AU2004265697B2

AU2004265697B2 - Test pushbutton module

Info

Publication number: AU2004265697B2
Application number: AU2004265697A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Gerhard Dobusch
Original assignee: Moeller Gebaudeautomation GmbH
Current assignee: Moeller Gebaudeautomation GmbH
Priority date: 2003-08-19
Filing date: 2004-08-19
Publication date: 2009-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 2024-08-19
Also published as: NO331084B1; PL1658629T3; NO20061234L; ATE360880T1; EP1658629B1; EP1658629A1; RS50156B; AT502415A4; MEP9308A; AU2004265697A1; DE502004003634D1; ES2286640T3; WO2005017935A1; RU2006108519A; CN1836302B; CN1836302A; RS20060115A; AT502415B1; RU2342731C2

Abstract

Disclosed is a test pushbutton module (2) for a circuit breaker (1), particularly a residual current circuit breaker, comprising a housing (21), a resistor (26), an actuating element (24) that is associated with a first connector of the resistor (26), and a contact element (25) which can be moved by means of the actuating element (24). A second connector (28) of the resistor (26) leads out of the housing (21). Said second connector (28) is provided with a contacting part (29) that is to be detachably connected to a conductor, terminal (3), or similar.

Description

A TEST BUTTON MODULE TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a test button module for a circuit breaker, especially for a residual-current circuit breaker, comprising a housing, a resistor, an actuating element associated with a first connecting element of the resistor and a contact element movable by means of the actuating element, with a second connecting element of the resistor being guided out of the housing.

BACKGROUND

In residual-current circuit breakers it is common practice to provide a test button module with an actuating element, as a result of which an electric contact can be established between two terminals and a current flow is achieved via the test button module which causes the triggering of the residual-current circuit breaker. It is common practice to further associate a resistor to the actuating element in order to ensure a limitation of the current flowing via the test button module. The disadvantageous aspect in the known circuit breakers is that the test button module leads to a high complexity in the production of the circuit breakers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the present invention to provide a test button module of the kind mentioned above which avoids the known disadvantages, has a high reliability, is easy to produce and allows a simple manufacturing of the circuit breaker.

One aspect of the present invention provides a test pushbutton module for a circuit-breaker, such as for a residual-current circuit-breaker, including a housing, a resistor, an actuating element associated with a first connector of the resistor and a contact element which can be moved by means of the actuating element, with a second connector of the resistor being guided out of the housing, wherein the second connector includes a contact element for the detachable connection with a conductor of a terminal connection.

This leads to the advantage that the test pushbutton module can be produced separately as a separate component and thereafter can be inserted in a bottom shell or the like of the circuit breaker. The making of the contact can then be made during the connection of an upper shell with the bottom shell. A further advantage is that soldered points are not required for connecting the test pushbutton module, as a result of which the required time for connecting the test button module can be kept especially low. As a result, the test pushbutton module is continually connected with the lead or connecting connection once it has been inserted into the circuit breaker, which is irrespective of whether or not an actuating element has been pressed. The exchangeability of the test pushbutton module is ensured owing to the fact that the connection is detachable.

In a further development of the invention it can be provided that the contact element is provided with a configuration so as to rest on the housing. The contact element can thus be supported on the housing and the element which cooperates with the contact part in the assembled state of the circuit breaker can be configured in such a way that it exerts a force on the contact element in the direction of the housing, as a result of which an electrically conductive contact is formed in a reliable manner and the origination of air gaps is avoided. This can be made in particular by providing a spring element.

According to a further embodiment of the invention it can be provided that the contact element is arranged on one face side of the housing, as a result of which the contact element can be configured in an especially simple way, especially in the case of a resistor arranged in the longitudinal direction of the test button module.

According to another embodiment of the invention it can be provided that the contact element and the actuating element are arranged on the same side of the housing, with the contact element being especially visible and controllable in the case of the opened upper shell of the circuit breaker.

The invention relates further to a connecting connection for a test pushbutton module of a circuit breaker, especially a test button module as mentioned above, with the connecting connection connecting a terminal in an electrically conductive and interruption-free manner with a resistor associated with the test button module in the closed state of the circuit breaker.

In known circuit breakers with such a test pushbutton module it is common practice to connect the resistor by means of a flexible lead with the terminal, with the flexible lead allowing especially the required movements of the test button module during the joining with the bottom shell.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a connecting connection of the kind mentioned above in which the known disadvantages are avoided and which allows a simple and cost-effective production of the circuit breaker.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a terminal connection for a test pushbutton module of a circuit-breaker, such as a test pushbutton module according to any one of claims 1 to 4, with the terminal connection electrically conductively connecting a terminal in an uninterruptible manner with a resistor associated with the test pushbutton module in the closed state of the circuitbreaker, with a first contact surface being provided for the detachable connection with the resistor, wherein a second contact surface is provided for a detachable connection with the terminal.

By providing a detachable connection of the connecting connection with the test pushbutton module, the sequence of the process in the production of the circuit breaker can be changed in a simple manner and the joining of the connecting connection with the resistor can occur in a later process step.

In a further development of the invention it can be provided that the first contact surface includes at least two mutually spaced contact regions, with the at least two contact regions being mutually connected in an electrically conductive manner. By providing several contact regions, the connecting connection can be provided for different embodiments of the circuit breaker in which the terminal and the test button module are arranged differently, while having a low need for material at the same time.

It can be provided for in a further embodiment of the invention that a central area is provided for storing the connecting connection and the first contact is provided with a resilient configuration relative to the central area. The resilient configuration ensures a non-positive connection of the contact surface with the resistor, as a result of which the reliability of the test pushbutton module is improved.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention it can be provided that a second contact surface for a detachable connection with the terminal is provided. This allows an especially flexible configuration of the processing sequence in the production of the circuit breaker.

In this connection it can be provided for in a further development of the invention that the second contact surface is provided with a resilient configuration relative to the central area, as a result of which a favorable electric contact can be ensured between the connecting connection and the terminal.

According to a further embodiment of the invention it can be provided that the terminal connection is configured as a bent plate part. This represents an especially simplified embodiment that can be produced in a cost-effective manner.

According to another embodiment of the invention it can be provided that spring sections are provided which have kink points, as a result of which the spring effect can be ensured in a very simple way, especially in a bent plate part.

The invention further relates to a circuit breaker, especially a residualcurrent circuit breaker.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a circuit breaker of the kind mentioned above which can be produced in a very simple and cost-effective manner.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a circuit-breaker, such as a residual-current circuit-breaker, wherein a test pushbutton module according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and a terminal connection according to any one of claims to 10 are provided.

This leads to the advantage that the test pushbutton module can be produced separately and can be inserted into the circuit breaker in a later process step and thereafter the test pushbutton module can be connected with the terminal.

In a further embodiment of the invention it can be provided that a central area of the connecting connection can be received in a recess in the upper shell.

The connecting connection can thus be fixed to the upper shell and the connection with the test pushbutton module and the terminal can occur automatically when the upper shell is placed.

The invention further relates to a method for producing a circuit breaker, especially a residual-current circuit breaker, with a terminal and a test button module being arranged in a bottom shell and the test button module being connected with a resistor.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for producing a circuit breaker of the kind mentioned above which avoids the known disadvantages and can be performed in a simple and cost-effective way.

A still further aspect of the present invention provides a method for producing a circuit-breaker, such as a residual-current circuit-breaker, with a terminal and a test pushbutton module according to any one of claims 1 to 4 are arranged in a bottom shell, and the test pushbutton module is connected with a resistor, an electrically conductive connection is formed between the terminal and the resistor during the placement of a top shell on the bottom shell by means of a terminal connection according to any one of claims 5 to 10 as received by the top shell.

This leads to the advantage that the test button module can be produced separately and can be arranged in a later process step in the bottom shell. A further advantage is that a separate process step is not required for the production of the connection between the terminal and the resistor and is performed automatically when the upper shell is placed on the lower shell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention is now explained in closer detail by reference to the enclosed drawings showing embodiments, wherein: Figs. 1 and 2 show an oblique view of a test button module in accordance with the invention, a connecting connection in accordance with the invention and a terminal in operating position; Fig. 3 shows an oblique view of the connecting connection according to Fig. 1, and Figs. 4 and 5 show an oblique view of an upper shell of a circuit breaker with a connecting connection according to Fig. 1; Fig. 6 shows an oblique view of a bottom shell; Fig. 7 shows a top view of a circuit breaker, and Fig. 8 shows the circuit breaker according to Fig. 7 in a sectional view along line AA.

Figs. 1 and 2 show an embodiment in accordance with the invention of a test button module 2 for a circuit breaker, a connecting connection 3 and a terminal 4. Such test button modules 2 are especially used in residual-current circuit breakers, but can also be used in other kinds of circuit breakers. The terminal 4 is used for connecting leads or the like to the readily assembled circuit breaker.

The test button module 2 comprises a housing 21, a resistor 26, an actuating element 24 which is associated to a first connecting element of the resistor 26, and a contact element 25 which can be moved by means of the actuating element 24. A second connecting element 28 of resistor 26 is guided from the housing 21 which comprises a contact element 29 for the detachable connection with a lead, the connecting connection 3 or the like.

In conventional production processes, the resistor 26 is joined to the terminal 4 by means of a flexible lead, with the flexible lead being soldered together with the terminal 4 and the resistor 26. The soldering process which represents a thermal burden on the components is usually performed in an earlier process step during the production of the circuit breaker, with the resistor 26 being soldered to the flexible lead and thereafter the test button module 2 is assembled around the resistor 26 manually.

The test button module can be produced separately with the contact element 29 for the detachable connection and thereafter introduced into the circuit breaker, which thus allows simplifying the production process of the circuit breaker to a considerable extent.

The test button module 2 can also be changed thereby. The detachable connection is preferably formed by preferably resilient sliding contacts, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5. This allows a simple and rapid introduction of the test button module 2 into a circuit breaker 1, and a simple, rapid and especially destructiontree removal of the test button module 2 from the circuit breaker 1.

When a force acts upon contact element 29 by the connecting connection 3 in the connected state, then it is advantageous when the contact element 29 is provided with a configuration so as to rest upon the housing 21, with the connecting connection 3 and the contact element 29 being capable of resting on the housing 21 in the connected state.

An especially simple embodiment of the test button module in accordance with the invention is obtained when the contact element 29 is arranged on a face side 22 of housing 21. The second connecting element 28 of resistor 26 can be guided out of the housing 21 in a substantially straight manner when the resistor 26 is arranged in the longitudinal direction of housing 21.

If the contact element 29 and the actuating element 24 are arranged on the same side 23 of the housing 21, the contact point can be seen and checked especially well in the installed state when the upper shell of the circuit breaker is removed.

The test button module 2 and the terminal 4 can be connected in an electrically conductive and interruption-free manner in the closed state of the circuit 1 by means of the connecting connection 3, with said connection being independent of the position of the actuating element 24.

The connecting connection 3 in accordance with Fig. 1 is shown on an enlarged scale in Fig. 3, in which a first contact surface 31 is provided for the detachable connection with the resistor 26.

A central region 34 is provided for holding the connecting connection 3, with the first contact surface 31 being provided with a resilient configuration relative to the central region. It can thus be ensured that the first contact surface 31 exerts a force on the contact element 29 in the connected state which thus ensures a favorable electric contact and prevents the formation of an air gap between the first contact surface 31 and the contact element 29.

The contact surface 31 can comprise at least two mutually spaced contact regions 32, with the at least two contact regions 32 being mutually connected in an electrically conductive manner. By providing several contact regions 32, a connection for different distances of the terminal 4 from the contact element 29 with a connecting connection 3 can be ensured, as a result of which an embodiment of the connecting connection 3 can be used in several different configurations of circuit breakers.

Moreover, the connecting connection 3 can comprise a second contact surface 33 for a detachable connection with the terminal 4. As a result of forming the second contact point for a detachable connection, the connection between the terminal 4 and the connecting connection 3 can be made in a later process step during the production of a circuit breaker, which thus allows simplifying the production process.

If the second contact surface 33 is provided with a resilient configuration relative to the central region 34, the formation of an air gap between the connecting connection 3 and the terminal 4 can be prevented effectively and the reliability of the electrically conductive connection between the test button module 2 and the terminal 4 can be improved.

The embodiment of the connecting connection 3 as shown in Fig. 3 can be produced in a simple way as a bent sheet metal part. Spring regions comprising kink points can be provided, as a result of which the resilient configuration of the contact surfaces 31, 33 can be ensured in a simple manner relative to the central region 34.

Figs. 4 and 5 show an upper shell 11 of a circuit breaker 1, comprising a recess 12 which can receive the central region 34 of the connecting connection 3.

Fig. 6 shows a bottom shell 15 of the circuit breaker 1 which comprises receivers for the test button module 2.

If the terminal 4 and the test button module 2 are arranged in the bottom shell 15 and the connecting connection 3 in the recess 12 of the upper shell 12, an electrically conductive contact is established between the terminal 4 and the test button module 2, and especially the resistor 26, when the upper shell 11 is placed on the bottom shell Fig. 7 shows a top view of a circuit breaker in which the actuating element 24 and a screw of the terminal 4 are shown. Fig. 7 further shows the sectional guidance of Fig. 8.

Figs. 7 and 8 show the position of the test button module 2, the terminal 4 and the connecting connection in the assembled state of the circuit breaker. In other embodiments of the circuit breaker in accordance with the invention it is also possible that another terminal 4 of the circuit breaker is connected with the test button module 2 and/or that a number of terminals of the circuit breaker are provided which depart from the illustrated number.

The resilient configuration of the contact surfaces 31, 33 of the connecting connection also ensures that the placement of the upper shell 11 on the bottom shell 15 is not obstructed by the connecting connection 3.

Claims

1. A test pushbutton module for a circuit-breaker, such as for a residual- current circuit-breaker, including a housing, a resistor, an actuating element associated with a first connector of the resistor and a contact element which can be moved by means of the actuating element, with a second connector of the resistor being guided out of the housing, wherein the second connector includes a contact element for the detachable connection with a conductor of a terminal connection.

2. A test pushbutton module according to claim 1, wherein the contact part is arranged to rest on the housing.

3. A test pushbutton module according to claim 2, wherein in that the contact part is arranged on a face side of the housing.

4. A test pushbutton module according to claim 2, wherein the contact part and the actuating element are arranged on the same side of the housing.

5. A terminal connection for a test pushbutton module of a circuit-breaker, such as a test pushbutton module according to any one of claims 1 to 4, with the terminal connection electrically conductively connecting a terminal in an uninterruptible manner with a resistor associated with the test pushbutton module in the closed state of the circuit-breaker, with a first contact surface being provided for the detachable connection with the resistor, wherein a second contact surface is provided for a detachable connection with the terminal.

6. A terminal connection according to claim 5, wherein the first contact surface includes at least two mutually spaced contact areas, with the at least two contact areas are connectable with each other in an electrically conductive manner.

7. A terminal connection according to any one of claims 5 or 6, wherein a central area for holding the terminal connection is provided and the first contact surface is provided with a resilient arrangement relative to the central area.

8. A terminal connection according to any one of claims 5, 6 or 7, wherein the second contact area is provided with a resilient arrangement relative to the 1 central area. S9. A terminal connection according to any one of the claims 5 to 8, arranged 0 as a bent plate part. 0 A terminal connection according to claim 9, wherein spring sections are provided which have kink points.

11. A circuit-breaker, such as a residual-current circuit-breaker, wherein a test pushbutton module according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and a terminal connection according to any one of claims 5 to 10 are provided.

12. A circuit-breaker according to claim 11, wherein a central section of the terminal connection can be received in a recess of a top shell.

13. A method for producing a circuit-breaker, such as a residual-current circuit- breaker, with a terminal and a test pushbutton module according to any one of claims 1 to 4 are arranged in a bottom shell, and the test pushbutton module is connected with a resistor, an electrically conductive connection is formed between the terminal and the resistor during the placement of a top shell on the bottom shell by means of a terminal connection according to any one of claims to 10 as received by the top shell.

14. A test pushbutton module substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. A terminal connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A method for producing a circuit breaker substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A circuit breaker substantially as hereinbefore descried with reference to the accompanying drawings. MOELLER GEBAUDEAUTOMATION GMBH WATERMARK PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS P26741AU00