US2416169A

US2416169A - Circuit breaker

Info

Publication number: US2416169A
Application number: US498462A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gerald J Freese
Original assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
Current assignee: CBS Corp
Priority date: 1943-08-13
Filing date: 1943-08-13
Publication date: 1947-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 1964-02-18

Description

- Feb. 411s, 1947. G. J. FREESE 2,416,169A

CIRCUIT BHEAKER Filed Aug. 15, 1943 WiTNESSES: INVENTOR /a/ f y @Lig/WM Anomm'@ Planted Feb. 1s. 1947 CIRCUIT BREAKEB Gerald J. Freese, Een Maxeespon, rs., assigner to Westinghouse Electric Corporation. East Pittsburgh,A Pa., a corporation o! Pennsylvania Application August 13, 1943, Serial No. 498,462

,Ihis invention relates to circuit breakers and more particularly to manually and automatically operable circuit breakers for controlling and protecting electrical circuits.

An object of the invention isV to provide a double-throw circuit breaker having contact means for controlling either of two circuits, and operating mechanism manually operable to selectively operate said contact means to open or close either` circuit and automatically operable in response to predetermined overload currents to cause opening o! the contact means.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a double-throw circuit breakerha'ving a releasable actuator tor each pole, each of said actuators vbeing independently and automatically operable to effect opening of its associated contacts in response to predetermined overload conditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a double-throw circuit breaker having a manual operating handle operable to selectively close either oi' two sets of contacts, and having an individual overload tripping means including a -sprlng biased releasable trip member associated with each set of contacts for tripping the breaker open in response to overload currents.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a double-throw circuit breaker for selectively cone trolling either of two circuits, the breaker having independently mounted trip devices which control independently operable tripping members to effect automatic opening of related circuits in response to overload currents.

Another object of the invention is to provide a double-throw circuit breaker wherein a switch member is operable by a manual member to selectively close either one of two circuits, each of siaid circuits including a, thermostatic element operable to effect automatic opening of its related circuit.

Another object' of the invention is to provide a`=doublethrow circuit breaker for selectively controlling a plurality of circuits wherein each circuit is provided with a related trip device and an actuator independently operable to eiect automatic opening of the related circuit.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved circuit breaker mechanism which can be made either a double-throw circuit breaker or a single-throw circuit breaker by substitution of few parts and without extensive changesV in structure. k

Another object of the invention is to provide a circuitbreaker with novel operating mecha- 17 Claims. (Cl. 200-116) 2 nlsm having two positions at which the breaker contacts are closed, so that at one of the two closed positions the breaker contacts will be opened automatically in response to abnormal circuit conditions, and at the other closed position of the mechanism the breaker contacts are prevented from opening.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a manually and automatically operable circuit breaker mechanism of compact and low-cost construction which is also usable in a single-throw circuit breaker.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved circuit breaker construction that is simple, reliable in operation and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

The novel features that are considered char. acteristicof the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to structure 'and operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of several embodiments thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l'is a vertical sectional view of a circuit breaker constructed in accordance with the invention, the section being taken just inside one side wall of the breaker housing;

Fig. 2`is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the breaker in one oi its closed positions; and

Fig.`.3 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing a modiiication ofthe invention.

The circuit breaker is a double-throw circuit breaker and is mounted in a housing comprising a base section Il, having side walls I3 (only one being shown), and end walls I5. The housing is of one piece of molded insulating material and is provided with a cover plate i1 also of insulating material. One circuit of the breaker is controlled by a stationary contact i9 and a cooperating movable contact 2l, and the other circuit -is similarly provided with a stationary contact 23 and a cooperating movable contact 25. The

stationary contacts i9 -and 23,respectively are I ends extend laterally into elongated slots 43 (only one being shown) formed in the side walls i3 of the housing. A coil spring 45 compressed between a conductor lil secured to the base i i and the switch member 39 biases the switch member to a central 01T position against a pair of stops d@ and Si rigidly supported by the side walls iii. For operating the switch member t@ to close the contacts i9-2i or 213-25, there is provided an operating handle 53 pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 55 supported in the side walls it of the housing. The inner end of the handle d3 carries a.

pin 511 upon which is mounted an antifriction roller 59 engaging a V-shaped recess in theswitch member 39.

The contacts iQ-Qi or 253-25 are closed by respectively rotating the handle dit clockwise or counterclockwise from the off position (Fig. l.) to one or the other of the on positions depending upon the particular circuit it is desired to close. Assuming that it is desired to close the contacts i92i, the handle is rotated clockwise to the position shown in Fig. 2. During this movement of the handle the roller 59, acting on the left hand edge of the ii-shaped recess cams the switch member 39 in a counterclockwise direction about the pin M and at the same time moves the switch member toward the base of the breaker,A the pin di sliding in the slot dii. Near the end of the clockwise movement of the handle, the contact ?i engagesthe stationary contact i9 and thereafter, during closing movement, the switch member 39 rotates slightly about the contacts as a fulcrum until the roller 59 engages a holding recess 6i. As the roller is seated in the recess S i, the spring iii biases the switch member A il@ about the roller 59 in aA direction to apply The bimetallic elements i3 and 'I5 are respectively Y' connected by means of flexible shunt conductors insulated from the conductors 2l and 29.

lli and it to conductors di' and 83. The conductors di and 33 are shouldered and the narrow portions thereof extend through openings in the base ii, these conductors being spaced irom'and The ends of the narrow portions of the conductors 8| 1 and 83 also project through openings respectively contact pressure to the closed contacts. As will be seen in Fig. 2, the spring i5 and the coopera:l

tion of the Inotch Si and the roller 5@ maintains` the contacts i 9--2i closed and the handle in the on position shown in Fig. 2. Movement ci the handle 53 in the reverse or counterclockwise direction from the oli position will close the contacts 23--25 in the manner described for clos-v ing the contacts i9-2i except that the movements ofthe parts are reversed.

The contacts are opened by merely/'flipping the handle 53 from either ci its on positions toward the central off position. As soon as the `roller 59 is disengaged from either notch ti, the

outward pressure of the spring 55 moves the switcharm 3@ outwardly and rotates it about the pivot tl to the open position (Fig. l). The side wall of the V-shaped recess cams the handle 53 to the ofi position wherein the roller 59 rests in the apex of the recess.

Means are provided for causing automatic movement of the switch member it@ to its open position from either one of the closed positions in response to an overload in whichever circuit is closed. These means include a vpair of releasable actuators L33 and t5 pivotally supported on the pin 55 adjacent the handle 53. The'actuators 'extend in opposite directions from the pin it and are biased in releasing direction by means of a coil spring 6l surrounding the pin b5 and i having its ends hooked in suitable holes in the The bimetallic elements 'i3 and 'i5 are rigidly mounted respectively in the members 3l and 33.

in terminals d5 and el and are riveted over to rigidly secure the conductors iii and 83 and the corresponding terminals t5 and 8l to the base.

The switch member 39 is connected by means of a flexible shunt conductor tti to the central conductor el. The conductor il is rigidly secured to the base by means of a rivet 9i which also serves to secure an external line terminal 93 to the base.

may be traced as follows: One circuit extends from the line terminal 93 through the rivet 9i, conductor el, flexible shunt conductor t9, switch member 3Q, contacts 2i and i9 when closed, conductor t?, member 3 i, bimetal element 13, flexible shunt conductor lli, conductor ti to the load terminal 85. The other circuit extends from the line terminal tt, rivet 9i, conductor dl, exible shunt conductor iig, the switch member 39, contacts 25-23 when closed, conductor 2.1i, member 33, bimetal element l5, flexible shunt conductor le, and the conductor 83 to the other load terminal tl.

Upon the occurrence of an overload current in either of the circuits, depending upon the particular contacts i9-2i or 23-25 that are closed, the related bimetalelement 'i3 or l5 will be heated by the overload current and when heated a predetermined amount deflects outwardly and releases the

corresponding actuator

63 or 35. The spring 6l then drives the released actuator in a direction to engage a projection 95 or 9i on the released actuator with a pin 99 projecting laterally from the handle 53 to move the handle toward the central off position disengaging the roller 5@ from the notch ti in the switch member desired. For example, the double-throw circuit breaker of this invention may be used for controlling a lighting system arranged to give either bright or dim lighting. lf, for example, the bright lights require 20 amperes and the dim lights only l0 amperes, the wire of the dim light circuit may be smaller than the wire of the bright light circuit, and each bimetallic element will be chosen to cause opening of the breaker when the safe current for its particular circuit is exceeded.

The released actuator t3 or t5 can be manually reset andrelatched following an automatic opening operation and the contacts of the corresponding circuit manually closed by e, single movement of the handle in the proper direction to close the contacts. For example, in Fig. l the actuator 63 is shown in dotted lines at 63a' in the tripped-open position with the projection 95 resting against the pin @9. By rotating the handle 5? in a clockwise direction slightly beyond the closed contact position, the roller 59 effects closing of the contacts iii-2 i, in the previously described manner, and with the same movement of the handle, the pin 99 rotates the actuator 63 from the posi- 'uon' shown at esa to the run-une position in which it is restrained bythe latch 39. The actuator 65 is relatched in a similar mannerby counauaico terclockwise rotation of the handle to close the contacts 23-25.

The circuit breaker is adapted for assembly either as a double-throw breaker or as a singlethrow breaker. illustrated in Fig. 3, the stop is omitted and a switch member |0| pivotally mounted on a. pin |03 supported in the side walls I3 is substituted According to the modification' for the switch member 39 of the. Fig. 1 embodiment. A slot |04 in the switch member surrounds present in the original embodiment are also omitted. The spring El is hooked over a pin |09 at one end. The switch member |0| is connected'to a conductor ||5 by means of a. flexible shunt con-` "i"- the handle to the oi position. Movement of ductor |01 and the conductor |5 is secured to the Th'e mechanism can be manually reset and the contacts reclosed by moving the handle to the "on position. This movement closes the contacts and at the same time returns the actuator back to its latched position.

In the Figure 3 modication of the invention v the operating handle 53 can be vmoved counterclockwise to a locked on position to the left' of thev ofi position. This makes it possible`to close the contacts and maintain them locked closed irrespective of the operation of the trip device and actuator 63, and without the necessity of manually holding the handle in the closed position.

When the handle 53 is moved in a counterclockwise direction from the off position, the roller 59 actuates the switch mem-ber |0| to close the contacts. At the end of the counterclock- Wise closing movement of the handle the roller 59 enters a retaining recess H3 where it retains the handle in the locked on position and maintains the contacts closed. With the handle in this position the actuator 63,;when released in response to an overload current, will move idly base and electrically connected to the terminal .81 by means of a rivet H1. All other parts of the Fig. 3 modification are like the corresponding parts in the Fig. 1 modification and have been given corresponding reference numerals.

The circuit through the circuit breaker shown in Fig. 3 extends from the terminal 85 through the member 8|, flexible shunt conductor 11, bimetal element 13, member 3|, conductor 21. contacts |9|05 when closed. switch member |0|. flexible `shunt conductor ill'l, and conductor 5 to the terminal 81.

The operation of the Fig. 3 modification, assuming the breaker to be in the open position as shown. is as follows: In order to close the contacts |9| 05 the handle 53 is rotated from its "off position in a clockwise direction to the on position. During this movement the roller 59 on the inner end of the handle rotates the switch member |0| in counterclockwise or closing direction about the pivot pin |03, the spring maintaining the bottom of the slot |04 in contact with the pin |03.- Continued movement of the handle after the movable contact l |05 engages the stationary contact |9 causes the switch member i0| to rotate slightly clockwise about the contacts as a fulcrum; the slot |04 moving downwardly over the pin |03, until the roller 59 on the handle is seated in a retaining notch The contacts -are now closed and` contact pressure is applied by the spring 45 which now biases the switch member |0| counter-clockwise about the roller 59 as a fulcrum..

The contacts are opened manually by moving the handle 53 to the off position which permits .gircuits Y controlled by the eaker is provided with a trip until it strikes the stop 49, and will not displace the handle from the locked on position.

The contacts may be opened by movement of the handle from the ofPposition tothe on position closes the contacts and resets the actuator in the previously described manner.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that there is provided in accordance with the Fig. l embodiment a very simple double-throw circuit breaker having a single operating member for selectively closing and opening one or the other of two Each of the circuits device and al releasable actuator. Each of the trip devicesfis operable in response to overload current in its related circuit to effect operation of the corresponding actuator to thereby cause opening of the related circuit,

c -According to the Fig. 3 embodiment of the invention the operating mechanism has two positions at which the breaker contacts are closed, at one of the two closed positions the breaker contacts will be opened automatically in response to abnormal circuit conditions, and at the other closed position of the mechanism the breaker contacts are locked in the closed position irrespective of the load condition of the circuit.

Having described several embodiments of the invention in accordance with the patent statutes, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the structural details thereof without departing from some of the essential features of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A circuit breaker for selectively controlling a plurality of circuits, comprising a plurality of stationary contacts, a single switch member movable to selectively engage said stationary contacts ,to selectively close said circuits, manual means having a neutral open position and operable in either direction from said open position to closed position to move Asaid switch mem.-

ber to selectively engage said stationary contacts,

said plurality of stationary contacts and said single switch member all being substantially in line along the plane of movement of said manual means, a plurality of biased members each releasable to effect automatic opening of said contacts, a separate thermostatic element for each circuit heated in response to overload current in its cir- 7 cuit land normally restraining a corresponding one of said releasable members, each of said thermostatic elements Ibeing operable when heated a predetermined amount in response to overload current to release its associated releasable member to thereby effect movement of the switch member to open position.

2. A circuit breaker for selectively controlling either of two circuits comprising, two sets of contacts, a single contact actuating member movable to selectively close either set of contacts, manual means for moving said Contact actuating member to selectively close said sets of contacts, a

pair of biased members each being'releasable to effect automatic opening movement of a corresponding set of said contacts, said releasable members and said contact actuating member all, being substantially in line with the plane of movement of said manual means, a thermostatic element for restraining each of said releasable members, each of said elements being disposed to be individually heated in response to the current of its related circuit, and each of said thermostatic elements being operable when heated a predetermined amount to release the associated releasable member to effect opening of the corresponding set of contacts.

3. A circuit breaker for selectively controlling a plurality of circuits comprising a plurality of stationary contacts, a plurality of cooperating movable contacts, a floating switch member for supporting said movable contacts, manual means for moving said switch member from a neutral open position in either direction to closed position to selectively close said contacts, said manual means restraining said switch member in said closed position,`a plurality of biased members each independently releasable to effect automatic opening of said contacts, a plurality of thermostatic elements, one associated with each of said releasable members, for restraining said releasable members, each of said thermostatc elements being disposed to be heated by the current of one of said circuits and operable when heated a predetermined amount to release its associated releasable member to thereby effect opening movement of the switch member.

4. A circuit breaker for selectively controlling `a plurality of circuits comprising a plurality of sets of separable contacts, a floating switch memoer having a central open position and movable in either direction from said open position to closed position for selectively closing said circuits, an operating handle for moving said switch member to manually open and close said circuits, said handle being eiective to restrain said switch member in the selected closed position, a plurality of biased members each releasable to cause said handle to release said switch member, a thermostatic element related to each circuit each of said elements being disposed to be heated by the current of its related circuit, each thermorstatic element being operable when heated a contacts, said handle being engageable with portions of said switch member to releasably restrain the switch member in the selected closed position, releasable members movable in opposite directions when released to cause release of s'aid switch member, and a separate current responsive trip device operable in response to overload currents in each circuit to release the corresponding releasable member.

6. Acircuit breaker for selectively controlling a plurality of circuits comprising a set of separable contacts related to each circuit, a single contact actuating member movable from a neutral open position in either direction from said open position to selectively close said sets of contacts, operating mechanism for said contact actuating member including a handle for moving said switch member to selectively close either set of contacts, a plurality of biased members each operable when released to elect movement a plurality of circuits comprising a set of septhere being aseparate bimetal element heated in response to each of the circuits, said sets of separable contacts and said separate bimetal elements all being substantially in `line along the plane of movement of said handle, each of said bimetal elements being operable when 00 direction to close one or" said sets of contacts and movable in another direction from said open position'to close theother set of'contacts, manual means operable to move said switch member in either direction to selectively close said contacts,

5 av plurality of actuators operable to eiect movement of said manual means to cause automatic opening of said contacts, a current responsive element connected in each circuit and operatively related to the associated actuators, each current responsive element being responsive to the curhandle for moving said switch member in either direction from said open .position to selectively engage the movable contacts with said stationary of movement of said manual means.

' operable in response to abnormal conditions to release said releasable means, operating mechanism including an operating handlel for opening and closing said contact means, said operating handle having two positions in which said contact means are closed, said handle when in one of said two positions maintaining said contacts closed irrespective of the current responsive means and being operable by said releasable means when in the other of said two positions to cause automatic opening of said contact means.

10. In a circuit breaker, the lcombination or relatively movable contact means, a switch member operable to open and closed positions for opening and closing said contact means, operating means for said switch member including an operating handle having two positions in which said switch member is in closed position, releas-v able means for engaging and operating said handle to eiIect automatic opening movement of said switch member, and thermostatic means operable in response to predetermined abnormal conditions to release said releasable means, said handle when in one of said two positions maintaining said switch member in closed position irrespective of operation of said releasable means and being operable by said releasable .means whenin the other oi said two positions to cause automatic movement of said switch member to open position.

11. In a circuit breaker, the combination oifA stationary contact means, a singleswitch member, movable-contact means on said switch member for cooperating 4with said stationary contact means, operating mechanism for said switch member/including an operating handle having two positions in which the contact means are closed, actuating means4 pivoted coaxially with said handle and releasable to engage and operate said handle to cause automatic opening of said contact means, said stationary contactmeans and said single lswitch member and said actuating means all being substantially in line along Athe plane of movement of said handle, ,and

thermostatic means operable in response to overload currents to release said actuating means, said handle when moved to close said contact means resetting the actuating means.

12. A circuit breakerfor selectively controlling either one of two circuits comprising two sets of separable contacts, a single switch actuating member having a central open position and movable in either direction from said open position to closed positions for selectively closing said sets of contacts,'an operating handle for moving said circuit, and each thermostatic element being operable when heated a predetf'erniined` amount to Y 'release the corresponding releasable member.

13.In a circuit breaker, the combination of stationary contact means, a-switch member having a V-shaped cam thereon and provided with v locking recesses, movable contact means on said -sWitch member for cooperating with said lstationary contact means, operating mechanism for .said switch member including an operating handle having a central open position and having a roller thereon cooperating with said V-.shaped cam,`said handle having two positions in which the contact means are closed and in which the roller engages said locking recesses to restrainv said switch member in closed position, spring means biasing said switch member to open position and through said switch member biasing said handle4 to said'central open position said.

spring means also applying contact pressure when said contacts are closed, actuating means releasable to engage and operate said handle to cause automatic opening of said contact means, and electro-responsive means operable in response to overload currents to release said actuating means. y

i4. In a circuit breaker, the combination of relatively movable contacts, a switch member movable to open and `close said contacts, said switch member being provided with aV-shaped cam having a locking recess at each end thereof, operating mechanism including an operating handle having an operating roller thereonengaging said cam, said handle having a` central open posi-- tion and -movable to two positions to operate said switch member to close said contacts, said roller in each of said two positions engaging a locking recess to restrain said switch member` and said handle in closed position, an actuating member releasable to engage and operate saidhandle to effect automatic opening of said contacts, and electro-responsive means operable in response to overload currents to release said actuating member.

15. In a circuit breaker, the combination of stationary contact means, a switch member having means forreceiving a roller thereon, movable contact means thereon for cooperating with said stationary contact means, operating mechanism for said -sw'itch member comprising 'a pivoted operating handle, 'a roller carried by said handle cooperating with said switch member, spring means providing pressure engagement of said switch member and said roller, a releasable trip member biased to tripping position and operable when released to operate said handle and ause automatic opening of said contact mea Y', nd

electroresponsive means normally restrai" ng said trip member and operable in response to overload currents to release said trip member.

16. In a circuit breaker, the combination of stationary contact meansy a floating switch member having a portion thereof formed to receive a roller, movable contact means thereon for cooperating with saidstationary. contact means, 55 operating mechanism for said switch member comprising a pivoted operating handle, a roller carried by said handle cooperating with the formed portion oi said switch member,. spring means biasing said switch member to the open position and providin-g contact pressure when said switch member is closed, a releasable trip member biased to tripping position and operable when released to operate said handle and cause automatic opening oi said contact means, and electro- It responsive means normally restraining said trip member and operable in response to overload currents to release said trip member, said handle `when moved to close said contact means resetting ating with said stationary contact means, oper ating mechanism for said switch member comprisinga pivoted operating handle, a roller on said handle cooperating with said V-shaped cam sur= face for moving said switch member to open and close said contact means, spring means for providing a pressure engagement of said roller with said V-shaped cam surface and for providing con tact pressure when said contact means is closed, actuating means pivoter?` coaxially with said 12 handle and releasable to operate said handle to effect automatic opening of said contact means,

spring means biasing said actuating means vto i operated position, and current responsive means normally restraining said actuating means and operable in response to overload currents to release said actuating means.

GERALD J. FREESE.

' REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNTTED STATES PATENTS Rubens May 22, 1934i