Automatic reset device for untimely trippings of circuit breakers and electrical safety equipment in general

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic reset device for untimely trippings of circuit breakers and electrical safety equipment in general.

[0002] Conventional circuit breakers and residual current-operated devices use mechanisms that allow to open and close the moving contact both by operating an external handle, that can be accessed by the user, and by means of the automatic action of protection devices provided inside it.

[0003] It is known that protection devices may trip in an untimely fashion, i.e., when no actual anomaly of the circuit has occurred.

[0004] The untimely tripping of the device naturally causes inconvenience to the user, who has to reach the electrical panel and restore the circuit by operating the appropriately provided levers.

[0005] The problem becomes severe if the user is not present and electric power is interrupted for hours or even days.

[0006] For example, if lightning strikes in the vicinity of the house the circuit breakers may trip and the circuit remains open until it is reactivated by the user. If the user is not present for several days, damage can be substantial: one merely needs to consider refrigerators, freezers or other critical appliances.

[0007] An aim of the present invention is to provide a reset device for untimely trippings of circuit breakers and electrical safety equipment in general, which is capable of automatically restoring the circuit even without human intervention.

[0008] An object of the invention is to provide a device that is capable of distinguishing between an untimely tripping and tripping due to an actual circuit anomaly.

[0009] A further object of the invention is to provide a device that can be applied to existing electrical equipment and is absolutely compatible with them.

[0010] A further object is to provide a device that has components that are easily commercially available and at low costs.

[0011] This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by an automatic reset device for untimely trippings of circuit breakers and electrical safety equipment in general, as claimed in the appended claims.

[0012] Document US 2 614 191 discloses a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0013] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional side view of the device according to the invention, shown in the position in which the circuit breaker is closed, the microswitch is open, the actuator is deactivated, the mechanism is in overtravel and the actuation spring is not loaded;

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view, taken along the line II-II of Figure 1, of the device shown in the position of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional side view of the device according to the invention, shown in the position in which the circuit breaker has tripped, the microswitch is closed, the actuator is activated, the mechanism is in the engagement/release position, and the actuation spring is loaded;

Figure 4 is a sectional plan view, taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 3, of the device shown in the position of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional side view of the device according to the invention, shown in the position in which the circuit breaker is reset, the microswitch is open, the actuator is deactivated, and the actuation spring returns the accumulated energy;

Figure 6 is a sectional plan view, taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 5, of the device shown in the position of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional side view of the device according to the invention, illustrated in the position in which the device is locked;

Figure 8 is a sectional plan view, taken along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7, of the device shown in the position of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a sectional side view of the device, with its swinging flap open and the device deactivated;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the device;

Figure 11 is a plan view of the device;

Figure 12 is a detail view of the region that corresponds to the connection of the actuation bar to the actuation drum, with the device in the position that corresponds to Figure 1;

Figure 13 is a view of the thermal actuator;

Figure 14 is a detail view of the region that corresponds to the connection of the actuation bar to the actuation drum, with the device in the position that corresponds to Figure 3;

Figure 15 is a detail side view of the actuation drum of the device in the position that corresponds to Figure 5;

Figure 16 is a partially cutout detail view of the actuation drum of the device, shown in the position that corresponds to Figure 7;

Figure 17 is a sectional side view of the device according to the invention, provided with a flap that can slide instead of swinging, shown in the open position;

Figure 18 is a plan view of the device, illustrating the sliding flap in the open position;

Figure 19 is a sectional side view of the device according to the invention, provided with a flap that can slide instead of swinging, shown in the closed position;

Figure 20 is a plan view of the device, illustrating the sliding flap in the closed position.

[0014] With reference to the cited figures, a device according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, includes a casing 2 that has the classic standardized shape and forms, at its rear face 3, a means for coupling to other pieces of equipment that are associated with an omega-shaped rail (not shown), according to DIN standards.

[0015] The casing 2 has, at its front face, a protrusion 4 in which an actuation drum 5 is positioned. The actuation drum is associated with an actuation lever 6 by means of a bar 7 that is pivoted to the lever 6 and has one end that can slide in a slot 8 of the drum 5.

[0016] An actuation spring 9 has one end that is fixed to a slider 10, in which the actuation spring is accommodated, and another end that is rigidly coupled to the actuation lever 6.

[0017] The slider 10 accommodates, in a position that is parallel to the actuation spring 9, a return spring 11, in which one end is in abutment against a wall of the slider 10 and the other end is in abutment against a fixed abutment 12 that is rigidly coupled to the casing 2.

[0018] A thermal actuator 13, of a per se known type and preferably of the commonly commercially available type, is applied to the casing 2 so that its actuation piston 14 can act on the slider 10.

[0019] The thermal actuator includes a heating member 15 that is supplied with power by an electric circuit that includes a microswitch 16.

[0020] The microswitch 16 opens or closes the power supply circuit of the heating member 15 of the thermal actuator 13 by way of the action of an elastic rocker 17 that acts on a pushbutton 116 of the microswitch 16.

[0021] The elastic rocker 17 is in turn actuated by a locking lever 18 that is associated with the drum 5.

[0022] The locking lever 18 actuates an indicator lever 19, also associated with the drum 5, at an opening 20 that is formed in the protrusion 4.

[0023] As mentioned, the device 1 is constituted by a casing that has a standardized shape so that it can be arranged side-by-side with respect to other standard modules and in particular with respect to a circuit breaker 101.

[0024] The mechanism of the reset device is connected to the mechanism of the circuit breaker 101 by means of a bar that has a triangular cross-section and constitutes the rotation axis of the drum 5, so that the rotation of the drum 5 exactly matches the rotation of the drum of the circuit breaker 101, which is provided with the usual external actuation lever.

[0025] The reset device 1 comprises an oscillating flap 50 or a sliding flap 150 that covers the actuation lever 70 of the circuit breaker when the flap 50 or 150 is in the closed position.

[0026] The function of the flap 50, 150 is to indicate clearly the activation or deactivation of the device and prevent any accidental activation thereof. It is in fact evident that the device must not automatically reset a circuit breaker that has been deactivated intentionally, for example in order to work on the line.

[0027] The flap 50, 150 deactivates the device when it is in the open position, shown in Figures 9 and 18, by means of a projection 51, 151, which, when the flap 50, 150 is in the open position, no longer retains a deactivation lever 21 that is associated with the elastic rocker 17, so that the elastic rocker 17 remains, by virtue of the elastic member included therein, in a position in which the contact is open and therefore the circuit is open, so that the microswitch 16 is not supplied with power.

[0028] Therefore, since it is necessary to act on the actuation lever 70 by opening the flap 50, 150 in order to open the contacts of the circuit breaker 101, the opening of the flap automatically deactivates the automatic reset device.

[0029] When the flap is open and the circuit breaker lever is in the open position, it is not possible to close the flap except by first closing the circuit breaker, since as shown more clearly in Figure 17, the projection 151 interferes with the deactivation lever 21. Moreover, it should be noted that the cover also covers the test button of a residual current-operated device, in the closed position, forcing the user to open the cover and then deactivate the system before opening the circuit even if he intends to do so by using the test button.

[0030] The operation of the automatic reset device when activated is now described.

[0031] The steady-state condition of the system is shown in Figures 1 and 2, in which the drum 5, which is rigidly coupled to the drum of the actuation lever of the circuit breaker, is in the position that corresponds to the condition in which the circuit breaker is closed.

[0032] The microswitch 16 is open, since the elastic rocker 17 in fact does not act on the pushbutton 116 of the microswitch 17 and therefore the thermal actuator is deactivated, since the heater 15 does not receive power. The mechanism is in an overtravel position and the actuation spring 9 is not loaded.

[0033] When the circuit breaker trips, the drum 5 rotates clockwise, with reference to the figures, and the locking lever 18 acts on the elastic rocker 17, which actuates the push button 116 of the microswitch 16, accordingly activating the thermal actuator 13.

[0034] In a per se known manner, the heat-sensitive material contained in the body of the thermal actuator, by being heated by the heater 15, pushes outward the piston 14.

[0035] According to the invention, the piston 14 acts on the slider 10, moving it to the left with reference to the figures, until it reaches the position shown in Figures 3 and 4.

[0036] During the motion of the slider, the spring 9 is loaded, because one of its ends is rigidly coupled to the slider and the other end is coupled to the actuation lever 6, which instead remains motionless in the position assumed upon tripping by way of the action of a release lever 22 that is pivoted to the actuation lever 6 and is provided with a tooth 23 that engages a fixed abutment 24 of the casing 2; these components are shown more clearly in Figures 12 and 14.

[0037] When the actuator 13 reaches the end of its stroke, the slider 10 trips the release lever 22, which frees the actuation lever 6 which, by being pulled by the actuation spring 9, acts on the actuation bar 7, turning the drum 5 into the position in which the circuit breaker is again closed.

[0038] The reset time of the circuit breaker depends substantially on the time taken by the thermal actuator to reach the end of its stroke and can be for example approximately 1-1.5 minutes.

[0039] The operating time of the actuator is used in order to obtain a reset delay that is considered ideal, but it is obvious that the delay can be reduced or increased according to the specific requirements by varying the reset mechanism.

[0040] For example, the thermal actuator might be actuated before tripping in order to arm the actuation spring, which would be always loaded and ready to act in order to reset the system instantly or a few seconds after tripping instead of after over one minute, as in the illustrated example.

[0041] System resetting is in this case performed advantageously by means of an external control.

[0042] During the reset stroke of the slider 10, the return spring 11 is loaded, because it is compressed between the fixed abutment 12 and the wall of the slider 10 that moves to the left with reference to Figures 4 and 6.

[0043] The condition in which the circuit breaker is reset is shown in Figures 5 and 6, which also show that the microswitch 16 is open, since the rotation of the drum 5, and therefore of the locking lever 18, has released the elastic rocker 17 and therefore the pushbutton 116 of the microswitch 16.

[0044] Once the actuator 13 has been deactivated, the previously loaded return spring 11 pushes the slider 10 to the right with reference to the figures and therefore also pushes the piston 14 of the thermal actuator, restoring the initial condition shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0045] The device as described above prevents subsequent resetting if, after the first resetting after a first tripping, the system trips immediately after resetting has occurred during a persistent fault. The device in fact enters a lockout mode if the system trips immediately after resetting and no longer performs any resetting unless the operator intervenes manually.

[0046] The reset device can be provided with an additional safety system that prevents the automatic resetting in the presence of an actual and continuous anomaly of the circuit that would make any further reset attempt dangerous.

[0047] The automatic reset device would therefore be provided with an electronic system suitable to detect the fault on the line and to place the reset device in lockout mode, indicating this lockout externally by virtue of a signal that appears at the window 20.

[0048] If the device is provided with an electronic control unit, the mechanical signal can of course be replaced with one or more visual and/or acoustic signals of the electronic type, such as LEDs, buzzers, et cetera, actuated by the auxiliary electronic control circuit.

[0049] Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the lockout condition of the device, in which substantially the microswitch 16 is not operated, preventing the elastic rocker 17 from actuating the pushbutton 116.

[0050] The elastic rocker 17 is locked by the locking lever 25, actuated by means of a pivot, not shown, that is part of the mechanism of the circuit breaker 101 and enters the casing 2 through the slot 26.

[0051] The lockout condition of the device is indicated by means of the indicator lever 19, which is actuated by the locking lever 18, for example by means of a colored indicator that becomes visible through the opening 20.

[0052] The locking lever 25 can be eliminated if the device is applied to a residual current-operated device that does not have a tripped-mode lever and therefore does not act on the locking lever 25.

[0053] In practice, it has been found that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects, a device having been provided which is capable of automatically resetting, after a reasonable time interval, a circuit breaker that has tripped needlessly.

[0054] An important advantage of the invention is due to the use of a simple thermal actuator, which constitutes a reliable and extremely cheap motor, in addition to providing, by its very own nature, an ideal automatic reset time.

[0055] The device according to the invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An automatic reset device for untimely trippings of circuit breakers and electrical safety equipment in general, comprising a mechanism which is adapted to be mechanically associated with a reset member of an electrical device, said mechanism being adapted to automatically reset said electrical device a preset time after tripping, characterized in that said mechanism comprises a wax motor thermal actuator (13) that acts on said mechanism when the electrical device has tripped so that the mechanism resets said electrical device.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a casing (2) that has a standardized shape and forms, at its rear face (3), a means for coupling to an electrical device and to an omega-shaped rail according to DIN standards.

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that said casing has, at its front face, a protrusion (4) in which an actuation drum (5) is positioned, said actuation drum being associated with an actuation lever (6) by means of an actuation bar (7) that is pivoted to the lever (6) and has an end that can slide in a slot (8) of said drum (5).

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises an actuation spring (9) in which one end is fixed to a slider (10), which accommodates said actuation spring (9), and a second end is rigidly associated with said actuation lever (6), said slider (10) accommodating, parallel to said actuation spring, a return spring (11) in which one end abuts against a wall of the slider (10) and the other end abuts against a fixed abutment (12) that is rigidly coupled to said casing.

5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that said thermal actuator (13) is applied to said casing (2) and has an actuation piston (14) that acts on said slider (10); said thermal actuator comprising a heating member (15) that is supplied with power by an electric circuit that comprises a microswitch (16).

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that said microswitch (16) closes or opens said power supply circuit of the heating member (15) of the thermal actuator (13) by way of the action of an elastic rocker (17) that acts on a pushbutton (116) of the microswitch (16).

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that said elastic rocker (17) is actuated by a locking lever (18) that is associated with said drum (5).

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that said locking lever (18) actuates an indicator lever (19) that is associated with the drum (5) at an opening (20) provided in said protrusion (4).

9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that its mechanism is connected to the mechanism of an electrical device (101) by means of a bar that has a triangular cross-section and constitutes the rotation axis of the drum (5), so that the rotation of the drum (5) of the reset device (1) exactly matches the rotation of the drum of the electrical device (101), which is provided with an external actuation lever (70).

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises an oscillating (50) or sliding (150) flap that covers said actuation lever (70) of the electrical device (101) when said flap is in the closed position, in order to clearly indicate the activation or deactivation of the device and prevent any accidental activation thereof.

11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that said flap (50, 150) deactivates the device (1) when it is in the open position by means of a projection (51, 151) which, when said flap (50, 150) is in the open position, does not retain a deactivation lever (21) that is associated with said elastic rocker (17), so that said elastic rocker (17) remains, by means of an elastic member comprised therein, in a position in which the contact is open and therefore the circuit is open, so that said microswitch (16) is not supplied with power.

12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that said flap (50, 150) cannot be moved from its open position to its closed position without first moving to the closed position said lever (70) of said electrical device (101).

13. The device according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises a release lever (22) that is pivoted to said actuation lever (6) and is provided with a tooth (23) that engages a fixed abutment (24) of said casing (2).

14. The device according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises a safety system that prevents automatic resetting in the presence of an actual and continuous anomaly of the circuit that would make any further reset attempt dangerous.

15. The device according to claim 14, characterized in that, in the condition in which the device is in lockout mode, said microswitch (16) is not actuated, preventing said elastic rocker (17) from actuating the pushbutton (116) of the microswitch (16).

16. The device according to claim 15, characterized in that said elastic rocker (17) can be released by virtue of the locking lever (25) actuated by means of a pivot that is part of the mechanism of the electrical device (101) and enters said casing (2) through a slot (26).

17. The device according to claim 16, characterized in that the lockout condition of the device is indicated by means of said indicator lever (19), which is actuated by the locking lever (18), by means of a colored indicator that becomes visible through an opening (20) of said casing (2).

18. The device according to claim 17, characterized in that said safety system comprises an electronic device that adapted to detect the fault on the line and to place said reset device in lockout mode, indicating said lockout mode externally by means of a signal.

Ansprüche

1. Automatische Rückstellvorrichtung für Auslösungen zur falschen Zeit von Leistungsschaltern und einer Sicherheitsausrüstung im allgemeinen, aufweisend einen Mechanismus, der zur mechanischen Verbindung mit einem Rückstellelement einer elektrischen Einrichtung geeignet ist, wobei der Mechanismus geeignet ist, die elektrische Einrichtung nach einer voreingestellten Zeit nach dem Auslösen automatisch zurückzustellen,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass der Mechanismus einen thermischen Wachsmotor-Auslöser (13) aufweist, der auf den Mechanismus einwirkt, wenn die elektrische Einrichtung ausgelöst worden ist, so dass der Mechanismus die elektrische Einrichtung zurückstellt.

2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Vorrichtung ein Gehäuse (2) aufweist, das standardisierte Gestalt und Formen an seiner Rückseite (3) und ein Mittel zur Kopplung an eine elektrische Einrichtung und an eine omega-förmige Schiene gemäß den DIN-Standards hat.

3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Gehäuse an seiner Vorderseite einen Vorsprung (4) hat, in dem eine Antriebstrommel (5) angeordnet ist, wobei die Antriebstrommel mit einem Antriebshebel (6) mittels einer Antriebsstange (7) verbunden ist, die zu dem Hebel (6) schwenkbar ist und ein Ende hat, das in einem Schlitz (8) der Trommel (5) gleiten kann.

4. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Vorrichtung eine Antriebsfeder (9) aufweist, von der ein Ende an einem Gleiter (10), welcher die Antriebsfeder (9) aufnimmt, befestigt ist und ein zweites Ende starr mit dem Antriebshebel (6) verbunden ist, wobei der Gleiter (10) parallel zu der Antriebsfeder eine Rückholfeder (11) aufnimmt, von der ein Ende gegen eine Wand des Gleiters (10) stößt und das andere Ende gegen ein ortsfestes Widerlager (12) stößt, das starr an das Gehäuse gekoppelt ist.

5. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der thermische Auslöser (13) an dem Gehäuse (2) zum Einsatz kommt und einen Antriebskolben (14) hat, der auf den Gleiter (10) einwirkt; der thermische Auslöser weist ein Heizelement (15) auf, das mit Energie durch einen Stromkreis beliefert wird, der einen Mikroschalter (16) aufweist.

6. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Mikroschalter (16) den Energiezuführkreis des Heizelementes (15) des thermischen Auslösers (13) durch die Einwirkung von einem elastischen Kipphebel (17) schließt oder öffnet, der auf einen Druckknopf (116) des Mikroschalters (16) einwirkt.

7. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der elastische Kipphebel (17) durch einen Schließhebel (18) betätigt wird, der mit der Trommel (5) verbunden ist.

8. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Schließhebel (18) einen Anzeigehebel (19) betätigt, der mit der Trommel (5) an einer in dem Vorsprung (4) vorgesehenen Öffnung (20) verbunden ist.

9. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Mechanismus der Vorrichtung mit dem Mechanismus einer elektrischen Einrichtung (101) mittels eines Gestänges verbunden ist, das einen dreieckigen Querschnitt hat und die Drehachse der Trommel (5) bildet, so dass die Drehung der Trommel (5) der Rückstellvorrichtung (1) genau mit der Drehung der Trommel der elektrischen Einrichtung (101) übereinstimmt, welche mit einem äußeren Betätigungshebel (70) versehen ist.

10. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Vorrichtung eine oszillierende (50) oder gleitende (150) Klappe aufweist, die den Betätigungshebel (70) der elektrischen Einrichtung (101) abdeckt, wenn die Klappe in der geschlossenen Position ist, um klar die Aktivierung oder Deaktivierung der Vorrichtung anzuzeigen und jede unbeabsichtigte Aktivierung davon zu verhindern.

11. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Klappe (50, 150), wenn sie in der offenen Position ist, mittels eines Vorsprungs (51, 151) die Vorrichtung (1) deaktiviert, welcher, wenn die Klappe (50, 150) in der offenen Position ist, nicht einen Deaktivierungshebel (21) hält, der mit dem elastischen Kipphebel (17) verbunden ist, so dass der elastische Kipphebel (17) durch ein darin vorhandenes elastisches Element in einer Position verbleibt, in der der Kontakt geöffnet ist und dadurch der Stromkreis geöffnet ist, so dass der Mikroschalter (16) nicht mit Energie beliefert wird.

12. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Klappe (50, 150) nicht von ihrer offenen Position in ihre geschlossene Position bewegt werden kann, ohne dass zuerst der Hebel (70) der elektrischen Einrichtung (101) zu der geschlossenen Position bewegt wird.

13. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 12, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Vorrichtung einen Freigabehebel (22) aufweist, der zu dem Antriebshebel (6) verschwenkbar ist und mit einem Zahn (23) versehen ist, der an einem ortsfesten Widerlager (24) des Gehäuses (2) angreift.

14. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 13, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Vorrichtung ein Sicherheitssystem aufweist, das die automatische Rückstellung beim Vorliegen einer gegenwärtigen und kontinuierlichen Abweichung des Stromkreises verhindert, die jeden weiteren Rückstellungsversuch gefährlich machen würde.

15. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 14, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass in dem Zustand, in dem die Vorrichtung in einem Ausschaltmodus ist, der Mikroschalter (16) nicht betätigt wird, wodurch verhindert wird, dass der elastische Kipphebel (17) den Druckknopf (116) des Mikroschalters (16) betätigt.

16. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 15, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der elastische Kipphebel (17) aufgrund des Schließhebels (25) freigelassen werden kann, der mittels eines Gelenks betätigt wird, das ein Teil des Mechanismus der elektrischen Einrichtung (101) ist, und der in das Gehäuse durch einen Schlitz (26) eintritt.

17. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 16, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Ausschaltzustand der Vorrichtung durch den Anzeigehebel (19), welcher durch den Schließhebel (18) betätigt wird, mittels einer farbigen Anzeige angezeigt wird, welche durch eine Öffnung (20) des Gehäuses (2) sichtbar ist.

18. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 17, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Sicherheitssystem eine elektronische Einrichtung aufweist, die dazu geeignet ist, den Fehler in der Anlage zu erfassen und die Rückstellvorrichtung in den Ausschaltmodus zu setzen, wobei der Ausschaltmodus äußerlich mittels eines Signals angezeigt wird.

Revendications

1. Dispositif de réarmement automatique pour le déclenchement intempestif de disjoncteurs et d'équipements de sécurité électrique en général, comprenant un mécanisme qui est adapté pour être associé mécaniquement à un élément de réarmement d'un dispositif électrique, ledit mécanisme étant adapté pour réarmer automatiquement ledit dispositif électrique un temps prédéterminé après son déclenchement, caractérisé en ce que ledit mécanisme comprend un actionneur thermique à moteur à cire (13) qui agit sur ledit mécanisme lorsque le dispositif électrique s'est déclenché de sorte que le mécanisme réarme ledit dispositif électrique.

2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un boîtier (2) qui a une forme normalisée et qui forme, au niveau de sa face arrière (3), des moyens pour un couplage à un dispositif électrique et à un rail en oméga selon les normes DIN.

3. Dispositif selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que ledit boîtier comporte, au niveau de sa face avant, une protubérance (4) dans laquelle un tambour d'actionnement (5) est positionné, ledit tambour d'actionnement étant associé à un levier d'actionnement (6) au moyen d'une barre d'actionnement (7) qui pivote par rapport au levier (6) et qui a une extrémité qui peut coulisser dans une fente (8) dudit tambour (5).

4. Dispositif selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un ressort d'actionnement (9) dans lequel une première extrémité est fixée à un coulisseau (10), qui reçoit ledit ressort d'actionnement (9), et une deuxième extrémité est associée rigidement audit levier d'actionnement (6), ledit coulisseau (10) recevant, parallèlement audit ressort d'actionnement, un ressort de rappel (11) dans lequel une première extrémité est en butée contre une paroi du coulisseau (10) et l'autre extrémité est en butée contre une butée fixe (12) qui est accouplée rigidement avec ledit boîtier.

5. Dispositif selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que ledit actionneur thermique (13) est appliqué audit boîtier (2) et comporte un piston d'actionnement (14) qui agit sur ledit coulisseau (10) ; ledit actionneur thermique comprenant un élément chauffant (15) qui est alimenté par un circuit électrique qui comprend un micro-commutateur (16).

6. Dispositif selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que ledit micro-commutateur (16) ferme ou ouvre ledit circuit d'alimentation de l'élément chauffant (15) de l'actionneur thermique (13) au moyen de l'action d'un balancier élastique (17) qui agit sur un bouton-poussoir (116) du micro-commutateur (16).

7. Dispositif selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que ledit balancier élastique (17) est actionné par un levier de verrouillage (18) qui est associé audit tambour (5).

8. Dispositif selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que ledit levier de verrouillage (18) actionne un levier d'indicateur (19) qui est associé au tambour (5) au niveau d'une ouverture (20) prévue dans ladite protubérance (4).

9. Dispositif selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que son mécanisme est connecté au mécanisme d'un dispositif électrique (101) au moyen d'une barre qui a une section transversale triangulaire et qui constitue l'axe de rotation du tambour (5), de sorte que la rotation du tambour (5) du dispositif de réarmement (1) corresponde exactement à la rotation du tambour du dispositif électrique (101), qui est pourvu d'un levier d'actionnement externe (70).

10. Dispositif selon la revendication 9, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un volet oscillant (50) ou coulissant (150) qui recouvre ledit levier d'actionnement (70) du dispositif électrique (101) lorsque ledit volet est dans la position fermée, afin d'indiquer clairement l'activation ou la désactivation du dispositif et empêcher toute activation accidentelle de celui-ci.

11. Dispositif selon la revendication 10, caractérisé en ce que ledit volet (50, 150) désactive le dispositif (1) lorsqu'il est dans la position ouverte au moyen d'une protubérance (51, 151) qui, lorsque ledit volet (50, 150) est dans la position ouverte, ne retient pas un levier de désactivation (21) qui est associé audit balancier élastique (17), de sorte que ledit balancier élastique (17) reste, au moyen d'un élément élastique compris dans celui-ci, dans une position dans laquelle le contact est ouvert et, par conséquent, le circuit est ouvert, de sorte que ledit micro-commutateur (16) n'est pas alimenté.

12. Dispositif selon la revendication 11, caractérisé en ce que ledit volet (50, 150) ne peut pas être déplacé de sa position ouverte vers sa position fermée sans déplacer d'abord vers la position fermée ledit levier (70) dudit dispositif électrique (101).

13. Dispositif selon la revendication 12, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un levier de libération (22) qui pivote par rapport audit levier d'actionnement (6) et qui est pourvu d'une dent (23) qui vient en prise avec une butée fixe (24) dudit boîtier (2).

14. Dispositif selon la revendication 13, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un système de sécurité qui empêche un réarmement automatique en présence d'une anomalie réelle et continue du circuit qui rendrait toute tentative de réarmement supplémentaire dangereuse.

15. Dispositif selon la revendication 14, caractérisé en ce que, dans la condition dans laquelle le dispositif est dans un mode de verrouillage, ledit micro-commutateur (16) n'est pas actionné, empêchant ledit balancier élastique (17) d'actionner le bouton-poussoir (116) du micro-commutateur (16).

16. Dispositif selon la revendication 15, caractérisé en ce que ledit balancier élastique (17) peut être libéré du fait de l'actionnement du levier de verrouillage (25) au moyen d'un pivot qui fait partie du mécanisme du dispositif électrique (101) et qui pénètre dans ledit boîtier (2) à travers une fente (26).

17. Dispositif selon la revendication 16, caractérisé en ce que la condition de verrouillage du dispositif est indiquée au moyen dudit levier d'indicateur (19), qui est actionné par le levier de verrouillage (18), au moyen d'un indicateur coloré qui devient visible à travers une ouverture (20) dudit boîtier (2).

18. Dispositif selon la revendication 17, caractérisé en ce que ledit système de sécurité comprend un dispositif électronique qui est adapté pour détecter le défaut sur la ligne et pour mettre ledit dispositif de réarmement dans le mode de verrouillage, indiquant ledit mode de verrouillage extérieurement au moyen d'un signal.

Drawing