distance E1 at the portion corresponding to the intermediate position A is longer than the distance E2 at the positions corresponding to the closed position and the open position of the operating lever 14 on the front and rear end sides in the operating direction of the operating lever 14 (E1>E2). Also, as shown in FIG. 8, the side walls 30, 30 opposing each other in the width direction constituting the accommodating section 20 are formed in an arc shape in which the intermediate position in the operating direction corresponding to the intermediate position A of the operating lever 14 is farthest from each other. In other words, the internal dimensions of both side wall portions 30, 30 facing each other in the width direction of the storage section 20 are set so that the distance F1 at the portion corresponding to the intermediate position A is longer than the distance F2 at the positions corresponding to the closed and open positions of the operating lever 14 on the front and rear end sides in the operating direction of the operating lever 14 (F1>F2).

[0026] In the waterproof cover 46 of the third alternative embodiment, as in the embodiment, when the end wall portion 28 of the storage section 20 is pressed inward to operate the operating lever 14, an outward deformation force acts on the outer wall 22 and the side wall portion 30, which prevents the outer wall 22 and the side wall portion 30 from deforming inwardly and impeding the operation of the operating lever 14.

[0027] In the waterproof cover 46 of the third alternative embodiment, similarly to the second or third alternative embodiment, a configuration can be adopted in which the outer ribs 36, 38 and the inner ribs 42, 44 are provided on the outer or inner surface of the storage section 20. Also, a configuration can be adopted in which both the outer ribs 36, 38 and the inner ribs 42, 44 are provided.

[0028] [Example of change] The present application is not limited to the configurations of the above-mentioned examples, and other configurations may be appropriately adopted. Furthermore, the configurations described in the examples may be modified in various ways within the scope of the present invention, without being limited to the following modifications. 1. In the second alternative embodiment, a configuration in which an outer rib is provided on the outer surface of the housing portion can be adopted. 2. In the first and second alternative embodiments, the number of ribs provided on the outer wall or side wall of the storage section is not limited to one, but a configuration in which a plurality of ribs are provided in parallel may be adopted. 3. The orientation of the earth leakage circuit breaker on each device may be such that the operating lever operates in the forward / backward or left / right direction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] 12 circuit breaker body (body), 14 operation lever, 14b protruding end, 20 housing 22 Outer wall (1st wall), 22a 1st slope part (slope part) 22b 2nd slope part (slope part), 26 top side (top part), 30 side wall part (second wall) 30a 1st side part (slope part), 30b 2nd side part (slope part), 32 top side (top part) 36 1st outer rib (rib), 38 2nd outer rib (rib), 42 1st inner rib (rib) 44 Second inner rib (rib), A intermediate position (protruding position)

Claims

1. A waterproof cover to be attached to an earth leakage circuit breaker having an operating lever configured to be rotatable between a closed position and an open position, a housing portion that is elastically deformable and that houses the operating lever protruding from a body of the earth leakage circuit breaker in a non-contact manner; A first wall covering the protruding end side of the operating lever in the housing portion is mountain-shaped with an apex facing the protruding end of the operating lever at the protruding position that protrudes most from the main body in the operable range, and inclined surface portions extending to the closed position side and the open position side of the operating lever are formed linearly across the apex, while a second wall covering the side surface side of the operating lever in the housing portion is mountain-shaped with an apex facing the side of the operating lever at the protruding position, and inclined surface portions extending to the closed position side and the open position side of the operating lever are formed linearly across the apex. A waterproof cover for an earth leakage circuit breaker.

2. 2. The waterproof cover for an earth leakage circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein a rib is provided on an outer surface of said housing portion, said rib extending between said closed position side and said open position side.

3. 3. The waterproof cover for an earth leakage circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein a rib is provided on an inner surface of said housing portion, said rib extending between the closed position side and the open position side.

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