US2050864A

US2050864A - Electric circuit breaker

Info

Publication number: US2050864A
Application number: US714561A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold E Strang
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1934-03-08
Filing date: 1934-03-08
Publication date: 1936-08-11
Anticipated expiration: 1953-08-11

Description

Aug. 11, 1936. 11, E, STRANG Y 2,050,864

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed March 8, 1954 His ttorneg.

Patented Aug. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFEQE ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BREAKER Harold E. Strang, South Ardmore, Pa., assgnor to General Electric Company, a corporation of My invention relates to electric circuit breakers, more particularly to means for positioning and mounting the operating mechanism with respect to the main circuit breaker housing.

Heretofore it has been the usual practice in manufacturing and assembling oil circuit breakers to design two separate units, namely, the oil circuit breaker proper and the operating mechanism therefor, and to assemble these units as by bolting to a common frame or interconnecting structure. This arrangement necessitates the use of additional cranks and interconnecting links for the circuit breaker and operating mechanisms, requires an appreciable amount of space and is generally awkward in appearance.

A principal object of my invention is the provision of an improved circuit breaker structure wherein the circuit breaker and operating mechanism therefor comprise a compact, simple and rugged unit.

My invention will be more fully set forth in the following description referring to the accompanying drawing, and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specication.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective View illustrating an oil circuit breaker embodying the present invention with the oil tank for the contact structure removed, and Fig. 2 is an elevational sectional View of the complete oil circuit breaker.

The circuit breaker illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 comprises in general a housing including an oil tank I and a cover member or dome 2 in which the relatively movable contact structure 3 is disposed. Operatively connected to the contact structure within the circuit breaker housing and carried by the cover structure is a solenoid operated mechanism 4. The operating mechanism is connected in a manner hereinafter described to the movable contacts or bridging members 5 so as to cause vertical reciprocal movement thereof with respect to the coacting stationary contacts 6.

The circuit breaker contact structure forms no part of the present invention, and as illustrated, may be of the well known oil-blast type wherein the relatively movable contacts which are immersed in oil contained in the tank I, separate within a pressure chamber l. A side wall 8 of the pressure chamber i is provided with a relief opening 9 for each phase disposed opposite one of the breaks so that the arcing pressure generated within said chamber causes a blast of oil across said break and through the relief opening. The

1934, Serial No. 714,561

lead-in conductors Ill connected to the stationary contacts 6 are mounted in insulating bushings I I which are mounted in and extend through the dome 2.

The solenoid operating mechanism 4 and the 5 dome 2 are constructed so as to comprise a substantially unitary structure which is very compact and eliminates all cranks and linkages other than those normally required for effecting a circuit closing operation. To this end the dome 2 10 is provided with a horizontal plate-like flange I2 forming a lateral extension I2 which is the main support for the actuating solenoid I3 of the operating mechanism. The dome 2 has likewise integrally secured thereto, as by welding, a pair 15 of spaced plate-like members I4. The plates I4 which are arranged substantially parallel with respect to each other are vertically positioned above the extension I2' and are welded thereto as indicated at I4'. As illustrated by Fig. 2, the 20 plates I 4 are disposed at opposite sides of a pocket 2 formed in the side of the dome 2 and serve as means for mounting and positioning the linkage structure I5 of the operating mechanism.

The operating mechanism per se may be of any 25 suitable type and by way oi example, there is illustrated the type of solenoid operating mechanism specically disclosed and claimed in Thumin Patent 1,827,626 for Switch operating mechanism, granted October 13, 1931. The solenoid itself 30 comprises a coil I6 and plunger El' having an extension I'I for engaging the linkage structure l5. The magnetic circuit of the solenoid comprises a base member I8, a cylindrical shell EQ and the extension I2' which is abutted by the shell I9, the 35 aforesaid elements of the magnetic circuit being of course of suitable magnetic material. The solenoid is suitably suspended beneath the extension I2 as by bolts 25 coacting with the extension I2' and base plate I8. 40

The linkage structure i5 which is mounted above the extension I2 and between the plates I4 comprises a thrust transmitting toggle 2l, a tripping toggle 22 coacting with a trigger 23 and trip coil 24 and a prop 25 mounted so as to engage 45 a roller 25 connected to the toggle 2l for maintaining said toggle rigid. The linkage 2l is connected to a double-arm crank 2l pivoted as at 28, the shaft comprising the pivot 23 mounted in and extending through the plates I4 as illustrated by 50 Fig. 1. Openings 29 are provided in the plates I4 for the free end of the crank 2T and the pin 30 which connects the same to the linkage structure I5.

The linkage within the circuit breaker dome for 55 effecting reciprocal vertical movement of the lift rods 3| of the movable contacts may likewise comprise any suitable arrangement, as a linkage 32 connected to the other arm of the crank 2l for imparting substantially straight-line movement to the lift rod 3l. A piston arrangement 33 subject to the pressure within the chamber l is connected as by a link 34 to the aforesaid linkage for imparting an accelerating force to the mechanism upon opening of the circuit.

Accordingly, as clearly illustrated by Fig. 1, the

complete circuit breaker mechanism including the relatively movable contact structure and the operating means therefor forms with the dome member a simple, rugged and compact unit.

It should be understood that my invention is not limited to specic details of construction and arrangement thereof herein illustrated, andrthat' changes and modications may occury to oneV skilled in the art without departing fromthe spirit of my invention` What-I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. An electric circuit breaker comprising rela'- tively'movable contact structure, a housingv therefor including a cover member' having a ilangelike horizontal portion forming an extension laterally of said cover member, spaced members secured to said'. extension and saidy cover member and forming aY unitary structure therewith, and operating mechanism for said Contact' structure in part depending from said extension and inpart mounted between said spaced members.

2. An electric circuit breaker comprising relatively movable contact structure, a housing therefor including a dome cover member having a horizontal flange-like lateral extension, spaced substantially parallel plate-like members secured to said dome-member and positionedfabove said eX- tension and forming therewith an'integral structure, and operating mechanism fo-r said contact structure carried by'said cover member, said 0p'- erating mechanism in part depending from said extension and including linkage structuremounted in and positioned between said plate-like members.

3. An. electric circuit breaker comprising relatively movable Contact structure, a housing therefor including a dome cover member, said dome member having a horizontal ange forming an extension laterally of said dome member, spaced substantially parallel plate-like members secured to said dome member and said extension and forming therewith an integral structure, and operating mechanism in part depending from said extension and mounted ini part'v between said plate-like members.

4. An electric circuit breaker comprising relatively movable contact structure, a housing therefor inc'ludinga'cover member, said cover member having a horizontal plate-like extension, and operating mechanism,` said mechanism including a solenoid supported by and depending from said extension, and linkage structure mounted above said .extension operatively connected to said contact structure.

5. An electric circuit breaker comprising relativelymovable .contactstructure` a metallic' housing` therefor, a horizontal plate-like extension;v composed of magnetic material integrally joined' to a portion of said housing, an operatingfmechanism including an actuating solenoidoperatively connected to said contactstructure, said solenoid, having a housing of magnetic materialsupportedby and mounted beneath said extensionplate` in abutting relation so that said plate' forms with" said solenoid housing aportionfof the magnetic circuit of said solenoid.

6. An electric circuit breakerfcomprising relatively movable contact structureVa housing therefor including a dome cover'member, said'dome member provided with a horizontal plateelike'ex'-V tension integrally joined thereto, spaced substantially parallel-plate-like members integrallyjoined to said dome member and said extension, operating mechanism including an actuatingA solenoid supported by and depending from said'vextension; and linkage structurev operatively connected* to said solenoid andv contact structure mounted', above said extension and between said plate-like members, said plate-like members providing bear-- ings for said linkage structure.

HAROLD E. STRANG.