US2577425A - Thermal cutout switches - Google Patents

Thermal cutout switches Download PDF

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Publication number
US2577425A
US2577425A US165404A US16540450A US2577425A US 2577425 A US2577425 A US 2577425A US 165404 A US165404 A US 165404A US 16540450 A US16540450 A US 16540450A US 2577425 A US2577425 A US 2577425A
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United States
Prior art keywords
spring
arm
button
strip
circuit
Prior art date
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Expired - Lifetime
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US165404A
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English (en)
Inventor
Marcoz Jean
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Individual
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Individual
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Publication of US2577425A publication Critical patent/US2577425A/en
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H73/00—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism
    • H01H73/22—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism having electrothermal release and no other automatic release
    • H01H73/30—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism having electrothermal release and no other automatic release reset by push-button, pull-knob or slide

Definitions

  • This invention relates to automatic cut-out switches of the kind used to protect branch circuits against overload and short circuits. Such devices are particularly useful in cases where circuit-breakers having a high breaking capacity would be too expensive or too spaceconsuming to be practical.
  • My improved cut-out switch essentially comprises at least one pair of movable cooperating contacts, possessing a circuit-making position in which said contacts are engaged with each other, means biassing one of said contacts away from and the other contact towards said position, spring-latch means adapted to releasabiy retain said one contact in its said position, currentresponsive means such as a bi-metal strip adapted under an overload to withdraw said latch to release said one contact, and a movable operating member, such as a push-button, adapted when actuated first to positively move said one contact to its said position against its related biassing means and then to positively move said other contact slightly away from its said position against its related bias-sing means,
  • said operating member when released allowing said other contact to return to its contactmakin position under the action of its related biassing means and being moved itself to a position clear of said one contact.
  • the movable contacts are preferably carried on parallel-spaced spring arms the inherent resiliency of each of which provides the said respective biassing means, both said arms being biassed so as to be urged in a common direction, and said other arm being positively arrested in said direction at its said contact-making position by a stop.
  • the operating member is preferably a pushbutton provided with a weak spring, said button being adapted to occupy a different one of two positions in each condition of the switch, thereby clearly showing whether the switch is engaged or disengaged.
  • the bi-metal strip is U-shaped and the spring-arms of the contacts and the arms of the U-shaped strip are used to form a pair of serially connected parallelly-disposed loop circuits providing an arc blowout circuit.
  • the device so constructed has a high breaking power because its circuit-breaking action is very fast and because of the provision for blowing the arc, the arc blow-out means being obtained in a very simple manner and without having to provide any additional parts or connections simply by an appropriate relative arrangement between the contacts and the bi-metal strip. Moreover, the switch does not include an interlook while at the same time making it possible, as will more clearly appear hereinafter, to prevent the circuit from being broken in case of an overload.
  • the device is comparatively very simple, being free of pivots, pawls, levers, sliders and similar mechanical parts found in conventional units of this class, and this makes for increased ruggedness at the same time as a high degree of accuracy and positiveness in operation, since it does not include a single mechanical part liable to acquire play.
  • Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of a circuitbreaker according to the invention, in engaged or circuit-making condition
  • Fig. 2 is a cross-section of Fig. 1 on a transverse plane
  • Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the device in disengaged or circuit-breaking condition
  • Fig. 4 diagrammatically illustrates the conmotions and the current path through the movable contacts and a bi-metal strip, providing an arc-blowout loop circuit.
  • my improved circult-breaker comprises a pair of contacts i and 2 respectively carried by spring-arms 3 and 4. To the end 5 of the spring-arm 3 there is secured another and weaker spring-arm 6.
  • the pushhutton i is formed with a shank or extension ll which bears on the spring-arm 4.
  • a coil spring 8 urges the push-button I to its depressed position.
  • a spring-plate l0 formed with a projecting nose 9 near its top releasably engages over the spring-arm 9 and holds it down under tension in the position shown in Fig. 1.
  • the device includes a current-responsive means herein shown as a U-shaped bi-metal strip I2 adapted to be distorted in the event of an overload.
  • the strips or spring-arms 3 and 4 are connected in a circuit with the arms oi. the U-strip in the manner shown in Fig. 4, forming as shown a pair of parallel paths for the electric current through both of which the current flows in the same direction.
  • a set screw it or the like bearing upon an insulating element I4 is interposed between the strip l0 and the bi-metal strip l2. The part l4 issupported on the strip 10.
  • the device operates as follows:
  • the spring-arms 3 and 8 press the push-button 1 outwardly against the spring-force of the coil spring 9.
  • the button I is depressed, which first applies the arm 6 against the arm I, then, as pressure continues to be applied to the button, causes both said arms to be moved down bodily until the strip or arm 6 engages under the nose 9 of the strip 10.
  • the end of the shank ll extending the push-button engages the top surface of the lower spring-arm 4 and depresses it by a small amount, so that the contact between i and 2 only becomes effective after the button 1 has been released and allowed to move up again slightly under the influence of the resiliency of the spring arm 4.
  • the bi-metal strip i2 is distorted sufilciently to deflect the strip 10 through the medium of screw l3 and cause the projection 9 to release the spring-arm, so that the spring assembl of arms 3 and 6 flies upwards under their inherent resiliency more powerful than the force of coil spring 8, thus restoring the device to the circuit-breaking condition of Fig. 3.
  • the screw 13 serves as a set screw and enables adjustment of the operating point of the switch.
  • a stop l6 restricts the upward movement of the spring arm 4 and holds it at its circuit-making position.
  • Circuit-breaker which comprises in combination a pair of spring-arms each carrying one of a pair of cooperating contacts, one of said arms being biassed away from, and the other towards, a contact-making position, a springstrip resiliently movable in a plane perpendicular to the plane of movement of said arms, a nose projecting from said spring-strip and adapted to retain said one arm in its said position, a bi-metal strip adapted to be distorted under an overload, an adjustable screw carried by said bi-metal strip and engaging said spring-strip, distortion of said bi-metal strip being adapted to axially move said screw to deflect said springstrip to withdraw said nose and release said one contact, and a push-button having a base hearing on said one spring arm and an extension bearing on said other spring arm, the dimensioning being such that depression of said button first moves said one arm to its latched contactmaking position. and then moves said other arm slightly away from its said position, said button when released allowing said other arm to return under its inherent bias to its said position
  • Circuit-breaker as in claim 1 wherein the spring-arm carrying said one contact has secured to the free end thereof one end of a further spring-strip biassed in the same direction as said spring-arm and the base of said push-button engages said further spring-strip.

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US165404A 1949-07-29 1950-06-01 Thermal cutout switches Expired - Lifetime US2577425A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR903481X 1949-07-29

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2577425A true US2577425A (en) 1951-12-04

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ID=9404653

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US165404A Expired - Lifetime US2577425A (en) 1949-07-29 1950-06-01 Thermal cutout switches

Country Status (6)

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US (1) US2577425A (en))
BE (1) BE496580A (en))
DE (1) DE903481C (en))
FR (1) FR995685A (en))
GB (1) GB684868A (en))
NL (1) NL154197C (en))

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2757257A (en) * 1953-06-01 1956-07-31 Vernhes Jean Michel Time-switches for electric circuits, and particularly for signalling circuits
US2774844A (en) * 1952-11-12 1956-12-18 Gen Motors Corp Resettable circuit breaker
US2948787A (en) * 1959-04-16 1960-08-09 Cleon F Frey Circuit breaker with wafety reset
US3265835A (en) * 1964-10-19 1966-08-09 Morris B Wood Miniature trip-free circuit breaker
US3593227A (en) * 1968-02-28 1971-07-13 Gennady Fedosievich Mitskevich Automatic electrodynamic blowoff breaker with stationary contact form of two series wound u-shaped members
US3622932A (en) * 1970-07-16 1971-11-23 Ibm Self-restoring thermal switch with means for indicating previous overtemperature condition
US3679849A (en) * 1970-03-31 1972-07-25 Philips Corp Switch with a delay mechanism
US3686601A (en) * 1970-07-06 1972-08-22 Workman Electronic Products In Circuit breaker switch

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1132639B (de) * 1959-12-23 1962-07-05 Siemens Ag Schalter bzw. Selbstschalter

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE334891C (de) * 1919-09-23 1921-03-23 Bayerische Elek Zitaets Ind Ro Dauersicherungsstoepsel
DE370035C (de) * 1921-06-19 1923-02-26 Bayerische Elek Zitaets Ind Ro Sicherungsstoepsel, bei dem die Kontaktstuecke fuer gewoehnlich von einer aus verschiedenen Stoffen bestehenden, im Stromkreis liegenden Sperrschiene miteinander in Beruehrung gehalten werden
US2057093A (en) * 1935-07-06 1936-10-13 Die Cast & Forge Corp Fuse-plug type circuit breaker
US2198358A (en) * 1937-08-28 1940-04-23 Prime Mfg Co Electric fence
US2261366A (en) * 1939-10-30 1941-11-04 Jefferson Electric Co Temperature responsive switch
US2293382A (en) * 1940-06-26 1942-08-18 Marx & Co Louis Thermal type overload circuit breaker
US2458807A (en) * 1945-07-16 1949-01-11 Hopax Ind Inc Thermostatic switch

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE397543C (de) * 1920-02-25 1924-06-26 Otto Szaszovszky Dipl Ing Grenzstromausschalter

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE334891C (de) * 1919-09-23 1921-03-23 Bayerische Elek Zitaets Ind Ro Dauersicherungsstoepsel
DE370035C (de) * 1921-06-19 1923-02-26 Bayerische Elek Zitaets Ind Ro Sicherungsstoepsel, bei dem die Kontaktstuecke fuer gewoehnlich von einer aus verschiedenen Stoffen bestehenden, im Stromkreis liegenden Sperrschiene miteinander in Beruehrung gehalten werden
US2057093A (en) * 1935-07-06 1936-10-13 Die Cast & Forge Corp Fuse-plug type circuit breaker
US2198358A (en) * 1937-08-28 1940-04-23 Prime Mfg Co Electric fence
US2261366A (en) * 1939-10-30 1941-11-04 Jefferson Electric Co Temperature responsive switch
US2293382A (en) * 1940-06-26 1942-08-18 Marx & Co Louis Thermal type overload circuit breaker
US2458807A (en) * 1945-07-16 1949-01-11 Hopax Ind Inc Thermostatic switch

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2774844A (en) * 1952-11-12 1956-12-18 Gen Motors Corp Resettable circuit breaker
US2757257A (en) * 1953-06-01 1956-07-31 Vernhes Jean Michel Time-switches for electric circuits, and particularly for signalling circuits
US2948787A (en) * 1959-04-16 1960-08-09 Cleon F Frey Circuit breaker with wafety reset
US3265835A (en) * 1964-10-19 1966-08-09 Morris B Wood Miniature trip-free circuit breaker
US3593227A (en) * 1968-02-28 1971-07-13 Gennady Fedosievich Mitskevich Automatic electrodynamic blowoff breaker with stationary contact form of two series wound u-shaped members
US3679849A (en) * 1970-03-31 1972-07-25 Philips Corp Switch with a delay mechanism
US3686601A (en) * 1970-07-06 1972-08-22 Workman Electronic Products In Circuit breaker switch
US3622932A (en) * 1970-07-16 1971-11-23 Ibm Self-restoring thermal switch with means for indicating previous overtemperature condition

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB684868A (en) 1952-12-24
BE496580A (en))
NL154197C (en))
DE903481C (de) 1954-02-08
FR995685A (fr) 1951-12-05

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