Title of Invention

"ROTARY ENGAGEMENT LOCK MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC SAFETY CUTOUT"

Abstract Rotary engagement lock mechanism for automatic safety cutout, including a frame; a hinged release bar (3) mounted to pivot on a pivot (5) fixed relative to the frame and having an engagement end (7), said release bar (3) having a set position and a tripped position and being urged by a spring (13) towards its tripped position, an intermediate lever (8) mounted to pivot on a pivot (12) fixed relative to the frame and adapted to cooperate with the engagement end (7) of the hinged release bar (3), an engagement lever (18) mounted to pivot on a pivot (17) carried by the intermediate lever (8) and having an engagement surface (22) adapted to co-operate with the engagement end (7) of the hinged release bar (3), a mechanism spring (38) adapted to urge said engagement lever (18) to pivot about its axis (17) in a predetermined direction, a contact device including at least one fixed contact. (1) and at. least one corresponding mobile contact (2), this device having a first position in which the fixed contact (1) and the mobile contact (2) are moved apart from each other and a second position in which the fixed contact (1) and the mobile contact (2) are held against each other, movement from the first position to the second position being driven by the intermediate lever (8) holding means (26, 30) adapted to hold the engagement lever (is) in a stable position, including a strut (27) against which said engagement lever (18) is adapted to be pressed by said mechanism spring (38).
Full Text The present invention relates to a rotary engagement lock mechanism for automatic safety cutout.
It relates more particularly to automatic safety cutouts for automatically opening an electrical circuit when they are tripped by the detection of an electrical fault.
Cutouts of this kind may be circuit-breakers, for example, adapted to open an electrical circuit in the event of a short-circuit or differential switches adapted to open a circuit in the event of earthing of one of the live wires.
These cutouts generally include a set of metal contacts adapted to open or to close the electrical circuit and a mechanism for operating the set of contacts called the lock mechanism.
The lock mechanism provides for manual closing and opening of the circuit, in addition to automatic opening of the circuit following the detection of an electrical fault, by providing a release bar on, the outside of the cutout.
The document FR 2 62 8 2 62 describes a lock mechanism of the above kind in which the contacts are held in the circuit closed position by a pawl hooking over one part. In the event of .an electrical fault, this. connection is broken and the mechanism is tripped, thereby opening the circuit.
In the above lock mechanism, the part onto which the pawl is hooked is mounted so that it can turn on another part operating the set of contacts.
This lock mechanism is known as a "rotary engagement lock mechanism" and proves satisfactory in respect of its function of breaking an electrical circuit in the particular applications described in the document

cited above.
The invention nevertheless aims to improve the above kind of lock mechanism, and more generally the cooperation of the various parts involved in tripping the mechanism.
To this end it proposes a rotary engagement lock mechanism for automatic safety cutout, including:
- a frame;
- a hinged release bar mounted to pivot on a
pivot fixed relative to the frame and having an
engagement end, said release bar having a. set position
and a tripped position and being urged by a spring
towards its tripped position;
- an intermediate lever mounted to pivot on a
pivot fixed relative to the frame and adapted to co
operate with the engagement end of the hinged release
bar ;
- an engagement lever mounted to pivot on a pivot
carried by the intermediate lever and having an
engagement surface adapted to co-operate with the
engagement end of the hinged release bar;
- a mechanism spring adapted to urge said
engagement lever to pivot about its axis in a
predetermined direction;
- a contact device including at least one fixed
contact and at least one corresponding mobile contact,
this device having a first position in which the fixed
contact and the mobile contact are moved apart from each
other and a second position in which the fixed contact
and the mobile contact are held against each other,
movement from the first position to the second position
being driven by the intermediate lever;
- holding means to hold the engagement lever in a
stable position, including a strut against which said
engagement lever is adapted to be pressed by said
mechanism spring;
- an actuator having a retracted positicn in which it is set back relative to the holding means and an extended position in which it operates on the holding means;
said mechanism having a contact position in which the hinged release bar, in its set position, is braced to urge said engagement end against an abutment formed conjointly by the engagement surface of the engagement lever in its stable position and the intermediate lever, and thus urges the intermediate lever to hold the contact device in its second position;
the mechanism being characterised in that the intermediate lever has a stop surface and, when the engagement lever is in its stable position, the engagement surface and the stop surface delimit a housing with convergent walls forming said abutment against which the engagement end of the hinged release bar is urged, the engagement surface being shaped so that anywhere on the engagement surface the normal to that surface is oriented in a direction intersecting the pivot of the engagement lever.
When the lock mechanism is in its contact position, the engagement lever is held in a stable position by the holding means and loaded by the engagement end of the hinged release bar.
The direction of the force by which the engagement end loads said lever passes through the rotation axis of the lever and circumvents any torque that the hinged release bar would have exerted on the engagement lever.
Thus no force Lending to turn said lever about its axis is added to the load of the mechanism spring.
Consequently, it is possible to increase the force with which the toggle loads the abutment, for
example, and therefore to increase the pressure of the contacts against each ether to improve performance in terms of breaking and/or heating.
This increased force has no effect on the rotation of the tripping lever, apart from the friction forces generated by the contact of the engagement end against the abutment. The mechanism spring is adapted to overcome these friction forces and thereby to allow rotation of the engagement lever upon tripping of the mechanism. It is therefore possible to employ the same holding means regardless of the pressure that is to be applied to the contact.
The same lock mechanism can therefore be used for a great variety of cutouts, regardless of the number of contacts to be operated and regardless of the type of cutout conditioning the energy available for the actuator.
For example, four-pole cutouts necessitate a greater force to be exerted on the abutment than single-pole or two-pole cutouts.
Similarly, highly sensitive differential switches, for example, supply a current of only a few milliamperes to the actuator in the event of an electrical fault, whereas circuit-breakers can supply a current of several amperes.
The use of a mechanism common to a great variety of products enables the manufacturer to reduce fabrication costs and reduces the risk of incorrect assembly by simplifying the fabrication process.
Moreover, auxiliaries are routinely employed in association with these cutouts. They nest over the cutouts so as to be connected mechanically to them to detect tripping of the cutout. They must of course be adapted to the lock mechanism of the cutout to which they are attached. The invention therefore also allows the use
of a single range of auxiliaries adapted to the present lock mechanism for a great variety of cutouts.
The engagement surface of the engagement lever is preferably formed of a portion of a cylinder centred on the pivot of the engagement lever.
Mathematically speaking, the resultant of the contact forces on a surface of this kind passes through the rotation axis and this is one way to implement the principles explained above.
Similarly,the engagement end of the hinged release bar may be formed by a portion of a cylinder centred on a pivot parallel to the pivot of the engagement lever.
The resulting linear contact of the engagement end. on the engagement surface circumvents parasitic rubbing phenomena.
According to preferred features of the invention: - the engagement lever has a first contact surface and a second contact surface, the latter being urged by the mechanism spring to rotate the engagement lever about its pivot, and where applicable:
the first contact surface and the second contact surface are disposed on respective opposite sides of the pivot of the engagement lever and the holding means include a rest situated at one end of the strut and which, when the mechanism is in its contact position, is disposed against said first contact surface.
Tripping occurs when the actuator operates on the holding means: to move said rest away from the first contact surface.
In this context, the force necessary for this manoeuvre depends directly, and virtually only, on the force exerted by the mechanism spring. The load applied by the spring defines the unlocking force as seen by the actuator.
Moreover, this unlocking force is subject to little dispersion from one mechanism to another, as the mechanism spring being can be designed to have a reduced tolerance and therefore an increased safety margin.
The mechanism preferably further includes a bias spring adapted to co-operate with the engagement lever and with the strut so that said strut is urged towards the engagement lever.
This bias spring assures reliable functioning of the mechanism in that said strut will tend always to join the first surface to hold the engagement lever.
The following preferred features may be envisaged, independently of each other, for reasons of reliable operation and convenient production:
- the holding means include an auxiliary lever
mounted to pivot about a pivot carried by the
intermediate lever, this auxiliary lever having said
strut at one of its ends, and a tripping lever mounted to
pivot about a pivot fixed relative to the frame and
adapted to co-operate with the actuator and with the
auxiliary lever so as to move the strut away from the
first contact, surface when the actuator goes from its
retracted position to its extended position;
the mechanism spring is a torsion spring comprising a cylindrical winding of turns and two projecting branches, the cylindrical winding of turns being centred on the pivot of the intermediate lever, and, when the mechanism is in its contact position, one of the branches bears on said second contact surface and the other branch bears or. a stop rod fixed relative to the frame;
- the auxiliary lever includes, distributed on
either side of its pivot axis, said strut and a branch
having an end portion of circular arc shape adapted to
co-operate with the tripping lever;
- the tripping lever has two branches at an angle
to each other :and intersecting the pivot of the tripping
lever, the first branch having a portion facing the
actuator and the second branch having a rounded portion
adapted to co-operate with the auxiliary lever;
the holding means include a reset finger adapted to be urged by the mechanism spring when the mechanism is not in its contact position, the reset finger being adapted to enable the mechanism spring to move the actuator from its extended position to its retracted position;
- the tripping lever includes a reset finger
situated at the end of the first branch, beyond the
portion facing the actuator, and adapted to be loaded by
the mechanism spring when the mechanism is not in its
contact position, the reset finger being adapted to
enable the mechanism spring to return the first branch
against the action of the actuator to move the latter to
the retracted position;
- the mechanism further includes a reset spring
adapted to urge the holding means when the mechanism is
not in its contact position, the reset spring being
adapted to enable the actuator to be moved from its
extended position to its retracted position;
- the mechanism further includes a reset spring
adapted to load the tripping lever when the mechanism is
not in its contact position, the reset spring being
adapted to enable the first branch to be moved against
the actuator to move the latter to its retracted
position;
- the intermediate lever includes a ramp adapted
to receive the engagement end of the hinged release bar,
said stop surface being disposed at the entry end of said
ramp;
the mechanism further includes a stop peg
attached to the intermediate lever and adapted to limit the angular amplitude of pivoting of the engagement lever relative to the intermediate lever;
- the hinged release bar includes a manual lever
adapted to project from the casing of the cutout so that
it can be manipulated from the outside and a link hinged
to said lever and having said engagement end at its end
opposite the hinge;
- the mobile contact includes a support mounted
to pivot on a pivot fixed relative to the frame and in
that the mechanism further includes a link connecting the
intermediate lever and the mobile contact to enable the
intermediate lever to operate the contact device;
- the actuator is an electromechanical actuator.
The explanation of the invention continues next
with a description of an illustrative and nonliniting preferred embodiment with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
- figure 1 is a kinematic diagram representing
the various parts of a lock mechanism of the invention
and the modes of co-operation between those parts, the
mechanism being shown in its contact position;
- figure 2 is a view similar to figure 1, the
mechanism being shown in a tripped position, immediately
after the intervention of the actuator;
- figure 3 is a view similar to figure 1 with the
mechanism shown in a position that is chronologically
after the figure 2 position and in which the mechanism
has reset the actuator and is ready to move to its
contact position if the user operates the release bar;
- figure 4 is a view to a larger scale of the
portion XIII of figure 1 and shows diagrammatically the
orientation of the forces in play;
- figure 5 is a view in section of a lock
mechanism conforming to the embodiment shown in figures 1
to 4, the mechanism being in a position corresponding to that of figure 1;
- figure 6 is a view of the figure 5 mechanism
when the mechanism has just been tripped;
- figure 7 is a view of the figure 5 mechanism in
a position which is chronologically after the figure 6
position and in which the contacts are moved apart, this
position also corresponding to the figure 2 position;
- figure 8 is a view of the figure 5 mechanism in
a position which is chronologically after the figure 7
position and in which the hinged release bar has returned
to its tripped position, this position also corresponding
to the figure 3 position;
- figure 9 is a perspective view of a different
embodiment of a lock mechanism of the invention in which
the mechanism includes a specific spring for resetting
the actuator, figure 9 showing the side of the mechanism
on which the reset spring is visible;
- figures 10 to 13 correspond to figures 5 to 8
in relation to the figure 9 variant.
Figures 1 to 4 are diagrams used to explain the operating principles of the lock mechanism.
Figures 5 to 8 are views of a real lock mechanism in section, corresponding to a practical implementation conforming to the diagrams of figures 1 to 4.
Finally, figures 9 to 13 represent a real lock mechanism corresponding to the variant cited above.
The operation of the mechanism will be explained with reference to figures 1 to 4 and in parallel with reference to figures 5 to 8, the corresponding parts carrying the same reference number.
The mechanism seen in the above figures is intended to be mounted in a casing that is not shown.
It includes a pair of contacts 1, 2 of which one contact 1 is fixed and the other contact 2 is mobile.Each of these contacts 1, 2 is intended to be connected to the electrical circuit (not shown) that is to be protected, placing them in contact with each other closing the circuit and moving them away from each other opening the circuit.
Only two contacts 1, 2 are shown here, from the side, it being understood that additional pairs of contacts would be aligned with the pair described if it were required simultaneously to command the breaking of different circuits or of different phases of the same circuit.
The contacts 1, 2 are urged away from each other by an opening spring 34 (shown diagrammatically in figures 1 to 3 by a torque arrow symbol).
It is the lock mechanism that operates the contacts 1, 2.
It includes a hinged release bar 3 formed of a manual lever 4 mounted to turn about a pivot 5 fixed relative to the casing, the latter here playing the role of a frame supporting the various components of the mechanism. The hinged release bar 3 also includes a link 6 connected by a pivot connection to the manual lever 4 so that rotation of the lever moves the link 6, which has an engagement end 7 represented by a circle in the figure 1 to 4 diagrams and formed by a cylinder extending perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing in figures 5 to 8.
The mobility of the hinged release bar 3 enables it to assume two extreme positions: a set position (figures 1 and 5) and a tripped position (figures 3 and 8), these two positions delimiting an angular amplitude of approximately 90° for the manual lever 4. A spring 13 (represented by a torque arrow symbol in figures 1 to 3) urges the release bar 3 towards its tripped position.
The mechanism further includes an intermediate lever 8 indirectly interengaged with the mobile contact 2 via a link 9 articulated to a support 8 carrying the mobile contact, the support 10 being mounted to turn about a pivot 11 fixed relative to the casing.
The intermediate lever 8 is mounted to turn about a pivot 12 fixed relative to the casing and disposed so that pivoting of the lever 8 in one direction moves the mobile contact 2 against the fixed contact 1 and movement thereof in the other direction moves the mobile contact 2 away from the fixed contact 1.
The intermediate lever 8 further includes at its end opposite the link 9 a ramp 14 receiving and guiding the engagement end 7 of the link 6.
At the entry end of the ramp 14, the intermediate lever 8 includes a housing that is formed by a stop surface 15 and a lateral wall 16 and can receive part of the engagement end 7.
Moreover, the intermediate lever 8 supports a pivot 17 near the ramp 14 on which an engagement lever 18 is mounted so that it is able to turn. The latter includes a first contact surface 19 and a second contact surface 20 disposed on respective opposite sides of the pivot 17, together with a tooth 21 having an engagement surface 22. The engagement surface 22 is a portion of a cylinder whose axis coincides with that of the pivot 17 of the engagement lever 18.
A mechanism spring, here a torsion spring 38, is disposed around the pivot 12 of the intermediate lever 8 and exerts a torsion force between a stop rod 23 attached to the casing and the second contact surface 20 when the mechanism is in the position shown in figures 1 and 5.
A stop peg 24 attached to the intermediate lever 8 is adapted to limit the angular travel of the engagement lever 18 relative to the intermediate lever 8.
The intermediate lever 8 supports a pivot 25 on which an auxiliary lever 26 is mounted so that it can turn, this lever having a first branch forming a strut 27 and carrying a bearing point 28 intended to co-operate with the first contact surface 19 of the engagement lever 18. A bias spring 35 urges the bearing point 28 towards said first contact surface 19.
The auxiliary lever 26 also includes a second branch 29 intended to co-operate with a tripping lever 30.
The first branch 27 and the second branch 29 are disposed on respective opposite sices of the pivot 25 of the auxiliary lever 26.
The tripping lever 38 is mounted so that it can turn about a pivot 31 fixed relative to the casing and has a first branch 32 and a second branch 33 which here are at an angle of approximately 90c, the second branch having a rounded corner to co-operate with the second branch 29 of the auxiliary lever 26.
The tripping lever 30 can be moved by an electromechanical actuator 36 fixed relative to the casing which has a retracted position (figures 1 and 5) and an extended position (figures 2 and 6) , the movement from the retracted position to the extended position being effected by electrically energising the actuator 36 on detecting an electrical fault that should cause the mechanism to trip.
The auxiliary lever 26 and the tripping lever 30 form holding means which can be moved in this way by the actuator 36.
The rod of the actuator 36 acts on the first branch 32 of the tripping lever 30. A reset finger 37 on said first branch 32, beyond the portion adapted to come into contact with the rod of the actuator 36, extends perpendicularly to the plane of the drawings and co perates with the mechanism spring 38. When the mechanism is in the position shown in figures 1 and 5, the spring 38 exerts an angular spreading force between the stop rod 23 and the second contact surface 20 of the engagement lever 18.
When the mechanism is in the position shown in figures 2 and 1, the spring 38 exerts a force between the stop rod 23 and the reset finger 37 in that, in this position, the reset finger does not reach the second contact surface 20.
The lock mechanism that has just been described operates in the manner indicated hereinafter.
The mechanism is shown in figures 1 and 5 in its contact position. To bring it into this position, generally from a tripped position shown in figures 3 and 8, it is necessary to set the mechanism by moving the manual lever 4 (which is the only component of the mechanism that projects from the casing) from its tripped position to its set position.
Rotation of the manual lever 4 causes the engagement end 7 of the link 6 to be placed against an abutment 39 formed by the convergence of the stop surface 15 and the engagement surface 22.
As the manual lever 4 rotates, the engagement end
7 therefore slides in the funnel formed by the abutment
39 until it reaches a position in which it is in clear
contact not only with the stop surface 15 but also with
the engagement surface 22. From this time on, further
rotation of the manual lever 4 causes pivoting of the
intermediate lever 8 and therefore movement towards each
other of the contacts 1, 2.
In parallel with this, the auxiliary lever 26 is urged by the bias spring 35 into contact with the first contact surface 19 of the engagement lever 18.
Because of the pivoting of the intermediate Jever
8 and the consequential pivoting of the second contact surface 20 of the engagement lever IB, the latter comes into contact with the mechanism spring 38 and, as rotation proceeds, releases the reset finger 3') from the action of the spring 38.
The mechanism spring 38 is therefore loaded until the mechanism reaches the stable contact position shown in figures I and 5 in which the link 9 is braced.
The forces exerted on the abutment 39 by the engagement end 7 in this position are shown in figure 4.
A first component Fj. is applied to the engagement surface 22 and a second component Fz is applied to the stop surface 1.5.
Regardless of the equilibrium position that the engagement end has reached on being depressed into the abutment 39, it can transmit only a component FI in a direction passing through the pivot 17 of the engagement lever 18, because of the circular shape centred on that axis 17 of the engagement surface 22. The forces in other directions will be transmitted by the component Fa.
The engagement end 7 therefore does not exert any torque tending to cause the engagement lever to turn, and only the pivot 17 itself is subjected to a force.
On the occurrence of an electrical fault, the actuator 36 goes to the extended position (see figure 6), thereby causing pivoting of the tripping lever 3C and therefore causing pivoting of the auxiliary lever 26.
As a consequence of this, the effect of the mechanism spring 38 is to move the tooth 21 away from the entry end of :the ramp 14 and to allow the intermediate lever 8 to be pivoted by the opening spring 34, regardless of the position of the manual lever 4, since the engagement end can from new on take up a position in the ramp 14 (see figures 2 and 7) . The contacts 1, 2 are therefore moved apart and the electrical circuit is opened. In the next phase the mechanism spring 38 operates on the reset finger 37 to return the actuator 36 Co its retracted position and the spring 13 urges the release bar 3 towards its tripped position by moving the engagement end; 1 off the ramp 14 to the entry end of the abutment 39, ready to be set again (figures 3 and 8).
Figures 9 to 13 represent a variant of the lock mechanism described.
This variant of the lock mechanism is in all ways identical to the previous one except for the resetting of the actuator 36, which is not effected by the mechanism spring 38 operating on a reset finger 37 but by a dedicated reset spring 40. As may be seen in figure 9, which represents the mechanism seen from the opposite side, this dedicated spring produces an angular movement away from each other of the end of the second branch 33 of the tripping lever 30 and the intermediate lever 8.
An abutment 41 limits the travel of the mechanism spring 38.
Another variant, not shown, relates to tripping by an auxiliary external to the mechanism and operating directly in rotation on the auxiliary lever 26. This means that the actuator 36 and the tripping lever 30 may be dispensed with.
More generally, the invention is not limited to the setting and tripping mechanisms described here.





We claim:
1. Rotary engagement lock mechanism for automatic safety cutout, including:
- a frame; a hinged release bar (3) mounted to pivot on a pivot (5) fixed relative to the frame and having an engagement end (7), said release bar (3) having a set position and a tripped position and being urged by a spring (13) towards its tripped position;
- an intermediate lever (8) mounted to pivot on a pivot (12) fixed relative to the frame and adapted to cooperate with the engagement end (7) of the hinged release bar (3);
- an engagement lever (18) mounted to pivot on a pivot (17) carried by the intermediate lever (8) and having an engagement surface (22) adapted to co-operate with the engagement end (7) of the hinged release bar (3);
- a mechanism spring (38) adapted to urge said engagement lever (18) to pivot about its axis (17) in a predetermined direction;
- a contact device including at least one fixed contact. (I) and at. least one corresponding mobile contact (2) , this device having a first position in which the fixed contact (1) and the mobile contact (2) are moved apart from each other and a second position in which the fixed contact (1) and the mobile contact (2) are held against each other, movement from the first position to the second position being driven by the intermediate lever (8)
- holding means (26, 30) adapted to hold the engagement lever (is) in a stable position, including a strut (27) against which said engagement lever (18) is adapted to be pressed by said mechanism spring (38)
- an actuator (36) having a retracted position in which it is set back relative to the holding means (26, 30) and an extended position in which it operates on the holding means (26, 30) said mechanism having a contact position in which the hinged release bar (3), in its set position,


is braced to urge said engagement end (7) against an abutment (39) formed conjointly by the engagement surface (22) of the engagement lever (18) in its stable position and the intermediate lever (8) , and thus urges the intermediate lever (8) to hold the contact device in its second position;
the mechanism being characterized in that the intermediate lever (8) has a stop surface (15) and, when the engagement lever (18) is in its stable position, the engagement surface (22) and the stop surface (15) delimit a housing with convergent walls forming said abutment (39) against which the engagement end (7) of the hinged release bar (3) is urged, the engagement surface (22) being shaped so that anywhere on the engagement surface (22) the normal to that surface (22) is oriented in a direction intersecting the pivot (17) of the engagement lever (18).
2. Lock mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engagement surface (22) of the engagement lever (18) is formed of a portion of a cylinder centred on the pivot (17) of the engagement lever (18)
3. Lock mechanism as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the engagement end (7) of the hinged release bar (3) is formed by a portion of a cylinder centred on a pivot parallel to the pivot (17) of the engagement lever (18)
4. Lock mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the engagement lever (18) has a first contact surface (19) and a second contact surface (20), the latter being urged by the mechanism spring (38) to rotate the engagement lever (18) about its pivot (17).
5. Lock mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first contact surface (19) and the second contact surface (20) are disposed on respective opposite sides of the pivot (17) of the engagement lever (18) and the holding means (26, 30) include a rest (28) situated at one end of the strut (27) and which, when the mechanism is in its contact position, is disposed against said first contact surface (19).
6. Lock mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the mechanism further includes a bias spring (35) adapted to co-operate with the engagement lever (18) and with the


strut (27) so that said strut (27) is urged towards the engagement lever (18).
7. Lock.mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the holding means
include:
- an auxiliary lever (26) mounted to pivot about a pivot (25) carried by the intermediate lever (8), this auxiliary lever (26) having said strut (27) at one of its ends;
- a tripping lever (30) mounted to pivot about a pivot (31) fixed relative to the frame and adapted to cooperate with the actuator (36) and with the auxiliary lever (26) as to move the strut (27) away from the first contact surface (19) when the actuator (36) goes from its retracted position to its extended position.

8. Lock mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the mechanism spring (38) is a torsion spring comprising a cylindrical winding of turns and two projecting branches, the cylindrical winding of turns being centred on the pivot (12) of the intermediate lever (8), and, when the mechanism is in its contact position, one of the branches bears on said second contact surface (20) and the other branch bears on a stop rod (23) fixed relative to the frame.
9. Lock mechanism as claimed in either claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the auxiliary lever (26) includes, distributed on either side of its pivot axis (25), said strut (27) and a branch (29) having an end portion adapted to co-operate with the tripping lever (30).
10. Lock mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the tripping lever (30) has two branches (32, 33) at an angle to each other and intersecting the pivot (31) of the tripping lever (30), the first branch (32) having a portion facing the actuator (36) and the second branch (33) having a rounded portion adapted to co-operate with the auxiliary lever (26).
I I. Lock mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the holding means (26, 30) include a reset finger (37) adapted to be urged by the mechanism spring (38) when the mechanism is not in its contact position, the reset finger (37) being adapted to enable the


mechanism spring (38) to move the actuator (36) from its extended position to its retracted position.
12. Lock mechanism as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tripping lever (30) includes a reset finger (37) situated at the end of the first branch (32), beyond the portion facing the actuator (36), and adapted to be loaded by the mechanism spring (38) when the mechanism is not in its contact position, the reset finger (37) being adapted to enable the mechanism spring (38) to return the first branch (32) against the action of the actuator (36) to move the latter to the retracted position.
13. Lock mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the mechanism further includes a reset spring (40) adapted to urge the holding means (26, 30) when the mechanism is not in its contact position, the reset spring (40) being adapted to enable the actuator (36) to be moved from its extended position to its retracted position.
14. Lock mechanism as claimed in claim 10, wherein the mechanism further includes a reset spring (40) adapted to load the tripping lever (30) when the mechanism is not in its contact position, the reset spring (40) being adapted to enable the first branch (32) to be moved against the actuator (36) to move the latter to its retracted position.
15. Lock mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the intermediate lever (8) includes a ramp (14) adapted to receive the engagement end (7) of the hinged release bar (3), said stop surface (15) being disposed at the entry end of said ramp (14).
16. Lock mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the mechanism further includes a stop peg (24) attached to the intermediate lever (8) and adapted to limit the angular amplitude of pivoting of the engagement lever (18) relative to the intermediate lever (8).
17. Lock mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the hinged release bar (3) includes a manual lever (4) adapted to project from the casing of the cutout so that it can be manipulated from the outside and a link (6) hinged to said lever (4) and having said engagement end (7) at its end opposite the hinge.


18. Lock mechanism as claimed in any one of claims I to 17, wherein the mobile contact (2) includes a support (10) mounted to pivot art a pivot (21) fixed relative to the frame and in that the mechanism further includes a link (9) connecting the intermediate lever (.8) and the mobile contact (2) to enable the intermediate lever (8) to operate the contact device.
19. Lock mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the actuator (36) is an electromechanical actuator.

Documents:

443-DELNP-2006-Abstract-(02-07-2009).pdf

443-DELNP-2006-Claims-(02-07-2009).pdf

443-delnp-2006-correspondence-others 1.pdf

443-DELNP-2006-Correspondence-Others-(03-03-2008).pdf

443-DELNP-2006-Corresponence-Others-(02-07-2009).pdf

443-DELNP-2006-Description (Complete)-(02-07-2009).pdf

443-DELNP-2006-Drawings-(02-07-2009).pdf

443-DELNP-2006-Form-1-(02-07-2009).pdf

443-delnp-2006-form-13-(03-03-2008).pdf

443-delnp-2006-form-18.pdf

443-DELNP-2006-Form-2-(02-07-2009).pdf

443-DELNP-2006-Form-3-(02-07-2009).pdf

443-DELNP-2006-Form-5-(02-07-2009).pdf

443-DELNP-2006-GPA-(02-07-2009).pdf

443-DELNP-2006-Others-Documents-(02-07-2009).pdf

443-DELNP-2006-Petition-137-(02-07-2009).pdf

443-delnp2006-abstract.pdf

443-delnp2006-claims.pdf

443-delnp2006-correspondence-others.pdf

443-delnp2006-description (complete).pdf

443-delnp2006-drawings.pdf

443-delnp2006-form-1.pdf

443-delnp2006-form-2.pdf

443-delnp2006-form-3.pdf

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Patent Number 247554
Indian Patent Application Number 443/DELNP/2006
PG Journal Number 16/2011
Publication Date 22-Apr-2011
Grant Date 19-Apr-2011
Date of Filing 25-Jan-2006
Name of Patentee LEGRAND FRANCE
Applicant Address 128 AVENUE DU MARECHAL DE LATTRE-DE-TASSIGNY, 87000 LIMOGES, FRANCE
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 CHRISTOPHE ANTICO RESIDENCE LES CEDRES B, 74, CHEMIN DES MAURUCHES SUPERIEURES, 06220 VALLAURIS, FRANCE
2 ALAIN SIMOND 20 CHEMIN DU TAMEYE, 06650 OPIO, FRANCE
PCT International Classification Number H01H 71/52
PCT International Application Number PCT/FR2004/001920
PCT International Filing date 2004-07-20
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 0309065 2003-07-24 France