TRIP DEVICE AND CIRCUIT BREAKER FOR ELECTRIC WIRING HAVING SAME

Abstract

 According to the present invention, a trip device and a circuit breaker for electric wiring having the same includes: a manipulation lever which rotates between ON/OFF or trip positions; a switching device which has a first elastic member to return the manipulation lever to the ON position; a locking member which stops the manipulation lever in the OFF position; a stator which is made of a conductor such that current can be induced and flow through the inside thereof; a mover which is rotated depending on whether abnormal current occurs to be in contact with or separated from the stator; and a multi-joint link member which releases the stopping of the locking member in cooperation with the manipulation lever, which rotates into the OFF position, when the mover and the stator are welded with each other.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a circuit breaker for electric wiring, and more particularly, to a trip device that allows a manipulation lever capable of ON/OFF manipulation to maintain an ON-state when a movable contact of a mover and a stationary contact of a stator are fused to each other in an abnormal situation, and a circuit breaker for electric wiring including the same.

[Background Art]

[0002] In general, a circuit breaker for electric wiring is an electronic device that automatically breaks a circuit upon electrical overload or short circuit to protect the circuit and a load.

[0003] The circuit breaker for electric wiring generally includes a stationary terminal for connection to a power source and a load, a movable terminal driven to be connected to or separated from the stationary terminal, an interrupter for interrupting an arc generated when a contact is opened, and a trip unit for detecting overcurrent or short current in the power source to guide trip operation of a mechanism.

[0004] Here, it is necessary for a typical trip unit to allow a user to immediately recognize a contact state when contacts between the stator and the mover are fused to each other and to secure safety even upon malfunction of a manipulation lever.

[0005] Documents related to the present invention include Korean Patent No. 10-1085267 (registered on November 14, 2011) which discloses a trip mechanism of a circuit breaker for electric wiring that can reduce a trip operation time.

[Disclosure]

[Technical Problem]

[0006] An aspect of the present invention is to provide a trip device that allows a manipulation lever to maintain an ON-state by resilient force, thereby allowing a user to easily recognize current state of a circuit breaker, when a movable contact of a mover and a stationary contact of a stator are fused to each other, and that can secure safety even upon incorrect manipulation of the manipulation lever, and a circuit breaker for electric wiring including the same.

[Technical Solution]

[0007] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a trip device includes: a shut-down mechanism including a manipulation lever rotated between ON/OFF or trip positions and a first resilient member returning the manipulation lever to an ON position; a locking member latching the manipulation lever at an OFF position; a stator formed of a conductor such that current is induced to flow inwards; a mover rotated to contact or be separated from the stator upon generation of abnormal current; and a multi-articulate link member interlocking with the manipulation lever rotated to the OFF position to release the locking member when the mover and the stator are fused to each other upon generation of abnormal current.

[0008] The link member may may include: a first link connected at one longitudinal end thereof to the mover to interlock with the manipulation lever when the manipulation lever is rotated to an OFF position; a second link connected at one longitudinal end thereof to the other end of the first link to interlock with the first link; and a third link connected at one longitudinal end thereof to the other end of the second link to rotate about a rotational axis in conjunction with the second link.

[0009] The longitudinal ends of the first and second links connected to each other may be bent upwards and may be spread laterally in conjunction with the manipulation lever rotated to the OFF position when the stator and the mover are fused to each other, and the longitudinal end of the third link may be rotated laterally when the second link is spread laterally.

[0010] The third link may be provided at a lower end thereof with a second resilient member applying compressive force to the second link.

[0011] The mover may be provide at one side thereof with a fourth link to which a longitudinal end of the mover is rotatably connected, and the first resilient member may be connected at opposite ends thereof to an opposite end of the fourth link and the manipulation lever.

[0012] When the mover and the stator are fused to each other, the fourth link may be rotated by a predetermined angle to the ON position of the manipulation lever to change an installation angle of the first resilient member.

[0013] When the stator and the mover are not fused, the link member may not interfere with the manipulation lever by interlocking with the mover in conjunction with rotation of the mover.

[0014] The locking member may include: a nail disposed to be rotated in opposite directions and rotated to a latch or release position in conjunction with the multi-articulate link member; a third spring applying resilient force to return the nail to an original position; a latch holder disposed to be rotated in opposite directions and rotated in conjunction with the link member to be released from the manipulation lever when the nail is rotated to the release position in conjunction with the link member; and a fourth spring applying resilient force to return the latch holder to an original position.

[0015] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a circuit breaker for electric wiring including: a housing; and the trip device of claim 1 disposed in the housing is provided.

[Advantageous Effects]

[0016] According to the present invention, when contacts of a mover and a stator are fused to each other due to an abnormal state of a circuit breaker for electric wiring, a manipulation lever can maintain an ON-state such that a user can easily recognize a contact state and can reduce the risk of an accident even upon incorrect manipulation of the manipulation lever.

[Description of Drawings]

[0017] 

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a trip device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of a manipulation lever moved to an ON position in a circuit breaker for electric wiring having a trip device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a view of the manipulation lever moved to an OFF position in the circuit breaker for electric wiring having the trip device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a view of the manipulation lever moved to an ON position when a stator and a mover are fused to each other in the circuit breaker for electric wiring having the trip device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a view of the manipulation lever moved to an OFF position when the stator and the mover are fused to each other in the circuit breaker for electric wiring having the trip device according to the embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 6 is a view of the manipulation lever moved from an OFF position to an ON-position when the stator and the mover are fused to each other in the circuit breaker for electric wiring having the trip device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of Reference Numerals>

10:	Circuit breaker for electric wiring	20:	Housing
30:	Interrupter	31:	Grid
100:	Opening/closing mechanism	110:	Manipulation lever
120:	First resilient member	200:	Locking member
210:	Nail	220:	Latch holder
300:	Stator	310:	Stationary contact
400:	Mover	410:	Movable contact
500:	Link member	510:	First link
520:	Second link	530:	Third link
540:	Fourth link	600:	Second resilient member

[Best Mode]

[0018] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the following embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0020] However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and may be embodied in different ways, and that the embodiments are provided for complete disclosure and thorough understanding of the invention by those skilled in the art. The scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims.

[0021] In a detailed description of the present invention, description of details apparent to those skilled in the art will be omitted for clarity.

[0022] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a trip device according to one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a view of a manipulation lever moved to an ON position in a circuit breaker for electric wiring having a trip device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a view of the manipulation lever moved to an OFF position in the circuit breaker for electric wiring having the trip device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Fig. 4 is a view of the manipulation lever moved to an ON position when a stator and a mover are fused to each other in the circuit breaker for electric wiring having the trip device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Fig. 5 is a view of the manipulation lever moved to an OFF position when the stator and the mover are fused to each other in the circuit breaker for electric wiring having the trip device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Fig. 6 is a view of the manipulation lever moved from an OFF position to an ON-position when the stator and the mover are fused to each other in the circuit breaker for electric wiring having the trip device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Referring to Fig. 1, a trip device according to one embodiment of the invention includes a shut-down mechanism 100, a locking member 200, a stator 300, a mover 400, and a link member 500.

[0027] As shown in Figs. 2 to 6, a circuit breaker 1 for electric wiring having a trip device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a housing 20, an interrupter 30, a shut-down mechanism 100, a locking member 200, a stator 300, a mover 400, and a link member 500.

[0028] The interrupter 30 is disposed within the housing 20 and is formed of a ferromagnetic metal. The interrupter 31 includes a plurality of grids 31.

[0029] The stator 300 and the interrupter 30 may be integrally assembled and may be disposed within the housing 20 formed of an insulating material.

[0030] Here, the interrupter 30 is well known in the art and will not be described in detail.

[0031] The shut-down mechanism 10 is adapted to rotate the mover 400 to an ON/OFF or trip position.

[0032] The shut-down mechanism 100 includes a manipulation lever 110 rotated between the ON/OFF or trip positions, and a first resilient member 120 returning the manipulation lever 110 to an ON position.

[0033] The manipulation lever 110 is provided at a lower end thereof with a rotary shaft coupled to an inner upper end of the housing 20 described below.

[0034] The manipulation lever 110 is provided at an upper end thereof with a knob with respect to the rotary shaft at the lower end thereof such that the knob can be rotated to the ON/OFF or trip position.

[0035] That is, when the manipulation lever 110 is rotated to the ON position, a movable contact 410 of the mover 400 described below is brought into contact with a stationary contact of the stator 300.

[0036] On the other hand, when the manipulation lever 110 is rotated to an OFF position, the movable contact 410 of the mover 400 is separated from the stationary contact 310 of the stator 300.

[0037] The first resilient member 120 is connected at one end thereof to an upper end of the manipulation lever 110, and connected at a lower end thereof to a longitudinal end of a fourth link 540 described below.

[0038] Of course, the first resilient member 120 may be directly connected to one end of the mover 400.

[0039] The locking member 200 is disposed at an inner upper end of the housing 20 described below, and provides a latch structure for latching the manipulation lever 110 at the OFF position.

[0040] The locking member 200 may include a nail 210 disposed at one side of the manipulation lever 110 and a latch holder 220.

[0041] Here, the nail 210 is disposed to be rotated in opposite directions, and interlocks with a multi-articulate link member 500 to be rotated to a latch or release position.

[0042] The latch holder 220 is disposed to be rotated in opposite directions, and interlocks with the link member 500 such that, when the nail 210 is rotated to a release position, the latch holder 220 is rotated in conjunction with the nail 210 to be released from the manipulation lever 110.

[0043] To this end, the manipulation lever 110 may further include a latch 230 for pushing and rotating the latch holder 220 in the clockwise direction, or for maintaining a latch state with the latch holder 220 during normal operation thereof.

[0044] The manipulation lever 110 may further include a third spring (not shown) applying resilient force to return the nail 210 to an original position, and a fourth spring (not shown) applying resilient force to return the latch holder 220 to an original position.

[0045] Here, the third spring may be a coil spring applying compressive force. The fourth spring may be a torsion spring coupled to a rotary shaft of the latch holder 220.

[0046] That is, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, when the manipulation lever 110 is rotated to the OFF position in a state in which the stator 300 and the mover 400 are fused to each other, the nail 210 interlocks with the third link 530 described below to be rotated in the clockwise direction.

[0047] Then, the latch holder 220 interlocking with the manipulation lever 110 is rotated in the clockwise direction to be released from the manipulation lever 110.

[0048] Since the manipulation lever 110 is released in this state, the manipulation lever 110 released by resilient force of the first resilient member 120 returns to the ON position.

[0049] The stator 300 is fixed to an inner lower end of the housing 20 described below and may be a conductor such that electric current is induced to flow inwards.

[0050] Here, the stator 300 is disposed to correspond to opposite vertical directions such that the vertical directions thereof do not meet.

[0051] The mover 400 is rotated to the stator 300 and an ON/OFF or trip position upon generation of abnormal current.

[0052] To this end, a rotary shaft formed at one end of the body 2 of the mover 400 is rotatably coupled at one end thereof to the housing 20 and an opposite end of the rotary shaft selectively forms a contact with the stator 300 to limit current.

[0053] A stationary contact 310 and a movable contact 410 are brazed to the stator 300 and the mover 400, respectively.

[0054] A rear end of the stationary contact 310 is embossed to function as an arc runner (not shown).

[0055] When the mover 400 and the stator are fused to each other, the multi-articulate member 500 interlocks with the manipulation lever 110 rotated to the OFF position to release the locking member 200.

[0056] Here, the link member 500 includes a first link 510, which is connected at one longitudinal end thereof to the mover 400 to interlock with the manipulation lever 110 when the manipulation lever 110 is rotated to the OFF position.

[0057] The link member 500 further includes a second link 520, which is connected at one longitudinal end thereof to the other end of the first link 510 to interlock with the first link 510.

[0058] The link member 500 further includes a third link 530, which is connected at one longitudinal end thereof to the other end of the second link 520 to rotate about a rotational axis in conjunction with the second link, and which pushes and releases the locking member 200 at the other end of the third link 530 rotated in an opposite direction.

[0059] The longitudinal ends of the first link 510 and the second link 520 connected to each other are bent upwards.

[0060] In this state, when the stator 300 and the mover 400 are fused to each other, the first link 510 and the second link 520 interlock each other to be spread laterally by the manipulation lever 110 rotated to the OFF position.

[0061] When the second link 520 is spread laterally, the longitudinal end of the third link 530 is rotated laterally and the other end of the third link 530 may push one end of the locking member 200 to release the locking member 200.

[0062] The third link 530 may be provide at a lower end thereof with a second resilient member 600 applying compressive force to the second link 520.

[0063] The second resilient member 600 applies compressive force returning the first link 510, the second link 520, and the third link 530 to their original positions when the manipulation lever 110 is rotated to the ON position.

[0064] Conversely, when the stator 300 and the mover 400 are normally operated, the link member 500 does not interfere with the manipulation lever 110 as the link member 500 is rotated in conjunction with the rotation of the mover 400.

[0065] That is, the link member 500 interlocks with the manipulation lever 110 only when the stationary contact of the stator 300 and the movable contact 410 of the mover 400 are fused to each other.

[0066] The mover 400 may be provided at one side thereof with a fourth link 540, to which a longitudinal end of the mover 400 is rotatably connected.

[0067] The first resilient member 120 is connected at opposite ends thereof to the other end of the fourth link 540 and the manipulation lever 110 to apply tensile force, respectively.

[0068] When the mover 400 and the stator 300 are fused to each other, the fourth link 540 is rotated by a predetermined angle to the ON position of the manipulation lever 110 to change an installation angle of the first resilient member 120.

[0069] As a result, the present invention can maintain the ON position of the manipulation lever 110 even when the contacts between the mover 400 and the stator 300 are fused to each other by an abnormal state of the circuit breaker 1 for electric wiring.

[0070] Thus, a user can easily recognize an abnormal state of the contact and can decrease the risk of an accident even upon incorrect manipulation of the manipulation lever.

[0071] Although some embodiments have been disclosed above, it should be understood that various modifications, changes, alterations and equivalent embodiments can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope and sprit of the invention should be defined only by the accompanying claims and equivalents thereof.

[0072] That is, it should be understood that these embodiments are provided for illustration only and are not to be construed in any way as limiting the present invention, and that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the accompanying claims. All modifications, changes, and alterations deduced from the claims and their equivalents fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A trip device comprising:

a shut-down mechanism including a manipulation lever rotated between ON/OFF or trip positions and a first resilient member returning the manipulation lever to an ON position;

a locking member latching the manipulation lever at an OFF position;

a stator formed of a conductor such that current is induced to flow inwards;

a mover rotated to contact or be separated from the stator upon generation of abnormal current; and

a multi-articulate link member interlocking with the manipulation lever rotated to the OFF position to release the locking member when the mover and the stator are fused to each other upon generation of abnormal current.

2. The trip device according to claim 1, wherein the link member comprises:

a first link connected at one longitudinal end thereof to the mover to interlock with the manipulation lever when the manipulation lever is rotated to the OFF position;

a second link connected at one longitudinal end thereof to the other end of the first link to interlock with the first link; and

a third link connected at one longitudinal end thereof to the other end of the second link to rotate about a rotational axis in conjunction with the second link.

3. The trip device according to claim 2, wherein the longitudinal ends of the first and second links connected to each other are bent upwards and are spread laterally in conjunction with the manipulation lever rotated to the OFF position when the stator and the mover are fused to each other, and the longitudinal end of the third link is rotated laterally when the second link is spread laterally.

4. The trip device according to claim 2, wherein the third link is provided at a lower end thereof with a second resilient member applying compressive force to the second link.

5. The trip device according to claim 1, wherein the mover is provide at one side thereof with a fourth link to which a longitudinal end of the mover is rotatably connected, and the first resilient member is connected at opposite ends thereof to an opposite end of the fourth link and the manipulation lever, respectively.

6. The trip device according to claim 5, wherein, when the mover and the stator are fused to each other, the fourth link is rotated by a predetermined angle to the ON position of the manipulation lever to change an installation angle of the first resilient member.

7. The trip device according to claim 1, wherein, when the stator and the mover are not fused, the link member does not interfere with the manipulation lever by interlocking with the mover in conjunction with rotation of the mover.

8. The trip device according to claim 1, wherein the locking member comprises:

a nail disposed to be rotated in opposite directions and rotated to a latch or release position in conjunction with the multi-articulate link member;

a third spring applying resilient force to return the nail to an original position;

a latch holder disposed to be rotated in opposite directions and rotated in conjunction with the link member to be released from the manipulation lever when the nail is rotated to the release position in conjunction with the link member; and

a fourth spring applying resilient force to return the latch holder to an original position.

9. A circuit breaker for electric wiring comprising:

a housing; and

the trip device of claim 1 disposed in the housing.

Drawing