JP4972003B2 - Circuit breaker - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a circuit breaker inserted in a power feeding path between a DC power supply and a load.

  Conventionally, as a circuit breaker interposed in a circuit from a DC power source to a DC load (a load driven by DC power), a double-cut type that interrupts the circuit on both the high potential side and the low potential side of the DC power source. Things have been proposed.

For example, in Patent Document 1, a first fixed contact provided with a first fixed contact, a second fixed contact provided with a second fixed contact, an arc extinguishing device, and an operation of a handle are first fixed in a case. An open / close mechanism that opens and closes the contact and the first movable contact, the second fixed contact and the second movable contact, and an abnormal current detection unit made of a bimetal is disclosed. According to the type of circuit breaker, the DC power source and the load can be electrically completely disconnected.
JP-A-10-154448 (refer to paragraphs [0014] to [0019] and FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular)

  By the way, unlike an AC power source in which a high potential side (for example, a positive electrode) and a low potential side (for example, a negative electrode) are switched over time, the DC power source does not interchange between a high potential side and a low potential side. A load using a DC power supply is provided with a terminal connected to the high potential side of the DC power supply and a terminal connected to the low potential side, and the load is applied between these terminals. Driven by voltage.

  Here, when connecting the circuit breaker described above to a DC power supply, if a misconnection (incorrect connection) is made in which the high potential side and the low potential side of the DC power supply are connected in reverse, The terminal to be connected to the high potential side of the power supply is connected to the low potential side, and the terminal to be connected to the low potential side of the DC power supply is connected to the high potential side. In this case, a reverse voltage is applied between the terminals of the load, which may cause stress on the load and destroy the load.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a circuit breaker capable of preventing a reverse voltage from being applied to a load at the time of erroneous connection.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in the invention of claim 1, a high potential side power supply terminal and a low potential side power supply terminal connected to the high potential side and the low potential side of the DC power supply, respectively, It has a high potential side load terminal and a low potential side load terminal corresponding to each of the low potential side power supply terminals, and has a switching means between the high potential side power supply terminal and the high potential side load terminal and between the low potential side power supply terminal and the low potential side power supply terminal. A container housed so as to be inserted between the potential side load terminals and an operation handle for manual operation attached to the container so as to be displaceable are provided, and the opening / closing means is opened and closed according to the operation of the operation handle. A switching mechanism and a tripping device that releases the switching means when an overcurrent flows between the DC power source and the load, and the polarity of the high potential side power terminal and the low potential side power terminal are reversed. When there is an operation hand Characterized in that it comprises a restraining means for restraining the in the open position.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the low potential side power supply terminal is connected to the high potential side and the high potential side power supply terminal is connected to the low potential side, respectively, the high potential side power supply terminal and the low potential side power supply are connected. Since the polarity of the terminal is reversed, the operating handle is restrained to the open position by the restraining means, and the operating handle cannot be moved from the open position to the closing position, so the high potential side power terminal and the low potential side power terminal When the polarity is reverse, it is impossible to supply power to the load from the DC power supply. Therefore, it is possible to prevent reverse voltage from being applied to the load at the time of incorrect connection, and the load is not destroyed. .

  According to a second aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the restraining means is between a free position where the operating handle is not restrained and a restraining position where the operating handle abuts the operating handle and restrains the operating handle to the open position. And an electromagnetic device having a coil inserted between the high-potential-side power supply terminal and the low-potential-side power supply terminal and moving the plunger by an electromagnetic force generated by the coil The electromagnet device holds the plunger in a free position when the potential of the high potential side power supply terminal is higher than the potential of the low potential side power supply terminal, and the potential of the high potential side power supply terminal The plunger is held in a restrained position when it is lower than the electric potential.

  According to the invention of claim 2, when the high potential side power supply terminal is connected to the high potential side of the DC power supply and the low potential side power supply terminal is connected to the low potential side (when correctly connected), the plunger is made by the electromagnet device. Is held in the free position, the operation handle can be moved from the open position to the closing position, and it is possible to supply power to the load from the DC power supply. When the high potential side power supply terminal is connected to the potential side (in the case of incorrect connection), the plunger is held in the restraining position by the electromagnet device, and the operating handle cannot be moved from the open position to the closing position. Since it is impossible to supply power from the power source to the load, it is possible to prevent a reverse voltage from being applied to the load during incorrect connection.

  The present invention has an effect that it is possible to prevent a reverse voltage from being applied to a load during erroneous connection.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the circuit breaker according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a container 1 made of a resin molded product formed of an insulating resin material (for example, a phenol resin). Yes.

  A power source side terminal plate 20 is provided on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the container body 1 (left end side in FIG. 1A), and on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the container body 1 (right end side in FIG. 1A). A load side terminal plate 21 is provided. Each of the power supply side terminal board 20 and the load side terminal board 21 is screwed together with a washer 23 and a nut 24 to fasten an electric wire (not shown) used for connecting a DC power supply or a load. Thus, the power terminal 10 connected to the DC power source and the load terminal 11 connected to the load are constituted by these.

  Here, as shown in FIG.1 (b), the power supply terminal 10 is arranged in parallel by two in the width direction (left-right direction in FIG.1 (b)) of the container 1, and the following is shown to the following. In the description, in order to distinguish between the two power supply terminals 10, the power supply terminal 10 connected to the high potential side of the DC power supply is referred to as a high potential power supply terminal and is denoted by reference numeral 10H as necessary. The power supply terminal 10 connected to the potential side is referred to as a low potential side power supply terminal and is denoted by reference numeral 10L. Also, two load terminals 11 are arranged in parallel in the width direction of the container body 1. In the following description, in order to distinguish the two load terminals 11, the load terminals 11 correspond to the high-potential side power supply terminal 10 </ b> H as necessary. The load terminal 11 is referred to as a high potential side load terminal and is denoted by reference numeral 11H, and the load terminal 11 corresponding to the low potential side power supply terminal 10L is referred to as a low potential side load terminal and is denoted by reference numeral 11L. In addition, in FIG.1 (b), illustration of the washer 23 and the nut 24 is abbreviate | omitted.

  Each power supply side terminal plate 20 is provided with a fixed contact 30 formed using, for example, a metal material (for example, a silver-based metal material) having high welding resistance, environmental resistance, and heat resistance. Each fixed contact 30 is provided with a movable contact 31 formed of the same material as that of the fixed contact 30 so as to be able to contact and separate. The fixed contact 30 and the movable contact 31 constitute an opening / closing means 3 composed of a mechanical contact. Yes.

  The movable contact 31 is provided on a movable contact 40 that is movably accommodated in the container 1, and the movable contact 40 is a bimetal made of a braided wire 41 that is a flexible electric wire and a thermally responsive element. 42, and is electrically connected to the load side terminal plate 21. The bimetal 42 is accommodated in the container body 1 along the longitudinal direction in the height direction of the container body 1 (up and down direction in FIG. 1A), and is one end side in the longitudinal direction that is the free end side (see FIG. 1 (a) is connected to the braided wire 41 at the upper end side, and is connected to the load side terminal plate 21 at the other end in the longitudinal direction (the lower end side in FIG. 1 (a)) which is the fixed end side. The bimetal 42 is configured such that the free end moves to one end in the longitudinal direction of the vessel 1 as its temperature rises.

  The movable contact 40 is fixed to a movable arm 43, and the movable arm 43 is inserted into an opening (not shown) of a movable frame 45 that is pivotally supported on the container body 1 by a shaft portion 44. Further, an operating handle 46 for opening and closing the opening / closing means 3 by manual operation is attached to the container body 1 by a shaft portion 44 so as to be displaceable (in this embodiment, freely rotatable).

  The operation handle 46 is provided with an operation knob 46a. The operation knob 46a is provided in the body 1 from a handle hole 1a opened on one side in the height direction of the container 1 (upper surface side in FIG. 1A). It protrudes to the outside. The handle hole 1a is formed in a size that allows the operation handle 46 to be moved between a closing position where the opening / closing means 3 is closed and an opening position where the opening / closing means 3 is opened.

  The operation handle 46 is connected to the movable arm 43 by a connecting spring S1 made of a tension spring (also called a tension spring or a tension coil spring). Thus, when the operation handle 46 is in the open position, the movable arm 43 is positioned at a position where the movable contact 31 is separated from the fixed contact 30 (that is, the opening / closing means 3 is opened), and the operation handle 46 is When it is located at the closing position, the movable arm 43 is located at a position where the movable contact 31 is brought into contact with the fixed contact 30 (that is, the opening / closing means 3 is closed). Further, when the operation handle 46 moves between the open position and the closing position, the fixed contact 30 and the movable contact 31 are quickly brought into and out of contact with each other by the spring force of the coupling spring S1, and the movable contact 31 is moved. When contacting the fixed contact 30, the movable contact 31 contacts the fixed contact 30 with a predetermined contact pressure. Therefore, the opening / closing mechanism 4 that opens and closes each opening / closing means 3 according to the operation of the operation handle 46 is configured by the movable contact 40, the movable arm 43, the operation handle 46, and the connection spring S1. The opening / closing mechanism 4 is merely an example, and other known configurations may be adopted.

  By the way, the movable frame 45 is the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the container body 1 (the right end side in FIG. 1A) and the direction in which the movable contact 31 is separated from the fixed contact 30 by the separation spring S <b> 2 made of a coil spring. ). The movable frame 45 is locked (latched) by the latch plate 47 in a state of being biased by the release spring S2. The latch plate 47 has a locking piece 47a for locking the movable frame 45, and is configured to be rotatable between a position where the movable frame 45 is latched and latched and a position where the movable frame 45 is not latched. It is pivotally attached to the body 1.

  Here, while the movable frame 45 is latched by the latch plate 47, the movable arm 43 rotates according to the operation of the operation handle 46, and the opening / closing means 3 is opened / closed. On the other hand, when the latch of the movable frame 45 by the latch plate 47 is released, the movable frame 45 is moved by the spring force of the separation spring S2 so that the movable arm 43 moves to the other end in the longitudinal direction of the body 1. It is rotated around the shaft portion 44 (rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1A), and as a result, the movable contact 31 is separated from the fixed contact 30.

  The latch plate 47 is held at a position where the movable frame 45 is latched by a plate spring 48. The leaf spring 48 is substantially M-shaped, and both arm portions 48a and 48b are elastically contacted with the latch plate 47 from one end side in the longitudinal direction of the vessel 1 (left end side in FIG. 1A). Here, when the operation handle 46 is in the open position, the one arm portion 48 b comes into contact with the operation handle 46, whereby the latch plate 47 is moved from the position where the movable frame 45 is latched. I try not to move. On the other hand, when the operation handle 46 is located at the closing position, the one arm portion 48b does not contact the operation handle 46, whereby the latch plate 47 is movable from the position where the movable frame 45 is latched. Yes.

  On the opposite side of the latch plate 47 from the leaf spring 48 side, a pressing screw 49 provided on the free end side of the bimetal 42 is disposed oppositely. Accordingly, when the operation handle 46 is located at the closing position, the temperature of the bimetal 42 rises due to an overcurrent flowing between the DC power supply and the load, and when the bimetal 42 is bent, the press screw The latch plate 47 is pressed by 49, and the latch plate 45 is moved from the position where the movable frame 45 is latched, whereby the opening / closing means 3 is opened. That is, the opening / closing means 3 is released when an overcurrent flows between the DC power source and the load by the movable frame 45, the latch plate 47, the release spring S2, the bimetal 42, and the pressing screw 49. A tripping device 5 is configured. The timing for operating such a tripping device 5 can be adjusted by the amount of protrusion of the pressing screw 49 from the bimetal 42. The tripping device 5 is merely an example, and other known configurations may be employed. For example, the trip device 5 of the present embodiment detects the overload current out of the overcurrent using the bimetal 42, but may detect the short circuit current using the electromagnet device, or An electromagnet device and a bimetal may be used in combination to detect both a short-circuit current and an overload current.

  Such a container 1 houses an arc extinguishing device 6 for quickly extinguishing arc discharge generated between the fixed contact 30 and the movable contact 31 of each switching means 3. The arc extinguishing device 6 may be a conventionally known one and will not be described in detail.

  As described above, the circuit breaker of the present embodiment includes the high potential side power supply terminal 10H and the low potential side power supply terminal 10L connected to the high potential side and the low potential side of the DC power supply (not shown), respectively, A high potential side load terminal 11H and a low potential side load terminal 11L respectively corresponding to the potential side power supply terminal 10H and the low potential side power supply terminal 10L are provided, and the switching means 3 is connected to the high potential side power supply terminal 10H and the high potential side load terminal. 11H and a housing 1 that is inserted between the low potential side power supply terminal 10L and the low potential side load terminal 11L, and an operation handle for manual operation that is detachably attached to the housing 1 The opening / closing mechanism 4 that opens and closes the opening / closing means 3 according to the operation of the operation handle 46 and the opening / closing means 3 are released when an overcurrent flows between the DC power source and the load (DC load). Pull And a device 5.

  Furthermore, the circuit breaker according to the present embodiment includes the restraining means 7 that restrains the operation handle 46 in the open position when the polarity of the high potential side power supply terminal 10H and the low potential side power supply terminal 10L is opposite.

  The restraining means 7 is a plunger (movable iron core) provided so as to be movable between a position where the operation handle 46 moves from the open position to the closing position and a position where it moves out of the movement path. ) 70 and an electromagnet device 71 having a coil L inserted between the high potential side power supply terminal 10H and the low potential side power supply terminal 10L and moving the plunger 70 by the electromagnetic force generated by the coil L. Yes.

  Here, when the plunger 70 has advanced into the movement path of the operation handle 46 (when it is located on the movement path as shown in FIG. 1A), the plunger 70 is moved to the operation handle. By abutting on 46, the operation handle 46 is restrained to the open position. On the other hand, when the plunger 70 is retracted from the movement path (when not located on the movement path), the plunger 70 does not contact the operation handle 46, and therefore the operation handle 46 is not restrained to the open position. , The charging position and the opening position can be freely moved.

  Therefore, the plunger 70 is in a free position where the operation handle 46 is not restrained (a position not located on the movement path) and a restriction position where the operation handle 46 is brought into contact with the operation handle 46 and restrained in the open position (on the movement path). It is provided in such a manner that it can be moved between the position and the position.

  The electromagnet device 71 includes a cylindrical coil bobbin 71a around which the coil L is wound on the outer peripheral surface, and a magnetic plate 71b. The magnetic plate 71b is disposed so as to close the opening on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the coil bobbin 71a (left end side in FIG. 1A), and is fixed to a portion that closes the opening on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the coil bobbin 71a. An iron core 71c is formed.

  The plunger 70 is made of, for example, a rod-shaped permanent magnet, and one end in the longitudinal direction (left end side in FIG. 1A) is an N pole, and the other end in the longitudinal direction (right end side in FIG. 1A) is an S pole. Magnetized. The plunger 70 is disposed so as to protrude and retract from the opening on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the coil bobbin 71a (the right end side in FIG. 1A). In addition, the plunger 70 and the magnetic plate 71 b are connected by a return spring 72 made of a coil spring. When the coil L is not energized, the plunger 70 is held at the restrained position by the spring force of the return spring 72. .

  The coil L generates a magnetic field such that the fixed iron core 71c becomes an S pole when the potential of the high potential side power supply terminal 10H is higher than the potential of the low potential side power supply terminal 10L (the plunger 70 and the magnetic plate 71b). When the potential of the high potential side power supply terminal 10H is lower than the potential of the low potential side power supply terminal 10L, a magnetic field is generated so that the fixed iron core 71c becomes an N pole (plunger 70). And a magnetic plate 71b) and is wound around the coil bobbin 71a.

  That is, the electromagnet device 71 holds the plunger 70 in a free position when the potential of the high potential power terminal 10H is higher than the potential of the low potential power terminal 10L, and the potential of the high potential power terminal 10H is low. When it is lower than the potential of the power terminal 10L, the plunger 70 is held in the restrained position. It should be noted that the impedance of the coil L is set so that a current that can hold the plunger 70 in a free position flows through the coil L when the switching means 3 is closed. It is suppressing that most of the electric power supplied from the coil L is consumed.

  The circuit breaker according to the present embodiment is configured as described above. Next, the operation at the time of connection will be described. First, when the operation handle 46 is in the open position in the state before connection, the plunger 70 is held in the restrained position by the spring force of the return spring 72 as shown in FIG. Thus, the operation handle 46 is restrained at the restraining position.

  When the high potential side power supply terminal 10H is connected to the high potential side of the DC power supply and the low potential side power supply terminal 10L is connected to the low potential side (that is, correctly connected), the potential of the high potential side power supply terminal 10H. Is higher than the potential of the low-potential-side power supply terminal 10L, and the current flowing through the coil L generates a magnetic field in which the fixed iron core 71c becomes the S pole (the plunger 70 and the magnetic plate 71b). An attractive force is generated between As a result, the plunger 70 is moved from the restraint position to the free position against the spring force of the return spring 72 and held at the free position. In this case, since the restraint of the operation handle 46 is released, the operation handle 46 can be moved to the closing position. By positioning the operation handle 46 in the closing position, the opening / closing means 3 is closed, Electric power is supplied from a DC power supply to the load.

  That is, when the high potential side power supply terminal 10H is connected to the high potential side of the DC power supply and the low potential side power supply terminal 10L is connected to the low potential side (when correctly connected), the electromagnet device 71 causes the plunger 70 to move freely. The operation handle 46 can be moved from the open position to the closing position, and the load can be supplied from the DC power source.

  On the other hand, when the low potential side power supply terminal 10L is connected to the high potential side of the DC power supply and the high potential side power supply terminal 10H is connected to the low potential side (that is, misconnection is performed), the potential of the high potential side power supply terminal 10H Is lower than the potential of the low-potential-side power supply terminal 10L. Therefore, a magnetic field that causes the fixed iron core 71c to have an N pole is generated in the electromagnet device 70 by the current flowing through the coil L (plunger 70 and magnetic plate 71b). Repulsive force is generated between Accordingly, the plunger 70 is held at the restraining position without moving from the restraining position to the free position. In this case, the restraint of the operation handle 46 is not released, and the opening / closing means 3 cannot be closed, so that power is not supplied from the DC power supply to the load.

  That is, when the low potential side power supply terminal 10L is connected to the high potential side of the DC power supply and the high potential side power supply terminal 10H is connected to the low potential side (in the case of incorrect connection), the electromagnet device 71 causes the plunger 70 to be restrained. Since the operating handle 46 cannot be moved from the open position to the closing position and power cannot be supplied from the DC power source to the load, it is possible to prevent a reverse voltage from being applied to the load at the time of incorrect connection. can do.

  Thus, according to the circuit breaker of the present embodiment, when the low potential side power supply terminal 10L is connected to the high potential side of the DC power supply and the high potential side power supply terminal 10H is connected to the low potential side, respectively, the high potential Since the polarity of the power supply terminal 10H and the low potential power supply terminal 10L are opposite, the operation handle 46 is restrained to the open position by the restraining means 7, and the operation handle 46 cannot be moved from the open position to the closing position. Therefore, when the polarity of the high potential side power supply terminal 10H and the low potential side power supply terminal 10L is opposite, it is impossible to supply power from the DC power supply to the load. It is possible to prevent the load from being destroyed.

  By the way, the DC switch of this embodiment is used as a DC breaker 114 described later in a DC power distribution system as shown in FIG. 3, for example.

  Although FIG. 3 is described assuming a detached house as a building where the DC power distribution system is installed, the present invention may be applied to an apartment house.

  The house H shown in FIG. 3 is provided with a DC power supply unit 101 that outputs DC power and a DC device 102 as a load (DC load) driven by the DC power, and an output terminal of the DC power supply unit 101 DC power is supplied to the DC device 102 through the DC supply line Wdc connected to the unit. A current flowing through the DC supply line Wdc is monitored between the DC power supply unit 101 and the DC device 102. When an abnormality is detected, power is supplied from the DC power supply unit 101 to the DC device 102 on the DC power supply line Wdc. The above-described DC breaker 114 is provided to limit or block the above.

  The DC supply line Wdc is used as both a DC power supply path and a communication path, and is connected to the DC supply line Wdc by superimposing a communication signal for transmitting data on a DC voltage using a high-frequency carrier wave. Enables communication between devices. This technique is similar to a power line carrier technique in which a communication signal is superimposed on an AC voltage in a power line that supplies AC power.

  The DC supply line Wdc is connected to the home server 116 via the DC power supply unit 101. The in-home server 116 is a main device for constructing a home communication network (hereinafter referred to as “home network”), and communicates with a subsystem constructed by the DC device 102 in the home network.

  In the example shown in the drawing, as an subsystem, an illumination system comprising an information equipment system K101 comprising an information-system DC device 102 such as a personal computer, a wireless access point, a router, and an IP telephone, and an illumination system DC equipment 102 such as a lighting fixture. K102 and K105, an intercom system K103 including a DC device 102 that handles visitor correspondence and intruder monitoring, and a residential alarm system K104 including a warning DC device 102 such as a fire detector. Each subsystem constitutes a self-supporting distributed system, and can operate even with the subsystem alone.

  The above-described DC breaker 114 is provided in association with a subsystem. In the illustrated example, four DCs are associated with the information equipment system K101, the lighting system K102 and the intercom system K103, the house alarm system K104, and the lighting system K105. A breaker 114 is provided. When a plurality of subsystems are associated with one DC breaker 114, a connection box 121 for dividing the system of the DC supply line Wdc is provided for each subsystem. In the illustrated example, a connection box 121 is provided between the illumination system K102 and the intercom system K103.

  As the information equipment system K101, there is provided an information equipment system K101 composed of a DC equipment 102 connected to a DC outlet 131 arranged in advance in the house H (constructed when the house H is constructed) in the form of a wall outlet or a floor outlet.

  The lighting systems K102 and K105 include a lighting system K102 composed of a lighting device (DC device 102) arranged in advance in the house H and a lighting device (DC device 102) connected to a hook ceiling 132 arranged in advance on the ceiling. An illumination system K105 is provided. At the time of interior construction of the house H, the contractor attaches the lighting fixture to the hook ceiling 132, or the householder himself attaches the lighting fixture.

  In addition to using an infrared remote control device, a control instruction for the lighting apparatus that is the DC device 102 constituting the lighting system K102 can be given using a communication signal from the switch 141 connected to the DC supply line Wdc. That is, the switch 141 has a communication function together with the DC device 102. In addition, a control instruction may be given by a communication signal from another DC device 102 in the home network or the home server 116 regardless of the operation of the switch 141. The instructions to the lighting fixture include lighting, extinguishing, dimming, and blinking lighting.

  Since any DC device 102 can be connected to the DC outlet 131 and the hooking ceiling 132 described above and DC power is output to the connected DC device 102, the DC outlet 131 and the hooking ceiling 132 are distinguished below. When it is not necessary, it is called “DC outlet”.

  These DC outlets have a plug-in connection port into which a contact (not shown) provided directly on the DC device 102 or a contact (not shown) provided via a connection line is inserted into the body. The contact receiver that directly contacts the contact inserted into the connection port is held by the container. That is, the direct current outlet supplies power in a contact manner. When the DC device 102 connected to the DC outlet has a communication function, a communication signal can be transmitted through the DC supply line Wdc. A communication function is provided not only in the DC device 102 but also in the DC outlet.

  The home server 116 not only is connected to the home network, but also has a connection port connected to the wide area network NT that constructs the Internet. When the in-home server 116 is connected to the wide area network NT, it is possible to receive services from the center server 200 that is a computer server connected to the wide area network NT.

  The service provided by the center server 200 includes a service that enables monitoring and control of equipment (including mainly the DC equipment 102 but also other equipment having a communication function) connected to the home network through the wide area network NT. is there. This service makes it possible to monitor and control devices connected to the home network using a communication terminal (not shown) having a browser function such as a personal computer, Internet TV, or mobile phone.

  The in-home server 116 has both functions of communication with the center server 200 connected to the wide area network NT and communication with equipment connected to the home network, and identification information about equipment in the home network ( Here, it is assumed that an IP address is used).

  The home server 116 enables monitoring and control of home devices through the center server 200 from a communication terminal connected to the wide area network NT by using a communication function with the center server 200. The center server 200 mediates between home devices and communication terminals on the wide area network NT.

  When monitoring and controlling home devices from a communication terminal, monitoring and control requests are stored in the center server 200, and the home device periodically performs one-way polling communication to monitor from the communication terminal. And receive control requests. With this operation, it is possible to monitor and control devices in the house from the communication terminal.

  Further, when an event that should be notified to the communication terminal, such as a fire detection, occurs in the home device, the home device notifies the center server 200, and the center server 200 notifies the communication terminal by e-mail.

  An important function among the communication functions with the home network in the home server 116 is the detection and management of the devices constituting the home network. The home server 116 automatically detects devices connected to the home network by applying UPnP (Universal Plug and Play). The home server 116 includes a display device 117 having a browser function, and displays a list of detected devices on the display device 117. The display device 117 has a configuration with a touch panel type or an operation unit, and can perform an operation of selecting desired contents from options displayed on the screen of the display device 117. Therefore, the user (contractor or householder) of the home server 116 can monitor or control the device on the screen of the display device 117. The display device 117 may be provided separately from the home server 116.

  The in-home server 116 manages information related to device connection, and grasps the type, function, and address of the device connected to the home network. Accordingly, the devices in the home network can be operated in conjunction with each other. Information on the connection of the device is automatically detected as described above. In order to operate the device in an interlocking manner, the device itself is automatically associated with the attribute held by the device itself, and the home server 116 is configured as a personal computer. It is also possible to connect various information terminals and use the browser function of the information terminals to associate devices.

  Each device holds the relationship of the interlocking operation of the devices. Therefore, the device can operate in an interlocked manner without passing through the home server 116. By associating the linked operations for each device, for example, by operating a switch that is a device, it is possible to turn on or off the lighting fixture that is the device. In many cases, the association of the interlocking operations is performed within the subsystem, but the association beyond the subsystem is also possible.

  By the way, the DC power supply unit 101 basically generates DC power by power conversion of an AC power supply AC supplied from outside the house like a commercial power supply. In the configuration shown in the figure, the AC power source AC is input to an AC / DC converter 112 including a switching power source through a main circuit breaker 111 attached to the distribution board 110 as an internal unit. The DC power output from the AC / DC converter 112 is connected to each DC breaker 114 through the cooperative control unit 113.

  The DC power supply unit 101 is provided with a secondary battery 162 in preparation for a period in which power is not supplied from the AC power supply AC (for example, a power failure period of the commercial power supply AC). It is also possible to use a solar cell 161 or a fuel cell 163 that generates DC power. The solar battery 161, the secondary battery 162, and the fuel battery 163 are distributed power supplies with respect to the main power supply including the AC / DC converter 112 that generates DC power from the AC power supply AC. In the illustrated example, the solar cell 161, the secondary battery 162, and the fuel cell 163 include a circuit unit that controls the output voltage, and the secondary battery 162 includes a circuit unit that controls charging as well as discharging.

  Of the distributed power sources, the solar cell 161 and the fuel cell 163 are not necessarily provided, but the secondary battery 162 is preferably provided. The secondary battery 162 is charged in a timely manner by a main power source or other distributed power source, and the secondary battery 162 is discharged not only in a period in which power is not supplied from the AC power source AC but also in a timely manner as necessary. The coordination control unit 113 performs charge / discharge of the secondary battery 162 and coordination between the main power source and the distributed power source. That is, the cooperative control unit 113 functions as a DC power control unit that controls the distribution of power from the main power source and the distributed power source constituting the DC power supply unit 101 to the DC device 102. Note that a configuration may be adopted in which the outputs of the solar cell 161, the secondary battery 162, and the fuel cell 163 are converted into AC power and used as input power of the AC / DC converter 112.

  Since the driving voltage of the DC device 102 is selected from a plurality of types of voltages depending on the device, a DC / DC converter is provided in the cooperative control unit 113 to convert the DC voltage obtained from the main power source and the distributed power source into a necessary voltage. Is desirable. Normally, one type of voltage is supplied to one subsystem (or DC device 102 connected to one DC breaker 114), but three or more wires are used for one subsystem. A plurality of types of voltages may be supplied. Alternatively, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the DC supply line Wdc is of a two-wire type and the voltage applied between the lines is changed with time. The DC / DC converter may be provided in a plurality of dispersed manners like the DC breaker.

  In the above configuration example, only one AC / DC converter 112 is illustrated, but a plurality of AC / DC converters 112 can be arranged in parallel, and when a plurality of AC / DC converters 112 are provided. It is desirable to increase or decrease the number of AC / DC converters 112 that are operated according to the magnitude of the load.

  The AC / DC converter 112, the cooperative control unit 113, the DC breaker 114, the solar cell 161, the secondary battery 162, and the fuel cell 163 described above are provided with a communication function, and include a main power source, a distributed power source, and a DC device 102. It is possible to perform cooperative operations that deal with the load status. The communication signal used for this communication is transmitted in the form of being superimposed on the DC voltage in the same manner as the communication signal used for the DC device 102.

  In the above example, the AC / DC converter 112 is arranged in the distribution board 110 in order to convert the AC power output from the main breaker 111 into DC power by the AC / DC converter 112. On the output side, a branch breaker (not shown) provided in the distribution board 110 branches the AC supply line into a plurality of systems, and an AC / DC converter is provided on the AC supply line of each system to convert it into DC power for each system. You may employ | adopt the structure to do.

  In this case, since the DC power supply unit 101 can be provided for each floor or room of the house H, the DC power supply unit 101 can be managed for each system, and the DC device 102 that uses DC power and Since the distance of the DC supply line Wdc between the two is reduced, the power loss due to the voltage drop in the DC supply line Wdc can be reduced. Also, the main breaker 111 and the branch breaker are housed in the distribution board 110, and the AC / DC converter 112, the cooperative control unit 113, the DC breaker 114, and the home server 116 are housed in a separate board from the distribution board 110. Also good.

  Note that the circuit breaker of the present embodiment is merely an example, and is not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention to the configuration of the present embodiment, but may be changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The circuit breaker of one Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a schematic explanatory drawing, (b) is a side view which shows an internal structure. It is a circuit explanatory drawing of a circuit breaker same as the above. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the DC power distribution system using a circuit breaker same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container 3 Opening / closing means 4 Opening / closing mechanism part 5 Tripping device 7 Restraint means 10 (10H, 10L) Power supply terminal (high potential side power supply terminal, low potential side power supply terminal)
11 (11H, 11L) Load terminal (High potential side load terminal, Low potential side load terminal)
46 Operation handle 70 Plunger 71 Electromagnet device L Coil

Claims (2)

A high potential side power terminal and a low potential side power terminal connected to the high potential side and low potential side of the DC power source, respectively, and a high potential side load terminal and a low potential side corresponding to the high potential side power terminal and the low potential side power terminal, respectively. A device having a potential side load terminal and storing the switching means inserted between the high potential side power terminal and the high potential side load terminal and between the low potential side power source terminal and the low potential side load terminal. An overcurrent between the DC power supply and the load, and an open / close mechanism that opens and closes the open / close means according to the operation of the operation handle. A tripping device that releases the opening and closing means when it flows,
A circuit breaker comprising a restraining means for restraining the operation handle to an open position when the polarity of the high potential side power supply terminal and the low potential side power supply terminal is opposite. The restraining means includes a plunger provided in a movable manner between a free position where the operation handle is not restrained and a restraining position where the operation handle is restrained to the open position by contacting the operation handle. An electromagnet device having a coil inserted between a potential-side power supply terminal and the low-potential-side power supply terminal and moving the plunger by electromagnetic force generated by the coil;
The electromagnet device holds the plunger in a free position when the potential of the high potential power terminal is higher than the potential of the low potential power terminal, and the potential of the high potential power terminal is lower than the potential of the low potential power terminal. 2. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein the plunger is sometimes held in a restrained position.

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