| Title of Invention | ELECTRIC PANEL |
|---|---|
| Abstract | The present invention relates to an electric panel T comprising a main electric switchgear unit (1) and at least one individual electric protection apparatus (2) called feeder unit, each main unit (1) comprising at least one electric breaking circuit (3,4) and each feeder unit (2) comprising a certain number of electric phase protection circuits (6), each feeder unit (2) being connected in series with one or the other of the electric breaking circuits (3,4) of the main unit (1), said panel further comprising means for detecting an electric short-circuit (16) in at least one of the phase breaking circuits (6) of the feeder units (2) and at least one of the feeder units (2) comprises means for detecting an electric overload (9), said electric panel being characterized in that said means for detecting an overload (9) command(s) opening of the switches (7,8) of the main unit (1). |
| Full Text | ELECTRIC PANEL The present invention relates to an electric panel containing a main electric switchgear unit and at least one individual electric protection apparatus called feeder unit, each main unit comprising at least one electric breaking circuit comprising a switch and each feeder unit comprising a certain number of electric phase protection circuits, each feeder unit being connected in series with one or the other of the electric breaking circuits of the main unit, said panel further containing means for detecting an electric short-circuit on the electric phase line(s), at least one of the feeder units comprising means for detecting an electric overload. Electric panels are known containing a differential switch called the main switch and circuit breakers called feeder circuit breakers. The differential switch comprises a neutral breaking circuit and at least one electric phase breaking circuit, and the feeder circuit breakers also each comprise a phase breaking circuit. Each breaking circuit of the feeder units comprises means for detecting an electric overload, means for detecting a short-circuit and a mechanism for interrupting the breaking circuit of said feeder unit, said mechanism being commanded by the above-mentioned means for detecting. The differential switch comprises, for each of the breaking circuits, a mechanism for interrupting the breaking circuits and differential detection means for detecting a differential fault in one of the breaking circuits of the feeder units, said detection means commanding said mechanisms for interrupting the circuits. Thus, when an electric overload or short-circuit fault occurs in one of the feeder units, it is the switch of the breaking circuit concerned of the feeder unit that opens, whereas when a differential fault occurs in one of the breaking circuits of the feeder units, it is the breaking circuits of the main unit that open. In this type of construction, although centralization of the differential function has been performed, constitution of the assembly remains costly and enables the differential function to be withdrawn in operation for economy reasons. The present invention solves these problems and proposes an electric panel of simple design in which the group incomer function is compulsory to ensure the general operation of the system. For this purpose, the object of the present invention is to provide an electric panel of the above-mentioned kind, this panel being characterized in that at least one of the feeder units comprises means for detecting an electric overload commanding opening of the switches of the main unit. According to a particular feature of the invention, said panel further comprises means for detecting an electric short-circuit on the electric phase line(s), said means commanding opening of the switches of the main unit. According to a particular feature of the invention, the above-mentioned main electric switchgear unit comprises said above-mentioned means for detecting a short-circuit. According to another feature, the or each feeder unit comprises means for indicating an electric overload fault occurring in at least one of the protection circuits of said feeder unit. According to another particular feature, each feeder unit comprises control means commanded by the above-mentioned means for detecting an overload and commanding the switches of the main unit. According to a particular feature, the above-mentioned control means are mechanical control means. According to a particular feature, the above-mentioned control means comprise a bar actuated by the means for detecting an electric overload and commanding opening of the switches of the main unit. According to another embodiment, the above-mentioned control means comprise an idle-mounted part commanded by the means for detecting an electric overload, said part commanding either the switches of the main unit or one same part belonging to a neighbouring module, said part commanding the switches of the main unit. According to another embodiment, the above-mentioned control means are electric control means. According to another embodiment, the above-mentioned control means comprise an electric contact connected in parallel with a test circuit belonging to the main unit. According to another feature, the above-mentioned main unit further comprises a neutral breaking circuit. According to a particular embodiment, the main unit comprises a neutral breaking circuit and an electric phase breaking circuit and each feeder unit comprises an electric phase protection circuit. According to another embodiment, the main unit comprises a neutral breaking circuit and two phase breaking circuits and each feeder unit comprises two phase breaking circuits. According to another feature, each feeder unit comprises, for at least one of the above-mentioned protection circuits, an electric switch enabling deliberate opening or closing of said protection circuit. According to another feature, the main unit is one of the switchgear units comprised in the group comprising a differential circuit breaker, a differential circuit breaker without overload protection, a circuit breaker or a circuit breaker without overload protection. According to another feature, the main unit is one of the switchgear units comprised in the group comprising a differential switch, a differential switch without overload protection, a switch or a switch without overload protection. According to another feature, at least one of the feeder units is a circuit breaker. But other advantages and features of the invention will become more clearly apparent from the following detailed description which refers to the accompanying drawings given for example purposes only and in which: -Figure 1 represents the wiring diagram of an electric panel according to the prior art, -Figure 2 represents the wiring diagram of an electric panel according to a particular embodiment of the invention, -Figure 3 represents the wiring diagram of an electric panel according to another particular embodiment of the invention, -Figure 4 represents the wiring diagram of a two-pole electric panel according to the invention, and -Figures 5,6 and 7 represent the wiring diagram of an electric panel respectively for the three figures, according to three different embodiments of the control means of the breaking mechanisms of the main unit. In the figures, an electric panel T can be seen comprising a main unit 1 and feeder units 2, the main unit 1 being either a differential switch or a differential circuit breaker and the feeder units 2 being circuit breakers or protection modules. In figure 1, an electric panel T according to the prior art comprises a differential switch 1 and feeder circuit breakers 2. The differential switch 1 comprises a neutral breaking circuit 3 and a phase breaking circuit 4. The neutral breaking circuit 3 is electrically connected to the neutral connecting strip 5 whereas the phase breaking circuit 4 is connected in series with the different phase breaking circuits 6 of the feeder units 2. Each breaking circuit 3,4 of the main unit 1 comprises a switch 7,8. Each feeder unit 2 comprises an electric phase breaking circuit 6. Each of these phase breaking circuits 6 of these feeder units 2 comprises, connected in series, a thermal means for detecting an electric overload 9, a magnetic means for detecting a short-circuit 10 and an electric contact 11. The main circuit breaker I also comprises means for detecting a differential fault 12 which may occur on one of the feeders, said means for detecting commanding the above-mentioned switches 7,8 of the feeder unit 1. The electric panel T also comprises individual circuit breakers 13 electrically connected to the electric phase line 14 but not protected by the above-mentioned means for detecting a differential fault 12. In operation, when a differential fault occurs in one of the breaking circuits of the feeder units 2, it is the electric contacts 7,8 of the main switch 1 which open. When an electric overload or short-circuit fault occurs in one of these breaking circuits 6, it is the contact 11 of the feeder unit 2 on which the fault is located which opens. In figure 2, the electric panel T according to a particular embodiment of the invention comprises a main differential circuit breaker 1 and feeder circuit breakers 2, each differential circuit breaker I comprising a neutral breaking circuit 3 and a phase breaking circuit 4 and each feeder unit 2 comprising an electric phase protection circuit 6. According to the invention, each phase protection circuit 6 of the feeder units 2 comprises only a means for detecting an electric overload 9 commanding control means 15 of the switches 7,8 of the main unit 1. The phase breaking circuit 4 of the main unit 1 comprises the magnetic means 16 for detecting a short-circuit occurring in the circuits 6 of the feeder units 2, said main unit 1 always comprising the above-mentioned means for detecting a differential fault 12. It can also be seen in this figure that the individual circuit breakers 13 are fed by a phase line 17 electrically connected to the above-mentioned phase line 14 of the main unit 1 and also comprise, as in the above-mentioned main unit 1, magnetic detection means 18 in series with an electric contact 19, said means 18 commanding opening of said contact 19. In operation, when a differential fault or a short-circuit fault occurs in one of the phase circuits 6 of the feeder units 2, the magnetic means for detecting a short-circuit 16 and the means for detecting a differential fault 12 open the switches 7,8 of the main unit 1. When an overload fault occurs in one of these circuits 6, the control means 15 of the feeder units 2 command opening of the electric switches 7,8 of the main unit 1. In figure 3, an electric panel T according to another embodiment of the invention comprises the same elements as in the embodiment of figure 2, the only difference being that each electric phase circuit 6 of the feeder units 2 further comprises a deliberate opening switch 20 of the phase circuits of the feeder units 2, and also indicating means 21, controlled by the overload detection means 9, whereby it can be known which feeder caused centralized tripping. In figure 4, according to another embodiment of the invention, the main unit 1 comprises a neutral breaking circuit 3 and two phase breaking circuits 4,22 and the feeder units 2 comprise two electric phase circuits 6,23. Tripping of the main unit 1 by the feeder units 2, or specific modules, will be able to be performed mechanically according to principles known in the prior art or electrically when the main unit comprises a differential function, by closing of a contact in the specific module, the latter being able to be connected in parallel with the test function of the main unit. According to the particular embodiment illustrated in figure 5, the control means 15 comprise a bar 24 extending transversely to the feeder units 2, said bar 24 being commanded by the means for detecting an electric overload 9 and commanding the switches 7,8 of the main circuit breaker 1. According to the embodiment illustrated in figure 6, the control means 15 comprise an idle-mounted part 25 belonging to the module 30 actuated by the above-mentioned means for detecting an electric overload 9, the part 25 being linked in rotation to one same part 26 of a neighbouring module 29, this same part 26 of the module adjacent to the group incomer unit 1 performing tripping thereof. According to another embodiment illustrated in figure 7, the control means 15 comprise an electric contact 27 in parallel on the test circuit 28 of the main unit 1. An electric panel of simple design wherein the function of the main unit is essential to ensure operation of the system has therefore been achieved by means of the invention. These solutions enable the cost of the global function to be substantially reduced by eliminating the contact and instantaneous tripping functions which are centralized in the main unit, the major advantage being the obligation to have the main function to ensure the general function of the system. It should be noted that each feeder unit will be the object of a specific module able to integrate more or less functions. Naturally the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and illustrated which have been given for example purposes only. The panel will therefore be able to perform the differential function or not. On the contrary, the invention extends to encompass all the technical equivalents of the means described as well as combinations thereof if the latter are performed according to the spirit of the invention. CLAIMS Electric panel containing a main electric switchgear unit and at least one individual electric protection apparatus called feeder unit, each main unit comprising at least one electric breaking circuit comprising a switch and each feeder unit comprising a certain number of electric phase protection circuits, each feeder unit being connected in series with one or the other of the electric breaking circuits of the main unit, said panel further containing means for detecting an electric short-circuit on the electric phase line(s), at least one of the feeder units comprising means for detecting an electric overload, characterized in that said means for detecting an overload (9) command opening of the switches (7,8) of the main unit (1). Electric panel according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises means for detecting an electric short-circuit on the electric phase line(s), said means commanding opening of the switches (7,8) of the main unit (1). Electric panel according to claim 2, characterized in that the above-mentioned main electric switchgear unit (1) comprises said above-mentioned means for detecting a short-circuit (16). Electric panel according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the or each feeder unit (2) comprises means (21) for indicating an electric overload fault occurring in at least one of the protection circuits (6) of said feeder unit (2). Electric panel according to claim 4, characterized in that each feeder unit (2) comprises means for detecting a short-circuit in said feeder unit (2), said means for detecting commanding said above-mentioned means (21) for indicating. Electric panel according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that each feeder unit (2) comprises control means (15) commanded by the above- mentioned means for detecting an overload (9) and commanding the switches (7,8) of the main unit (1). Electric panel according to claim 6, characterized in that the above-mentioned control means (15) are mechanical control means. Electric panel according to claim 7, characterized in that the above-mentioned control means (15) comprise a bar (24) actuated by the means for detecting an electric overload (9) and commanding opening of the switches (7,8) of the main unit (1). Electric panel according to claim 7, characterized in that the above-mentioned control means (15) comprise an idle-mounted part (25) commanded by the means for detecting an electric overload (9), said part (25) commanding either the switches (7,8) of the main unit (1) or one same part (26) belonging to a neighbouring module (29), said part (26) commanding the switches (7,8) of the main unit (1). Electric panel according to claim 6, characterized in that the above-mentioned control means (15) are electric control means. Electric panel according to claim 8, characterized in that the above-mentioned control means (15) comprise an electric contact (27) connected in parallel with a test circuit (28) belonging to the main unit (1). Electric panel according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the above-mentioned main unit (1) further comprises a neutral breaking circuit (3). Electric panel according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the main unit (1) comprises a neutral breaking circuit (3) and an electric phase breaking circuit (4) and each feeder unit (2) comprises an electric phase protection circuit (6). Electric panel according to any one of the claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the main unit (1) comprises a neutral breaking circuit (3) and two phase breaking circuits (4,22) and each feeder unit (2) comprises two phase circuits (6,23). Electric panel according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that each feeder unit (2) comprises, for at least one of the above-mentioned protection circuits (6), an electric switch (20) enabling deliberate opening or closing of said protection circuit (6). Electric panel according to claim 13, characterized in that the main unit (1) is one of the switchgear units comprised in the group comprising a differential circuit breaker, a differential circuit breaker without overload protection, a circuit breaker or a circuit breaker without overload protection. Electric panel according to claim 13, characterized in that the main unit (1) is one of the switchgear units comprised in the group comprising a differential switch, a differential switch without overload protection, a switch or a switch without overload protection. Electric panel according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that at least one of the feeder units (2) is a circuit breaker . |
|---|
| Patent Number | 272712 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Patent Application Number | 242/CHE/2007 | ||||||||||||
| PG Journal Number | 17/2016 | ||||||||||||
| Publication Date | 22-Apr-2016 | ||||||||||||
| Grant Date | 21-Apr-2016 | ||||||||||||
| Date of Filing | 02-Feb-2007 | ||||||||||||
| Name of Patentee | SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS | ||||||||||||
| Applicant Address | 89 BOULEVARD FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT, F-92500 RUEIL MALMAISON, FRANCE | ||||||||||||
Inventors:
|
|||||||||||||
| PCT International Classification Number | E04B1/74 | ||||||||||||
| PCT International Application Number | N/A | ||||||||||||
| PCT International Filing date | |||||||||||||
PCT Conventions:
|
|||||||||||||