US1704379A - Electrical circuit breaker or interrupter - Google Patents

Description

March 5, 1929. E. AICHELE 1,704,379

ELECTRCAL CIRCUIT BREAKER OR INTERRUPTER Filed April 16, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet l v l INVENTOR.' 67 64' f4 629 J7 Ee/' 672g,

69 l M am ATTORNEYS.

March 5, 1929. E. AlcHELE 1,704,379

ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BREAKER OR INTERRUPTER Filed April 16, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 @wie ATTORNEYS.

March 5, 1929. E. AICHELE 1,704,379

ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BREAKER CR INTERRUPTER Filed April 16, 1925 4 Sheets-sheen 5 @Cy @ff/@ i I IN VEN TOR.'

` ATTORNEYS.

March 5, 1.929.

E. AICHELLE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BREAKER OR INTERRUPTER Filed April 16, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Pacman. s, 1929.

, I1,704,319 PATENT oFFlcE..

ERNEST .AICHELE OF IBVINGTON, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRICAL GIRCUIT BREAKEB 0R. INTEBRUPTEB.

i Application led April 16, 1925. Serial No. 23,713.

This invention relates, generally, to improvements in repeating electrical circuit interrupters; and the present invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel construction of circuit-interrupter, made in either plug or cartridge-form, respectively, adapted for connection in the ordinary sockets or clips, to provide, primarily, a safe-guard against injurious effects caused by abnormal overloads and short circuits, and, furthermore, to provide the circuitinterrupter with means, whereby the deleterious effects of a powerful current of electricity through the device will be removed from the thermostatic control-element, so that with the various circuit-interrupters of the different watt-powers, uniform controlelement can be used, without destroying their usefulness when an exceptionally strong or powerful shock or overload occurs in the circuit.

The present invention, therefore, has for its principal object to provide a novel, reliable, and simply constructed, as well as an automatically operating circuit-breaker or interrupter, which is especially adapted for use with the usual screw-threaded receiving sockets of a switch-board, or a meter-board, or the like; or, in slightly modified cartridge-form with the usual receiving clips, for interrupting an electric circuit in case of an overload or a short circuit, the general construction of the contact-elements of the device being such that the device can be used over and over, without deteriorating eii'eet to either the device or to the installation in which the device is In addition .to the above-mentioned objects, however, the invention has for its further object to provide in connection with the automatically operating interruptermechanism of the device, meanswhich will divide the path of the excessive overload circuit produced, so that a reduced or normal current will flow throughV the thermostatic control-member, thereby permitting in all instances such members to be made uniform, and to vpermit such members to be constructed of a thin deflecting metal, without danger of melting or otherwise rendering inoperative the usefulness of the thermostatic ycontrol-member for the purposes for which it is intended.

Other objects of the present. invention notV at this time more particularly enumerated will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the said lnvention.

With the various objects of the present invention in view, the said invention consists, primarily, in the novel electrical circuit-breaker or interrupter hereinafter set forth; and, the said invention consists, furthermore, in the novel arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the said parts, all of which will be more fully described in the following specification, and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claim, which is appended to and which forms an essential part of the said specification.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a top-end viewv of a circuitinterrupterof the plug-type made according to and Vembodying principles of the present invention; Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section of the saine, said section being taken `on line 2-2 in said Figure 1,'

2 and 3, respectively, showing the severalv contact-making elements of the interruptermechanism in their automatically separated relation, caused by an overload or short circuit in the main line; and Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional representation of the device, said section being taken on line 6--6 in said Figure 3.

Figures 7 and 8 are diagrammatical sec-y tional representations of certain parts of the device, respectively, in their initial circuitcompleting relations and in their separated relation, said views illustrating more particularly, the .path-of the electric circuit through said parts, in Figure 7 whenthere is av normal c ircuit"through the device, and in Figure 8 when an extreme circuit is produced through the-device, due to an overload or a short circuit. A

Figure 9 is a side elevation, and Figure Figure 12 is a vertical cross-section of thel device, said section being taken on line 12-12 in said Figure 9; and Figure 13 4is a horizontal section of the same, said section being taken on line 13--13 in s'aid Figure 11. Y

Figure 14 is a bottom view of the circuitinterrupter; Figure 15 is a vertical section 'of the same, said section being taken on line 15-15 in said Figure 13, showingcertain portions of the device lnormally inl their non-interrupted contact-making relation;

and Figure 16 is a similar sectional re resentation lof the same parts, .but in t eir relative positions, when the electric current has been interrupted.

Similar characters are employed in all of -the said herein-above described views, to in- Y dicate corresponding parts.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 to 8 of the drawings, the referencecharacter 1 indicates a main body in which the interrupter-mechanism is arranged, the body in this case being of the plug-form or type and being made of a suitable insulatin material, such as. bakelite, porcelain, or oter suitable insulating material. Upon its lowerportion, the said body is made with a reduced part 2, which is externall convoluted orscrew-threaded, as at 3, or the reception and arrangement thereon of a correspondingly convoluted or screw-threaded collar or ring 4 made of suitable metal, as brass, for screwing into the usual internally screw-threaded receiving. socket o f 'a meter or switch-board, or vthe like: 'The lower portion of said reduced part 2 is also sketed, as -at 5, for suitable arrangement therein of a metal thimblev or nut 6, which is internally screw-threaded, as at 7, for reception of a contact-screw 8, and upon which screwis also placed a metal plate or disc 9. In its upper part, thesaid body 1 is suitably chambered, as at 10, and in communication with said chamber, and extending downwardl in said body is `Ja. socketed part 11. Suita ly mounted upon the upper end-surface of 'said body -1 is a suitably formed cover or closure 12, also 'made of a'v suitable insulating material, said cover be` ing secured in closing position upon said body by an arrangement of screws 13, or other suitable fastening means.. The said cover or closure 12 is also made with an opening 14, in alinement with the previously-mentioned socketed part 11.\ Leading ing into the opening 14, and extends normally slightlyv above the outer face of the cover or closure 12, substantially as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings.

The lower end-portion of the said stem or plug 16 is preferably socketed, as at 18, and is su ported upon a coiled spring 19, one end of w ich extends into said socket 18 andthe other end of which rests in the previously mentioned socket 11, as indicated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings: Upon its one side, the said stem or plug 16 is provided with a suitably formed projection 20, providing a stop-member, said projection extending lat- 90 erally into the chamberl 10, at a point directly above and substantially in alinement with the previously mentioned duct 15.

suitably secured 'by means ,of solder, yor

upper end-portion 23 thereof projecting in- 100 l to the chamber 10. This end-portion 1s usually doubled upon itself, as shown, and is formed with a right-angled extension, as 24, which acts as a holding o'r retaining means, when brought into engagement with the stop-member 20 of the stem or plug 16. Suitably imbedded in the said stem or plug 16, with its respective end- portions 26 and 27 projecting on opposite sides of the Said, stemor plug, is a metal plate or bar 110 imbedded within the body-portion 1 and the extension 2 of the plug is an electrical lead or conductor 28, having its lower end y portion 29 suitably connected withand in 115 electrical contact with the thimble 6, and having its upper end-portion extending into the chamber 10, and terminating in a rightangled or otherv suitably shaped contactproducingv member, as 30, withfwhich the projecting end 26 of the plate or bar 25 is y normally in contact, as indicated in Figure. 3 of the drawings. This lead or conductor` 28, ma be in the form of a flat plate or bar, or if esired may be of Wire of the' proper 125 gauge which will oil'er little resistance to the passage of the electric current therethrough. Another electrical lead or conductor 31, said lead orconductor being made of flexible metal, or the like, is also employed,l said lead or conductor having its vone end-portion, as 32, suitably and electrically connected with a suitable portion, preferably the doubled-over end-portion 23, of the4 thermostatic control-member or arm 21, as will be evident more particularly from an inspection of Figure 6 of the drawings,

and having its other end-portion 33, suitably and permanently affixed to the contact member 30. Under normal conditions, the opposite end-portion 27 of the plate or bar 25 is in Contact with a member 35 of another metal barfor plate 34, which extends from the chamber 10 into the body 1 and part of the reduced portion 2, in which it is embedded and has its end-portion 36 in electrical contact with a portion of the metal collar or ring 4, as represented in said Figures 3 and 5 of the drawings.

Having in the foregoing described the general construction and arrangement of the .several devices and parts of the circuitbreaker or interrupter of the screw-plug form, l will now briefly set forth its use in connection with the usual receiving sockets of a meter or switch-board, and also for breaking an electric circuit when there is an overload or a short circuit.

Direction of the electric circuit through the ci1'cuit-breaker or interrupter, when screwed in the socket, and when the various members oi the interrupter-mechanism have been set in the positions indicated in Figures 2 and 3, by pushing the stem or plug 16 in an inward direction, is through the screw 8, the plate or disc 9, to the end-portion 22 of the thermostatic arm 21, thence by means of the electrical lead or conductor 28 to the plate or bar 25, thence by the contact-member 35 of the plate or bar 34, and by means of its end 36 to the metal collar or ring 4, thus completing the electric circuit with the socket into which the device has been screwed. Thus, vwhen the various parts of the device are in th'eir set positions indicated in said Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, a complete electric circuit is established. At the moment, however, that an overload or short circuit occurs in the main. line, the increase caused by the overload, will cause the thermostatic arm 21 to move laterally within the duct 15, thereby automaticallyv causing the disengagement or separation of the two members 24 and 20, as indicated in Figure 4. The compressed spring 19 now becomes active, causing the setting stem or plug 16 to fly 1n an outward direction, and thereby breaking the electric circuit, due to the separation of the end- portions 26 and 27 of the b ar or plate 25 from their electrical contact with the contact-members of the respective leads or conductors 28 and 34, as will be clearly evident.

From an inspection of the diagrammatic representations of the main elements of the device, as indicated in Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings, itwill be noticed, that at the time an overload takes place, the tendency of the electrical current is todivide itself into two paths of direction, as indicated by the arrows, one path going throu l1 the lead or conductor 28, and the other trough the thermostatic member 21 and the lead or conductor 31, each divided amount or uantity of current being therefore reduced in its power, so that while it deflects the member 21, it is not of such strength that the future usefulness of said member 21 will be destroyed. This action will be fully understood from an inspection more particularly of said Fi ure8.

It will t us be understood that the device is'readily applicable to meter or switchboards, and to any other electrical instrumen talities, in lieu of the usual and readily destructible fuse-plugs at present in ordinary use, and that the device when inserted in the line can be used over and over.

Referring now t-o Figures 9 to 16 of the drawin s, I have shown in said figures a circuitreaker or interrupter embodying the principles of the present invention, but in which the device is made in cartridge-form to be used with the usual spring-clips for' inserting the device in a main electrical line.

In said figures, the reference character 37 indicates a block-like or rectangular main body of any suitable insulating material, which is chambered, as at 38, and is also formed with a communicating duct, as 39. Extending from the ends of said body are c lindrical, or other suitably shaped extenslons 40 and 41, which are respectively encased in the tubular contact-making shells 42 and 43, the main portionsl of said shells being embodied in the said main body 37 by being imbedded therein, during the molding process. The lower portion of the said main body 37 is also provided with a receiving socket 44, and its upper open portion is closed by a cover 45, suitably secured to said body by means of screws 46, or other suitable fastening means. This-cover 45 is provided with an opening 47. Movably disposed in said socket -44 is the lower portion of a stem or plug 48 made of insulating material, said plug resting upon a coiled spring 49, Within said socket 44, substan;l tiall as represented in Figures 11 and 12 of t e drawings. At its one side, the said stem or plug 48 is made with a projection 50 providing a stop, and in suitable location, the said plug is also made with a laterally extending opening 51. The upper end-portion of the said stem or plug 48 proects into and extends from the opening 4 o the cover 45, for suitable manipulation of the said lug or stem, as will be evident. Disposed) within the laterally extendin openlng 51 of the stem or plug is a metal 'c contact-making plate 52, said plate having its respective end-portions 53 and 54 projecting from the opposite sides of the said stem or plug 48, substantially as shown in Figure tact.

l2. Suitably connected with a portion 55 of the contact-making shell 43, by means of a screw 56, or in any other suitable manner, is a metallic conductor 57 which extends through a duct 58 and its upper portion terminating in the chamber 38. Connected with said upper portion of the conductor 57 is a contact-establishing member 59, said member being angularly formed, as shown in Figure 13, and terminates direbtlybeneath the projecting end-portion 53 of the plate 52, and with which it is normally in electrical con- Suitably connected with a portion 69 of the contact-making shell 42, by means or a screw 61, or in any other suitable manner, is a resilient or spring-arm 62, made of a thermostatic metal which extends in an upward direction into and through the duct 39, with the upper end-portion 63 thereof terminating in the chamber 3,8.

At its upper end-portion this thermostatic control-arm 62 is provided with a projection 64 which acts as a holding or retaining member when brought into engagement with the stop-member 50 ofv the stem or plug 48. Also suitably mounted upon the said screw 61, so as to make electrical connection with the portion 60 ofthe contact-making shell 42 is a contact-making'member65,` in the form of a bar, or the like, said member being imbedded in the material of .which the body 37 is made, and extends in an upward direction through said material, terminating at its upper end in a contact-establishing endportion 66. Suitably connected with the said thermostatic spring-arm 62 is a downwardly extending member-67, made of a resilient metal, from the lower end-portion of which extends at an angle, a iinger or projection, as 68, formed with a contactestablishing end-member 69, extending beneath the end-portion 54 of the plate 52, and in electrical contact therewith. Under normal initial conditions, when the stem or plug 48 is depressed, the said finger or projection 68 has its lower surface-.portion forcibly pressed into electrical contact-making en gagement with 'the contact-establishing endportion 66 of the previously mentioned member 65, as will be clearly understood from an inspection of Figure 15 of the drawings, buty interrupter-mechanism have been set in the positions indicated in said Figures 11 to 15 inclusive, by pushing the stem or plug 48 in a downward direction, is through the shell 42, the screw 61, to the end-portion 66 of .the member 65, thence through the finger 68 of the member 69 to the member 54 of the plate or bar 52, thence by the contactmember 53 of the plate or bar 52, and the said conductor 57, completing the electriccircuit with the shell 43, and by means of the latter with the contact-clips, between which said shell 43 has been sprung. [as soon, however, as an overload or short circuit occurs in the main line, the increase caused by the overload, will cause the thermostatic arm 62 to move laterally within the duct 39, thereby automatically causing the disengagement or separation f the two members 64 and 50. Immediately the compressed spring 49 becomes active, causing the stem or plug 48 to ily in an outward direction, and thereby separating the-end-portions of the plate or bar 52 from contact with the several contact-establishing members, thus interrupting the circuit, as will be evident.

In all other respects, the general operation ofthe several elements of the circuit-interrupter is substantially the same as the loperation of the elements vwhen arranged as shown in the device which is illustrated in F igures'l to 8 inclusive.-

l am fully aware, that changes may be made in the eneral arrangements and combinations of t e several devices and parts, as well as inthe details of the construction of the said parts, without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the foregoing specification, and as defined in the clauses of the claim which is appended to the said specification. Hence, l

o not limit my present invention to the exact arrangements and combinations`of the vseveral devices and parts as described in the said specification, nor do I confine myself to. the exact details of the`construction of the said parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. p

I claim sli a A repeating circuit interrupter, comprising a housing having external contacts, internal 'contacts respectively connected with said respective external' contacts, a movable interrupter block within said housing having a bridglng contact means imbedded transversely therein and having exposed projec-v tions to mutually engage said internal contacts, said block having an exteriorly projecting portion formanlally setting the same in circuit completing position, sprlng means vto move said interrupter block to circuit interrupting position, a. detent ymeans to normally hold ysaid interrupter block in circuit completing position, said detent means including a flexible thermostatic arm having one end fixed in mechanical and connected with the same external conmct'tq.

I olcvti'lcnl union with one external vontuct, which the lixod end of Said mm iszfconuocin.v

said housingr having :in open passngeloziding In testimony, that I claim the invention 10 into the interior of S21-id housing` through set forth above I have hereunto setI my hund whivh said arm extends, and u flexible shunt this 9th day of April, 1925.

coupling connection between the free end of said arm and the internal Contact which is ERNEST AICHELE.

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