[0001] The present invention belongs to electricity, namely to basic electric components
and in particular to details of electric switches, which are adapted to receive a
melting member i.e. a fuse.
[0002] The purpose of the invention is to create a security electric switch with a melting
member, namely with a standardized and essentially cylindrical fuse type D0-(NEOZED),
in particular type D01, wherein such switch would have to be attachable to a standardized
ledge within electric switch panels without amending of its shape or overall dimensions,
and by which a sequence of steps for activation of phase connectors and neutral connector
during each switching-on and switching-off procedure should be determined in a reliable
manner in order to prevent formation of electric arc, and at the same time some further
simplifying of such switch in the sense of reducing the number of required parts would
be desired by simultaneously introducing as much as possible universally created parts,
which might be used in each disposable phase unit or neutral unit either in monophase
of three-phase electric circuits, in which such switch could be introduced.
[0003] A security electric switch with a melting member i.e. a fuse is described in
DE 29 03 826 C2 (
Lindner GmbH). Such switch consisting of a casing in form of a box, in which a bearing member
for a melting member inserted therein is pivotally embedded, wherein said bearing
member is furnished with an actuating lever, which is located on its outside of the
casing protruding end portion. Said casing is adapted for mounting onto a standardized
ledge of an electric switchboard for the purposes of establishing a detachable connection
of the casing with said ledge. Moreover, said casing is furnished on each end portion
with an electric connector, which is electrically connected with a corresponding electric
contact member, which is available within said casing and by means of which an electric
circuit is optionally established throughout appropriately positioned melting member,
which may, when desired, also he interrupted by means of appropriate displacement
of said melting member and removing thereof apart from corresponding contact members.
To this aim, said casing is formed by two shell-like parts, which are upon assembling
mutually interconnected, in particular by means of riveting. Appropriate guiding members
are foreseen on the inner surface of each aforementioned part, which are adapted to
cooperate with appropriate guides on the surface of said fuse bearing member such
that said bearing member may be pivoted at a pre-determined angle from its initial
position, in which an electric circuit through the melting member inserted therein
may be established, into its end position, in which said circuit through the melting
member is interrupted. Due to appropriately shaped guiding members, said bearing member
is maintained in its initial position and in its end position by means of arresting
thereof. In addition to that, said guiding members on the inner surface of the casing
and on the outer surface of the fuse bearing member are conceived in such a manner
that in such end position, in which the circuit through the fuse is interrupted, said
bearing member is also displaceable in its radial direction with respect to previously
mentioned rotation, namely outwardly from said casing or inwardly into the casing,
at minimum in such extent that the melting member can be inserted therein or removed
there-from, by which replacement of said fuse is enabled. When said connectors of
such switch are connected with a phase wire and the melting member is inserted into
said bearing member, upon which said bearing member is displaced in a radial direction
towards the interior of the casing, said bearing member is located in such position
that the electric circuit through the melting member is interrupted. By activating
the switch by means of shifting the actuating lever and pivoting the bearing member
into its opposite end position, the melting member is brought into contact with each
disposable contact members, which are connected with said connectors, by which the
electric circuit through the melting member is established. When electric overload
arises, said melting member should interrupt the electric circuit without any need
on displacing said bearing member. Upon that, the fuse normally needs to be replaced.
The main deficiency of such solution is impossibility of identifying, whether the
melting member, which is inserted within said bearing member, is still operative or
not. If e.g. interruption of an electric circuit occurs, in which such switch is incorporated,
then the user needs to inspect practically the complete circuit in order to state,
if the reason for interruption is an inoperative melting member, or anything else.
[0004] Said deficiency has been avoided by proposing a switch according to
DE 31 26 500 A1 (
Lindner GmbH), where an indicating opening is foreseen on the front side of the outside from the
casing protruding melting member, and checking of operating capability of the fuse
is then enabled by means of said opening. There is however an essentially more problematic
deficiency, which concerns pretty uncontrolled establishing or interruption of each
electric circuit, in which said melting member is integrated.
[0005] When the electric circuit is established, in the stage of interruption thereof, the
melting member is gradually displaced apart from the contact members, which results
in essential increasing of density of electric current in contact points on the melting
member, and sometimes even in occurring an electric arc. A quite similar effect may
occur by approaching of the melting member to contact members just prior to establishing
of electric circuit. Those skilled in the art will understand that such overloading
of electric wires and related surfaces generally hinder contact between the melting
member and each corresponding contact members, which results in damages of contact
surface, and often also to such overloads in the circuit that the melting member interrupts
the circuit by itself and must upon that be replaced. As evident, all these effects
are absolutely undesired.
[0006] The proposed invention relates to a security switch with a melting member, wherein
such switch comprising at least one casing, which consists of electric insulating
material and is on its back side furnished with a rest and an arresting means intended
for attachment to a standardized ledge, as well as with connectors adapted for establishing
interconnection with each supplying wire for the purposes of integrating such switch
into each disposable electric circuit comprising in addition to at least one phase
wire also a neutral wire. A bearing member is embedded inside of said casing in appropriate
guides, and is adapted to receive a typical at least approximately cylindrical melting
member with electrically conductive end portions, which may be via appropriate contact
members within said casing electrically interconnected with said connectors. Said
bearing member together with said melting member is on the one hand allowed to be
pivoted thanks to said guide from its initial position, in which the electric circuit
through the switch is interrupted, into its end position, in which the electric circuit
through the switch is established, and on the other hand thanks to a further guide,
to be in its initial position linearly moved in the radial direction outwardly from
said casing or oppositely at least in such extent that a melting member may be inserted
into said bearing member or removed there-from.
[0007] In accordance with the present invention, said switch comprises at least one phase
unit, which is furnished with a casing and connectors placed thereon, and is adapted
for establishing interconnection with each disposable phase wire of each disposable
electric circuit, as well as at least one neutral unit, which is also furnished with
a casing and connectors placed thereon, and is also adapted for establishing interconnection
with each disposable neutral wire of each disposable electric circuit, wherein a bearing
member together with a melting member inserted therein and furnished with a protrusion
adapted to cooperate with said circular guide in the casing is embedded within said
casing of the phase unit with the possibility of being pivoted in the circular direction
and in its initial position linearly displaced in the radial direction, while a bearing
member without any melting member, but also furnished with a protrusion adapted to
cooperate with said circular guide in the casing, is embedded within said casing of
the neutral unit with the possibility of being pivoted in the circular direction and
in its initial position linearly displaced in the radial direction. The casing of
each neutral unit is mechanically connectable with a casing of each disposable phase
unit, which is adapted for establishing an electric circuit in cooperation of said
neutral unit, where at the same time each bearing member of each neutral unit is in
the area of its outside of the casing located end portion mechanically connectable
with the outside of the casing located end portion of the bearing member of each disposable
phase unit, which is adapted for establishing an electric circuit in cooperation of
said neutral unit, so that each displacing of the bearing member of the neutral unit
is feasible only by simultaneously displacing bearing members of each disposable phase
units.
[0008] The casing of each phase unit is preferably identical to the casing of each disposable
neutral unit, and in addition to that, throughout openings are foreseen on each casing
of the phase unit and the neutral unit, which are intended for establishing a mechanical
interconnection between/among each disposable casings of said units.
[0009] Moreover, each outside of the casing located end portion of the bearing member of
the phase unit is, analogously like each outside of the casing located end portion
of the bearing member of the neutral unit, furnished with a throughout opening, and
thanks to said openings said bearing members of each disposable phase units and neutral
units available in each electric circuit are mechanically connectable to each other
for the purposes of synchronized and simultaneous displacing of bearing members of
each mutually cooperating phase and neutral units.
[0010] Furthermore, two contact members are mounted within said casing of each phase unit,
which are each per se electrically interconnected with corresponding connectors and
are connectable with each other via the melting member, when the last is together
with the bearing member located in the end position of said bearing member. Two contact
members are also mounted within said casing of the phase unit, which are each per
se electrically connected with corresponding connectors on said casing, so that the
elastically supported first contact member is either maintained at certain distance
apart from the second contact member, or may optionally be pressed towards the second
contact member by means of appropriate resting edge on the inside of the casing located
end portion of the bearing member of the neutral unit when said bearing member is
pivoted into its end position for the purposes of establishing electric circuit throughout
the neutral unit, namely in such a manner that thanks to such established mechanical
connection between the casings on the one hand and the bearing members on the other
hand in each disposable phase units and the neutral unit by pivoting said bearing
members towards the end position thereof corresponding to switched-on status of the
switch, first of all both contact members of the neutral unit are brought into mutual
contact by means of said resting edge on the bearing member of the neutral unit in
order to establish electric circuit throughout the neutral unit, upon which appropriate
contact is established between the melting member and corresponding contact members
of each phase unit, while by pivoting said bearing members from their end position
corresponding to switch-on status of the switch back to their initial position corresponding
to switch-off status of the switch the melting member, which is inserted within a
corresponding bearing member of the phase unit, is displaced apart from the contact
members, by which the electric circuit throughout said phase unit is interrupted,
upon which and as a consequence of displacement of the resting edge of the bearing
member in the neutral unit, the elastically supported first contact member is shifted
apart from the second contact member of the neutral unit, by which upon previously
interrupting the electric circuit of the phase unit also the electric circuit throughout
the neutral unit is then interrupted.
[0011] The invention further provides that an elastically supported first contact member
is mounted within a phase unit in the form of a cantilever in the area of the first
connector, and extends along the area between the back wall of the casing and the
bearing member with inserted melting member, and is moreover on said back wall of
the casing supported by means of springs, while the second contact member is electrically
connected with the second connector on the casing an extends towards the position,
in which the electrically conductive portion of the melting member is located in the
end position of the bearing member, so that on the one hand in said end position of
the bearing member adjacent to said previously mentioned position, the melting member
is pressed towards the elastically supported contact member and on the other hand
also towards the second contact member, while in any other position of the bearing
member the melting member is displaced apart from at least one of said contact members.
[0012] Still further, the invention provides that an elastically supported first contact
member in form of cantilever is mounted within the neutral unit in the area of the
first connector and extends along the area between the back wall of the casing and
the bearing member, and is moreover supported on said back wall of the casing by means
of springs, while the second contact member, which is electrically connected with
the second connector on the casing and is fixedly mounted within the casing, extends
towards the area between said elastically supported first contact member and the back
wall of the casing, so that said elastically supported contact member is by means
of said spring maintained apart from the second contact member until the resting edge
of the bearing member is rest thereon in order to press it against the force of said
spring towards said fixedly mounted second contact member.
[0013] The invention will be described in more detail on the basis of an embodiment, which
is shown in the enclosed drawing, wherein
- Fig. 1
- is a schematically shown phase unit of the switch according to the invention in the
switched-off position during replacement of a melting member;
- Fig. 2
- is a schematically shown neutral unit of the switch according to the invention in
the switch-off position analogously to Fig. 1;
- Fig. 3
- is a schematically shown phase unit of the switch according to the invention in its
intermediate state between the switch-on and switch-off position e.g. prior to replacement
of the melting member;
- Fig. 4
- is a schematically shown neutral unit of the switch according to the invention in
its intermediate state between the switch-on and switch-off position, i.e. when the
circuit is connected or disconnected;
- Fig. 5
- is a schematically shown phase unit of the switch according to the invention in the
switched-on position upon establishing an electric circuit through said phase unit;
and
- Fig. 6
- is a schematically shown neutral unit of the switch according to the invention in
the switched-on position analogously like in Fig. 5 i.e. upon establishing an electric
circuit through said neutral unit.
[0014] A switch according to the invention comprises at least one phase unit 1 and at least
one neutral unit 2, which are mechanically interconnected and adapted for simultaneous
and correlated functioning in each disposable electric circuit. More precisely, each
disposable number of phase units 1 corresponds to each disposable phase wires, wherein
a single neutral unit 2 should normally be sufficient.
[0015] Each of said units 1, 2 comprises a casing 3, which consists of an electric insulating
material and may be identical either for said neutral unit 2 or said phase unit 1.
In the shown embodiment according to Figs 1 - 6, the casing 3 is a standardized casing
of a switch with a melting member i.e. a fuse type D0-(NEOZED), in particular type
D-01, consisting of two assembled shells, of which only one is presented in Figs.
1 - 6. Such casing 3 is adapted for attaching onto a not-shown standardized ledge
and is of that reason furnished with a rest 31, which is located on its back surface
30, and also with a not-shown arresting element, which is arranged within appropriate
arresting assembly 32 located at appropriate distance apart from said rest 31. Moreover,
two commonly known connectors 33, 34 are available on said casing 3, by which two
within said casing 3 located electric contact members 41', 41" of the phase unit 1
and two within said casing 3 located electric contact members 42', 42" of the neutral
unit 2 are electrically interconnected. Besides, each casing 3 is furnished with throughout
openings 38, 38', 38", 38''', which are intended for the purposes of joining each
neighboring casings 3 of phase units 1 and neutral units 2 to each other.
[0016] A bearing member 51 consists of electric insulating material and is intended to for
bearing of a melting member 6, and is embedded within the casing 3 of a phase unit
(Fig. 1), whilst a quite analogously conceived bearing member 52 without any melting
member is embedded within the casing 3 of the neutral unit 2. Each bearing member
51, 52 of said phase unit 1 and neutral unit 2 is designed and mounted within said
casing 3 in such a manner, that it is displaceable in two directions and is allowed
to be pivoted in its circular direction and in its initial position according to Figs.
1 and 2. and moreover also linearly displaced in the radial direction with respect
to said rotation. In addition to that, each of said bearing members 51, 52 is furnished
with an actuating protrusion 511, 521 which is arranged on its outwardly from the
casing 3 protruding end portion 510, 520, and moreover with a throughout bore 512,
522, wherein said bores 512, 522 are identically arranged on said bearing members
51, 52, so that the bores 512, 522 of two units 1, 2, when arranged on each corresponding
ledge and being mechanically interconnected by means of appropriate bolts or rivets
extending throughout said openings 38, 38', 38", 38"', extend coaxially with respect
to each other. Consequently, a pin or a rivet or any other suitable interconnecting
means may be inserted throughout the bore 512 of the bearing member 51 of the phase
unit 1 and at the same time also throughout the bore 522 of the bearing member 52
of the neutral unit 2 in order to establish a desired interconnection of each disposable
bearing members 51 of each disposable phase units 1 and the bearing member 52 of each
corresponding neutral unit 2.
[0017] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, said bearing members 51 and 52 are located in their initial
position, where a linear displacement of bearing members 51, 52 in the radial direction
either inwardly into the casing 3, or also outwardly is allowed at least in such extent
that the melting member 6 may be inserted into the bearing member 51 of the phase
unit 1, or removed from said bearing member 51. As mentioned, said bearing member
51 of the phase unit I may be displaced in each desired direction only together with
the bearing member 52 of the neutral unit 2 i.e. simultaneously therewith. For such
purpose, two guides 36, 37 are foreseen on each lateral surface 35 within the casing
3, namely a circular guide 36, which is adapted to cooperate with a protrusion 360
on each bearing member 51, 52, as well as a radial guide 37. Whenever each of said
bearing members 51, 52 is located within the casing 3, it is on the one hand by means
of said protrusion 360 embedded within said circular guide 36, while on the other
hand in its initial position according to Figs. 1 and 2 it may also be displaced along
said radial guide 37. When each of said bearing members 51, 52 is extracted outwardly
from the casing 3 and disengaged from said circular guide 36, each pivoting of said
bearing member 51, 52 in such position is disabled. By displacing said bearing member
51, 52 inwardly into the casing 3, and by entering said circular guide 36, pivoting
thereof towards its end position (Figs. 5 and 6) or in the opposite direction towards
its initial position (Figs. 1 and 2) is enabled, where during pivoting along said
circular guide 36 said extraction of the bearing members 51, 52 in the radial direction
is not possible.
[0018] As mentioned, each casing 3 comprises connectors 33, 34, wherein the first connector
33 is located on that end portion 30' of the casing 3, towards which each bearing
member 51, 52 is pivoted in its initial position (Fig. 1 and 2), in which it may be
extracted from the casing 3. The other connector 34 is located on the opposite end
portion 30" of said casing 3, towards which each bearing member 51, 52 is pivoted
in its end position (Fig. 5 and 6), in which it cannot be extracted from the casing
3. Also said connectors 33, 34 on the casing 3 of the phase unit 1 and on the casing
3 of the neutral unit 2 are, similarly like the casings 3 as such, preferably conceived
identically with respect to each other.
[0019] As also mentioned, each connector 33, 34 in the casing 3 of the phase unit 1 is electrically
interconnected with each corresponding contact members 41', 41 " of the phase unit
1, while in the neutral unit 2, each connector 33, 34 on the casing 3 is electrically
interconnected with each corresponding contact members 42', 42" of the neutral unit
2. Each disposable phase wire of a not shown electric circuit is connectable to said
connectors 33, 34 of the phase unit 1, and by establishing each desired mutual engagement
of the contact members 41', 41 ", a circuit through said phase wire is then established,
while upon disengagement of said contact members 41', 41" said circuit is interrupted.
Quite analogously, each disposable neutral wire of a not shown electric circuit is
connectable to said connectors 33, 34 of the neutral unit 2, and by establishing each
desired mutual engagement of the contact members 42', 42" a circuit through said neutral
wire is then established, while upon disengagement of said contact members 42', 42"
said circuit is interrupted.
[0020] Said contact members 41', 41" of the phase unit 1 are in this particular embodiment
created in such a manner that the first contact member 41' in the form of cantilever
is embedded in the area of the first connector 33 and extends towards the rear surface
30 of the casing 3, on which it is in the area below the bearing member 51 of the
melting member 6 in the shown embodiment additionally supported by means of springs
39, 39', whereupon which it further extends in a direction towards the second connector
34, to which however it is not directly connectable. The other contact member 41"
is electrically interconnected with the second connector 34 and is located in such
position, into which the melting member 6 is shifted, as soon as said bearing member
51 together with the melting member 6 has been pivoted from its initial position according
to Fig. 1 into its end position according to Fig. 5. Whenever the bearing member 51
of the phase unit 1 is located in its initial position (Fig. 1), the electric circuit
via said contact members 41', 41" and connectors 33, 34 of the phase wire is interrupted,
since in such situation the melting member 6 is located apart from said contact members
41', 41". As soon as the bearing member 51 is then pivoted into its end position according
to Fig. 5, the melting member 6, which is placed within said bearing member 51, namely
the first end portion 61 thereof is rest onto the surface of the elastically supported
first contact member 41, while the second end portion 62 thereof is rest onto the
second contact member 41", so that appropriate electric circuit of the phase unit
1 is then established via said melting member 6, contact members 41', 41" and said
connectors 33, 34.
[0021] Contact members 42', 42" in the neutral unit 2 are conceived quite analogously like
said contact members 41', 41" of the phase unit 1. The first contact member 42' of
the neutral unit 2 can be identical to the first contact member 41' of the phase unit
1 and is in form of cantilever attached in the area of the first connector 33 and
supported by means of a spring 39 on the back surface 30 of the casing 3 in the area
of the bearing member 52 of the neutral unit 2, which is furnished with a resting
edge 525, upon which it extends towards the second contact member 42", which is fixedly
attached to the casing 3 and electrically interconnected with the second connector
34, so that the first contact member 42' ends in the area above the second contact
member 42' and is by means of said spring 39 maintained at certain distance apart
from said second contact member 42" always when possible. Namely, the first contact
member 42' of the neutral unit 2 is maintained at said distance apart from the second
contact member 42' of said neutral unit 2 always when the bearing member 52 of the
neutral unit 2 is located in its initial position (Fig. 2), by which the electric
circuit of the neutral wire is interrupted. On the contrary, upon pivoting said bearing
member 52 from its initial position according to Fig. 2 into its end position according
to Fig. 6, said resting edge 525 on the bearing member 52 abuts the surface of the
first contact member 42', by which the last is pushed opposite to the force of the
spring 39 and in a direction towards the second contact member 42", by which the electric
circuit through the neutral wire is established as soon as said contact members 42',
42" are brought into contact with each other.
[0022] As already mentioned, each casing 3 of each disposable phase unit 1 is attached onto
a not shown ledge adjacent to the casing 3 of each belonging neutral unit 2, and at
the same time the bearing member 52 of the neutral unit 2 is mechanically interconnected
with each disposable phase units 1 and is displaceable together with them. In accordance
with the invention, said resting edge 525 is placed on that end 520' of the bearing
member 52, which is located within the casing 3, so that by simultaneously displacing
the bearing members 51, 52 of the phase unit 1 and the neutral unit 2 from their initial
position according to Figs. 1 and 2, by which the circuit throughout both units 1,
2 is interrupted, towards the end position according to Figs. 5 and 6, by which the
circuit throughout both units 1, 2 is established, prior to resting the melting member
6 onto the first contact member 41' and the second contact member 41" of the phase
unit 1, said resting edge 525 of the bearing member 52 of the neutral unit 2 is rest
onto the first contact member 42', which has been previously by means of the spring
39 maintained at certain distance apart from the second contact member 42", in order
to push it to its end position, so that the electric circuit of the neutral unit 2
is established before the bearing members 51, 52 arrive to their end position according
to Figs. 5 and 6.
[0023] On the contrary, by shifting the bearing members 51, 52 from their end position according
to Figs. 5 and 6 back to their initial position according to Figs. 1 and 2, as long
as the melting member 6 due to elastic support of the first contact member 41' is
maintained in the electric contact with the belonging contact members 41', 41" of
the phase unit 1, said resting edge 525 on the bearing member 52 of the neutral unit
2 is pressed towards the first contact member 42', by which the neutral circuit is
maintained in its established state. As soon as the bearing members 51, 52 are pivoted
towards the initial position according to Figs. 1 and 2 in such extent that the melting
member 6 is moved apart from the contact members 41', 41" and the circuit throughout
the phase unit 1 is interrupted, then said resting edge 525 on the bearing member
52 starts moving apart from the contact member 42', so that the last is allowed to
move apart from the contact member 42", by which the electric circuit throughout the
neutral unit 2 is interrupted.
[0024] By activating the switch, namely by displacing the bearing members 51, 52 from their
initial position according to Figs. 1 and 2, in which the electric circuit throughout
each disposable phase unit 1 and also the neutral unit 2 is interrupted, into the
end position according to Figs. 5 and 6, on which the electric circuit throughout
each disposable phase unit 1 and also the neutral unit 2 is established, during said
switch-on procedure the, circuit is firstly established in the neutral unit 2 and
after that also in each disposable phase unit 1. On the contrary, during the switch-off
procedure, in which said bearing members 51, 52 are displaced from the end position
according to Figs. 5 and 6 back to the initial position according to Figs. 1 and 2,
the circuit is firstly interrupted in each phase unit 1 and after that also in the
neutral unit 2.
[0025] As soon as in the phase unit 1 the bearing members 51, 52 together with the melting
member 6 are returned back to their initial position according to Figs. 1 and 2, by
which the circuit throughout the phase unit 1 is interrupted, in such position the
bearing members 51, 52 are then allowed to be pulled out from the casing 3, by which
the melting member 6 may be removed and replaced by another one, if required, upon
which said bearing members 51, 52 may be radially displaced back towards the interior
of the casing 3 into their initial position.
1. Security electric switch with a melting member (6), comprising at least one casing
(3), wherein said casing (3) consists of electric insulating material and is on its
back side furnished with
a rest (31) and an arresting means (32) which is intended for attachment to a standardized
ledge,
as well as with connectors (33, 34) which are adapted for establishing interconnection
with each supplying wire for the purposes of integrating such switch into each disposable
electric circuit, which in addition to at least one phase wire comprises also a neutral
wire,
and wherein inside of said casing (3) a bearing member (51, 52) is embedded in appropriate
guides (36, 37), namely a circular guide (36), which is adapted to cooperate with
a protrusion (360) on each beating member (51, 52), as well as a radial guide (37),
and wherein said bearing member (51, 52) being adapted to receive a typical at least
approximately cylindrical melting member (6) with electrically conductive end portions
(61, 62), which are via appropriate contact members (41, 42) within said casing (3)
electrically interconnectable with said connectors (33,34),
and wherein said bearing member (51, 52) together with said melting member (6) is
on the one hand allowed to be pivoted thanks to said guide (36)
from its initial position, in which the electric circuit through the switch is interrupted,
into its end position, in which the electric circuit through the switch is established,
and on the other hand thanks to a further guide (36) said bearing member (51, 52)
can be in its initial position linearly moved in the radial direction outwardly from
said casing (3) or in the opposite-direction at least in such extent that a melting
member (6) may be inserted into said bearing member (51) or removed there-from, said
switch further comprising
at least one phase unit (1), which is furnished with a casing (3) and connectors (33,
34), which are placed thereon and are adapted for establishing interconnection with
each disposable phase wire of each disposable electric circuit, as well as at least
one neutral unit (2), which is also furnished with a casing (3) and connecturs (33,
34) placed thereon and adapted for establishing interconnection with each disposable
neutral wire of each disposable electric circuit,
wherein said bearing member (51) of the phase unit (1) is furnished with a protrusion
(360) which is adapted to cooperate with said circular guide (36) in the casing (3)
and is together with a melting member (6), which is inserted therein, embedded within
said casing (3) of the phase unit (1) with the possibility of being pivoted in the
circular direction and in its initial position also linearly displaced in the radial
direction,
and wherein a bearing member (52) of the neutral unit (2), although being without
any melting member (6), is also furnished with a protrusion (360), which is adapted
to cooperate with said circular guide (36) in the casing (3) of the neutral unit (2),
and is embedded within the casing (3) of the neutral unit (2) with the possibility
of being pivoted in the circular direction and in its initial position also linearly
displaced in the radial direction,
characterized in that
the casing (3) of each neutral unit (2) is mechanically connected with a casing (3)
of each disposable phase unit (1), which is adapted for establishing an electric circuit
in cooperation of said neutral unit (2),
and each end portion (520) of the bearing member (52) of each neutral unit (2), which
is located outside of the casing (3) of the neutral unit (2), is mechanically connected
with the end portion (510) of the bearing member (51) of the phase unit (1), which
is located outside of the casing (3) of the phase unit (1), namely connected in such
manner that said bearing member (51) of the phase unit (1) may be displaced in each
desired direction only together i.e. simultaneously with the bearing member (52) of
the neutral unit (2),
and in that two contact members (41', 41") are mounted within said casing (3) of each phase unit
(1), which are each per se electrically interconnected with corresponding connectors
(33, 34) and are connectable with each other via the melting member (6), when the
last is together with the bearing member (51) located in the end position of said
bearing member (51), and in that two contact members (42', 42") are mounted within said casing (3) of the phase unit
(2), which are each per se electrically connected with corresponding connectors (33,
34) on said casing (3), so that the elastically supported first contact member (42')
is either maintained at certain distance apart from the second contact member (42"),
or may optionally be pressed towards the second contact member (42") by means of appropriate
resting edge (525) on the inside of the casing (3) located end portion (520') of the
bearing member (52) of the neutral unit (2) when said bearing member (52) is pivoted
into its end position for the purposes of establishing electric circuit throughout
the neutral unit (2), namely in such a manner that thanks to established mechanical
connection between the casings (3) on the one hand and the bearing members (51, 52)
on the other hand in each disposable phase units (1) and the neutral unit (2) by pivoting
said bearing members (51, 52) towards the end position thereof corresponding to switched-on
status of the switch, first of all both contact members (42', 42") of the neutral
unit (2) are brought into mutual contact by means of said resting edge (525) on the
bearing member (52) of the neutral unit (2) in order to establish electric circuit
throughout the neutral unit (2), upon which appropriate contact is established between
the melting member (6) and corresponding contact members (41', 41") of each phase
unit (1), while by pivoting said bearing members (51, 52) from their end position
corresponding to switch-on status of the switch back to their initial position corresponding
to switch-off status of the switch, the melting member (6), which is inserted within
a corresponding bearing member (51) of the phase unit (1), is displaced apart from
the contact members (41', 41 "), by which the electric circuit throughout said phase
unit (1) is interrupted, upon which and as a consequence of displacement of the resting
edge (525) of the bearing member (52) in the neutral unit (2) the elastically supported
first contact member (42') is shifted apart from the second contact member (42") of
the neutral unit (2), by which upon previously interrupting the electric circuit of
the phase unit (1) also the electric circuit throughout the neutral unit (2) is then
interrupted.
2. Switch according to Claim 1, characterized in that the casing (3) of the phase unit (1) is identical to the casing (3) of each disposable
neutral unit (3) and that throughout openings (38) arc foreseen on each casing (3)
of the phase unit (1) and the neutral unit (2) for the purposes of establishing a
mechanical interconnection between/among each disposable casings (3) of said units
(1, 2).
3. Switch according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each outside of the casing (3) located end portion (510) of the bearing member (51)
of the phase unit (1) is analogously like each outside of the casing (3) located end
portion (520) of the bearing member (52) of the neutral unit (2) furnished with a
throughout opening (512, 522), and thanks to said openings (512, 522) said bearing
members (51, 52) of each disposable phase units (1) and neutral units (2) available
in each electric circuit are mechanically connectable to each other for the purposes
of synchronized and simultaneous displacing of bearing members (51, 52) of each cooperating
phase and neutral units (1, 2).
4. Switch according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that elastically supported first contact member (41') is mounted within a phase unit (1)
in the form of a cantilever in the area of the first connector (33), and extends along
the area between the back wall (30) of the casing (3) and the bearing member (51)
with inserted melting member (6), and is moreover on said back wall (30) of the casing
(3) supported by means of springs (39, 39'), while the second contact member (41 ")
is electrically connected with the second connector (34) on the casing (3) an extends
towards the position, in which the electrically conductive portion of the melting
member (6) is located in the end position of the bearing member (51), so that on the
one hand in said end position of the bearing member (51) adjacent to said previously
mentioned position the melting member (6) is pressed towards the elastically supported
contact member (41') and on the other hand also towards the second contact member
(41"), while in any other position of the bearing member the melting member is displaced
apart from at least one of said contact members (41', 41 ").
5. Switch according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that elastically supported first contact member (42') in form of cantilever is mounted
within the neutral unit (2) in the area of the first connector (33) and extends along
the area between the back wall (30) of the casing (3) and the bearing member (52),
and is moreover supported on said back wall (30) of the casing (3) by means of springs
(39), while the second contact member (42"), which is electrically connected with
the second connector (34) on the casing (3) and is fixedly mounted within the casing
(3), extends towards the area between said elastically supported first contact member
(41') and the back wall (30) of the casing (3), so that said elastically supported
contact member (41') is by means of said spring (39) maintained apart from the second
contact member (42") until the resting edge (525) of the bearing member (52) is rest
thereon in order to press it against the force of said spring (39) towards said fixedly
mounted second contact member (42").