Control unit for electrical circuit breaker and associated electrical circuit breaker

Abstract

To provide a front assembly including a central portion accompanied with an HMI element and having resistance to destructive impact.SOLUTION: A control unit 20 comprises a casing 30 including a rear sub assembly 34 and a front sub assembly 100, and the front sub assembly is assembled to the rear sub assembly and includes a central portion 102 accompanied with two transverse direction edges 111 and 112 on opposite sides. The front sub assembly further includes fastening members 121 and 122 and, on the other hand, the rear sub assembly includes complementary members 131 and 132. The complementary members 131 and 132 cooperate with the fastening members so as to fix the front sub assembly to the rear sub assembly. Therefore, the two transverse direction edges are blocked in translation to the rear sub assembly according to two opposite directions and different directions and, on the other hand, the transverse direction edges are freely rotatable with respect to the rear sub assembly around an axis in parallel to the transverse direction edges examined.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] An electric circuit breaker including a breaker unit and an electronic control unit is known, in particular from EP-0843332-A1. Such a control unit is typically configured to measure the operating state of the circuit breaker in real time and to command the opening of the breaker unit upon detection of a malfunction of the circuit breaker. The control unit is reversibly received in a receptacle provided in the breaker unit and positioned on the front of the circuit breaker, thereby allowing a user to read and / or adjust certain operating parameters of the electric 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 breaker unit from the rest of the electrical installation.

[0003] As technology and needs advance, it is advantageous to provide users with an operating interface, also known as a "human-machine interface" or HMI, that allows the user to easily understand the operating status of the control unit and / or make adjustments to the control unit. Accordingly, depending on the case, the HMI of a control unit comprises one or more elements selected, but not limited to, one or more indicator lights, one or more buttons, and / or a display screen. These HMI elements are assembled on a front subassembly of the control unit, which is secured to a rear subassembly to form the casing of the control unit.

[0004] However, these HMI elements, particularly the screen, are relatively fragile compared to the rest of the control unit. During circuit breaker activation, various electrical, and / or magnetic, and / or mechanical phenomena can create destructive shocks that can damage or eject the HMI elements.

[0005] EP3290935-A1, for example, describes a control unit comprising a front subassembly with a central section in which several human-machine interface elements are arranged. The front subassembly is fixed to the casing of the control unit by clipping. This front subassembly is unsatisfactory as it tends to be ejected from the casing by destructive shock waves during activation of the circuit breaker.

[0006] A traditional approach to preventing ejection of the front subassembly involves adding fastening elements, such as screws, to secure the front subassembly to the rear subassembly. However, the screws create hard spots that increase local stresses during startup, creating a risk of the front subassembly cracking. This approach is unsatisfactory. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] EP-0843332-A1 [Patent Document 2] EP3290935-A1 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The present invention aims to address these problems by proposing a control unit for an electric circuit breaker, comprising a front subassembly that comprises a central part with at least one HMI element and that is resistant to destructive shocks. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To this end, the present invention relates to a control unit for an electric circuit breaker, the control unit being adapted to be received in a receptacle of the circuit breaker, the receptacle opening onto a front face of the breaker unit, so as to control the breaker unit; - the control unit presents a front surface, the front surface presenting a generally flat shape and geometrically supported by a front plane, the front plane being orthogonal to the depth axis and defining a front direction oriented towards the user when the control unit is in a normal use configuration, the front plane being parallel to the height axis and the transverse axis of the control unit; - the control unit comprises a casing, the casing being made from an electrically insulating material, the casing comprising a rear subassembly and a front subassembly, the front subassembly being assembled to the rear subassembly and comprising a central portion forming a portion of a 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, the two transverse edges including a first edge and a second edge, the first edge and the second edge being located on either side of the central portion and extending parallel to each other and parallel to the transverse axis; the front subassembly further includes a fastening member of the front subassembly to the rear subassembly, the fastening member including a first fastening member positioned near the first edge and a second fastening member positioned near the second edge; - the rear subassembly is made from an insulating material and comprises complementary members configured to cooperate with fastening members of the front subassembly to secure the front subassembly to the rear subassembly in an assembly position of the front subassembly relative to the rear subassembly, the front side of the central portion being oriented according to the forward direction and forming part of the front face of the control unit; the complementary members include a first complementary member, the first complementary member cooperating with the first fastening member to form a first kinematic link between the front subassembly and the rear subassembly, the first kinematic link the first edge is prevented from translating 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 about a first axis parallel to the transverse axis; - the complementary members include, in addition to the first complementary member, a second complementary member, the second complementary member cooperating with the second fastening member to form a second kinematic link between the front subassembly and the rear subassembly, the second kinematic link being the second edge is prevented from translating relative to the rear subassembly in a second direction opposite the first direction; and The second edge is such that it is free to rotate relative to the rear subassembly about a second axis parallel to the transverse axis.

[0010] According to the invention, the front subassembly is held along its two transverse edges by kinematic links that prevent translation but allow rotation. In other words, the central section is free to elastically deform by flexing. Therefore, during activation of the breaker unit, the deformation caused by a destructive impact is 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 non-essential aspects of the invention, such a control unit may incorporate one or more of the following features, either individually or in any technically permissible combination:

[0012] - the first fastening member comprises at least one hook, the at least one hook being arranged recessed from a central portion according to a forward direction, each hook having curved ends extending according to the same direction parallel to the height axis to form a recess, the recesses of each hook being geometrically carried by the same axis parallel to the transverse axis; Meanwhile, the first complementary member includes at least one cavity, each cavity recessed in the rear subassembly and configured to receive a respective hook in the hook engagement configuration, each cavity opening towards the front of the rear subassembly by a respective aperture and providing an internal support surface, the internal support surface oriented towards the interior of the corresponding cavity according to a rearward direction opposite to the forward direction; On the other hand, when each hook is in the engaged configuration, the curved end cooperates with a corresponding internal support surface to form a first kinematic link, and the first axis is substantially aligned with the recess of each hook.

[0013] - each hook is provided with a lug, the lug being provided in a raised position relative to the curved end portion of the hook under consideration, in a recess in the curved end portion under consideration; Meanwhile, the internal support surface includes a complementary recess configured to receive the lug of the corresponding hook when the hook is in the engaged configuration to prevent translational movement of the hook relative to the corresponding internal support surface parallel to the height axis.

[0014] - The front subassembly includes a clipping member positioned away from the first edge and configured to cooperate with a complementary clipping member of the rear subassembly to hold the front subassembly in an assembled position when the hooks are in an engaged configuration.

[0015] - the second fastening member includes a protrusion extending raised relative to and recessed from the central portion, the protrusion providing a support surface oriented toward the front when the front subassembly is in an assembled position relative to the rear subassembly; Meanwhile, the control unit also comprises a lock, the lock forming a second complementary member, the lock being assembled to the casing and movable relative to the casing between a locked position and an unlocked position; On the other hand, the lock has a locking surface, which is positioned facing the support surface in the forward direction when the lock is in the locked position so as to prevent translational movement of the protrusion relative to the rear subassembly in the forward direction, thereby preventing rotational movement of the front subassembly relative to the rear subassembly around the first axis; In contrast, when the lock is in the released position, the lock does not prevent translational movement of the protrusion relative to the rear subassembly in the forward direction, thus allowing rotational movement of the front subassembly relative to the rear subassembly about the first axis.

[0016] - the lock is pivotally mounted relative to the rear sub-assembly about a lock axis parallel to the transverse axis, the locked position and the released position being two angular positions of the lock relative to the rear sub-assembly about the lock axis.

[0017] The present invention also relates to an electric circuit breaker, comprising: - a breaker unit comprising at least one breaker device and an actuator; - an example of a control unit as described above, - the breaker unit provides a receptacle, the receptacle opening to the front of the breaker unit; The control unit is received in the receptacle of the breaker unit so that the front face of the control unit is substantially aligned with the front face of the breaker unit.

[0018] Advantageously, the second transverse edge of the front subassembly is located at a front edge of the control unit; - the control unit is as described above, - the lock presents a recess, the recess being recessed from the front face when the lock is in the locked position, the recess presents a closing face, the closing face being oriented according to an orthoradial direction relative to the lock axis; - the circuit breaker comprises a cover, the cover being configured to be assembled to the breaker unit so as to form a part of a front face of the breaker unit, the cover presenting a window through which the front face of the control unit can be seen; The window has a closing edge that cooperates with the closing surface to hold the lock in a locked position when the control unit is received in the container and the cover is assembled to the breaker unit.

[0019] The invention will be better understood and other advantages of the invention will appear more clearly in the light of the following description of one embodiment of a control unit and electric circuit breaker according to the principles of the invention, given by way of example only and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are perspective and partially exploded perspective views of an electric circuit breaker according to the invention, respectively represented in two inserts a) and b), and further comprising a control unit according to the invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view of the control unit of FIG. 1 including the casing, front subassembly and lock, with the lock in a locked configuration; FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a perspective view of the casing, front subassembly, and lock of the control unit of FIG. 2, with the lock in an open configuration. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the casing, front subassembly, and lock of the control unit of FIG. 2. [Figure 5] 4 shows a perspective view of the control unit of FIG. 3 in an intermediate configuration during assembly of the control unit, represented in two inserts a) and b), and a cross-section according to plane VV of a detail of the control unit of FIG. 3; [Figure 6]4 shows a side view of the control unit of FIG. 3 with the lock in the released position and a cross-sectional view of a detail of the control unit of FIG. 3 with the lock in the locked position, represented in two inserts a) and b). [Figure 7] 2A and 2B are perspective and cross-sectional views of the electrical circuit breaker of FIG. 1 with some parts hidden, shown in two inserts a) and b), respectively. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] An electric circuit breaker 10 is shown in FIG. 1. The electric circuit breaker 10, also referred to simply as circuit breaker 10, is herein a multi-pole circuit breaker, specifically a three-pole circuit breaker. The number of poles of the circuit breaker 10 is not limited. As is known, a multi-pole electric circuit breaker includes input and output power terminals for each pole, which are connected to or electrically isolated from each other by a breaker device of the circuit breaker. The breaker device includes, for example, a separable movable contact, which is received in a breaker chamber of the electric circuit breaker 10, and the movement of the separable movable contact is controlled by an actuator. Thus, the breaker device can be activated by the actuator. The breaker chamber is herein realized by three grids 12 visible on the top surface of the circuit breaker 10; other elements of the breaker device are not depicted.

[0022] The electrical circuit breaker 10 is intended for use in electrical installations, for example to control the power supply of machine tools. In its normal use configuration, the electrical circuit breaker 10 is typically located in an electrical cabinet, with the electrical circuit breaker 10 presenting a front face 14 that is oriented towards a user standing in front of the electrical cabinet. The electrical cabinet is not depicted.

[0023] The electrical circuit breaker 10 comprises a breaker unit 16 which includes, among other things, each of the breaker chambers as well as the breaker device and associated actuator.

[0024] The electrical circuit breaker 10 advantageously comprises a cover 18, which is reversibly fixed to the breaker unit 16. The cover 18 is made of an electrically insulating material and extends entirely according to a front plane P14, which defines part of the front face 14 of the electrical circuit breaker 10 and, moreover, of the breaker unit 16. The cover 18 therefore serves to protect the user of the circuit breaker 10. In FIG. 1a), the cover 18 is shown assembled to the breaker unit 16, which corresponds to the normal use configuration of the circuit breaker 10. In FIG. 1b), the cover 18 is spaced apart from the breaker unit 16, which configuration may be seen, for example, during maintenance of the breaker unit 16.

[0025] The electrical circuit breaker 10 also includes a control unit 20. The control unit 20 is configured to analyze the condition of the breaker unit 16 and, based on the results of these analyses, is configured to activate the actuator, thereby separating the separable contacts.

[0026] The control unit 20 has a front surface 22. The front surface 22 has a generally flat shape and is geometrically supported by a front plane P22, which is perpendicular to a depth axis A22 of the control unit 20. When the control unit 20 is in its normal use configuration, the front surface 22 is oriented toward the user. The front surface 22 therefore 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," "top," and "bottom" are defined with respect to the elements shown in the drawings, with the understanding that they may differ in practice.

[0027] The cover 18 comprises a window 19 through which the front face 22 of the control unit 20 is visible in the forward direction D22. The window 19 is advantageously closed by a transparent flap, which is not depicted.

[0028] The control unit 20 is reversibly assembled to the breaker unit 16. In the examples of Figures 1a) and 1b), the control unit 20 is shown in an assembled configuration to the breaker unit 16. The control unit 20 is shown separately in Figure 2.

[0029] The breaker unit 16 provides a receptacle which opens onto the front face 14 of the breaker 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 breaker unit 16, as particularly shown in Figure 1a). The receptacle is not depicted.

[0030] The control unit 20 will now be described. The control unit 20 comprises a casing 30, which is made of an insulating material and forms a receiving volume for the various components of the control unit 20. The casing 30 specifically houses a printed circuit board 32, which is partially visible in Figure 7. The printed circuit board 32 includes a printed circuit and several electronic components, such as a microprocessor.

[0031] The casing 30 comprises a rear subassembly 34 and a front subassembly 100, which is assembled to the rear subassembly 34 during manufacture of the control unit 20. The elements of the casing 30 are depicted assembled in FIG. 3 and separated from one another in FIG. 4. Herein, the rear subassembly 34 comprises a rear block 36 and an intermediate wall 38. The rear block defines a cavity 37, which is closed by the intermediate wall 38, and which receives the printed circuit board 32. The intermediate wall 38 is advantageously secured to the rear block 36 by fasteners 40, preferably clipping members, as shown in FIG. 4. Alternatively, the rear block 36 and the intermediate wall 38 are manufactured as a single piece. It will be understood that when the control unit 20 and electrical circuit breaker 10 are in their normal use configuration, the front subassembly 100 is assembled to the rear subassembly 34 so as to close the cavity 37 in which the printed circuit board 32 is received, or more generally to the electrical elements of the control unit 20 so as to protect the user.

[0032] The front subassembly 100 includes a central portion 102, which forms a portion of the front surface 22 of the control unit 20. The central portion 102 is generally flat and presents a front side 102A and a rear side 102B opposite the front side 102A. The central portion 102 is configured to receive at least one human-machine interface element 104, as used herein. The front side 102A of the central portion 102 is preferably oriented according to a forward direction D22. A human-machine interface is also referred to by its acronym, HMI. The human-machine interface element 104 is also simply referred to as "HMI element" 104. In the illustrated example, the central portion 102 includes several HMI elements 104, as used herein, including three indicator lights 104A, a transparent portion 104B through which a screen can be observed, and four buttons 104C. These examples are not limiting, and the type, number, and placement of HMI elements 104 may be varied during the design of the front subassembly 100.

[0033] Advantageously, the front subassembly 100 is reversibly assembled to the rear subassembly 34. It is therefore possible to replace the front subassembly 100 in the event of a malfunction.

[0034] As used herein, the central portion 102 has a substantially rectangular shape and provides two transverse edges, including a first edge 111 and a second edge 112, which are located on either side of the central portion 102 and 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. In the illustrated example, the first transverse edge 111 is the lower edge of the central portion 102, while the second transverse edge 112 is the upper edge of the central portion 102. Thus, when the control unit 20 is in the normal use configuration, the first edge 111 is located below the second edge 112. The transverse axis T100 is an axis perpendicular to the height axis H20 of the control unit. Moreover, the transverse axis T100 is also the transverse axis of the control unit 20. Thus, the front plane P22 is parallel to the height axis H20 and the transverse axis T100. The depth axis A22, the height axis H20, and the transverse axis T100 together form an orthogonal reference frame. When the control unit 20 is in its normal use configuration, the height axis H20 is vertical. Of course, other arrangements are possible.

[0035] The central portion 102 also comprises two side edges 113, which are parallel to each other and each connects a first edge 111 to a second edge 112. Thus, the first edge 111, the second edge 112, and the two side edges 113 delimit the central portion 102.

[0036] The front subassembly 100 includes fasteners 120 for fastening the front subassembly 100 to the remainder of the control unit 20, specifically the rear subassembly 34. The fasteners 120 include a first fastener 121 located near the first edge 111 and a second fastener 122 located near the second edge 112.

[0037] The rear subassembly 34 comprises complementary members that are configured to cooperate with the fastening members 120 of the front subassembly 100 to secure the front subassembly 100 to the rear subassembly 34 in an assembled position relative to the rear subassembly 34, thereby forming the casing 30 of the control unit 20. The casing 30, and more particularly the control unit 20, is then in an assembled configuration in which the front side 102A of the central portion 102 is oriented according to a forward direction D22 and forms part of the front surface 22 of the control unit 20.

[0038] The complementary members include a first complementary member 131 that cooperates with a first fastening member 121 to form a first kinematic link between the front subassembly 100 and the rear subassembly 34, the first kinematic link comprising: - the first edge 101 is such that it is prevented from translating relative to the rear subassembly according to a first direction D1 parallel to the height axis H20, the first edge 101 is such that it can rotate freely relative to the rear subassembly 34 about a first axis A1 parallel to the transverse axis T100;

[0039] Preferably, the first edge 101 is prevented from translating relative to the rear subassembly 34 in the forward direction D22. In the example shown, the first fastening member 121 comprises a hook 123, which is recessed from the central portion 102 in the forward direction D22. Herein, the front subassembly 100 comprises two hooks 123, which are located near the junction between the first edge 111 and the side edge 113.

[0040] 4, in this specification, each hook 123 has a curved end 124A, which extends in the same direction parallel to the height axis H20, and which delimits a recess 124B, and the recess 124B of each hook 123 is geometrically carried by a first axis A1, which is parallel to the transverse axis T100. Generally, the first axis A1 is substantially aligned with the recess 124B of each hook 123.

[0041] The first complementary member 131 includes at least one cavity 133, each cavity 133 recessed in the rear subassembly 34 and configured to receive a respective hook 123 in its engagement configuration. Here, the cavities 133 are defined in the intermediate wall 38. Each cavity 133 opens toward the front of the rear subassembly 34 by a respective hole 134A and provides an internal support surface 134B that is oriented toward the interior of the cavity 133 according to a rearward direction opposite to the forward direction D22.

[0042] When each hook 123 is received in a corresponding cavity 133, the curved end 124A of each hook 123 cooperates with the corresponding internal support surface 134B, specifically by geometric complementarity, to prevent translational movement of the hook 123 relative to the support surface 134B parallel to the height axis H20 and downward toward the bottom, while allowing rotational movement about the first axis A1. The first direction D1 is oriented from the second edge 112 toward the first edge 111, i.e., downward toward the bottom, herein. The rotational movement is indicated in FIG. 5 by the double-curved arrow R121. In other words, the curved end 124A of each hook 123 cooperates with the corresponding internal support surface 134B to form a first kinematic link. It will also be appreciated that when the hooks 123 are received in the corresponding cavities 133, translational movement of the front subassembly 100 relative to the rear subassembly 34 parallel to the first axis A1 is prevented.

[0043] Advantageously, each hook 123 is provided with a lug 125 which is provided in a recess 124B of the end portion 124A under consideration and raised relative to the curved end portion 124A of the hook under consideration, while each internal support surface 134B is provided with a complementary recess 135 which is configured to receive the lug 125 of the corresponding hook 123 so as to prevent translational movement of the hook 123 relative to the corresponding internal support surface 134B parallel to the height axis H20 of the hook 123 when the hooks are in an engaged configuration.

[0044] The complementary members include, in addition to the first complementary member 131, a second complementary member 132 which cooperates with the second fastening member 122 to form a second kinematic link between the front subassembly 100 and the rear subassembly 34, the second kinematic link being the second edge 112 is prevented from translating relative to the rear subassembly 34 according to 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 such that it can rotate freely relative to the rear subassembly 34 about a second axis A2 parallel to the transverse axis T100.

[0045] Preferably, the second edge 112 is prevented from translating in the forward direction D22 relative to the rear subassembly 34. In the example shown, the second fastening member 122 comprises a protrusion 126 that extends raised relative to the central portion 102. The protrusion 126 is recessed from the central portion 102 and extends, here, toward the top of the control unit, and provides a support surface 127 that is oriented in the forward direction D22 when the front subassembly 100 is in the assembled position relative to the rear subassembly 34. Here, the support surface 127 has an elongated shape that extends parallel to the second edge 112, in other words, parallel to the transverse axis T100.

[0046] The control unit 20 comprises a lock 136, which is a separate piece from the casing 30 and forms a second complementary member 132. The lock 136 is movable relative to the casing 30 between a locked position in which the lock 136 is assembled to the casing 30 and cooperates with the protrusion 126 to prevent translational movement of the protrusion 126 relative to the rear subassembly 34 in the forward direction D22, and a released position in which the lock 136 does not prevent translational movement of the protrusion 126 relative to the rear subassembly 34 in the forward direction D22. In the example shown, the lock 136 comprises a locking surface 137, which is positioned facing the support surface 127 in the forward direction D22 when the lock 136 is in the locked position.

[0047] When the lock 136 is in the released position and each hook 123 is received in the corresponding cavity 133, the lock 136 does not prevent translational movement of the protrusion 126 relative to the rear subassembly 34 in the forward direction D22, thus allowing rotational movement R121 of the front subassembly 100 relative to the rear subassembly 34 around the first axis A1.

[0048] Generally, during a destructive impact, when the lock 136 is in the locked position and each hook 123 is received in the corresponding cavity 133, the contact between the support surface 127 and the locking surface 137 corresponds to a linear contact, and the second axis A2 is geometrically carried by the support surface 127. Thus, rotational movement of the front subassembly 100 relative to the rear subassembly 34 about the second axis A2 is not prevented.

[0049] The first direction D1 is oriented from the second edge 112 toward the first edge 111, i.e., herein, oriented downward toward the bottom. Consequently, the second direction D2 is oriented from the first edge 111 toward the second edge 112, i.e., herein, oriented upward toward the top. It will be appreciated that translational movement of the front subassembly 100 parallel to the height axis H20 is generally prevented, but the first edge 111 and the second edge 112 can approach each other.

[0050] In other words, the front subassembly 100 is free to elastically deform by bending, despite being fixed to the rear subassembly 34. Specifically, the central portion 102 is free to elastically deform by bending. Therefore, during activation of the breaker unit 16, deformation caused by a destructive impact is distributed and absorbed throughout the entire front subassembly 100, specifically throughout the central portion 102. The absence of hard points reduces the risk of cracking; in other words, the front subassembly 100 bends but does not break. In that case, the front subassembly 100 returns to its initial position by elastic return.

[0051] Advantageously, the front subassembly 100 includes a clipping member 106 located away from the first edge 111 and configured to cooperate with a complementary clipping member on the rear subassembly 34 to hold the front subassembly 100 in an assembled position when each hook 123 is received in a corresponding cavity 133. The role of the clipping member 106 is primarily to retain the front subassembly 100 when the lock 136 is in the released position, rather than to retain the front subassembly 100 during actuation. The clipping member 106 is preferably located near the second edge 112 so as not to interfere with flexing of the central portion 102 of the front subassembly 100.

[0052] Advantageously, the lock 136 is pivotally mounted relative to the rear subassembly 34 about a lock axis A 136 parallel to the second edge 112, and the locked and released positions are two angular positions of the lock 136 relative to the rear subassembly 34 about the lock axis A 136. To achieve this, the lock 136 is herein provided with a clipping member 138A that cooperates with a pin 138B provided on the rear subassembly 34. The rotational movement R 136 of the lock 136 relative to the rear subassembly 34 between the locked and released positions is represented in the figures by a double arrow. The transition from the locked position to the released position is advantageously performed by hand without tools.

[0053] 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 presents a recess 138 that is recessed from the front face 22 when the lock 136 is in the locked position and that provides a blocking surface 139. The blocking surface 139 is oriented along an axis normal to the lock axis A136, in other words, along an axis perpendicular to a plane that passes through but does not intersect the lock axis A136. In other words, when the blocking surface 139 is blocked, a rotational movement R136 of the lock 136 is prevented. The blocking surface 139 is preferably oriented towards the top of the control unit 20, i.e., in this case, along a second direction D2.

[0054] The window 19 in the cover 18 has a closing edge 19A that faces the closing surface 139 when the control unit 20 is received in the enclosure and the cover 18 is assembled to the breaker unit 16. The closing edge 19A cooperates with the closing surface 139 to hold the lock 136 in the locked position.

[0055] The above-described embodiments and alternatives may be combined with each other to produce new embodiments of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 10 Electrical Circuit Breaker 14 Front 16 Breaker Unit 18 Cover 19 Windows 19A Closure edge 20 Control Unit 22 Front 30 Casing 34 Rear Sub-Assembly 100 Front Sub-Assembly 102 Center part 102A front side 106 Clipping member 111 first edge 112 second edge, second transverse edge 120 Fastening members 121 first fastening member 122 Second fastening member 123 Hook 124A curved end 124B Recess 125 Rug 126 Protrusion 127 Support surface 131 first complementary member 132 Second complementary member 133 Cavity 134A hole 134B Internal support surface 135 complementary recess 136 Rock 137 Locking surface 138 recess 139 Occlusion surface A1 First axis A2 Second axis A22 Depth axis A136 Lock shaft D1 First direction D2 Second direction D22 Forward H20 height axis P22 Front plane R121 Rotation, rotational movement T100 transverse axis

Claims

1. A control unit (20) for an electric circuit breaker (10), said control unit (20) being configured to be received in a receptacle opening onto a front face (14) of said circuit breaker unit (16) so as to control said breaker unit (16); - said control unit (20) presents a front surface (22), said front surface (22) presenting a generally flat shape and geometrically supported by a front plane (P22), said front plane (P22) being orthogonal to a depth axis (A22) and defining a front direction (D22) oriented towards the user when said control unit (20) is in a normal use configuration, said front plane (P22) being parallel to a height axis (H20) and a transverse axis (T100) of said control unit (20); the control unit (20) comprises a casing (30) made of an electrically insulating material, the casing (30) comprising a rear subassembly (34) and a front subassembly (100), the front subassembly (100) comprising a central portion (102) assembled to the rear subassembly (34) and forming part of the front face (22) of the control unit (20); - said central portion (102) comprises two transverse edges, said two transverse edges comprising a first edge (111) and a second edge (112), said first edge (111) and said second edge (112) being located on either side of said central portion (102) and extending parallel to each other and to said transverse axis (T100); the front subassembly (100) further comprises fastening members (120) for securing the front subassembly (100) to the rear subassembly (34), the fastening members (120) including a first fastening member (121) located near the first edge (111) and a second fastening member (122) located near the second edge (112); a control unit (20) in which the rear subassembly (34) is made of insulating material and comprises complementary members configured to cooperate with the fastening members (120) of the front subassembly (100) to secure the front subassembly (100) to the rear subassembly (34) in an assembly position of the front subassembly (100) relative to the rear subassembly (34), and in which a front side (102A) of the central portion (102) is oriented according to the front direction (D22) and forms part of the front face (22) of the control unit (20); - said complementary members include a first complementary member (131), said first complementary member (131) cooperating with said first fastening member (121) to form a first kinematic link between said front sub-assembly (100) and said rear sub-assembly (34), said first kinematic link comprising: the first edge (111) is such that it is prevented from translating relative to the rear subassembly (34) according to a first direction (D1) parallel to the height axis (H20), and - said first edge (111) is such that it is free to rotate (R121) relative to said rear sub-assembly (34) about a first axis parallel to said transverse axis (T100); - said complementary members include, in addition to said first complementary member (131), a second complementary member (132), said second complementary member (132) cooperating with said second fastening member (122) to form a second kinematic link between said front subassembly (100) and said rear subassembly (34), said second kinematic link comprising: the second edge (112) is prevented from translating relative to the rear subassembly (34) in a second direction (D2) opposite to the first direction (D1); and - A control unit (20) characterized in that the second edge (112) is such that it can freely rotate relative to the rear subassembly (34) about a second axis (A2) parallel to the transverse axis (T100).

2. - said first fastening element (121) comprises at least one hook (123) arranged recessed from said central part (102) according to said forward direction (D22), each hook (123) comprising a curved end (124A) extending according to the same direction parallel to said height axis (H20) to form a recess (124B), said recess (124B) of each hook (123) being geometrically carried by the same axis parallel to said transverse axis (T100); - said first complementary member (131) comprises at least one cavity (133), each cavity (133) being recessed in said rear subassembly (34) and configured to receive a respective hook (123) in said hook engagement configuration, each cavity (133) opening towards the front of said rear subassembly (34) by a respective hole (134A) and presenting an internal support surface (134B) which is oriented towards the interior of the corresponding cavity according to a rear direction opposite to said forward direction (D22); A control unit (20) according to claim 1, wherein when each hook (123) is in the engaged configuration, the curved end (124A) cooperates with the corresponding internal support surface (134B) to form the first kinematic link, and the first axis (A1) is substantially aligned with the recess (124B) of each hook (123).

3. each hook (123) comprises a lug (125) which, relative to the curved end portion (124A) of the hook under consideration, is provided in a raised position in the recess (124B) of said curved end portion (124A); A control unit (20) according to claim 2, wherein each internal support surface (134B) comprises a complementary recess (135) configured to receive the lug (125) of the corresponding hook (123) so as to prevent translational movement of the hook (123) parallel to the height axis (H20) relative to the corresponding internal support surface (134B) when the hook (123) is in an engaged configuration.

4. A control unit (20) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the front sub-assembly (100) comprises a clipping member (106) positioned away from the first edge (111) and configured to cooperate with a complementary clipping member of the rear sub-assembly (34) to hold the front sub-assembly (100) in the assembled position when each hook (123) is in an engaged configuration.

5. the second fastening member (122) comprises a protrusion (126) that extends raised relative to the central portion (102) and is recessed from the central portion (102), the protrusion (126) providing a support surface (127) that is oriented towards the front when the front subassembly (100) is in the assembled position relative to the rear subassembly (34); - said control unit (20) also comprises a lock (136), said lock (136) forming said second complementary member (132), said lock (136) being assembled to said casing (30) and being movable relative to said casing (30) between a locked position and an unlocked position; the lock (136) comprises a locking surface (137) which is positioned facing the support surface (127) in the forward direction (D22) when the lock (136) is in the locked position so as to prevent translational movement of the protrusion (126) relative to the rear sub-assembly (34) in the forward direction (D22), thereby preventing rotational movement (R121) of the front sub-assembly (100) relative to the rear sub-assembly (34) about the first axis (A1); A control unit (20) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein when the lock (136) is in the released position, the lock (136) does not prevent translational movement of the protrusion (126) relative to the rear subassembly (34) in the forward direction (D22), thus allowing the rotational movement (R121) of the front subassembly (100) relative to the rear subassembly (34) about the first axis (A1).

6. A control unit (20) according to claim 5, wherein the lock (136) is pivotally mounted relative to the rear subassembly (34) about a lock axis (A136) parallel to the transverse axis (T100), and the locked position and the released position are two angular positions of the lock (136) relative to the rear subassembly (34) about the lock axis (A136).

7. An electric circuit breaker (10), comprising: - said breaker unit (16) comprising at least one breaker device and an actuator; - an example of the control unit (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, - said breaker unit (16) provides a container, said container opening onto said front face (14) of said breaker unit (16); - an electric circuit breaker (10) in which said control unit (20) is received in said receptacle of said breaker unit (16) so that said front face (22) of said control unit (20) is substantially aligned with said front face (14) of said breaker unit (16).

8. 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); - said control unit (20) is as claimed in claim 5, - said lock (136) presents a recess (138) that is recessed from said front face (22) when said lock (136) is in said locked position, said recess presents a closing face (139) that is oriented according to a normal radial direction relative to said lock axis (A136); - said circuit breaker (10) comprises a cover (18) adapted to be assembled to said breaker unit (16) so as to form part of said front face (14) of said breaker unit (16), said cover presenting a window (19) through which said front face (22) of said control unit (20) is visible; 8. An electric circuit breaker (10) according to claim 7, wherein said window (19) comprises a closing edge (19A) which cooperates with said closing surface (139) to hold said lock (136) in said locked position when said control unit (20) is received in said container and said cover (18) is assembled to said breaker unit (16).

Images