Patent Description:
Miniature circuit breakers are widely employed as an important electrical protection device, and are generally mounted to a terminal distribution line, thus being used for current connection and loading or disconnection under normal and abnormal circuit conditions. The miniature circuit breaker generally includes an operating system, a tripping system, and other structures to achieve switching between closed and open states of the miniature circuit breaker in a normal or abnormal circuit.

An operating system of a miniature circuit breaker, the operating system being mounted to a circuit breaker body of the miniature circuit breaker ,the operating system comprising: a handle rotatably mounted to the circuit breaker body by means of a handle rotating shaft; a contact component, rotatably mounted to the circuit breaker body by means of a support rotating shaft and remaining in contact with a static contact on the circuit breaker body; a latch, rotatably mounted to the contact component; a linkage, two ends of which are rotatably connected to the handle and the latch respectively; a tripping rod , sleeved onto the support rotating shaft and capable of rotating relative to the contact component; and a torsion spring, one end of the torsion spring being connected to the latch and the second end of the torsion spring being connected to the tripping rod, the torsion spring being always in an energy storage state so as to push the tripping rod towards the latch to keep the tripping rod locked with the latch; wherein when the tripping rod, under the effect of an external force, overcomes a pushing force from the torsion spring to rotate away from the latch relative to the contact component, the tripping rod is unlocked from the latch, so that when the handle moves to an opening position, the handle is capable of driving, by means of the linkage and the latch, the contact component to move so as to be separated from the static contact, and the handle further drives the latch to rotate relative to the contact component such that the latch is locked with the tripping rod again is known from <CIT>.

Further , the operating system of the miniature circuit breaker may include a support rotating shaft rotatably mounted to a housing, a contact component rotatably sleeved onto the support rotating shaft, and a tripping component sleeved onto the support rotating shaft by means of a re-buckling torsion spring. Thus, during an opening operation of the circuit breaker, the tripping component overcomes the bias pressure of the re-buckling torsion spring to move to an unlocked state, then the contact component moves to an opening position, and finally the tripping component moves to a locked state again due to the resilience of the re-buckling torsion spring. However, the re-buckling torsion spring in the prior art generally has a relatively small spring wire diameter, which may increase the assembly difficulty of the operating system of the miniature circuit breaker and result in difficulty in implementing automated assembly.

In addition, the existing contact component generally includes a contact support frame having one end connected to the tripping component and an approximately middle region sleeved onto the support rotating shaft, and the other end of the contact support frame is connected, by means of a contact rivet, to a contact rod provided with a movable contact. In this way, the tripping component first drives the contact support frame to rotate, and then the contact support frame drives the contact rod to rotate about the contact rivet. Obviously, the foregoing design has the defects of a relatively large number of assembly components and relatively complex assembly.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for a miniature circuit breaker that has a simple structure and is easy to assemble.

The present invention aims to provide an operating system of a miniature circuit breaker that can at least solve part of the foregoing problems.

The present invention further aims to provide a miniature circuit breaker having the foregoing improved operating system.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an operating system of a miniature circuit breaker is provided. The operating system is mounted to a circuit breaker body of the miniature circuit breaker, and comprises: a handle, rotatably mounted to the circuit breaker body by means of a handle rotating shaft; a contact component, rotatably mounted to the circuit breaker body by means of a support rotating shaft and remaining in contact with a static contact on the circuit breaker body; a latch, rotatably mounted to the contact component; a linkage, two ends of which are rotatably connected to the handle and the latch respectively; a tripping rod, sleeved onto the support rotating shaft and capable of rotating relative to the contact component; and a handle torsion spring, sleeved onto the handle rotating shaft, two ends of the handle torsion spring being respectively connected to the handle and the tripping rod, the handle torsion spring being always in an energy storage state so as to push the tripping rod towards the latch to keep the tripping rod locked with the latch; wherein when the tripping rod, under the effect of an external force, overcomes a pushing force from the handle torsion spring to rotate away from the latch relative to the contact component, the tripping rod is unlocked from the latch, so that when the handle moves to an opening position, the handle is capable of driving, by means of the linkage and the latch, the contact component to move so as to be separated from the static contact, and the handle further drives the latch to rotate relative to the contact component such that the latch is locked with the tripping rod again.

Compared to the prior art, the operating system of the present invention can be mounted to the circuit breaker body of the miniature circuit breaker, and enables the miniature circuit breaker to move to a closed, tripping, or open state through cooperation between the handle, the latch, the contact component, and the tripping rod. The contact component and the tripping rod are both rotatably mounted to the circuit breaker body by means of the support rotating shaft, and the handle torsion spring that is always in an energy storage state can provide an acting force for pushing the tripping rod towards the latch, thereby maintaining a locked state when the tripping rod and the latch are locked and driving the two to return to a locked state when the tripping rod is unlocked from the latch. In this way, a re-buckling torsion spring usually mounted to the support rotating shaft can be eliminated, thereby greatly reducing the assembly difficulty of the operating system and facilitating automated assembly, and accordingly greatly improving the assembly efficiency of the operating system of the present invention.

Preferably, the contact component comprises a contact support frame sleeved onto the support rotating shaft and a contact rod extending from the contact support frame towards the static contact, a side of the contact rod facing the static contact is provided with a movable contact, and the contact support frame and the contact rod are integrally formed.

Preferably, the operating system further comprises a contact pressure spring disposed between the contact support frame and the circuit breaker body, the contact pressure spring being in an energy storage state.

Preferably, the contact support frame is provided with a recess used to accommodate an end portion of the contact pressure spring.

Preferably, the latch is provided with a first connecting hole configured to connect to the linkage and a second connecting hole configured to connect to the contact support frame.

Preferably, a first engagement member is provided at a side of the latch facing the tripping rod, and a second engagement member fitting with the first engagement member is provided at a side of the tripping rod facing the latch.

Preferably, a first position-limiting portion is formed at a side of the tripping rod facing the contact support frame, and a second position-limiting portion fitting with the first position-limiting portion is formed on the contact support frame.

Preferably, a connection member pressed against an end portion of the handle torsion spring is disposed on the tripping rod.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a miniature circuit breaker is provided, and comprises a circuit breaker body and the foregoing operating system.

One part of other features and advantages of the present invention will be obvious after those skilled in the art read the present application, and the other part will be described in the following specific implementations with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:.

Miniature circuit breaker; <NUM>. Operating system; <NUM>. Handle; <NUM>. Contact component; <NUM>. Contact support frame; <NUM>. Contact rod; <NUM>. Movable contact; <NUM>. Mounting post; <NUM>. Latch; <NUM>. First engagement member; <NUM>. Linkage; <NUM>. Tripping rod; <NUM>. Second engagement member; <NUM>. Connection member; <NUM>. Handle torsion spring; <NUM>. First end of handle torsion spring; <NUM>. Second end of handle torsion spring; <NUM>. Support rotating shaft; <NUM>. Contact pressure spring; <NUM>. Housing; <NUM>. Static contact; <NUM>. Tripping system; <NUM>.

A schematic scheme of the miniature circuit breaker and the operating system thereof disclosed in the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although providing the accompanying drawings is to present some implementations of the present invention, the accompanying drawings do not need to be drawn according to the size of specific implementation schemes, and certain features can be enlarged, removed, or locally exploded to better illustrate and explain the disclosure of the present invention. Part of the components in the accompanying drawings can be positionally adjusted according to actual requirements without affecting the technical effect. In the description, the term "in the accompanying drawings" or similar terms do not necessary refer to all of the accompanying drawings or examples.

Some directional terms used in the following to describe the accompanying drawings, such as "in", "out", "upper", and "lower," and other directional terms are construed as having normal meanings thereof and refer to those directions involved when the accompanying drawings are viewed normally. Unless otherwise specified, the directional terms in the description are substantially in accord with conventional directions understood by those skilled in the art.

The terms "first", "first one," "second", "second one" and similar terms used in the present invention do not indicate any sequence, number, or importance in the present invention, and are used only to distinguish one component from other components.

The terms "join" and "connect" and similar terms used in the present invention refer to two components being indirectly connected to each other by an intermediate layer (such as an adhesive or a solder) or an intermediate member (such as a connection member or a transition member), and also refer to two components being directly connected to each other without any intermediate layer (such as an adhesive or a solder) or any intermediate member (such as a connection member or a transition member).

<FIG> show, by way of example, a miniature circuit breaker <NUM> in the present invention. Compared to a conventional miniature circuit breaker <NUM>, the miniature circuit breaker <NUM> of the present invention has less components and can be assembled automatically, thereby greatly improving assembly efficiency and reducing manufacturing costs. <FIG> show the miniature circuit breaker <NUM> in a closed state, <FIG> show the miniature circuit breaker <NUM> in a tripping state, and <FIG> show the miniature circuit breaker <NUM> in an open state.

As shown in <FIG>, the miniature circuit breaker <NUM> may include a circuit breaker body and an operating system <NUM> mounted to the circuit breaker body. The circuit breaker body may include structures such as a housing, a static contact, and a tripping system that are known to persons skilled in the art. It should be understood that other functions not mentioned in the involved structures of the miniature circuit breaker <NUM> in this embodiment and other structures not mentioned herein may be well known to those skilled in the art, so the details thereof are omitted herein. The operating system <NUM> includes a handle, a contact component <NUM>, a latch <NUM>, a linkage <NUM>, a tripping rod <NUM>, and a handle torsion spring <NUM>.

Specifically, the handle may be rotatably mounted to the housing by means of a handle rotating shaft, and thus can be rotated to a closing or opening position under the effect of an external force. The latch <NUM> is rotatably connected to the contact component <NUM>, and the two ends of the linkage <NUM> are respectively rotatably connected to the handle and the latch <NUM>. The contact component <NUM> is rotatably mounted to the housing by means of a support rotating shaft <NUM>, such that the handle can drive the latch <NUM> to rotate relative to the contact component <NUM> by means of the linkage <NUM>, thereby driving the contact <NUM> component <NUM> to rotate relative to the housing by means of the linkage <NUM> and the latch <NUM>. A line connecting a rotation center of the handle to a connecting point between the linkage <NUM> and the handle, a line connecting the connecting point between the linkage <NUM> and the handle to a connecting point between the linkage <NUM> and the latch <NUM>, a line connecting the connecting point between the linkage <NUM> and the latch <NUM> to a rotation center of the contact component <NUM>, and a line connecting the rotation center of the contact component <NUM> to the rotation center of the handle may be considered as a four-linkage mechanism. Hence, controlled by the handle, the contact component <NUM> rotates to a closing position to contact the static contact or rotates to an opening position to separate from the static contact, such that the miniature circuit breaker <NUM> is closed or opened.

The tripping rod <NUM> is rotatably sleeved onto the support rotating shaft <NUM> and can rotate relative to the contact component <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the tripping rod <NUM> may be regarded as located in front of the contact component <NUM>. The tripping rod <NUM> is locked with the latch <NUM> when the miniature circuit breaker <NUM> is in a closed or open state, thereby restricting rotation of the latch <NUM> to keep the miniature circuit breaker <NUM> in the corresponding closed or open state.

The handle torsion spring <NUM> may be mounted to the handle in an energy storage state and two ends of the handle torsion spring are respectively connected to the handle and the tripping rod <NUM>. An end of the handle torsion spring <NUM>, namely, a second end <NUM> of the handle torsion spring <NUM> that is connected to the tripping rod <NUM>, can push the tripping rod <NUM> towards the latch <NUM> so that the tripping rod <NUM> and the latch <NUM> are kept in a locked state. As shown in <FIG>, the miniature circuit breaker <NUM> is in a closed state. The handle torsion spring <NUM> is in a first energy storage state so that a first end <NUM> of the handle torsion spring <NUM> has a clockwise rotation trend and a second end <NUM> thereof has a counterclockwise rotation trend. Therefore, the first end <NUM> of the handle torsion spring can subject the handle to a clockwise pushing force, while the second end <NUM> of the handle torsion spring <NUM> can subject the tripping rod <NUM> to a clockwise pushing force, such that the tripping rod <NUM> is pushed towards the latch <NUM>. It should be noted that the directions of the pushing forces to which the handle and the tripping rod <NUM> are subjected are limited by the rotation center of the handle and the rotation center of the tripping rod <NUM>, respectively.

Upon the occurrence of circuit abnormality, such as a short circuit or overload, a push rod of a tripping system, such as an electromagnetic tripping system, of the miniature circuit breaker <NUM> extends to the tripping rod <NUM> and pushes the tripping rod <NUM> to overcome the pushing force exerted by the handle torsion spring <NUM>, such that the tripping rod is rotated counterclockwise. Accordingly, the tripping rod <NUM> is unlocked from the latch <NUM>, and the four-linkage mechanism described above can move under the effect of a corresponding external force. At the time, the miniature circuit breaker <NUM> can be regarded as being in a closed and tripping state.

Then, the handle can perform an opening operation when the tripping rod <NUM> is unlocked from the latch <NUM>. As an example, the handle may rotate clockwise by a certain angle from the closing position shown in <FIG> and <FIG> to the position shown in <FIG>. The first end of the linkage <NUM> connected to the handle moves clockwise along the perimeter of the handle, and the second end <NUM> of the linkage <NUM> connected to the latch <NUM> drives the latch <NUM> to rotate clockwise. At the same time, the contact component <NUM> is driven by the handle by means of the latch <NUM> and the linkage <NUM> to the opening position where the contact component is separated from the static contact. At the time, the tripping rod <NUM> and the latch <NUM> are kept in a tripping state. At the time, the miniature circuit breaker <NUM> is regarded as being in an open and tripping state.

Afterwards, the handle continuously rotates clockwise from the position shown in <FIG> to the opening position shown in <FIG>. The first end of the linkage <NUM> continuously moves clockwise along the perimeter of the handle, and the second end of the linkage <NUM> draws the latch <NUM> to rotate counterclockwise until the latch is locked with the tripping rod <NUM> again. At the time, the miniature circuit breaker <NUM> is regarded as being in an open state. Thus, during the period in which the miniature circuit breaker <NUM> changes from a closed state to a closed and tripping state, to an open and tripping state, and finally to an open state, the handle torsion spring <NUM> moves from the initial first energy storage state to the final second energy storage state. Hence, with the handle torsion spring <NUM> always in an energy storage state, the second end <NUM> of the handle torsion spring <NUM> connected to the tripping rod <NUM> can, when in the closed state and the open state, push the tripping rod <NUM> towards the latch <NUM> all the time to keep them locked, thereby limiting the movement of the four-linkage mechanism.

In addition, the tripping rod <NUM> and the contact component <NUM> in the operating system <NUM> provided by the present invention both rotate about the support rotating shaft <NUM>, and the conventional re-buckling torsion spring sleeved onto the support rotating shaft <NUM> may be eliminated based on the arrangement of the handle torsion spring <NUM>. In this way, the operating system <NUM> of the miniature circuit breaker <NUM> in the present invention can be assembled automatically, thereby greatly improving assembly efficiency. As an example, the contact component <NUM> may be first sleeved onto the support rotating shaft <NUM>, and then the tripping rod <NUM> is sleeved onto the support rotating shaft <NUM>; and then the latch <NUM> is mounted to the contact component <NUM>, thereby forming the corresponding operating mechanism.

Optionally, the contact component <NUM> includes a contact support frame <NUM> and a movable contact rod that are integrally formed. The contact support frame <NUM> may be sleeved onto the support rotating shaft <NUM> and is rotatable about the support rotating shaft <NUM>. The movable contact rod extends from the contact support frame <NUM> towards the static contact, such as extending generally downwards, and a side thereof that faces the static contact may be provided with a movable contact <NUM>. Therefore, when the movable contact rod rotates about the support rotating shaft <NUM> along with the contact support frame <NUM> to the closing position, the movable contact <NUM> is in contact with the static contact, and correspondingly, when the movable contact rod rotates to the opening position, the movable contact <NUM> is separated from the static contact. In such a manner, compared to the conventional contact support frame <NUM> and the movable contact rod mounted to said contact support frame <NUM> by means of a contact rivet, the number of components required by the contact component <NUM> of the present invention can be reduced, and assembly efficiency can correspondingly be improved.

Optionally, the operating system <NUM> may further include a contact pressure spring <NUM> disposed between the contact support frame <NUM> and the housing in an energy storage state. As an example, when the miniature circuit breaker <NUM> is in an open state, the contact pressure spring <NUM> may be in a natural state, and when the miniature circuit breaker <NUM> is closed, the contact pressure spring stores energy, so as to provide a contact pressure between the movable contact <NUM> on the movable contact rod and the static contact when the miniature circuit breaker <NUM> is moving to the closed state, thereby achieving reliable contact between the movable contact <NUM> and the static contact of the miniature circuit breaker <NUM>. Optionally, the contact support frame <NUM> may be provided with a recess used to accommodate one end of the contact pressure spring <NUM>. The recess is easy to manufacture, and easy to arrange compared to conventional tension spring installation processes such as manually fastening one end of a tension spring to the contact support frame <NUM>.

Optionally, a mounting post <NUM> may be disposed at a side, such as an upper side, of the contact support frame <NUM> opposite to the movable contact rod, and the latch <NUM> may be provided with a first connecting hole and a second connecting hole respectively connected to the linkage <NUM> and the mounting post <NUM>. In this way, the latch <NUM> can be easily manufactured and easily installed.

Optionally, the latch <NUM> and the tripping rod <NUM> are respectively provided with a first engagement member <NUM> and a second engagement member <NUM> that can fit with each other at respective sides of the latch and the tripping rod that face each other. For example, the latch <NUM> may be provided with an engagement protrusion that protrudes towards the tripping rod <NUM>, and the tripping rod <NUM> may be provided with a corresponding engagement recess. Obviously, it is also feasible to provide other mutually fitted engagement members on the latch <NUM> and the tripping rod <NUM>.

Optionally, a first position-limiting portion, such as a position-limiting slot, may be formed at a side of the tripping rod <NUM> that faces the contact support frame <NUM>, and a second position-limiting portion, such as a position-limiting protrusion, that fits with the slot wall of the position-limiting slot may be formed at a side of the contact support frame <NUM> that faces the tripping rod <NUM>, thereby limiting the angle by which the tripping rod <NUM> can be rotated clockwise when the tripping rod <NUM> is unlocked from the latch <NUM>. When the tripping rod <NUM> is in a tripping state, a counterclockwise rotation angle of the tripping rod <NUM> is restricted by the second end <NUM> of the handle torsion spring <NUM>. In addition, when the tripping rod <NUM> is locked with the latch <NUM>, the rotation stroke of the tripping rod <NUM> is restricted by the second end of the handle torsion spring <NUM> and the latch <NUM>. It can be understood that other structures on the tripping rod <NUM> and the contact support frame <NUM> that are mutually fitted to achieve a position-limiting effect are also feasible.

Optionally, a connection member <NUM> pressed against the second end <NUM> of the handle torsion spring <NUM> may be further disposed on the tripping rod <NUM>, to receive the pushing force exerted by the second end <NUM> of the handle torsion spring <NUM> in an energy storage state on the tripping rod <NUM>. In an actual assembly process, the second end <NUM> of the handle torsion spring <NUM> only needs to be placed at a counterclockwise direction side of the connection member <NUM> with respect to the rotation center of the tripping rod <NUM>. The assembly is extremely easy.

Optionally, a latch torsion spring may be disposed between the latch <NUM> and the mounting post <NUM>, and a contact torsion spring may be disposed between the contact support frame <NUM> and the support rotating shaft <NUM>. These elastic elements may be arranged to be in an energy storage state when the miniature circuit breaker <NUM> is in a closed state, so as to provide an elastic force enabling the contact support frame <NUM> and the latch <NUM> to move to the opening position after the tripping rod <NUM> is unlocked from the latch <NUM>, thereby improving the operational reliability of the miniature circuit breaker <NUM>.

It should be appreciated that although the description is presented according to each embodiment, each embodiment does not necessarily include only one independent technical solution. The presentation manner of the description is merely for clearness, and those skilled in the art should regard the description as a whole, and the technical solutions in the embodiments can also be appropriately combined to form other implementations comprehensible by those skilled in the art.

Claim 1:
An operating system (<NUM>) of a miniature circuit breaker (<NUM>), the operating system (<NUM>) being mounted to a circuit breaker body of the miniature circuit breaker (<NUM>), the operating system (<NUM>) comprises:
a handle, rotatably mounted to the circuit breaker body by means of a handle rotating shaft;
a contact component (<NUM>), rotatably mounted to the circuit breaker body by means of a support rotating shaft (<NUM>) and remaining in contact with a static contact on the circuit breaker body;
a latch (<NUM>), rotatably mounted to the contact component (<NUM>);
a linkage (<NUM>), two ends of which are rotatably connected to the handle and the latch (<NUM>) respectively;
a tripping rod (<NUM>), sleeved onto the support rotating shaft (<NUM>) and capable of rotating relative to the contact component (<NUM>); and
a handle torsion spring (<NUM>), sleeved onto the handle rotating shaft, two ends of the handle torsion spring being respectively connected to the handle and the tripping rod (<NUM>), the handle torsion spring (<NUM>) being always in an energy storage state so as to push the tripping rod (<NUM>) towards the latch (<NUM>) to keep the tripping rod locked with the latch (<NUM>);
wherein when the tripping rod (<NUM>), under the effect of an external force, overcomes a pushing force from the handle torsion spring (<NUM>) to rotate away from the latch (<NUM>) relative to the contact component (<NUM>), the tripping rod (<NUM>) is unlocked from the latch (<NUM>), so that when the handle moves to an opening position, the handle is capable of driving, by means of the linkage (<NUM>) and the latch (<NUM>), the contact component (<NUM>) to move so as to be separated from the static contact, and the handle further drives the latch (<NUM>) to rotate relative to the contact component (<NUM>) such that the latch is locked with the tripping rod (<NUM>) again.