Abstract:
In a switching device ( 1 ), in particular a line circuit breaker and/or a residual current circuit breaker, having a housing ( 2 ) and having switching contacts for closing and/or opening at least one circuit, wherein a tripping apparatus for automatically disconnecting the switching contacts is provided, wherein the housing ( 2 ) has at least one front side ( 3 ), the invention proposes, for the purpose of meeting changing requirements from the market or the customers quickly, flexibly and at favorable cost, clipping a cover cap ( 4 ) onto the front side ( 3 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a switching device, especially a miniature circuit breaker or a residual current circuit breaker, comprising a housing and switching contacts for closing and/or opening at least one circuit, with a tripping apparatus for automatically disconnecting the switching contacts being provided, with the housing having at least one front side. 
     Switching devices, especially circuit breakers such as miniature circuit breakers and/or residual current circuit breakers, are known which are sold and applied with substantially the same functionality in many countries of the earth. Such switching devices have the same identical interior configuration in a large number of countries. However, the local regulations differ in many countries concerning the necessary labeling of a switching device. It may be necessary in country A to provide certain forms of labeling in the form of imprints on the switching device, whereas in country B it is necessary to have other markings which must be arranged not in the form of an imprint but in the form of a relief incorporated in the switching device. It is further known to purchase switching devices from third-party makers or to sell the same to third-party suppliers. In this case it is necessary to adjust the switching device not only to the firm&#39;s name concerning the firm&#39;s labeling, but the configuration of the switching device is to be adjusted to the configuration of the other switching devices of said third-party firm. 
     It was therefore necessary to date to produce switching devices with separate housings for each market or for each third-party supplier. Since the housings for switching devices such as miniature circuit breakers or residual current circuit breakers are arranged in a very complex way due to the necessary functionality and especially have a very complex arranged interior configuration, the necessary injection-molding and extruder molds are very complex and expensive and the production of a new mold takes a long time. This leads to high costs in the production of different housing shapes and for stocking different housing shapes. This also reduces the producer&#39;s flexibility, who needs to use different housings for each market. The complex production of the housing which requires a long period of time can occur only very slowly and with long delays to customers&#39; requirements and to new or changed markets. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the invention to provide a switching device of the kind mentioned above with which the mentioned disadvantages can be avoided and which allows a simple and cost-effective production and enables a quick, flexible and cost-effective response to changed requirements by the market or customers. 
     This is achieved in such a way that a cover cap is clipped onto the front side. 
     The production of a switching device can thus be arranged in a simple and cost-effective way, enabling a quick and flexible response to changed requirements by the market or the customers. A switching device can thus be produced which can be produced with the same functionality for all markets, countries and/or customers, with the adaptation of the switching device to the respective market, customer and/or country being enabled by the arrangement of a respective cover cap. Merely a single housing can thus be used in the production of the switching device, thus avoiding production expenditure for different housings. Production of the switching device can thus be simplified because production does not have to take into account the final place of assignment of the switching device. The adaptation of the switching device to the market can be made in a flexible way, e.g. in a final production step. Since the cover cap is arranged in a small and simple way, the different shapes for different cover caps can be arranged in a simple way and can be produced in a substantially faster way than a mold for a complete housing. This allows production to respond rapidly to changes or requirements by the market and/or customers, such that new cover caps can be produced in a relatively short period of time which are arranged on the finished switching devices. 
     The clipping of a cover cap can also substantially simplify the production of a switching device in accordance with the invention. The clipping process can be performed both manually or in an automated way simply by a robot, with an especially simple and durable arrangement of the cover cap on the switching device being achieved by the clipping. 
     It can be provided in a further development of the invention that the cover cap comprises at least one latching nose which engages in at least one latching groove arranged in the area of the front side. This ensures favorable anchoring of the cover cap on the housing of the switching device. This ensures a secure latched connection of the cover cap with the housing. 
     According to a further embodiment of the invention it can be provided that the cover cap and the housing are arranged in such a way that they prevent destruction-free opening and especially destruction-free bending of the latched connection between latching groove and latching nose when the cover cap is clipped onto the front side. This helps prevent the removal of the cover cap in a readily mounted switch, thus increasing the operational reliability of the switch. 
     In this connection it can be provided in a further development of the invention in a switching device in accordance with the invention which comprises a projection of the housing which forms the front side at least in sections and which converges into the housing in at least one base area, with a switching lever being arranged in the area of the projection of the housing, that the cover cap is connected with the housing and/or housing projection in a securing connection especially in the area of at least a base area and that the securing connection is arranged in such a way that it prevents destruction-free opening and especially destruction-free upward bending of the latched connection. This can effectively and simply prevent the removal of the cover cap in a readily mounted switch, which thus increases the operational reliability of the switch. 
     In a further embodiment of the invention it can be provided that in the region of the base area, especially in the direct transition of the projection to the housing, at least one securing groove is formed in the housing and the cover cap engages in said securing groove and thus forms the securing connection. An especially simply arranged and highly effective securing connection can thus be created which promotes automated assembly of the switch. 
     In this connection it can be provided in a further embodiment of the invention that the at least one latched connection is arranged in the region between the securing connection and the apex zone of the projection of the housing. By displacing the securing connection away from the regions closest to the user, it can be arranged in a substantially non-visible way and is thus additionally protected from subsequent changes and does not impair the areas necessary for labeling the switch. 
     One variant of the invention in which the front side is formed by the projection of the housing and said projection substantially has the shape of a rectangular cuboid placed on the housing with a first and second face surface can be that in the region of the base area of the first and second face surface a securing groove each is arranged and that the cover cap comprises a securing projection each while resting on the first and second face surface which engages in the securing groove and thus forms a securing connection each in the area of the first and second face side. This enables an especially secure configuration and arrangement of the securing connection which is not accessible to any unauthorized interventions. 
     According to yet a further embodiment of the invention in which the housing is formed by at least two housing shells which are placed against each other with their free boundary edges and are riveted together, it can be provided that a latching groove each is arranged on the first and second face surface merely on one of the two housing shells. In this way, the changes in the design of the necessary tools for forming the housing shells, especially the injection molds, can be limited to merely one housing shell, through which the costs for the necessary changes can be kept low. 
     It can be provided according to a further embodiment of the invention in a switching device with a housing which is formed by at least two housing shells which are placed against each other with their free boundary edges and are riveted together, with the housing shells each having riveting tubes converging into each other for receiving the rivets, that the at least one latching groove is formed by an outside area of the rivet tubes. As a result, the rivet tubes which are present in the housing anyway are used for a further purpose, namely as a latching groove for clipping on the cover cap. One can thus omit further latching grooves which would especially need to be provided in other areas of the housing. This ensures an especially simple and cost-effective arrangement of the housing. An existing housing construction can thus be further used with only minimal changes in a substantially unchanged manner. A switching device with such a housing also especially has an especially high mechanical stability and torsional stiffness since forces acting upon the cover cap or transmitted by the same are transmitted directly onto the rivet tubes via the latching noses, which is why there is no further twisting of the housing. 
     It can be provided in a further development in a switching device in which the front side and the cover cap have a substantially rectangular basic surface that in the area of the four front-side corners at least one latching groove each is arranged and in the area of the four cover corners at least one latching nose each. An especially favorable and stable fastening of the cover cap on the housing is achieved. 
     It can be provided in a further development of the invention in a switching device in which the front side comprises a first breakthrough for leading through a switching lever that the cover cap substantially completely covers the front side and comprises a second breakthrough which is at least as large as the first breakthrough. The entire front side can thus be adjusted to the requirements by the market, customers and/or regulations of a country. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the invention, it can be provided in a switching device in which the housing comprises two substantially parallel side surfaces of the housing that the cover cap comprises at least one cover side surface which is substantially flush with the adjacent side surface of the housing. A torsionally rigid cover cap can thus be created which also withstands the loads applied by a production robot. A switching device is thus formed which does not have any visible or accessible housing joints in the area accessible to the user. 
     According to a further embodiment of the invention it can be provided that the second breakthrough in the area of the cover side surface is delimited by at least one rib, especially two ribs. The switching lever can thus be protected against the action of lateral forces and can be guided. 
     It can be provided within the terms of a further development of the invention that the at least one rib comprises at least one hole, especially two holes, for guiding through the switching lever arresting element, e.g. a wire. The switching lever can thus be arrested in one of the two end positions in order to prevent any unauthorized actuation of the switching device. 
     One variant of the invention can be that the cover cap comprises a third breakthrough for a switch position indicator. The position of the switching contacts can be displayed even when using a cover cap, with the third breakthrough being adjusted in respect of its shape and configuration to the demands of a market and/or a third-party supplier. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The invention is now explained in closer detail by reference to the enclosed drawings which merely show preferred embodiments by means of examples, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of a switching device in accordance with the invention with a cover cap; 
         FIG. 2  shows a switching device according to  FIG. 1  with a first and second embodiment of a removed cover cap; 
         FIG. 3  shows a detail of a cover cap according to  FIG. 1  or  2 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows a detail of the housing of a switching device according to  FIG. 1  or  2 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows a second embodiment of a switching device with a third and fourth embodiment of a removed cover cap; 
         FIG. 6  shows a switching device according to  FIG. 5  with a cover cap arranged on the same; 
         FIG. 7  shows a detail of the first housing shell and the cover cap of a switching device according to  FIG. 6 , and 
         FIG. 8  shows a detail of the arrangement according to  FIG. 7  in an axonometric view. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1 and 6  show especially preferred embodiments of a switching device  1 , comprising a housing  2  and switching contacts for closing and/or opening at least one circuit, with a tripping apparatus being provided for automatically separating the switching contacts and with the housing  2  comprising at least one front side  3 , with a cover cap  4  being clipped onto the front side  3 . 
     The measures in accordance with the invention allow making the production of a switching device  1  in a simple and cost-effective way that can rapidly and flexibly respond to changed requirements by the market or customers. A switching device  1  can thus be produced which can be made with the same functionality for all markets, countries and/or customers, with the adaptation of the switching device  1  to the respective market, customer and/or country being made by arranging a respective cover cap  4 . Merely one single housing  2  can thus be used in the production of the switching device  1 , thus avoiding the production expenditure for different housings  2 . The production of the switching device  1  can thus be simplified because production no longer needs to consider the final place of assignment of the switching device  1 . The adaptation of the switching device I to the market can be made flexibly, e.g. in a final production step. Since the cover cap  4  is arranged in a small and simple way, different production molds for different cover caps  4  are arranged in a simple way and can be produced in a substantially faster way than a production mold for a complete housing  2 . It is thus possible to respond rapidly in production to changes or requirements by the market and/or the customers, such that new cover caps  4  are produced in a relatively short period of time which are arranged on the already finished switching devices  1 . 
     The production of a switching device  1  can also be simplified to a substantial extent by clipping on a cover cap  4 . The clipping process can simply be performed both manually as well as in an automated way by a robot for example. An especially simple and durable arrangement of the cover cap  4  on the switching device  1  is achieved by the clipping. It can be provided especially that the cover cap  4  is clipped onto the housing  2  or the front side  3  of the housing  2  in a non-detachable manner. Non-detachable clipping shall be understood that a separation of two parts is not possible without at least partly destroying one of both parts, i.e. the housing  2  and/or the cover cap  4 . A later change or re-labeling of the switching device can thus be prevented. 
     Housing  2  and/or the cover cap  4  are preferably made of an insulating material. Any insulating material can be provided which is suitable to form a respective housing  2  and/or a respective cover cap  4 . It is especially provided that the insulating material concerns a plastic material which is suitable for injection-molding or extruding processes. 
       FIG. 2  shows a switching device  1  according to  FIG. 1 , with the cover cap  4  being lifted off, and a second alternative embodiment of a cover cap  4 . The cover cap  4  is clipped onto the front side  3  of the switching device  1 . In accordance with the invention, the front side  3  concerns the part of the housing  2  which faces the user in the intended mounted position. If the switching device  1  comprises a switching lever  6 , as is preferably provided, it is preferably arranged in the area of the front side  3  or penetrates the same. Switching devices  1  in accordance with the invention comprise means for connecting leads, especially in the form of terminals  21 , especially screw-type terminals. Two terminals  21  are provided in the especially preferred switching device  1  according to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The clamping screw openings  22  are arranged in one plane of the housing  2 . A housing structure  23  or housing projection  32  rises from said plane. It is provided for in the illustrated, especially preferred embodiment of a switching device  1  that the front side  3  is formed merely by the surface which is opened up by the housing structure  23 . Said front side  3  also comprises a first breakthrough  5 , with the switching lever  6  protruding from the same for manually actuating the switching device  1 . 
     In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the front side  3  has a substantially rectangular basic surface area  12 , with the basic area  12  being the planar limiting surface of housing  2  in the area of the front side  3 , 
     In a switching device  1  in accordance with the invention, a cover cap  4  is clipped onto the front side  3  of the housing  2 . Any kind of clipping can be provided, e.g. by means of one or several pins on the cover cap  4  which can be inserted into respectively diametrically opposite, but slightly smaller openings on the housing  2 . It is provided in an especially preferred way that the cover cap  4  comprises at least one latching nose  11  which engages into a latching groove  10  arranged in the area of the front side  3 . This forms a secure latched connection of the cover cap  4  with the housing  2 . 
     It is provided in especially preferred embodiments of switching devices  1  in accordance with the invention that the housing  2  is formed by at least a first housing shell  25  and a second housing shell  26 . It is also possible to provide embodiments with more than two housing shells  25 ,  26 . The first housing shell  25  comprises a free boundary edge  27  and the second housing shell  26  comprises a second free boundary edge  28 . In a finished housing  2  for a switching device  1  in accordance with the invention, the first and second housing shells  25 ,  26  are placed on each other and joined at their free boundary edges  27 ,  28 . For this purpose, the first and second housing shell  25 ,  26  comprise tubular receptacles  31  for connecting means. Said tubular receptacles  31  are arranged in the individual housing shells  25 ,  26  in such a way that in the case of housing shells  25 ,  26  joined into a housing  2  a continuous tubular receptacle  31  is formed for receiving a connection means. Different connection means can be provided such as screws and/or rivets. It is preferably provided that the at least two housing shells  25 ,  26  are connected by means of rivets and are therefore riveted. The tubular receptacles  31  preferably concern so-called rivet tubes  29 , i.e. tubular receptacles  31  which are provided or arranged for receiving at least one rivet, such that the rivet tubes  29  comprise diameters and/or bezels which are offset in sections and on which the rivets can rest. Preferred housings  2  comprise a predeterminable number of such rivet tubes  29 . It can be provided especially that in the area of the front side  3  at least two such rivet tubes  29  are provided. It is provided in an especially preferred way that the at least two rivet pipes  29  which are preferably arranged substantially normal to the side surface  8  of the housing form an outer boundary of the front side  3 , as is shown advantageously in  FIG. 2 . The rivet pipes  29  have a wall thickness and an outside area  30 . 
     It is therefore provided in especially preferred embodiments of a switching device  1  in accordance with the invention that the at least one latching groove  10  is formed by an outside area  30  of the rivet tubes  29 .  FIG. 4  shows especially well how the latching groove  10  is formed by an outside area  30  on the boundary side of rivet tube  29 . It can also be provided to arrange further areas or the complete rivet tube  29  as a latching groove  10  which can then extend over the entire width of the switching device  1 . 
     If the front side  3  and the cover cap  4  have a substantially rectangular basic surface area  12 , as in the illustrated preferred embodiment, it can be preferably provided for an especially secure and durable connection of the cover cap  4  to the housing  2  that in the area of the four corners  13  on the front side at least one latching groove  10  each is arranged and in the area of the four corners  14  of the cover cap one latching nose  11  each.  FIG. 3  shows a strongly enlarged view of two cover corners  14  of a cover cap  4  with the clearly recognizable latching noses  11 .  FIG. 4  shows a strongly enlarged detailed view of a corner  13  of a front side  3  of housing  2 . 
     By using the rivet tubes  29  as a part of the latching grooves  10 , a switching device  1  can be formed which is arranged in an especially simple way and which already has full functionality even without the cover cap  4 . 
       FIGS. 5 to 8  show a second preferred embodiment of a switching device  1  in accordance with the invention with a cover cap  4  that is clipped on or can be clipped on. The above described embodiments for a latching connection  41 , a latching nose  11  and a latching groove  10  can also be provided in the subsequently described embodiments, especially also the embodiment of the latching groove  10  as a partial section of the rivet tubes  29 . 
     It is preferably provided in the embodiments according to  FIGS. 5 to 8  that the latching nose  11  is arranged as a wedge-like projection in the area of a securing extension  40  of the cover cap  4 , with the securing extension  40  of the cover cap  4  being arranged to preferably rest on the front side  3  or the adjacent housing  2 . As is shown especially in  FIG. 5 , housing  2  is preferably formed by at least two housing shells  25 ,  26  which are placed against each other with their free boundary edges  27 ,  28  and are riveted together. As is shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , it is especially provided that a latching groove  10  each is arranged on the first and second face side  38 ,  39  of merely one of the two housing shells  27 ,  28 , with the latching groove  10  being provided and arranged for receiving the latching nose  11 . 
     It can be provided in an especially preferred way in a switching device  1  in accordance with the invention that the cover cap  4  and the housing  2  are arranged in such a way that when the cover cap  4  is clipped onto the front side  3  a destruction-free opening is prevented, especially a destruction-free upward bending of the latched connection  41  formed by the latching groove  10  and the latching nose  11 . Any kind of arrangement can be provided in accordance with the invention which prevents the destruction-free opening and especially the destruction-free upward bending of the latched connection  41  consisting of the latching groove  10  and the latching nose  11 , e.g. by an interlocking connection of the cover cap  4  to the housing  2  which prevents an upward bending of the latched connection  41  or by arranging a fastening means such as a screw. It is preferably provided that the housing  2  and the cover cap  4  are arranged in such a way that no further tools are necessary for achieving the above described effect. 
       FIGS. 5 to 8  show especially preferred embodiments of a switching device  1  in accordance with the invention, with the housing  2  having a projection  32  which forms the front side  3  at least in sections. The projection  32  especially concerns the projection  32  which is usually present in conventional circuit breakers and in which a manual operating member, especially a switching lever  6 , is arranged. As is shown, the projection  32  converges into the housing  2  at least in a base region  33 . It is provided in an especially preferred way as shown that the cover cap is connected with the housing  2  and/or the projection  32  in a securing connection  34 , especially in the area of at least one base area  33 , and that the securing connection  34  is arranged in such a way that it prevents destruction-free opening, especially destruction-free upward bending, of the latched connection  41 . As already explained, any kind of securing connection can be provided, e.g. by provided a housing extension in the area of the cover cap  4 , especially in the area of the latched connection  41 , thus preventing prying open the latched connection  41  or the application of a tool. 
     It is preferably provided that in the area of the base area  33 , especially in the direct transition of the housing projection  32  into the housing  2 , at least one securing groove  35  is arranged in the housing  2  and the cover cap  4  engages in the securing groove  35  and thus forms the securing connection  34 . The securing groove  35  can be arranged both to extend over the entire width of the housing  2 , or also that the securing groove  35  extends merely over parts of the width of the housing  2  and is arranged as a pocket hole which is round for example. It is also possible to arrange a predeterminable number of securing grooves  35  in different or similar arrangement next to one another. 
     In order to prevent the upward bending and/or opening of the latched connection  41  in an especially effective way, it is preferably provided that the at least one latched connection  41  is arranged in the region between the securing connection  34  and an apex region  36  of the projection  32  of the housing, with the apex region  36 , like the peak value of a mathematical curve, being the highest elevation of the projection  32  of the housing. 
       FIGS. 5 to 8  show an especially preferred embodiment of a securing groove  35  as a latching or insertion groove, into which a portion of the cover cap  4  can be inserted or latched. In the illustrated embodiments, the front side  3  is formed by the housing projection  32  and the housing projection  32  is arranged to substantially have the shape as a rectangular cuboid  37  placed on the housing  2  and comprising a first and second face surface  38 ,  39 . A securing groove  35  is each arranged in the region of the base area  33  of the first and second face surface  38 ,  39 , which securing groove is arranged as a recess in the housing  2  or base area  33  which follows in a substantially straight line the first and/or second face surface  38 ,  39 . The cover cap  4  comprises a securing extension  40  each while resting on the first and second face surface  38 ,  39 . It engages in the securing groove  35  and forms a securing connection  34  each in the area of the first and second face side  38 ,  39 . Such a securing connection  34  permanently prevents the removal of the cover cap  4 , since prying open the latched connection  41  is made substantially impossible without thus destroying the switching device  1 , because the application of a tool is prevented to the highest possible extent. Such a cover cap  4  according to  FIGS. 5 to 8  can be attached quickly and easily to a switching device  1  even with simple automatic production machines. 
     It is preferably provided that the switching device  1  comprises a housing  2  with two substantially parallel side surfaces  8 . It can be provided that in the case of such housings  2  a cover cap  4  is provided which comprises at least one cover side surface  9  and that said cover side surface  9  is substantially flush with the adjacent side surface  8  of the housing. In such an arrangement, housing  2  is constricted opposite the side surfaces  8  of the housing in the area of the front side  3  or in the area which will later assume the cover cap  5  in order to enable the above-mentioned flush or planar connection of the cover side surface  9  to the side surfaces  8  of the housing. This helps produce a torsionally rigid cover cap  4  which will also withstand loads by the production robot. A switching device  1  is thus formed which does not have any visible or accessible gaps in the housing in the area accessible to the user. 
     As already explained, the front side  3  preferably comprises a first breakthrough  5  for leading through the switching lever  6 . It is preferably provided in such an embodiment that the cover cap  4  covers the front side  3  in a substantially complete way and that the cover cap  4  has a second breakthrough  7  which is at least as large as the first breakthrough  5 . The second breakthrough  7  is preferably as large as the first breakthrough  5  in the direction of movement of the switching lever  6  and substantially as large or as wide as the handle  24  of switching lever  6  rectangular to the direction of movement of the switching lever  6 . 
     It can be provided for guiding the switching lever  6  or for protecting the same from the actions of lateral forces that the second breakthrough  7  is delimited in the area of the cover side surface  9  by at least one rib, especially two ribs  17 . It can be provided for especially as shown that the at least one rib  17  comprises at least one hole, especially two holes  18  for guiding through a switching-lever arresting element such as a wire. By inserting a switching-lever arresting element such as a wire, the switching lever  6  can be arrested in one of the two end positions in order to prevent any inadvertent actuation of the switching lever  1 . 
     It is provided especially preferably in switching devices  1  which comprise a switch position display  20  that the cover cap  4  comprises a third breakthrough  19  for a switch position display  20 , through which the position of the switching contacts of the switching device  1  can be displayed even when using a cover cap  4  The third breakthrough  19  can be adapted in its shape and configuration to the requirements of a market and/or a third-party supplier.  FIG. 2  shows a switching device  1  with two different or alternative cover caps  4  which have a differently arranged third breakthrough  19 . Stockkeeping can thus be reduced substantially, and production is able to produce different arrangements of a switching device  1  in a quick and easy manner. 
     As is provided in the embodiments according to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it can be provided that the cover cap  4  comprises at least one extension  15  for covering at least one of the tubular recesses  31 , which are especially rivet tubes  29 . Tubular recesses  31  can thus be covered, which may contribute to preventing subsequent manipulations on the switching device  1 . It can be provided especially preferably that the at least one extension  15  is arranged in the area of the at least one latching nose  11 , especially in the area of the cover side surface  9 . In this way, especially the rivet tubes  29  arranged on the side of the housing  2  can be sealed. 
     Any combination of features, especially also the different described embodiments of the invention, can be provided within the scope of the invention, even when they are not described explicitly as a combination.