AU2020256418B2

AU2020256418B2 - Protective apparatus for an alternating current electrical installation

Info

Publication number: AU2020256418B2
Application number: AU2020256418A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Geoffroy Bouteloup; Dany MASSE
Original assignee: Legrand SNC; Legrand France SA
Current assignee: Legrand SNC; Legrand France SA
Priority date: 2019-10-16
Filing date: 2020-10-16
Publication date: 2025-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 2040-10-16
Also published as: FR3102292B1; RU2020133593A; EP3809440B1; EP3809440A1; PL3809440T3; ES2908414T3; CN112670947A; AU2020256418A1; CN112670947B; FR3102292A1

Abstract

Protective apparatus of an alternating current electrical installation provided with a compact member comprising a magnetic triggering coil and a triggering relay coil and with an electronic circuit connected to the triggering relay coil, characterized in that said electronic circuit comprises a prolonged overcurrent detector (60) and comprises a switching circuit (61), which are configured such that in the absence of a detection signal the switching circuit connects the triggering relay coil to the prolonged overcurrent detector (60) whereas it the isolates the triggering relay coil from in connection terminals of the apparatus, and such that in the presence of the detection signal the switching circuit (61) isolates the triggering relay coil of the prolonged overcurrent detector (60) then connects the triggering relay coil to the in connection terminals (22, 23). (Figure 5) 5/15 48 79 83 98 97 8 110 52 46 86 110a 98 45 k 88 49 80 Fig.6

Description

5/15

48 79 83

98 97 8

110

52 46 86 110a 98

k 88

49 80

Fig.6

PROTECTIVE APPARATUSES FOR ALTERNATING CURRENT ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to protective apparatuses for alternating current electrical installations. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Protective apparatuses for alternating current electrical installations are known from the state of the art, in particular from French patent application 3 046 289, such as represented in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of such a known protective apparatus, taken from in front above right of that apparatus; - Figure 2 shows very diagrammatically the electrical circuit of a first embodiment of the known apparatus and the actuation mechanism for the movable contacts comprised by that electrical circuit; and - Figure 3 shows very diagrammatically the electrical circuit of a second embodiment of the known apparatus and the actuation mechanism for the movable contacts comprised by that electrical circuit. The electrical apparatus 10 shown in Figure 1 is of parallelepiped general shape. It has two main faces, respectively a left face 11 and a right face 12, and lateral faces extending from one to the other of the main faces 11 and 12, i.e. a back face 13, a top face 14, a front face 15 and a bottom face 16. The back face 13 has a cut-out 17 for the mounting of the apparatus 10 on a standard support rail with an 0 -shaped profile (not shown). The front face 15 has, in central position, over approximately half its length, a nose 18 presenting a lever 19. Here, the apparatus 10 is of modular type, that is to say that in addition to its parallelepiped general shape, its width (distance between the two

21583742_1 (GHMatters) P114678.AU main faces 11 and 12) is a multiple of a standardized value, known by the name "module", which is of the order of 18 mm. Here, the apparatus 10 has the width of one module. In accordance with the modular format, the apparatus 10 is configured to belong to a row of modular apparatuses disposed side-by-side by being fastened from behind to the horizontally disposed support rail. The top face 14 has two insertion apertures 20 and 21 giving access respectively to a connection terminal 22 and to a connection terminal 23. The aperture 20 and the terminal 22 are located to the left. The aperture 21 and the terminal 23 are located to the right. Similarly, the bottom face 16 has two insertion apertures, a first aperture and a second aperture giving access respectively to a connection terminal 26 and to a connection terminal 27. The first aperture and the terminal 26 are located to the left. The second aperture and the terminal 27 are located to the right. Each of the connection terminals 22 23, 26 and 27 is provided to receive a stripped end section of an electrical cable or a tooth of a horizontal comb-like electrical busbar of which the pitch (axial spacing between two successive teeth) is one module. Here, the terminals 22 and 23 located at the top are provided to be connected to two poles of an electricity distribution network while the two terminals 26 and 27 located at the bottom are provided to be connected to an electrical installation circuit to protect. The apparatus 10 is a differential circuit breaker with a protected pole, that is to say having an electrical circuit performing detection of short circuits and overcurrents in the conveying circuit of the protected pole (circuit breaker function) and performing detection of magnitude differences in the current passing in the conveying circuit of the protected pole and in the conveying circuit of the unprotected pole (differential current function). Here, the terminal 22 and the terminal 26 located to the left are provided for the pole of the electrical installation to protect, which is a live pole,

21583742_1 (GHMatters) P114678.AU while the terminal 23 and the terminal 27 located to the right are provided for the unprotected pole of the electrical installation, which is the neutral. The current conveying circuit between the terminals 22 and 26 located to the left comprises in series a magnetic triggering member 30, a fixed contact 31, a movable contact 32, a thermal triggering member 33 and a winding 34 forming part of a differential fault detection transformer 35. The conveying circuit between the terminals 23 and 27 located to the right comprises in series a fixed contact 36, a movable contact 37 and a winding 38 forming part of the differential fault detection transformer 35. The transformer 35 comprises, in addition to the winding 34 of the circuit for conveying between the terminals 22 and 26 situated to the left and to the winding 38 of the circuit for conveying between the terminals 23 and 27 situated to the right, which form the primary windings, a secondary winding 39, and an annular armature (magnetic circuit) 40 around which the secondary winding 39 and the primary windings 34 and 38 are formed. The secondary winding 39 of the transformer 35 is connected by two electrical conductors 41 and 42 to a circuit board 43. Here the magnetic triggering member 30 forms part of a compact member 44 further comprising a triggering relay 45. The circuit board 43 is connected by two conductors 28 and 29 respectively to the terminal 22 and to the terminal 23 and is furthermore connected by two conductors 46 and 47 to the triggering relay 45. To actuate the movable contacts 32 and 37, the apparatus 10 comprises a mechanism 50, in general called latch. The lever 19 situated on the exterior of the apparatus 10 enables the latch 50 to be acted upon manually. The magnetic triggering member 30, the thermal triggering member 33 and the assembly formed by the triggering relay 45 connected to the circuit board 43 are configured to act if needed on the latch 50. The latch 50 has two stable positions, respectively a cutting-off position in which the two movable contacts 32 and 37 are each away from the corresponding fixed contacts 31 and 36 and an engaging position in which each

21583742_1 (GHMatters) P114678.AU of the two movable contacts 32 and 37 bears on the corresponding fixed contacts 31 and 36. The lever 19, projecting from the front face 15, makes it possible to act on the latch 50 manually to pass from the cutting-off position to the engaging position or vice-versa. The magnetic triggering member 30, the thermal triggering members 33 and the triggering relay 45 are configured to act automatically on the latch 50 to pass from the engaging position to the cutting-off position when predetermined current conveying conditions occur. The magnetic triggering member 30 acts on the latch 50 in case of short-circuit, the thermal triggering member 33 acts in case of prolonged overcurrent and the triggering relay 45 acts in case of differential fault. In practice, the magnetic triggering member 30 is formed by a coil disposed around a core actuating a striker acting on the latch 50 in case of short-circuit. The thermal triggering member 33 is formed by a bimetallic strip deforming in case of prolonged overcurrent and acting on account of its deformation on the latch 50. The triggering relay 45, which forms part of the same compact member 44 as the magnetic triggering member 30, is formed by another coil disposed around a same movable core. This other coil is supplied by the circuit board 43 which reacts to the voltage supplied by the secondary winding 39 of the transformer 35 in case of difference between the magnitude of the current passing in the windings 34 and the magnitude of the current passing in the other winding 38, that is to say in case of differential fault. When the triggering relay 45 is thus supplied, it drives the movable core which actuates the striker acting on the latch 50 to trigger the passage from the engaging position to the cutting-off position. The embodiment of the apparatus 10 illustrated in Figure 3 is similar to that illustrated in Figure 2 apart from the fact that it comprises no thermal triggering member 33, the protection against prolonged overcurrents involving a current measuring transformer 202.

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The transformer 202 comprises an annular armature 203 surrounding a conducting member of the current conveying circuit between the terminals 22 and 26 and comprises a winding 204 around the annular winding 203. The winding 204 is connected to the circuit board 43 by two electrical conductors 205 and 206. The board 43 reacts not only to the voltage supplied by the winding 39 of the transformer 35, but also to the voltage supplied by the winding 204 of the current measuring transformer 202. Just like the thermal triggering member 33, the transformer 202 is disposed between the movable contact 32 and the terminal 26, but whereas the thermal triggering member 33 is disposed between the movable contact 32 and the winding 34, the transformer 202 is disposed between the winding 34 and the terminal 26. Here, the circuit board 43 reacts not only to the voltage supplied by the secondary winding 39 of the transformer 35, but also to the voltage supplied by the winding 204 of the transformer 202. In case of prolonged overcurrent, the circuit board 43 supplies the triggering relay 45, and this drives the movable core which actuates the striker acting on the latch 50 to trigger the passage from the engaging position to the cutting-off position. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is directed to providing a protective apparatus for an alternating current electrical installation similar but more convenient and economic to manufacture than the above described prior art device. To that end, according to a first aspect the invention provides a protective apparatus for an alternating current electrical installation, having a first in connection terminal for a first electrical pole, a second in connection terminal for a second electrical pole different from the first electrical pole and an out connection terminal for the first electrical pole, each said connection terminal being configured to receive a stripped end section of an electric cable or a tooth of a horizontal comb-like busbar; which apparatus comprises:

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- a first current conveying circuit between the first in connection terminal and the out connection terminal, comprising a fixed contact and a movable contact; - an actuation mechanism of the movable contact having two stable positions, respectively a cutting-off position in which the movable contact is away from the fixed contact and an engaging position in which the movable contact bears on the fixed contact; - a lever to act manually on the actuation mechanism in order to pass from the cutting-off position to the engaging position or from the engaging position to the cutting-off position; - a compact member comprising a magnetic triggering member and a triggering relay, said magnetic triggering member being formed by a magnetic triggering coil disposed around a movable core actuating a striker acting in case of short-circuit on the actuation mechanism and forming a portion of the first current conveying circuit, said triggering relay being formed by a triggering relay coil disposed around said movable core, the magnetic triggering coil and the triggering relay coil being disposed one around the other; - an electronic circuit connected to the triggering relay coil, said electronic circuit being configured to supply said triggering relay coil when predetermined current conveying conditions occur representing a prolonged overcurrent; wherein said electronic circuit comprises a prolonged overcurrent detector configured to determine the presence of said current conveying conditions from the signal present at the ends of said triggering relay coil and to produce a detection signal when said predetermined current conveying conditions are present; and comprises a switching circuit with said prolonged overcurrent detector and said switching circuit being configured such that in the absence of said detection signal the switching circuit connects the triggering relay coil to the prolonged overcurrent detector whereas it isolates the triggering relay coil from each of said in connection terminals, and such that in the presence of said detection signal the switching circuit isolates the triggering

21583742_1 (GHMatters) P114678.AU relay coil from the prolonged overcurrent detector then connects the triggering relay coil to each of said in connection terminals. The invention is based on the observation that the triggering relay coil is able to serve for sensing the current passing in the magnetic triggering coil and thus in the first conveying circuit, and moreover that this function of sensing current of the triggering relay coil does not prevent the use of the triggering relay coil for driving the striker comprised by the compact member, provided that the supply of the triggering relay coil, with the voltage of the network, to drive the striker, is preceded by the isolation of the triggering relay coil from the prolonged overcurrent detector, in order not to damage the latter. The signal supplied by the triggering relay coil represents the current passing within the magnetic triggering coil on account of the fact that the magnetic triggering coil and the triggering relay coil are disposed one around the other, and thus interact like the windings of a transformer, including in the absence of any specific coupling member such as a magnetic armature, it being possible for the coupling between the two coils to be made solely by the surrounding air. Contrary to the prior apparatuses, including that described above, the apparatus according to the invention is capable of providing protection against prolonged overcurrent while comprising neither thermal triggering member such as a bimetallic strip nor specific current sensing member such as a current magnitude measuring transformer. The manufacture of the apparatus according to the invention is thus particularly simple, convenient and economic. According to advantageous features: - the overcurrent detector is implemented by an analog-digital converter, by a computing unit and by an interface disposed between said switching circuit and the converter, said switching circuit connecting the interface to the two ends of the triggering relay coil in the absence of said detection signal and isolating the interface from the two ends of the triggering relay coil in the presence of said detection signal, said interface being configured to provide to an input port of the converter an analog signal

21583742_1 (GHMatters) P114678.AU exploitable by said converter and corresponding to the voltage present between the two ends of said triggering relay coil; - the overcurrent detector comprises in a microcontroller: the analog-digital converter connected to said analog port and configured to produce digital values representing the analog signal provided by said interface, a computing unit configured to produce, from said digital values representing the analog signal provided by said interface, digital values representing the root mean square value of the magnitude of the current passing in said magnetic triggering coil; and a unit for monitoring the root mean square value of the current passing in said magnetic triggering coil, configured to compare said digital values representing the root mean square value of the magnitude of the current with a current magnitude threshold and to produce said detection signal if said current magnitude threshold is exceeded for a predetermined duration; - said microcontroller is furthermore connected to a communication member and configured to communicate to said communication member said digital values representing the root mean square value of the magnitude of the current that are produced by said computing unit. - the communication member is a radio communication member; - said switching circuit comprises: - a first switching member comprising an actuation connection point and being connected to the first in connection terminal and connected to a first end of the triggering relay coil, having, in the absence of a predetermined signal at said actuation connection point, a blocked configuration in which it isolates the first end of the triggering relay coil from the first in connection terminal and having, in the presence of said predetermined signal at said actuation connection point, a conductive configuration in which it connects the first end of the triggering relay coil to the first in connection terminal; - a second switching member comprising an actuation connection point and being connected to the second in connection terminal and connected to a second end of said triggering relay coil, having, in the absence of a predetermined signal at said actuation connection point, a blocked configuration in which it isolates the second end of the triggering relay coil from the second in

21583742_1 (GHMatters) P114678.AU connection terminal and having, in the presence of said predetermined signal at said actuation connection point, a conductive configuration in which it connects the second end of the triggering relay coil to the second in connection terminal; - a third switching member comprising an actuation connection point and being connected to the first end of the triggering relay coil and connected to the prolonged overcurrent detector, having, in the absence of a predetermined signal at said actuation connection point, a conductive configuration in which the first end of the triggering relay coil is connected to said prolonged overcurrent detector and having, in the presence of said predetermined signal at said actuation connection point, a blocked configuration in which the first end of the triggering relay coil is isolated from said prolonged overcurrent detector; - a fourth switching member comprising an actuation connection point and being connected to the second end of the triggering relay coil and connected to the prolonged overcurrent detector, having, in the absence of a predetermined signal at said actuation connection point, a conductive configuration in which the second end of the triggering relay coil is connected to said prolonged overcurrent detector and having, in the presence of said predetermined signal at said actuation connection point, a blocked configuration in which the second end of the triggering relay coil is isolated from said prolonged overcurrent detector; - said prolonged overcurrent detector is configured to produce, at the end of a predetermined duration starting with the production of said detection signal, an activation signal, said electronic circuit being configured to apply said detection signal to the actuation connection point of the third switching member and to the actuation connection point of the fourth switching member, and to apply said activation signal to the actuation connection point of the first switching member and to the actuation connection point of the second switching member; - the first switching member and the second switching member each comprise a transistor and a thyristor; - the third switching member and the fourth switching member each comprise a transistor;

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- the protective apparatus is of modular format, of parallelepiped general shape with two main faces, respectively a left face and a right face, and lateral faces extending from one to the other of the main faces, with a width, that is to say the spacing between the left face and the right face, equal to an integer number of times a predetermined distance, called module; - the ratio between the number of turns of the triggering relay coil and the number of turns of the magnetic triggering coil is comprised between 100 and 500; and/or - said apparatus has a second out connection terminal for the second electrical pole, said out connection terminal being configured to receive a stripped end section of an electric cable or a tooth of a horizontal comb-like busbar; said apparatus comprising a second current conveying circuit between the second in connection terminal and the second out connection terminal. The present invention and preferred features thereof will become clearer from the following description of illustrative and non-limiting embodiments of the invention, provided with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1, described earlier, is a perspective view of a known protective apparatus, taken from in front above right of that apparatus; Figure 2, described earlier, shows very diagrammatically the electrical circuit of a first embodiment of the known apparatus and the actuation mechanism for the movable contacts comprised by that electrical circuit; Figure 3, described earlier, shows very diagrammatically the electrical circuit of a second embodiment of the known apparatus and the actuation mechanism for the movable contacts comprised by that electrical circuit; Figure 4 shows in similar manner to Figures 2 and 3 the electrical circuit of an electrical apparatus according to the invention and the actuation mechanism for the movable contacts comprised by that electrical circuit; Figure 5 is a diagrammatic representation of the electronic circuit which the electrical circuit of Figure 4 comprises;

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Figure 6 shows in detail the first switching member and the second switching member of the electronic circuit represented in Figure 5; Figure 7 shows in detail the third switching member and the fourth switching member of the electronic circuit represented in Figure 5; Figure 8 shows in detail the interface comprised by the electronic circuit represented in Figure 5; Figure 9 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the monitoring unit implemented in the microcontroller comprised by the electronic circuit represented in Figure 5; Figure 10 is an exploded view of the compact member and of a mechanical and electrical connection member which that apparatus comprises; Figure 11 is a perspective view of that compact member and of that connection member; Figure 12 is a cross-section view in elevation of that compact member and of that connection member; Figure 13 is an elevation view from the left of the apparatus according to the invention from which the left cheek of the casing has been removed; Figure 14 is a similar view to Figure 13 but taken from the right; Figure 15 shows in similar manner to Figure 4 a variant of the electrical circuit of the electrical apparatus according to the invention and the actuation mechanism for the movable contacts comprised by that electrical circuit; and Figure 16 is a diagrammatic representation of the electronic circuit which the electrical circuit of Figure 15 comprises. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Broadly speaking the protective apparatus 100 for an alternating current electrical installation is similar to the apparatus 10 described with the aid of Figures 1 and 2 apart from the fact that it does not comprise a thermal triggering member 33 and does not comprise a differential fault detection transformer 35, that the circuit board 43 is replaced by an electronic circuit 43a and that the electronic circuit 43a is connected to the first current conveying

21583742_1 (GHMatters) P114678.AU circuit between the movable contact 32 and the connection terminal 26 by the conductor 48 and is connected to the second current conveying circuit between the movable contact 37 and the connection terminal 27 by the conductor 49. To simplify, for the apparatus 100 the same numerical references have been kept for the parts similar to those of the apparatus 10. The apparatus 100 comprises a first in connection terminal 22 for a first electrical pole, a second in connection terminal 23 for a second electrical pole different from the first electrical pole, a first out connection terminal 26 for the first electrical pole and a second out connection terminal 27 for the second electrical pole. Each of the connection terminals 22, 23, 26, 27 is configured to receive a stripped end section of an electrical cable or a tooth of a horizontal comb-like busbar. As shown in Figure 4, the apparatus 100 comprises a first current conveying circuit between the first in connection terminal 22 and the first out connection terminal 26. This first current conveying circuit comprises a fixed contact 31 and a movable contact 32. The apparatus 100 further comprises a second current conveying circuit between the second in connection terminal 23 and the second out connection terminal 27. This second current conveying circuit comprises a fixed contact 36 and a movable contact 37. An actuation mechanism 50 of the movable contact 32 and of the movable contact 37 comprises two stable positions, respectively a cutting-off position and an engaging position. In cutting-off position, the movable contact 32 is away from the fixed contact 31 and the movable contact 37 is away from the fixed contact 36. In engaging position, the movable contact 32 bears on the fixed contact 31 and the movable contact 37 bears on the fixed contact 36.

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The apparatus 100 comprises a lever 19 to act manually on the actuation mechanism 50 in order to pass from the cutting-off position to the engaging position or from the engaging position to the cutting-off position; The protective apparatus 100 comprises a compact member 44. The compact member 44 comprises a magnetic triggering member 30 and a triggering relay 45. The compact member 44 is configured to act on the latch 50 in order to pass from the engaging position to the cutting-off position when a short-circuit or a prolonged overcurrent occurs. As can be seen in Figures 10 to 14, the magnetic triggering member 30 is formed by a magnetic triggering coil 51 disposed around a movable core 103 actuating a striker 102 acting in case of short-circuit on the actuation mechanism 50. The magnetic triggering coil 51 forms a portion of the first current conveying circuit. The magnetic triggering coil 51 is located between the in connection terminal 22 and the fixed contact 31. The triggering relay 45 is formed by a triggering relay coil 52 disposed around the movable core 103. The triggering relay coil 52 is provided with a first end 110 and with a second end 11Oa. The magnetic triggering coil 51 and the triggering relay coil 52 are disposed one around the other. Here, the magnetic triggering coil 51 is disposed around the triggering relay coil 52. The fact that both the windings constituted by the coil 51 and the coil 52 are disposed one around the other produces a transformer effect, that is to say that the current passing within the coil 51 induces a current in the coil 52 on account of the electromagnetic coupling of the two coils via the air. The transformation ratio is the ratio between the number of turns of the two windings.

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Here, there are two thousand turns for the winding of the coil of the triggering relay 52 and five turns for the magnetic triggering coil 51, such that the transformation ratio is 400. Broadly speaking, it is advantageous for the ratio between the number of turns of the triggering relay coil 52 and the number of turns of the magnetic triggering coil 51 to be comprised between 100 and 500. As a matter of fact, within this range, it is easy to have the number of turns suitable for the triggering relay coil to be able to play both its role of sensor and its role of actuator, for example 1000 to 1500 turns, as well as to have the number of turns suitable for the magnetic triggering coil to be able to play both its role of exciting the triggering relay coil and its actuator role, for example 3 to 10 turns. The electronic circuit 43a of the apparatus 100 is connected to the triggering relay coil 52 by a conductor 46 and by a conductor 47. More specifically, as can be seen in Figure 6, the conductor 46 is connected to the end 110 and the conductor 47 is connected to the end 11Oa. The electronic circuit 43a is configured to supply the triggering relay coil 52 when conveying current predetermined conditions that represent a prolonged overcurrent occur. As can be seen in Figure 5, the electronic circuit 43a comprises a prolonged overcurrent detector 60 and a switching circuit 61. The prolonged overcurrent detector 60 is configured to determine the presence of the conditions of conveying current that represent a prolonged overcurrent from the signal present at the ends 110 and 11Oa of the triggering relay coil 52. The prolonged overcurrent detector 60 is furthermore configured to produce a detection signal when the predetermined current conveying conditions are present, that is to say in case of prolonged overcurrent, then at the end of a predetermined duration after the production of the detection signal, to produce an activation signal too.

The prolonged overcurrent detector 60 and the switching circuit 61 are configured such that in the absence of the detection signal the switching

21583742_1 (GHMatters) P114678.AU circuit 61 connects the triggering relay coil 52 to the prolonged overcurrent detector 60 whereas it isolates the triggering relay coil 52 from each of the in connection terminals 22, 23. In the presence of the detection signal, the switching circuit 61 isolates the triggering relay coil 52 from the prolonged overcurrent detector 60 then, when the activation signal becomes present, connects the triggering relay coil 52 to each of the in connection terminals 22 and 23. The prolonged overcurrent detector 60 is implemented by a microcontroller 95 and by an interface 70. The interface 70 is disposed between the switching circuit 61 and an analog input port 67 of the microcontroller 95. The switching circuit 61 connects the interface 70 to the two ends 110 and 110a of the triggering relay coil 52 in the absence of the detection signal and isolates the interface 70 from the two ends 110 and 110a of the triggering relay coil 52 in the presence of the detection signal. The interface 70 comprises two input connection points 74 and 75 that the switching circuit 61 connects or does not connect respectively to the end 110 and to the end 110a of the coil 52 and an output connection point 76 connected to the analog input port 67 of the microcontroller 95. As can be seen in Figure 5, the input connection point 75 is connected to the reference pole of the direct current part of the electronic circuit 43a. Thus, when the switching circuit 61 connects the input connection point 75 to the end 11Oa of the coil 52, that end is at that reference pole. The interface 70 is configured to supply to the analog input port 67 an analog signal exploitable by the microcontroller 95 and corresponding to the voltage present between the two ends 110 and 11Oa of the triggering relay coil 52. As shown in Figure 8, the interface 70 comprises an amplifier 114 the output of which is connected to the output connection point 76. Between the input connection point 74 and the + input of the amplifier 114 two resistors 116 and 117 are disposed in series. Between the reference pole (at which is the input connection point 75) and the - input of the amplifier 114 a resistor 118 is

21583742_1 (GHMatters) P114678.AU disposed. A capacitor 115 is disposed between the input connection point 75 and the sides of the resistors 116 and 117 that are connected to each other. A resistor 119 is disposed between the output of the amplifier 114 and its - input. Resistors 120 and 121 are connected to each other. The + input of the amplifier 114 is connected to the sides of the resistors 120 and 121 that are connected to each other. The other sides of the resistors 120 and 121 are respectively connected to the + pole and to the reference pole of the supply of the electronic circuit 43a. The resistor 116 and the capacitor 115 enable the current passing within the coil 52 to be transformed into voltage and to perform low-pass filtering. The resistors 117, 120 and 121 enable the amplifier 114 to be polarized. The resistors 118 and 119 enable the gain of the amplifier 114 to be set.

The prolonged overcurrent detector 60 comprises, in the microcontroller 95, a converter 71, a computing unit 72 and a monitoring unit 73. The converter 71 is connected to the analog port 67 of the microcontroller 95 and is configured to produce digital values representing the analog signal supplied by the interface 70. The computing unit 72 is configured to produce, from digital values representing the analog signal supplied by the interface 70, digital values representing the root mean square value of the magnitude of the current passing within the magnetic triggering coil 51. In practice, the computing unit 72 is implemented by the conventional technique of computing the root mean square value of a sinusoidal signal and by calibration. As can be seen in Figure 9, the monitoring unit 73 for monitoring the root mean square value of the current passing within the magnetic triggering coil 51 is configured to compare the digital values representing the root mean square value of the current magnitude I with a current magnitude value

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"threshold /" and if that threshold is exceeded for a predetermined duration "threshold t" to produce the detection signal. The monitoring unit 73 here is in accordance with French standard NF C15-100 to a large extent harmonized with European standard HD 384 which describes the triggering time for circuit breakers but which incorporates the bimetallic strip technology. When the digital values representing the root mean square value I of the current magnitude are less than or equal to 1.13 times the current magnitude threshold for less than one hour, the monitoring unit 73 must not produce the detection signal. When the digital values representing the root mean square value I of the current magnitude are greater than or equal to 1.45 times the current magnitude threshold, the monitoring unit 73 must produce a detection signal in less than one hour. As a variant, the monitoring unit 73 responds to a single criterion, for example, when the digital values representing the root mean square value I of the current magnitude are equal to 1.2 times the magnitude threshold, the monitoring unit 73 produces a detection signal in a few milliseconds, enabling the triggering of the apparatus. The detection signal produced by the monitoring unit 73 is available on a port 68 of the microcontroller 95. At the end of a predetermined duration after the start of the production of the detection signal, the monitoring unit 73 also produces an activation signal, available on the port 69 of the microcontroller 95. This predetermined duration depends on the components used and their reaction time, and is comprised between 1ms and 1Oms. The microcontroller 95 also comprises a port 66 at which are available the digital values produced by the computing unit 72. The port 66 is connected to a communication member 96, here radio communication, to which are thus communicated the digital values produced by the computing unit 72, i.e. the digital values representing the root mean square value of the magnitude of the current passing within the magnetic

21583742_1 (GHMatters) P114678.AU triggering coil 51, that is to say the current passing within the electrical installation or portion of electrical installation located between the output terminals 26 and 27 of the apparatus 100. The radio communication member 96 enables the remote monitoring, via a mobile application for example, of this current or of values that are deduced therefrom, in particular the electrical energy consumption of the installation or portion of installation located between the output terminals 26 and 27 of the apparatus 100. For example, the apparatus 100 communicates with a gateway making it possible to find the current consumption information on a cloud which the mobile application accesses. As a variant, the radio communication member 96 is replaced by a different communication member, for example wired or infrared, the apparatus 100 then being provided with a corresponding port.

The switching circuit 61 comprises a first switching member 79, a second switching member 80, a third switching member 81 and a fourth switching member 82. The first switching member 79 comprises an actuation connection point 87, a first connection point 83 connected by the conductor 48 and by tracks of the electronic circuit 43a to the out connection terminal 26, and a second connection point 84 connected by the conductor 46 and by tracks of the electronic circuit 43a to the first end 110 of the triggering relay coil 52 (Figure 6). In the absence of a predetermined signal at the actuation connection point 87, the first switching member 79 has a blocked configuration in which it isolates the first end 110 of the triggering relay coil 52 from the out connection terminal 26. The actuation connection point 87 is connected by tracks of the electronic circuit 43a to the port 69 of the microcontroller 95, at which the activation signal is present or absent. In the presence of the predetermined signal at the actuation connection point 87, in this case the activation signal, the first switching

21583742_1 (GHMatters) P114678.AU member 79 has a conductive configuration in which it connects the first end 110 of the triggering relay coil 52 to the out connection terminal 26. In blocked configuration, the first connection point 83 is isolated from the second connection point 84 and in conductive configuration, the first connection point 83 is connected to the second connection point 84. As can be seen in Figure 6, the first switching member 79 comprises a transistor 97 and a thyristor 98. The actuation connection point 87 is connected to the base of the transistor 97 of which the collector is connected to the + pole of the supply of the electronic circuit 43a and of which the emitter is connected to one side of a first resistor and of a second resistor, the other side of the first resistor being connected to the reference pole of the supply and the other side of the second resistor being connected to the gate of the thyristor 98 of which the anode is connected to the first connection point 83 and of which the cathode is connected to the second connection point 84. In the absence of the activation signal at the connection point 87 the transistor 97 is blocked and the same applies for the thyristor 98. In the presence of the activation signal at the connection point 87, the transistor 97 is conductive between its collector and its emitter, this resulting in the appearance of a signal at the gate of the thyristor 98 which becomes conductive between its anode and its cathode. The second switching member 80 comprises an actuation connection point 88, a first connection point 85 connected by the conductor 49 and by tracks of the electronic circuit 43a to the second out connection terminal 27, and a second connection point 86 connected by the conductor 47 and by tracks of the electronic circuit 43a to the second end 11Oa of the triggering relay coil 52 (Figure 6). In the absence of a predetermined signal at the actuation connection point 88, the second switching member 80 has a blocked configuration in which it isolates the second end 11Oa of the triggering relay coil 52 of the out connection terminal 27.

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The actuation connection point 88 is connected by tracks of the electronic circuit 43a to the port 69 of the microcontroller 95, at which the activation signal is present or absent. In the presence of the predetermined signal at the actuation connection point 88, in this case the activation signal, the second switching member 80 has a conductive configuration in which it connects the second end 11Oa of the triggering relay coil 52 to the out connection terminal 27. In blocked configuration, the first connection point 85 is isolated from the second connection point 86 and in conductive configuration, the first connection point 85 is connected to the second connection point 86. As can be seen in Figure 6, the second supply switching member 80 comprises a transistor 97 and a thyristor 98. The actuation connection point 88 is connected to the base of the transistor 97 of which the collector is connected to the + pole of the supply of the electronic circuit 43a and of which the emitter is connected to one side of a first resistor and of a second resistor, the other side of the first resistor being connected to the reference pole of the supply and the other side of the second resistor being connected to the gate of the thyristor 98 of which the anode is connected to the first connection point 85 and of which the cathode is connected to the second connection point 86. In the absence of the activation signal at the connection point 88 the transistor 97 is blocked and the same applies for the thyristor 98. In the presence of the activation signal at the connection point 88, the transistor 97 is conductive between its collector and its emitter, this resulting in the appearance of a signal at the gate of the thyristor 98 which becomes conductive between its anode and its cathode. The fact of making the thyristors 98 conductive places the ends of the triggering relay coil 52 at the network voltage, the striker 102 is driven, the latch 50 places the movable contacts 32 and 37 away from the fixed contacts 31 and 36, which by the same action isolates the triggering relay coil 52 from the network.

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The third switching member 81 comprises an actuation connection point 93, a first connection point 89 connected by the conductor 46 and by tracks of the electronic circuit 43a to the first end 110 of the triggering relay coil 52, and a second connection point 90 connected by tracks of the electronic circuit 43a to the input connection point 74 of the interface 70. In the absence of a predetermined signal at the actuation connection point 93, the third switching member 81 has a conductive configuration in which the first end 110 of the triggering relay coil 52 is connected to the prolonged overcurrent detector 60, here at the input connection point 74. The actuation connection point 93 is connected by tracks of the electronic circuit 43a to the port 68 of the microcontroller 95, at which the detection signal is present or absent. In the presence of the predetermined signal at the actuation connection point 93, in this case the detection signal, the third switching member 81 has a blocked configuration in which the first end 110 of the triggering relay coil 52 is isolated from the prolonged overcurrent detector 60. In conductive configuration, the first connection point 89 is connected to the second connection point 90 and in blocked configuration, the first connection point 89 is isolated from the second connection point 90. As can be seen in Figure 7, the third switching member 81 comprises a transistor 99. The actuation connection point 93 is connected to one side of a first resistor as well as to one side of a second resistor, the other side of the first resistor being connected to the reference pole of the supply and the other side of the second resistor being connected to the base of the transistor 99. The connection point 89 is connected to the collector of the transistor 99 and the connection point 90 is connected to the emitter of the transistor 99. In the absence of the detection signal at the connection point 93 the transistor 99 is conductive, the absence of the detection signal being a high level of voltage at the connection point 93.

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In the presence of the detection signal at the connection point 93 the transistor 99 is blocked, the presence of the detection signal being a low level of voltage at the connection point 93. The fourth switching member 82 comprises an actuation connection point 94, a first connection point 91 connected by the conductor 47 and by tracks of the electronic circuit 43a to the second end 110a of the triggering relay coil 52, and a second connection point 92 connected by tracks of the electronic circuit 43a to the input connection point 75 of the interface 70. In the absence of a predetermined signal at the actuation connection point 94, the fourth switching member 82 has a conductive configuration in which the second end 110a of the triggering relay coil 52 is connected to the prolonged overcurrent detector 60, here at the input connection point 75. The actuation connection point 94 is connected by tracks of the electronic circuit 43a to the port 68 of the microcontroller 95, at which the detection signal is present or absent. In the presence of the predetermined signal at the actuation connection point 94, in this case the detection signal, the fourth switching member 82 has a blocked configuration in which the second end 11Oa of the triggering relay coil 52 is isolated from the prolonged overcurrent detector 60. In conductive configuration, the first connection point 91 is connected to the second connection point 92 and in blocked configuration, the first connection point 91 is isolated from the second connection point 92. As can be seen in Figure 7, the fourth switching member 82 comprises a transistor 99. The actuation connection point 94 is connected to one side of a first resistor as well as to one side of a second resistor, the other side of the first resistor being connected to the reference pole of the supply and the other side of the second resistor being connected to the base of the transistor 99. The connection point 91 is connected to the collector of the transistor 99 and the connection point 92 is connected to the emitter of the transistor 99.

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In the absence of the detection signal at the connection point 94 the transistor 99 is conductive. In the presence of the detection signal at the connection point 94 the transistor 99 is blocked. As can be seen in Figures 10 to 12, in addition to the magnetic triggering coil 51, the triggering relay coil 52, the striker 102 and the movable core 103, the compact member 44 comprises a spool 101, a guide 107, a spring 108, an insulating sleeve 111 and connecting rods 125 and 125a here embodying the conductors 46 and 47. The triggering relay coil 52 is wound around the spool 101 of insulating plastic material, which is of tubular general shape with a flange at the end that can be seen downward in the drawings and, on the portion that is seen upward, a flange combined with housings each provided for one of the ends of the coil 52 and one of the rods 125 and 125a. The insulating sleeve 111 is disposed between the magnetic triggering coil 51 and the triggering relay coil 52. The core 103, the striker 102, the spring 108 and the guide 107 are housed in the internal space of the spool 101. The core 103 is of cylindrical general shape. A housing 104 is provided in one of its end portions. The core 103 is slidingly mounted in the spool 101. The guide 107 is fixedly mounted in the spool 101, on one of its ends. A through-bore 113 is provided in the guide 107. The striker 102 is formed by a body 106 in the form of a shank and by a head 105 located at one end of the shank and jutting from it. The housing 104 is configured to receive the head 105 of the striker 102. The bore 113 of the guide 107 is configured to receive the shank 106. The spring 108 is disposed around the shank 106 of the striker 102.

The connecting rod 125 is disposed between the end 110 of the triggering relay coil 52 and the electronic circuit 43a (see in particular Figure 13). Similarly, the connecting rod 125a is disposed between the end 11Oa of the triggering relay coil 52 and the electronic circuit 43a.

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The mechanical and electrical connection member 112, which is of relatively rigid conducting material, serves for the mounting of the compact member 44 on the casing of the apparatus 100 and for implementing the electrical connection between the magnetic triggering coil 51 and the fixed contact 31. If no fault (prolonged overcurrent or short-circuit) is present, the core 103 is held away from the guide 107 by the spring 108. When a fault is present, the flux created by the coil 51 or the coil 52 acts on the core 103 to slidingly drive it within the bore 113, against the spring 108, towards the guide 107, which drives the striker 102 by making its shank 106 protrude which then acts on the actuation mechanism 50. When the flux ceases, the spring 108, the core 103 and the striker 102 return to their initial position shown in Figure 12. As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the compact member 44 and the latch 50 are astride an isolating partition 109. This partition 109 is provided between the conveying circuit of the protected pole (between the terminals 22 and 26) and the unprotected pole circuit (between the terminals 23 and 27). In the variant shown in Figure 15, the apparatus 100 further comprises a differential fault detection transformer 35, the electronic circuit 43a is replaced by an electronic circuit 43d and the group formed by the triggering relay 45 connected to the electronic circuit 43d is furthermore configured to act on the latch 50 not only in case of prolonged overcurrent but also in case of differential fault. In this variant, the current conveying circuit between the terminals 22 and 26 comprises in series the magnetic triggering member 30, the fixed contact 31, the movable contact 32 and a winding 34 forming part of the transformer 35 and the conveying circuit between the terminals 23 and 27 comprises in series the fixed contact 36, the movable contact 37 and a winding 38 forming part of the differential fault detection transformer 35. The transformer 35 comprises, in addition to the winding 34 and the winding 38, a secondary winding 39 and an annular armature 40 around which are formed the secondary winding 39 and the primary winding 34 and 38.

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The secondary winding 39 is connected by two conductors 41, 42 to the electronic circuit 43d which processes the differential fault signal supplied by the transformer 35 in addition to the signal representing the magnitude of the current supplied by the coil 52. Broadly speaking, the electronic circuit 43d is similar to the electronic circuit 43a apart from the fact that the prolonged overcurrent detector 60 is replaced by a set formed by the interface 70, by the converter 71, by the computing unit 72, by the monitoring unit 73, this set serving for the determination of the root mean square value of the magnitude of the current passing in the magnetic triggering coil unit 51; and apart from the fact that it further comprises a switching interface 63 which produces the signals to which respond the switching circuit 61. The switching interface 63 comprises two connection points 170 and 171 respectively connected by the conductors 42 and 41 to the secondary winding 39 of the transformer 35 and two output connection points 168 and 169 each connected to the switching circuit 61. More specifically, the output connection point 168 is connected to the actuation connection points 93 and 94, respectively of the third switching member 81 and fourth switching member 82; and the output connection point 169 is connected to the actuation connection points 87 and 88, respectively of the first switching member 79 and second switching member 80. When a differential fault signal is supplied by the transformer 35 on the conductors 41 and 42, the interface 63 produces by way of response a detection signal sent to the third switching member 81 and to the fourth switching member 82 then produces an activation signal sent to the first switching member 79 and to the second switching member 80. In variants that are not represented: - the triggering relay coil 52 is disposed around the magnetic triggering coil 51 rather than the contrary; - the switching circuit is implemented differently from the embodiment illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, for example with optocouplers rather than with transistors and thyristors;

21583742_1 (GHMatters) P114678.AU

- the prolonged overcurrent detector is implemented differently from the embodiment illustrated in Figures 5, 8 and 9, for example in a fully analog manner; - the activation signal produced at the end of a predetermined duration after the production of said detection signal is supplied other than by the prolonged overcurrent detector, for example supplied by a switching circuit similar to the circuit 61 but configured to receive the detection signal alone; - the current conveying circuit of the protected pole is to the right rather than to the left while the current conveying circuit of the unprotected pole is to the left rather than to the right; and/or - the protective apparatus does not comprise the second out connection terminal 27 for the second electrical pole and does not therefore comprise any second current conveying circuit between the terminals 23 and 27. In variants not shown, the protective apparatus has a different width and/or a different number of poles, for example a tetrapolar apparatus having a width of four modules comprising four terminals in the upper part and four terminals in the lower part. More generally, the invention is not limited to the examples described and illustrated. It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

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Claims

CLAIMS 1. Protective apparatus for an alternating current electrical installation, having a first in connection terminal for a first electrical pole, a second in connection terminal for a second electrical pole different from the first electrical pole and an out connection terminal for the first electrical pole, each said connection terminal being configured to receive a stripped end section of an electric cable or a tooth of a horizontal comb-like busbar; which apparatus comprises: a first current conveying circuit between the first in connection terminal and the out connection terminal, comprising a fixed contact and a movable contact; an actuation mechanism of the movable contact having two stable positions, respectively a cutting-off position in which the movable contact is away from the fixed contact and an engaging position in which the movable contact bears on the fixed contact; a lever to act manually on the actuation mechanism in order to pass from the cutting-off position to the engaging position or from the engaging position to the cutting-off position; a compact member comprising a magnetic triggering member and a triggering relay, said magnetic triggering member being formed by a magnetic triggering coil disposed around a movable core actuating a striker acting in case of short-circuit on the actuation mechanism and forming a portion of the first current conveying circuit, said triggering relay being formed by a triggering relay coil disposed around said movable core, the magnetic triggering coil and the triggering relay coil being disposed one around the other; and an electronic circuit connected to the triggering relay coil, said electronic circuit being configured to supply said triggering relay coil when predetermined current conveying conditions occur representing a prolonged overcurrent; wherein said electronic circuit comprises a prolonged overcurrent detector configured to determine the presence of said current conveying conditions from the signal present at the ends of said triggering relay
21583739_1 (GHMatters) P114678.AU coil and to produce a detection signal when said predetermined current conveying conditions are present; and comprises a switching circuit with said prolonged overcurrent detector and said switching circuit being configured such that in the absence of said detection signal the switching circuit connects the triggering relay coil to the prolonged overcurrent detector whereas it isolates the triggering relay coil from each of said in connection terminals, and such that in the presence of said detection signal the switching circuit isolates the triggering relay coil from the prolonged overcurrent detector then connects the triggering relay coil to each of said in connection terminals. 2. Protective apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the prolonged overcurrent detector is implemented by an analog-digital converter, by a computing unit and by an interface disposed between said switching circuit and the converter, said switching circuit connecting the interface to the two ends of the triggering relay coil in the absence of said detection signal and isolating the interface from the two ends of the triggering relay coil in the presence of said detection signal, said interface being configured to provide to an input port of the converter an analog signal exploitable by said converter and corresponding to the voltage present between the two ends of said triggering relay coil. 3. Protective apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the prolonged overcurrent detector comprises in a microcontroller: the analog-digital converter connected to said analog port and configured to produce digital values representing the analog signal provided by said interface, a computing unit configured to produce, from said digital values representing the analog signal provided by said interface, digital values representing the root mean square value of the magnitude of the current passing in said magnetic triggering coil; and a unit for monitoring the root mean square value of the current passing in said magnetic triggering coil, configured to compare said digital values representing the root mean square value of the magnitude of the current with a current magnitude threshold and to produce said detection signal if said current magnitude threshold is exceeded for a predetermined duration.
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4. Protective apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said microcontroller is furthermore connected to a communication member and configured to communicate to said communication member said digital values representing the root mean square value of the magnitude of the current that are produced by said computing unit.
5. Protective apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the communication member is a radio communication member.
6. Protective apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said switching circuit comprises: a first switching member comprising an actuation connection point and being connected to the first in connection terminal and connected to a first end of the triggering relay coil, having, in the absence of a predetermined signal at said actuation connection point, a blocked configuration in which it isolates the first end of the triggering relay coil from the first in connection terminal and having, in the presence of said predetermined signal at said actuation connection point, a conductive configuration in which it connects the first end of the triggering relay coil to the first in connection terminal; a second switching member comprising an actuation connection point and being connected to the second in connection terminal and connected to a second end of said triggering relay coil, having, in the absence of a predetermined signal at said actuation connection point, a blocked configuration in which it isolates the second end of the triggering relay coil from the second in connection terminal and having, in the presence of said predetermined signal at said actuation connection point, a conductive configuration in which it connects the second end of the triggering relay coil to the second in connection terminal; a third switching member comprising an actuation connection point and being connected to the first end of the triggering relay coil and connected to the prolonged overcurrent detector, having, in the absence of a predetermined signal at said actuation connection point a conductive configuration in which the first end of the triggering relay coil is connected to said prolonged overcurrent detector and having, in the presence of said

21583739_1 (GHMatters) P114678.AU predetermined signal at said actuation connection point, a blocked configuration in which the first end of the triggering relay coil is isolated from said prolonged overcurrent detector; a fourth switching member comprising an actuation connection point and being connected to the second end of the triggering relay coil and connected to the prolonged overcurrent detector, having, in the absence of a predetermined signal at said actuation connection point, a conductive configuration in which the second end of the triggering relay coil is connected to said prolonged overcurrent detector and having, in the presence of said predetermined signal at said actuation connection point, a blocked configuration in which the second end of the triggering relay coil is isolated from said prolonged overcurrent detector.
7. Protective apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said prolonged overcurrent detector is configured to produce, at the end of a predetermined duration starting with the production of said detection signal, an activation signal, said electronic circuit being configured to apply said detection signal to the actuation connection point of the third switching member and to the actuation connection point of the fourth switching member, and to apply said activation signal to the actuation connection point of the first switching member and to the actuation connection point of the second switching member.
8. Protective apparatus according to any one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the first switching member and the second switching member each comprise a transistor and a thyristor.
9. Protective apparatus according to any one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the third switching member and the fourth switching member each comprise a transistor.
10. Protective apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein it is of modular format, of parallelepiped general shape with two main faces, respectively a left face and a right face, and lateral faces extending from one to the other of the main faces, with a width, that is to say the spacing between the left face and the right face equal to an integer number of times a predetermined distance, called module.

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11. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the ratio between the number of turns of the triggering relay coil and the number of turns of the magnetic triggering coil is comprised between 100 and 500.
12. Protective apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said apparatus has a second out connection terminal for the second electrical pole, said out connection terminal being configured to receive a stripped end section of an electric cable or a tooth of a horizontal comb-like busbar; said apparatus comprising a second current conveying circuit between the second in connection terminal and the second out connection terminal.

21583739_1 (GHMatters) P114678.AU