Overvoltage protection device with simplified display system and corresponding production method

1. A device for protecting an electrical installation from overvoltages, comprising:

(a) at least one protection component to be connected to the electrical installation,

(b) disconnection means capable of changing from a closed configuration in which the protection component is connected to the electrical installation to an open configuration in which the protection component is disconnected from the electrical installation, and

(c) signalling means capable of indicating the configuration of the disconnection means,

wherein the disconnection means comprise a spring leaf, of which a free end forms a mobile disconnection element, whereby the free end of the spring leaf is capable of moving, when changing from the closed configuration to the open configuration, in a rotational movement according to a first trajectory,

wherein the signalling means comprise a mobile signalling element, and

wherein the free end of the spring leaf, when going from the closed configuration to the open configuration, cooperates with the mobile signalling element to drive the mobile signalling element in rotation along a second trajectory different from the first trajectory.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the mobile signalling element further comprises a cam with which the mobile disconnection element is capable of coming into sliding contact to drive the cam in rotation when going from the closed configuration to the open configuration.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the cam is formed by a ramp provided at the level of the mobile signalling element.

4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a holding means that impede the movement of the mobile signalling element when the disconnection means are in the closed configuration.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the mobile signalling element further comprises a projecting portion capable, when the disconnection means are in the closed configuration, of abutting a portion of the mobile disconnection element to form the holding means.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the mobile signalling element pivots freely with respect to the protection component.

7. The device of claim 6 , further comprising a casing in which the protection component is mounted and wherein the free pivot axle forms a single piece with the casing.

8. The device of claim 4 , wherein the holding means are formed by elastic stress means which act at the level of the mobile signalling element in a manner that substantially opposes the mobile disconnection element.

9. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a first anti-recoil means capable of limiting, when the disconnection means are in the open configuration, a possible return movement of the mobile signalling element toward the position occupied when the disconnection means were in the closed configuration.

10. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a second anti-recoil means capable of limiting, when the disconnection means are in the open configuration, a possible return movement of the mobile disconnection element toward the position occupied in the closed configuration.

11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the mobile disconnection element and the mobile signalling element, when the disconnection means are in the open configuration, are arranged to mutually impede the respective movements so that neither the mobile disconnection element nor the mobile signalling element can return substantially toward, and therefore to, the positions that where respectively occupied when the disconnection means were in the closed configuration.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the mobile signalling element is formed by a single “tipper” part, including a concave area to cooperate with the mobile disconnection element, and a projecting extension to come into contact with the mobile disconnection element to impede the movement of the single part when the disconnection means are in the closed configuration.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein said free end of the spring leaf is capable of bending when going from the closed configuration to the open configuration.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the free end of the spring leaf is held prestressed by a fusible solder when the disconnection means are in the closed configuration.

15. The device of claim 12 , wherein the tipper and the spring leaf are arranged so that when the free end of the spring leaf bends during the change from the closed configuration to the open configuration, a portion of the spring leaf pushes the tipper at the concave area causing the tipper to pivot.

16. The device of claim 12 , wherein a portion of the free end of the spring leaf impedes the movement of the projecting extension of the tipper when the spring leaf is in the closed configuration.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the free end of the spring leaf moves away from the trajectory of the projecting extension of the tipper during the change from the closed configuration to the open configuration.

18. The device of claim 1 , wherein the protection component is formed by a varistor.

19. A method for producing a device for protecting an electrical installation from overvoltages, the device comprising:

(a) at least one protection component intended to be connected to the electrical installation,

(b) disconnection means capable of changing from a closed configuration in which the protection component is connected to the electrical installation to an open configuration in which the protection component is disconnected from the electrical installation, and

(c) signalling means capable of indicating the configuration of the disconnection means,

wherein the disconnection means comprise a spring leaf, of which a free end forms a mobile disconnection element, whereby the free end of the spring leaf is capable of moving, when changing from the closed configuration to the open configuration, in a rotational movement according to a first trajectory, and

wherein the signalling means comprise a mobile signalling element,

the method comprising: (i) arranging the mobile disconnection element with respect to the free end of the spring leaf so that, when changing from the closed configuration to the open configuration, the free end of the spring leaf cooperates with the mobile signalling element to drive the mobile signalling element in rotation along a second trajectory that is different from the first trajectory, and (ii) positioning the spring leaf in the protection device.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising a step of producing a monolithic tipper intended to form the mobile signalling element, the tipper having a first concave ramp segment intended to cooperate with the mobile disconnection element.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the arranging step further comprises a sub-step comprising mounting the mobile signalling element to pivot freely with respect to the protection component.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the arranging step further comprises a sub-step comprising placing the first concave ramp segment opposite the free end of the spring leaf so that the spring leaf comes into sliding contact with the segment.