EP3232459A1 - Electric line protection apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Electrical line protection apparatus, of the differential switch type, comprising: - A rotary contact carrier (8), at least one fixed contact, at least one movable contact fixed to the contact carrier (8) rotatable, a control handle (9) of the at least one movable contact; - A mechanical lock adapted to switch by causing the opening / closing of the contacts following a manual action on the handle (9); - A cut-off device controlled by the handle (9), said handle (9) being connected to the contact holder (8) via the mechanical lock; a differential tripping device (1), of the differential relay type. The mechanical lock comprises a first kinematic for opening the contacts following a manual action on the handle (9) and a second kinematic for the opening of the contacts following a differential trigger, said two kinematics being decorrelated one of the other so as to reset the differential tripping device (1) only during the implementation of the second kinematics.

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to an electrical line protection device of the differential switch type (RCCB). This type of device is designed in particular to cut low levels of short-circuit current, and to trigger in case of differential fault.

• un porte-contact rotatif, au moins un contact fixe, au moins un contact mobile fixé au porte-contact rotatif, une manette de commande du au moins un contact mobile ;
• une serrure mécanique apte à basculer en entraînant l'ouverture/fermeture des contacts suite à une action manuelle sur la manette ;
• un dispositif de coupure commandé par la manette de commande entraînant ledit contact mobile à distance ou vers un contact fixe, ladite manette étant reliée au porte-contact par l'intermédiaire de la serrure mécanique ;
• un dispositif de déclenchement différentiel, du type relais différentiel, apte à faire basculer la serrure mécanique pour ouvrir les contacts en cas d'apparition d'un défaut différentiel sur la ligne, et apte à être réarmé après le déclenchement par la serrure.

The electrical line protection device according to the invention, of the differential switch type, comprises conventionally:

• a rotary contact carrier, at least one fixed contact, at least one movable contact fixed to the rotary contact carrier, a control handle of the at least one movable contact;
• a mechanical lock adapted to tilt by causing the opening / closing of the contacts following a manual action on the joystick;
• a cut-off device controlled by the control lever driving said movable contact at a distance or towards a fixed contact, said lever being connected to the contact-holder by means of the mechanical lock;
• a differential release device, of the differential relay type, capable of tilting the mechanical lock to open the contacts in case of appearance of a differential fault on the line, and adapted to be reset after triggering by the lock.

There is a precise and sensitive mechanism housed inside the differential relay. It is generally a magnetic circuit composed of a movable pallet driven at a distance or against polar surfaces of a fixed armature. These polar surfaces are rectified to obtain a high accuracy in the operation of the relay. In the case of a differential relay, when the pallet is positioned on the armature, it is said closed or armed, and when the pallet is remote from the armature, it is said open or triggered.

Polar surfaces are highly stressed in the electrical apparatus. They are particularly requested at each relay reset, which occurs after a differential trip, and which also occurs during each manipulation of the joystick to open the contacts. In the latter case, since it is a manual manipulation without differential tripping has occurred previously, the relay is already armed, and the lock comes to "force" the resetting of the relay causing vibrations and friction of the movable pallet on the polar surfaces, and causing premature wear of the polar surfaces.

This wear modifies the air gap between the movable pallet and a first of the polar surfaces on one side, and between the movable pallet and a second one of the polar surfaces on the other side.

If the air gap increases, we will see a drift of the relay power down because the pallet is farther away from the polar surface than it should be. This downward drift means that the relay then needs less power to trigger, and the relay will even end up triggering itself without a differential fault. The device is then non-functional, and it will no longer be possible to reset the lock.

If the air gap decreases, we will see a drift of the relay power up because the pallet is closer to the polar surface than it should be. This upward drift means that the relay then needs more power to trigger, and the relay will even end up no longer trigger because the power needed is too important. The device is dangerous because it can no longer protect people against differential faults.

In addition, the friction of the movable pallet on the polar surfaces creates pollution that covers the polar surfaces, and the relay will then tend to trigger untimely.

When an appliance is put on sale, it has already undergone a few endurance cycles with openings and closings of the contacts via manual actions on the controller. The apparatus considered new then has a relay already used by these endurance cycles. In the long term, the end of life of the device is dictated by the end of life of the relay which is the most fragile component, while the device itself, out of relay, could still work for years.

State of the art

The solution currently implemented is to declare a limited cycle number for the device. The user will know that beyond this number of cycles, the device may be faulty. This solution does not solve the technical problem mentioned above, and is not satisfactory.

Summary of the invention

The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, by providing an electrical line protection apparatus comprising a differential tripping device that provides effective protection against differential faults, and which is not a point of weakness for the duration general life of the device.

• un porte-contact rotatif, au moins un contact fixe, au moins un contact mobile fixé au porte-contact rotatif, une manette de commande du au moins un contact mobile ;
• une serrure mécanique apte à basculer en entraînant l'ouverture/fermeture des contacts suite à une action manuelle sur la manette ;
• un dispositif de coupure commandé par la manette de commande entraînant ledit contact mobile à distance ou vers un contact fixe, ladite manette étant reliée au porte-contact par l'intermédiaire de la serrure mécanique ;
• un dispositif de déclenchement différentiel, du type relais différentiel, apte à faire basculer la serrure mécanique pour ouvrir les contacts en cas d'apparition d'un défaut différentiel sur la ligne, et apte à être réarmé après le déclenchement par la serrure ;

The invention thus relates to an electrical line protection apparatus, of the differential switch type, comprising:

• a rotary contact carrier, at least one fixed contact, at least one movable contact fixed to the rotary contact carrier, a control handle of the at least one movable contact;
• a mechanical lock adapted to tilt by causing the opening / closing of the contacts following a manual action on the joystick;
• a cut-off device controlled by the control lever driving said movable contact at a distance or towards a fixed contact, said lever being connected to the contact-holder by means of the mechanical lock;
• a differential release device, of the differential relay type, capable of tilting the mechanical lock to open the contacts in case of appearance of a differential defect on the line, and adapted to be reset after the release by the lock;

This apparatus is mainly characterized in that it comprises a first kinematic for the opening of the contacts following a manual action on the handle and a second kinematic for the opening of the contacts following a differential trigger, said two kinematics being decorrelated from each other so as to reset the differential tripping device only during the implementation of the second kinematics.

For the purpose of the present invention, the kinematic term must be understood or must be understood as being a mechanical system producing a kinematic or motion chain or as being a kinematic system or a kinematic mechanism.

The idea underlying the invention is to reduce the solicitations of the differential tripping device by the lock, rather than asking users to count down the number of cycles.

It is therefore a totally different approach compared to what is currently practiced in differential switches.

Indeed, when the joystick goes from its ON position (closed contacts) to its OFF position (open contacts) following a manual action, no reset must be made on the differential tripping device, since it is by definition already armed .

In the present invention, a reset is performed after and only after a differential trip. In no other case is the differential tripping device biased.

This new operation of the device makes it possible to drastically reduce the occurrences of solicitations of the differential tripping device. Moreover, the differential faults are rather rare in the life of a device, the differential release device wears only very little, and therefore no longer a weak link in the device. Therefore it no longer contributes to the obsolescence of the device, the life of the latter being significantly lengthened.

Advantageously, this new operation of the device uses conventional parts of a lock, but with some adaptations and modifications of parts to obtain two different kinematics of the lock depending on the type of trigger. The first kinematic is implemented for a manual triggering of the device following a manual action performed directly on the joystick, while the second kinematic is implemented for an automatic differential trigger following the appearance of a differential defect on a line. The same parts are used in both kinematics, but have different movements depending on the type of trigger. And in particular, only the second kinematic resets the differential tripping device. The first kinematic does not act on the differential tripping device.

Thus, only the second kinematics comprises a mechanism for resetting the differential tripping device.

This reset mechanism is adapted to be activated by a transfer of energy from the contact carrier, said energy being created when the contacts are closed and restored when the contacts are opened. Indeed, when closing the contacts, the springs associated with the contact carrier compress and store energy. During a differential trip, the second kinematics starts, and causes the movement of the contact carrier so as to move the movable contact of the fixed contact. During this movement, the springs of the contact carrier relax and return this energy to the reset mechanism to implement the resetting of the differential tripping device.

More specifically, said differential tripping device comprises a movable tripping pusher between a retracted position when the differential tripping device is armed, and an output position when the differential tripping device has just tripped, said resetting mechanism being solicited. when the pusher takes the extended position and allowing the pusher to move from the extended position to the retracted position.

Thus, the reset mechanism engages by the exit of the pusher, and generates a succession of training movements which ultimately cause the retraction of the pusher.

• ledit mécanisme de réarmement comporte :
  • ∘ une bascule apte à tourner dans un premier sens de rotation suite à la sortie du poussoir ;
  • ∘ un moyen mécanique d'inversion du sens de rotation de la bascule de manière à ce qu'elle fasse rentrer le poussoir.
• ledit moyen mécanique d'inversion du sens de rotation de la bascule comporte :
  • ∘ un cliquet rotatif entraîné par la bascule lors de son pivotement dans le premier sens de rotation ;
  • ∘ un déclencheur rotatif entraîné par le cliquet ;
  • ∘ au moins une bielle ;
  • ∘ un élément ressort entraîné par le déclencheur et venant en appui sur la bascule.
• suite à un déclenchement différentiel, le déclencheur pivote et exerce une force sur l'élément ressort de manière à faire pivoter la bascule dans un second sens de rotation pour faire rentrer le poussoir.
• ladite force exercée sur l'élément ressort provient de l'énergie du porte-contact transmise au déclencheur via la au moins une bielle.
• ledit pivotement du déclencheur entraîne l'ouverture des contacts via ladite bielle et le porte-contact.
• ledit déclencheur comporte un premier bras apte à coopérer avec le cliquet et un second bras apte à coopérer avec l'élément ressort.
• l'élément ressort comporte une première extrémité libre apte à être entraînée par le second bras du déclencheur et une seconde extrémité libre apte à venir en appui sur la bascule pour faire rentrer le poussoir.
• le cliquet comporte une patte apte à coopérer avec la bascule et une saillie apte à retenir le premier bras du déclencheur en fonctionnement normal de l'appareil et apte à libérer le premier bras du déclencheur lors d'un déclenchement différentiel entraînant la libération de l'énergie en provenance du porte-contact pour faire pivoter le déclencheur.
• dans sa rotation lors d'un déclenchement différentiel, ledit déclencheur, sur un premier secteur angulaire, entraîne en mouvement le porte-contact via au moins une bielle pour ouvrir les contacts, et, sur un second secteur angulaire consécutif au premier secteur angulaire, est entraîné par l'énergie du porte-contact via la bielle pour exercer une force sur l'élément ressort pour réarmer le dispositif de déclenchement différentiel.
• le déclencheur a un mouvement de rotation sur le premier secteur angulaire lorsque le poussoir passe de sa position rentrée à sa position sortie.
• le déclencheur a un mouvement de rotation sur le second secteur angulaire lorsque le poussoir passe de sa position sortie à sa position rentrée.
• l'appareil comporte un jeu de bielles entre la manette, le porte-contact, et le mécanisme de réarmement.
• la manette change de position lors d'un déclenchement différentiel sous l'action d'un ressort de manette activé suite au déplacement du porte-contact.

According to different aspects of the invention, which may be taken together or separately:

• said reset mechanism comprises:
  • A rocker adapted to rotate in a first direction of rotation following the exit of the pusher;
  • Mechanical means for reversing the direction of rotation of the rocker so that it makes the pusher enter.
• said mechanical means for reversing the direction of rotation of the rocker comprises:
  • A rotary pawl driven by the rocker when pivoted in the first direction of rotation;
  • ∘ a rotary actuator driven by the ratchet;
  • ∘ at least one connecting rod;
  • ∘ a spring element driven by the trigger and pressing on the rocker.
• following a differential release, the trigger rotates and exerts a force on the spring element so as to rotate the rocker in a second direction of rotation to retract the pusher.
• said force exerted on the spring element comes from the energy of the contact carrier transmitted to the trigger via the at least one connecting rod.
• said pivoting of the release causes the opening of the contacts via said connecting rod and the contact carrier.
• said trigger comprises a first arm adapted to cooperate with the pawl and a second arm adapted to cooperate with the spring element.
• the spring element comprises a first free end adapted to be driven by the second arm of the release and a second free end adapted to bear on the rocker to retract the pusher.
• the pawl comprises a tab adapted to cooperate with the rocker and a projection adapted to retain the first arm of the trigger in normal operation of the device and able to release the first arm of the trigger during a differential trigger causing the release of the energy from the contact carrier to rotate the trigger.
• in its rotation during a differential trip, said trigger, on a first angular sector, moves the contact carrier via at least one connecting rod to open the contacts, and, on a second angular sector consecutive to the first angular sector, is driven by the energy of the contact carrier via the connecting rod to exert a force on the spring element to reset the differential trip device.
• the trigger has a rotational movement on the first angular sector when the pusher passes from its retracted position to its extended position.
• the trigger has a rotational movement on the second angular sector when the pusher goes from its extended position to its retracted position.
• the apparatus comprises a set of connecting rods between the handle, the contact carrier, and the reset mechanism.
• the joystick changes position during a differential trip under the action of an activated joystick spring following the movement of the contact carrier.

Presentation of figures

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more clearly apparent in the following detailed explanatory description of at least one embodiment of the invention given to As a purely illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

• la figure 1 est une vue éclatée en perspective des pièces participant aux deux cinématiques de la serrure de l'appareil selon l'invention ;
• les figures 2 à 12 montrent en perspective un appareil selon l'invention avec la serrure dans différentes positions. L'appareil est illustré sans son boîtier de protection afin de laisser apparaître les différentes pièces participant aux deux cinématiques de la serrure. Les figures 2 à 4 montrent les étapes d'un désarmement manuel de l'appareil, les figures 4 à 6 montrent les étapes d'un armement manuel de l'appareil, et les figures 7 à 12 montrent les étapes d'un déclenchement différentiel de l'appareil avec un réarmement de son dispositif de déclenchement différentiel.

On these drawings:

• the figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the parts involved in the two kinematics of the lock of the apparatus according to the invention;
• the Figures 2 to 12 show in perspective an apparatus according to the invention with the lock in different positions. The device is shown without its protective case to reveal the different parts involved in the two kinematics of the lock. The Figures 2 to 4 show the steps involved in manually disarming the device, Figures 4 to 6 show the steps involved in manually arming the device, and Figures 7 to 12 show the steps of a differential tripping of the apparatus with a resetting of its differential tripping device.

detailed description

With reference to the figure 1 , are represented the various parts that participate in the two kinematics of the lock of the apparatus according to the invention.

In the foreground is visible the contact carrier 8 which consists of an assembly carrying movable contacts 8a. In this example, there are four movable contacts 8a, the electrical apparatus being four-pole. These movable contacts 8a are moved remotely or against fixed contacts 8b, also four in number, against contact springs 8c tending to move the movable contacts 8a away from the fixed contacts 8b. When closing the contacts, the contact carrier 8 moves against at least one contact carrier spring 8d which then compresses. When opening the contacts, this contact carrier spring 8d and the contact springs relax.

The contact carrier 8 is connected to a joystick 9 for controlling the contacts via a first connecting rod 7 and a second connecting rod 6. The lever 9 is movable in rotation between an ON position where the contacts are closed, and an OFF position where the contacts are open. These connecting rods 6,7 make it possible to transmit the rotational movement of the lever 9 towards the contact carrier 8 so that it opens or closes the contacts. The first rod 7 is pivotally connected at its first end 7a with the contact carrier 8, and in pivot connection at its second end 7b with a first end 6a of the second connecting rod 6, the latter being in pivot connection at its second end 6b with the lever 9. More precisely, the lever 9 has a protrusion 9b inside which is a housing accommodating the second end 6b swivel of the second connecting rod 6. This housing is offset with respect to the axis 9a of rotation (better visible in figure 2 ) of the controller 9.

In the background is visible a differential tripping device 1 corresponding to a relay 1 differential. This relay 1 conventionally consists of a magnetic circuit, with a fixed frame generally U-shaped, and a movable paddle attracted magnetically by the armature and adapted to come into contact with the ends of the two branches of the U. These ends are commonly called polar surfaces. The pallet may be mobile in rotation or mobile in translation. It is associated with a pusher that translates between a retracted position, in this case the pallet is in contact with the polar surfaces and the relay 1 is armed, and an output position, in this case the pallet is at a distance from the polar surfaces and the relay 1 is triggered.

• une bascule 2 pivotante montée au voisinage du relais 1, et contre laquelle vient s'appuyer le poussoir (non visible) du relais 1 lorsqu'il sort, c'est-à-dire lorsqu'il passe de sa position rentrée à sa position sortie ;
• un cliquet 3 mobile en rotation autour d'un arbre 3d saillant d'une paroi 10 fixe de l'appareil, et comportant :
  • ∘ un noyau 3a central creux dans lequel est introduit ledit arbre 3d
  • ∘ une patte 3b s'étendant depuis le noyau 3a central, présentant une forme en L et dont l'extrémité libre vient se positionner en vis-à-vis de la bascule 2 ; le poussoir du relais 1 agissant sur une première face 2a de la bascule 2, et la patte 3b du cliquet 3 agissant sur une seconde face 2b de la bascule 2, opposée à la première face 2a
  • ∘ une saillie 3c s'étendant depuis le noyau 3a central, et remplissant la fonction de butée pour retenir la pièce suivante de la chaîne cinématique, c'est-à-dire le déclencheur 4 ;
• un déclencheur 4 mobile en rotation autour d'un arbre 4d saillant de ladite paroi 10 fixe de l'appareil, et comportant :
  • ∘ un noyau 4a central creux dans lequel est introduit ledit arbre 4d
  • ∘ un premier bras 4b s'étendant depuis le noyau 4a central et coopérant avec ladite saillie 3c du cliquet 3
  • ∘ un second bras 4c s'étendant depuis le noyau 4a central et coopérant avec un élément ressort 11
  • ∘ une protubérance 4f (mieux visible en figure 10) s'étendant depuis le noyau 4a central et présentant un trou traversant dans lequel est logé un axe 4e de pivotement
• une troisième bielle 5 en liaison pivot au niveau de sa première extrémité 5a avec la seconde extrémité 7b de la première bielle 7 reliée au porte-contact 8, et en liaison pivot au niveau de sa seconde extrémité 5b avec l'axe 4e du déclencheur 4.

This relay 1 is linked to the contact carrier 8 via the following kinematic chain:

• a pivoting rocker 2 mounted in the vicinity of the relay 1, and against which is pressed the pusher (not visible) of the relay 1 when it leaves, that is to say when it goes from its retracted position to its position exit ;
• a pawl 3 movable in rotation about a tree 3d protruding from a fixed wall 10 of the apparatus, and comprising:
  • A central core 3a hollow in which is introduced said 3d tree
  • A tab 3b extending from the central core 3a, having an L shape and whose free end is positioned in relation to the rocker 2; the pusher of the relay 1 acting on a first face 2a of the latch 2, and the tab 3b of the pawl 3 acting on a second face 2b of the latch 2, opposite the first face 2a
  • A projection 3c extending from the central core 3a, and fulfilling the stop function to retain the next piece of the drive train, that is to say the trigger 4;
• a trigger 4 movable in rotation about a shaft 4d protruding from said fixed wall 10 of the apparatus, and comprising:
  • A central core 4a hollow in which is introduced said shaft 4d
  • A first arm 4b extending from the central core 4a and cooperating with said projection 3c of the pawl 3
  • A second arm 4c extending from the central core 4a and cooperating with a spring element 11
  • ∘ a protuberance 4f (better visible in figure 10 ) extending from the central core 4a and having a through hole in which is housed a pivot axis 4e
• a third rod 5 pivotally connected at its first end 5a with the second end 7b of the first rod 7 connected to the contact carrier 8, and pivotally connected at its second end 5b with the axis 4e of the trigger 4 .

Thus, when the pusher of the relay 1 goes from its retracted position to its extended position, intervene successively the latch 2, the pawl 3, the trigger 4 and the third connecting rod 5 to transmit the differential tripping information to the contact carrier 8 and thus open the contacts.

To reset relay 1, an additional part is needed. This is the spring element 11 mentioned above. This spring element 11 consists in this example of a helical spring 11, but could quite correspond to a flexible blade or to any other form of spring 11. It comprises a first free end 11a adapted to be driven by the second arm 4c of the trigger 4, and a second free end 11b adapted to bear on the second face 2b of the rocker 2 to rotate it to enter the pusher. It is the action of the trigger 4 on the first free end 11a of the spring 11 which allows to pivot the spring 11 and in particular to rotate the second free end 11b of the spring 11 to reset the relay 1 by returning the pusher.

The latch 2, the pawl 3, the trigger 4, and the spring 11 form the reset mechanism of the relay 1.

On the Figures 2 to 6 , will be presented the implementation of a first kinematic lock of the device, during a conventional operation of the control lever 9, between its ON position and its OFF position, then again its ON position. This kinematics thus corresponds to a manual disarming of the device with an opening of the contacts then to a manual arming of the device with a closing of the contacts for establish the flow of the current. In this kinematics, relay 1 and its resetting mechanism are not solicited, since they are only manual actions performed on the device.

In figure 2 , the handle 9 of the device is in the ON position, that is to say directed to the left in the figure, and the contacts are closed.

Relay 1 is armed, and the pusher is in the retracted position. The rocker 2 is pressed against the pusher of the relay 1 and held in place with a certain clearance by the tab 3b of the pawl 3.

The projection 3c of the pawl 3 blocks the first arm 4b of the trigger 4 in the raised position. The second arm 4c of the trigger 4 is at a distance from the first free end 11a of the spring 11 and therefore does not exert any action on the spring 11.

The pushbutton of the relay 1, the rocker 2, the pawl 3, the trigger 4, and the spring 11 do not move during the opening and closing of the contacts manually. The trigger 4 is never in contact with the spring 11.

When an operator actuates the handle 9 to disarm the apparatus, that is to say the movement to the right, the protuberance 9b accommodating the second end 6b of the second connecting rod 6 pivots clockwise about the axis of rotation 9a of the lever 9, driving the second connecting rod 6 upwards, as illustrated in FIG. figure 3 . The second connecting rod 6 in turn drives up the second end 7b of the first connecting rod 7 and the first end 5a of the third connecting rod 5. The angle between the first rod 7 and the third rod 5 becomes more and more acute, until the joystick 9 reaches the end of its travel on its right, as illustrated in FIG. figure 4 , which corresponds to the OFF position.

During this movement, the first link 7 drives the contact carrier 8 in rotation in the clockwise direction, causing the movable contacts 8a to move away from the fixed contacts 8b: the contacts are then open.

In the same way, the operator actuates the lever 9 to rearm the apparatus by moving it to the left, the protuberance 9b accommodating the second end 6b of the second connecting rod 6 pivots counterclockwise about the axis of rotation 9a of the handle 9, driving the second connecting rod 6 downwards, as illustrated in FIG. figure 5 . The second connecting rod 6 in turn drives down the second end 7b of the first connecting rod 7 and the first end 5a of the third connecting rod 5. The angle between the first 7 and the third rod 5 becomes more and more obtuse, until the lever 9 reaches the end of its race on its left, as illustrated in FIG. figure 6 , which corresponds to the ON position. The figure 6 and the figure 2 are the same.

During this movement, the first link 7 drives the contact carrier 8 in rotation in the counterclockwise direction, causing the movable contacts 8a to approach the fixed contacts 8b until they close.

During this opening and closing of the contacts manually, the second end 5b of the third link 5 has remained stationary relative to the rotation shaft 4d of the trigger 4, and has simply constituted a pivot point. Thus the trigger 4 has also remained motionless. No forced reset of relay 1 took place during the implementation of this first kinematics.

On the Figures 7 to 12 , will be presented the implementation of a second kinematic of the lock of the device, during a differential trigger operated by the relay 1, leading to the opening of the contacts, followed by a reset of the relay 1, the contacts remaining open.

In figure 7 , the device is in the same configuration as Figures 2 and 6 , that is to say with the lever 9 in the ON position, and the contacts closed.

When a differential fault occurs on a line, the magnetic circuit of relay 1 is modified and the fixed armature no longer exerts enough magnetic attraction to keep the movable pallet in contact with the polar surfaces. Under the action of a spring for example, the movable pallet deviates from the fixed armature and the pusher thus passes from its retracted position to its extended position. Relay 1 operated a differential trip.

On leaving, the pusher pushes on the first face 2a of the rocker 2 so as to rotate it clockwise, as illustrated in FIG. figure 8 . During this pivoting, the free end of the tab 3b of the pawl 3 slides on a second face 2b of the rocker 2, opposite the first face 2a. The second face 2b of the rocker 2 and the free end of the pawl 3 have corresponding shapes, allowing them to slide on one another, the pivoting clockwise of the rocker 2 causing the pivoting counterclockwise ratchet 3, in the manner of two toothed wheels.

By pivoting, the protrusion 3c of the pawl 3 also has a rotation movement counterclockwise, and thus releases the first arm 4b of the trigger 4 which is then dropped downward by turning counterclockwise on a first angular sector up to the opening of contacts. Indeed, the rotation of the trigger 4 allows its protrusion 4f to rotate and thus move the third link 5 which comes to pull the contact carrier 8 to open the contacts.

Then turning on a second angular sector consecutive to the first angular sector, the second arm 4c of the trigger 4 bears on the first free end 11a of the resetting spring 11, and comes to exert sufficient force to rotate the spring 11 in sense counterclockwise, as illustrated in figure 9 . During this rotation, the second free end 11b of the spring 11 bears on the second face 2b of the rocker 2, and exerts a sufficient force to turn the rocker 2 counterclockwise against the pusher and the spring 11 of the moving pallet, until the latter is again in contact with the polar surfaces. The pusher is found again in the retracted position, and the relay 1 is reset.

Thus, a reversal of the direction of rotation of the latch 2 is observed thanks to the reset mechanism.

The force exerted by the trigger 4 on the resetting spring 11 comes from the energy stored by the contact carrier during the closure of the contacts, by the compression of the contact springs 8c and the contact carrier spring 8d. Before the opening of the contacts, this energy is contained thanks to the lever 9 which is in abutment in its ON position, and thanks to the trigger 4 which is in abutment against the pawl 3. At the time of opening of the contacts, the contact springs 8c and the contact carrier spring 8d relax and return this energy to the trigger via the first connecting rod 7 and the third connecting rod 5.

Thus, during the release of the first arm 4b of the trigger 4 by the pawl 3, the third link 5 first pulls the contact carrier to open the contacts and then transfers the energy to the trigger 4 so that it continues its rotation. anticlockwise. This energy is sufficient to reset relay 1 as previously explained. In parallel, the resetting spring 11 is calibrated to be able to perform a suitable reset of the relay 1.

With reference to the figure 10 , following the opening of the contacts, the first rod 7 then starts to rotate counterclockwise under the effect of a handle spring (not shown) so as to tow the first end 5a of the third rod 5 towards the high. The angle between the first rod 7 and the third rod 5 decreases, to become an acute angle. During this movement, the first end 6a of the second link 6 is necessarily pulled upward, causing the pivoting of the lever 9 via the second end 6b of the second connecting rod 6 to compensate for this variation in height. The lever 9 is thus progressively directed to the right until it reaches the stop (position OFF) as shown in FIG. figure 11 .

In parallel, the trigger 4 rotates clockwise under the effect of the return of the lever 9 to the OFF position via its handle spring, until it returns to the initial position, that is to say to the position in which it was before the triggering of the relay 1. Finally, the pawl 3 also returns to the initial position, and its projection 3c resets abutting on the first arm 4b of the trigger 4 to hold it until the next differential tripping. In the same way, the tab 3b of the pawl 3 is repositioned in front of the second face 2b of the rocker 2.

The reset mechanism of relay 1 is back in place and operational for the next differential trip. The control lever 9 is in turn in the OFF position and the contacts are open, until a manual reset of the device (see Figures 4 to 6 ).

The configurations shown in the figures cited are only possible examples, in no way limiting, of the invention which, on the contrary, encompasses variants of shapes and designs within the reach of those skilled in the art.

Claims (15)

Electrical line protection apparatus, of the differential switch type, comprising: a rotatable contact carrier (8), at least one fixed contact (8b), at least one movable contact (8a) fixed to the rotary contact carrier (8), a control handle (9) of the at least one movable contact (8a); - A mechanical lock adapted to switch by causing the opening / closing of the contacts following a manual action on the handle (9); - A cut-off device controlled by the control lever (9) driving said movable contact (8a) remotely or to a fixed contact (8b), said handle (9) being connected to the contact carrier (8) via the mechanical lock; - A differential release device (1), of the differential relay type, adapted to switch the mechanical lock to open the contacts in case of occurrence of a differential fault on the line, and adapted to be reset after the trigger by the lock ; characterized in that the mechanical lock comprises a first kinematic for opening the contacts following a manual action on the handle (9) and a second kinematic for opening the contacts following a differential trigger, said two kinematics being decorrelated l one of the other so as to reset the differential tripping device (1) only during the implementation of the second kinematics. Electrical line protection device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the second kinematic comprises a reset mechanism of the differential tripping device (1). Electrical line protection device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said reset mechanism is adapted to be activated by a transfer of energy from the contact carrier (8), said energy being created during the closure of the contacts and restored when opening contacts. Electrical line protection device according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that said device for differential tripping (1) comprises a movable tripping pusher between a retracted position when the differential tripping device (1) is armed and an output position when the differential tripping device (1) has just tripped, said resetting mechanism being solicited when the pusher takes the extended position and allowing the pusher to move from the extended position to the retracted position. Electrical line protection device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said reset mechanism comprises: - A rocker (2) rotatable in a first direction of rotation when the pusher takes the extended position; - A mechanical means of reversing the direction of rotation of the rocker (2) to move the pusher from the extended position to the retracted position. Electrical line protection device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said mechanical means for reversing the direction of rotation of the rocker (2) comprises: - A ratchet (3) rotated driven by the rocker (2) during its pivoting in the first direction of rotation; a rotary actuator (4) driven by the pawl (3); - A spring element (11) driven by the trigger (4) and bearing on the rocker (2). Electrical line protection device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that , following a differential tripping, the trigger (4) pivots and exerts a force on the spring element (11) so as to pivot the rocker (2) in a second direction of rotation to move the pusher to the retracted position. Electrical line protection device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises at least one connecting rod (5) and in that said force exerted on the spring element (11) comes from the energy of the contact carrier ( 8) transmitted to the trigger (4) via the at least one connecting rod (5). Electrical line protection device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said pivoting of the release (4) causes the opening of the contacts via said connecting rod (5) and the contact carrier (8). Electrical line protection device according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that said trigger (4) comprises a first arm (4b) adapted to cooperate with the pawl (3) and a second arm (4c) adapted to cooperate with the spring element (11). Electrical line protection device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the spring element (11) has a first free end (11a) adapted to be driven by the second arm (4c) of the trigger (4) and a second end free (11b) adapted to come to bear on the rocker (2) to move the pusher to its retracted position. Electrical line protection device according to one of claims 10 and 11, characterized in that the pawl (3) comprises a tab (3b) adapted to cooperate with the rocker (2) and a projection (3c) adapted to retain the first arm (4b) of the trigger (4) in normal operation of the apparatus and able to release the first arm (4b) of the trigger (4) during a differential trip causing the release of the energy from the carrier contact (8) to rotate the trigger (4). Electrical line protection device according to one of Claims 6 to 12, characterized in that it comprises at least one connecting rod (5) and in that , in its rotation during a differential trip, said trigger (4) on a first angular sector, causes the contact carrier (8) to move through the at least one connecting rod (5) in order to open the contacts, and, on a second angular sector consecutive to the first angular sector, is driven by the energy of the contact carrier (8) via the at least one connecting rod (5) to exert a force on the spring element (11) to reset the differential release device (1). Electrical line protection device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the trigger (4) has a rotational movement on the first angular sector when the pusher passes from its retracted position to its extended position. Electrical line protection device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the trigger (4) has a rotational movement on the second angular sector when the pusher passes from its extended position to its retracted position.

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