ES3033471T3 - Device for protecting an alternating current electrical installation - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for protecting an alternating current electrical installation, provided with a compact element comprising a magnetic trip coil and a trip relay coil, and an electronic circuit connected to the trip relay coil, characterized in that said electronic circuit comprises a set for determining the effective value of the current flowing through said magnetic trip coil from the signal present at the ends of said trip relay coil, implemented by an analog-to-digital converter (71), a calculation unit (72), and an interface (70), said calculation unit (72) being configured to produce digital values representing the effective value of the current, being connected to a communication element (96) and configured to communicate said digital values representing the effective value of the current to said communication element (96).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Protective device for an alternating current electrical installation

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to protection devices for alternating current electrical installations. State of the art

The protection devices for an alternating current electrical installation, such as those shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the attached drawings, are known from the state of the art, especially from the American patent application US 2011/242720 A1 or the French patent application 3046289, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of such a known protective device, taken from the right, from above and in front of this device;

- Figure 2 shows a very schematic view of the electrical circuit of a first embodiment of the known apparatus and the mechanism for controlling the moving contacts included in this electrical circuit; and - Figure 3 shows a very schematic view of the electrical circuit of a second embodiment of the known apparatus and the mechanism for controlling the moving contacts included in this electrical circuit. The electrical apparatus 10 shown in Figure 1 has a generally parallelepiped shape.

It has two main faces, respectively a left face 11 and a right face 12, and side faces that extend from one to the other of the main faces 11 and 12, that is, a rear face 13, an upper face 14, a front face 15 and a lower face 16.

The rear face 13 has a notch 17 for mounting the device 10 on a standard support rail with an O-profile (not shown).

The front face 15 has, in the central position, over approximately half of its length, a nose 18 having a lever 19.

In this case, the device 10 is of the modular type, that is to say that in addition to its generally parallelepiped shape, its width (distance between the two main faces 11 and 12) is a multiple of a standardized value, known as the "module", which is of the order of 18 mm.

In this case, the device 10 has a width of one module.

The device 10 is configured, according to the modular format, to belong to a row of modular devices arranged side by side by being fixed from behind on the horizontally arranged support rail.

The upper surface 14 has two insertion holes 20 and 21, which provide access to a connection terminal 22 and a connection terminal 23, respectively. Hole 20 and terminal 22 are located on the left. Hole 21 and terminal 23 are located on the right.

Likewise, the lower face 16 has two insertion holes, a first hole and a second hole providing access respectively to a connection terminal 26 and a connection terminal 27. The first hole and terminal 26 are located on the left. The second hole and terminal 27 are located on the right. Each of the connection terminals 22, 23, 26 and 27 is designed to receive a stripped end section of an electric cable or a tooth of a horizontal electrical power distribution comb whose pitch (center distance between two successive teeth) is one module.

In this case, terminals 22 and 23 located at the top are intended to be connected to the two poles of an electricity distribution network, while the two terminals 26 and 27 located at the bottom are intended to be connected to an electrical installation circuit to be protected.

The device 10 is a differential circuit breaker with a protected pole, that is, it has an electric circuit that operates a short-circuit and overcurrent detection in the path circuit of the protected pole (circuit breaker function) and that operates a detection of the difference in intensity of the current circulating in the path circuit of the protected pole and in the path circuit of the unprotected pole (differential function).

In this case, terminal 22 and terminal 26 located on the left are intended for the pole of the electrical installation to be protected, which is a phase, while terminal 23 and terminal 27 located on the right are intended for the pole of the unprotected electrical installation, which is the neutral.

The current path circuit between the terminals 22 and 26 located on the left includes in series a magnetic activation member 30, a fixed contact 31, a mobile contact 32, a thermal activation member 33 and a winding 34 which forms part of a differential fault detection transformer 35.

The path circuit between terminals 23 and 27 located on the right includes in series a fixed contact 36, a mobile contact 37 and a winding 38 which forms part of the differential fault detection transformer 35.

The transformer 35 includes, in addition to the winding 34 of the path circuit between the terminals 22 and 26 located on the left and the winding 38 of the path circuit between the terminals 23 and 27 located on the right, which form the primary windings, a secondary winding 39, and an annular armature 40 (magnetic circuit) around which the secondary winding 39 and the primary windings 34 and 38 are made.

The secondary winding 39 of the transformer 35 is connected by two electrical conductors 41 and 42 to an electronic card 43.

In this case, the magnetic activation member 30 is part of a compact member 44 which also includes an activation relay 45. The electronic card 43 is connected on the one hand by two conductors 28 and 29 respectively to terminal 22 and terminal 23 and on the other hand by two conductors 46 and 47 to the activation relay 45.

To control the movable contacts 32 and 37, the apparatus 10 includes a mechanism 50, generally called a lock.

The lever 19 located on the outside of the device 10 allows the lock 50 to be acted upon manually.

The magnetic activation member 30, the thermal activation member 33 and the assembly formed by the activation relay 45 connected to the electronic card 43 are configured to act on the lock 50 if necessary.

The lock 50 has two stable positions, respectively a disconnection position where the two movable contacts 32 and 37 are each separated from the corresponding fixed contacts 31 and 36 and an actuation position where each of the two movable contacts 32 and 37 rests on the corresponding fixed contacts 31 and 36.

Lever 19, which protrudes from the front face 15, allows the lock 50 to be manually actuated to move from the disconnected position to the actuated position or vice versa.

The magnetic activation member 30, the thermal activation member 33 and the activation relay 45 are configured to automatically act on the lock 50 to move from the actuation position to the disconnection position when predetermined current path conditions occur.

The magnetic activation member 30 acts on the lock 50 in the event of a short circuit, the thermal activation member 33 acts in the event of a prolonged overcurrent and the activation relay 45 acts in the event of a differential fault.

In practice, the magnetic activation member 30 is formed by a coil arranged around a core that controls a striker that acts in the event of a short circuit in the lock 50. The thermal activation member 33 is formed by a bimetallic strip that deforms in the event of a prolonged overcurrent and which acts due to its deformation on the lock 50. The activation relay 45, which forms part of the same compact member 44 as the magnetic activation member 30, is formed by another coil arranged around the same mobile core. This other coil is powered by the electronic card 43 which reacts to the voltage supplied by the secondary winding 39 of the transformer 35 in the event of a difference between the current circulating in the winding 34 and the current circulating in the winding 38, that is to say in the event of a differential fault. Therefore, when the activation relay 45 is powered, it drives the moving core which controls the striker that acts on the lock 50 to activate the passage from the actuation position to the sectioning position.

The embodiment of the apparatus 10 illustrated in Figure 3 is similar to that illustrated in Figure 2 except that it does not include the thermal activation member 33, the protection against prolonged overcurrents that involve a current measuring transformer 202.

The transformer 202 includes an annular armature 203 surrounding a conductive element of the current path circuit between the terminals 22 and 26 and includes a winding 204 around the annular armature 203.

The winding 204 is connected to the electronic board 43 by two electrical conductors 205 and 206. The board 43 reacts not only to the voltage supplied by the winding 39 of the transformer 35, but also to the voltage supplied by the winding 204 of the current measuring transformer 202.

Like the thermal activation member 33, the transformer 202 is arranged between the moving contact 32 and the terminal 26, but while the thermal activation member 33 is arranged between the moving contact 32 and the winding 34, the transformer 202 is arranged between the winding 34 and the terminal 26.

In this case, the electronic card 43 reacts not only to the voltage provided by the secondary winding 39 of the transformer 35, but also to the voltage provided by the winding 204 of the transformer 202.

In the event of a prolonged overcurrent, the electronic card 43 powers the activation relay 45, which drives the mobile core which controls the striker that acts on the lock 50 to activate the passage from the actuation position to the disconnection position.

Exposition of the invention

The invention aims to provide, in a simple, convenient and economical manner, information on the current circulating in an electrical protection device of an alternating current electrical installation, or information that can be deduced, such as the electrical energy consumption, by means of the portion of the electrical installation connected to the output terminals of the protection device.

For this purpose, the invention proposes a device for protecting an alternating current electrical installation, having a first input connection terminal for a first electrical pole, a second input connection terminal for a second electrical pole different from the first electrical pole, and a first output connection terminal for the first electrical pole, each of said connection terminals being configured to receive a stripped end section of an electrical cable or a tooth of a horizontal distribution comb; the device includes:

- a first current path circuit between the first input connection terminal and the first output connection terminal, including a fixed contact and a moving contact;

- a moving contact control mechanism having two stable positions, respectively a disconnection position where the moving contact is separated from the fixed contact and an actuation position where the moving contact rests on the fixed contact;

- a lever for manually operating the control mechanism in order to move from the disconnection position to the actuation position or from the actuation position to the disconnection position;

- a compact member including a magnetic trigger member and a trigger relay, said magnetic trigger member being formed by a magnetic trigger coil arranged around a movable core controlling a striker actuated in the event of a short circuit in the control mechanism and forming a portion of the first current path circuit, said trigger relay being formed by an activation relay coil arranged around said movable core and configured to drive said movable core, the magnetic activation coil and the activation relay coil being arranged around each other;

- an electronic circuit connected to the activation relay coil, said electronic circuit including an assembly for determining the effective value of the intensity of the current flowing in said magnetic activation coil from the signal present at the ends of said activation relay coil, implemented by an analog-to-digital converter, by a calculation unit and by an interface arranged between the ends of the activation relay coil and the converter, said interface being configured to provide an input port of said converter with an analog signal usable by said converter and corresponding to the voltage present between the two ends of said activation relay coil, said converter being configured to produce numerical values representative of the analog signal provided by said interface; said calculation unit being configured to produce, from said numerical values representative of the analog signal provided by said interface, numerical values representative of the effective value of the intensity of the current flowing in said magnetic activation coil; said calculation unit being furthermore connected to a communication device and configured to communicate to said communication device the said numerical values representing the effective value of the intensity of the current;

characterized in that said apparatus is configured so that the activation relay coil is used to provide said signal present at its ends to said assembly for determining the effective value of the intensity of the current circulating in said magnetic activation coil, as well as to drive said mobile core that controls said striker that acts on said control mechanism to activate the passage from said actuation position to the sectioning position, said electronic circuit including a switching circuit and being configured to produce a detection signal when predetermined current path conditions occur, said electronic circuit being configured so that, in the absence of said detection signal, the switching circuit connects the activation relay coil to the interface while isolating the activation relay coil from each of said incoming connection terminals, and so that, in the presence of said detection signal, the switching circuit isolates the activation relay coil from the interface and then connects the activation relay coil to each of said incoming connection terminals.

The communication device allows the protection device to provide the values of the intensity of the current passing through it, simply by using an existing component, i.e. the compact device, and an appropriate electronic circuit, which is particularly simple, convenient and economical.

The invention is based on the observation that the activation relay coil can be used in a manner other than to drive the striker, i.e. to capture the current flowing in the magnetic activation coil and thus in the first path circuit.

Indeed, the signal provided by the activation relay coil is representative of the current circulating in the magnetic activation coil because the magnetic activation coil and the activation relay coil are arranged one around the other and consequently interact like the windings of a transformer, even in the absence of a specific coupling element, such as a magnetic armature, the coupling between the two coils being able to be effected only by the surrounding air.

According to the advantageous characteristics:

- the analog-to-digital converter and the computing unit are implemented in a microcontroller;

- said apparatus having a second output connection terminal for the second electrical pole, said output connection terminal being configured to receive a stripped end section of an electrical cable or a tooth of a horizontal distribution comb; said apparatus including a second current path circuit between the second input connection terminal and the second output connection terminal and because it includes a differential fault detection transformer configured to produce a differential fault signal in case of presence of a differential fault between the first current path circuit and the second current path circuit, said transformer being connected to a switching interface of said electronic circuit configured to produce said detection signal in the presence of said differential fault signal;

- the said switching circuit includes:

- a first switching member including a control connection point and connected on the one hand to the first input connection terminal and on the other hand to a first end of the activation relay coil, admitting in the absence of a predetermined signal at said control connection point a blocked configuration where it isolates the first end of the activation relay coil from the first input connection terminal and admitting in the presence of said predetermined signal at said control connection point a through configuration where it connects the first end of the activation relay coil to the first input connection terminal;

- a second switching member including a control connection point and connected on the one hand to the second input connection terminal and on the other hand to a second end of said activation relay coil, admitting in the absence of a predetermined signal at said control connection point a blocked configuration where it isolates the second end of the activation relay coil from the second input connection terminal and admitting in the presence of said predetermined signal at said control connection point a through configuration where it connects the second end of the activation relay coil to the second input connection terminal;

- a third switching member including a control connection point and connected on the one hand to the first end of the activation relay coil and on the other hand to the interface, admitting in the absence of a predetermined signal at said control connection point a pass-through configuration where the first end of the activation relay coil is connected to said interface and admitting in the presence of said predetermined signal at said control connection point a blocked configuration where the first end of the activation relay coil is insulated from said interface;

- a fourth switching member including a control connection point and connected on the one hand to the second end of the activation relay coil and on the other hand to the interface, admitting in the absence of a predetermined signal at said control connection point a pass-through configuration where the second end of the activation relay coil is connected to said interface and admitting in the presence of said predetermined signal at said control connection point a blocked configuration where the second end of the activation relay coil is insulated from said interface;

- the switching interface is configured to produce, after a predetermined time from the production of said detection signal, an actuation signal, said electronic circuit being configured to apply said detection signal to the control connection point of the third switching member and to the control connection point of the fourth switching member, and to apply said actuation signal to the control connection point of the first switching member and to the control connection point of the second switching member;

- the first switching member and the second switching member each include a transistor and a thyristor;

- the third switching member and the fourth switching member each include a transistor;

- the communication device is a radio frequency communication device;

- the said apparatus is of modular format, generally of parallelepiped shape with two main faces, respectively a left face and a right face, and side faces extending from one to the other of the main faces, with a width, i.e. the separation between the left face and the right face equal to an integer number of times a predetermined distance, called a module; and/or

- the ratio between the number of turns of the magnetic activation coil and the activation relay coil is between 100 and 500.

Brief description of the figures

The invention will now be explained by describing the embodiment examples, given below for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, with reference to the attached drawings.

[Figure 1] Figure 1, already described, is a perspective view of a known protective apparatus, taken from the right, at the top and in front of this apparatus.

[Figure 2] Figure 2, already described, shows in a very schematic manner the electrical circuit of a first embodiment of the known apparatus and the control mechanism of the moving contacts included in this electrical circuit;

[Figure 3] Figure 3, already described, shows in a very schematic manner the electrical circuit of a second embodiment of the known apparatus and the control mechanism of the moving contacts included in this electrical circuit;

[Figure 4] Figure 4 shows, similarly to Figures 2 and 3, the electrical circuit of an apparatus according to the invention and the control mechanism of the moving contacts included in this electrical circuit;

[Figure 5] Figure 5 is a schematic representation of the electronic circuit including the electrical circuit of Figure 4;

[Figure 6] Figure 6 shows in detail the first switching member and the second switching member of the electronic circuit shown in Figure 5;

[Figure 7] Figure 7 shows in detail the third switching member and the fourth switching member of the electronic circuit shown in Figure 5;

[Figure 8] Figure 8 shows in detail the interface that includes the electronic circuit represented in Figure 5;

[Figure 9] Figure 9 is a logic diagram illustrating the operation of the monitoring unit implemented in the microcontroller that includes the electronic circuit shown in Figure 5; [Figure 10] Figure 10 is an exploded view of the compact organ and a mechanical and electrical connection piece included in this apparatus;

[Figure 11] Figure 11 is a perspective view of this compact member and this connecting piece; [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a sectional elevation view of this compact member and this connecting piece;

[Figure 13] Figure 13 is an elevation view taken from the left of the apparatus according to the invention from which the left cheek of the housing has been removed;

[Fig.14] Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13 but taken from the right;

[Figure 15] Figure 15 shows, similarly to Figure 4, a variant of the electrical circuit of the apparatus according to the invention and the control mechanism of the moving contacts included in this electrical circuit;

[Figure 16] Figure 16 is a schematic representation of the electronic circuit including the electrical circuit of Figure 15;

[Figure 17] Figure 17 shows, similarly to Figure 4, a variant of the electrical circuit of the apparatus according to the invention, including a thermal activation member and an electronic circuit modified accordingly, this variant not being within the scope of the claims;

[Figure 18] Figure 18 is a schematic representation of the electronic circuit including the electrical circuit of Figure 17, which is not within the scope of the claims; and

[Figure 19] Figure 19 shows, similarly to Figure 18, a variant of the electronic circuit that includes the electrical circuit of Figure 4, including the device which is part of this electronic circuit, a differential fault measurement transformer, as well as a thermal activation member.

Detailed description

In general, the protection apparatus 100 of an alternating current electrical installation is similar to the apparatus 10 described with the help of Figures 1 and 2 except that it does not include a thermal activation member 33 and does not include a transformer 35 for detecting a differential fault, that the electronic card 43 is replaced by an electronic circuit 43a and that the electronic circuit 43a is connected to the first current path circuit between the moving contact 32 and the connection terminal 26 by means of the conductor 48 and connected to the second current path circuit between the moving contact 37 and the connection terminal 27 by means of the conductor 49.

For simplicity, the same numerical references for elements similar to those of apparatus 10 have been maintained for apparatus 100.

The apparatus 100 includes a first input connection terminal 22 for a first electrical pole, a second input connection terminal 23 for a second electrical pole different from the first electrical pole, a first output connection terminal 26 for the first electrical pole and a second output connection terminal 27 for the second electrical pole.

Each of the connection terminals 22, 23, 26, 27 is configured to receive a stripped end section of an electrical cable or a tooth of a horizontal distribution comb.

As shown in Figure 4, the apparatus 100 includes a first current path circuit between the first input connection terminal 22 and the first output connection terminal 26.

This first current path circuit includes a fixed contact 31 and a moving contact 32.

The apparatus 100 further includes a second current path circuit between the second input connection terminal 23 and the second output connection terminal 27.

This second current path circuit includes a fixed contact 36 and a moving contact 37.

A control mechanism 50 of the moving contact 32 and the moving contact 37 includes two stable positions, respectively a disconnection position and an actuation position.

In the disconnected position, the moving contact 32 is separated from the fixed contact 31 and the moving contact 37 is separated from the fixed contact 36.

In the actuation position, the movable contact 32 rests on the fixed contact 31 and the movable contact 37 rests on the fixed contact 36.

The apparatus 100 includes a lever 19 configured to manually actuate the control mechanism 50 to move from the disconnection position to the actuation position or from the actuation position to the disconnection position.

The protection apparatus 100 includes a compact member 44.

The compact organ 44 includes a magnetic activation organ 30 and an activation relay 45.

The compact member 44 is configured to act on the lock 50 in order to move from the actuation position to the disconnection position when a short circuit or prolonged overcurrent occurs.

As can be seen in Figures 10 to 14, the magnetic activation member 30 is formed by a magnetic activation coil 51 arranged around a mobile core 103 that controls a striker 102 that acts in the event of a short circuit on the control mechanism 50.

The magnetic activation coil 51 forms a portion of the first current path circuit. The magnetic activation coil 51 is located between the input connection terminal 22 and the fixed contact 31. The activation relay 45 is formed by an activation relay coil 52 arranged around the movable core 103.

The activation relay coil 52 is provided with a first end 110 and a second end 110a.

The magnetic activation coil 51 and the activation relay coil 52 are arranged around each other.

In this case, the magnetic activation coil 51 is arranged around the activation relay coil 52.

The fact that the two windings constituting coil 51 and coil 52 are arranged one around the other produces a transformer effect, i.e. the current flowing in coil 51 induces a current in coil 52 due to the electromagnetic coupling of the two coils by the air.

The transformation ratio is the relationship between the number of turns of the two windings.

In this case, there are five turns for the magnetic activation coil 51 and two thousand turns for the winding of the activation relay coil 52, so the transformation ratio is 400.

In general, it is advantageous that the ratio between the number of turns of the magnetic activation coil 51 and the activation relay coil 52 is between 100 and 500.

Indeed, in this range it is easy to have both the number of turns which is suitable for the activation relay coil to be able to perform both its sensor function and its actuator function, for example, from 1000 to 1500 turns, and the number of turns which is suitable for the magnetic activation coil to be able to perform both its function of exciting the activation relay coil and its actuator function, for example, from 3 to 10 turns.

The electronic circuit 43a of the apparatus 100 is connected to the activation relay coil 52 by means of a conductor 46 and by means of a conductor 47.

More precisely, as seen in Figure 6, conductor 46 is connected to end 110 and conductor 47 is connected to end 110a.

The electronic circuit 43a is configured to energize the activation relay coil 52 when predetermined current path conditions representative of an extended overcurrent occur.

As can be seen in Figure 5, the electronic circuit 43a includes an extended overcurrent detector 60 and a switching circuit 61.

The extended overcurrent detector 60 is configured to determine the presence of current path conditions representative of an extended overcurrent from the signal present at the ends 110 and 110a of the activation relay coil 52.

The extended overcurrent detector 60 is further configured to produce a detection signal when predetermined current path conditions are present, i.e., in the case of an extended overcurrent, and then, after a predetermined time from the production of the detection signal, to also produce a drive signal.

The extended overcurrent detector 60 and the switching circuit 61 are configured so that, in the absence of the detection signal, the switching circuit 61 connects the activation relay coil 52 to the extended overcurrent detector 60 while isolating the activation relay coil 52 from each of the incoming connection terminals 22, 23.

In the presence of the detection signal, the switching circuit 61 isolates the activation relay coil 52 of the prolonged overcurrent detector 60 and then, when the drive signal is present, connects the activation relay coil 52 to each of the input connection terminals 22 and 23.

The extended overcurrent detector 60 is implemented by a microcontroller 95 and by an interface 70. The interface 70 is arranged between the switching circuit 61 and an analog input port 67 of the microcontroller 95.

The switching circuit 61 connects the interface 70 to the two ends 110 and 110a of the activation relay coil 52 in the absence of the detection signal and isolates the interface 70 from the two ends 110 and 110a of the activation relay coil 52 in the presence of the detection signal.

The interface 70 includes two input connection points 74 and 75 which the switching circuit 61 connects or not respectively to the end 110 and the end 110a of the coil 52 and an output connection point 76 connected to the analog input port 67 of the microcontroller 95.

As can be seen in Figure 5, the input connection point 75 is connected to the reference pole of the DC portion of the electronic circuit 43a. Therefore, when the switching circuit 61 connects the input connection point 75 to the end 110a of the coil 52, this end is brought to this reference pole.

The interface 70 is configured to provide the analog input port 67 with an analog signal usable by the microcontroller 95 and corresponding to the voltage present between the two ends 110 and 110a of the activation relay coil 52.

As shown in Figure 8, the interface 70 includes an amplifier 114 whose output is connected to the output connection point 76. Between the input connection point 74 and the input of the amplifier 114, two resistors 116 and 117 are arranged in series. Between the reference pole (to which the input connection point 75 is brought) and the - input of the amplifier 114, a resistor 118 is arranged. A capacitor 115 is arranged between the input connection point 75 and the sides of the resistors 116 and 117 connected to each other. A resistor 119 is arranged between the output of the amplifier 114 and its - input. The resistors 120 and 121 are connected to each other. The input of the amplifier 114 is connected to the side where the resistors 120 and 121 are connected to each other. The other sides of the resistors 120 and 121 are connected respectively to the pole and the reference pole of the power supply of the electronic circuit 43a.

Resistor 116 and capacitor 115 allow the current flowing in coil 52 to be transformed into voltage and operate a low-pass filter.

Resistors 117, 120 and 121 allow the biasing of amplifier 114.

Resistors 118 and 119 allow the gain of amplifier 114 to be set.

The extended overcurrent detector 60 includes in the microcontroller 95 a converter 71, a calculation unit 72 and a monitoring unit 73.

The converter 71 is connected to the analog port 67 of the microcontroller 95 and is configured to produce numerical values representative of the analog signal provided by the interface 70.

The calculation unit 72 is configured to produce, from the numerical values representative of the analog signal provided by the interface 70, numerical values representative of the effective value of the intensity of the current circulating in the magnetic activation coil 51.

In practice, the calculation unit 72 is implemented by the conventional technique of calculating the effective value of a sinusoidal signal and by calibration.

As seen in Figure 9, the monitoring unit 73 of the effective value of the current circulating in the magnetic activation coil 51 is configured to compare the numerical values representative of the effective value I of the current intensity with a current intensity threshold "threshold I" and if this threshold is exceeded for a predetermined period of time "threshold t" to produce the detection signal.

The monitoring unit 73 complies, in this case, with the French standard NF C15-100, largely harmonized with the European standard HD 384, which describes the tripping time of circuit breakers, but incorporates bimetallic strip technology.

When the numerical values representing the effective I value of the current intensity are less than or equal to 1.13 times the current intensity threshold for less than one hour, the monitoring unit 73 shall not produce the detection signal.

When the numerical values representing the effective I value of the current intensity are greater than or equal to 1.45 times the current intensity threshold, the monitoring unit 73 shall produce a detection signal in less than one hour.

In the variant, the monitoring unit 73 responds to a single criterion, for example, when the numerical values representative of the effective I value of the current intensity are equal to 1.2 times the intensity threshold, the monitoring unit 73 produces a detection signal within a few milliseconds, allowing the activation of the device.

The detection signal produced by the monitoring unit 73 is available at a port 68 of the microcontroller 95.

After a predetermined time from the start of the production of the detection signal, the monitoring unit 73 also produces a drive signal, available at port 69 of the microcontroller 95.

This predetermined time depends on the components used and their reaction time, and is between 1ms and 10ms.

The microcontroller 95 also includes a port 66 on which the numerical values produced by the computing unit 72 are available.

Port 66 is connected to a communication device 96, in this case, radio frequency, to which the numerical values produced by the calculation unit 72 are communicated, that is to say the numerical values representative of the effective value of the intensity of the current that circulates in the magnetic activation coil 51, that is to say the current that circulates in the electrical installation or portion of electrical installation located between the output terminals 26 and 27 of the device 100.

The radio frequency communication device 96 allows remote monitoring, by means of a mobile application, for example, of this current or of values which are deduced from it, in particular the electrical energy consumption of the installation or portion of the installation situated between the output terminals 26 and 27 of the device 100. For example, the device 100 communicates with a gateway which allows the current consumption information to be retrieved from a cloud which is accessed by the mobile application.

In the variant, the radio frequency communication device 96 is replaced by a different communication device, for example, by cable or infrared, the device 100 then being provided with a corresponding port.

The switching circuit 61 includes a first switching member 79, a second switching member 80, a third switching member 81 and a fourth switching member 82.

The first switching member 79 includes a control connection point 87, a first connection point 83 connected by the conductor 48 and by the tracks of the electronic circuit 43a to the output connection terminal 26, and a second connection point 84 connected by the conductor 46 and by the tracks of the electronic circuit 43a to the first end 110 of the activation relay coil 52 (Figure 6).

In the absence of a predetermined signal at the control connection point 87, the first switching member 79 admits a blocked configuration where it isolates the first end 110 of the relay coil 52 from activation of the output connection terminal 26.

The control connection point 87 is connected by the tracks of the electronic circuit 43a to port 69 of the microcontroller 95, on which the drive signal is present or not.

In the presence of the predetermined signal at the control connection point 87, in this case the drive signal, the first switching member 79 admits a step configuration where it connects the first end 110 of the activation relay coil 52 to the output connection terminal 26.

In the locked configuration, the first connection point 83 is isolated from the second connection point 84 and in the pass-through configuration, the first connection point 83 is connected to the second connection point 84.

As can be seen in Figure 6, the first switching member 79 includes a transistor 97 and a thyristor 98.

The control connection point 87 is connected to the base of the transistor 97 whose collector is connected to the power supply pole of the electronic circuit 43a and whose emitter is connected to one side of a first resistor and a second resistor, the other side of the first resistor being connected to the reference pole of the power supply and the other side of the second resistor being connected to the gate of the thyristor 98 whose anode is connected to the first connection point 83 and whose cathode is connected to the second connection point 84.

In the absence of the drive signal at the connection point 87, the transistor 97 is blocked as is the thyristor 98.

In the presence of the drive signal at the connection point 87, the transistor 97 is through-current between its collector and emitter, which causes the appearance of a signal in the gate of the thyristor 98 which becomes through-current between its anode and cathode.

The second switching member 80 includes a control connection point 88, a first connection point 85 connected by the conductor 49 and by the tracks of the electronic circuit 43a to the second output connection terminal 27, and a second connection point 86 connected by the conductor 47 and by the tracks of the electronic circuit 43a to the second end 110a of the activation relay coil 52 (Figure 6).

In the absence of a predetermined signal at the control connection point 88, the second switching member 80 admits a blocked configuration where it isolates the second end 110a of the relay coil 52 from activation of the output connection terminal 27.

The control connection point 88 is connected by the tracks of the electronic circuit 43a to port 69 of the microcontroller 95, on which the drive signal is present or not.

In the presence of the predetermined signal at the control connection point 88, in this case the drive signal, the second switching member 80 admits a step configuration where it connects the second end 110a of the activation relay coil 52 to the output connection terminal 27.

In the locked configuration, the first connection point 85 is isolated from the second connection point 86 and in the pass-through configuration, the first connection point 85 is connected to the second connection point 86.

As can be seen in Figure 6, the second power switching member 80 includes a transistor 97 and a thyristor 98.

The control connection point 88 is connected to the base of the transistor 97 whose collector is connected to the power supply pole of the electronic circuit 43a and whose emitter is connected to one side of a first resistor and a second resistor, the other side of the first resistor being connected to the reference pole of the power supply and the other side of the second resistor being connected to the gate of the thyristor 98 whose anode is connected to the first connection point 85 and whose cathode is connected to the second connection point 86.

In the absence of the drive signal at the connection point 88, the transistor 97 is blocked as is the thyristor 98.

In the presence of the drive signal at the connection point 88, the transistor 97 is through-current between its collector and emitter, which causes the appearance of a signal in the gate of the thyristor 98 which becomes through-current between its anode and cathode.

The fact of passing the thyristors 98 puts the ends of the activation relay coil 52 to the mains voltage, the striker 102 is driven, the lock 50 puts the mobile contacts 32 and 37 separated from the fixed contacts 31 and 36, which at the same time isolates the activation relay coil 52 from the mains.

The third switching member 81 includes a control connection point 93, a first connection point 89 connected by the conductor 46 and by the tracks of the electronic circuit 43a to the first end 110 of the activation relay coil 52, and a second connection point 90 connected by the tracks of the electronic circuit 43a to the input connection point 74 of the interface 70.

In the absence of a predetermined signal at the control connection point 93, the third switching member 81 supports a pass-through configuration where the first end 110 of the activation relay coil 52 is connected to the prolonged overcurrent detector 60, in this case, at the input connection point 74.

The control connection point 93 is connected by the tracks of the electronic circuit 43a to port 68 of the microcontroller 95, on which the detection signal is present or not.

In the presence of the predetermined signal at the control connection point 93, in this case the detection signal, the third switching member 81 admits a blocked configuration where the first end 110 of the activation relay coil 52 is isolated from the prolonged overcurrent detector 60.

In the pass-through configuration, the first connection point 89 is connected to the second connection point 90 and in the locked configuration, the first connection point 89 is isolated from the second connection point 90.

As can be seen in Figure 7, the third switching member 81 includes a transistor 99.

The control connection point 93 is connected to one side of a first resistor as well as to one side of a second resistor, the other side of the first resistor being connected to the reference pole of the supply and the other side of the second resistor being connected to the base of the transistor 99. The connection point 89 is connected to the collector of the transistor 99 and the connection point 90 is connected to the emitter of the transistor 99.

In the absence of the detection signal at the connection point 93, the transistor 99 is through, the absence of the detection signal being a high voltage level at the connection point 93.

In the presence of the detection signal at the connection point 93, the transistor 99 is blocked, the presence of the detection signal being a low voltage level at the connection point 93.

The fourth switching member 82 includes a control connection point 94, a first connection point 91 connected by the conductor 47 and by the tracks of the electronic circuit 43a to the second end 110a of the activation relay coil 52, and a second connection point 92 connected by the tracks of the electronic circuit 43a to the input connection point 75 of the interface 70.

In the absence of a predetermined signal at the control connection point 94, the fourth switching member 82 supports a pass-through configuration where the second end 110a of the activation relay coil 52 is connected to the prolonged overcurrent detector 60, in this case, at the input connection point 75.

The control connection point 94 is connected by the tracks of the electronic circuit 43a to port 68 of the microcontroller 95, on which the detection signal is present or not.

In the presence of the predetermined signal at the control connection point 94, in this case the detection signal, the fourth switching member 82 admits a blocked configuration where the second end 110a of the activation relay coil 52 is isolated from the prolonged overcurrent detector 60.

In the pass-through configuration, the first connection point 91 is connected to the second connection point 92 and in the blocked configuration, the first connection point 91 is insulated from the second connection point 92. As can be seen in Figure 7, the fourth switching member 82 includes a transistor 99.

The control connection point 94 is connected to one side of a first resistor as well as to one side of a second resistor, the other side of the first resistor being connected to the reference pole of the supply and the other side of the second resistor being connected to the base of the transistor 99. The connection point 91 is connected to the collector of the transistor 99 and the connection point 92 is connected to the emitter of the transistor 99.

In the absence of the detection signal at the connection point 94, the transistor 99 is through.

In the presence of the detection signal at the connection point 94, transistor 99 is blocked.

As can be seen in Figures 10 to 12, in addition to the magnetic activation coil 51, the activation relay coil 52, the striker 102 and the mobile core 103, the compact member 44 includes a reel 101, a guide 107, a spring 108, an insulating sleeve 111 and connecting rods 125 and 125a which implement, in this case, the conductors 46 and 47.

The activation relay coil 52 is wound around the reel 101 of insulating plastic material, which is generally tubular in shape with a flange at the end seen at the bottom in the drawings and, on the side seen at the top, a combined flange with housings each provided for one of the ends of the coil 52 and one of the rods 125 and 125a.

The insulation sleeve 111 is arranged between the magnetic activation coil 51 and the activation relay coil 52.

The core 103, the striker 102, the spring 108, and the guide 107 are housed in the internal space of the reel 101. The core 103 is generally cylindrical in shape. A housing 104 is provided at one end portion thereof. The core 103 is slidably mounted on the reel 101.

Guide 107 is fixedly mounted on reel 101 at one end. A through hole 113 is provided in guide 107.

The firing pin 102 is formed by a rod-shaped body 106 and a head 105 located at one end of the rod and protruding from the latter.

Housing 104 is configured to receive head 105 of firing pin 102. Hole 113 of guide 107 is configured to receive rod 106.

The spring 108 is arranged around the rod 106 of the firing pin 102.

The connecting rod 125 is arranged between the end 110 of the activation relay coil 52 and the electronic circuit 43a (see especially Figure 13). Similarly, the connecting rod 125a is arranged between the end 110a of the activation relay coil 52 and the electronic circuit 43a.

The mechanical and electrical connection piece 112, which is made of relatively rigid conductive material, serves to mount the compact organ 44 in the housing of the apparatus 100 and to implement the electrical connection between the magnetic activation coil 51 and the fixed contact 31.

In the event that no fault is present (prolonged overcurrent or short circuit), the core 103 is held at a distance from the guide 107 by the spring 108.

When a fault is present, the flux created by coil 51 or coil 52 acts on core 103 to drive it by sliding in hole 113, against spring 108, towards guide 107, which drives striker 102 causing its rod 106 to protrude which then acts on control mechanism 50.

When the flow ceases, the spring 108, the core 103 and the striker 102 return to their initial position shown in Figure 12.

As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the compact member 44 and the lock 50 are mounted on an insulating partition 109. This partition 109 is provided between the protected pole path circuit (between terminals 22 and 26) and the unprotected pole circuit (between terminals 23 and 27).

In the variant shown in Figure 15, the apparatus 100 also includes a transformer 35 for detecting differential faults, the electronic circuit 43a is replaced by an electronic circuit 43d and the assembly formed by the activation relay 45 connected to the electronic circuit 43d is further configured to act on the lock 50 not only in the event of a prolonged overcurrent but also in the event of a differential fault.

In this variant, the current path circuit between terminals 22 and 26 includes in series the magnetic activation member 30, the fixed contact 31, the mobile contact 32 and a winding 34 that forms part of the transformer 35 and the path circuit between terminals 23 and 27 includes in series the fixed contact 36, the mobile contact 37 and a winding 38 that forms part of the differential fault detection transformer 35.

The transformer 35 includes, in addition to the winding 34 and the winding 38, a secondary winding 39 and an annular armature 40 around which the secondary winding 39 and the primary windings 34 and 38 are made.

The secondary winding 39 is connected by two conductors 41,42 to the electronic circuit 43d which processes the differential fault signal provided by the transformer 35 in addition to the signal representative of the current intensity provided by the coil 52.

In general, the electronic circuit 43d is similar to the electronic circuit 43a except that the prolonged overcurrent detector 60 is replaced by an assembly formed by the interface 70, by the converter 71, by the calculation unit 72, by the monitoring unit 73, this assembly serving to determine the effective value of the intensity of the current that circulates in the magnetic activation coil 51; and except that it also includes a switching interface 63 which produces the signals to which the switching circuit 61 responds.

The switching interface 63 includes two connection points 170 and 171 connected respectively by conductors 42 and 41 to the secondary winding 39 of the transformer 35 and two output connection points 168 and 169 each connected to the switching circuit 61.

More specifically, the output connection point 168 is connected to the control connection points 93 and 94, respectively, of the third switching member 81 and the fourth switching member 82; and the output connection point 169 is connected to the control connection points 87 and 88, respectively, of the first switching member 79 and the second switching member 80.

When the transformer 35 provides a differential fault signal on the conductors 41 and 42, the interface 63 produces in response a detection signal transmitted to the third switching member 81 and the fourth switching member 82 and then produces an actuation signal transmitted to the first switching member 79 and the second switching member 80.

Figure 17 illustrates another variant of the apparatus shown in Figures 4 to 14.

In this variant, the device 100 also includes a thermal activation member 33 and the electronic circuit 43a is replaced by an electronic circuit 43b.

The electronic circuit 43b is, in the same manner as the electronic circuit 43a of the embodiment shown in Figure 4, connected to the activation relay coil 52 by the conductor 46 and by the conductor 47.

The current path circuit between terminals 22 and 26 includes, in this case, in series the magnetic activation member 30, the fixed contact 31, the movable contact 32 and the thermal activation member 33. The current path circuit between terminals 23 and 27 remains unchanged.

The thermal activation member 33 is configured to automatically act on the lock 50 to move from the actuation position to the disconnection position when a prolonged overcurrent occurs.

In practice, the thermal activation member 33 is formed by a bimetallic strip that deforms in the event of a prolonged overcurrent and which acts due to its deformation on the lock 50.

In general, the electronic circuit 43b is similar to the electronic circuit 43a except that it does not include the switching circuit 61 or the monitoring unit 73, the prolonged overcurrent detector 60 being replaced by the assembly formed by the interface 70, by the converter 71 and by the calculation unit 72, this assembly being used to determine the effective value of the intensity of the current circulating in the magnetic activation coil 51.

The calculation unit 72 provides the numerical values representative of the effective value of the current intensity only to the radio frequency communication device 96 via port 66.

Interface 70 is connected directly to conductors 46 and 47.

The apparatus including the electronic circuit 43b shown in Figure 18 is configured so that the activation relay coil 52 is used exclusively to provide the signal present at its ends 110 and 110a to the assembly formed by the interface 70, by the converter 71 and by the calculation unit 72, and not to drive the moving core 103 that controls the striker 102.

Figure 19 illustrates another variant of the apparatus shown in Figures 4 to 14.

In this variant, the electrical circuit of the device is similar to that illustrated in Figure 2 except that the electronic card 43 is replaced by the electronic circuit 43c.

Thus, in the variant of Figure 19, the apparatus includes a thermal activation member 33 and a differential fault detection transformer 35, the electronic circuit 43c is connected to the activation relay coil by the conductor 46 and by the conductor 47, the current path circuit between the terminals 22 and 26 includes in series the magnetic activation member 30, the fixed contact 31, the mobile contact 32, the thermal activation member 33 and a winding forming part of the transformer 35 and the path circuit between the terminals 23 and 27 includes in series the fixed contact 36, the mobile contact 37 and a winding 38 forming part of the differential fault detection transformer 35.

In general, the electronic circuit 43c is similar to the electronic circuit 43a except that it does not include the monitoring unit 73, the prolonged overcurrent detector 60 being replaced by the assembly formed by the interface 70, by the converter 71 and by the calculation unit 72, this assembly serving to determine the effective value of the intensity of the current that circulates in the magnetic activation coil 51; and except that it also includes a switching interface 63 which produces the signals to which the switching circuit 61 responds.

The switching interface 63 includes two connection points 170 and 171 connected respectively by conductors 42 and 41 to the secondary winding 39 of the transformer 35 and two output connection points 168 and 169 each connected to the switching circuit 61.

More specifically, the output connection point 168 is connected to the control connection points 93 and 94, respectively, of the third switching member 81 and the fourth switching member 82; and the output connection point 169 is connected to the control connection points 87 and 88, respectively, of the first switching member 79 and the second switching member 80.

The interface 63 is configured to produce the detection signal and then produce, after a predetermined time after the start of production of the detection signal, the drive signal.

The interface 63 transmits the detection signal to the switching circuit 61 via its output connection point 168 and the drive signal via its output point 169.

When a differential fault signal is provided by the transformer 35 on the conductors 41 and 42, the interface 63 produces in response a detection signal transmitted to the third switching member 81 and the fourth switching member 82 and then produces an actuation signal transmitted to the first switching member 79 and the second switching member 80.

In the variants not represented:

- the activation relay coil 52 is arranged around the magnetic activation coil 51 instead of the other way around;

- the switching circuit is implemented differently from the embodiment illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, for example with optocouplers instead of transistors and thyristors;

- the prolonged overcurrent detector is implemented differently from the embodiment illustrated in Figures 5, 8 and 9, for example, in a fully analogue manner;

- the drive signal produced after a predetermined time after the production of said detection signal is provided in a way other than the extended overcurrent detector, for example, provided by a switching circuit similar to circuit 61 but configured to receive only the detection signal;

- the current path circuit of the protected pole is on the right instead of the left, while the current path circuit of the unprotected pole is on the left instead of the right;

- the protective device does not include the second output connection terminal 27 for the second electrical pole and therefore does not include the second current path circuit between terminals 23 and 27; and/or

- the electronic circuit, in addition to being connected to the first current path circuit by the conductor 48 and to the second current path circuit by the conductor 49, is connected to the first path circuit by a conductor connected to the connection terminal 22 and to the second path circuit by another conductor connected to the connection terminal 23, so that the electronic circuit then remains powered in the event of the lock passing to the sectioning position, or in any case the communication device such as 96 can make it possible to monitor an absence of current in the magnetic activation coil or of values which are deduced therefrom, in particular the electrical energy consumption of the installation or portion of the installation situated between the output terminals 26 and 27 of the apparatus 100.

In the variants not shown, the protective device has a different width and/or a different number of poles, for example, a four-pole device with a width of four modules including four terminals at the top and four terminals at the bottom.

More generally, the invention is not limited to the examples described and represented.

Claims (10)

1. Protection apparatus for an alternating current electrical installation, having a first input connection terminal (22) for a first electrical pole, a second input connection terminal (23) for a second electrical pole different from the first electrical pole and a first output connection terminal (26) for the first electrical pole, each of said connection terminals (22, 23, 26) being configured to receive a stripped end section of an electrical cable or a tooth of a horizontal distribution comb; said apparatus including: - a first current path circuit between the first input connection terminal (22) and the first output connection terminal (26), including a fixed contact (31) and a moving contact (32); - a mechanism (50) for controlling the movable contact (32) having two stable positions, respectively a disconnection position where the movable contact (32) is separated from the fixed contact (31) and an actuation position where the movable contact (32) rests on the fixed contact (31); - a lever (19) for manually acting on the control mechanism (50) in order to move from the disconnection position to the actuation position or from the actuation position to the disconnection position; - a compact member (44) including a magnetic activation member (30) and an activation relay (45), said magnetic activation member (30) being formed by a magnetic activation coil arranged around a movable core controlling a striker acting in the event of a short circuit in the control mechanism (50) and forming a portion of the first current path circuit, said activation relay (45) being formed by an activation relay coil; - an electronic circuit connected to the activation relay coil; the said electronic circuit (43a; 43b; 43c; 43d) includes an assembly (70-72; 63, 70-72; 63, 70-73) for determining the effective value of the intensity of the current circulating in said magnetic activation coil (51) from the signal present at the ends (110, 110a) of said activation relay coil (52), implemented by an analog-to-digital converter (71), by a calculation unit (72) and by an interface (70) arranged between the ends (110, 110a) of the activation relay coil (52) and the converter (71), said interface (70) being configured to provide an input port of said converter (71) with an analog signal usable by said converter (71) and corresponding to the voltage present between the two ends (110, 110a) of said coil (52) of activation relay, said converter (71) being configured to produce numerical values representative of the analog signal provided by said interface (70); said calculation unit (72) being configured to produce, from said numerical values representative of the analog signal provided by said interface (70), numerical values representative of the effective value of the intensity of the current circulating in said magnetic activation coil (51); said calculation unit (72) being furthermore connected to a communication member (96) and configured to communicate to said communication member (96) said numerical values representative of the effective value of the intensity of the current, characterized in that the activation relay coil (52) is arranged around said movable core, the magnetic activation coil (51) and the activation relay coil (52) being arranged one around the other; said protection apparatus furthermore being configured so that the activation relay coil (52) is used to provide said signal present at its ends (110, 110a) to said assembly (63, 70-72; 63, 70-73) for determining the effective value of the intensity of the current circulating in said magnetic activation coil (51), as well as to drive said mobile core (103) that controls said striker (102) that acts on said control mechanism (50) to activate the passage from said actuation position to the sectioning position, said electronic circuit (43a; 43c; 43d) including a switching circuit (61) and being configured to produce a detection signal when the predetermined current path conditions occur, said electronic circuit (43a; 43c; 43d) being configured so that in the absence of said detection signal the switching circuit (61) connects the coil (52) of activation relay to the interface (70) while isolating the activation relay coil (52) from each of said terminals (22, 23) of arrival connection, and so that in the presence of said detection signal the switching circuit (61) isolates the activation relay coil (52) from the interface (70) and then connects the activation relay coil (52) to each of said terminals (22, 23) of arrival connection. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the analog-to-digital converter (71) and the calculation unit (72) are implemented in a microcontroller (95). 3. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said apparatus has a second output connection terminal (27) for the second electrical pole, said output connection terminal (27) being configured to receive a stripped end section of an electrical cable or a tooth of a horizontal distribution comb; said apparatus including a second current path circuit between the second input connection terminal (23) and the second output connection terminal (27) and in that it includes a differential fault detection transformer (35) configured to produce a differential fault signal in case of presence of a differential fault between the first current path circuit and the second current path circuit, said transformer being connected to a switching interface (63) of said electronic circuit (43c; 43d) configured to produce said detection signal in the presence of said differential fault signal. 4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said switching circuit (61) includes: - a first switching member (79) including a control connection point (87) and connected on the one hand to the first input connection terminal (22) and on the other hand to a first end (110) of the activation relay coil (52), admitting in the absence of a predetermined signal at said control connection point (87) a blocked configuration where it isolates the first end (110) of the activation relay coil (52) from the first input connection terminal (22) and admitting in the presence of said predetermined signal at said control connection point (87) a pass-through configuration where it connects the first end (110) of the activation relay coil (52) to the first input connection terminal (22); - a second switching member (80) including a control connection point (88) and connected on the one hand to the second incoming connection terminal (23) and on the other hand to a second end (110a) of said activation relay coil (52), admitting in the absence of a predetermined signal at said control connection point (88) a blocked configuration where it isolates the second end (110a) of the activation relay coil (52) from the second incoming connection terminal (23) and admitting in the presence of said predetermined signal at said control connection point (88) a through configuration where it connects the second end (110a) of the activation relay coil (52) to the second incoming connection terminal (23); - a third switching member (81) including a control connection point (93) and connected on the one hand to the first end (110) of the activation relay coil (52) and on the other hand to the interface (70), admitting in the absence of a predetermined signal at said control connection point (93) a step configuration where the first end (110) of the activation relay coil (52) is connected to said interface (70) and admitting in the presence of said predetermined signal at said control connection point (93) a blocked configuration where the first end (110) of the activation relay coil (52) is isolated from said interface (70); - a fourth switching member (82) including a control connection point (94) and connected on the one hand to the second end (110a) of the activation relay coil (52) and on the other hand to the interface (70), admitting in the absence of a predetermined signal at said control connection point (94) a step configuration where the second end (110a) of the activation relay coil (52) is connected to said interface (70) and admitting in the presence of said predetermined signal at said control connection point (94) a blocked configuration where the second end (110a) of the activation relay coil (52) is isolated from said interface (70). 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the switching interface (63) is configured to produce, after a predetermined time from the production of said detection signal, a drive signal, said electronic circuit (43c) being configured to apply said detection signal to the control connection point (93) of the third switching member (81) and to the control connection point (94) of the fourth switching member (82), and to apply said drive signal to the control connection point (87) of the first switching member (79) and to the control connection point (88) of the second switching member (80). 6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the first switching member (79) and the second switching member (80) each include a transistor (97) and a thyristor (98). 7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the third switching member (81) and the fourth switching member (82) each include a transistor (99). 8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the communication member (96) is a radio frequency communication member. 9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is in modular format, generally of parallelepiped shape with two main faces (11, 12), respectively a left face (11) and a right face (12), and lateral faces extending from one to the other of the main faces, with a width, i.e. the separation between the left face (11) and the right face (12) equal to an integer number of times a predetermined distance, called module. 10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the ratio between the number of turns of the magnetic activation coil (51) and the activation relay coil (52) is between 100 and 500.