US2475765A - Reclosing circuit interrupter - Google Patents

Description

July 12, 1949. J. M. WALLACE ETAL RECLOSING CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 16, 1941 WITNESSES: 5.17 i

ATTOR N y 1949- J. M. WALLACE ETAL 2,475,765

RECLOSING CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER M BY ATTORNEY y 1949. J. M. WALLACE EIAL 2,475,765

RECLOSING CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Filed Jan. 16, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS 4 BY Q7/833 Patented July 12, 1949 RECLOSING CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER James M. Wallace, Braddock, and Herbert L.

Rawlins, Wilkinsburg, Pa., assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh,

Pa... a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 16, 1941, Serial No. 374,686

43 Claims.

1 This invention relates generally to circuit interrupters, and more specifically to operating mechanism and control means for circuit interrupters.

Although this invention is herein specifically disclosed in connection with an automatic reclosing circuit breaker capable of automatic lockout in response to a predetermined number of closely successive interrupting operations, wherein the invention has certain novel features of cooperation providing certain new and useful results, it will be appreciated that certain features of the invention may also be useful in connection with other types of circuit breakers, and even apparatus other than circuit breakers.

In order to obtain better coordination with other breakers of the automatic reclosing type, it is desirable that the breaker have an inverse time characteristic, which preferably shall be the same for all trippings of the breaker.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide novel means for providing an inverse time delay tripping characteristic for a circuit breaker.

Another object of this invention is to provide novel trip control means for an automatic 17eclosing circuit breaker which shall provide the same tripping characteristics on all trippings of the breaker.

In the copending application of J. M. Wallace, Serial No. 374,684, filed January 16, 1941, and issued June 20, 1944, as Patent No. 2,352,048. assigned to the same assignee as this invention, there is disclosed a reclosing circuit breaker having time delay reclosing means associated with a contact opening means, which has a resilient lost motion connection with the movable contact, to insure a time delay on each reclosure of the breaker. In accordance with this invention a positive lost motion is provided between the movable contact and the contact separating means, to insure a substantially constant time delay on each reclosure of the breaker.

Therefore, another object of this invention is to provide in a breaker of the type described, novel means for providing a uniform time delay on each reclosure of the breaker.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a circuit breaker of the type described, novel mechanism for controlling the opening and closing movements of the breaker.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a breaker of the type described, novel means for maintaining the breaker contacts separated in response to a predetermined number of closely successive reclosures thereof.

These and other objects of this invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description of preferred embodiments thereof when taken in connection with the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a substantially central, longitudinal sectional view of a circuit breaker embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a view like Fig. 1 only showing the position of the parts after a circuit interrupting operation.

Fig. 3 is a partial, substantially central, longitudinal section view of the breaker shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and taken substantially at right angles to the section of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. .4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a portion of the upper end of the breaker with the parts positioned to lock the breaker contacts open.

Fig. 5 is a view of a modified form of inter- I rupter operating mechanism per se, with certain parts thereof in section.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged partial side elevational view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged partial elevational view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5, looking at the opposite side thereof, and

Fig. 8 is an elevatlonal view, partly in section, of a still further modified form of circuit breaker operating mechanism.

The several embodiments of this invention herein disclosed, are adapted to be mounted in an insulating casing 2 havin an upper terminal cover assembly 4, and a lower terminal assembly 6, which are substantially like those disclosed in applicants copending application, Serial No. 346,300, filed July 19, 1940, issued May 4, 1943 as Patent No. 2,318,421, and assigned to the same assignee as this invention. Accordingly, for a more complete description of these parts,

vided with a peripheral flange l8 adapted to be seated on the open end of casing 2, and secured to an annular support i2 by any desired connecting means (not shown).

The lower terminal assembly 8 includes a bolt M of any desired conducting material, having an enlarged head It adapted to be positioned within casing 2, with packing material l8 between head I 6 and the closed end of the casing. Conducting bolt I4 extends through a substantially central aperture in the closed end of casing 2, and is provided with a nut 28 for securing the bolt in operative position, with a washer 22 interposed between the nut and outer wall of the casing. As shown, a terminal strap 25 may be secured to bolt [4, for example, as by nut 28. The bolt I4 is also provided with a small central bore 24, adapted to have the outer end thereof closed by a removable drain plug 25, so that the casing may be drained when desired.

The circuit breaker and its operating mechanism are adapted to be supported from cover 8 by a pair of spaced supporting plates 38, secured to a portion of cover flange l8 overlying the interior of easing 2, for example, as by bolts 32, and these plates are connected by transversely extending integral frame portions 34 and 35. Spaced supporting plates 48, positioned substan tially at right angles to supporting plates 38, are formed integral with transverse frame portion 35 and extend downwardly therefrom to support an interrupting chamber 42. The lower ends of supporting plates 48 are rigidly secured together by an integral web 38, having a socket 48 integral therewith for threadedly receiving one end of insulating tube 44, forming the side wall of interrupting chamber 42. Insulation tube 44 may be of any desired insulating material, preferably fiber or the like. The other end of insulation tube 44 is provided with an end terminal cap 48 threadedly engaged therewith, and conductively and resiliently associated with the enlarged head 15 of the lower terminal assembly bolt, by coil compression spring 58. Spring 58 is preferably of a resilient conducting material, such for example, as a copper alloy.

It will be noted that the interrupting chamber is provided with an outlet valve 52 and an inlet valve 54, a contact support 55 slidably mounted in a central aperture through transverse support frame member 38, together with a contact 58 mounted thereon, and a liquid director 88 having a resilient lost motion with respect to contact 58. This interrupter chamber structure is substantially the same as that disclosed in the above-mentioned copending patent of J. M. Wallace. The only diilerence in construction of the interrupter chamber of this invention over that disclosed in the Wallace Patent, is that the contact support 58 is of insulation material for a purpose hereinafter to be described, and fixed contact 62 is mounted for limited relative movement with respect to end terminal cap 48, by a screw 64, secured to fixed contact 82 with the reduced intermediate portion thereof slidably extending through a central aperture in end cap 48, to provide for movement of contact 82 limited by the head of screw 84 and the contact itself, and normally biased upwardly by a coil compression spring 88 seated between end cap 48 and a shoulder formed on contact 82. Also, contact support 56 is formed with a notched portion 68 adjacent the upper end thereof for a purpose to be referred to.

In operation, interrupter 42 operates substantially in the same manner described in the Wallace patent. This, in general, is as follows: When contact support 58 is moved upwardly to open the circuit, contact 58 moves away from fixed contact 82, after the head of screw 64 engages the lower terminal cap 48, to drawn an are therebetween. As soon as upward motion of contact support 58 is initiated, valve 52 moves therewith to close off the outlet of the interrupter casing. All this time liquid director 88 remains stationary, being held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by the spring 8| between contact support 56 and the director. As soon as the limit of the lost motion between the contact and director 68 is reached, the contact will pick up the liquid director and move the same upwardly to thereby cause a stream of arc extinguishing fluid to flow through the arc to aid in extinguishing the same. After the circuit has been interrupted and contact support 58 is moved downwardly to close the circuit, valve plate 52 will be moved therewith to open the chamber outlet, and check valve plate 54- will be raised to permit liquid to flow in the chamber inlet under the influence of gravity. As the contact approaches closed position, liquid director 68 is first brought to a halt, and thereafter coil spring 8| is compressed and finally contact 58 engages fixed contact 82.

Contact support 58 is adapted to be disengaged by an elongated contact rod 18, having one end thereofthreadedly engaged in a bore in the upper end of contact support 55, and the other end thereof threadedly secured in the lower end of a socket member 12, forming one element of a contact locking means. As shown, the socket 12 is hollow in form, and is provided with opposed slots through which are adapted to project the locking projections 15, of a pair of locking dogs 14 pivotally mounted at their lower ends on a pin 15 extending transversely of socket 12. The locking dogs 14 are proportioned so that the major portion of their mass lies on opposite sides respectively of a vertical plane through pivot 15, so that the dogs are biased by gravity to a projecting position with respect to socket 12. The upper end of socket 12 is adapted to fit into a bore provided in a cooperating inverted locking socket 88, having opposed side apertures 18 for the reception of lock projection 18 on the locking dogs, to secure the two socket portions for movement together. It will be noted that the upper socket 88 is adapted to be slidably mounted in a sleeve 82 secured in a central aperture in upper transversely extending support plate 34. It will be further noted that in the closed position of the contacts, the locking projections 18 on the looking dogs, are adapted to extend through apertures 18 of the upper socket member, to lie beneath and in engagement with the lower end of sleeve 82 to thereby maintain the contacts locked in their closed circuit position.

The upper end of socket 88 is slotted to form bifurcations 84 for supporting therebetween an actuating pin 88. This pin is adapted to be engaged by a reclosing lever 88, pivotally supported as at 88 in the hollow portion of cover 8, and provided with a biasing spring 92 normally urging lever 88 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot, to close the breaker contacts. The outer end of reclosing lever 88 is inclined or curved to cooperate with the top of actuating pin 88. Biasing spring 92 also causes engagement of socket with locking dogs 14 to assist in biasing them relatively outwardly.

A substantially cylindrical solenoid core 84, of

any desired magnetic material, is adapted to be slidably mounted at the lower end thereof on contact rod I0. The core 94 is provided with an outwardly projecting flange 96 at the lower end thereof, and with a counter bore 90 opening at the upper end thereof for the reception of a coil spring I00. A solenoid coil I02 is adapted to be supported between the transversely extending supporting plate portions 34 and 36, of the supportin frame, and this coil preferably is annular in form to provide a central bore therethrough in which is adapted to be mounted a cylindrical sleeve I04, preferably of a non-metallic material, such, for example, as fiber, a synthetic resin or the like.

It will be noted that solenoid core 94 slidably engages cylindrical sleeve I04 in a piston-like manner, and inasmuch as the entire mechanism is submerged in an arc extinguishing fluid which fills container 2 substantially up to the level L, and further in view of the fact that the upper end of cylinder sleeve I04 is closed, it will be obvious that upon energization of solenoid coil I02 sufliciently to raise core 94, that this movement of the core will be retarded by the dashpot action formed by the core and cylindrical sleeve I04. In other words, when core 94 is drawn upwards by solenoid coil I02, it is necessary that the liquid above the core in cylindrical sleeve I04 be forced out of the lower end of sleeve I04 past the relatively small clearance between the core and sleeve I04, which will necessarily delay the upward movement of core 94. This delayed action of course, will be dependent upon the current passing through solenoid coil I02, so that the desirable inverse time characteristic is obtained for opening the breaker contacts.

As solenoid core 94is moved upwardly in a circuit interrupting operation, it will be obvious that contact rod and contact 58 are maintained stationary by locking dogs 14, and that eventually in the upward movement of the core, coil spring I00 will engage the lower end of socket I2, so that upon continued upward movement of the core this spring will be compressed. The upper end of core 94 will eventually engage the lower end of upper socket 80, to move the same upwardly relative to lower socket I2, so that the lower edges of apertures I8 will act to cam locking dogs I4 inwardly, and permit contact rod 10 to be released. At this point there will be a positive drive connection between solenoid core 94 and contact rod 10, and because of the compressed condition of coil spring I 00 which is of greater strength than contact closing spring 92, the contact 58 will be moved relatively quickly away from fixed contact 62, and this action will also be aided by any pressures developed by the are within interrupter chamber 42. It should be noted that the contacts separate only a predetermined time subsequent to the initiation of movement of solenoid core 94, which time is predetermined by the dashpot action of the core and cylindrical sleeve I04, and dependent on'the current through solenoid I02. This provides a time delay on tripping the breaker, which has been found experimentally to be as much as three seconds at minimum trip current values.

After the circuit has been interrupted, the contact rod 10 is free to be moved downwardly under the influence of contact closing spring 92, through lever 88 acting on pin 86. However, between spaced supporting plates 40, adjacent to and just above the interrupting chamber 42, there are pivoted a pair of latch levers I06, on pivot pins I01 extending between the supporting plates, with each lever having a projection I09 adapted to engage the notch 88 at the upper end of contact support 56, to maintain the contacts open for a predetermined time period.

The latch levers I00 are biased towards each other to engage in notch 68 by a coil tension spring I08, connecting the levers at one side thereof. Accordingly, it will be seen that the contact closing spring 92 will immediately move the contact rod downwardly to a position wherein it is prevented from further movement by latch levers 106, and at this position the gap between contacts 58 and 62 will be suflicient to hold circuit voltage. Meanwhile, solenoid core 94 will travel downwardly very slowly due to the fact that it must draw oil into the space above it as it is moved downwardly under the influence of gravity, until the flange 96 on solenoid core 94 engages the upper inclined ends of latch levers I00, to spread these levers apart and release contact 58 to permit the contacts to suddenly close. Consequently, it can be seen that a time delay is interposed between the actual interruption of the circuit and the reclosure of the breaker contacts by the dashpot action of solenoid core 94 in cylindrical sleeve I04. It has been determined that such a time delay in the reclosing operation may be made as long as ten to twelve seconds.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that there is incorporated in this embodiment of the invention a solenoid core which acts as one element of an inverse time current delay means for the circuit interrupting operation, and also provides a. delay between the interrupting operation and reclosure of the breaker contacts. This embodiment of the invention further includes the feature of locking the breaker contacts in their closed circuit position, so that upon the occurrence of predetermined conditions in the circuit, an operating means for the contacts is first moved relative thereto to provide time delay in the interrupting operation and to stress a resilient means for biasing the contacts open, and only thereafter releasing them to separate.

The inner surface of transversel extending supporting plate 36 is provided with a. relatively large cylindrical portion III adapted to receive flange portion 96 on solenoid core 94 when the core is adjacent the upper end of its path of movement. This cylindrical bore portion III is provided with a transverse outlet passage IIO connected to a cylinder II 2, integral with upper and lower transverse supporting plates 34 and 36, with a resiliently biased check valve II4 controlling said passage to permit flow of liquid from cylindrical bore III into cylinder II2. A spring II 5 is provided for biasing valve II4 to close passage H0, and a free floating piston H0 is preferably positioned in cylinder I I2.

A lock-out lever I20 is'secured to an operating shaft I24 extending transversely of the hollow portion of cover 8, with one end thereof extending through one wall of said hollow portion to have secured thereto a manually operable actu-- ating lever I32. 7 The lock-out lever I20 is biased for movement in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the axis of shaft I24, by a spring I22 coiled about the shaft and engaged at its opposite ends with the cover 8 and lever I20, respectively. The free end of loch-out lever I20 is curved and positioned below actuating pin 86. The coil spring I22 of th lock-out lever I20 is considerably stronger than the contact reclosing the contact lock to permit spring 82, but is normally prevented from effecting operation of the contacts by a shoulder portion I26 integral with lever I20, being engaged by one leg I28 of a trigger lever pivotally mounted on the cover as at I29, and having-the other leg I30 extending downwardly and provided with an inclined free and positioned over the top of cylinder II2.

Now, when the solenoid core 94 is moved upwardly as was previously described, to interrupt the circuit, when it reaches the end of its upward movement, flange portion 96 will act as a. piston in cylinder portion I I I and force a predetermined quantity of liquid through passage I I 0, past check valve H4 and into cylinder I I2, thereby raising piston I I8 a predetermined distance in the cylinder, for example to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Now, when the contacts are reclosed by contact closing spring 02, if the fault has been removed from the circuit, piston II8 will slowly return to the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, under the influence of gravity, and being delayed by the necessity of displacing the liquid below the piston past the relatively small clearance between the piston H8 and cylinder II2. However, if after the first reclosure of the breaker contacts the fault still remains on the circuit, the contacts will again be opened in the same manner as for the first time, and this time flange 96 will act to force another predetermined quantity of liquid into cylinder II2 to advance piston II8 nearly to the top of the cylinder II2. Upon a second closely successive reclosure of the breaker, if the fault has cleared by this time, the piston II 8 will again slowly move to its normal position shown in Fig. l of the drawings. However, in the event that the fault has not cleared from the circuit, the contacts will again reopen, and this time flange 96 on solenoid core 94 will force suflicient liquid into the cylinder II2 to raise the piston II8 into engagement with the inclined end of trigger lever I30, to rotate this lever in a counter-clockwise direction about its pivot I29, to release lock-out lever I20 for movement in a counter-clockwise direction under the influence of its spring I22, and cause it to raise contact rod I0 against the bias of contact closing spring 82, as shown in Fig. 4, and thereby prevent further reclosures of the breaker contacts.

In order to reset the'circuit breaker, it is necessary to exert a manual push on lever I32 to rotate it and lock-out lever I20 in a clockwise direction, until shoulder I 26 on the lock-out lever is reengaged by leg I28 of the trigger lever. Inasmuch as piston II8 will have in the interim descended from the position shown in Fig. 4 to its normal position shown in Fig. 1, the contacts may then be closed by reclosing spring 92 and thereby restored to normal operating condition.

The electrical circuit through the breaker may be traced from lower terminal assembly 6, to coil spring 50, lower interrupter casing terminal cap 48, fixed contact 62, movable contact 58 to a conductor I 3| extending upwardl through a bore I33 provided oflf center through contact support 56 to one lead of solenoid coil I 02. The other lead of solenoid coil I02 is adapted to be connected by a. conductor I31 to cover 0, for example, as by bolt 32, and the other terminal of the breaker is adapted to be suitably mounted on cover 8. It can, therefore, be seen that with this construction the .solenoid coil I02 is connected in series relation in the circuit through the breaker, sons to be responsive to overload currents 8 to cause movement of core 84 to interrupt the circuit.

Coordination between breakers of different ratings is readily obtainable with this device. In order to have different ratings of breakers, a different number of turns is wound for solenoid coil I02. Thus, for example, for a 20-ampere breaker approximately 250 turns may be required for the solenoid coil, while for a 40-ampere breaker only turns may be required. Considering now a fault current flowing through the two breakers in series on a line, it will be obvious that twice as many ampere turns will be available for moving the solenoid core 94 in the 20-ampere breaker than in the IO-ampere breaker. Consequently the core of the ZO-ampere breaker will move much faster, so that this breaker will be tripped and clear the circuit before the solenoid core in the 40-ampere breaker can complete its stroke. The solenoid core in the larger breaker will therefore cease its upward travel and both solenoid cores will start to reset. Inasmuch as the breaker of a larger rating will have had the shorter core travel, its core will completely reset before the contacts of the smaller breaker are reclosed to subject the two breakers to overload current again. Accordingly, it can be seen that the larger rating breaker will never trip under the circumstances described above, and the smaller breaker will lock out and isolate the faulted circuit.

The species of breaker illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7 of the drawings is adapted to be provided with an interrupting chamber like the interrupting chamber 42 of the species shown in Figs. 1 to 4, and it is also adapted to be mounted in operative relation with respect to a circuit breaker casing by a cover 8 adapted to clamp ears I35 on the mechanism supporting frame to the top wall at the open end of the casing. As shown in Fig. 5, the supporting frame for this circuit breaker includes a substantially rectangular upper supporting portion having a top wall I34, spaced integral side walls I36 and a bottom wall I38. Depending from this rectangular supporting portion are spaced supporting plates I40 adapted to be connected at their lower ends by an integral socket I for connection to an interrupting chamber like that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The contact rod I42 in this embodiment of the invention is provided with stepped portions at the upper end thereof forming relatively stepped shoulders I44 and I46, for cooperation with a solenoid core I50, which, like core 94, is adapted to be slidably mounted in a cylindrical sleeve I56, to form a dashpot therewith, and have a hollow bore with a spring therein as in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4, so that the spring will engage shoulder I44, and the core engage the shoulder I46, substantially in the same manner as in the previously described embodiment.

The upper end of contact rod I42 is adapted to be slidably mounted in a plug member I48 secured to upper frame member I34 for closing the upper end of cylindrical sleeve I56 and a solenoid coil I52 is adapted to be supported in the rectangular supporting frame portion.

Depending supporting plates I40 are each provided with aligned spaced guide slots I58 and I60 for receiving a guide pin I62 fixed on solenoid core I50, and a guide pin I64 fixed to contact rod I42, respectively. These guide pins are adapted to extend through their respective slots, and through slots provided in a locking lever I66 mounted at the outer side of the adjacent supporting plate I40, intermediate the ends thereof on a pivot pin I68. Locking lever I66.is nor--v mallybiased by a spring I for movement in a clockwise direction on its pivot pin. Locking lever I66 is also provided with the slots for receiving guide pins I62 and I64, respectively, with the upper slot I1I for receiving pin I62 being flared outwardly in an upward direction, and including an outer inclined end I12 for a purpose to be described. Slot I14 is provided with an angularly extending portion I16 normally adapted to receive guide pin I64 on contact rod I42, for preventing upward movement of the contact rod. A pawl lever I18 is pivotally mounted at its lower end on guide pin I64 and is biased by a spring I8I towards a rack I88. The pawl lever I18 is provided with a pawl projection I19 adjacent the upper end thereof extending laterally from the lever and supported from the lever by a portion having inclined surfaces I80 and I82 adapted to be engaged by stationary cam pins I84 and I86, respectively. The rack I88 is secured to the upper end of a piston I90, slidably mounted in a cylinder I92 supported on the supporting frame socket I4I. A light coil compression spring I94 is adapted to be positioned in the bottom of cylinder I92 for moving piston I90 to an extended position.

In the operation of this embodiment of the invention, upon the occurrence of an overload in the circuit, solenoid coil I52 moves core I50 upwardly until guide pin I62 on the core hits the inclined end I12 of slot "I in the locking lever,

thereby causing counter-clockwise rotation of the .2

lever about its pivot I68, and releasing guide pin I64 on contact rod I42 to permit the solenoid to move the contact rod upwardly, aided, of course, by its spring which has been compressed by relative movement of the solenoid core and contact f -causes a time delay in reclosure due to the necessity of displacing liquid in the bottom of the cylinder I92 past the relatively small clearance between the piston and cylinder. Adjacent the end of the closing operation, inclined surface I82 on the pawl lever will engage cam pin I86 to "cause the pawl lever to disengage rack I88, and

allow the contacts to be suddenly closed. If the fault has cleared upon reclosure of the contacts, rack I88 will be raised to its extended position as determined by pin I85, working in slot I81 of the rack. However, if the fault has not cleared, the contacts will again be opened in the same manner as for the first interruption, and this time upon reclosure of the contacts, pawl lever I18 will move rack I88 and piston I80 down into cylinder I92 a further distance into close proximity with the lower end of cylinder I92. If, after this second reclosure, the fault has cleared, rack I88 will again be reset by spring I94. However, if the fault has not cleared, the breaker contacts will again be opened, and this time upon attempted reclosure thereof, pawl lever I18 will move rack I88 downwardly until the upper end of slot I81 engages fixed pin I85, thereby preventing further closing movement of the breaker contacts.

In order to reset the breaker to normal opercore 2I0 upon upward movement thereof.

ating condition it is necessary to raise contact rod I 42 until inclined surface I on pawl lever I18 engages cam pin I84, to disengage pawl projection I19 from rack I88, to thereby permit the rack to move upwardly, whereupon the contact rod I 42 may be released, and the contacts reclosed as previously described.

In the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 8, there is illustrated a supporting frame comprising spaced supporting plates I96 joined by intermediate spaced transversely extending frame portions I91, I98 and 200, respectively. A solenoid coil 202 is adapted to be supported on the frame portion I91 between supporting plates I96. A contact rod 204 is secured to an enlarged rod portion 206 at the upper end thereof, to form a shoulder 208 adapted to be engaged by solenoid The solenoid core 2I0 is slidably mounted on the rod, and is provided adjacent the lower end thereof with a notch 2 I2 adapted to be engaged by a latch 2I4 pivotally mounted on a time delay sleeve member 2I6, also slidably mounted on contact rod 204. The lat-ch 2 is preferably supported on a pivot 2I8 on time delay sleeve 2I6, and is biased for movement to engage in notch 2I2 of the core, for example, as by a spring 220. Between transversely extending supporting plate portions I98 and 200, and also for a substantial distance below plate 200, there is provided a cylindrical wall portion integral with supporting plates I96 to form a cylindrical compartment 222 in which a time delay valve member 224 is adapted to work in a piston-like manner. Below supporting plate 200 a lock-out piston member 226 is adapted to operate. The time delay valve piston 224 is provided with passages 228 there-' through and a valve plate 230 biased to a position to close off passages 228, by a coil compression spring 232. The valve piston 224 is preferably fixed to time delay sleeve 2 I6 for movement therewith. A check valve 234 is adapted to control an inlet passage 236 into the lower portion of cylinder compartment 222.

Lockout piston 226- is annular in form, and is provided with an inclined inner surface 238, for cooperation with a lookout lever 240, normally biased by a coil tension spring 242 to the position shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

The particular mechanism illustrated in Fig. 8 is, of course, adapted to be employed with an interrupter similar to the interrupter 42 shown in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, and in conjunction with spring contact reciosing means also shown in the first described embodiment of this invention. In operation, when solenoid core 2I0 is attracted upwardly by solenoid coil 202, time delay sleeve 2I6 is carried along by virtue of the interconnection of latch 2 with core 2I0. This upward movement is therefore impeded to some extent by the necessity of liquid passing from the upper portion of cylinder compartment 222 to the lower portion thereof, through restricted passages 228, and liquid may be drawn into the lower portion of cylinder compartment 222 through restricted inlet passage 236; After predetermined movement of solenoid core 2I0, however, the outwardly extending projection 2I5 of latch lever 2 I4 engages integral stop 2 I 1 on frame supporting plate I96, to release the solenoid core from the time delay sleeve 2I6. This permits the core to rise rapidly into engagement with shoulder 208 on the contact rod and separate the contacts.

It will be noted that the lower end of time delay sleeve 2l6 is notched as at 2, and carries a latch lever 246 adapted to engage beneath integral shoulder 24! on contact rod 2, when the contact is adjacent the upper limit of its movement. Latch lever 2 is normally biased in a direction to engage shoulder 2, by a spring 250. Therefore, upon attempted movement of contact rod 2 in a downward direction to reclose the breaker contacts, this motion is impeded by valve member 224 which now has the passages 228 therethrough closed off by valve 23!, so that all of the liquid therebelow in chamber 222 must be displaced through the relatively small clearance between the valve piston and cylinder chamber wall. Accordingly, a time delay is interposed between the circuit interrupting operation and reclosure of the circuit breaker contacts, until extension 252 on latch lever 246 engages integral stop 25! on supporting plate I", to disengage the latch from contact rod shoulder 24! to permit quick reclosure of the contacts.

It will be noted that in the circuit closing oper- 1 ation a certain amount of the liquid contained in the lower part of cylinder compartment 222 will be forced through passages 256 in transverse supporting wall 200, to force lockout piston 226 downwardly a predetermined distance. In the event of a continuing fault on the circuit, lockout piston 226 will be forced downwardly a predetermined distance by each successive reclosure of the breaker contacts, until finally the inclined surface 238 thereof engages lockout lever 240 to move it in a clockwise direction about its pivot 24 I, into engagement with notch 2 on time delay sleeve 2l6, to thereby prevent movement of the same and contact rod 248 downwardly to a closed circuit position. Of course, if at any time before the predetermined number of reclosures of the breaker necessary to lock the contacts open, the fault clears, then lockout piston 226 will be slowly reset by coil spring 221 to its normal position shown in Fig. 8.

It will be noted that in this embodiment of the invention, a single time delay means is provided for both giving inverse time current characteristics on a circuit interrupting operation, and for delaying reclosing of the breaker contacts after an interrupting operation, and that this time delay means has diflferent characteristics for these two operations, respectively; that is, the valve member 224 presents greater resistance in downward movement in compartment 222 by virtue of closure of valves 23', than its resistance to upward movement in cylinder compartment 222, because on this latter movement valve 23. is opened as well as inlet check valve 224.

The modifications of this invention shown in Figs. 5 to '8 are not specifically claimed here but are claimed in an application Serial No. 623,125, filed October 18, 1945, which is a division of this application.

In the foregoing there have been described several embodiments of the present invention incorporated in automatic reclosing circuit breakers of the fluid type, which are adapted to automatically reclose the circuit a predetermined number of times, after which the breaker contacts are automatically locked in an open circuit position. such as to require a manual operation to restore the breaker to operative condition.

Having described preferred embodiments of the invention in accordance with the patent statutes, it is desired that the invention be not limited to the particular embodiments herein disclosed, inasmuch as it will be obvious, particularly to persons skilled in the art, that many modifications may be made in these particular embodiments without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter, cooperating contact means one of which is mounted on a slidable contact supporting means for movement therewith into and out of engagement with the other of said contact means, an actuating sleeve limitedly slidably mounted on said supporting means, a cylindrical guide in which said sleeve is slidably mounted to form fluid time delay means for actuatin said contacts a predetermined time after initiation of movement of said sleeve. said movable contact means being biased into engagement with said cooperating contact means to automatically reclose said contacts after a circuit interrupting operation, fluid operated lockout means adapted when advanced a predetermined amount from a normal position to prevent reengagement of said contact means, and fluid pumping means operable by said sleeve adjacent the end of its contact opening movement to advance said lockout means an amount less than said predetermined amount whereby said contacts are locked in an open circuit position in response to a predetermined number of circuit interrupting operations thereby.

. 2. In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter, separable contacts, said contacts being biased into engagement to automatically reclose said contacts after a circuit interrupting operation, resilient means operative to overcome said bias to maintain said contacts separated a predetermined amount, releasable holding means for preventing operation of said resilient means, electroresponsive means for causing separation of said contacts independently of said resilient means to interrupt the circuit, means responsive to a predetermined number of circuit interruptin operations to release said holding means, and manually operable means for resetting said resilient means to permit reclosure of said contacts.

3. In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter, cooperatin contact means one of which is mounted on a slidable contact supporting means for movement therewith into and out of engagement with the other of said contact means, an actuating sleeve limitedly slidably mounted on said supporting means, a cylindrical guide in which said sleeve is slidably mounted to form fluid time delay means for actuating said contacts a predetermined time after initiation of F movement of said sleeve, said movable contact means being biased into engagement with said cooperating contact means to automatically reclose said contacts after a circuit interrupting operation, fluid operated lockout means adapted when advanced a predetermined amount from a normal position to prevent reengagement of said contact means, fluid pumping means operable by said sleeve adjacent the end of its contact opening movement to advance said lockout means an amount less than said predetermined amount whereby said contacts are locked in an open circuit position in response to a predetermined number of circuit interrupting operations thereby, said pumping means including a piston flange at one end of said sleeve adapted to be received in an enlarged cylinder portion on said cylindrical guide adjacent the end of contact opening movement of said sleeve.

4. In a circuit interrupter, cooperating contact means one of which is mounted on a slidable contact supporting means for movement therewith from a normal position to prevent reengagement of said contact means, fluid pumping means operable by said sleeve adjacent the end of its contact opening movement to advance said lockout means an amount less than said predetermined amount whereby said contacts are locked in an open circuit position in response to a predetermined number of circuit interruptin operations thereby, releasable means locking said contact rod in engagementwith said contact, releasable means lockin said contact rod at an open circuit position, time delay means associated with said actuating means to delay movement thereof in opposite directions, each of said locking means having a part positioned in the path of movement of said actuating means and spaced from the ends of said path, respectively, whereby to release said contact rod to open the circuit only a predetermined time after initiation of movement of said actuating means in a direction to open the circuit, and to release said contact rod to close the circuit only a predetermined time after a circuit interrupting operation.

5. In a circuit interrupter, cooperating contact means one of which is mounted on a slidable contact supporting means for movement therewith into and out of engagement with the other of said contact means, an actuating sleeve limitedly slidably mounted on' said supporting means, fluid actuated means adapted to maintain said contacts separated when advanced a predetermined amount, fluid pumping means adapted to be actuated in response to a circuit interrupting operation to advance said fluid actuated means an amount less than said predetermined amount, and said pumping including an enlarged piston portion on said sleeve and a cylinder portion positioned to receive said flange adjacent the end of circuit interrupting movement of said sleeve.

6. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker,

responsive means to automatically reclose said contacts after a circuit interrupting operation at a rate solely determined by said bias, and time delay means adapted to be mechanically associated with at least one moving part of the breaker for delaying opening of said contacts for a predetermined time after the occurrence of said predetermined conditions, and for delaying closing movement of said contacts a predetermined time after a circuit interrupting operation.

7. In a circuit breaker of the character described, the combination of an operating mechanism, separable contacts at least one of which has two positions of repose one of which occurs when the circuit breaker is in its circuit closed position and the other of which occurs when the circuit breaker is in its open circuit position, separate means for retaining said one contact in each of said positions of repose, means operative at least as soon as said contact reaches said 14 open circuit position for exerting suflicient force on said contact to move it to closed circuit position but being prevented from doing so by said retaining means, means for releasing each of said retaining means under predetermined conditions of operation, whereby said operating mechanism may. cause said circuit breaker to operate through a predetermined cycle of circuit opening and reclosing operations and a single timing means adapted to delay the release of said one contact by either of said retaining 'means after the occurrence of said predetermined conditions.

8. In an automatic circuit recloser, a relatively fixed contact, a cooperating contact mounted for movement into and out of engagement with said fixed contact, overload-responsive means for causing movement of said movable contact away from said fixed contact to effect a circuit interrupting operation, said movable contact being subjected to a biasing force suflicient to reclose the circuit at least as soon as it reaches full open circuit position, means for automatically detaining said movable contact against movement at an open circuit position against said reclosing bias, time delay means for determining the time said detaining means is effective after which said biasing force is effective to reclose the contacts and the circuit closing movement of said cooperating contact being solely influenced by the aforesaid biasing force.

9. In an automatic circuit recloser, a relatively fixed contact, a cooperating contact mounted for movement into and out of engagement with said fixed contact, overload-responsive means for causing movement of said movable contact away from said fixed contact to effect a circuit interrupting operation, means being movable in response to overloads from a normal position a predetermined distance before causing separation of said contacts, said movable contact being subjected to a biasing force suflicient to reclose the circuit at least as soon as it reaches full open circuit position, means for automatically detaining said movable contact at an open circuit position against said reclosing bias, said overload-responsive means being biased to return to its normal position independent of the reclosing bias on said movable contact, said overload-responsive means adapted to release said detaining means after predetermined return movement, and time delay means governing the rate of movement of said overload-responsive means for at least a part of its movement in both directions, whereby said contacts are rapidly separated only a predetermined time after the occurrence of said overload and are rapidly reclosed only a predetermined time after a circuit interrupting operation.

10. In an automatic circuit recloser, a relatively fixed contact, a cooperating contact mounted for movement into and out of engagement with said fixed contact, overload-responsive means for causing movement of said movable contact away from said fixed contact to efiect a circuit interrupt-ing operation, releasable means for automatically holding said movable contact at its closed circuit position, said overload-responsive means being movable in response to overloads a predetermined distance before releasing said holding means and causing said movable contact to interrupt the circuit, said movable contact being subjected to a biasing force sufilcient to reclose the circuit at least as soon as it reaches full said overload responsive open circuit position, means for automatically detaining said movable contact at an open circuit position against said reclosing bias, a single time delay means for governing movement of said overload-responsive means and release of said detaining means, whereby said contacts are separated only a predetermined time after the occurrence of said overload and are reclosed only a predetermined time after a circuit interrupting operation and the circuit closing movement of said cooperating contact being solely influenced by the aforesaid biasing force.

11. In an automatic circuit recloser, a relatively fixed contact, a. cooperating contact mounted for movement into and out of engagement with said fixed contact, overload-responsive means for causing movement of said movable contact away from said fixed contact to eifect a circuit interrupting operation, releasable means for automatically holding said movable contact at its closed circuit position, said overload-responsive means being movable in response to overloads from a normal position a predetermined distance before releasing said holding means and causing separation of said contacts, said movable contact being subjected to a biasing force sufficient to reclose the circuit at least as soon as it reaches full open circuit position, means for automatically detaining said movable contact at an open circuit position against said reclosing bias, said overload-responsive means being biased to return to its normal position independent of the rec1osing bias on said movable contact, said overloadresponsive means adapted to release said detaining means in its return movement, and time delay means governing the rate of movement of said overload-responsive means for at least a part of its movement in both directions, whereby said contacts are separated only a predetermined time after the occurrence of said overload and are reclosed only a predetermined time after a' circuit interrupting operation.

12. In an automatic circuit recloser, separable contacts, overload-responsive means for separating said contacts to interrupt the circuit, means for automatically reclosing said contacts after a circuit interrupting operation,normally inactive means adapted when activated to prevent reclosure of said contacts by said reclosing means, fluid-operated motor means adapted when advanced a predetermined amount from a normal position to activate said reclosure-preventing means, said motor means being biased to return to said normal position, said overload-responsive means comprising a solenoid coil and a core mounted for movement relative to said contacts, means positioned to be engaged by said core when at a point adjacent the end of its movement relative to said contacts when actuated by said coil to cause separation of said contacts, fluid pumping means, and means responsive to movement of said core to substantially said point in its path of movement to cause said pumping means to deliver the same predetermined quantity of fluid under pressure to said motor means on each circuit opening operation so as to advance said motor means an amount less than said predetermined amount, whereby to activate said reclosure-preventing means only in response to a predetermined number of closely successive circuit interrupting operations.

13. In an automatic circuit recloser, separable contacts, overload-responsive means for separating said contacts to interrupt the circuit, means for automatically reclosing said contacts after a circuit interrupting operation, normally inactive means adapted when activated to prevent reclosure of said contacts by said reclosing means, fluid-operated motor means adapted when advanced a predetermined amount from a. normal position to activate said reclosurepreventing means, said motor means being biased to return to said normal position, said overload-responsive means comprising a solenoid coil and a movable core mounted for movement relative to said coniacts, means positioned to be engaged by said core when at a point adjacent the end of its movement relative to said contacts when actuated by said coil to cause separation of said contacts, pump cylinder means, and said core having a piston portion thereon positioned thereon so' as to be received in said cylinder means only substantially at said point in its path of movement to deliver the same predetermined quantity of fluid under pressure to said motor means on each circuit opening operation to advance said motor means an amount less than said predetermined amount, whereby to activate said reclosure-preventing means only in response to a predetermined number of closely successive circuit interrupting operations.

14. In an automatic circuit recloser separable contacts, overload-responsive means for causing separation of said contacts to interrupt the circuit, means for automatically reclosing said contacts after a circuit interrupting operation, normally inactive means adapted when activated to prevent reclosure of said contacts by said reclosing means, integrating means responsive only to a predetermined number of closely successive circuit interrupting operations to be ad vanced a predetermined amount, means positioned to be engaged by said integrating means only when advanced said predetermined amount to activate said reclosure-preventing means, manually operable means operatively associated with said reclosure-preventing means and being mounted for movement independently of said integrating means and contacts for resetting said reclosure-preventing means, and saidmanually operable means even though held at resetting position being ineffective to prevent automatic operation of said contacts.

15. In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter, separable contacts, electroresponsive means for separating said contacts and including an actuating member having a lost motion connection with said contacts, said contacts be ing continuously biased closed independent of said electroresponsive means, time delay means associated with said actuating member for delaying movement thereof, means for releasably securing said contacts closed, and said securing means adapted to be released in response to predetermined movement of said actuating member in a direction to separate said contacts, whereby said contacts are automatically separated in response to predetermined electrical conditions, and are moved into engagement solely b the force exerted by said bias to automatically close the circuit,

16. In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter, separable contacts, electroresponsive means for separating said contacts and including an actuating member having a lost motion connection with said contacts, said contacts being continuously biased closed independent of said electroresponsive means, means for releasably securing said contacts closed, said securing means adapted to be released in response to predetermined movement or said actuating member in a direction to separate said contacts, releasable means for automatically maintaining said contacts open after their separation by said actuating means, said actuating member biased for movement in an opposite direction, time delay means associated with said actuating member for delaying movement thereof in said directions, and said actuating means adapted to release said second contact securing means upon predetermined movement thereof in an opposite direction, whereby said contacts are automatically separated in response to predetermined electrical conditions, and are moved into engagement solely by the force exerted by said bias to automatically close the circuit.

1'7. In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter, cooperating contacts one of which is movable into and out of engagement with the other of said contacts, said movable contact being biased into engagement with the other of said contacts to automatically reclose said contacts after a circuit interrupting operation, an abutment movable with said movable contact, resilie'ntly biased means adapted to freely engage one side of said abutment for overcoming said closing bias to maintain said contacts separated, releasable holding means for preventing movement of said abutment by said resiliently biased means, electroresponsive means for causing separation of said contacts independently of said resiliently biased means to interrupt the circuit, means responsive to a predetermined number of circuit interrupting operations to release said holding means, and manually operable means for resetting said resiliently biased means to permit reclosure of said contacts.

18. In an automatic reclosing circuit inter- I rupter, separable contact means, contact-actuating means comprising a piston member having lost motion relative to said contacts, means responsive to a predetermined circuit condition for moving said piston member in a direction to open the circuit, a tubular guide in which said member is slidably mounted to form fluid time delay means for controlling at least certain contact operation, means for automatically closing said contacts following a circuit opening operation thereof, fluid actuated means for maintaining said contacts separated when advanced a predetermined amount, a fluid pump piston actuated by said piston member, means for causing the pumping stroke of said pump piston to be less in extent than the extent of movement of said piston member so as to advance said fluid actuated means an amount less than said predetermined amount in response to each circuit interrupting operation of said interrupter.

19. In an automatic circuit recloser, separable contacts, overload-responsive means for causing separation of said contacts to interrupt the circuit, means for automatically reclosing said contacts after a circuit interrupting operation, normally inactive means adapted when activated to prevent reclosure of said contacts by said reclosing means, integrating means biased to a normal position and adapted to be advanced a predetermined amount on each circuit interrupting operation, said integrating means mounted for movement independent of said normally inactive means and arranged so that when advanced an amount greater than said predetermined amount by a plurality of closely successive circuit interrupting operations it will activate said reclosurepreventing means, the return movement of said 18 integrating means under the influence of its bias being independent of said reclosure preventing means, and manually operable means connected directly with said reclosure-preventing means for resetting said reclosure-preventing means.

20. In an automatic reclosing power circuit breaker, separable contacts, means unaffected by normal loads on the circuit through said breaker but responsive to overloads for causing separa tion of said contacts, means for automatically closing said contacts in response to a circuit inter rupting operation, said overload responsive means having a part movable a predetermined amount in a circuit interrupting operation before said contacts separate, means for delaying movement of said part with an inverse time-current tacts accordingly, means for causing said time delay means to retard automatic closing of said contacts, and means responsive to a predetermined number of closely successive circuit opening operations for preventing automatic closing of said contacts.

21. In an automatic reclosing power circuit breaker, separable contacts, means unaffected by normal loads on the circuit through said breaker but responsive to overloads for causing separation of said contacts, means for automatically closing said contacts in response to a circuit interrupting operation, said overload responsive means having a part movable a predetermined amount in a circuit interrupting operation before said contacts separate, means for delaying movement of said part with an inverse time-current characteristic to delay separation of said contacts accordingly, integrating means actuated solely in response to operation of said part so as to be responsive-to a predetermined number of closely successive circuit opening operations for preventing automatic closing of said contacts.

22. In an automatic circuit recloser, separable contacts, overload-responsive means for causing separation of said contacts to interrupt the circuit, means for automatically reclosing said contacts after a circuit interrupting operation, resilient means operative when released to always hold said contact-s separated a predetermined amount and prevent automatic reclosure thereof, releasable holding means normally preventing operation of said resilient means, and means responsive to a predetermined number of closely successive circuit interrupting operations to release said holding means.

23. In a circuit interrupter, cooperating contact means one of which is mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the other of said contact means, an actuating sleeve limitedly slidably mounted relative to said movable contact means, fluid actuated means adapted to maintain said contacts separated when advanced a predetermined amount, fluid pumping means adapted to be actuated in response to a circuit interupting operation to advance said fluid actuted means an amount less than said predetermined amount, and said pumping means including an enlarged piston portion on said sleeve and a cylinder portion positioned to receive said piston portion only adjacent the end of circuit interrupting movement of said sleeve.

24. An automatic reclosing circuit breaker comprising a pair of contacts, said circuit breaker being permanently biased towards closed position, electromagnetic means for temporarily separating said contacts upon the occurrence of an e ctr ca overload, operating means, said operating means being normally ineffective to separate said contacts, biasing means biasing said operating means more heavily than the bias of said circuit breaker, and means responsive to a number of successive operations of said circuit breaker for rendering said operating means effective for holding said circuit breaker open.

25. An automatic reclosing circuit breaker comprising a pair of contacts, electromagnetic means responsive to an electrical overload for separating said contacts, normally ineifective operating means for separating said contacts, said operating means having a part arranged in the path of travel of a portion of said circuit breaker for moving such portion to open said circuit breaker, cumulative hydraulic means responsive to a number of successive operations of said circuit breaker occurring in rapid succession for rendering said operating means effective, said operating means when released biasing and holding said contacts open, and pumping means actuated by said circuit breaker for pumping fluid into said cumulative hydraulic means.

26. An automatic reclosing circuit breaker comprising a pair of contacts, electromagnetic means responsive to an electrical overload for separating said contacts, normally inefiective operating means for separating said contacts, said operating means having a part arranged in the path of travel of a .portion of said circuit breaker f or moving such portion to open said circuit breaker, cumulative hydraulic means responsive to a number of successive operations of said circuit breaker occurring in rapid succession for rendering said operating means effective, said operating means when released biasing and holding said contacts open, and pumping means actuated by said circuit breaker for pumping fluid into said cumulative hydraulic means, said cumulative hydraulic means being self-resetting and having means for slowly discharging fluid pumped thereinto by said pumping means.

27. An automatic reclosing circuit breaker comprising a pair of contacts, electromagnetic means responsive to an electrical overload for separating said contacts, said circuit breaker being normally biased towards closed position and normally resetting itself after each opening operation, operating means for separating said contacts, said operating means having a part arranged in the path of travel of a portion of said circuit breaker for moving such portion to open said circuit breaker, said operating means being normally mechanically disconnected from said portion of said circuit breaker, and means responsive to a number of successive operations of said circuit breaker for causing said operating means to mechanically connect with said portion of said circuit breaker for biasing and holding said contacts open.

28. An automatic reclosing circuit breaker comprising a pair of contacts, electromagnetic means responsive to an electrical overload for separating said contacts, said circuit breaker having a movable portion movable when said contacts are moving to open position, said contacts being normally biased towards closed position, operating means for separating said contacts, said operating means having a portion arranged in the path of travel of said movable portion and normally mechanically disconnected from said movable portion and adapted when released to engage said movable portion to open said circuit breaker, restraining means for restraining the action of said operating means, cumulative hydraulic means responsive to a number of successive operations of said circuit breaker occurring in rapid succession for releasing said restraining means, said operating means when released biasing and holding said contacts open, and pumping means actuated by said circuit breaker for pumping fluid into said cumulative hydraulic means.

29. An automatic reclosing circuit breaker comprising a pair of contacts, electromagnetic means responsive to an electrical overload for separating said contacts, lock-out means normally occupying an inoperative position for locking said circuit breaker in. open position, said electromagnetic means normally separating said contacts independently or any motion of said lockout means, means including cumulative hydraumeans responsive to a number of successive operations of said circuit breaker occurring in rapid succession for causing said lock-out means to move to lock-out position, and pumping means actuated by said circuit breaker for pumping fluid into said cumulative hydraulic means, said cumulative hydraulic means being seli-resetting and having means for slowly discharging fluid pumped thereinto by said pumping means.

30. An automatic reclosing circuit breaker comprising a pair of contacts, electromagnetic means responsive to an electrical overload for separating said contacts, lock-out means normally occupying an inoperative position for locking said circuit breaker in open position, said electromagnetic means normally separating said contacts independently of any motion of said lock-out means, means including cumulative hydraulic means responsive to a number of successive operations of said circuit breaker occurring in rapid succession for causing said lock-out means to move to lock-out position, pumping means actuated by said circuit breaker for pumping fluid into said cumulative hydraulic means, said cumulative hydraulic means being self-resetting and having means for slowly discharging fluid pumped thereinto by said pumping means, and manual means for resetting said lock-out means.

31. An automatic reclosing circuit breaker comprising a pair of contacts, electromagnetic means responsive to an electrical overload for separating said contacts, said contacts being normally biased towards closed position, lock-out means biased towards lock-out position for locking said circuit breaker in open position, latch means i or restraining said lock-out means, cumulative hydraulic means responsive to a number of successive operations of said circuit breaker occurring in rapid succession for releasing said latch means, and pumping means actuated by said circuit breaker for pumping fluid into said cumulative hydraulic means.

32. An automatic reclosing circuit breaker comprising a pair of contacts, electromagnetic means responsive to an electrical overload for separating said contacts, said contacts being normally biased towards closed position, lock-out means biased towards lock-out position for locking said circuit breaker in open position, latch means for restraining said lock-out means, cumulative hydraulic means responsive to a number of successive operations of said circuit breaker occurring in rapid succession for releasing said latch means, pumping means actuated by said circuit breaker for pumping fluid into said cumulative hydraulic means, and manual means for resetting said lock-out means in latched position.

33. An automatic reclosing circuit breaker comprising contact means, electromagnetic means responsive to an electrical overload for opening said contact means, said contact means being normally biased towards closed position, time delay means for delaying the closing of said contact means, lock-out means for locking said circuit breaker in open position, said lock-out means normally occupying an inoperative position, and,

means independent of said time delay means and responsive to a number of successive operations of said circuit breaker occurring in rapid succession for moving said lock-out means to operative position.

34. In an automatic circuit interrupter, the combination with a switch normally biased toward closed circuit position and current controlled means for automatically moving said switch to open circuit position under predetermined current flow, oi mechanical mechanism for moving said switch to open circuit position independently of said current controlled means, means independent of any portion of said current controlled means for biasing said mechanism for operation of said switch, a latch holding said mechanism against switch operating movement, said switch being movable to open position by said current controlled means independently of said mechanism, and releasing means for said latch subject to successive switch openin movements by said current controlled means for releasing said latch after a number of said successive movements of said switch.

35. In an automatic circuit interrupter, the combination with a switch normally biased toward circuit closed position and current controlled means for automatically moving said switch to open circuit position under predetermined overload conditions, of automatic switch operating mechanism normally held inoperative, said switch being movable to open circuit position by said current controlled means independently of said automatic switch operating mechanism, means actuated from said current controlled means for the release of said mechanism subsequent to a number oi switch opening movements by said current controlled means, and means independent of any portion of said current controlled means i'or'biasing said automatic switch operating mechanism towards switch opening movement.

36. An automatic reclosing circuit breaker comprising a pair of contacts, said circuit breaker being permanently biased towards closed position, electromagnetic means for temporarily opening said circuit breaker upon the occurrence of an electrical overload, normally restrained operating me: ns for overcoming the permanent bias of said circuit breaker to prevent automatic closing of said circuit breaker, biasing means biasing said operating means more heavily than the bias of said circuit breaker, and means responsive to a number of successive operations of said circuit breaker for releasing said operating means.

37. An automatic reclosing circuit breaker comprising a pair of contacts, said circuit breaker being permanently biased towards closed position, electromagnetic means for temporarily opening said circuit breaker upon th occurrence of an electrical overload, normally inefl'ective operating means for overcoming the permanent bias of said circuit breaker to prevent automatic closing of said circuit breaker, biasing means biasing said operating means more heavily than the bias of said circuit breaker, and means responsive to a number or successive operations of said circuit breaker for rendering said operating means eflective to overcome the bias of said circuit breaker to hold said circuit breaker open.

38. In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter, separable contacts, said contacts being biased closed to automatically reclose said contacts after a circuit interrupting operation, overload-responsive means for separating said contacts and including a member movable in response to overloads a predetermined amount bei'ore causing separation 01' said contacts, fluid dashpot means associated with said member whereby said contacts are opened only a predetermined time after said member is moved by said overload-responsive means, fluid means ac tuated in response to operation of said actuating member to be advanced the same predetermined amount in response to each circuit interrupting operation, and means positioned to be engaged by said fluid actuated means onl when advanced a predtermined greater amount in response to a predetermined number of closely successive cir cuit interrupting operations for maintaining said contacts separated.

39. In an automatic reclosing circuit interrupter, cooperating contact means one of which is mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the other of said contact means, an actuating sleeve movable in response to overloads a predetermined amount before causing separation of said contacts, a cylindrical guide in which said sleeve is slidably mounted to form fluid time delay means for actuating said contacts a predetermined time after initiation-0f movement of said sleeve, said movable contact means being biased into engagement with said cooperating contact means to automatically reclose said contacts after a circuit interrupting operation, fluid operated lockout means adapted when advanced a predetermined amount from a normal position to prevent reengagement of said contact means, and fluid pumping means operable by said sleeve adjacent the end of its contact opening movement to advance said lockout means an amount less than said predetermined amount whereby said contacts are locked in an open circuit position in response toa predetermined number of circuit interrupting operations thereby.

40. In an automatic reclosing power circuit breaker, separable contacts, means unafiected by normal loads on the circuit through said breaker but responsive to overloads for causing separation of said contacts, means for automatically closing said contacts in response to a circuit interrupting operation, said overload responsive means having a part movable a predetermined amount in a circuit interrupting operation before said contacts separate, means for delaying movement of said part with an inverse time-current characteristic to delay separation of said contacts accordingly, means for causin said time delay means to retard automatic closing of said contacts, and means actuated by said time delay means so as to be responsive to a predetermined number of closefy successive circuit opening operations for preventing automatic closing of said contacts.

41. In an automatic reclosing circuit breaker, separable contacts, means responsive to predetermined electrical conditions for causing separation of said contacts, said contacts being biased into engagement independently of said condition responsive means to automatically reclose said contacts after a circuit interrupting operation at a rate solely determined by said bias, time assures delay means adapted to be mechanically associated with at least one moving part of the breaker for delaying opening of said contacts for a predetermined time after the occurrence of said predetermined conditions, and for delaying closing movement of said contacts a predetermined time after a circuit interrupting operation, and means actuated in response to one of the delaying operations of said time delay means during each opening and closing cycle or breaker operation so as to be responsive to a predetermined number of closely successive operations of the breaker to thereafter prevent automatic closing of the breaker contacts.

42. In an automatic circuit recloser, a relatively fixed contact, a cooperating contact mounted for movement into and out 01' engagement with said fixed contact, overload-responsive means for causing movement of said movable contact away from said fixed contact to effect a circuit interrupting operation, said movable contact being subjected to a biasing force sufiicient to reclose the circuit atleast as soon as it reaches full open circuit position, latch means for automatically detaining said movable contact against movement at an open circuit position against said reclosing bias, time delay means operated during a circuit interrupting operation for determining the time said detaining means is effective after which said time delay means releases said latch means and said blasing force is eifective to reclose the contacts, and the circuit closing movement of said cooperating contact being solely influenced by the aforesaid biasing force.

43. In an automatic circuit recloser, a relatively iixed contact, a cooperating contact mounted for movement into and out of engagement with said fixed contact, overload-responsive means for causing movement of said movable contact away from said fixed contact to effect a circuit interrupting operation, said movable contact bein subjected to a biasing force suiilcient to reclose the circuit at least as soon as it reaches full open circuit position, latch separation of said contacts, and said time delay means also governing release of said last mentioned latch means.

JALEES M. WALLACE. HERBERT L. RAWLINS.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 432,979 Chase July 29, 1890 474,921 Pfannkuche May 17, 1892 508,652 Thomson Nov. 14, 1893 689,929 Suren Dec. 31, 1901 707,967 Griscom Aug. 26, 1902 727,870 Wolf May 12, 1903 843,070 Button Feb. 5, 1907 957,077 Milke May 3, 1910 1,257,613 Kocourek Feb. 26, 1918 1,273,188 Savage July 23, 1912 1,316,305 Hoeschen Sept. 16, 1919 1,507,643 Wallman Sept. 9, 1924 1,602,871 Aalborg Oct. 12, 1926 1,737,649 Edsall Dec. 3, 1929 2,069,082 Walle -1 Jan. 26, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 47,975 Germany July 29, 1889 147,456 Great Britain Apr. 28, 1921 475,870 Germany May 4, 1929

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