JPH11508400A - Circuit breaker accessory module actuator - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) SUMMARY The present invention provides an accessory module for monitoring and controlling the state of a circuit breaker. The accessory module is mounted on the side of the circuit breaker and has a mechanism similar to that in the circuit breaker. The mechanism has a number of positions corresponding to a number of states of the circuit breaker. An actuator converts the relatively large movements of the mechanism into small movements and transfers them to the buttons of the switch. Pressing these switches, depending on the position of the mechanical assembly, creates or destroys a circuit that communicates with a remote location. The present invention provides a circuit specifically designed to hold and position the switches and actuators, and provides tracing that can withstand high currents. The present invention further provides a terminal plug having a pull tab that can be gripped to remove an otherwise inaccessible terminal plug. The present invention further provides a dual function base that acts as both a seal and a spacer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Circuit Breaker Accessory Module Actuator Background of the Invention 1. Field of the invention The present invention relates generally to electrical circuit breakers and, more particularly, to indicating the state of a circuit breaker and remotely controlling the circuit breaker. 2. Description of related technology Circuit breakers are commonly used to temporarily interrupt power to a motorized device. Various circuit breaker mechanisms have been developed based on application specific factors such as current carrying capacity, response time and type of reset function (manual or remote operation) desired for the circuit breaker. It has been completed over time. One type of circuit breaker mechanism employs a thermal-magnetic trip device that trips a latch in response to a particular range of overcurrent conditions. Another type of circuit breaker, referred to as a double break circuit breaker, includes two sets of current breaking contacts to handle higher levels of overcurrent conditions than can be handled by a single set of contacts. Have been. U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,419 describes a typical mechanical and electrical assembly for use in the circuit breaker of the present invention and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. . Circuit breakers typically have three states. That is, the contact is open, the contact is closed to complete the circuit path, and the contact is closed, and the contact state is opened due to an abnormal condition. Preferably, the condition of the circuit breaker is monitored and controlled at a remote location, such as a control center. Systems such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,356 are known which provide a position indicating switch in the form of a module accessory that is directly coupled to the movement of the contacts of an electrical circuit breaker. The system provides a detection condition that indicates the contact status of the circuit breaker and can indicate whether the contacts have melted together. U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,356 discloses an articulated trip actuator mechanism and accessory unit for articulating the actuation mechanism of a circuit breaker and interfacing with the accessory unit for remote trip and trip indication functions. It has been described. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,831,221 and 4,912,439 describe auxiliary switch accessories for use in industrial grade circuit breakers. The auxiliary switch accessory interacts with the circuit breaker actuation mechanism to remotely indicate the status of the circuit breaker contacts. U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,263 describes a crossbar unit that carries a movable contact arm and accurately indicates the actual state of the contacts. In some cases, the auxiliary switch accessory unit operates directly off the circuit breaker activation mechanism to indicate the status of the circuit breaker. U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,139 extends through an access passage that exposes a portion of the circuit breaker blade mechanism to external access and through the circuit breaker passage to engage a portion of the blade mechanism. A circuit breaker housing modified to provide a bolt-on accessory module containing a rotor coupled to a movable coupling member configured. A member carried with a blade mechanism mounted on a trip arm carried with the blade extends toward the passage and engages a coupling member. A detection switch engages the cam surface of the rotor so that the rotor moves in response to tripping or resetting of the circuit breaker blades, indicating the true position of the circuit breaker contacts. Rotation of the rotor trips the circuit breaker when the circuit breaker is in the reset position. A solenoid is provided to engage and rotate the rotor in a trip direction. A single coupling element detects the condition of the circuit breaker and provides remote trip means for the circuit breaker. In general, the invention relates to monitoring and controlling circuit breakers from a remote location. Although devices exist for this general purpose, circuit breaker accessory modules capable of detecting the position of circuit breaker elements and initiating a change in circuit breaker state are described. The request appears to exist. Such accessory modules are preferably stable and durable, and preferably incorporate advances in circuit breaker and switch technology that improve the accessory modules. It is preferable to address practical concerns for on-site installation, and the components are preferably interchangeable to minimize the number of components required. Summary of the Invention The present invention provides an apparatus for use in a circuit breaker having at least two positions to indicate various states of the circuit breaker. The apparatus includes a device coupled to the circuit breaker for detecting a condition of the circuit breaker, a status indicator having a discrete state corresponding to each of the conditions detected by the device, An actuator for transmitting a state detected by the device to the state indicator in association with the indicator. In another aspect, the present invention provides an accessory module for a circuit breaker. The accessory module is a base, a mechanism in the base, a mechanism having at least two positions, a circuit board in the base, a position indicator mounted on the circuit board, and a position indicator for the position of the mechanism. And an actuator for transmitting. Preferably, the accessory module further includes a connector mounted on the circuit board. The accessory module may include a terminal plug engaged with the connector. The actuator preferably has a pivot, and the circuit board may have a hole for receiving the pivot. The present invention, in another aspect, provides a method for indicating a state of a circuit breaker. The method includes coupling the mechanism to a circuit breaker, locating the mechanism at various positions, each corresponding to a state of the circuit breaker, detecting a position of the mechanism, and indicating the detected position. including. Preferably, the method further comprises the step of sending the indicated location to a remote location. In another aspect, the present invention provides a printed circuit board for an accessory module for a circuit breaker having a condition. The printed circuit board comprises a board and a status indicator mounted on the board to indicate the status of the circuit breaker. In a preferred embodiment, the circuit board has a hole for receiving a pivot of an actuator cooperating with the circuit board. In another aspect, the present invention provides an actuator for an accessory module for a circuit breaker having a condition. The actuator communicates the condition of the circuit breaker and includes at least one bend in a generally rectangular shape, first and second ends, and a pivot proximate the first end. In another aspect, the present invention provides a terminal plug having a pull tab and a pull tab for the terminal plug that allows an inaccessible plug to be disconnected from the connector. The pull tab consists of an elastic sheet with adhesive on one side and paper coated with adhesive. The pull tab is preferably secured to the terminal plug during assembly and preferably extends from the enclosure containing the terminal plug. In another aspect, the present invention provides a dual function base that holds, seals, and separates components of an accessory module mounted on a circuit breaker. The base has an inner surface that receives the components of the accessory module, connects to an inner surface of the cover and seals the components, and an outer surface for connection to a circuit breaker, the outer surface of the base also having the outer surface of the cover. It is also designed to engage and engage. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are designated with like numerals. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the accessory module of the present invention with the cover removed, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the accessory module shown in FIG. 1 with its mechanism in a first position, and FIG. 2A is its internal mechanism. Figure 3 shows the accessory module shown in Figure 1 in a second position, Figure 3 is a perspective view from above of a circuit board, switch and actuator according to the invention; FIG. 5 is a top view of a circuit board according to the present invention, FIG. 6 is a view showing a terminal plug engaged with an accessory module according to the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the connector according to the present invention, FIG. 9 is an end view of the connector shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 10 shows an accessory module connected to a circuit breaker, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a use state as a sensor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The accessory module is mounted on the side of the circuit breaker, As detailed below, The accessory module has a mechanism for interacting with the circuit breaker. The mechanism detects the state of the circuit breaker, External sources, That is, the state can be changed based on an input from a signal. In general, The accessory module completes a circuit based on the state of the circuit breaker, Therefore, it acts as an indicator. Such instructions can be sent by electronic signal to a remote location. On the other hand, The accessory module can receive electronic signals from remote locations and change the state of the circuit breaker based on these signals. The mechanism can perform various functions in cooperation with a printed circuit board having switches. An actuator transmits the mechanical movement of the mechanism to the switch. A coil and associated circuitry convert the electronic signal into mechanical movement of the mechanism in the accessory module; It is transmitted to the circuit breaker. In general, The mechanism used in the accessory module is a partial copy of the mechanism used in the circuit breaker. The design of the mechanism determines the position of specific members, It reflects a method of relaying to a set of switch actuators that initiate opening and closing of the circuit based on the relationship between the position of the member and the state of the circuit breaker. The accessory mechanism is controlled by the handle keys and the crossbar in a manner similar to the way control and / or operation is performed between the poles of the circuit breaker. Crossbar, By using the same combination of handle keys and mechanism between the circuit breaker and the accessory module as used between the poles of the circuit breaker, Accessory modules are created that work with the excellence expected in circuit breakers. The shunt trip energizes the coil coupled to the armature of the accessory, The armature is The trip lever that transmits the information to the adjacent circuit breaker is released by the operation of the crossbar. A bell alarm or alarm switch is activated when the trip lever in the accessory module is released by a shunt trip or rotation of the crossbar. A release switch provides an energy drain for the shunt. The contact in the release switch is normally closed, Open after coil is energized. When the coil is energized, The trip lever is released, Change the state of the release switch. The activation switch for the accessory module itself is switched on depending on the blade position, The position of the blade is controlled by the position of the switch handle of the associated circuit breaker. When the switch handle of the circuit breaker is in the "ON" position, The shunt trip circuit is activated, When the handle is in the "off" position, It becomes inactive. The mechanism in the accessory module stores its own energy to initiate the required mechanical action. Energy is stored by the spring during assembly of the mechanism. Now, referring to the drawing, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the accessory module 10 with a cover removed. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the accessory module 10 shown in FIG. FIG. 2A shows the accessory module 10 with its internal features in a second position. The accessory module 10 having the cover (not shown) is a screw, rivet, Alternatively, it is attached to the side of a circuit breaker (not shown) through hole 12 by similar means. A shaft or crossbar (not shown) extends from the switch handle of the circuit breaker into the hole 14 of the dummy handle 16 of the accessory module 10. With this shaft, The position of the switch handle in the circuit breaker is simulated by the dummy handle 16 of the accessory module 10. The handle 14 Although other shapes may be used, A square shape is shown. However, The shaft should not pivot in bore 14 Rather, the dummy handle should be rotated about a pair of pivots 18. (The second axis is not shown, It is located on the opposite surface of the dummy handle 16. ) The dummy handle 16 It has a fork-like projection 20 having a bearing surface 22. The bearing surface 22 is a cam for the dummy handle 16. A working blade 24 pivots on the bearing surface 22. The working blade 24 has a pivot end 26 pivoting on the bearing surface 22 and a free end 28. The trip lever 30 It rotates on a pivot 32 molded into a base 34. A mechanism spring 36 is attached at one end to the hook 38 of the working blade 24; The other end is attached to the hook 40 of the trip lever 30. The hook 40 is indicated by a dotted line below the fork-like projection 20 in FIG. As the dummy handle 16 rotates, the free end 28 of the actuation blade 24 moves laterally from the first position shown in FIG. 2 to a second position shown in FIG. 2A. The first position of the free end of the working blade 24 shown in FIG. Occurs when the switch handle of the mounted circuit breaker is in its "on" position, It means that a circuit path is created between the power supply and the circuit breaker to the load. The second position of the free end 28 of the working blade 24 shown in FIG. With the circuit breaker switch handle installed "off", That is, when it is in the “tripped” position, It means that the circuit path between the power supply and the load through the circuit breaker is open. Tension may be applied to the mechanism spring 36 to store energy at the spring 36. This stored energy will be described in detail later, It is used to perform the mechanical actions that occur when the circuit breaker switch handle moves to the "tripped" position. Power is From the switch handle of the circuit breaker, It is transmitted via a shaft or a crossbar (not shown) normally located in the hole 14 of the dummy handle 16. The circuit breaker switch handle is similar to the dummy handle 16, but For manual operation, The handle has a lever extending outward from the body of the handle. The crossbar has one end in the hole 14, The other end is in a similar hole in the switch handle. When the switch handle of the circuit breaker rotates, Because they are joined by a crossbar, The dummy handle 16 is rotated. The bearing surface 22 of the fork-shaped protrusion 20 It moves like a cam in the lateral and reciprocating directions. The pivot end 26 of the working blade 24 is pressed against the bearing surface 22 by the tension on the mechanism spring 36. When the dummy bar 16 is at the position shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. The tension of spring 36 pulls free end 28 of actuation blade 24 toward left side 42 of base 34. A stop means 44 is formed in the base 34 for stopping the free end 28 of the working blade 24 from moving further to the left side 42. The rotation of the handle 16 moves the bearing surface 22 and the pivot end 26 of the actuation blade 24. The rotation realigns the spring 36, This causes the end 28 of the working blade 24 to pivot to the second position shown in FIG. 2A. This realignment of the spring 36 is called overgring. While the trip lever 30 is in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, It is in the latched position by tensioning the spring 36. The armature blade 48 The trip lever 30 has a slot 50 for receiving the tip of the free end 46. The pin 51 of the trip lever 30 engages with the projection 20, When the handle 16 rotates, the trip lever 30 is latched. A bearing bracket 52 is fixed to the base 34, It has a bearing notch 54. One end of the armature blade 48 is provided with a notch so as to engage with the bearing notch 54, It pivots at the bearing notch 54. The armature spring 56 normally receives a compressive force, Therefore, the armature blade 48 is pressed toward the right side 60 of the base 34. Pushing pivot end 58 to the right 60 causes armature blade 48 to move toward left side 42. in this way, The compression force of the armature spring 56 presses the free end 62 to the left 42. This force keeps the free end of the trip lever 30 engaged in the slot 50 of the armature blade 48. The trip lever 30 The armature blade 48 remains in a stable position until the free end 62 is pressed to the right 60. The armature blade 48 is a solenoid, That is, the shunt trip coil 64 can be pressed to the right 60. The shunt trip coil 64 It has a plunger 66 connected to the free end 62 of the armature blade 48 by a trip link 68. The plunger 66 has a groove around it, The trip link 68 engages with the groove, Connecting the plunger 66 to the trip link 68 for lateral movement between the left side 42 and the right side 60; It has cooperating slots. The trip link 68 has an inverted "U" shape, The armature blade 48 cooperatively fits with the free end 62. Dummy handle 16, Working blade 24, Trip lever 30, Mechanism spring 36, Including an armature blade 48 and an armature 56; The various mechanical members that cooperate are referred to below as mechanism 69. When the shunt trip coil 64 is energized, Plunger 66 is pulled into coil 64. Movement of the plunger 66 to the right 60 pulls the free end 62 of the armature blade 48 to the right 60. Movement of armature blade 48 to the right 60 causes free end 46 of trip lever 30 to slide out of slot 50 of armature blade 48. The tension energy stored in the mechanism spring 36 pulls the free right end 46 of the trip lever 30 toward the bottom side 70 of the base 34. The trip lever 30 rotates about its pivot 32. The trip lever 30 When the free end 46 comes off the slot 50, The spring hook 40 is shaped so as to move toward the right 60. Lateral movement of the spring hook 40 toward the right 60 changes the alignment of the spring 36, The free end 28 of the working blade 24 is caused to move laterally in the right direction 60. in this way, The working blade end 28 moves to its second position after the shunt trip coil 64 is energized. The second position of the working blade 24 is shown in FIG. 2A, The non-latching position of the trip lever 30 is shown. The mechanism spring 36 has been omitted for clarity. The difference is In the non-latching position, the end 46 of the trip lever 30 moves toward the bottom side 70, The end 46 is not engaged with the slot 50. In the vicinity of the pivot point 32, the trip lever 30 If the end 46 suddenly comes off, Move laterally to the right 60. As described below, This movement is monitored, Is detected. The shunt trip coil 64 can be energized by a remote electrical signal. For this reason, The above-mentioned response occurs, Trip the adjacent circuit breaker. The trip lever 30 When the end 46 of the lever comes off the slot 50, It comes into contact with the trip cam 74, It has a rotatable ear 72. The trip cam 74 is The dummy handle 16 has a hole 76 similar to the hole 14. A trip crossbar or shaft and (not shown) extend from hole 76 to a similar hole on a similar trip cam of an adjacent circuit breaker (not shown). To rotate the trip cam in a circuit breaker, Preferably, the trip cam 74 and its crossbar are square. Because this shape does not pivot adjacent trip cams, Rather, it transmits torque. Energize the shunt trip coil, As a result, a remote signal can be used to trip the circuit breaker. After such a trip, The mechanism is Once installed, it remains in this state until the circuit breaker is reset to its "0" position. The trip cam 74 also When an adjacent circuit breaker trips, Acts to trip the accessory module. If the circuit breaker If you can see more than tripping the circuit breaker, The trip crossbar rotates the trip cam 74, Move the armature blade to the right 60. For this purpose, the end 46 is removed from the slot 50 of the armature blade 48. The end 28 of the working blade 24 It moves to the right 60 whenever the contacts of the circuit breaker are open. If the handle 16 is turned to the "off" position, The spring 36 is overtoggled, End 28 is snapped to the right 60. If the handle of the circuit breaker is in the "ON" position, Then, if you move to the "tripped" position, The trip lever 30 is removed, The movement of the hook 40 of the trip lever 30 causes the spring 36 to over-toggle, Snap end 28 to the right 60. End 28 is to the right whenever the contacts of the circuit breaker are open. Although the operation of the mechanism 69 has been described, Here, the physical position of the mechanism 69 is detected, Consider the manner in which the signal is transmitted. As best seen in Figure 2, The trip lever 30 When the mechanism 69 is in the latching position shown in FIG. Contact with the first actuator. Referring to FIG. The first actuator 80 1 It has a pivot 82 that fits into a hole 83 in a printed circuit board 84. As best seen in Figure 4, The pivot 82 is a pin with a longitudinal slot 86 and a barb 88. Actuator 80 rotates about pivot 82. As best seen in FIG. 2A, The actuator 80 is It contacts the button 90 of an alarm switch 92, sometimes called a bell alarm switch. When the mechanism 69 is at the latching position shown in FIG. The trip lever 30 presses the actuator 80, Actuator 80 rotates about its pivot 82, Press the button 90 down. When the trip lever 46 comes off the slot 50, The trip lever 30 moves to the right 60, The button 90 may protrude to a maximum range. in this way, The alarm switch 92 detects the position of the trip lever 30, The state of the adjacent circuit breaker, That is, it indicates whether or not the circuit breaker has been tripped. in this way, The trip state of the adjacent circuit breaker can be inferred from the state of the alarm switch 92. The state of the alarm switch 92 can be indicated at the remote control center. The second actuator 94 is basically the same as the first actuator 80. First and second actuators 80, 94 is designed to be interchangeable, The number of members required for the accessory module 10 is reduced. The second actuator 94 rotates about a pivot 96 that fits into the hole 97. Actuator 94 contacts button 98 of shunt release switch 100. The mechanism 69 is latched as shown in FIG. When in the “on” position, The free end 28 of the working blade 24 urges the actuator 94 to the left 42. The third actuator 102 is advantageously positioned so that movement of the second actuator 94 is also transmitted to the third actuator 102. The third actuator 102 rotates about a pivot 104, The third button 106 of the auxiliary switch 108 is engaged. Button 98, 106 is pressed down while the button 90 is pressed down, Or pulled out. If the button 90 is pulled out, The trip lever 30 is in its trip position, ie, the release position, Move the end 28 to the right 80, Button 98, Release 106. If button 90 is out, The other two buttons are also out. Button 98, Reference numeral 106 denotes either in or out while the button 90 is in. As aforementioned, When the trip lever 30 is disengaged from the armature blade 48, The free end 28 of the working blade 24 moves laterally to the right 60. With this exercise, Removing the force applied to the second actuator 94; Therefore, the force applied by the second actuator 94 to the third actuator 102 is removed. Three buttons 90, 98, 102 is repressed by a spring, Therefore, the actuator 80, 94, When the force holding 102 is removed, Button 90, 98, 106 extend to their outermost positions. The release switch 100 is normally The adjacent circuit breaker will not trip, When the contacts are closed, the circuit path is completed. Release switch 100 is in the circuit path with shunt trip coil 64. If the shunt trip coil 64 is energized, Both mechanism 69 and the adjacent circuit breaker are tripped. Therefore, release switch 100 is opened, Deenergize the shunt trip coil 64. The release switch allows the coil 64 to be reset to its normal deactivated state. The auxiliary switch 108 indicates that the adjacent circuit breaker is "off", Alternatively, it can be used to estimate whether or not it is in a “tripped” position. The position of the end 28 simulates the position of the movable contact of the adjacent circuit breaker. When the movable contact of the adjacent circuit breaker is facing left 42, Contacts the fixed contact, Form a circuit path. When the movable contact of the adjacent circuit breaker is facing right 60, Without contacting the fixed contacts, Destroy that circuit path. in this way, From the position of the end 28, The position of the movable contact of the adjacent circuit breaker can be estimated. The position of end 28 is detected by auxiliary switch 108 via actuators 94 and 102. Therefore, The state of auxiliary switch 108 correlates to the state of the adjacent circuit breaker. The status of the auxiliary switch 108 can be monitored from a remote control center, The state of the adjacent circuit breaker can be estimated from the center. Furthermore, By interpreting both the state of the alarm switch 92 and the state of the auxiliary switch 108, the adjacent state of the adjacent circuit breaker can be estimated. Now, Typically a thermoplastic, An actuator 80 made of an elastic material, 94, Consider 102. Actuator design offers many advantages. the material is, Stiff enough to guarantee operation, Switch 92, 100, It is elastic enough to not act too much to damage 108. Excessive actuation Occurs when the mating members are made of high strength materials. A pivot 82 with a slot 86, 96 and 104 designs provide compressibility, Enable them to directly engage the circuit board 84. in this way, Actuator 80, 94, No separate mechanical fasteners are required to secure 102 to circuit board 84. Axis 82, 96, The end of 104 Compressed during insertion of the pivot into the matching holes in the circuit board. The barb or hook at the end of the pivot is Slot 86 slides through an opening in the circuit board to allow it to be compressed. The elasticity of the material allows the pivot pin to spread to its normal size. The barb or hook engages the circuit board, Make sure the Axis is not warped. Actuator 80, 94, The shape of 102 resembles an "L" shape to some extent. Axis 82, 96, 104 shape, position, And contact points with the mechanism 69 are all members of the mechanism, The large movement of the trip lever 30 and the blade actuator is controlled by the switch button 90, 98, Deformed into small movements needed for 106, That is, it is designed to scale down. The circuit board 84 is, in particular, Designed to fit the base 34, Switch 92, 100, 108 and actuator pivot 82; 96, Provide a surface for mounting 104. Two identical actuators 80 at different locations in the defined space, The use of 94 is equivalent to the switch 92 on the circuit board 84, 100, By advantageously positioning 108, Achieved by design. An actuator 80 made of thermoplastic plastic, 94, 102 is a mechanism 69 and a switch 92; 100, Acts as a link to the. Due to the flexibility of the actuator, Eliminates the need to hold the switch or actuator with tight position tolerances. Axis 82, The snap-in features of 96 and 104 eliminate the need for rivets or screws. As shown in FIG. When the mechanism 69 is latched, A set of signals or information is transmitted to the actuator 80, 94, A switch 92 via 102; 100, 108. When the mechanism 69 is tripped, A different set of signals or information is transmitted to the actuator 80, 94, A switch 92 via 102; 100, 108. Now, Referring to the accessory circuit board 84, A perspective view of the top 110 is shown in FIG. A plan view of the bottom 112 is provided in FIG. The circuit board 84 pivots on the circuit board, Acts as positioning means for the moving member that activates the switch. Conductive foil traces 114 are provided on both top 110 and bottom 112. All of the necessary conductive aspects of module 10 are circuit board 84, The trace 114, Switch 92, 100, 108, A coil 64; It is incorporated in the attached 7-pin connector 116. Connector 116 provides an outlet for a terminal plug 126 (described below) for communicating signals to a remote location. Trace 114 is switch 92, 100, Eliminates the need for wires connecting 108. The wire is typically Soldered by hand at those connections, On the other hand, the trace 114 is machined, Higher quality. Machined traces 114 can be made at lower cost than manually soldered wiring. Some of the foil traces 114 are sized to achieve an unusually high current capacity for printed circuit boards, And is located, The auxiliary switch 108 is also Designed for unusually high current carrying capacity. The trace 114 for the auxiliary switch 108 has a maximum current capacity of 13 amps. Traces 114 are located on both top 110 and bottom 112 of circuit board 84. The circuit board 84 includes the base 34, With a cover (not shown) that matches it, It is mounted with a tolerance between the trace 114 and the base 34 and the inner surface of the cover. The thickness of the circuit board provides adequate insulation of the trace 114 between the top 110 and the bottom 112, Mechanism 69 and actuator 80, 94, It is sized to properly position members cooperating with the base member 102. The circuit board 84 As best seen from FIGS. 1 and 3, Positioned on base 34 by aligning holes 118 in circuit board 84 around posts 120 on base 34. The edge 122 of the circuit board 84 acts as a limiter for directing the circuit board 84 within the wall 124 of the base 34. in this way, The circuit board 84 is firmly located at the base 34, It is sufficiently fixed to detect the movement of the mechanism 69. Switch 92, 100, Reference numeral 108 is mounted on the circuit board 84 at right angles to the circuit board 84. As best seen in Figure 5, Each switch 92, 100, 108 has three pin connectors, Not all three are necessarily used. The alarm switch 92 Activated when the trip lever 30 is released from the armature blade 48 due to shunt trip or rotation of the trip crossbar. Alarm switch 92 monitors whether mechanism 69 is in the tripped position. in this way, The alarm switch 92 Detect abnormal conditions that may be due to current overload. This state is via trace 114, Communication is made to a remote location by the current up to the connector 116 connected to the terminal plug. The alarm switch 92 When an adjacent circuit breaker is tripped, An alarm can be activated at a remote control center. The release switch 100 is operated after the shunt trip coil 64 is activated. Deenergize the shunt trip coil 64. Trace 114 connects one pin of second switch 100 to a pin from shunt trip coil 64. Under normal conditions, The mounted circuit breaker closes its contacts to form a circuit. In this normal state, The mechanism 69 is in the position shown in FIG. The button 98 of the switch 100 is depressed. With button 98 pressed down, A circuit is formed by the shunt trip coil 64, In this normal state, the circuit is deactivated. A remote signal can activate coil 64 through this circuit, So release the trip lever, Allow the button 98 to be released outward. When the button 98 protrudes outward, Open the circuit with the coil 64, Deactivate coil 64. The auxiliary switch 108 determines whether the contacts of the circuit breaker are open, Monitor for closure. Auxiliary switch 108 sets the associated circuit breaker to its "on" position, Alternatively, it is detected whether or not it is at the “off” position. Switch 108 is a simple toggle switch having two positions, All three of the pins are used. The on / off position of the auxiliary switch 108 is It is based on the position of the blade end 28 which is controlled by the position of the circuit breaker handle. The shunt trip circuit is deactivated by the release switch 100 based on the position of the blade end 28; "On" indicates activation, "Off" indicates non-operation. Trace 114 is switch 92, 100, 108, It provides a circuit path between the coil 64 and the connector 116. Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. The terminal plug 126 engages with the connector 116. Terminal plug 126 has seven slots 128 for receiving wires from a remote location. Terminal plug 126 adheres pull tab 130. The installer grasps the pull tab 130, The terminal plug 128 is pulled out of the accessory module 10. Therefore, the terminal plug 126 is removed from the connector 116. The installer inserts the end of the wire into slot 128, The projections 131 are tightened in the holes 132. A cover 134 covers the base 34, Make sure that the terminal plug cannot be accessed. Assuming there is no pull tab 130, Because access to plug 126 requires removal of cover 134 from base 34, It is not possible to attach a wire into the plug 126. The pull tab 130 has an adhesive coating on one side, Strong, having a removable sheet of paper coating the adhesive; It is a sheet of elastic plastic material. Paper is When assembling the pull tab 130 to the terminal plug 126, A cut is made near one end to remove insignificant portions of the paper. As best seen in Figure 7, The plug 126 has a female connector 138 that mates with the male connector pins of the connector 116. When the wire is installed, Plug 126 can be inserted into connector 116. Since there is only one place where the connector 116 engages with the plug 126, the plug 126 cannot be inserted by mistake. This feature is rounded with the raised surface 138 of the plug 126, Alternatively, provided by the corrugated bottom 140. FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the connector 116, FIG. 9 shows an end view of the connector 116. Connector 116 has a receiving slot 142 that mates with surface 138 of plug 126. Connector 116 also Plug 126 rounded, Or rounded to match the bottom 140 of the waveform, Alternatively, it has a corrugated bottom 144. As shown in FIG. The connector 116 has a shoulder 146 and The plug 126 has an extended clip 148. When plug 126 is inserted into connector 116, The clip 148 engages the shoulder 146, The plug 126 and the connector 116 are held in a mutually locked position. Connector pin 149 also Also shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. in this way, The accessory terminal plug 126 connects the internal accessory element to the external, Providing means for connecting to user specific circuits, By removing the plug 126 from the accessory module 10, the wire leads can be easily installed. The plug 126 and the pull tab 130 are required to ship the pigtail or wire lead with the accessory module 10, And eliminate the cost and quality issues associated with later soldering wire leads in the field. connector, 116, The combination of the terminal plug 126 and the pull tab 130 is It is compatible with other devices or enclosures where the flexibility and convenience of removing the plug to install the wire would be advantageous. Now, Referring to another aspect of the invention, FIG. 10 shows the multifunctionality of the base 34. (For example, For some installations of the accessory module 10 (on the I-line panel board) The spacers need to adapt the width of the circuit breaker and accessory module 10 to the requirements of the panel. The base 34 has a mechanism 69, It is designed to serve both as a casing and spacer for the circuit board 84 and the like. The oil of the base 34 as a casing has been shown through the above description. However, The base 34 can be inverted and used as a spacer. As a spacer, The base 34 adapts the assembly to the requirements of the panel. Referring to FIG. The base 34 ′ can be attached to the cover 134 of the accessory module 10. The accessory module 10 holds the mechanism 69, A base 34 to be positioned; A circuit board 84; Other internal accessories, And a cover. The mounting hole of the base 34 is Screws connect cover 134 and base 34 to base 34, It is located so as to be fixed to the circuit breaker 150 through the through hole 34 '. The bottom side 70 of the base has a single through hole 152 into which a countersink is made so that screws can be used to attach the inverted base 34 'to the cover 34. To complete the installation of the spacer, the base 34, 34 'requires another dishing through hole 154. Hole 152, Two of the 154 are dished on the bottom side and the base 34, 34 'so that it can function dually. The use of base 34 as a spacer 34 'reduces the overall number of components required to provide accessory module 10 with circuit breaker 150. In summary, The present invention An accessory module 10 having an assembly 64 of various mechanical components that cooperate to mimic the operation of similar components in a circuit breaker is provided. Like a circuit breaker, The accessory module 10 includes a handle 16 and With trip lever 30, A movable contact 28 on the working blade 24; A mechanism spring 36; And an armature 48. Actuator 80, 94, 102 is a trip lever 30; Sensing the position with the blade contact end 28, Monitor and To detect. The actuator is a mechanical assembly 69, In particular, the movement of lever 30 and blade contact end 28 is controlled by switch 92, 100, To 108, The switch forms a circuit, Or, it breaks down and converts the movement into an electric signal. The circuit board 84 is, in particular, Switch hold and hold, And positioning, Designed to provide high current endurable tracing. The terminal plug 126 is convenient for installing wires on site to connect the accessory module 10, And provide useful means. In some applications, A spacer is required for the accessory module 10, The base 34 is a base 34 And it is designed to perform a dual function as the spacer 34 '. The foregoing description illustrates the invention, And, for the purpose of explanation, it is directed to specific embodiments of the invention. However, It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted as covering all such modifications and alterations.

Claims (1)

[Claims]   1. An actuator for an accessory module for a circuit breaker, comprising: An actuator having a first end, a second end, and a pivot.   2. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is flexible. An actuator as described.   3. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is elastic. On-board actuator.   4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said pivot is near said first end. An actuator according to claim 1.   5. The first axis of claim 1, wherein the pivot is a rod having a free end. An actuator according to Item.   6. A longitudinal slot at its free end allowing the pivot to compress the pivot; The actuator according to claim 5, wherein the actuator has:   7. The free end has a barb, the pivot is compressed and inserted into a hole, 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said hole can be held in said hole. Actuator.   8. The invention of claim 10 wherein said pivot is proximate said first end. Item 7. The actuator according to Item 6.   9. The actuator has a generally rectangular cross section, and the cross section is a pair. Claim 1 having a long side and a pair of short sides. An actuator as described.   Ten. 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the pivot extends from a short side. On-board actuator.   11． 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the pivot is near the first end. An actuator as described.   12． The actuator is molded from a thermoplastic resin. 2. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein   13. The actuator is molded from a thermoplastic resin. Item 11. The actuator according to item 10, wherein   14. An actuator for an accessory module for a circuit breaker. Actuator having a body and a pivot extending from the body Ta.   15． The pivot is a rod having a free end having a slot. The actuator according to claim 14, wherein   16． The free end has a barb for holding the pivot in a bore; The actuator according to claim 15, wherein:   17． 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the main body is a plate. Actuator.   18． Wherein said body has an elongated shape with a generally rectangular cross section. Item 18. The actuator according to Item 17, wherein   19. The body of claim 1, wherein the body has at least one bend. Item 19. The actuator according to Item 18, wherein   20. Actuator for accessory module for circuit breaker with state Communicates the status of the circuit breaker and has a generally rectangular plate A body having at least one bend and first and second ends. An actuator having a pivot near the first end. Data.