US3599136A - Molded-case circuit breaker having improved overcurrent releasable latch - Google Patents
Molded-case circuit breaker having improved overcurrent releasable latch Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3599136A US3599136A US845274A US3599136DA US3599136A US 3599136 A US3599136 A US 3599136A US 845274 A US845274 A US 845274A US 3599136D A US3599136D A US 3599136DA US 3599136 A US3599136 A US 3599136A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- circuit breaker
- actuator
- overcurrent
- armature
- releasable latch
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 230000001154 acute effect Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000000452 restraining effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910000906 Bronze Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- OAICVXFJPJFONN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Phosphorus Chemical compound [P] OAICVXFJPJFONN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000004873 anchoring Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000010974 bronze Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- KUNSUQLRTQLHQQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N copper tin Chemical compound [Cu].[Sn] KUNSUQLRTQLHQQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000005069 ears Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000000977 initiatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005405 multipole Effects 0.000 description 1
- QHGUCRYDKWKLMG-UHFFFAOYSA-N octopamine Chemical compound NCC(O)C1=CC=C(O)C=C1 QHGUCRYDKWKLMG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229960001576 octopamine Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002459 sustained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013022 venting Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
- H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
- H01H71/12—Automatic release mechanisms with or without manual release
- H01H71/40—Combined electrothermal and electromagnetic mechanisms
- H01H71/405—Combined electrothermal and electromagnetic mechanisms in which a bimetal forms the inductor for the electromagnetic mechanism
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
- H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
- H01H71/50—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release
- H01H71/52—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release actuated by lever
- H01H71/529—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release actuated by lever comprising an electroresponsive element forming part of the transmission chain between handle and contact arm
Definitions
- Molded case circuit breakers have been widely employed in the distribution and control of electricity and their popularity continues to increase.
- the standard circuit breakers which had a short-circuit current-interrupting capacity of 5,000 amperes have been satisfactory.
- the interrupting capacity of the circuit breakers be increased.
- the improved circuit breakers must be interchangeable with, and if possible externally identical to, the prior units so as to allow continued use of the unchanged panelboards, accessories and the like and to permit improvement or upgrading of existing installations.
- the invention is illustrated, in certain of its aspects, as ap plied to a multipole molded case circuit breaker.
- a circuit breaker is illustrated and described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 2,923,795 and that description is incorporated herein by reference.
- FIG. 1 is a side view of an end pole of a three-pole circuit breaker embodying certain aspects of the novel overcurrent releasable latch with the cover removed and certain parts being shown in fragmentary section. The mechanism is shown in the contacts-closed (closed-circuit) position;
- FIG. 2 is a side view of the overcurrent releasable latch of FIG. I on a greatly enlarged scale
- FIG. 3 is a plan view of the overcurrent releasable latch as viewed along the line 3-3 therein.
- the circuit breaker case has an inner wall that cooperates with an outer wall not shown to form an internal cavity.
- This cavity and the other like cavities (not shown), contain a complete circuit breaker mechanism, ineluding a pair of contacts, a contact-operating linkage, an overload release means; and a common release means which forms a part of each pole of the three-pole circuit breaker.
- Common operating means including externally projecting handle 16, is provided for simultaneous operation of all of the poles.
- a common trip-bar mechanism 18 is operatively connected to all of the poles.
- Each pole includes a first terminal 20 rigidly carrying a stationary contact 22.
- Movable companion contact 24 engages contact 22 when the circuit breaker is closed, movable contact 24 being supported on elongated contact-carrying member 26.
- Contact-carrying member 26 is pivoted near its center on a transverse coil spring 28. The contacts engage and disengage within a well-known type of are chute 29 that includes metallic arc-splitter plates 29a, venting passage 29b and metallic vent screen 290.
- An ambient temperature compensating bimetal 32a has its upper end curved about bearing 34 and its lower end, which constitutes its latched end, is slidably guided by a formed portion of actuator 32 so that the lower tip of bimetal 32a is projected to a variable extent in dependence of the ambient temperature.
- the overcurrent releasable latch 37 includes a currentresponsive bimetal 38 that is united at one end to the contact arm 26, providing electrical connection and a rigid mechanical connection at this point.
- the elongated contact member 26 constitutes a conductive support that carries and-unites bimetal 38 and the magnetic pole structure 40 of a tripping electromagnet.
- the pole structure 40 is also united to'bimetal 36 and to contact arm 26 by a rivet 261) that extends integrally through the bimetal and the pole structure from contact arm 26.
- Pole structure 40 is wider than the bimetal 38 and extends all the way across the bimetal except for a cutout portion to accommodate a conductor 42 of flexible conductive braid that is united to the bimetal adjacent its right-hand end as viewed in the drawings.
- a magnetic armature 44 is positioned on the side of bimetal 38 opposite from pole structure 40 and has lateral pivots 44a retained in notches in the pole structure as shown. Armature 44 is wider than bimetal 38 at the right of pivot 44a and extends into latching engagement with actuator 32. Armature 44 terminates to the left of the pivots 44a.
- a low-profile spring 46 biases the armature counterclockwise about pivots 4411.
- the pole structure 40 includes a pair olspacedparallel poles 40a that extend beneath the armature 44 and provide access between them for the braid 42.
- a pair of arms 40b, 40c cooperate with the armature 44 and its pivots 44a to retain and guide the armature.
- Each of the arms 40b is bent over slightly toward its companion arm 400 to trap the armature pivots 44a therebetween.
- Armature 44 has one end 44b in line with its pivots 44a. its other end 44: cooperates with the actuator tip 32a as will be described.
- a loop 44d formed from the body of the armature for cooperation with bimetal 38, as will be explained below, is provided adjacent the terminal end 44c(FlG.. 2).
- a low-profile spring 46 is anchored vertically by the junction of the elongated moving contact member 26 and bimetal 38 which meet at an acute angle. Horizontal anchoring is provided by a pair of upturned spring ears 46b that engage opposite faces of the member 26 to provide lateral stability for the spring 46.
- Spring 46 has a reversely bent portion 46c which passes through a slot 448 intermediate the bends. Spring end 46d bears against the underside of the armature 44.
- the portion of spring 46 above the armature is substantially flat providing a low profile.
- Spring 46 is relatively stiff but is resiliently bowed between its ends with the result that end 44: of the armature is urged away from the pole structure 40 in a counterclockwise direction as the armature moves about its pivots 44a.
- Spring 46 may advantageously be made from phosphor bronze strip material by well-known fabrication techniques.
- bimetal 38 is secured to the contact-carrying member 26, between the member 26 and pole piece 40, by means of the rivet 26b.
- the free end 38b of the bimetal passes through the armature loop 44d.
- a layer of insulation 38c, interposed between the bimetal and the armature, prevents the current flowing through the braid 42 from bypassing the bimetal 38.
- Bimetal 38 deflects on sustained overloads causing armature end 44d to release actuator end 3211.
- Flexible braid 42 has one end connected to bimetal 38 and its opposite end is joined to terminal 48, of a form suitable for panelboard plug-in installation as disclosed in US Pat. No. 2,647,225.
- An electrical circuit may be traced through the circuit breaker from terminal across contacts 22 and 24, into elongated contact member 26, via bimetal 38 and braid 42 to terminal 38. There is no current bypass path bridging bimetal 38 by virtue of the insulated pivot which is more fully disclosed in US Pat. No. 2,647,186.
- Transverse coil spring 28 which serves a pivot for contact arm 26, is housed in a pair of cylindrical bosses 10a and 120 that extend inwardly toward one another within the cavity 14. Spring 28 provides contact pressure between the contacts 22 and 24 and permits overtravel of the contact-carrying member 26 as more fully explained in US Pat. No. 2,681,396.
- a compression spring 50 is interposed between respective projections on contact-carrying member 26 and handle 16 biasing both the contact member and the handle to their open position when the circuit breaker is open. As shown in FIG. 1 this compression spring provides strong contact-opening bias when the breaker is closed. In the closed configuration of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1, actuator 32 is latched by armature 44 and the counterclockwise spring bias applied to contact-carrying member 26 is resisted by an overset toggle consisting of trip bar 18 and pivoted handle 16. Counterclockwise motion of handle 16 is limited by the casing l0. In this configuration, spring 50 provides a limited bias for operating handle 16 in the contact-opening direction.
- the speed of opening of the contacts upon occurrence of an overload determines the interrupting rating of the circuitry breaker.
- the speed of opening is largely dependent upon the force of compression spring 50.
- An increase in force of spring 50 could produce faster opening.
- spring 50 and pivot spring 28 are in opposition and therefore an increase in force of spring 50 will result in a reduction in contact pressure.
- An increase of force in spring 50 is therefore not suitable as a way of increasing the speed of opening.
- a torsion spring 52 is positioned about the boss 10a. One end 52 engages a stop on the wall 10 (shown in dotted lines, FIG. 1) and the other end of the spring 52 is formed as a hook 52b for engagement with the contact-carrying member 26.
- Spring 52 is positioned so that it reacts between the casing wall 10 and the contact arm to pivot the contact arm 26 counterclockwise about spring 28 as viewed in FIG. 1.
- Torsion spring 52 acts on the elongated contact-carrying member 26 in the same direction as pivot spring 28 when the contacts are closed and, therefore, spring 52 actually increases the contact pressure.
- spring 52 accelerates the movement of contact 24 to the open-circuit position.
- the toggle comprising handle 16 and trip bar 18 lock the contacts closed, under the control of armature 44 of the overcurrent releasable latch 37.
- armature 44 of the overcurrent releasable latch 37 Upon downward deflection of the armature magneticall or by pressure from current-responsive bimetal 38, elongate contact-carrying member 26 IS driven counterclockwise by spring 50 and by spring 52, as actuator 32 swings clockwise about its pivot 30.
- Springs 50 and 52 are now free to accelerate the separation of the contacts 22, 24.
- the addition of spring 52 contributes to increased contact pressure and increased speed of opening of the contacts with only a small, barely noticeable to the operator of handle 16, increase in the force required to close the circuit breaker.
- the molded case circuit breaker illustrated and described above is a three-pole, 70a., 240v. unit and is fully compatible with presently installed panelboards. Although shown and described as a three-pole breaker it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that certain aspects of the invention are equally applicable to circuit breakers having one, two or more poles. Molded case circuit breakers, fabricated according to the teachings of this invention, have been successfully tested at 10,000 a. interrupting capacity.
- a molded case circuit breaker having a stationary contact, an elongated movable contact member supported on a pivot between its ends, said elongated movable contact member having a contact at one end engageable with and disengageable from said stationary contact, and having an actuator pivoted at its opposite end and having an overcurrent releasable latch normally restraining said actuator, and a pivoted handle and a link connected to said handle forming a toggle for operating said actuator and for thereby operating said elongated movable contact member to close the contacts, said overcurrent releasable latch being carried by and movable with said elongated movable contact member, said overcurrent releasable latch including a current-responsive bimetal, a magnetic pole structure adjacent said bimetal, an armature pivoted at one end on said pole structure and engaging said actuator at the other to thereby latch said actuator, and resilient means reacting between said contact member and said armature for biasing said armature into an actuatorlatching position, said resilient means react
- a circuit breaker according to claim 2 wherein said overcurrent releasable latch is joined to said elongated movable contact member at an acute angle, said flat spring member having one end thereof engaged with said joint whereby said flat spring member is provided with a reaction point.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Power Engineering (AREA)
- Breakers (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (4)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US84527469A | 1969-07-28 | 1969-07-28 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3599136A true US3599136A (en) | 1971-08-10 |
Family
ID=25294826
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US845274A Expired - Lifetime US3599136A (en) | 1969-07-28 | 1969-07-28 | Molded-case circuit breaker having improved overcurrent releasable latch |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3599136A (en) |
JP (1) | JPS504254B1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3815070A (en) * | 1972-12-22 | 1974-06-04 | Federal Pacific Electric Co | Circuit breaker with wide opening contacts |
US4117418A (en) * | 1977-01-14 | 1978-09-26 | Lennart Harry Erik Hoglund | Electric amplifier |
EP0006737A1 (en) * | 1978-06-22 | 1980-01-09 | Federal Electric Limited | Thermal-magnetic circuit breaker |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3134871A (en) * | 1960-02-23 | 1964-05-26 | Fed Pacific Electric Co | Air circuit breaker |
US3240902A (en) * | 1960-08-25 | 1966-03-15 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Circuit interrupting units with handletie structure |
US3317867A (en) * | 1965-12-13 | 1967-05-02 | Gen Electric | Electric circuit breaker with thermalmagnetic tripping allowing for overtravel of the thermal means |
-
1969
- 1969-07-28 US US845274A patent/US3599136A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1970
- 1970-07-28 JP JP45065477A patent/JPS504254B1/ja active Pending
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3134871A (en) * | 1960-02-23 | 1964-05-26 | Fed Pacific Electric Co | Air circuit breaker |
US3240902A (en) * | 1960-08-25 | 1966-03-15 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Circuit interrupting units with handletie structure |
US3317867A (en) * | 1965-12-13 | 1967-05-02 | Gen Electric | Electric circuit breaker with thermalmagnetic tripping allowing for overtravel of the thermal means |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3815070A (en) * | 1972-12-22 | 1974-06-04 | Federal Pacific Electric Co | Circuit breaker with wide opening contacts |
US4117418A (en) * | 1977-01-14 | 1978-09-26 | Lennart Harry Erik Hoglund | Electric amplifier |
EP0006737A1 (en) * | 1978-06-22 | 1980-01-09 | Federal Electric Limited | Thermal-magnetic circuit breaker |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JPS504254B1 (en) | 1975-02-17 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US4144513A (en) | Anti-rebound latch for current limiting switches | |
US3632939A (en) | Circuit interrupter with improved molded insulating housing | |
US3460075A (en) | Circuit breaker with improved latch and trip structures | |
US2795670A (en) | Circuit breaker | |
US6515569B2 (en) | Circuit breaker with bypass conductor commutating current out of the bimetal during short circuit interruption and method of commutating current out of bimetal | |
US3548358A (en) | Electric circuit breaker with bimetallic strip protective means | |
US3440579A (en) | Electric circuit breaker with overcurrent and ground fault protection | |
US3422381A (en) | Multi-pole circuit breaker with common trip bar | |
US3523261A (en) | Current limiting circuit breakers | |
US2925481A (en) | Circuit breaker | |
US3178535A (en) | Automatic circuit breaker with improved bimetallic and electromagnetic trip device | |
US3309635A (en) | Circuit breaker with improved thermal and electromagnetic trip means | |
US3688237A (en) | Fused circuit breaker | |
US3254176A (en) | Circuit interrupter having nuisancetripping stop means | |
US3659241A (en) | Circuit breaker with ambient compensation | |
US3174024A (en) | Circuit breaker with contact biasing means | |
US3599136A (en) | Molded-case circuit breaker having improved overcurrent releasable latch | |
US3550047A (en) | Circuit breaker with improved trip means | |
US3748620A (en) | Circuit breaker with improved barrier means | |
US2199622A (en) | Circuit breaker | |
US3248500A (en) | Multipole circuit interrupting device having a removable fuse unit with a common unitary tripping bar | |
US3134871A (en) | Air circuit breaker | |
US3517355A (en) | Blow-open circuit breaker | |
US3327075A (en) | Circuit interrupter with locking provision | |
US3214535A (en) | Electric circuit breaker with positive tripping means |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CHALLENGER DPT CORPORATION, PENNSYLVANIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:FEDERAL PACIFIC ELECTRIC COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:004747/0326 Effective date: 19860630 Owner name: CHALLENGER LIC CORPORATION, PENNSYLVANIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:FEDERAL PACIFIC ELECTRIC COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:004747/0326 Effective date: 19860630 Owner name: CHALLENGER ACQUISITION CORPORATION, PENNSYLVANIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:FEDERAL PACIFIC ELECTRIC COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:004747/0326 Effective date: 19860630 Owner name: CHALLENGER FUSE CORPORATION, PENNSYLVANIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:FEDERAL PACIFIC ELECTRIC COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:004747/0326 Effective date: 19860630 Owner name: CHALLENGER DPT CORPORATION, MALVERN, PA. A CORP. O Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:FEDERAL PACIFIC ELECTRIC COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:004747/0326 Effective date: 19860630 Owner name: CHALLENGER LIC CORPORATION, MALVERN, PA. A CORP. O Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:FEDERAL PACIFIC ELECTRIC COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:004747/0326 Effective date: 19860630 Owner name: CHALLENGER ACQUISITION CORPORATION, MALVERN, PA. A Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:FEDERAL PACIFIC ELECTRIC COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:004747/0326 Effective date: 19860630 Owner name: CHALLENGER FUSE CORPORATION, MALVERN, PENNSYLVANIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:FEDERAL PACIFIC ELECTRIC COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:004747/0326 Effective date: 19860630 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: PROVIDENT INDUSTRIES, INC., NEW YORK Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:AMERICAN CIRCUIT BREAKER CORPORATION, FORMERLY AMERICAN PROPERTIES CORPORATION, BY WHEELER FINANCIAL SERVICES, AS TRUSTEE;REEL/FRAME:005000/0681 Effective date: 19881225 Owner name: PROVIDENT INDUSTRIES, INC., A CORP. OF NY Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:AMERICAN CIRCUIT BREAKER CORPORATION, FORMERLY AMERICAN PROPERTIES CORPORATION, BY WHEELER FINANCIAL SERVICES, AS TRUSTEE;REEL/FRAME:005000/0681 Effective date: 19881225 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: PROVIDENT INDUSTRIES, INC., NEW YORK Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:AMERICAN CIRCUIT BREAKER CORPORATION BY WHEELER FINANCIAL SERVICES, TRUSTEE;REEL/FRAME:005012/0779 Effective date: 19881220 Owner name: PROVIDENT INDUSTRIES, INC., A CORP. OF NY Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:AMERICAN CIRCUIT BREAKER CORPORATION BY WHEELER FINANCIAL SERVICES, TRUSTEE;REEL/FRAME:005012/0779 Effective date: 19881220 |