Patent Description:
In an industrial site such as a power plant or substation, a switchboard is installed for various purposes such as operation or control of electric power and operation of an electric motor, and various electronic devices including a circuit breaker can be disposed in this switchboard.

Generally, the circuit breaker can be roughly classified into a frame disposed in the switchboard and a pole component disposed on the frame, and the pole component is generally encapsulated with plastic or another insulating material due to characteristics of a switchboard function.

As related art for such this pole component, there is <CIT> (title of the invention: Method of producing a circuit breaker part for low voltage, medium voltage, and high voltage switching equipment and a circuit breaker part corresponding thereto).

This related art includes an insulating housing which seals a breaker part assembly disposed in the pole component by an injection method.

However, although this related art implements the insulating housing as a single layer or a plurality of layers, mechanical strength cannot be guaranteed, and an applicable rated voltage can be limited due to weak insulating performance.

Specifically, a conventional insulating housing is injection-molded with an open lower portion to dispose a breaker part assembly therein, and the conventional insulating housing under injection-molding cannot include a structure capable of guaranteeing insulation and mechanical strength therein.

Further, in the pole component according to the related art, a gap between a current conducting portion and a lever of the breaker part assembly is widened to ensure insulation performance, and this method can eventually increase an overall length of the pole component, and thus can hinder space utilization in the switchboard, or cause a problem of increasing a size of the switchboard.

<CIT> discloses a medium voltage pole assembly that comprises a supporting frame, a pole insulator and and a pole body. The pole insulator comprises a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal protruding from the supporting frame. The pole body is housed within the pole insulator and having first and second electrical contact parts electrically connected to the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal, respectively. The supporting frame comprises first coupling means that includes a first coupling surface. The pole insulator comprises second coupling means that includes flaps coupled to the first coupling surface.

The present invention has been devised to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a pole component having an improved structure so that an insulating property and mechanical strength may be improved while maintaining an overall size of the pole component and a circuit breaker including the same.

One aspect of the present invention provides a pole component including: an upper terminal; a lower terminal disposed to be spaced apart from the upper terminal at a predetermined interval; a breaker part assembly including a fixed electrode electrically connected to the upper terminal, a movable electrode selectively connected to the fixed electrode, and a current conducting portion fixed to the movable electrode and electrically connected to the lower terminal; an outer housing having an open lower surface to accommodate the upper terminal, the lower terminal, and the breaker part assembly; and an inner housing detachably disposed between the outer housing and breaker part assembly.

Further, the pole component may further include a lever part which spaces the movable electrode apart from the fixed electrode when an external force is applied.

In addition, the lever part may include: an insulating rod disposed under the movable electrode; a movable member fixed to the insulating rod; a hinge pin disposed through the outer housing; a lever having one end formed with a hinge hole through which the hinge pin passes, the other end accommodated in the outer housing to be exposed to the outside of the outer housing, and a middle fixed to the movable member; and an elastic body disposed between the movable member and the lever.

In addition, the inner housing may be disposed in the outer housing to come into contact with at least one of the lower terminal, an inner surface of the outer housing, the breaker part assembly, and the lever part.

In addition, the inner housing includes: a plate-shaped front portion disposed to face the inner surface of the outer housing; and a pair of side surface portions formed to extend from both sides of the front portion in a direction toward the breaker part assembly.

In addition, a seating groove recessed in a shape corresponding to an outer surface of the lower terminal may be formed at an upper side of the front portion.

In addition, hinge grooves may be formed in the pair of side surface portions so that the hinge pin may pass therethrough.

In addition, the inner housing may further include at least one or more first reinforcement parts each having one end and the other end respectively disposed at the pair of side surface portions.

In addition, the first reinforcement part may have a plate shape and may be integrally formed with the inner housing.

In addition, the inner housing may further include: at least one or more second reinforcement parts formed to extend from the front portion to face the pair of side surface portions; and at least one or more third reinforcement parts each having one end and the other end disposed between the second reinforcement parts and the pair of side surface portions.

In addition, the pole component may further include at least one or more fourth reinforcement parts formed between the second reinforcement parts and the pair of side surface portions to face the second reinforcement parts or the pair of side surface portions, and each having one end and the other end respectively disposed at the first reinforcement part and the third reinforcement part.

In addition, the inner housing may further include a fifth reinforcement part having one side surface formed in a shape partially corresponding to an outer surface of the insulating rod to be disposed to face the insulating rod.

Meanwhile, another aspect of the present invention provides a circuit breaker including: the pole component; and a frame accommodated in a switchboard and in which at least one or more pole components are disposed.

Further, the frame may be formed with a first hole, the outer housing may be formed with a second hole facing the first hole, the inner housing may be formed with a third hole facing the first hole and the second hole, and the frame may further include fastening bolts which are fastened through the first hole to the third hole.

In addition, the inner housing may further include a cylindrical sixth reinforcement part having a shape corresponding to the third hole and protruding in a direction toward the breaker part assembly.

According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the durability and safety of a pole component by including an inner housing having a structure in consideration of insulation properties and mechanical strength between an outer housing and a breaker part assembly.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to implement easy maintenance and repair of a circuit breaker by disposing the inner housing in the outer housing in an easily detachable structure.

Here, preferable embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms in this specification have the same general meanings understood by those skilled in the art, and the terms used in this specification follow the definitions used in this specification when conflicting with the general meanings of the terms.

However, the invention which will be described below is only for describing the embodiments of the present invention, and not for limiting the scope of the present invention, and the same reference numerals used throughout the specification indicate the same components.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a circuit breaker according to an embodiment of the present invention, <FIG> is a perspective view of a pole component according to the embodiment of the present invention, <FIG> is a view in which a breaker part assembly, a lever part, and an inner housing are removed from the pole component according to the embodiment of the present invention, <FIG> is a perspective view of a breaker part assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention, <FIG> is a side-sectional view of <FIG>, <FIG> is a side-sectional perspective view of a state before an inner housing is coupled to the pole component according to the embodiment of the present invention, <FIG> is a side-sectional perspective view of <FIG>, and <FIG> is a perspective view of the inner housing according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, a circuit breaker <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention may roughly include a pole component <NUM> and a frame <NUM>.

The pole component <NUM> includes an upper terminal <NUM>, a lower terminal <NUM>, a breaker part assembly <NUM>, an outer housing <NUM>, a lever part <NUM>, and an inner housing <NUM>.

The upper terminal <NUM> and the lower terminal <NUM> is electrically connected to an external terminal (not shown), and may be disposed to face a door direction of a switch box (not shown).

Further, the lower terminal <NUM> is disposed to be spaced apart from the upper terminal <NUM> at a predetermined interval so that electrical connection with the upper terminal <NUM> may be blocked.

The breaker part assembly <NUM> may electrically connect or block the upper terminal <NUM> and the lower terminal <NUM>.

Specifically, the breaker part assembly <NUM> includes a fixed electrode <NUM> electrically connected to the upper terminal <NUM>, a movable electrode <NUM> selectively connected to the fixed electrode <NUM>, and a current conducting portion <NUM> fixed to the movable electrode <NUM> to be electrically connected to the lower terminal <NUM>.

Here, the fixed electrode <NUM> is fixed to the inside of a body <NUM> made of an insulating material, and the body <NUM> may be inserted into and attached to the outer housing <NUM> which will be described later.

Further, in order to fix the fixed electrode <NUM>, the body <NUM>, and the outer housing <NUM>, a fastening groove 131a for bolt fastening may be formed in an upper surface of the fixed electrode <NUM>.

A part of the movable electrode <NUM> may be disposed to be vertically movable in the body <NUM>, and an upper surface of the movable electrode <NUM> may come into contact with a lower surface of the fixed electrode <NUM> due to a restoring force of an elastic body <NUM> which will be described later.

The current conducting portion <NUM> may be disposed in a direction approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the movable electrode <NUM> to come into contact with the lower terminal <NUM>.

Here, the current conducting portion <NUM> may be formed of a flexible material which may be electrically connected to the lower terminal <NUM> despite movement of the movable electrode <NUM>, for example, may be manufactured by overlapping several thin copper plates.

That is, the meaning that the movable electrode <NUM> is selectively connected to the fixed electrode <NUM> means a state in which the movable electrode <NUM> is electrically energized by coming into contact with the fixed electrode <NUM> or is spaced apart from the fixed electrode <NUM> to be electrically blocked.

The outer housing <NUM> may have an open lower surface to accommodate the upper terminal <NUM>, the lower terminal <NUM>, and the breaker part assembly <NUM>.

This outer housing <NUM> may be formed of an insulating material, for example may be formed by an injection-molding method so as to come into close contact with the upper terminal <NUM>, the lower terminal <NUM>, and the body <NUM> of the breaker part assembly <NUM>.

Further, since the outer housing <NUM> is fastened to the frame <NUM> of the circuit breaker <NUM> which will be described later, at least one strength reinforcement rib <NUM> may be formed at an outer side to extend to protect inner components from an external force.

The lever part <NUM> may space the movable electrode <NUM> apart from the fixed electrode <NUM> when the external force is applied.

Specifically, the lever part <NUM> may include an insulating rod <NUM> disposed under the movable electrode <NUM>, a movable member <NUM> fixed to the insulating rod <NUM> , a hinge pin <NUM> disposed to pass through the outer housing <NUM>, a lever <NUM> having one end formed with a hinge hole through which the hinge pin <NUM> passes, the other end accommodated in the outer housing <NUM> to be exposed to the outside of the outer housing <NUM>, and a middle fixed to the movable member <NUM>, and the elastic body <NUM> disposed between the movable member <NUM> and the lever <NUM>.

Here, the elastic body <NUM> may be a coil spring disposed to accommodate an outer side of the movable electrode <NUM>.

Further, the insulating rod <NUM> may be formed of an insulating material to accommodate some or all of the elastic body <NUM> and the movable member <NUM>, and thus may prevent electrical interference to the breaker part assembly <NUM> from the lower terminal <NUM> and the like.

Accordingly, when the other end of the lever <NUM> is manually or automatically pressurized downward, one end of the lever <NUM> is fixed by the hinge pin <NUM> and acts as a hinge point, and accordingly, the movable electrode <NUM> connected to the lever <NUM> may be moved downward to be spaced apart from the fixed electrode <NUM>.

Since the elastic body <NUM> is elongated in this separated state, when the external force is released, the movable electrode <NUM> may be moved upward due to a restoring force of the elastic body <NUM> to come into contact with the fixed electrode <NUM>.

In this structure, for more effective strength reinforcement and/or insulation, the present invention includes the inner housing <NUM> disposed between the outer housing <NUM> and the breaker part assembly <NUM>.

Further, the inner housing <NUM> may be detachably disposed in the outer housing <NUM> for easy maintenance and repair of the breaker part assembly <NUM> accommodated in the outer housing <NUM>.

In addition, the inner housing <NUM> may be disposed in the outer housing <NUM> to come into contact with at least one of the lower terminal <NUM>, the inner surface of the outer housing <NUM>, the breaker part assembly <NUM>, and the lever part <NUM> to protect the breaker part assembly <NUM> from an external shock and prevent electrical interference which may be exerted on the breaker part assembly <NUM> from the lower terminal <NUM> and the like.

Specifically, the inner housing <NUM> includes a plate-shaped front portion <NUM> disposed to face the inner surface of the outer housing <NUM>, and a pair of side surface portions <NUM> formed to extend from both sides of the front portion <NUM> in a direction toward the breaker part assembly <NUM>.

A seating groove 161a recessed in a shape corresponding to an outer surface of the lower terminal <NUM> may be formed at an upper side of the front portion <NUM>, and the seating groove 161a may be disposed to be spaced apart from the lower terminal <NUM> at a predetermined interval or come into contact with the lower terminal <NUM> to improve insulation properties and mechanical strength.

Further, hinge grooves 162a may be formed in the pair of side surface portions <NUM> to allow the hinge pin <NUM> to pass therethrough, and accordingly, the inner housing <NUM> may be primarily stably disposed in the outer housing <NUM>.

In addition, the inner housing <NUM> may further include at least one or more first reinforcement parts <NUM> each having one end and the other end respectively disposed at the pair of side surface portions <NUM>.

In addition, the first reinforcement part <NUM> may have a plate shape and may be integrally formed with the inner housing <NUM>.

That is, the first reinforcement part <NUM> may support the pair of side surface portions <NUM> to reinforce mechanical strength, and may block electrical interference in a space between the lower terminal <NUM> and the lever <NUM>.

Further, the inner housing <NUM> may further include at least one or more second reinforcement parts <NUM> formed to extend from the front portion <NUM> to face the pair of side surface portions <NUM>, and at least one or more third reinforcement parts <NUM> each having one end and the other end disposed between the second reinforcement parts <NUM> and the pair of side surface portions <NUM>.

This second reinforcement part <NUM> and the third reinforcement part <NUM> are structures which are formed in further consideration of mechanical strength, and may be formed, for example, at both sides of the seating groove 161a formed at the upper side of the front portion <NUM>, or may be formed at an upper and/or a lower side of the pair of side surface portions <NUM> in which the hinge grooves 162a are formed.

For more effective mechanical strength reinforcement, the inner housing <NUM> may further include at least one or more fourth reinforcement parts <NUM> formed between the second reinforcement parts <NUM> and the pair of side surface portions <NUM> to face the second reinforcement parts <NUM> or the pair of side surface portions <NUM>, and each having one end and the other end respectively disposed at the first reinforcement part <NUM> and the third reinforcement part <NUM>.

In addition, in consideration of insulation and mechanical strength, the inner housing may further include a fifth reinforcement part <NUM> having one side surface formed in a shape partially corresponding to an outer surface of the insulating rod <NUM> to be disposed to face the insulating rod <NUM>.

The fifth reinforcement part <NUM> may be formed to have a height greater than that of the first reinforcement part <NUM> and protrude with respect to the front portion <NUM> to come into contact with the insulating rod <NUM> or to be spaced apart from the insulating rod <NUM> at a predetermined interval.

The inner housing <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention may be formed of an insulating material, and the components constituting the inner housing <NUM> may be connected by an adhesive or integrally formed by an injection method or the like.

The above-described pole component <NUM> may be included in the circuit breaker <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Specifically, the circuit breaker <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention may include the pole component <NUM> including all or some of the above-described technical spirit, and the frame <NUM> accommodated in the switchboard which is not shown, and on which at least one pole component <NUM> is disposed.

In order to fix the pole component <NUM> to the frame <NUM>, the frame <NUM> may be formed with a first hole (not shown), the outer housing <NUM> may be formed with a second hole <NUM> facing the first hole, the inner housing <NUM> may be formed with a third hole160a facing the first hole and the second hole <NUM>, and the frame <NUM> may further include fastening bolts <NUM> which are fastened through the first hole to the third hole 160a.

With this fastening, the inner housing <NUM> may be secondarily solidly fixed to the outer housing <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A pole component (<NUM>) comprising:
an upper terminal (<NUM>);
a lower terminal (<NUM>) disposed to be spaced apart from the upper terminal (<NUM>) at a predetermined interval;
a breaker part assembly (<NUM>) including a fixed electrode (<NUM>) electrically connected to the upper terminal (<NUM>), a movable electrode (<NUM>) selectively connected to the fixed electrode (<NUM>), and a current conducting portion (<NUM>) fixed to the movable electrode (<NUM>) and electrically connected to the lower terminal (<NUM>);
an outer housing (<NUM>) having an open lower surface to accommodate the upper terminal (<NUM>), the lower terminal (<NUM>), and the breaker part assembly (<NUM>); and
an inner housing (<NUM>) detachably disposed between the outer housing (<NUM>) and breaker part assembly (<NUM>),
characterized in that the inner housing (<NUM>) includes:
a plate-shaped front portion (<NUM>) disposed to face the inner surface of the outer housing (<NUM>); and
a pair of side surface portions (<NUM>) formed to extend from both sides of the front portion (<NUM>) in a direction toward the breaker part assembly (<NUM>).