DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD

The present subject matter described herein, in general relates to circuit breakers and more particularly, to low voltage circuit breakers and more particularly to plug-in MCCB or a quick electrical mounting of MCCB to the panel boards

BACKGROUND

To connect an MCCB to a panel board, the operator must mount the MCCB to the panel board and then connect all the terminations on the breaker to a busbar using cables or lugs, now during the time of maintenance the operator must switch OFF the upstream breaker which will lead to the closure of various other dependency, then remove all the terminations and un-mount the breaker from the panel in order to do his maintenance work.

Using a plug-in circuit breaker decreases the time taken in doing this operation. Initially the operator has to mount the plug-in base, as shown in figure 1 to the panel board and connect all the terminations to the base. Now the operator will attach the conversion kit,as shown if figure 2 to the breaker and insert it into the base. At the time of maintenance the operator just has to switch OFF the MCCB and remove the breaker from the base and he can substitute the main breaker with a temporary breaker. After maintenance activities are over on the main breaker he can replace the temporary breaker. By doing this the lead time during maintenance can be avoided.

The working of plug-in is explained as follows, one of the important functions of plug-in unit is to establish electrical contact between the busbar and breaker, for this there are fixed contacts placed in the plug-in base. The plug as shown in figure 2 which is attached to the breaker by means of bolts is forced into the contact when the user pushes the breaker assembly into the plug-in base. Now the circuit will be completed

When the user switches the breaker ON the current will be carried from the busbar to the breaker by means of the contacts, in this condition if the user plugs out the breaker it will result in a mishap. To avoid this situation there is a mechanism named here as Rear plate mechanism, as shown in figure 4 which will prevent the user from pulling the breaker out of the base.

The mechanism as shown in figure 4 consists of a rear plate which is attached to the breaker by the customer using screws, an actuator, a safety lock, an interlock pin and a torsion spring. When the breaker is switched ON the mechanism in the breaker rotates a shaft which will ensure the electrical contacts in the breaker closes. The actuator takes the status of the shaft and transmits it to the safety lock, this in turn rotates about an axis in which it is mounted to the rearplate and gets latched to a specific area in the plug-in base. These features ensure the safety of the user by not allowing him/her to plug-in or plug-out the breaker unit when the MCCB is in ON condition. As an additional safety precaution there is a provision for the user to fasten the breaker to the plug-in base using fasteners.

In the existing plug-in design there are limited features provided in a single given plug-in. As a result many features have to be sacrificed or got by adding additional components to the parent unit. A few notable features are,
• No finger proofing for breaker termination
• No provision to Plug-out the breaker
• Low ground clearance.

In the view of above mentioned drawbacks, there exists a need to provide a plug-in design that is user-friendly and provides an ingress protection for the plug-in along with foolproof and easy insertion /removal of breaker.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to an ingress protection and handle for plug-in MCCB. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the subject matter.

In one implementation, the present invention, provide an ingress protection for the plug-in along with foolproof and easy insertion /removal of breaker.

In one implementation, the present invention relates to low voltage circuit breakers and more particularly to plug-in MCCB, a quick electrical mounting of MCCB to the panel boards.

In one implementation, the present invention of many features, collectively it helps in a better user experience while using the plug-in MCCB. The various features incorporated in the design are explained below.

In one implementation, the invention led to a plug-in unit having all sort of termination with IP 40 protection in front fascia, provision to hold the breaker while plugging-out without any additional components and having high ground clearance in a compact size.

In one implementation, a plug-in base in the proposed invention is a major part that helped in improving the existing product. IP cover and the handle together contribute to the ingress protection required.

Accordingly, in one implementation,aplug-in unit, for at least one circuit breaker, formed with at least one base so as to insert said circuit breaker into said plug-in unit, in use, is disclosed. The plug-in unit comprises at least two guides (1) in said at least one base;; a specialized IP cover with a hinge (6) at a side of said at least one base and at least one projection (7); a modular handle to couple with said circuit breaker; anda space (8) provided for a user to hold said handle and lift said breaker out of said plug-in base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer like features and components.

Figure 1 illustrates aplug-in base is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

Figure 2 illustrates a conversion kit is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

Figure 3 illustrates a breaker with conversion kit is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

Figure 4 illustrates a rear plate assembly is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

Figure 5 illustrates a plug-in base and breaker with conversion kit is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

Figure 6 illustrates an IP cover is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

Figure 7 illustrates a handle is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

Figure 8 illustrates a breaker with handle is shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present disclosure in unnecessary detail.

The terms and words used in the following description are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

By the term “substantially” it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.

In one implementation, the present invention relates low voltage Circuit Breakers and more particularly to plug-in MCCB- A quick electrical mounting of MCCB to the panel boards.

In one implementation, the proposed invention provides an ingress protection for the plug-in along with foolproof and easy insertion /removal of breaker.

The proposed invention consists of many features that collectively help in a better user experience while using the plug-in MCCB. The various features incorporated in the design are explained below.

In one implementation, in order to insert the breaker into the plug-in unit there are two guides in the plug-in base (1), which helps in aligning the guide in the rear plate (3) to slide smoothly into the plug-in base. This guide’s are located in such a way that when the user tries to insert the circuit breaker in the opposite direction or with an offset from the plug-in base there will be a hindrance experienced by the user. In addition to this feature there is a visual poka yoke in the design where an indication mark, as shown in figure 1, on the plug-in base and the rear plate as shown in figure 3, will educate the user about the mounting direction.

In one implementation, the mounting position of the proposed invention is disclosed. The proposed plug-in can be mounted on the panel board by two method’s.

In the first method the plug-in base can be mounted on any flat surface on the panel using the mounting holes shown (2), this is a normal mounting option where the requirement is only a flat surface.

In the second method the plug-in base can be mounted on rails, using the mounting holes shown (4).There is also a vertical offset in which the mounting holes gets vertical offset while drilling possible because of the oblong hole at the bottom. This type of mounting is preferred by customers who lack space in their panel board or when he is not able to provide a flat surface for mounting.

In one implementation, the plug-in base lies in the fact that the mounting holes lie outside the plug-in base. The existing plug-in base’s have this mounting holes inside the base. Now in a situation when the breaker contacts gets welded, the user will try to switch OFF the breaker and remove it from the plug-in base, but because of the lock in the mechanism, as shown in figure 4, the operator would not be able to remove the breaker, as a result the mounting holes in the plug-in base will be inaccessible, and the user will not be able to remove the breaker from the panel.

In some of the existing design this issue is not solved. In the others, the safety lock is replaced with a safety trip. This mechanism trips the breaker instead of locking it.

In one implementation, an IP cover (as shown in figure 6 is used in the plug-in base which is show in figure 1, for meeting the IP requirements, this is mounted to the plug-in base by means of a hinge (6) at the side of the base. To lock the cover in place a different type of feature is used (5). This feature takes the flexural strength of the material into account and behaves as a click fit, when the user applies force on the cover the part bends and the projection (7) gets locked into the slot.

In one implementation, the handle which is modular in nature is designed such that it can be attached to the existing cavity in the circuit breaker by means of an innovative snap fit design (9) wherein the snapping region in the handle gets attached to an existing slot of the breaker (10). There is an ergonomically designed space (8) for the user to hold the handle and lift the breaker out of the plug-in base. The existing handlesare not modular in nature, in the sense there are two different handles for 3 Pole and 4 Pole breakers. Moreover those handles will have to be fixed to the breaker using some hardware.

This helps in achieving IP protection for the breaker. The plug-in base is a major part that helps in improving the existing product. IP cover and the handle together contribute to the ingress protectionrequired.

In one implementation, a plug-in unit, for at least one circuit breaker, formed with at least one base so as to insert said circuit breaker into said plug-in unit, in use, is disclosed. The plug-in unit comprises at least two guides (1) in said at least one base;a mechanism to mounting said plug-in unit;at least one vertical offset;at least one mounting hole; a specialized IP cover with a hinge (6) at a side of said at least one base and at least one projection (7); a modular handle to couple with said circuit breaker; anda space (8) provided for a user to hold said handle and lift said breaker out of said plug-in base.

In one implementation, said plug-in unit enables aligning at least one guide in a rear plate (3) of said circuit breaker to slide smoothly into the plug-in base.

In one implementation, said at least one guides (3) are located in a way that when the user tries to insert the circuit breaker in the opposite direction or with an offset from the plug-in base there will be a hindrance experienced by the user.

In one implementation, said plug-in unit is mounted on a panel board by two methods, wherein said two methods comprises: a first method (2) wherein said plug-in base is mounted on any flat surface on said panel board using said at least one mounting hole, and a second method (4) wherein said plug-in base is mounted on rails, using said at least one mounting hole.

In one implementation, said at least one mounting hole gets a vertical offset while drilling because of at least one oblong hole at a bottom.
In one implementation, said mounting hole is outside the plug-in base.

In one implementation, said modular handleas shown in figure (7) is designed in such a way that it can be attached to an existing cavity (10) in said circuit breaker by means of an innovative snap fit design wherein a snapping region in the handle (9) gets attached to said existing slot of said circuit breaker.

Exemplary embodiments discussed above may provide certain advantages. Though not required to practice aspects of the disclosure, these advantages may include those provided by the following features:

One feature of the invention is that, as the proposed invention has multiple features offered, there is a significant increase in the product’s salability.

Another feature of the invention is that, a value engineering done at the design level helped in eliminating unwanted tooling cost.

Another feature of the invention is that, an IP 40 protection to the termination of the plug-in with the flip cover is an added feature.

Yet another feature of the invention is that, the proposed invention is a removable handleas shown in figure (7) in the breaker which also takes care of finger proofing.

Yet another feature of the invention is that, IP cover locking (7) is achieved by the rotation of that component itself.

Yet another feature of the invention is that, mounting hole (4) taken outside the plug-in base so that when the breaker welds the plug-in unit can be removed.

Still another feature of the invention is that, the handle can be fitted and removed without any additional tool

Although an ingress protection and handle for plug-in MCCB has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the embodiments disclosed in the above section are not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods or devices described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as examples of implementations of a contact locking mechanism of a circuit breaker.
,CLAIMS:1. A plug-in unit, for at least one circuit breaker, formed with at least one base so as to insert said circuit breaker into said plug-in unit, in use, said plug-in unit comprising:
at least two guides (1) in said at least one base;
a specialized ingress protection (IP) cover with a hinge (6) at a side of said at least one base and at least one projection (7);
a modular handle to couple with said circuit breaker; and
a space (8) provided for a user to hold said handle and lift said breaker out of said plug-in base.

2. The plug-in unit as claimed in claim 1, which enables aligning at least one guide in a rear plate (3) of said circuit breaker to slide smoothly into the plug-in base.

3. The plug-in unit as claimed in claims 1 and 2, wherein said at least one guides are located in such a way that when the user tries to insert the circuit breaker in the opposite direction or with an offset from the plug-in base there will be a hindrance experienced by the user.

4. The plug-in unit as claimed in claims 1 to 3, is mounted on a panel board by two methods, wherein said two methods comprise:
a first method wherein said plug-in base is mounted on any flat surface on said panel board using at least one mounting hole, and
a second method wherein said plug-in base is mounted on rails, using said at least one mounting hole.

5. The plug-in unit as claimed in claims 1 to 4, wherein said at least on mounting hole gets a vertical offset while drilling because of at least one oblong hole at a bottom.
6. The plug-in unit as claimed in claims 1 to 5, wherein said at least one mounting hole lies outside the plug-in base.

7. The plug-in unit as claimed in claims 1 to 6, wherein said modular handle is designed in such a way that it can be attached to an existing cavity in said circuit breaker by means of an innovative snap fit design wherein a snapping region in the handle gets attached to said existing slot of said circuit breaker.