EP0369807A2 - A miniature circuit breaker - Google Patents
A miniature circuit breaker Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0369807A2 EP0369807A2 EP89311920A EP89311920A EP0369807A2 EP 0369807 A2 EP0369807 A2 EP 0369807A2 EP 89311920 A EP89311920 A EP 89311920A EP 89311920 A EP89311920 A EP 89311920A EP 0369807 A2 EP0369807 A2 EP 0369807A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- movable contact
- switch arm
- operating handle
- spring
- anchorage
- 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.)
- Ceased
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- 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
- H01H71/526—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release actuated by lever the lever forming a toggle linkage with a second lever, the free end of which is directly and releasably engageable with a contact structure
Definitions
- the present invention relates to miniature circuit breakers generally. More particularly, the invention relates to a breaker assembly having an operating handle co-operating with a movable contact for a miniature circuit breaker comprising a housing, an over current sensing arrangement and a fixed contact.
- the most important criterion for a miniature circuit breaker is the speed with which the movable contact separates from the fixed contact on detection of a fault. This criterion is clearly important for both the safety and the reliability aspects as relatively slow separation may cause welding of the contacts. It is also important that the contacts have a good contact pressure when in the on position to prevent accidental tripping and arcing which can damage the contacts. In many miniature circuit breakers, these two criteria have been mutually exclusive as a spring acting on the movable contact, say to bias the movable contact to the off position will reduce contact pressure in the on position. Conversely, a spring biasing the movable contact to the on position will reduce the speed of separation of the contacts.
- miniature circuit breakers such as those described in United States Patent Specification No. 3774129 and German Patent Specification No. 2047223 include a movable contact having an elongate slot which engages a pivot pin secured to the housing. This is known as a "floating pivot".
- a single spring acting on the movable contact gives both contact pressure and off biasing pressure depending on the pivot position of the movable contact which changes between the floating pivot and another position on the movable contact which is generally held in position by the operating handle.
- This arrangement is not entirely satisfactory, however, because there is a delay in the switching off action while the movable contact moves at the floating pivot between the opposing end positions. Further, because the movable contact is loosely pivoted to the housing there is little consistency in positioning of the movable contact, which can cause pitting of the contacts.
- the present invention is directed towards providing a breaker assembly for a miniature circuit breaker which provides for relatively quick switching off action and for good contact pressure.
- Other objects of the invention are that the breaker assembly has a relatively small number of components and is relatively simple to manufacture.
- a breaker assembly for a miniature circuit breaker comprising a housing, an over current sensing means, and a fixed contact
- the breaker assembly comprising: a movable contact arranged to be pivotally connected to the housing for movement between on and off positions; an operating handle for the movable contact; and a double biasing connector between an anchorage on the housing and an anchorage on the movable contact, the connector comprising a spring secured to one anchorage and to a switch arm which is in turn secured to the other anchorage and releasably engageable with the operating handle at a position defining an auxiliary fulcrum, the relative positions of the anchorages and the auxiliary fulcrum being such that when the switch arm and the operating handle are engaged the connector biases the movable contact in one direction and when disengaged in the opposite direction.
- the double biasing connector allows a spring to provide both contact pressure and off pressure without the need for a floating pivot. This has been achieved because the action of the double biasing connector is always in one direction only or another about the single movable contact pivot connection to the housing.
- the switch arm anchorage is a pivot connection to the movable contact and the spring anchorage is on the housing, the spring acting on the pivot connection and the auxiliary fulcrum when the switch arm engages the operating handle to bias the movable contact to the on position, and biasing the movable contact to the off position via the switch arm pivot connection when the switch arm disengages the operating handle.
- the switch arm is disposed between the spring and the movable contact and immediately changes the effective direction of action of the spring on the movable contact when the switch arm engages and disengages the operating handle. It is our understanding that this has been achieved because for the on position the spring acts on both the switch arm anchorage and the auxiliary fulcrum in one direction about the movable contact pivot. When the auxiliary fulcrum is removed the spring acts about the switch arm anchorage pivot in the opposite direction about the movable contact. As a result a single spring can provide both off and contact pressure without changing direction and thereby having no over-centre. Accordingly, for switching off, the over-current sensing means must simply disengage the operating handle and the switch arm to instantaneously change the effective direction of action of the spring.
- a stop is provided on the movable contact for abutment with the switch arm for biasing of the movable contact to the off position.
- the spring acts to pull the movable contact to the off position via the switch arm.
- the breaker assembly further comprises a latch lever for connection with the over current sensing means and arranged to disengage the operating handle and the switch arm on over current detection.
- a latch lever is a simple and effective connection between the over-current sensing means and the operating handle to cause disengagement of the operating handle and the switch arm.
- the switch arm is engageable with the operating handle via a link pivotally connected to the operating handle.
- a link pivotally connected to the operating handle is a simple and effective connection between the operating handle and the switch arm.
- the switch arm anchorage is connected to the housing and the spring anchorage is connected to the movable contact.
- the spring is connected directly to the movable contact and the switch arm is disposed at the opposite end of the spring which changes the direction of action of the spring on use or otherwise of the auxiliary fulcrum.
- the spring will provide both contact pressure and off pressure according to whether or not the switch arm engages the operating handle.
- This embodiment may be described as a reverse of the above-described embodiments. In this arrangement, as in the other embodiments, it is important that there is no over-centre action of the spring as this slows opening of the contacts.
- the spring acts on one anchorage to have one line of action. When the spring acts on both the anchorage and the auxiliary fulcrum, its effective line of action is changed. It appears therefore, that the arrangement can be reversed as defined in this embodiment.
- the miniature circuit breaker 1 comprises a housing 2 and components forming a conducting path for current, namely, an input terminal 4, a bi-metallic element 5, a movable contact 6 pivotally connected by a pivot pin 7 to the housing 2, a fixed contact 8, a solenoid 9 and an output terminal 10.
- An arc stack 11 is also mounted in the housing 2.
- the miniature circuit breaker 1 further comprises a breaker assembly 1(a) including an operating handle 12 biased to rotate in the clockwise direction by a helical tension spring 13.
- a transverse pivot pin 14 pivotally connects the operating handle 12 to a latch lever 15 arranged to be tripped by a plunger 16 for the solenoid 9 and by a rod 17 connected to the bi-metallic element 5.
- the breaker assembly 1(a) also includes the above-mentioned movable contact 6 and a double biasing connector acting on the movable contact 6.
- the breaker assembly 1(a) is more clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, in which parts similar to those described with reference to Fig. 1 are identified by the same reference numerals.
- the double biasing connector comprises a torsion spring 18 which has an anchorage 19 on the housing 2.
- the spring 18 is secured to a switch arm 20 which has an anchorage pivotally connected to the movable contact 6 at a pivot pin 21.
- the switch arm 20 has a free end 22 which is arranged to engage the operating handle 12 via a link 23 pivotally connected to the operating handle 16 at the pivot pin 14.
- the latch lever 15 abuts against the link 23 adjacent the pivot pin 14.
- the link 23 includes a notch 24 for engagement with the free end 22 of the switch arm 20.
- the link 23 and the switch arm 20 are effectively disengaged as the link 23 does not act on the switch arm 20. It will be seen, however, that the switch arm free end 22 and notch 24 are in contact.
- the torsion spring 18 biases the switch arm 20 to rotate about the pivot pin 21 to abut against a surface 25 of the movable contact 6 which acts as a stop for the switch arm 20.
- the switch arm 20 and the movable contact 6 are effectively integral and the torsion spring 18 biases the movable contact 6 to the off position about the pivot pin 7.
- the operating handle 16 is rotated in the anti-clockwise direction, engaging the link 23 and the switch arm 20.
- the link 23 rotates the switch arm 20 and the movable contact 6 (which two components may still be regarded as being integral) about the pivot pin 7 until the movable contact 6 touches the fixed contact 8. Thereafter, the movable contact 6 cannot rotate any further and thus the switch arm 20 begins to rotate about the pivot pin 21 in the clockwise direction.
- the spring 18 acts on both the pivot pin 21 and on the engaged free end 22 which is an auxiliary fulcrum. Because of the relative positions of the anchorages, the spring urges the pivot pin 21 about the pivot pin 7 in the clockwise direction to provide contact pressure. This position is illustrated in Fig. 3 in which the operating handle 16 has been turned to the full extent.
- the latch lever 15 On detection of a fault the latch lever 15 is pushed downwards, causing the link 23 to disengage from the switch arm free end 22 and thus the spring 18 again biases the switch arm in the anti-clockwise direction to abut against the stop surface 25 and bias the movable contact in the anti-clockwise direction to provide off pressure.
- the double biasing connector acts on the movable contact 6 in either the clockwise or anti-clockwise directions about the pivot pin 7 to give either contact or off pressure, respectively and that the change-over is instantaneous, limited only by design requirements. This advantage is achieved by the fact that the spring does not itself change direction by going through an over-centre or toggle position.
- a double biasing connector comprises a tension spring 40 having a fixed anchorage 41 and acting on a switch arm 42 having an anchorage pivotally connected to the movable contact 35 at a pivot pin 43.
- the switch arm 42 has a free end 44 for engagement with the latch/link arm 33 and at the opposite end thereof includes an extension arm 45 to which the tension spring 40 is secured.
- the switch arm 42 is disposed within a slot in the movable contact 35, the slot having an end-surface 46 which forms a stop for abutment with the switch arm 42.
- the breaker assembly 30 is dynamically equivalent to the breaker assembly of Figs. 1 to 3.
- the differences are in design of various components and in the manner in which they are connected. It will be seen, for example, that the connection of a tension spring to the extension arm 45 on one side of the pivot pin 43 is equivalent to the connection, as in Figs. 1 to 3 of a torsion spring to the switch arm on the opposite side of the pivot pin 43.
- the use of an integral latch/link arm provides for ease of assembly although the arm must be manufactured within a smaller tolerance range than if they were separate as in Figs. 1 to 3.
- the breaker assembly 50 includes an operating handle 51 acted on by a tension spring 52 at a transverse pivot pin 53 which also supports a combined latch/link arm 54.
- the breaker assembly 50 also includes a movable contact 55, pivotally connected at a pivot pin 56 to a housing, and a fixed contact 57.
- the fixed contact 57 is disposed on the opposite side of the movable contact with reference to the operating handle 51.
- a spring 60 having a fixed anchorage 61 is connected to a switch arm 62 having an anchorage pivotally connected at a pivot pin 63 to the movable contact 55.
- the switch arm 62 has a free end 64 which forms a notch for contact with the latch/link arm 54.
- a stop 65 is secured to the movable contact 55 adjacent the pivot pin 63.
- the spring 60 biases the movable contact 55 to the off position when the switch arm free end 64 is disengaged from the latch/link lever 54, allowing the switch arm 62 to abut against the stop 65.
- the operating handle 51 is rotated in the anti-clockwise direction, causing the latch/link lever 54 to engage the switch arm free end 64 to push the movable contact 55 against the fixed contact 7.
- further rotation of the operating handle 51 rotates the switch arm 62 away from the stop 65 causing the spring 60 to act on the pivot pin 63 and the free end 64 which forms an auxiliary fulcrum thus biasing the movable contact 55 in the anti-clockwise direction about the pivot pin 56 to provide contact pressure for the movable contact 55.
- the breaker assembly 70 includes an operating handle 71 acted on by a torsion spring 72.
- a latch/link arm 73 is pivotally connected to the operating handle 71 at a pivot pin 74.
- the breaker assembly 70 also includes a movable contact 75 pivotally connected at a pivot pin 76 to a housing, and a fixed contact 77.
- a double biasing connector is provided by a compression spring 80 having a fixed anchorage 81 connected to a switch arm 82 having an anchorage pivotally connected at a pivot pin 83 to the movable contact 75.
- the movable contact 75 includes a stop 84 adjacent a pivot pin 83.
- the compression spring 80 biases the movable contact 70 to the off position by action on the switch arm 82 and the stop 84 when the switch arm 82 is disengaged from the latch/link lever 73.
- the latch/link lever 73 engages the switch arm 82 to rotate the movable contact 75 in the clockwise direction about the pivot pin 76.
- the switch arm 82 is forced to rotate in the clockwise direction away from the stop 84.
- the compression spring 80 acts to urge the movable contact 75 via the pivot pin 83 in the clockwise direction about the pivot pin 76.
- the invention provides a breaker assembly of relatively simple construction in which only one spring acts on the movable contact and this spring provides both contact pressure and off pressure without a switching delay such as the delay associated with a floating pivot. Further, as there is no play in the pivot connection at the movable contact to the housing, movement of the various parts of the breaker assembly are consistent and a good contact with the fixed contact is ensured.
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Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to miniature circuit breakers generally. More particularly, the invention relates to a breaker assembly having an operating handle co-operating with a movable contact for a miniature circuit breaker comprising a housing, an over current sensing arrangement and a fixed contact.
- Possibly the most important criterion for a miniature circuit breaker is the speed with which the movable contact separates from the fixed contact on detection of a fault. This criterion is clearly important for both the safety and the reliability aspects as relatively slow separation may cause welding of the contacts. It is also important that the contacts have a good contact pressure when in the on position to prevent accidental tripping and arcing which can damage the contacts. In many miniature circuit breakers, these two criteria have been mutually exclusive as a spring acting on the movable contact, say to bias the movable contact to the off position will reduce contact pressure in the on position. Conversely, a spring biasing the movable contact to the on position will reduce the speed of separation of the contacts.
- In an attempt to overcome this problem, miniature circuit breakers such as those described in United States Patent Specification No. 3774129 and German Patent Specification No. 2047223 include a movable contact having an elongate slot which engages a pivot pin secured to the housing. This is known as a "floating pivot". In this arrangement, a single spring acting on the movable contact gives both contact pressure and off biasing pressure depending on the pivot position of the movable contact which changes between the floating pivot and another position on the movable contact which is generally held in position by the operating handle. This arrangement is not entirely satisfactory, however, because there is a delay in the switching off action while the movable contact moves at the floating pivot between the opposing end positions. Further, because the movable contact is loosely pivoted to the housing there is little consistency in positioning of the movable contact, which can cause pitting of the contacts.
- The present invention is directed towards providing a breaker assembly for a miniature circuit breaker which provides for relatively quick switching off action and for good contact pressure. Other objects of the invention are that the breaker assembly has a relatively small number of components and is relatively simple to manufacture.
- According to the invention there is provided a breaker assembly for a miniature circuit breaker comprising a housing, an over current sensing means, and a fixed contact, the breaker assembly comprising:
a movable contact arranged to be pivotally connected to the housing for movement between on and off positions;
an operating handle for the movable contact; and
a double biasing connector between an anchorage on the housing and an anchorage on the movable contact, the connector comprising a spring secured to one anchorage and to a switch arm which is in turn secured to the other anchorage and releasably engageable with the operating handle at a position defining an auxiliary fulcrum, the relative positions of the anchorages and the auxiliary fulcrum being such that when the switch arm and the operating handle are engaged the connector biases the movable contact in one direction and when disengaged in the opposite direction. - The double biasing connector allows a spring to provide both contact pressure and off pressure without the need for a floating pivot. This has been achieved because the action of the double biasing connector is always in one direction only or another about the single movable contact pivot connection to the housing.
- In one embodiment the switch arm anchorage is a pivot connection to the movable contact and the spring anchorage is on the housing, the spring acting on the pivot connection and the auxiliary fulcrum when the switch arm engages the operating handle to bias the movable contact to the on position, and biasing the movable contact to the off position via the switch arm pivot connection when the switch arm disengages the operating handle.
- The switch arm is disposed between the spring and the movable contact and immediately changes the effective direction of action of the spring on the movable contact when the switch arm engages and disengages the operating handle. It is our understanding that this has been achieved because for the on position the spring acts on both the switch arm anchorage and the auxiliary fulcrum in one direction about the movable contact pivot. When the auxiliary fulcrum is removed the spring acts about the switch arm anchorage pivot in the opposite direction about the movable contact. As a result a single spring can provide both off and contact pressure without changing direction and thereby having no over-centre. Accordingly, for switching off, the over-current sensing means must simply disengage the operating handle and the switch arm to instantaneously change the effective direction of action of the spring.
- In another embodiment a stop is provided on the movable contact for abutment with the switch arm for biasing of the movable contact to the off position.
- When the operating handle and switch arm are disengaged, the spring acts to pull the movable contact to the off position via the switch arm. By providing a stop on the movable contact for abutment with the switch arm, effective connection between the spring and the movable contact is improved, thus increasing the speed of switching off.
- Ideally, the breaker assembly further comprises a latch lever for connection with the over current sensing means and arranged to disengage the operating handle and the switch arm on over current detection.
- A latch lever is a simple and effective connection between the over-current sensing means and the operating handle to cause disengagement of the operating handle and the switch arm.
- Preferably, the switch arm is engageable with the operating handle via a link pivotally connected to the operating handle.
- A link pivotally connected to the operating handle is a simple and effective connection between the operating handle and the switch arm.
- In an alternative embodiment, the switch arm anchorage is connected to the housing and the spring anchorage is connected to the movable contact.
- In this embodiment, the spring is connected directly to the movable contact and the switch arm is disposed at the opposite end of the spring which changes the direction of action of the spring on use or otherwise of the auxiliary fulcrum. Again, there is no need for a floating pivot and the spring will provide both contact pressure and off pressure according to whether or not the switch arm engages the operating handle. This embodiment may be described as a reverse of the above-described embodiments. In this arrangement, as in the other embodiments, it is important that there is no over-centre action of the spring as this slows opening of the contacts. As stated above, it is our understanding of the principle that the spring acts on one anchorage to have one line of action. When the spring acts on both the anchorage and the auxiliary fulcrum, its effective line of action is changed. It appears therefore, that the arrangement can be reversed as defined in this embodiment.
- The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a miniature circuit breaker incorporating a breaker assembly of the invention,
- Figs. 2 and 3 are plan views of the breaker assembly of Fig. 1 in the off and on positions, respectively,
- Figs. 4 and 5 are schematic views of an alternative construction of breaker assembly in the off and on positions, respectively,
- Figs. 6 and 7 are schematic views of a still further construction of breaker assembly in the on and off positions, respectively, and
- Fig. 8 is a schematic view of another construction of breaker assembly.
- Referring to the drawings, and initially to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a
miniature circuit breaker 1 incorporating a breaker assembly 1(a) of the invention. Theminiature circuit breaker 1 comprises ahousing 2 and components forming a conducting path for current, namely, aninput terminal 4, abi-metallic element 5, amovable contact 6 pivotally connected by apivot pin 7 to thehousing 2, afixed contact 8, asolenoid 9 and anoutput terminal 10. Anarc stack 11 is also mounted in thehousing 2. - The
miniature circuit breaker 1 further comprises a breaker assembly 1(a) including anoperating handle 12 biased to rotate in the clockwise direction by ahelical tension spring 13. Atransverse pivot pin 14 pivotally connects theoperating handle 12 to alatch lever 15 arranged to be tripped by aplunger 16 for thesolenoid 9 and by arod 17 connected to thebi-metallic element 5. - The breaker assembly 1(a) also includes the above-mentioned
movable contact 6 and a double biasing connector acting on themovable contact 6. The breaker assembly 1(a) is more clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, in which parts similar to those described with reference to Fig. 1 are identified by the same reference numerals. The double biasing connector comprises atorsion spring 18 which has ananchorage 19 on thehousing 2. Thespring 18 is secured to aswitch arm 20 which has an anchorage pivotally connected to themovable contact 6 at apivot pin 21. Theswitch arm 20 has a free end 22 which is arranged to engage theoperating handle 12 via alink 23 pivotally connected to theoperating handle 16 at thepivot pin 14. The latch lever 15 abuts against thelink 23 adjacent thepivot pin 14. Thelink 23 includes a notch 24 for engagement with the free end 22 of theswitch arm 20. - In the off position, the
link 23 and theswitch arm 20 are effectively disengaged as thelink 23 does not act on theswitch arm 20. It will be seen, however, that the switch arm free end 22 and notch 24 are in contact. In this position, thetorsion spring 18 biases theswitch arm 20 to rotate about thepivot pin 21 to abut against asurface 25 of themovable contact 6 which acts as a stop for theswitch arm 20. Thus, theswitch arm 20 and themovable contact 6 are effectively integral and thetorsion spring 18 biases themovable contact 6 to the off position about thepivot pin 7. - To move the
movable contact 6 to the on position, theoperating handle 16 is rotated in the anti-clockwise direction, engaging thelink 23 and theswitch arm 20. Thelink 23 rotates theswitch arm 20 and the movable contact 6 (which two components may still be regarded as being integral) about thepivot pin 7 until themovable contact 6 touches thefixed contact 8. Thereafter, themovable contact 6 cannot rotate any further and thus theswitch arm 20 begins to rotate about thepivot pin 21 in the clockwise direction. Immediately when theswitch arm 20 moves from thestop surface 25 thespring 18 acts on both thepivot pin 21 and on the engaged free end 22 which is an auxiliary fulcrum. Because of the relative positions of the anchorages, the spring urges thepivot pin 21 about thepivot pin 7 in the clockwise direction to provide contact pressure. This position is illustrated in Fig. 3 in which theoperating handle 16 has been turned to the full extent. - On detection of a fault the
latch lever 15 is pushed downwards, causing thelink 23 to disengage from the switch arm free end 22 and thus thespring 18 again biases the switch arm in the anti-clockwise direction to abut against thestop surface 25 and bias the movable contact in the anti-clockwise direction to provide off pressure. It will be appreciated therefore that the double biasing connector acts on themovable contact 6 in either the clockwise or anti-clockwise directions about thepivot pin 7 to give either contact or off pressure, respectively and that the change-over is instantaneous, limited only by design requirements. This advantage is achieved by the fact that the spring does not itself change direction by going through an over-centre or toggle position. - It is our understanding that this has been achieved because the
spring 18 in the off position acts on theswitch arm pivot 21 and thus themovable contact pivot 7 alone. In the on position thespring 18 acts on both theswitch arm pivot 21 and the free end 22 of theswitch arm 20 which acts as an auxiliary fulcrum. Accordingly the spring has a different line of action for both positions and thus can switch between providing off and contact pressure without going through an over-centre. This is very important for speed of opening. - Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5 there is illustrated in schematic form an alternative construction of breaker assembly according to the invention indicated generally by the
reference numeral 30. Thebreaker assembly 30 includes anoperating handle 31 acted on by atension spring 32 which is connected to a combined latch/link arm 33 at atransverse pivot pin 34. Thebreaker assembly 30 also includes amovable contact 35 pivotally connected at apivot pin 36 to a housing, and a fixedcontact 37. In this embodiment, a double biasing connector comprises a tension spring 40 having a fixedanchorage 41 and acting on aswitch arm 42 having an anchorage pivotally connected to themovable contact 35 at apivot pin 43. Theswitch arm 42 has afree end 44 for engagement with the latch/link arm 33 and at the opposite end thereof includes anextension arm 45 to which the tension spring 40 is secured. In this embodiment, theswitch arm 42 is disposed within a slot in themovable contact 35, the slot having an end-surface 46 which forms a stop for abutment with theswitch arm 42. - The
breaker assembly 30 is dynamically equivalent to the breaker assembly of Figs. 1 to 3. The differences are in design of various components and in the manner in which they are connected. It will be seen, for example, that the connection of a tension spring to theextension arm 45 on one side of thepivot pin 43 is equivalent to the connection, as in Figs. 1 to 3 of a torsion spring to the switch arm on the opposite side of thepivot pin 43. The use of an integral latch/link arm provides for ease of assembly although the arm must be manufactured within a smaller tolerance range than if they were separate as in Figs. 1 to 3. - Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7 there is illustrated a still further construction of breaker assembly of the invention indicated generally by the
reference numeral 50. Thebreaker assembly 50 includes anoperating handle 51 acted on by atension spring 52 at atransverse pivot pin 53 which also supports a combined latch/link arm 54. Thebreaker assembly 50 also includes amovable contact 55, pivotally connected at apivot pin 56 to a housing, and a fixedcontact 57. In this embodiment the fixedcontact 57 is disposed on the opposite side of the movable contact with reference to theoperating handle 51. Aspring 60 having a fixedanchorage 61 is connected to aswitch arm 62 having an anchorage pivotally connected at apivot pin 63 to themovable contact 55. Theswitch arm 62 has afree end 64 which forms a notch for contact with the latch/link arm 54. Astop 65 is secured to themovable contact 55 adjacent thepivot pin 63. - In operation, the
spring 60 biases themovable contact 55 to the off position when the switch armfree end 64 is disengaged from the latch/link lever 54, allowing theswitch arm 62 to abut against thestop 65. For movement to the on position, the operatinghandle 51 is rotated in the anti-clockwise direction, causing the latch/link lever 54 to engage the switch armfree end 64 to push themovable contact 55 against the fixedcontact 7. When this happens, further rotation of theoperating handle 51 rotates theswitch arm 62 away from thestop 65 causing thespring 60 to act on thepivot pin 63 and thefree end 64 which forms an auxiliary fulcrum thus biasing themovable contact 55 in the anti-clockwise direction about thepivot pin 56 to provide contact pressure for themovable contact 55. - Referring now to Fig. 8 there is illustrated a still further breaker assembly of the invention indicated generally by the
reference numeral 70. Thebreaker assembly 70 includes anoperating handle 71 acted on by atorsion spring 72. A latch/link arm 73 is pivotally connected to the operating handle 71 at apivot pin 74. Thebreaker assembly 70 also includes amovable contact 75 pivotally connected at apivot pin 76 to a housing, and a fixedcontact 77. In this embodiment a double biasing connector is provided by acompression spring 80 having a fixedanchorage 81 connected to aswitch arm 82 having an anchorage pivotally connected at apivot pin 83 to themovable contact 75. Themovable contact 75 includes astop 84 adjacent apivot pin 83. - In operation, the
compression spring 80 biases themovable contact 70 to the off position by action on theswitch arm 82 and thestop 84 when theswitch arm 82 is disengaged from the latch/link lever 73. When the operating handle is rotated in the anti-clockwise direction, the latch/link lever 73 engages theswitch arm 82 to rotate themovable contact 75 in the clockwise direction about thepivot pin 76. When themovable contact 75 touches the fixedcontact 77 and cannot rotate any further, theswitch arm 82 is forced to rotate in the clockwise direction away from thestop 84. When this happens, thecompression spring 80 acts to urge themovable contact 75 via thepivot pin 83 in the clockwise direction about thepivot pin 76. - The invention has been described for the embodiments whereby the switch arm anchorage is on the movable contact and the spring anchorage is on the housing. It appears to us, however, that this arrangement may be reversed with the switch arm anchorage on the housing and the spring anchorage on the movable contact, thus changing the effective line of action of the spring. It is important that the spring acting on the movable contact would not go through an over-centre when changing from acting in one direction to the other direction.
- It will be appreciated that the invention provides a breaker assembly of relatively simple construction in which only one spring acts on the movable contact and this spring provides both contact pressure and off pressure without a switching delay such as the delay associated with a floating pivot. Further, as there is no play in the pivot connection at the movable contact to the housing, movement of the various parts of the breaker assembly are consistent and a good contact with the fixed contact is ensured.
- The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described and indeed, many different arrangements based on the same principle would be apparent to one skilled in the art.
Claims (6)
a movable contact arranged (6) to be pivotally connected to the housing (2) for movement between on and off positions;
an operating handle (12) for the movable contact (6); and
a double biasing connector between an anchorage on the housing (19) and an anchorage on the movable contact (21), the connector comprising a spring (18) secured to one anchorage and to a switch arm (20) which is in turn secured to the other anchorage and releasably engageable with the operating handle (12) at a position defining an auxiliary fulcrum (22), the relative positions of the anchorages (19,21) and the auxiliary fulcrum (22) being such that when the switch arm (20) and the operating handle (12) are engaged the connector biases the movable contact (6) in one direction and when disengaged in the opposite direction.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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IE344888 | 1988-11-18 | ||
IE344888 | 1988-11-18 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP0369807A2 true EP0369807A2 (en) | 1990-05-23 |
EP0369807A3 EP0369807A3 (en) | 1991-08-21 |
Family
ID=11038675
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19890311920 Ceased EP0369807A3 (en) | 1988-11-18 | 1989-11-17 | A miniature circuit breaker |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
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EP (1) | EP0369807A3 (en) |
BE (1) | BE1001735A7 (en) |
Citations (4)
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DE332760C (en) * | 1919-05-29 | 1921-02-05 | Elektrotechnische Ind G M B H | Release lock for oil switch |
DE1945942A1 (en) * | 1969-09-11 | 1971-03-25 | Licentia Gmbh | Switching mechanism for installation switch |
DE2047223A1 (en) * | 1970-09-25 | 1972-03-30 | Licentia Gmbh | Switching mechanism for installation auto switches |
EP0046841A1 (en) * | 1980-08-21 | 1982-03-10 | Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-GmbH | Operating mechanism for a circuit breaker |
-
1989
- 1989-11-17 BE BE8901226A patent/BE1001735A7/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1989-11-17 EP EP19890311920 patent/EP0369807A3/en not_active Ceased
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE332760C (en) * | 1919-05-29 | 1921-02-05 | Elektrotechnische Ind G M B H | Release lock for oil switch |
DE1945942A1 (en) * | 1969-09-11 | 1971-03-25 | Licentia Gmbh | Switching mechanism for installation switch |
DE2047223A1 (en) * | 1970-09-25 | 1972-03-30 | Licentia Gmbh | Switching mechanism for installation auto switches |
EP0046841A1 (en) * | 1980-08-21 | 1982-03-10 | Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-GmbH | Operating mechanism for a circuit breaker |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
BE1001735A7 (en) | 1990-02-20 |
EP0369807A3 (en) | 1991-08-21 |
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